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.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1060: P.L.805, No.247