THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY MARSICO, BAKER, BARRAR, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, ELLIS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GINGRICH, GRELL, HARHART, HARRIS, HESS, HUTCHINSON, M. KELLER, KIRKLAND, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MILLER, MOUL, MUNDY, MURT, PAYNE, PETRI, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, ROHRER, SIPTROTH, STEVENSON, TRUE, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, YOUNGBLOOD, GIBBONS AND GEIST, FEBRUARY 13, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 13, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of August 5, 1941 (P.L.752, No.286), entitled

"An act regulating and improving the civil service of certain

departments and agencies of the Commonwealth; vesting in the

State Civil Service Commission and a Personnel Director

certain powers and duties; providing for classification of

positions, adoption of compensation schedules and

certification of payrolls; imposing duties upon certain

officers and employes of the Commonwealth; authorizing

service to other State departments or agencies and political

subdivisions of the Commonwealth in matters relating to civil

service; defining certain crimes and misdemeanors; imposing

penalties; making certain appropriations, and repealing

certain acts and parts thereof," defining "veteran"; and

further providing for composition of the State Civil Service

Commission.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 3 of the act of August 5, 1941 (P.L.752,

No.286), known as the Civil Service Act, is amended by adding a

definition to read:

Section 3.  Definition of Terms.--In this act, unless the

context otherwise clearly requires,--

* * *

(x)  "Veteran" means an individual who served in the United

States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National

Guard and who was discharged or released from service under

conditions other than dishonorable.

Section 2.  Section 201 of the act, amended November 27, 2002

(P.L.1129, No.140), is amended to read:

Section 201.  State Civil Service Commission.--(a)  The State

Civil Service Commission shall consist of three full-time

members, not more than two of whom shall be of the same

political affiliation, appointed by the Governor, with the

advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the

Senate. Each appointment shall be for a term of six years or

until a successor is appointed and qualified. The members of the

commission shall hold no other public position to which a salary

is attached. The Governor shall designate one of the members as

chairman. No commission member shall hold any office or

position, the duties of which are incompatible with his official

duties. At least one member of the commission shall be a

veteran, as defined in section 3.

(b)  The chairman of the commission shall receive a salary of

sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000.00) per annum. Each other

member of the commission shall receive a salary of sixty-two

thousand five hundred dollars ($62,500.00) per annum.

(b.1)  The commissioners shall receive annual cost-of-living

increases under section 3(e) of the act of September 30, 1983

(P.L.160, No.39), known as the "Public Official Compensation

Law." Each commissioner shall be entitled to receive actual

traveling expenses.

(c)  Any person appointed as a member of the commission shall

be a citizen and legal resident of the Commonwealth for a period

of not less than one year who is in sympathy with modern

personnel methods and the application of merit principles to

public employment. No person who, within one year preceding his

appointment, has been an officer of a political party shall be

eligible to serve as a commissioner. The Governor may remove any

member of the commission, but only for incompetence,

inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance or misfeasance in

office by giving such member a statement in writing of the

charges against him and affording him, after notice of not less

than ten days, an opportunity of making written answer and, upon

request, being publicly heard in person and by counsel. A copy

of the charges and answer of the Governor's findings and a

transcript of the record shall be filed with the secretary of

the commission.

Section 3.  The amendment of sections 3 and 201 of the act

shall apply to commission appointments made after the effective

date of this act.

Section 4.  This act shall take effect immediately.