Bill 130851
Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide that Council approval is required for certain contracts for one year or less for the purpose of providing legal representation and related services for indigent persons, including but not limited to parents and children who are subjects of dependency proceedings; criminal defendants; persons in juvenile justice proceedings; persons involved in behavioral health proceedings; and indigent persons involved in other proceedings where legal representation is required as a matter of law or by court order; and to provide that Council approval is also required for renewals or extensions of such contracts; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.
Introduced by
From the floor
Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.
“Thank you, Mr. President, members of Council. The right to counsel is a fundamental procedural safeguard guaranteed under the Bill of Rights to all persons accused of a crime who are unable to afford a lawyer. com) 2/5/15 - STATED - 2ND READING versus Wainwright, the United States Supreme Court recognized the fundamental role that legal representation plays in a fair criminal justice system. In November of 2013, I in…”
Councilman O'Brien · Stated Meeting, February 5, 2015 · Feb 5, 2015 · official transcript, this passage
“On Tuesday Philadelphia voters will have an important ballot question before them regarding the constitutional rights of the most vulnerable among us. The right to counsel is a fundamental, procedural safeguard guaranteed under the Bill of Rights to all persons accused of a crime who are unable to afford a lawyer. In the landmark case Gideon vs. Wainwright, the United States Supreme Court recognized the fundamental r…”
Councilman O'Brien · Stated Meeting, May 15, 2014 · May 15, 2014 · official transcript, this passage
“Thank you, Mr. President. The right to counsel is a fundamental procedural safeguard guaranteed under the Bill of Rights to all persons accused of a crime who are unable to afford a lawyer. S. Supreme Court recognized the fundamental role that legal representation plays in a fair criminal 2/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING justice system. On November 14th, 2013, I introduced with co-sponsor Councilman Greenlee a three-pi…”
Councilman O'Brien · Stated Meeting, February 20, 2014 · Feb 20, 2014 · official transcript, this passage
“To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Law and Government, to which was referred Bill No. 130851, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide that Council approval is requir…”
Chief Clerk · Stated Meeting, February 6, 2014 · Feb 6, 2014 · official transcript, this passage
Status timeline
- Nov 14, 2013Introduced and Referred · CITY COUNCIL
- Feb 4, 2014HEARING NOTICES SENT · Committee on Law and Government
- Feb 4, 2014HEARING HELD · Committee on Law and Government
- Feb 4, 2014REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED · Committee on Law and Government
- Feb 6, 2014ORDERED PLACED ON THIS DAY`S FIRST READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL
- Feb 6, 2014SUSPEND THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL · CITY COUNCIL
- Feb 6, 2014ORDERED PLACED ON NEXT WEEK`S SECOND READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL
- Feb 20, 2014READ AND PASSED · CITY COUNCIL
- Mar 6, 2014NO ACTION TAKEN · MAYOR
Official documents
Documents open on the City of Philadelphia’s legislative site.
Full text
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..Title Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide that Council approval is required for certain contracts for one year or less for the purpose of providing legal representation and related services for indigent persons, including but not limited to parents and children who are subjects of dependency proceedings; criminal defendants; persons in juvenile justice proceedings; persons involved in behavioral health proceedings; and indigent persons involved in other proceedings where legal representation is required as a matter of law or by court order; and to provide that Council approval is also required for renewals or extensions of such contracts; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election. ..Body THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. There shall be submitted for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia at the election to be held May 20, 2014, the amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter contained in Resolution No. 130861 approved by Council on February 20, 2014 and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Council. SECTION 2. There shall be placed on the ballot the following question to be answered "Yes" or "No" by the qualified electors participating in the election: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide that Council approval is required for certain contracts for one year or less for the purpose of providing legal representation and related services for indigent persons, including but not limited to parents and children who are subjects of dependency proceedings; criminal defendants; persons in juvenile justice proceedings; persons involved in behavioral health proceedings; and indigent persons involved in other proceedings where legal representation is required? SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter as set forth in Resolution No. 130861 together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance. SECTION 4. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to cause to be published in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in the Legal Intelligencer the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance, once during the three (3) weeks preceding the election on May 20, 2014; and further, at such other time and in such other manner as he may consider desirable. SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to issue a proclamation giving at least thirty (30) days' notice of such election. The Clerk of Council shall cause a copy of the proclamation to be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in the Legal Intelligencer once a week during the three (3) weeks preceding the election on May 20, 2014. SECTION 6. The appropriate officers are authorized and directed to take such action as may be required for the holding of an election on the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ..End 2