PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 156 PRINTER'S NO. 1032
No. 8 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY MOWERY, KUKOVICH, BOSCOLA, HART, COSTA, SLOCUM,
EARLL AND CORMAN, JANUARY 13, 1999
SENATOR LEMMOND, STATE GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, MAY 4, 1999
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to create a
2 bipartisan task force to study the feasibility of changing
3 the date of general primary elections in nonpresidential <--
4 nomination years and municipal primary elections from the <--
5 third Tuesday in May to the third Tuesday in TO September. <--
6 WHEREAS, The number of registered voters in this Commonwealth
7 has increased while the number of people voting in elections
8 continues to decrease; and
9 WHEREAS, This decrease may be due to, among other things,
10 negative attitudes resulting from longer campaign seasons and
11 negative campaigning; and
12 WHEREAS, The six-month period between the primary in the
13 spring and the general election in November necessitates the
14 raising of more money for campaigning than would a two-month
15 period and thus increases the influence of money on the
16 political process; therefore be it
17 RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
18 General Assembly direct the Joint State Government Commission to
19 create a bipartisan task force consisting of one member TWO <--
1 MEMBERS appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate,
2 one member TWO MEMBERS appointed by the Minority Leader of the <--
3 Senate, one member TWO MEMBERS appointed by the Speaker of the <--
4 House of Representatives, one member AND TWO MEMBERS appointed <--
5 by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one <--
6 member appointed jointly by the President pro tempore of the
7 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
8 REPRESENTATIVES; AND BE IT FURTHER <--
9 RESOLVED, THAT THE TASK FORCE CREATE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
10 COMPOSED OF one representative from, and designated by, each of
11 the following: the Bureau of Election of the Department of
12 State, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, the
13 Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the Pennsylvania
14 State Association of Township Commissioners, the Pennsylvania
15 State Association of Township Supervisors and the Pennsylvania
16 League of Cities and Municipalities AND SUCH ADDITIONAL MEMBERS <--
17 AS THE TASK FORCE SHALL DEEM APPROPRIATE; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the task force shall study the feasibility of
19 changing general primary elections held during nonpresidential <--
20 election years and municipal primary elections from May to <--
21 September, including the costs to the State, local, county and <--
22 municipal SEPTEMBER, ALONG WITH THE QUESTION OF THE TIMING OF <--
23 THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SEPARATING THE
24 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY FROM THE PRIMARY FOR NOMINATIONS TO OTHER
25 PUBLIC OFFICES WHICH STUDY SHALL ANALYZE AND ESTIMATE THE COSTS
26 TO THE STATE AND COUNTY governments to make the change, as well
27 as the impact such a change could have on reducing election
28 campaigning AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE COSTS; and be it further <--
29 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
30 its findings, recommendations and proposed legislation to the
19990S0008R1032 - 2 -
1 General Assembly no later than December SEPTEMBER 1, 1999. <--
L11L82DMS/19990S0008R1032 - 3 -