Lehigh County commissioners have unanimously voted to lend support to Pennsylvania State House Bill 17, which amends the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act.

The board resolution was introduced by Commissioner Michael Schware at the June 8 meeting.

He said Allentown City Council earlier this month supported the bill.

State law looks to require public employees or officials to forfeit taxpayer pensions if convicted of a crime while performing their duties.

“It’s a good government thing and I think in a lot of cases people wonder how something like this isn’t already on the books,” Schware said. “It’s not meant to be directed at anyone in the city or anywhere else.”

“We need the state to do it for us,” said Schware, adding the board cannot act alone as the state sets pension law.

Although Commissioner Dan Hartzell supported the bill, saying he “was gratified to see most of it,” he expressed concern with how the possible law might affect other parts of an individual’s pension contribution.

His concern rested with the second part of the bill stipulating the portion of the pension contributed by the employee can also be seized to pay fines or restitution.

Hartzell said the bill may have surfaced due to public fury over the restoration of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s state pension despite his conviction on child sexual abuse charges.

“This is thin ice,” Hartzell said. “You’re messing with people’s pensions. I’d probably vote for this if I was in the state House, but just a word of caution, it’s delicate.”

Commissioner Geoff Brace told Hartzell there have been numerous versions of the bill that have been drafted that occurred before the Sandusky situation.

“This isn’t the first go around at it,” Brace said. “You’re going back probably 10 years.”

Commissioner Tom Creighton also commented on the bill, adding it is similar to a number of laws associated with police officers who are required to do the same if they are convicted of committing a crime or felony.

According to Schware, the entire Lehigh Valley delegation has expressed support for H.B. 17.

The state House last month passed H.B. 17 by a vote of 188-2.

In other business, commissioners unanimously approved reappointment of Salisbury Township resident David Weinstein to the Lehigh County Housing Authority, with his term expiring Dec. 31, 2020.

Brace said Weinstein, who is a real estate manager, has served the county housing authority “for quite some time with distinction.”

Weinstein has served as a member of the housing authority for the past 10 years.

“I feel it’s my giving back to the community,” he said.

Also the board unanimously approved Max J. Harrison of Clinton Township, Lycoming County, to serve as executive director of Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services.