PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 590

PRINTER'S NO.  1356

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

542

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, ELLIS, GINGRICH, GRELL, HUTCHINSON, LONGIETTI, MILLER, MURPHY, OBERLANDER, PICKETT, RAPP, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, ROHRER, SAYLOR, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VULAKOVICH, GABLER AND TURZAI, FEBRUARY 19, 2009

  

  

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 30, 2009   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled

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"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,

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special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,

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primary and election expenses and election contests; creating

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and defining membership of county boards of elections;

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imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,

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courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;

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imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,

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revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and

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repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to

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elections," further providing for explanation of ballot

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question.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 201.1 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.

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1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, added

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February 19, 1986 (P.L.29, No.11), is amended to read:

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Section 201.1.  Explanation of Ballot Question.--(a)   

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Whenever a proposed constitutional amendment or other State-wide

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ballot question shall be submitted to the electors of the

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Commonwealth in referendum, the Attorney General shall prepare a

 


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statement in plain English which indicates the purpose,

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limitations and effects of the ballot question on the people of

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the Commonwealth. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall

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include such statement in his publication of a proposed

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constitutional amendment as required by Article XI of the

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Constitution of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth

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shall certify such statement to the county boards of elections

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who shall publish such statement as a part of the notice of

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elections required by section 1201 or any other provision of

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this act. The county board of elections shall also require that

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at least three copies of such statement be posted in or about

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the voting room outside the enclosed space with the specimen

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ballots and other instructions and notices of penalties. In

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election questions which affect only one county or portion

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thereof, the county board of elections shall fulfill these

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requirements in the place of the Attorney General and the

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Secretary of the Commonwealth.

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(b)  In addition to the requirements of subsection (a), all

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ballot referendum questions allowing the Commonwealth to enter

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into any bond or borrowing measure shall include in the

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explanation of the ballot question a fiscal note generated by

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the Treasury Department stating all of the following:

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(1)  A detailed description of the project being funded by

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the bond or borrowing measure.

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(2)  The total costs for the actual project and any, 

<--

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anticipated interest costs over the term of the bond and any

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other anticipated future costs for financing the bond or

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borrowing measure.

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Section 2.  The amendment of section 201.1 of the act shall

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apply to elections occurring 60 days from the effective date of

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this section.

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Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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