HB 1738 — An Act amending Titles 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns), 11 (Cities) and 16 (Counties) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in corporate power relating to boroughs, further providing for specific powers; in veterans' affairs relating to boroughs, further providing for care and erection of memorials; in corporate powers relating to third class cities, providing for control, maintenance and repair of memorials; in veterans' affairs relating to third class cities, further providing for care of memorials; in grounds and buildings, further providing for monuments, memorials and memorial halls to war veterans and for preservation, maintenance, repair and completion of public monuments; and making an editorial change.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2140 THEPRINTER'S GENERALNO. ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

17382544 2025THE INTRODUCEDGENERAL BYASSEMBLY FREEMAN,OF SAPPEY,PENNSYLVANIA SMITH-WADE-EL,HOUSE JAMESBILL ANDSession B.of 2025 No.

MILLER,INTRODUCED JULYBY 15,FREEMAN, 2025SAPPEY, REFERREDSMITH-WADE-EL, TOJAMES COMMITTEEAND ONB. LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JULY 16, 2025 AN ACT Ame(Cities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in1 corporate power relating to boroughs, further providing for specific powers;

MILLER, JULY 15, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 29, 2025 AN ACT Amending Titles 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns) and, 11 <-- (Cities) AND 16 (COUNTIES) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated <-- Statutes, in corporate power relating to boroughs, further providing for specific powers;

and, in veterans' affairs relating to third class <-- cities, further providing for care of memorials.memorials.;

IN GROUNDS <-- AND BUILDINGS, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS AND MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND COMPLETION OF PUBLIC MONUMENTS;

AND MAKING AN EDITORIAL CHANGE.

20250HB1738PN2544 - 2 - (b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term "memorial" shall mean any monument or memorial erected or 20250HB1738PN2140 - 2 - existing within the township and commemorating or honoring first responders, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency vehicle drivers and city police officers.

SectionSECTION 5.

SECTIONS 16155, 16156 AND 16167 OF TITLE 16, <-- ADDED MAY 8, 2024 (P.L.50, NO.14), ARE AMENDED TO READ:

§ 16155.

MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS AND MEMORIAL HALLS TO WAR VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR AND PROVIDE FOR THE ERECTION OF MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS OR MEMORIAL HALLS COMMEMORATING OR HONORING THE SERVICES OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS [SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OR IN ANY AUXILIARY ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY CONNECTED WITH A DIVISION 20250HB1738PN2544 - 3 - OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES.]:

(1) SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, OR IN ANY AUXILIARY ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY CONNECTED WITH A DIVISION OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD.

(2) SERVED AS A FIRST RESPONDER.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE TERM "FIRST RESPONDER" SHALL MEAN FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, PARAMEDICS, EMERGENCY VEHICLE DRIVERS, POLICE OFFICERS, SHERIFFS AND DEPUTY SHERIFFS.

§ 16156.

ASSISTANCE TO PRIVATE OR MUNICIPAL AGENCIES.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY APPROPRIATE MONEY TO ASSIST ANY INDIVIDUAL, PRIVATE CORPORATION OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IN THE ERECTION OF A MONUMENT, MEMORIAL OR MEMORIAL HALL AUTHORIZED UNDER SECTION 16155 (RELATING TO MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS AND MEMORIAL HALLS TO WAR VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS).

§ 16167.

PRESERVATION, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND COMPLETION OF PUBLIC MONUMENTS.

(A) CARE.--THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY PRESERVE, MAINTAIN AND REPAIR ANY PUBLIC MONUMENT OR MEMORIAL HALL IN THE COUNTY, OTHER THAN IN CEMETERIES, INCLUDING THE ENCLOSED PUBLIC GROUND SURROUNDING THE MONUMENT, AND APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR THESE PURPOSES.

IF A PUBLIC MONUMENT REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION HAS BEEN PARTIALLY COMPLETED, EITHER IN CONSTRUCTION OR PAYMENT, THE COMMISSIONERS MAY APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPLETION.

(B) DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

"PUBLIC MONUMENT OR MEMORIAL HALL." THE FOLLOWING:

20250HB1738PN2544 - 4 - (1) A MONUMENT, GUN OR CARRIAGE, MEMORIAL OR MEMORIAL HALL ERECTED OR EXISTING WITHIN THE COUNTY AND COMMEMORATING OR HONORING THE SERVICES OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SERVED IN THE PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD OR ANY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OR THEIR RESERVE COMPONENTS;

OR (2) A MONUMENT OR MEMORIAL ERECTED OR EXISTING WITHIN THE COUNTY AND COMMEMORATING OR HONORING FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, PARAMEDICS, EMERGENCY VEHICLE DRIVERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND COUNTY SHERIFFS AND DEPUTY SHERIFFS.

Section 5 6.

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