PRINTER'S NO. 2671

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

622

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY TAYLOR, W. KELLER, STURLA, BRIGGS, VEREB,

SCHLOSSBERG, HEFFLEY, MILLARD, THOMAS, JAMES, MARSHALL,

O'NEILL, NEILSON, PAYNE, GODSHALL, A. HARRIS, NESBIT, COHEN,

Pennsylvania State Police given the constitutional protection

of that fund.

WHEREAS, The Constitutional Convention of 1967-1968 revised

the Constitution of 1874; and

WHEREAS, Section 11(a) of Article VIII of the Constitution of

Pennsylvania states "All proceeds from gasoline and other motor

fuel excise taxes, motor vehicle registration fees and license

taxes, operators' license fees and other excise taxes imposed on

products used in motor transportation after providing therefrom

for (a) cost of administration and collection, (b) payment of

"used solely for construction, reconstruction, maintenance and

repair of and safety on public highways and bridges and costs

and expenses incident thereto, and for the payment of

obligations incurred for such purposes, and shall not be

diverted by transfer or otherwise to any other purpose, except

that loans may be made by the State from the proceeds of such

taxes and fees for a single period not exceeding eight months,

but no such loan shall be made within the period of one year

from any preceding loan, and every loan made in any fiscal year

shall be repayable within one month after the beginning of the

gasoline, excluding the operations of Troop-T, which are

entirely funded through toll revenues of the Pennsylvania

Turnpike Commission; and

WHEREAS, At the current rate, the diverted amount is

projected to grow to nearly $1 billion in the next five years;

and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has seen the diversion of money from

the Motor License Fund to the Pennsylvania State Police in ever

increasing dollar amounts for decades; and

WHEREAS, The first bill to stop this diversion was introduced

benefit of Act 89 of 2013; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the

Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a

comprehensive review of the resources typically expended by the

Pennsylvania State Police in non-turnpike highway patrol

activities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

examine the appropriate and justifiable level of Motor License

Fund support under the Constitution of Pennsylvania; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the House

of Representatives no later than six months from the adoption of

this resolution.