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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. John Pallone |
  
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Pallone urges passage of his state police assessment bill
Says bill would help expand law enforcement services across Pa.
HARRISBURG, Sept. 4 – The House Judiciary Committee held a public hearing today in Harrisburg on state Rep. John Pallone's bill (H.B. 2563) that would require larger municipalities to contribute a per capita assessment for the use of state police for local law enforcement.
"House Bill 2563 would allow people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to receive expanded law enforcement services," Pallone, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, told the committee.
Under H.B. 2563, municipalities with populations of 10,000 or more that depend entirely on the state police for local law enforcement would be required to contribute a fee of $100 per capita to the Pennsylvania State Police to help cover expenses. Currently, 21 communities in Pennsylvania with populations of 10,000 or more depend on the state police for local law enforcement; one of those municipalities has more than 40,000 residents (see attached list).
"Communities in excess of 10,000 people certainly have the resources to be able to support a local police department; the ability is there," Pallone said. "It's not a question of ability; it's a question of will."
The $100-per-resident assessment would generate more than $31 million statewide, enough to hire as many as 4,000 more state troopers. Larger communities would have the option of paying the assessment or implementing their own local police force or joining a regional police force. Pallone said either way, the bill would result in Pennsylvania receiving better police services and residents enjoying greater public safety.
"While every citizen of the Commonwealth enjoys equally the benefits of professional law enforcement protection, it cannot be said that each citizen shares equally in the associated financial burden of maintaining those benefits," said Sean T. Welby, of the Pennsylvania State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police in his testimony before the committee.
House Bill 2563 has received bipartisan support.
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Attention Radio News Directors: 2 actualities from Rep. Pallone are available by calling 1-800-452-3001. Enter PA54 (7-2-5-4) and the pound sign (#) at the menu prompt to get today’s sound. You can also download the sound in .mp3 format by visiting www.pahouse.com/mediacenter.
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CONTACT: Lauren Rooney
-List of municipalities with 10,000 or more residents attached-
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County Name |
Municipality Name |
2000 Census Population |
Land Area Sq. Miles |
Police Service Type |
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Chester |
West Bradford Twp |
10775 |
18.6 |
State Police |
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Cumberland |
South Middleton Twp |
12939 |
49.5 |
State Police |
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Delaware |
Middletown Twp |
16064 |
13.5 |
State Police |
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Erie |
Harborcreek Twp |
15178 |
34.2 |
State Police |
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Erie |
Fairview Twp |
10140 |
29.2 |
State Police |
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Fayette |
North Union Twp |
14140 |
38.7 |
State Police |
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Fayette |
South Union Twp |
11337 |
16.7 |
State Police |
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Franklin |
Guilford Twp |
13100 |
52.5 |
State Police |
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Franklin |
Antrim Twp |
12504 |
70.1 |
State Police |
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Franklin |
Greene Twp |
12284 |
56.7 |
State Police |
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Indiana |
White Twp |
14034 |
42.6 |
State Police |
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Lancaster |
Salisbury Twp |
10012 |
41.9 |
State Police |
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Lehigh |
Lower Macungie Twp |
19220 |
22.6 |
State Police |
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Lehigh |
North Whitehall Twp |
14731 |
28.7 |
State Police |
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Lycoming |
Loyalsock Twp |
10876 |
21 |
State Police |
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Monroe |
Chestnuthill Twp |
14418 |
37.3 |
State Police |
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Monroe |
Middle Smithfield Twp |
11495 |
53.1 |
State Police |
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Westmoreland |
Hempfield Twp |
40721 |
76.6 |
State Police |
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Westmoreland |
Unity Twp |
21137 |
67 |
State Police |
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Westmoreland |
Derry Twp |
14726 |
94.5 |
State Police |
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Westmoreland |
Mt Pleasant Twp |
11153 |
55.7 |
State Police |
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310,984 |
965.6 |
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HB 2563: 18 co-sponsors – bi-partisan, currently in Judiciary Committee (05/27/08)
Description: An Act providing funding for law enforcement from certain communities with populations in excess of 10,000 with no local police department and receiving law enforcement services provided by PA State Police.
HB 2683: 23 co-Sponsors - bi-partisan, currently in Judiciary Committee (06/27/08)
Description: An Act providing for the full retention of fines by the Commonwealth of PA in communities with populations in excess of 10,000 with no local police department and receiving law enforcement services provided by PA State Police.
PA State Police - 1,700 communities without Local Police Force
Only 21 communities statewide have more than 10,000 population
- 2 communities have more than 20,000 population
- 1 community has more than 40,000 population
1,679 communities have 10,000 or less population – not effected
Southwestern Pennsylvania: Fayette County – North Union Twp & South Union Twp
Westmoreland County – Hempfield Twp, Unity Twp,
Derry Twp & Mt. Pleasant Twp
Fee Generated - 2000 Census Figures: 310,984 people x $100.00/person = $31,098,400.00
Average Cost: approximately $100,000.00 - $125,000.00 per law enforcement officer
Includes wages, benefits, insurance, and amortized cost of equipment and facilities.
NOTE: Decennial census to be taken and updated in 2010