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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Thomas Caltagirone |
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Judiciary Committee approves constable reform bill
HARRISBURG, June 16 – State Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the committee today approved three bills, including his constable consolidation legislation.
Caltagirone's bill, H.B. 1607, would consolidate numerous state laws concerning constables, whose duties include providing security for court rooms and polling places, making arrests and transporting prisoners. Constables are elected officials who serve six-year terms and work in 66 of the state's counties, excluding Philadelphia.
"Existing statutes governing constables are so widely dispersed among multiple titles and freestanding laws in Pennsylvania that as lawmakers, our challenge is to draft legislation that works for everyone," Caltagirone said. "What we do know is that the system is too broad currently, and my legislation is a necessary first step in reforming the system."
Caltagirone said elected constables have the authority to appoint deputies to carry out duties on their behalf, but they must be certified to perform duties for magisterial district courts, which often are the most lucrative. To become a certified constable, a person must complete 80 hours of basic training, 40 hours of firearm training and 20 hours of continued education. The certification is valid for one year. An estimated 1,170 constables completed training through the PCCD in 2008, and they serve more than 500 courts.
The following bills also were approved by the committee:
House Bill 1332, introduced by state Rep. Marc Gergely, D-Allegheny, would protect the personal information transmitted between law enforcement officers coping with emotional stress and individuals trained in crisis response.
House Bill 1478, introduced by state Rep. Richard R. Stevenson, R-Butler/Mercer, would allow for streamlined settling of estates by petition if the value is $50,000 or less, doubling the current dollar limit for that procedure.
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