STATE & LOCAL
BOMA/Pittsburgh Wins at Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Overturns City Mandate
In a significant victory for BOMA, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently handed down a ruling voiding the city of Pittsburgh’s Safe and Secure Buildings Act. This decision caps a long-fought battle led by BOMA/Pittsburgh, which was successful at every stage in the courts. The city passed the measure in 2015, requiring building owners to provide extensive, specified training to security and service personnel and even mandating who could provide the training. BOMA/Pittsburgh responded to this overreach with a years-long legal effort, which was supported by BOMA International’s Industry Defense Fund.
Ultimately the state’s highest court agreed with BOMA/Pittsburgh, ruling that the measure exceeded the city government’s authority. According to the justices’ written opinion, the “provisions simply want for any statutory authority, express or otherwise,” adding “we must conclude that no statutory provision cited by the City comes close to authorizing such requirements.” While local authority may vary across the country, BOMA/Pittsburgh’s hard-fought triumph sets an important precedent that is appreciated by all BOMA local associations.