PRINTER'S NO. 604
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
564
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, FONTANA, BREWSTER, WOZNIAK, VANCE, COSTA,
YUDICHAK, WILEY AND BLAKE, MARCH 11, 2015
REFERRED TO FINANCE, MARCH 11, 2015
AN ACT
Establishing the Public Pensions Review Commission; providing
for duties; and making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Public
Pensions Review Commission Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Commission." The Public Pensions Review Commission
established under section 3(a).
Section 3. Public Pensions Review Commission.
(a) Establishment.--The Public Pensions Review Commission is
established.
(b) Duties of commission.--The commission shall:
(1) examine the Public School Employees' Retirement
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System and the State Employees' Retirement System and the
condition of both systems and recommend statutory or
regulatory changes or both needed or desirable to achieve or
maintain a long-term, sound, stable public pension structure
for State and local governments;
(2) issue a final report that is based on the
examination under paragraph (1) no later than six months
after the commission is seated; and
(3) include specific recommendations and reasons for
changes in a final report.
(c) Composition.--The commission shall be composed of the
following:
(1) The Governor or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Revenue or a designee.
(3) The Secretary of the Budget or a designee.
(4) The Secretary of Administration or a designee.
(5) The Majority Leader of the Senate or a designee.
(6) The Minority Leader of the Senate or a designee.
(7) The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives
or a designee.
(8) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
or a designee.
(9) The Director of the Administrative Office of
Pennsylvania Courts or a designee.
(10) The Chancellor of the State System of Higher
Education or a designee.
(11) The President of The Pennsylvania State University
or a designee.
(12) The Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh or a
designee.
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(13) The President of Temple University or a designee.
(14) The President of Lincoln University or a designee.
(15) The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania League
of Municipalities or a designee.
(16) The Executive Director of the County Commissioners
Association of Pennsylvania or a designee.
(17) The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State
Association of Township Supervisors or a designee.
(18) The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State
Association of Boroughs or a designee.
(19) The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania School
Boards Association or a designee.
(20) Three representatives of public employee unions.
(21) Three public members who possess expertise in
issues relating to public pensions. Each of the following
shall appoint one public member:
(i) The Governor.
(ii) The President pro tempore of the Senate.
(iii) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(d) Appointments.--An appointment under subsection (c)(20)
or (21) shall be made within 30 days of enactment.
(e) Vacancies.--A committee vacancy on account of a vacancy
in an office under subsection (c)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6),
(7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17),
(18) or (19) shall be filled by an acting officer.
(f) Quorum.--A majority of appointed members shall
constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting business.
(g) Transparency and ethics.--The commission shall be
subject to the following laws:
(1) The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as
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the Right-to-Know Law.
(2) 65 Pa.C.S. Chs. 7 (relating to open meetings) and 11
(relating to ethics standards and financial disclosure).
(3) The act of July 19, 1957 (P.L.1017, No.451), known
as the State Adverse Interest Act.
(h) Transparency and ethics.--The commission may conduct
hearings and otherwise gather pertinent information and analysis
that it considers appropriate.
(i) Logistical and other support.--The commission shall
receive logistical and other support from the Joint State
Government Commission and may employ additional temporary staff
as needed.
(j) Reimbursement.--The members of the commission shall be
reimbursed for reasonable expenses.
Section 4. Appropriation.
The sum of $1,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the
commission for the commission's operations under this act.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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