diff --git a/CRM/Activity/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Activity/StateMachine/Search.php
index 6aa81146fe0d..992a79986b48 100644
--- a/CRM/Activity/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Activity/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {
diff --git a/CRM/Campaign/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Campaign/StateMachine/Search.php
index 4c04c01a7f65..3ff6997b4604 100644
--- a/CRM/Campaign/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Campaign/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {
diff --git a/CRM/Case/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Case/StateMachine/Search.php
index 0cfa120af760..54488648b934 100644
--- a/CRM/Case/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Case/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {
diff --git a/CRM/Contact/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Contact/StateMachine/Search.php
index 61bed6a48293..545b6e93d334 100644
--- a/CRM/Contact/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Contact/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {
diff --git a/CRM/Contribute/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Contribute/StateMachine/Search.php
index 6d437472e328..487b82849be5 100644
--- a/CRM/Contribute/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Contribute/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array [ 'class' => task classname, 'result' => TRUE ]
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {
diff --git a/CRM/Core/Task.php b/CRM/Core/Task.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..96a64e8a56e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CRM/Core/Task.php
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+<?php
+/*
+ +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ | CiviCRM version 4.7                                                |
+ +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ | Copyright CiviCRM LLC (c) 2004-2017                                |
+ +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ | This file is a part of CiviCRM.                                    |
+ |                                                                    |
+ | CiviCRM is free software; you can copy, modify, and distribute it  |
+ | under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License           |
+ | Version 3, 19 November 2007 and the CiviCRM Licensing Exception.   |
+ |                                                                    |
+ | CiviCRM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but     |
+ | WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of         |
+ | MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.               |
+ | See the GNU Affero General Public License for more details.        |
+ |                                                                    |
+ | You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public   |
+ | License and the CiviCRM Licensing Exception along                  |
+ | with this program; if not, contact CiviCRM LLC                     |
+ | at info[AT]civicrm[DOT]org. If you have questions about the        |
+ | GNU Affero General Public License or the licensing of CiviCRM,     |
+ | see the CiviCRM license FAQ at http://civicrm.org/licensing        |
+ +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @package CRM
+ * @copyright CiviCRM LLC (c) 2004-2017
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Class to represent the actions that can be performed on a group of contacts used by the search forms.
+ */
+abstract class CRM_Core_Task {
+
+  /**
+   * These constants are only used as enumerators for each of the batch tasks.
+   */
+  const
+    // General (Implemented by more than one entity)
+    GROUP_REMOVE = 1,
+    GROUP_ADD = 2,
+    PDF_LETTER = 3,
+    TASK_DELETE = 4,
+    TASK_PRINT = 5,
+    BATCH_UPDATE = 6,
+    TASK_SMS = 7,
+    TASK_EXPORT = 8,
+    TASK_EMAIL = 9,
+    TAG_ADD = 10,
+    TAG_REMOVE = 11,
+    // Contact tasks
+    SAVE_SEARCH = 12,
+    SAVE_SEARCH_UPDATE = 13,
+    CREATE_MAILING = 14,
+    DELETE_PERMANENTLY = 15,
+    LABEL_CONTACTS = 16;
+
+  /**
+   * The task array
+   *
+   * @var array
+   */
+  public static $_tasks = NULL;
+
+  /**
+   * @var string
+   *   This must be defined in each child class.  It is passed to the searchTasks hook.
+   *   Example: $objectType = 'event';
+   */
+  static $objectType = NULL;
+
+  /**
+   * Generates a list of batch tasks available for the current entities.
+   * Each child class should populate $_tasks array and then call this parent function for shared functionality.
+   *    * @return array The set of tasks for a group of contacts
+   *            [ 'title' => The Task title,
+   *              'class' => The Task Form class name,
+   *              'result => Boolean.  FIXME: Not sure what this is for
+   *            ]
+   */
+  public static function tasks() {
+    CRM_Utils_Hook::searchTasks(self::$objectType, self::$_tasks);
+    asort(self::$_tasks);
+
+    return self::$_tasks;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * These tasks are the core set of tasks that the user can perform
+   * on a contact / group of contacts
+   *
+   * @return array
+   *   the set of tasks for a group of contacts
+   */
+  public static function taskTitles() {
+    static::tasks();
+
+    $titles = array();
+    foreach (self::$_tasks as $id => $value) {
+      $titles[$id] = $value['title'];
+    }
+
+    if (!CRM_Utils_Mail::validOutBoundMail()) {
+      unset($titles[self::TASK_EMAIL]);
+      unset($titles[self::CREATE_MAILING]);
+    }
+
+    // Users who do not have 'access deleted contacts' should NOT have the 'Delete Permanently' option in search result tasks
+    if (!CRM_Core_Permission::check('access deleted contacts') ||
+      !CRM_Core_Permission::check('delete contacts')
+    ) {
+      unset($titles[self::DELETE_PERMANENTLY]);
+    }
+    return $titles;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Show tasks selectively based on the permission level
+   * of the user
+   * This function should be call parent::corePermissionedTaskTitles
+   *
+   * @param int $permission
+   * @param array $params
+   *             "ssID: Saved Search ID": If !empty we are in saved search context
+   *
+   * @return array
+   *   set of tasks that are valid for the user
+   */
+  abstract public static function permissionedTaskTitles($permission, $params);
+
+  /**
+   * Show tasks selectively based on the permission level
+   * of the user
+   * This function should be called by permissionedTaskTitles in children
+   *
+   * @param array $tasks The array of tasks generated by permissionedTaskTitles
+   * @param int $permission
+   * @param array $params
+   *             "ssID: Saved Search ID": If !empty we are in saved search context
+   *
+   * @return array
+   *   set of tasks that are valid for the user
+   */
+  public static function corePermissionedTaskTitles($tasks, $permission, $params) {
+    // Only offer the "Update Smart Group" task if a smart group/saved search is already in play and we have edit permissions
+    if (!empty($params['ssID']) && ($permission == CRM_Core_Permission::EDIT)) {
+      $tasks[self::SAVE_SEARCH_UPDATE] = self::$_tasks[self::SAVE_SEARCH_UPDATE]['title'];
+    }
+    else {
+      unset($tasks[self::SAVE_SEARCH_UPDATE]);
+    }
+
+    asort($tasks);
+    return $tasks;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * These tasks are the core set of tasks that the user can perform
+   * on participants
+   *
+   * @param int $value
+   *
+   * @return array
+   *   the set of tasks for a group of participants
+   */
+  public static function getTask($value) {
+    static::tasks();
+
+    if (!CRM_Utils_Array::value($value, self::$_tasks)) {
+      // Children can specify a default task (eg. print), we don't here
+      return array();
+    }
+    return array(
+      CRM_Utils_Array::value('class', self::$_tasks[$value]),
+      CRM_Utils_Array::value('result', self::$_tasks[$value]),
+    );
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Function to return the task information on basis of provided task's form name
+   *
+   * @param string $className
+   *
+   * @return array [ 0 => Task ID, 1 => Task Title ]
+   */
+  public static function getTaskAndTitleByClass($className) {
+    static::tasks();
+
+    foreach (self::$_tasks as $task => $value) {
+      if ((!empty($value['url']) || $task == self::TASK_EXPORT)
+          && ((is_array($value['class']) && in_array($className, $value['class']))
+          || ($value['class'] == $className))) {
+        return array($task, CRM_Utils_Array::value('title', $value));
+      }
+    }
+    return array();
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/CRM/Event/Form/Search.php b/CRM/Event/Form/Search.php
index 5f5783d575e4..282ae87d8220 100644
--- a/CRM/Event/Form/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Event/Form/Search.php
@@ -223,14 +223,10 @@ public function buildQuickForm() {
       $this->assign('participantCount', $participantCount);
       $this->assign('lineItems', $lineItems);
 
-      $permission = CRM_Core_Permission::getPermission();
+      $taskParams['ssID'] = isset($this->_ssID) ? $this->_ssID : NULL;
+      $tasks = CRM_Event_Task::permissionedTaskTitles(CRM_Core_Permission::getPermission(), $taskParams);
 
-      $tasks = CRM_Event_Task::permissionedTaskTitles($permission);
       if (isset($this->_ssID)) {
-        if ($permission == CRM_Core_Permission::EDIT) {
-          $tasks = $tasks + CRM_Event_Task::optionalTaskTitle();
-        }
-
         $savedSearchValues = array(
           'id' => $this->_ssID,
           'name' => CRM_Contact_BAO_SavedSearch::getName($this->_ssID, 'title'),
diff --git a/CRM/Event/Form/Task.php b/CRM/Event/Form/Task.php
index 1929edd6b8cc..3bc742a451d1 100644
--- a/CRM/Event/Form/Task.php
+++ b/CRM/Event/Form/Task.php
@@ -88,8 +88,11 @@ public static function preProcessCommon(&$form, $useTable = FALSE) {
     $values = $form->controller->exportValues($form->get('searchFormName'));
 
     $form->_task = $values['task'];
-    $eventTasks = CRM_Event_Task::tasks();
-    $form->assign('taskName', $eventTasks[$form->_task]);
+    $tasks = CRM_Event_Task::permissionedTaskTitles(CRM_Core_Permission::getPermission());
+    if (!array_key_exists($form->_task, $tasks)) {
+      CRM_Core_Error::statusBounce(ts('You do not have permission to access this page.'));
+    }
+    $form->assign('taskName', $tasks[$form->_task]);
 
     $ids = array();
     if ($values['radio_ts'] == 'ts_sel') {
diff --git a/CRM/Event/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Event/StateMachine/Search.php
index c4ca4e7d5be9..6347afed1178 100644
--- a/CRM/Event/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Event/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class CRM_Event_StateMachine_Search extends CRM_Core_StateMachine {
    * Class constructor.
    *
    * @param object $controller
-   * @param \const|int $action
+   * @param int $action
    */
   public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
     parent::__construct($controller, $action);
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {
diff --git a/CRM/Event/Task.php b/CRM/Event/Task.php
index 01f6fef5b44d..1637e0d9f59c 100644
--- a/CRM/Event/Task.php
+++ b/CRM/Event/Task.php
@@ -26,10 +26,8 @@
  */
 
 /**
- *
  * @package CRM
  * @copyright CiviCRM LLC (c) 2004-2017
- * $Id$
  *
  */
 
@@ -38,48 +36,39 @@
  * used by the search forms
  *
  */
-class CRM_Event_Task {
-  // Value for SAVE_SEARCH is set to 13 in accordance with CRM_Contact_Task::SAVE_SEARCH
-  const DELETE_EVENTS = 1, PRINT_EVENTS = 2, EXPORT_EVENTS = 3, BATCH_EVENTS = 4, CANCEL_REGISTRATION = 5, EMAIL_CONTACTS = 6,
-    // Value for LABEL_CONTACTS is set to 16 in accordance with CRM_Contact_Task::LABEL_CONTACTS
-    SAVE_SEARCH = 13, SAVE_SEARCH_UPDATE = 14, PARTICIPANT_STATUS = 15,
-    LABEL_CONTACTS = 16, GROUP_CONTACTS = 20;
+class CRM_Event_Task extends CRM_Core_Task {
 
-  /**
-   * The task array
-   *
-   * @var array
-   */
-  static $_tasks = NULL;
+  const
+    // Event tasks
+    CANCEL_REGISTRATION = 301,
+    PARTICIPANT_STATUS = 302;
 
-  /**
-   * The optional task array
-   *
-   * @var array
-   */
-  static $_optionalTasks = NULL;
+  static $objectType = 'event';
 
   /**
    * These tasks are the core set of tasks that the user can perform
    * on a contact / group of contacts
    *
-   * @return array
-   *   the set of tasks for a group of contacts
+   * @return array The set of tasks for a group of contacts
+   *            [ 'title' => The Task title,
+   *              'class' => The Task Form class name,
+   *              'result => Boolean.  FIXME: Not sure what this is for
+   *            ]
    */
-  public static function &tasks() {
-    if (!(self::$_tasks)) {
+  public static function tasks() {
+    if (!self::$_tasks) {
       self::$_tasks = array(
-        1 => array(
+        self::TASK_DELETE => array(
           'title' => ts('Delete participants from event'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_Delete',
           'result' => FALSE,
         ),
-        2 => array(
+        self::TASK_PRINT => array(
           'title' => ts('Print selected rows'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_Print',
           'result' => FALSE,
         ),
-        3 => array(
+        self::TASK_EXPORT => array(
           'title' => ts('Export participants'),
           'class' => array(
             'CRM_Export_Form_Select',
@@ -87,7 +76,7 @@ public static function &tasks() {
           ),
           'result' => FALSE,
         ),
-        4 => array(
+        self::BATCH_UPDATE => array(
           'title' => ts('Update multiple participants'),
           'class' => array(
             'CRM_Event_Form_Task_PickProfile',
@@ -95,12 +84,12 @@ public static function &tasks() {
           ),
           'result' => TRUE,
         ),
-        5 => array(
+        self::CANCEL_REGISTRATION => array(
           'title' => ts('Cancel registration'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_Cancel',
           'result' => FALSE,
         ),
-        6 => array(
+        self::TASK_EMAIL => array(
           'title' => ts('Email - send now (to %1 or less)', array(
             1 => Civi::settings()
               ->get('simple_mail_limit'),
@@ -108,32 +97,32 @@ public static function &tasks() {
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_Email',
           'result' => TRUE,
         ),
-        13 => array(
+        self::SAVE_SEARCH => array(
           'title' => ts('Group - create smart group'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_SaveSearch',
           'result' => TRUE,
         ),
-        14 => array(
+        self::SAVE_SEARCH_UPDATE => array(
           'title' => ts('Group - update smart group'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_SaveSearch_Update',
           'result' => TRUE,
         ),
-        15 => array(
+        self::PARTICIPANT_STATUS => array(
           'title' => ts('Participant status - change'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_ParticipantStatus',
           'result' => TRUE,
         ),
-        16 => array(
+        self::LABEL_CONTACTS => array(
           'title' => ts('Name badges - print'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_Badge',
           'result' => FALSE,
         ),
-        17 => array(
+        self::TASK_PRINT => array(
           'title' => ts('PDF letter - print for participants'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_PDF',
           'result' => TRUE,
         ),
-        20 => array(
+        self::GROUP_ADD => array(
           'title' => ts('Group - add contacts'),
           'class' => 'CRM_Event_Form_Task_AddToGroup',
           'result' => FALSE,
@@ -142,62 +131,30 @@ public static function &tasks() {
 
       //CRM-4418, check for delete
       if (!CRM_Core_Permission::check('delete in CiviEvent')) {
-        unset(self::$_tasks[1]);
+        unset(self::$_tasks[self::TASK_DELETE]);
       }
       //CRM-12920 - check for edit permission
       if (!CRM_Core_Permission::check('edit event participants')) {
-        unset(self::$_tasks[4], self::$_tasks[5], self::$_tasks[15]);
+        unset(self::$_tasks[self::BATCH_UPDATE], self::$_tasks[self::CANCEL_REGISTRATION], self::$_tasks[self::PARTICIPANT_STATUS]);
       }
 
-      CRM_Utils_Hook::searchTasks('event', self::$_tasks);
+      parent::tasks();
     }
 
     return self::$_tasks;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * These tasks are the core set of task titles
-   * for participants
-   *
-   * @return array
-   *   the set of task titles
-   */
-  public static function &taskTitles() {
-    self::tasks();
-    $titles = array();
-    foreach (self::$_tasks as $id => $value) {
-      // skip Update Smart Group task
-      if ($id != self::SAVE_SEARCH_UPDATE) {
-        $titles[$id] = $value['title'];
-      }
-    }
-    return $titles;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * These tasks get added based on the context the user is in.
-   *
-   * @return array
-   *   the set of optional tasks for a group of contacts
-   */
-  public static function &optionalTaskTitle() {
-    $tasks = array(
-      14 => self::$_tasks[14]['title'],
-    );
-    return $tasks;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Show tasks selectively based on the permission level
    * of the user
    *
    * @param int $permission
+   * @param array $params
    *
    * @return array
    *   set of tasks that are valid for the user
    */
-  public static function &permissionedTaskTitles($permission) {
-    $tasks = array();
+  public static function permissionedTaskTitles($permission, $params = array()) {
     if (($permission == CRM_Core_Permission::EDIT)
       || CRM_Core_Permission::check('edit event participants')
     ) {
@@ -205,15 +162,17 @@ public static function &permissionedTaskTitles($permission) {
     }
     else {
       $tasks = array(
-        3 => self::$_tasks[3]['title'],
-        6 => self::$_tasks[6]['title'],
+        self::TASK_EXPORT => self::$_tasks[self::TASK_EXPORT]['title'],
+        self::TASK_EMAIL => self::$_tasks[self::TASK_EMAIL]['title'],
       );
 
       //CRM-4418,
       if (CRM_Core_Permission::check('delete in CiviEvent')) {
-        $tasks[1] = self::$_tasks[1]['title'];
+        $tasks[self::TASK_DELETE] = self::$_tasks[self::TASK_DELETE]['title'];
       }
     }
+
+    $tasks = parent::corePermissionedTaskTitles($tasks, $permission, $params);
     return $tasks;
   }
 
@@ -230,13 +189,9 @@ public static function getTask($value) {
     self::tasks();
     if (!$value || !CRM_Utils_Array::value($value, self::$_tasks)) {
       // make the print task by default
-      $value = 2;
+      $value = self::TASK_PRINT;
     }
-    asort(self::$_tasks);
-    return array(
-      self::$_tasks[$value]['class'],
-      self::$_tasks[$value]['result'],
-    );
+    return parent::getTask($value);
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/CRM/Grant/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Grant/StateMachine/Search.php
index 2b387d63b0c5..549db4e65467 100644
--- a/CRM/Grant/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Grant/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {
diff --git a/CRM/Member/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Member/StateMachine/Search.php
index 49453bc2753c..a4521ea16378 100644
--- a/CRM/Member/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Member/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {
diff --git a/CRM/Pledge/StateMachine/Search.php b/CRM/Pledge/StateMachine/Search.php
index a809e91fd2e8..653ee39d113f 100644
--- a/CRM/Pledge/StateMachine/Search.php
+++ b/CRM/Pledge/StateMachine/Search.php
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public function __construct($controller, $action = CRM_Core_Action::NONE) {
    *
    * @param string $formName
    *
-   * @return string
+   * @return array
    *   the name of the form that will handle the task
    */
   public function taskName($controller, $formName = 'Search') {