2012 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 65 - PUBLIC OFFICERS
Chapter 7 - Open Meetings
Section 710.1 - Public participation

     § 710.1.  Public participation.
        (a)  General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (d), the
     board or council of a political subdivision or of an authority
     created by a political subdivision shall provide a reasonable
     opportunity at each advertised regular meeting and advertised
     special meeting for residents of the political subdivision or of
     the authority created by a political subdivision or for
     taxpayers of the political subdivision or of the authority
     created by a political subdivision or for both to comment on
     matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or
     may be before the board or council prior to taking official
     action. The board or council has the option to accept all public
     comment at the beginning of the meeting. If the board or council
     determines that there is not sufficient time at a meeting for
     residents of the political subdivision or of the authority
     created by a political subdivision or for taxpayers of the
     political subdivision or of the authority created by a political
     subdivision or for both to comment, the board or council may
     defer the comment period to the next regular meeting or to a
     special meeting occurring in advance of the next regular
     meeting.
        (b)  Limitation on judicial relief.--If a board or council of
     a political subdivision or an authority created by a political
     subdivision has complied with the provisions of subsection (a),
     the judicial relief under section 713 (relating to business
     transacted at unauthorized meeting void) shall not be available
     on a specific action solely on the basis of lack of comment on
     that action.
        (c)  Objection.--Any person has the right to raise an
     objection at any time to a perceived violation of this chapter
     at any meeting of a board or council of a political subdivision
     or an authority created by a political subdivision.
        (d)  Exception.--The board or council of a political
     subdivision or of an authority created by a political
     subdivision which had, before January 1, 1993, established a
     practice or policy of holding special meetings solely for the
     purpose of public comment in advance of advertised regular
     meetings shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (a).