PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1459 PRINTER'S NO. 1848
No. 1179 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY D. EVANS, BLACKWELL, CAPPELLI, COSTA, DALEY,
DePASQUALE, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GRUCELA, HANNA, KENNEY, KING,
KIRKLAND, LENTZ, LEVDANSKY, MAHONEY, PRESTON, RAMALEY,
RAYMOND, TANGRETTI, WALKO, WOJNAROSKI, KORTZ AND HORNAMAN,
MAY 1, 2007
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 6, 2007
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. Short title.
8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Commission on
9 Constitutional Revision Act.
10 Section 2. Commission established.
11 A temporary State commission, to be known as the Commission
12 on Constitutional Revision, is hereby established. The
13 commission shall consist of 15 citizens of this Commonwealth of
14 whom five shall be appointed by the Governor, three shall be
15 appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, three
16 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
17 Representatives, two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
1 of the Senate and two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
2 of the House of Representatives.
3 Section 3. Election of officers.
4 The members of the Commission on Constitutional Revision
5 shall elect from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman.
6 Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in
7 the manner provided for original appointments.
8 Section 4. Purpose of commission.
9 The Commission on Constitutional Revision shall study the
10 Constitution of Pennsylvania, as amended, EXCEPT ARTICLE I, in <--
11 the light of contemporary conditions and the anticipated
12 problems and needs of the people of this Commonwealth. If the
13 commission finds change in the constitution advisable, it shall
14 consider the best means of effecting such change. If the
15 commission determines that the best means is by amendment, it
16 shall so recommend and its report shall contain drafts of the
17 proposed amendment or amendments. If the commission determines
18 that the best means is by general revision, it shall collect,
19 compile and analyze such information as it may deem useful to
20 the delegates at a constitutional convention and shall make any
21 recommendations relating to the substance of revision as it may
22 consider appropriate. THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT MAKE ANY <--
23 RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
24 PENNSYLVANIA, NOR SHALL THE COMMISSION STUDY OR RECOMMEND ANY
25 CHANGE OR PROPOSAL THAT WOULD IN ANY MANNER INFRINGE UPON,
26 DIMINISH, LESSEN OR RESTRICT ANY RIGHT, PRIVILEGE OR IMMUNITY
27 ENJOYED BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH UNDER THE
28 CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA OR THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
29 STATES.
30 Section 5. Final report.
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1 The Commission on Constitutional Revision shall submit its
2 final report to the Governor and the General Assembly not later
3 than one year after the effective date of this section.
4 Section 6. Studies.
5 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may conduct any
6 studies or analyses it deems relevant through its own personnel
7 or in cooperation with any public or private agency including,
8 but not limited to, universities, colleges, foundations, <--
9 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS and research organizations.
10 Section 7. Expenses.
11 The members of the Commission on Constitutional Revision
12 shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all
13 expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their
14 duties.
15 Section 8. Employment.
16 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may employ, and at
17 its pleasure remove, such personnel as it may deem necessary for
18 the performance of its functions and fix their compensation
19 within the amounts made available by appropriation.
20 Section 9. Other duties.
21 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may enter into any
22 agreements for research or otherwise and to do and perform any
23 acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the
24 purposes of this act.
25 Section 10. Meeting and hearings.
26 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may meet within and
27 without this Commonwealth and may hold public or private <--
28 hearings.
29 Section 11. Cooperation.
30 The heads of the several departments, agencies, boards,
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1 commissions, authorities and instrumentalities of the
2 Commonwealth and of the governmental subdivisions of the
3 Commonwealth shall cooperate with the Commission on
4 Constitutional Revision with such facilities, assistance and
5 data as may be necessary or desirable for the commission to
6 properly carry out its functions under this act, and which will
7 not interfere with the proper conduct of the respective
8 departments, agencies, boards, commissions, authorities,
9 instrumentalities and governmental subdivisions.
10 Section 12. Appropriation.
11 The sum of $475,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
12 is hereby appropriated to the Commission on Constitutional
13 Revision for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2006, and July <--
14 1, 2007. For 2007, AND JULY 1, 2008, FOR the purpose of carrying <--
15 out the provisions of this act. Payment from the appropriation
16 shall be made by request of the chairman of the commission in
17 the manner provided by law.
18 Section 13. Effective date.
19 This act shall take effect immediately.
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