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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1056 PRINTER'S NO. 3315
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 973
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BRENNAN, KENYATTA, PIELLI, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, BURGOS,
HILL-EVANS, SCHLOSSBERG, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, DOUGHERTY, GREEN AND
SALISBURY, MARCH 19, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 29, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to area
government and intergovernmental cooperation, providing for
Municipal Police Enhancement AND Consolidation Grant Program
and establishing the Municipal Police Enhancement AND
Consolidation Grant Program Fund.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 23 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER D
MUNICIPAL POLICE ENHANCEMENT AND
CONSOLIDATION GRANT PROGRAM
Sec.
2351. Definitions.
2352. Establishment of program.
2353. Publication and notice of program.
2354. Award of grants.
2355 2353 . Applications for grants.
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2354. REVIEW PROCESS.
2356. Accreditation or consolidation incentives.
2355. AWARD OF GRANTS.
2356. LIMITATIONS.
2357 2357 . Municipal Police Enhancement AND Consolidation Grant
Program Fund.
2358. REPORT.
§ 2351. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"ACCREDITATION." THE CERTIFICATION OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT BY
THE PENNSYLVANIA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION COMMISSION OR
ANOTHER RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING BODY, AFFIRMING THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT MEETS ESTABLISHED PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND BEST
PRACTICES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS.
"APPLICANT." A MUNICIPALITY OR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT
SUBMITS AN APPLICATION.
"Application." An application submitted under section
2355(c) 2353(B) (relating to applications for grants) for a
grant under the program.
"Commission." The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency.
"Consolidation." The process of consolidating two or more
municipal police departments under Subchapter A (relating to
intergovernmental cooperation) or by a contract for services.
"Fund." The Municipal Police Enhancement AND Consolidation
Grant Program Fund established under section 2357(a) (relating
to Municipal Police Enhancement AND Consolidation Grant Program
Fund).
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"Municipal police department." A police department that has
been organized and established by a municipality.
"MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER." A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME
EMPLOYEE OF A MUNICIPALITY WHO IS EMPOWERED TO ENFORCE THE LAWS
OF THIS COMMONWEALTH AND THE RULES OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE
MUNICIPALITY.
"Municipality." A city of the second class A, city of the
third class, borough, township of the first class or township of
the second class . , BOROUGH, INCORPORATED TOWN OR HOME RULE
MUNICIPALITY.
"POLICE DEPARTMENT." A PUBLIC AGENCY OF A MUNICIPALITY
HAVING GENERAL POLICE POWERS AND CHARGED WITH MAKING ARRESTS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF CRIMINAL OR TRAFFIC LAWS. THE
TERM INCLUDES A REGIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM WHICH A
MUNICIPALITY RECEIVES POLICE SERVICES OR A POLICE DEPARTMENT
THAT PROVIDES THE MUNICIPALITY WITH POLICE SERVICES UNDER AN
AGREEMENT OR CONTRACT.
"Program." The Municipal Police Enhancement AND
Consolidation Grant Program established under section 2352
(relating to establishment of program).
§ 2352. Establishment of program.
The Municipal Police Enhancement AND Consolidation Grant
Program is established and shall be administered by the
commission. Grants provided under the program shall be used to
improve and enhance the capabilities of municipal police
departments, incentivize VOLUNTARY consolidation and provide
training and other appropriate resources to municipal police
officers.
§ 2353. Publication and notice of program.
The commission shall transmit notice of the availability of
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grants under the program to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
Bulletin within 120 days from June 30, 2026, for grants under
the program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and by
August 8 for grants under the program for each fiscal year
thereafter.
§ 2354. Award of grants.
(a) Authorization.--The commission may award grants under
the program to municipal police departments for any of the
following:
(1) Consolidation and improvements to infrastructure,
including expanding or modifying municipal police buildings
for the purpose of consolidation.
(2) Achieving accreditation standards of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police.
(3) Training and certification of municipal police
officers.
(4) Community outreach programs.
(b) Additional grants.--A municipal police department with
not more than 10 police officers shall be eligible to receive
additional grants under the program in accordance with the
certification bonus point system under section 2356 (relating to
accreditation or consolidation incentives) for any of the
following:
(1) Consolidation.
(2) Achieving accreditation standards of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police.
(c) Grant limits.--
(1) A grant under the program shall be:
(i) Not less than $5,000 nor more than $100,000 per
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municipal police department for the purpose of
consolidation.
(ii) Not less than $5,000 nor more than $50,000 per
municipal police department for the purpose of achieving
accreditation standards of the International Association
of Chiefs of Police.
(iii) Not less than $5,000 nor more than $15,000 per
municipal police department for the purposes of training
and certification of municipal police officers or for the
purpose of community outreach programs.
(2) Grants may be awarded on a pro rata basis if the
total dollar amount of applications submitted under section
2355(c) (relating to applications for grants) exceeds the
amount of money appropriated by the General Assembly for the
program.
§ 2355. Applications for grants.
(a) Instructions.--Within 120 days of June 30, 2026, for
applications for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and by
September 1 for applications for each fiscal year thereafter,
the commission shall provide written notice of the application
instructions to the chief of each municipal police department or
the chief executive of each municipality.
(b) Applications.--Within 180 days of June 30, 2026, for
applications for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and by
October 1 for applications for each fiscal year thereafter, the
commission shall provide applications to the chief of each
municipal police department or the chief executive of each
municipality.
§ 2353. APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS.
(A) DUTY OF COMMISSION.--THE COMMISSION SHALL PRESCRIBE THE
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FORM AND MANNER IN WHICH AN APPLICATION MAY BE SUBMITTED TO
RECEIVE A GRANT AWARD UNDER THE PROGRAM.
(c) (B) Submission.--A municipal MUNICIPALITY OR police
department seeking a grant under the program shall MUST submit
TO THE COMMISSION a completed application to the commission
within an application period prescribed by the commission. The
application period shall remain open for 60 days each year.
(d) Approval or disapproval.--The commission shall approve
or disapprove an application received under subsection (c)
within 120 days after the close of the application period. An
application which has not been approved or disapproved by the
commission within 120 days after the close of the application
period shall be deemed approved.
§ 2356. Accreditation or consolidation incentives.
The commission shall establish a certification bonus point
system to provide additional grant funding to a municipal police
department which has achieved accreditation or consolidation.
THAT SUPPORTS ACCREDITATION OR CONSOLIDATION GOALS. THE
COMMISSION SHALL ACCEPT APPLICATIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, PENDING
THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING.
§ 2354. REVIEW PROCESS.
(A) DUTY OF COMMISSION.--THE COMMISSION SHALL REVIEW
COMPLETED APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FROM ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
(B) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.--THE COMMISSION SHALL ENSURE THAT
GRANT AWARDS MADE UNDER THE PROGRAM ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED
THROUGHOUT THIS COMMONWEALTH.
§ 2355. AWARD OF GRANTS.
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THE COMMISSION MAY ISSUE A GRANT AWARD TO AN APPLICANT FOR
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1) COSTS RELATED TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF POLICE
SERVICES, INCLUDING SHARED EQUIPMENT, VEHICLES AND UNIFORMS,
AS WELL AS REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS TO SHARE POLICE
FACILITIES TO SUPPORT JOINT OPERATIONS.
(2) PERSONNEL, INCLUDING SWORN OFFICERS, AND NONSWORN
CIVILIANS, NECESSARY FOR ACCREDITATION OR CONSOLIDATION.
(3) TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS,
INCLUDING RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, REPORT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS AND NATIONAL INCIDENT-BASED REPORTING SYSTEM UPDATES.
(4) HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING BODY-WORN
CAMERAS, VEHICLE CAMERAS AND MOBILE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
EQUIPMENT.
(5) DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES ALIGNED WITH ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS AND
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES.
(6) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS
RESPONSIVE TO LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS AND DEVELOPED IN
COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS.
(7) ANY OTHER ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS
ACCREDITATION OR CONSOLIDATION GOALS.
§ 2356. LIMITATIONS.
(A) GRANT AMOUNT.--A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM MAY NOT EXCEED
$100,000 FOR ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES UNDER SECTION 2355 (RELATING TO
AWARD OF GRANTS).
(B) PROGRAM AWARDS.--GRANTS MAY BE AWARDED ON A PRO RATA
BASIS IF THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT OF APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED
EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY APPROPRIATED FOR THE PROGRAM.
(C) RESTRICTION ON USAGE OF GRANT MONEY.--
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(1) GRANT MONEY ALLOCATED UNDER THE PROGRAM SHALL BE
USED TO SUPPLEMENT AND NOT SUPPLANT EXISTING FUNDING.
(2) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO
PROHIBIT A POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM MAKING AN APPLICATION TO
RECEIVE A GRANT AWARD UNDER THE PROGRAM IN A SUBSEQUENT YEAR
FOR THE SAME PURPOSE AND AMOUNT IN THE PRIOR YEAR.
§ 2357. Municipal Police Enhancement AND Consolidation Grant
Program Fund.
(a) Establishment.--The Municipal Police Enhancement AND
Consolidation Grant Program Fund is established as a separate
fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of making grants
under the program.
(b) Funding.--Grants under the program may be awarded from
money appropriated, allocated or otherwise made available to the
fund.
(c) Continuing appropriation.--All money deposited into the
fund and all interest accrued is appropriated to the commission
on a continuing basis for the purposes provided under this
section.
(d) Administration.-- The commission may not allocate more
than $500,000 of money in the fund for the administrative costs
of the program.
(e) Grant allocations.--After payment of administrative
costs under subsection (d), the money in the fund shall be
allocated as follows:
(1) Twenty-five percent of the money shall be used for
grants to municipal police departments that have achieved
consolidation.
(2) Seventy-five percent of the money shall be used for
grants to municipal police departments for the following
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purposes:
(i) Achieving accreditation standards of the
International Association of Chiefs of Police.
(ii) Training and certification of municipal police
officers.
(iii) Community outreach programs. THE COMMISSION
MAY NOT EXPEND MORE THAN 3% OF MONEY APPROPRIATED TO THE
COMMISSION FOR THE PROGRAM ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
§ 2358. REPORT.
BY DECEMBER 31 FOLLOWING THE END OF THE THIRD FISCAL YEAR OF
GRANT AVAILABILITY, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION SHALL
DEVELOP A WRITTEN REPORT ON THE FUNDING AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
PROGRAM. THE COMMISSION AND GRANTEES SHALL PROVIDE THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION WITH ALL REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION RELATED
TO THE STUDY.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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