Proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide within civil service regulations for the establishment of the "Hero's Panel" to protect the dignity and legacy of fallen police officers, firefighters and paramedics for the purpose of responsibly determining whether a police officer, firefighter or paramedic has died in the line of duty, and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Under Section 6 of the First Class City Home Rule Act (53 P.S. §13106), an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter may be proposed by a resolution of the Council of the City of Philadelphia adopted with the concurrence of two-thirds of its elected members; now therefore be it,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the following amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter is hereby proposed and shall be submitted to the electors of the City on an election date designated by ordinance:

ARTICLE VII

EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE

BRANCH - POWERS AND DUTIES

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CHAPTER 4

CIVIL SERVICE; REGULATIONS

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SECTION 7-401. Contents.

The regulations shall provide for:

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(e) Promotions which shall give appropriate consideration to the applicant's qualifications, record of performance, seniority and conduct. Vacancies shall be filled by promotion whenever possible, and promotion shall be on a competitive basis except where the Personnel Director with the approval of the Civil Service Commission finds that competition is impracticable. Philadelphia police officers, firefighters and paramedics who are killed or who die in the line of duty shall be posthumously promoted to the rank that immediately follows the police officer's or firefighter's rank at his or her time of death.

The Civil Service Commission shall convene a panel, to be known as the “Hero's Panel”, that will be responsible for determining whether a police officer, firefighter or paramedic has died in the line of duty. The Hero's Panel shall be composed of: one representative designated by the City Administration; one representative designated by the President of the City Council; one representative designated by the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 5; one representative designated by the International Association of Firefighters, Local 22; and one independent representative chosen by a majority of the four representatives designated as provided herein.

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Explanation:

Italics

indicate new matter added.

End