Title
Amending Title 2 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled City-County Consolidation, by providing that a Sheriff shall no longer be elected, by abolishing the Office of the Sheriff, and by reassigning the powers, functions and duties of that Office to other City agencies; providing for submission of such amendment for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot question to be voted on; authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election; and making conforming, technical changes to The Philadelphia Code; all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Title 2 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
TITLE 2. CITY-COUNTY CONSOLIDATION.
CHAPTER 2-100. CITY-COUNTY CONSOLIDATION.
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§2-114. Sheriff.
(1) Beginning with the municipal election held November 8, 2011, a Sheriff shall no longer be elected. Effective January 2, 2012, the Office of the Sheriff is abolished, and all the powers, functions and duties of that Office shall thereafter be exercised and performed by the Mayor or such other officers, departments, or other City agencies under the authority of the Mayor as the Mayor shall designate.
(2) The provisions of Chapter A-1 of the Appendix to The Home Rule Charter shall apply to the changes made by this Section as if the Office of the Sheriff had been abolished and its functions transferred to the Mayor by The Home Rule Charter.
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SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia for their approval or disapproval at a special election to be held on , and shall not take effect unless so approved. 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 a Sheriff no longer be elected, the Office of the Sheriff be abolished, and the powers, functions and duties of that Office be exercised and performed by the Mayor or such other City agencies under the authority of the Mayor as the Mayor shall designate?
SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendment to Chapter 2-100 of The Philadelphia Code, 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 in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in the Legal Intelligencer the proposed amendment to Chapter 2-100 of The Philadelphia Code, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance, once a week during the three (3) weeks preceding the election; and further, at such other time and in such other manner as he 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, together with the notice provided for in 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.
SECTION 7. The Clerk of Council is directed to provide a certified copy of this Ordinance to the Philadelphia City Commissioners immediately upon its adoption into law.
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