PRINTER'S NO. 3402
No. 2546 Session of 1996
INTRODUCED BY MASLAND, RUDY, MILLER, LYNCH, STURLA, MUNDY,
PLATTS, LAUGHLIN, GORDNER, VANCE, CAPPABIANCA, SERAFINI,
L. I. COHEN, BELARDI, BAKER, STABACK, NICKOL, EVANS, FAJT,
E. Z. TAYLOR, DeWEESE, ITKIN, TIGUE, FICHTER, WALKO, HORSEY,
BOSCOLA, NAILOR, RUBLEY, BUXTON, ROONEY, LLOYD, TRAVAGLIO,
HERMAN, COY, SANTONI, McCALL, PHILLIPS, MANDERINO, M. COHEN,
SHANER, KUKOVICH, ROBERTS AND BATTISTO, APRIL 10, 1996
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 10, 1996
AN ACT
1 Establishing a legislative bipartisan commission for women and
2 the Women's Commission Fund.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Definitions.
6 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
7 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
8 context clearly indicates otherwise:
9 "Commission." The Bipartisan Commission for Women
10 established under this act.
11 Section 2. Bipartisan Commission for Women.
12 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the
13 Bipartisan Commission for Women which, as a commission of the
14 legislature, shall assist the General Assembly in investigating,
15 classifying and evaluating matters relating to women in this
1 Commonwealth and shall act on behalf of women and women's
2 issues.
3 (b) Membership.--The commission shall consist of 21 persons.
4 They shall be appointed by the General Assembly as follows:
5 (1) Two members by the President pro tempore of the
6 Senate.
7 (2) Two members by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
8 (3) Two members by the Speaker of the House of
9 Representatives.
10 (4) Two members by the Minority Leader of the House of
11 Representatives.
12 (5) Six representatives of the private sector by the
13 President pro tempore of the Senate, Minority Leader of the
14 Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Minority
15 Leader of the House of Representatives acting in concert.
16 These appointees shall include, but not be limited to,
17 representatives of the labor, business and legal communities.
18 (6) Seven representatives of the public sector by the
19 President pro tempore of the Senate, Minority Leader of the
20 Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Minority
21 Leader of the House of Representatives acting in concert, as
22 follows:
23 (i) One member representing the expertise of the
24 Department of Agriculture.
25 (ii) One member representing the expertise of the
26 Department of Education.
27 (iii) One member representing the expertise of the
28 Department of Public Welfare.
29 (iv) One member representing the expertise of the
30 Department of Commerce.
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1 (v) One member representing the expertise of the
2 Department of Banking.
3 (vi) One member representing the expertise of the
4 Insurance Department.
5 (vii) One member representing the expertise of the
6 Department of Labor and Industry.
7 (c) Proportionment.--At all times the membership of the
8 commission shall be composed of not less than 50% women.
9 (d) Meetings.--The commission shall meet quarterly. To
10 encourage public participation, notice of meetings of the
11 commission shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of
12 the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L.388, No.84), known as the Sunshine
13 Act.
14 (e) Quorum.--A majority of the appointed members serving at
15 any time shall constitute a quorum. Any member who misses three
16 consecutive meetings without cause shall be replaced by the
17 appointing authority.
18 (f) Compensation.--The members of the commission shall
19 receive no compensation for their service, but shall be
20 reimbursed for any actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
21 performance of their duties.
22 (g) Terms.--Appointments shall be for a term of two years.
23 Commissioners shall serve until their successors are appointed.
24 Reappointment shall be possible for two terms beyond the initial
25 term.
26 (h) Vacancies.--
27 (1) Vacancies which occur prior to the expiration of the
28 term shall be filled by appointment for the balance of the
29 unexpired term.
30 (2) Should any resignation or unexpected vacancy occur
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1 which causes the proportion of women members to drop below
2 50% of the total membership, the appropriate appointing
3 authority shall fill the vacancy within 60 days.
4 Section 3. Powers and duties.
5 (a) Authorization.--The commission shall have the powers and
6 duties necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, to
7 make and sign any relevant documents and agreements and to do
8 and perform any acts which may be necessary, desirable or proper
9 to carry out the purposes of this act.
10 (b) Officers.--To facilitate execution of the powers and
11 duties of the commission, the members shall elect from among
12 their number a chair and a vice chair. In addition, an executive
13 committee, consisting of the chair, vice chair and three elected
14 members from among the membership of the commission shall
15 organize the agenda. It shall also appoint committees as
16 necessary from among the commission's membership.
17 (c) Procedure.--The commission shall adopt policies and
18 procedures to govern its internal activities. The performance of
19 duties of its executive director and staff shall conform to
20 these policies and procedures.
21 (d) Specific powers and duties.--The commission shall:
22 (1) Conduct continuous monitoring of matters concerning
23 women, including, but not limited to, women's educational and
24 employment needs and opportunities.
25 (2) Serve as a liaison between government and those
26 groups and organizations whose purposes relate to the
27 interests of women, as well as to encourage and assist such
28 groups to institute local self-help activities designed to
29 meet women's educational, employment and related needs.
30 (3) Promote access to job-training and educational
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1 programs for women, and encourage the development and access
2 to funding for small business enterprises owned or operated
3 by women.
4 (4) Promote women for appointed positions in State
5 government, including but not limited to, boards and
6 commissions.
7 (5) Oversee coordination of and assess the programs and
8 practices of all State agencies as they effect women.
9 (6) Review and report on State laws as they relate to
10 the civil and political rights of women.
11 (7) Serve as a data bank for collection and
12 dissemination of information.
13 (8) Perform any other function that it shall deem
14 appropriate in furtherance of these responsibilities.
15 (9) Hold public hearings, informal hearings, meetings
16 with advisory groups, and conferences regarding any matter
17 related to the accomplishment of its purpose.
18 (10) Propose legislation.
19 (11) Provide to the Governor and the General Assembly a
20 report consisting of the results of its activities and
21 conclusions.
22 Section 4. Administration.
23 The commission shall select an executive director. The
24 executive director shall report directly to the commission and
25 shall serve at the will of the commission. The executive
26 director may hire and direct a competent staff to assist in
27 these duties.
28 Section 5. Assistance from State agencies.
29 The commission may request and shall receive from all
30 Commonwealth agencies such information and assistance as the
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1 commission may require.
2 Section 6. Establishment and use of the Women's Commission
3 Fund.
4 (a) Dedicated fund.--There is hereby established the Women's
5 Commission Fund which shall be under the authority of the
6 commission.
7 (b) Purpose.--The commission may accept grants, gifts,
8 donations or bequests to fulfill any of its stated purposes and
9 shall deposit such moneys into the Women's Commission Fund.
10 Section 7. Effective date.
11 This act shall take effect immediately.
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