PRINTER'S NO. 2774
No. 2013 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY D. EVANS, PARKER, FRANKEL, MYERS, WALKO,
CALTAGIRONE, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GERBER, GERGELY,
GRUCELA, KENNEY, KOTIK, MANN, MARKOSEK, McCALL, PETRARCA,
READSHAW, RUBLEY, SAYLOR, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, SHANER,
WHEATLEY AND NICKOL, OCTOBER 13, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 13, 2005
AN ACT
1 Establishing a temporary State commission to study the
2 Constitution of Pennsylvania to recommend possible amendment
3 or revision; prescribing the powers and duties of the
4 commission; and making an appropriation.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Commission established.
8 A temporary State commission, to be known as the Commission
9 on Constitutional Revision, is hereby established. The
10 commission shall consist of 15 citizens of this Commonwealth of
11 whom five shall be appointed by the Governor, three shall be
12 appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, three
13 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
14 Representatives, two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
15 of the Senate and two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
16 of the House of Representatives.
17 Section 2. Election of officers.
1 The members of the Commission on Constitutional Revision
2 shall elect from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman.
3 Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in
4 the manner provided for original appointments.
5 Section 3. Purpose of commission.
6 The Commission on Constitutional Revision shall study the
7 Constitution of Pennsylvania, as amended, in the light of
8 contemporary conditions and the anticipated problems and needs
9 of the people of this Commonwealth. If the commission finds
10 change in the constitution advisable, it shall consider the best
11 means of effecting such change. If the commission determines
12 that the best means is by amendment, it shall so recommend and
13 its report shall contain drafts of the proposed amendment or
14 amendments. If the commission determines that the best means is
15 by general revision, it shall collect, compile and analyze such
16 information as it may deem useful to the delegates at a
17 constitutional convention and shall make any recommendations
18 relating to the substance of revision as it may consider
19 appropriate.
20 Section 4. Final report.
21 The Commission on Constitutional Revision shall submit its
22 final report to the Governor and the General Assembly not later
23 than one week after the convening of the General Assembly in
24 regular session in 2007.
25 Section 5. Studies.
26 The Commission on Constitutional Revision is authorized to
27 make any studies or analyses it may deem relevant through its
28 own personnel or in cooperation with any public or private
29 agency including, but not limited to, universities, colleges,
30 foundations and research organizations.
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1 Section 6. Expenses.
2 The members of the Commission on Constitutional Revision
3 shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all
4 expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their
5 duties.
6 Section 7. Employment.
7 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may employ, and at
8 its pleasure remove, such personnel as it may deem necessary for
9 the performance of its functions and fix their compensation
10 within the amounts made available by appropriation.
11 Section 8. Other duties.
12 The Commission on Constitutional Revision is authorized to
13 enter into any agreements for research or otherwise and to do
14 and perform any acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper
15 to carry out the purposes of this act.
16 Section 9. Meeting; hearings.
17 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may meet within and
18 without this Commonwealth and may hold public or private
19 hearings.
20 Section 10. Cooperation.
21 The heads of the several departments, agencies, boards,
22 commissions, authorities and instrumentalities of the
23 Commonwealth and of the governmental subdivisions of the
24 Commonwealth are directed to cooperate with the Commission on
25 Constitutional Revision with such facilities, assistance and
26 data as may be necessary or desirable for the commission to
27 properly carry out its functions under this act, and which will
28 not interfere with the proper conduct of the respective
29 departments, agencies, boards, commissions, authorities,
30 instrumentalities and governmental subdivisions.
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1 Section 11. Appropriation.
2 The sum of $350,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
3 is hereby appropriated for the expenses of the Commission on
4 Constitutional Revision for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to
5 June 30, 2006, to carry out the provisions of this act. Payment
6 from the appropriation shall be made by request of the chairman
7 of the commission in the manner provided by law.
8 Section 12. Effective date.
9 This act shall take effect immediately.
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