In the event a write-in candidate was to win election, they would have to submit the check within 30 days of being notified of the victory. Current tax collectors will be grandfathered in by law but will still be required to submit background checks if and when they seek re-election.
According to the York Dispatch, the law will prohibit anyone convicted of burglary, criminal intrusion, robbery, theft and related offenses, forgery and fraudulent practices, offenses against public administration, hacking and similar offenses or a similar federal offense from submitting a nomination form to run for the position.
The background checks will be submitted to each county’s election office; however, the election offices will not be responsible for reviewing the background checks to ensure nominees have not been convicted of any of the crimes mentioned above. That duty will lie with “anyone else who has an interest to challenge” the background check, according to Doug Hill, the executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. Hill suggests the municipalities in which a candidate lives would be best served to review the results of the background checks.
In addition to submitting a background check, Act 164 – which is expected take effect in October – will obligate newly elected collectors to pass a qualification test and calls for all collectors to take yearly continuing education classes.
The law establishes the position of tax collector as one of the few elected positions in Pennsylvania that necessitates a background check for any candidates who wish to run for office.
Source: York Dispatch, 3/9/2015
Posted: April 8, 2015