Bill > SB501

This bill amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to provide for the creation of public safety authorities by counties. The key provisions include: 1. Defining "public safety projects" to include emergency medical services and related administrative support and coordination services. 2. Authorizing counties to create public safety authorities, with the ability for municipalities within the county to enter into contracts with the authority to satisfy their requirement to provide emergency services. 3. Allowing public safety authorities to fix, alter, charge, and collect reasonable and uniform rates and charges for the services they provide, subject to applicable notice requirements. 4. Permitting existing authorities that provide public safety services to continue operating as public safety projects. 5. Directing the Department of Community and Economic Development to provide guidance and assistance to counties in creating public safety authorities. 6. Allowing municipalities in a county to create a joint public safety authority if the county does not do so within 120 days of receiving a petition from the municipalities. The bill also amends the purposes and powers of municipal authorities to include public safety projects, and allows such authorities to support existing enterprises serving substantially the same purposes.