ACT 80 of 2021: School Bus Stop Enforcement

Effective October 20, 2021, Act 80 of 2021 amends Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues to extend temporary regulation for the school bus stop-arm camera enforcement program by two (2) years. The regulation shall now expire on October 20, 2023.

ACT 81 of 2021: Extension of Liquor License Service Areas

Effective November 5, 2021, Act 81 of 2021 authorizes the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) to temporarily extend the licensed premises of a licensed entity, including a club, retail dispenser, hotel, and restaurant, upon request. An extended licensed premise includes any outside serving area that is adjacent to the existing licensed area or within the 1,000 feet of the main licensed building even if separated by a road. The act also:

• Requires the termination of an extended license premise permit if the LCB receives a valid protest or determines that the proposed area does not meet the requirements of the act or board regulations;

• Empowers the LCB to authorize an unlimited number of off-premises catered functions to entities that qualify for these permits; and

• “Provide[s] for an additional year of safekeeping for a liquor license that was in safekeeping during the governor’s proclamation of disaster emergency.”

ACT 87 of 2021: First Responders Day

Effective November 17, 2021, Act 87 of 2021 declares September 27 of each year as the First Responders Day in Pennsylvania. The act calls upon all public schools and educational institutions to observe First Responders Day and to “conduct exercises recognizing the contributions and remembering the sacrifices that first responders have made.” “First Responders Day may not be a paid holiday or a day the school district closes.”

ACT 96 of 2021: Broadband Development Authority

Effective December 22, 2021, Act 96 of 2021 creates a Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority to disburse state and federal funds for the expansion of broadband to unserved and underserved areas, coordinate broadband development, and produce a state wide broadband development plan. The act sets forth the structure and governance of an authority, as well as its powers and duties. The act also enables Pennsylvania to access $100 million in federal aid for broadband roll out. 

ACT 97 of 2021: Bonds for Development Improvements

Effective February 20, 2022, Act 97 of 202 amend the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to clarify that a municipality may require a developer to post a bond that equals  “but does not exceed” 110% of the cost of the improvements. The act also clarifies that the municipality may, prior to release at the time of completion and certification by its engineer, retain 10% of the estimated cost of the remaining improvements.