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City Council Unveils Proposal to Boost City Solicitor's Power in Defending Local Laws

Official: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 relating to the powers and duties of the City Solicitor to enforce and defend duly enacted ordinances, and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.

Sponsor: Councilmember Kenney

Introduced: December 15, 2005

: Committee on Law and Government

government policy change public safety

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2004–2007 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill proposes a change to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, which would require the Law Department to defend city ordinances against court challenges and not give advice that contradicts their validity until a court rules otherwise.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Submits to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia a proposal to amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter.
Proposes an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to require the Law Department to defend city ordinances against court challenges and not provide advice that contradicts their validity until a court rules otherwise.
Requires the Clerk of Council to publish notice of the proposed amendment and make arrangements for a special election to consider the proposal.
Sets May 16, 2006, as the date for the special election to consider the proposed amendment.