HB 977 — An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in zoning hearing board and other administrative proceedings, further providing for hearings.

PRINTER'S NO.   1060

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 977
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY KUZMA, VENKAT, MAJOR, COOPER, ARMANINI, HOGAN,
        MIHALEK, KAIL AND SCHEUREN, MARCH 19, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MARCH 19, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), entitled
 2      "An act to empower cities of the second class A, and third
 3      class, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships of the first
 4      and second classes including those within a county of the
 5      second class and counties of the second through eighth
 6      classes, individually or jointly, to plan their development
 7      and to govern the same by zoning, subdivision and land
 8      development ordinances, planned residential development and
 9      other ordinances, by official maps, by the reservation of
10      certain land for future public purpose and by the acquisition
11      of such land; to promote the conservation of energy through
12      the use of planning practices and to promote the effective
13      utilization of renewable energy sources; providing for the
14      establishment of planning commissions, planning departments,
15      planning committees and zoning hearing boards, authorizing
16      them to charge fees, make inspections and hold public
17      hearings; providing for mediation; providing for transferable
18      development rights; providing for appropriations, appeals to
19      courts and penalties for violations; and repealing acts and
20      parts of acts," in zoning hearing board and other
21      administrative proceedings, further providing for hearings.
22      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
23   hereby enacts as follows:
24      Section 1.    Section 908(7) of the act of July 31, 1968
25   (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities
26   Planning Code, is amended to read:
27      Section 908.    Hearings.--The board shall conduct hearings and
 1   make decisions in accordance with the following requirements:
 2          * * *
 3          (7)    The board or the hearing officer, as the case may
 4      be, shall either keep a stenographic record of the
 5      proceedings or an audio recording of sufficient quality to
 6      ensure accurate transcription if needed for appeal. The
 7      appearance fee for a stenographer or the cost of producing an
 8      audio recording shall be shared equally by the applicant and
 9      the board. The cost of the original transcript shall be paid
10      by the board if the transcript is ordered by the board or
11      hearing officer or shall be paid by the person appealing from
12      the decision of the board if such appeal is made, and in
13      either event the cost of additional copies shall be paid by
14      the person requesting such copy or copies. In other cases the
15      party requesting the original transcript shall bear the cost
16      thereof.
17          * * *
18      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB0977PN1060                   - 2 -