Localmedium impact · 8/10substantive230106

Council Puts Public Safety Office Proposal Up for Voter Approval in May Election Ballot

Official:Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia the proposal in a Resolution approved by City Council amending The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter by establishing the Office of the Chief Public Safety Director to be responsible for ensuring public safety by coordinating the resources (personnel and employment, property, plant and equipment) within the departments of Police, Prisons, Recreation, and all other relevant City agencies; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.

Sponsor: Council President Clarke

Introduced: February 16, 2023

Voted: March 9, 2023

government public safety

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2020–2023 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 amending the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create a new office responsible for public safety, and puts the question of approval or disapproval on the May 16, 2023 ballot.

What This Bill Does

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

The bill proposes creating a new office, the Office of the Chief Public Safety Director, to ensure public safety by coordinating resources within city departments.
The Office of the Chief Public Safety Director will coordinate resources within the departments of Police, Prisons, Recreation, and other relevant city agencies.
The bill authorizes the city's officers to publish notice and make arrangements for a special election to be held on May 16, 2023, to put the proposal to the qualified electors.
If the proposal is approved by the qualified electors, it will amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to establish the new office and its responsibilities.