Committee Approves Senator Robbins Legal Ad Legislation

Local Government panel also approved SB 318, SR 41

The Senate Local Government Committee today approved a bill introduced by Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) to give local governments the option of posting legal advertisements on the internet as a way to better inform citizens about meetings and spending while saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

The Committee also approved Senator Robbins bill increasing the public bidding threshold and his resolution marking "Local Government Week in Pennsylvania."

Senate Bill 419, Senator Robbins' "Public Notice Modernization Act," would give municipalities, school districts and local authorities the option to electronically publish legal notices on the internet in lieu of newspaper advertisement as is currently required by law.

"I am pleased that the Committee approved this bill which could save Pennsylvania's local governments and their taxpayers over $20 million annually," Senator Robbins said. "The internet has become one of the primary sources of information for many people. By allowing local governments to post this information online, citizens will have convenient and immediate access to those notices that affect them directly."

The Public Notice Modernization Act is supported by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities; Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association; Pennsylvania School Boards Association; Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs; Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners; and Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

The Senate Local Government Committee also approved Senate Bill 318, legislation sponsored by Senator Robbins that would help Pennsylvania's Third Class Cities by raising the amount they could spend without going through the time consuming and expensive formal bidding process.

"This change is timely and necessary. State law as it stands now places a real burden on municipalities," said Senator Robbins, who also serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Local Government Commission. "They are unable to make relatively minor purchases without the time and expense of the formal bidding process and that ends up costing the taxpayers."

Currently, anytime a municipality plans to purchase an item or service costing $10,000 or more, it must go through the bidding process by advertising twice in a newspaper, receiving sealed bids by vendors, and voting at a public meeting on the lowest bid. SB 318 raises the threshold from $10,000 to $25,000.

"A dollar just doesn't goes as far today as it did in 1990, regardless of whether you're talking about a family budget or a municipal budget," Senator Robbins said. "Back then $10,000 represented a significant purchase on the part of a local government. That simply is not the case today. My bill sets a more reasonable threshold of $25,000 for the formal bidding process."

SB 318 is part of a 16-bill package that would increase the bid limit thresholds under the various local government codes

Also approved by the Senate Local Government Committee was Senator Robbins' Senate Resolution 41 which designates the week of April 12 through 18 as "Local Government Week" in Pennsylvania.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322