Bill > SB502

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) to further define "public safety projects" and create "public safety authorities" at the county level. The key provisions include: 1) Expanding the definition of "public safety projects" to include fire protection services and related administrative support. 2) Authorizing counties to create public safety authorities for the purpose of providing public safety projects, with limits on the number of such authorities per county and requirements for municipal representation in the governance structure. 3) Allowing municipalities to satisfy their legal obligation to provide fire protection services by contracting with a public safety authority. 4) Granting public safety authorities the power to set and collect reasonable and uniform rates and charges for the services they provide, subject to public notice requirements. 5) Permitting existing public safety service providers to continue operating as public safety authorities. 6) Directing the state Department of Community and Economic Development to provide guidance and assistance to counties in creating public safety authorities. 7) Allowing municipalities in a county to create a joint public safety authority if the county declines to do so. 8) Prohibiting public safety authorities from directly providing fire protection services or employing firefighters.