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 Amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), entitled "An act to empower cities of the second class A, and third class, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships of the first and second classes including those within a county of the second class and counties of the second through eighth classes, individually or jointly, to plan their development and to govern the same by zoning, subdivision and land development ordinances, planned residential development and other ordinances, by official maps, by the reservation of certain land for future public purpose and by the acquisition of such land; to promote the conservation of energy through the use of planning practices and to promote the effective utilization of renewable energy sources; providing for the establishment of planning commissions, planning departments, planning committees and zoning hearing boards, authorizing them to charge fees, make inspections and hold public hearings; providing for mediation; providing for transferable development rights; providing for appropriations, appeals to courts and penalties for violations; and repealing acts and parts of acts," in zoning hearing board and other administrative proceedings, further providing for hearings. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Section 908(7) of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, is amended to read: Section 908. Hearings.--The board shall conduct hearings and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 make decisions in accordance with the following requirements: * * * (7) The board or the hearing officer, as the case may be, shall either keep a stenographic record of the proceedings or an audio recording of sufficient quality to ensure accurate transcription if needed for appeal . The appearance fee for a stenographer or the cost of producing an audio recording shall be shared equally by the applicant and the board. The cost of the original transcript shall be paid by the board if the transcript is ordered by the board or hearing officer or shall be paid by the person appealing from the decision of the board if such appeal is made, and in either event the cost of additional copies shall be paid by the person requesting such copy or copies. In other cases the party requesting the original transcript shall bear the cost thereof. * * * Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. 20250HB0977PN1060 - 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18