2962 - Limitation on municipal powers.

     § 2962.  Limitation on municipal powers.        (a)  Powers granted by statute.--With respect to the     following subjects, the home rule charter shall not give any     power or authority to the municipality contrary to or in     limitation or enlargement of powers granted by statutes which     are applicable to a class or classes of municipalities:            (1)  The filing and collection of municipal tax claims or        liens and the sale of real or personal property in        satisfaction of them.            (2)  The procedures in the exercise of the powers of        eminent domain and the assessment of damages and benefits for        property taken, injured or destroyed.            (3)  Boundary changes.            (4)  Regulation of public schools.            (5)  The registration of electors and the conduct of        elections.            (6)  The fixing of subjects of taxation.            (7)  The fixing of the rates of nonproperty or personal        taxes levied upon nonresidents.            (8)  The assessment of real or personal property and        persons for taxation purposes.            (9)  Defining or providing for the punishment of any        felony or misdemeanor.            (10)  Municipal planning under the act of July 31, 1968        (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities        Planning Code.        (b)  Taxing power.--Unless prohibited by the Constitution of     Pennsylvania, the provisions of this subpart or any other     statute or its home rule charter, a municipality which has     adopted a home rule charter shall have the power and authority     to enact and enforce local tax ordinances upon any subject of     taxation granted by statute to the class of municipality of     which it would be a member but for the adoption of a home rule     charter at any rate of taxation determined by the governing     body. No home rule municipality shall establish or levy a rate     of taxation upon nonresidents which is greater than the rate     which a municipality would have been authorized to levy on     nonresidents but for the adoption of a home rule charter. The     governing body shall not be subject to any limitation on the     rates of taxation imposed upon residents.        (c)  Prohibited powers.--A municipality shall not:            (1)  Engage in any proprietary or private business except        as authorized by statute.            (2)  Exercise powers contrary to or in limitation or        enlargement of powers granted by statutes which are        applicable in every part of this Commonwealth.            (3)  Be authorized to diminish the rights or privileges        of any former municipal employee entitled to benefits or any        present municipal employee in his pension or retirement        system.            (4)  Enact or promulgate any ordinance or regulation with        respect to definitions, sanitation, safety, health, standards        of identity or labeling pertaining to the manufacture,        processing, storage, distribution and sale of any foods,        goods or services subject to any Commonwealth statutes and        regulations unless the municipal ordinance or regulation is        uniform in all respects with the Commonwealth statutes and        regulations thereunder. This paragraph does not affect the        power of any municipality to enact and enforce ordinances        relating to building codes or any other safety, sanitation or        health regulation pertaining thereto.            (5)  Enact any provision inconsistent with any statute        heretofore enacted prior to April 13, 1972, affecting the        rights, benefits or working conditions of any employee of a        political subdivision of this Commonwealth.        (d)  Reduction of police force.--Notwithstanding any     provision of this subpart or any other statute to the contrary,     any municipality that is or was a city of the second class A may     reduce its police force or its firefighting force for economic     reasons, as determined by ordinance.        (e)  Statutes of general application.--Statutes that are     uniform and applicable in every part of this Commonwealth shall     remain in effect and shall not be changed or modified by this     subpart. Statutes shall supersede any municipal ordinance or     resolution on the same subject.        (f)  Regulation of business and employment.--A municipality     which adopts a home rule charter shall not determine duties,     responsibilities or requirements placed upon businesses,     occupations and employers, including the duty to withhold, remit     or report taxes or penalties levied or imposed upon them or upon     persons in their employment, except as expressly provided by     statutes which are applicable in every part of this Commonwealth     or which are applicable to all municipalities or to a class or     classes of municipalities. This subsection shall not be     construed as a limitation in fixing rates of taxation on     permissible subjects of taxation.        (g)  Regulation of firearms.--A municipality shall not enact     any ordinance or take any other action dealing with the     regulation of the transfer, ownership, transportation or     possession of firearms.        (h)  Levying taxes.--This section does not limit or take away     any right of a municipality which adopts a home rule charter     from levying any tax which it had the power to levy had it not     adopted a home rule charter.        (i)  Establishment of rates of taxation.--No provision of     this subpart or any other statute shall limit a municipality     which adopts a home rule charter from establishing its own rates     of taxation upon all authorized subjects of taxation except     those specified in subsection (a)(7).        (j)  Retroactive fee increase prohibited.--A municipality     which adopts a home rule charter may not retroactively increase     any fee or charge for any municipal service which has been     provided.