PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter says he’s holding a hearing on Philadelphia’s bail system because of concerns about what he calls a “fugitive crisis.’’

Specter has invited court officials to a hearing at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

The Democratic senator said Sunday that 47,000 fugitives in Philadelphia have jumped bail, a number Specter says is unacceptable.

He says the fugitives owe the city $1 billion in forfeited bail.

It’s the second Senate subcommittee hearing Specter has called on the topic in response to a series in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.