PRINTER'S NO. 3752
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2590
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY LABS, MARCELL, MAJOR, MIHALEK, TOMLINSON, GREINER,
GUENST, GILLEN AND SCHEUREN, OCTOBER 9, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, OCTOBER 9, 2024
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 44 (Law and Justice) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for civilian community
3 relations specialists; establishing the Civilian Community
4 Relations Specialists Fund; and imposing duties on the
5 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Title 44 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
9 Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
10 CHAPTER 75
11 CIVILIAN COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALISTS
12 Sec.
13 7501. Scope of chapter.
14 7502. Definitions.
15 7503. Duties of commission.
16 7504. Fund.
17 § 7501. Scope of chapter.
18 This chapter relates to civilian community relations
19 specialists.
 1 § 7502. Definitions.
2 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
3 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
4 context clearly indicates otherwise:
5 "Civilian community relations specialist." An individual who
6 works with a law enforcement agency and whose duties include,
7 without limitation, developing and implementing programs in the
8 community to prevent crime, build public trust, promote
9 community-oriented policing, advocate on behalf of victims and
10 engage in public awareness on a variety of topics of interest to
11 the community.
12 "Commission." The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
13 Delinquency.
14 "Fund." The Civilian Community Relations Specialists Fund
15 established in section 7504(a) (relating to fund).
16 "Law enforcement agency." A police department of a
17 municipality.
18 "Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town
19 or township of this Commonwealth.
20 § 7503. Duties of commission.
21 The commission shall, in consultation with the Pennsylvania
22 State Police:
23 (1) Develop and administer programs for civilian
24 community relations specialists to assist law enforcement
25 agencies.
26 (2) Coordinate resources with law enforcement agencies
27 to create and maintain positions for civilian community
28 relations specialists.
29 (3) Assess the proper operation of civilian community
30 relations specialists across this Commonwealth and their role
20240HB2590PN3752 - 2 -
 1 with law enforcement agencies.
2 (4) Adopt or promulgate any necessary rules or
3 regulations to implement and administer this chapter.
4 § 7504. Fund.
5 (a) Establishment.--The Civilian Community Relations
6 Specialists Fund is established as a separate fund within the
7 State Treasury.
8 (b) Administration.--The commission shall administer the
9 fund.
10 (c) Use.--The money in the fund is appropriated to the
11 commission on a continuing basis to carry out the duties of the
12 commission as specified in section 7503 (relating to duties of
13 commission). The appropriation shall not lapse at the end of any
14 fiscal year.
15 (d) Interest.--Interest earned by the fund shall be
16 deposited into the fund.
17 (e) Appropriation.--Money in the fund shall be annually
18 appropriated by the General Assembly.
19 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20240HB2590PN3752 - 3 -