Title
Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia a proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council of an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to revise and clarify rules pertaining to prohibited activities of City officers and employees, including the restrictions on City officials and employees with respect to political activities.
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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 April 28, 2020, an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter.
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 revise rules pertaining to prohibited activities of appointed City officers and employees, to generally allow such officers and employees to volunteer for state and federal political campaigns outside of work time and without using City resources; to continue to prohibit participation in any political campaign for a City office or Philadelphia-based state office; and to revise penalty provisions pertaining to such restrictions and prohibited activities generally?
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. 200056; 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. 200056 together with the ballot question set forth in this City of Philadelphia Bill No. 200015.
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 April 28, 2020, 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.
SECTION 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately.
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