Bill Text: PA SB1174 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Further providing for appointment of members of authority, for qualifications, tenure and compensation of members of authority and for organization of authority; and providing for whistleblower hotline, for requirements regarding tenants and landlords in cities of the first class and for reporting by authorities in cities of the first class.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2012-07-05 - Act No. 130 [SB1174 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SB1174-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1631
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1174 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY YAW, KITCHEN, FONTANA, M. WHITE, BRUBAKER, D. WHITE, FERLO AND BREWSTER, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
REFERRED TO URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 28, 1937 (P.L.955, No.265), entitled, as
amended, "An act to promote public health, safety, morals,
and welfare by declaring the necessity of creating public
bodies, corporate and politic, to be known as housing
authorities to engage in slum clearance, and to undertake
projects, to provide dwelling accommodations for persons of
low income; providing for the organization of such housing
authorities; defining their powers and duties; providing for
the exercise of such powers, including the acquisition of
property by purchase, gift or eminent domain, the renting and
selling of property, and including borrowing money, issuing
bonds, and other obligations, and giving security therefor;
prescribing the remedies of obligees of housing authorities;
authorizing housing authorities to enter into agreements,
including agreements with the United States, the
Commonwealth, and political subdivisions and municipalities
thereof; defining the application of zoning, sanitary, and
building laws and regulations to projects built or maintained
by such housing authorities; exempting the property and
securities of such housing authorities from taxation; and
imposing duties and conferring powers upon the State Planning
Board, and certain other State officers and departments,"
further providing for appointment of members of authority,
for qualifications, tenure and compensation of members of
authority and for organization of authority.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 5(b) and 6 of the act of May 28, 1937
(P.L.955, No.265), known as the Housing Authorities Law, amended
March 21, 1968 (P.L.69, No.25) and July 15, 1968 (P.L.337,
No.163), are amended to read:
Section 5. Appointment of Members of an Authority.--* * *
(b) The governing body of any city upon issuing a
certificate declaring the need for an Authority to operate in
such city or upon receiving notice of the issuance of such
certificate by the Governor, shall promptly notify the mayor of
such certification. Upon receiving such notice, the mayor, with
the approval of the majority of the members of council, shall
appoint five citizens, residents of the city, to be members of
the housing authority of such city--(1) that in cities of the
first class, the mayor shall appoint [two members, the city
controller shall appoint two members, and the four members, thus
appointed, shall select a fifth member of such Authority] nine
persons to be members of the housing authority of such city; (2)
that in cities of the second class, the mayor shall appoint two
additional members for a total of seven members of the housing
authority; (3) that in cities of the third class, the mayor,
with the approval of the majority of the members of council,
shall appoint five persons to be members of the housing
authority of such city, such members shall be citizens residing
within the city for which the Authority is created.
Section 6. Qualifications, Tenure and Compensation of
Members of an Authority.--No more than two persons holding any
other paid public office shall be members of the same housing
authority at the same time. The members who are first appointed
shall serve for terms of one, two, three, four, and five years,
respectively, from the date of their appointment, as shall be
specified at the time of their appointment, except that members
of the housing authority of a city of the first class shall
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serve for terms concurrent with the term of the appointing
mayor. Thereafter the term of office shall be five years, except
as otherwise provided with respect to members of the housing
authority of a city of the first class. The two additional
members to be appointed in cities of the second class shall
serve for terms of five years. A member shall hold office until
his successor has been appointed. Vacancies for unexpired terms
shall be promptly filled by the appointing power. A member may
be removed for cause by the court of quarter sessions of the
county in which the Authority is located after having been
provided with a copy of the charges against him for at least ten
days and full hearing by the court, except that members of the
housing authority of a city of the first class shall serve at
the pleasure of the mayor of such city. A member shall receive
no compensation for his services, but he shall be entitled to
the necessary expenses, including travelling expenses incurred
in the discharge of his duties.
Section 2. Section 7 of the act is amended to read:
Section 7. Organization of an Authority.--The members of an
Authority shall select from among themselves a chairman and a
vice-chairman. The Authority may employ a secretary, such
technical experts, and such other officers, agents, and
employes, permanent or temporary, as it may require, and may
determine the qualifications of such persons. Three members of
an Authority shall constitute a quorum for its meetings, except
that a majority of the members of the Authority in a city of the
first class shall constitute a quorum for meetings of such an
Authority. Any Authority may employ its own counsel and legal
staff. Members of an Authority shall not be liable personally on
the bonds or other obligations of the Authority, and the rights
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of creditors shall be solely against such Authority. An
Authority may delegate to one or more of its agents or employes
such of its powers as it shall deem necessary to carry out the
purposes of this act, subject always to the supervision and
control of the Authority.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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