Legislation would create a special court for business matters

The state House Government Oversight Committee recently advanced House Bill 332, legislation that would create Commerce Courts in counties statewide.

The bill amends Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to establish Commerce Courts that will rule on intricate business legal matters, such as mergers, dissolutions and liquidations, and acquisitions.

The judges on the courts will specialize in hearing and deciding business cases.

“My legislation builds on the success of Philadelphia’s Commerce Case Management Program, which was implemented more than a decade ago,” Chairman Seth Grove (R-York) said. “Since then, the program has gained a reputation for its effective, efficient and predictable rulings on complex business cases. With the success of the program there, it makes perfect sense to expand it to include the entire Commonwealth.”

The courts would be established by the court of common pleas in each judicial district.

Under the bill, the state Supreme Court can appoint a statewide commerce court coordinator who assists with the courts and their guidelines.

The bill moves to the full House for consideration.

The recently created committee provides oversight on how state agencies operate and on how tax dollars are spent. It investigates matters referred either by the majority leader, the minority leader or the speaker.