Title
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 to The Philadelphia
Home Rule Charter relating to the creation of the Philadelphia Prison Community
Oversight Board; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make
arrangements for the special election; all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. There shall be submitted for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of
the City of Philadelphia at the election to be held May 20, 2025, the amendment to The
Philadelphia Home Rule Charter contained in Resolution No. 240834, approved by Council on ____________, and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Council.
SECTION 2. There shall be placed on the ballot the following question to be answered “Yes” or
“No” by the qualified electors participating in the election:
Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of an
independent Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board, and to authorize City Council to
determine the composition, powers and duties of the Board?
SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to (i) certify to the Board of Elections,
within five days of this Ordinance becoming law, a copy of this Ordinance and Resolution No.
240834; and (ii) to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter as set forth in Resolution No. 240834, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to cause to be published one time, during
the three (3) weeks preceding the election on May 20, 2025, in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in The Legal Intelligencer, the proposed amendment to The
Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this
Ordinance; and further, at such other time and in such other manner as the Clerk may consider
desirable.
SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to issue a proclamation giving at
least thirty (30) days’ notice of such election. The Clerk of Council shall cause a copy of the
proclamation to be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the City,
and in The Legal Intelligencer, once a week for three consecutive weeks during the period of
thirty days prior to the election. One such publication may be combined with the publication of
the notice required by Section 4 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. The appropriate officers are authorized and directed to take such action as may be
required for the holding of an election on the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this
Ordinance as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
End