PRINTER'S NO. 651

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 616 Session of 1981

        INTRODUCED BY KUKOVICH, POTT, PISTELLA, TADDONIO, SWEET, DAWIDA,
           MURPHY, BROWN AND ITKIN, FEBRUARY 18, 1981

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981

                               A JOINT RESOLUTION

     1  Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
     2     of Pennsylvania, reducing the size of the General Assembly.

     3     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     4  hereby resolves as follows:
     5     Section 1.  The following amendment to the Constitution of
     6  the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with
     7  the provisions of Article XI thereof:
     8     That section 16 of Article II be amended to read:
     9  § 16.  Legislative districts.
    10     The Commonwealth shall be divided into 50 senatorial and
    11  [203] 150 representative districts, which shall be composed of
    12  compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population
    13  as practicable. Each senatorial district which shall consist of
    14  three representative districts shall elect one Senator, and each
    15  representative district one Representative. Unless absolutely
    16  necessary no county, city, incorporated town, borough, township
    17  or ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or

     1  representative district.
     2                              SCHEDULE
     3     Immediately following the approval of this amendment by the
     4  electorate, the Commonwealth's legislative districts shall be
     5  reapportioned in the same manner as provided by law for the
     6  reapportionment following the reporting of the Federal decennial
     7  census. The first elections after reapportionment of the
     8  Commonwealth under section 17 to conform to the foregoing
     9  amendment shall be held in the year 1986. At the general
    10  election in the year 1986 Senators in odd-numbered districts and
    11  all Representatives shall be chosen to serve for two years and
    12  Senators in even-numbered districts shall be chosen to serve for
    13  four years. Thereafter, all Senators shall be chosen to serve
    14  for four years. The terms of all Senators in office in 1986
    15  shall expire November 30, 1986.










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