PRINTER'S NO. 8
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
97
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BULLOCK, KRUEGER, BURGOS, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN,
MADDEN, SANCHEZ, HOWARD, PARKER, KINSEY, KINKEAD AND
N. NELSON, MARCH 7, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 7, 2023
AN ACT
Establishing the Joint Legislative Equity Committee.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Joint
Legislative Equity Committee Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Committee." The Joint Legislative Equity Committee
established under section 3(a).
"Gender identity." An individual's sense of being male,
female or a different identification standard.
"Institutional policies." A rule, principle or practice
proposed or implemented to better guide decisions or decision
making which leads to the development of procedures and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
protocols that dictate the execution of a policy.
Section 3. Joint Legislative Equity Committee.
(a) Establishment.--The Joint Legislative Equity Committee
is established to solicit input from members of the public,
especially individuals, stakeholders, groups or organizations
with expertise related to racial, ethnic, sex and gender equity
issues, in order to aid the committee in carrying out the duties
under this act.
(b) Composition.--The committee shall consist of 18 members
of the General Assembly who shall serve without compensation as
follows:
(1) Five members shall be appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate from among the majority party.
(2) Four members shall be appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate from among the minority party.
(3) Five members shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives from among the majority party.
(4) Four members shall be appointed by the Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives from among the
minority party.
(c) Term and vacancy.--The term of each member of the
committee shall run from the date of the member's appointment
until 30 days after the convening of the next regular session of
the General Assembly in odd-numbered years and until the
member's successor is appointed and qualified. Appointments to
the committee shall take effect 31 days after the convening of
each regular session of the General Assembly in odd-numbered
years. A vacancy occurring in the committee shall be filled by
the appointing authority making the original appointment for the
unexpired term.
20230HB0097PN0008 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(d) Organization and meetings.--The committee shall organize
as soon as possible after the appointment of members at the call
of the President pro tempore of the Senate, by electing a
chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary by majority vote of
the committee. The secretary need not be a member of the
committee.
(e) Powers and duties.--The committee shall have the same
powers as other standing committees of the General Assembly. The
committee shall:
(1) Upon request of a member of either chamber of the
General Assembly, complete a racial, ethnic, sex and gender
equity impact assessment for any legislation, including Rule
29 resolutions under the General Operating Rules of the
Senate and Rule 35 resolutions under the General Operating
Rules of the House of Representatives, which are initially
reported from either a standing committee of the Senate or a
standing committee of the House of Representatives, but not
both, to minimize unanticipated adverse consequences by
utilizing resources that may have any of the following:
(i) A history of expertise and positive outcomes in
racial, ethnic, sex or gender equity.
(ii) A deep understanding of ameliorating
disproportionate outcomes and unintended costs.
(2) Convene committee meetings and public hearings on
any matter relating to the functions, powers and duties of
the committee.
(3) Identify institutional policies and actions that, in
conjunction with public and private sector partners and
stakeholders and in support of racial, ethnic, sex or gender
equity, can work to improve or achieve racial, ethnic, sex or
20230HB0097PN0008 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
gender equity.
(4) Review and make recommendations to align State
statutes, regulations, policies, programs, services and
budgetary priorities with the goal of racial, ethnic, sex and
gender equity.
(5) Conduct a search for any interdepartmental gaps,
inconsistencies and inefficiencies in the implementation or
attainment of institutional policies and actions.
(6) Identify any new laws, regulations, programs,
policies, services and budgetary priorities that are needed
to ensure and promote desired conditions of racial, ethnic,
sex and gender equity.
(7) Serve as an informational resource for the Senate
and the House of Representatives.
(8) Perform other activities determined necessary to
promote and achieve racial, ethnic, sex and gender equity,
including public awareness, working with Commonwealth
agencies, stakeholders, academic institutions and other
individuals or groups concerned with the elimination of
institutional policies, attitudes and cultural messages that
reinforce differential outcomes by race, ethnicity, sex or
gender identity.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
20230HB0097PN0008 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24