By unanimous vote of the Pennsylvania Senate, the Commonwelth legislature
passed a bill permitting local governmental bodies to offer voluntary early
severance plans. Final passage came on June 14.

The legislature, House Bill 1962, was promoted by EPC as a means of
placing local governments on equal footing with public colleges and school
districts. Those bodies have long enjoyed early severance as an option.

Dr. Miles Williams, EPC's Atlantic Region Manager, steered the legislation
on EPC's behalf. Prime sponsor of the bill was Representative Lynn Herman,
Majority Chair of the House Local Government Committee. Representative
Terry Van Horne, Minority Chair, was the secondary sponsor. Recently
retired State Senator, J. Doyle Corman, EPC's Managing Consultant for Local
Government Affairs in Pennsylvania, assisted Williams in achieving passage.

Williams indicates that the Policy Office of Pennsylvania's Governor, Tom
Ridge, has advised that the Governor is expected to sign the measure into
law in the near future. A number of state local government bodies have
expressed interest in exploring early severance pending passage of the
enabling law.