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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 29, 2013 10:05 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas R. Caltagirone |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Constable System Reform |
| In the near future I will be introducing legislation that would comprehensively reform our state constable system in Pennsylvania. Last year our Supreme Court empaneled a Constable Workgroup to identify issues that could be dealt with administratively by the courts, and identify others that would need legislative action. That workgroup made its report to the Chief Justice, and he reported their findings to Chairman Marsico and me on May 16. This legislation is in response to that report. Our state constable system has been a nightmare of highly localized customs for entirely too long. This is the 21st century and Pennsylvanians deserve a uniform constable system that isn't run like a private family business or secret society in each locality. Such a system leads to the abuses we have read about in the media far too often, and it besmirches the dignity of the judiciary that our constables are intended to serve. My bill will concisely define important terms essential to the practice of constables, define incompatible offices and professions, prescribe the allocation of fees when multiple defendants or multiple warrants are involved, and prescribe statewide uniform identification credentials. All these changes apply to constables desiring certification to do work for the judiciary. The bill is nearly ready for submission, but we are still vetting some final technical language. Please consider co-sponsoring this badly needed legislation. |