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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Robert Freeman |
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Freeman works with other legislators, Local Government Commission
to update laws regarding access to civil service testing
HARRISBURG, July 20 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a package of legislation designed to bring municipal codes relating to access to civil service testing into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
State Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, chairman of the House Local Government Committee, worked with other members and the Local Government Commission to offer this package of bills.
"This package of bills was created in cooperation with the Local Government Commission to update our laws that are currently out of compliance with federal standards with regard to civil service testing," Freeman said. "Enactment of this legislation also may save municipal officials the expense of any lawsuit brought about because they followed the Municipal Codes."
Freeman introduced H.Bs. 1516 and 1517, which update the code for police officers and firefighter civil service provisions in third-class cities. This legislation would define medical and psychological exams and the procedure by which they may be administered, as well as the requirement to submit to physical and agility tests rather than the ADA-prohibited pre-offer medical exam.
House Bill 1518 would update the code for police officers in incorporated towns, likewise for firefighters in H.B. 1519. House Bill 1520 would do the same for both occupations in the Borough Code.
All bills passed the House last week and have been referred to the Senate Local Government Committee.
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