PRINTER'S NO.  2734

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

5

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY TURZAI, S. H. SMITH AND METCALFE, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, NOVEMBER 15, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Apportioning this Commonwealth into congressional districts in

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conformity with constitutional requirements; providing for

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the nomination and election of Congressmen; and requiring

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publication of notice of the establishment of congressional

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districts following the Federal decennial census.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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CHAPTER 1

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PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

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Section 101.  Short title.

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This act shall be known and may be cited as the Congressional

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Redistricting Act of 2011.

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Section 102.  Definitions.

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The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

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have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

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context clearly indicates otherwise:

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"Secretary."  The Secretary of the Commonwealth.

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CHAPTER 3

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ESTABLISHMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

 


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Section 301.  Congressional districts.

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For the purpose of electing representatives of the people of

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Pennsylvania to serve in the House of Representatives in the

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Congress of the United States, this Commonwealth shall be

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divided into 18 districts which shall have one Congressman each,

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as follows:

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(1)  The First District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(2)  The Second District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(3)  The Third District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(4)  The Fourth District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(5)  The Fifth District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(6)  The Sixth District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(7)  The Seventh District is composed of a portion of

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this Commonwealth.

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(8)  The Eighth District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(9)  The Ninth District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(10)  The Tenth District is composed of a portion of this

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Commonwealth.

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(11)  The Eleventh District is composed of a portion of

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this Commonwealth.

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(12)  The Twelfth District is composed of a portion of

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this Commonwealth.

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(13)  The Thirteenth District is composed of a portion of

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this Commonwealth.

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(14)  The Fourteenth District is composed of a portion of

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this Commonwealth.

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(15)  The Fifteenth District is composed of a portion of

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this Commonwealth.

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(16)  The Sixteenth District is composed of a portion of

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this Commonwealth.

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(17)  The Seventeenth District is composed of a portion

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of this Commonwealth.

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(18)  The Eighteenth District is composed of a portion of

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this Commonwealth.

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Section 302.  Current officeholders and vacancies.

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(a)  Current officeholders.--The members of Congress now in

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office shall continue in the office until the expiration of

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their respective terms.

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(b)  Vacancies.--Vacancies now existing or happening after

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the passage of this chapter and before the commencement of the

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terms of the members elected at the election of 2012 shall be

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filled for the unexpired terms from the districts established

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under section 301.

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Section 303.  Missed political subdivision.

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In the event any political subdivision or part thereof should

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be omitted in the description of the congressional districts,

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the political subdivision or part thereof shall be included as a

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part of the congressional district which completely surrounds

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it. Should any omitted political subdivision or part thereof be

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not completely surrounded by one congressional district, it

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shall become a part of that congressional district to which it

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is contiguous, or if there are two or more such contiguous

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districts, it shall become a part of that congressional district

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contiguous thereto which has the least population.

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Section 304.  Duty to publish notice of redistricting.

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The secretary shall publish notice of the congressional

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districts as established at least once in at least one newspaper

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of general circulation in each county in which such newspapers

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are published. The notice shall contain legal descriptions for

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all congressional districts in the county in which the

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publication is made. The notice shall also state the population

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of the districts having the smallest and largest populations and

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the percentage variation of such districts from the average

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population for congressional districts.

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CHAPTER 15

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MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

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Section 1510.  Effective date.

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This act shall take effect immediately.

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