



Sen. Jeff Piccola continues to fine-tune a new law that will allow the state to take over Harrisburg and other third-class cities in Pennsylvania should Harrisburg fail to adopt or implement Act 47 plans.

Piccola introduced the bill last week and it is expected to be acted upon as early as Wednesday. A copy of the bill's amendments can be found here

Harrisburg applied for and was granted distressed city status from the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Last week, Harrisburg's state-appointed coordinators presented their plan, which calls for the sale of the incinerator and city parking garages.

Should city officials not implement a fiscal recovery plan drafted by a state-appointed Act 47 team, the bill would create a three-member management board to implement the plan, negotiate agreements and have the authority to sell city assets.

The bill also would prevent cities in the state’s Act 47 Program for Distressed Municipalities from filing for bankruptcy. The management board would include two members appointed by the governor and one appointed by the county commissioners of the affected city.