Regular Session 2021-2022 House Bill 2340 P.N. 2738

PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE

PRINTER'S NO. 2738

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

2340

Session of

2022

INTRODUCED BY BIZZARRO, SNYDER, MATZIE, MERSKI, MADDEN,

KRAJEWSKI, McNEILL, N. NELSON, GUZMAN, HOHENSTEIN, DELLOSO,

O'MARA, SCHLOSSBERG, SANCHEZ, ZABEL, WARREN, ROZZI, DeLUCA,

CIRESI, WEBSTER, CEPHAS AND KINKEAD, FEBRUARY 11, 2022

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 11, 2022

A JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth

of Pennsylvania, further providing for proposal of amendments

by the General Assembly and their adoption.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby resolves as follows:

Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of

Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:

That section 1 of Article XI be amended to read:

§ 1. Proposal of amendments by the General Assembly and their

adoption.

Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate

or House of Representatives; and if the same shall be agreed to

by [a majority] at least two-thirds of the members elected to

each House, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be

entered on their journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon,

and the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall cause the same to be

published three months before the next general election, in at

least two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers

shall be published; and if, in the General Assembly next

afterwards chosen, such proposed amendment or amendments shall

be agreed to by [a majority] at least two-thirds of the members

elected to each House, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall

cause the same again to be published in the manner aforesaid;

and such proposed amendment or amendments shall be submitted to

the qualified electors of the State in such manner, and at such

time at least three months after being so agreed to by the two

Houses, as the General Assembly shall prescribe; and, if such

amendment or amendments shall be approved by a majority of those

voting thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become a part

of the Constitution; but no amendment or amendments shall be

submitted oftener than once in five years. When two or more

amendments shall be submitted they shall be voted upon

separately.

(a) In the event a major emergency threatens or is about to

threaten the Commonwealth and if the safety or welfare of the

Commonwealth requires prompt amendment of this Constitution,

such amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the

Senate or House of Representatives at any regular or special

session of the General Assembly, and if agreed to by at least

two-thirds of the members elected to each House, a proposed

amendment shall be entered on the journal of each House with the

yeas and nays taken thereon and the official in charge of

statewide elections shall promptly publish such proposed

amendment in at least two newspapers in every county in which

such newspapers are published. Such amendment shall then be

submitted to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth in such

manner, and at such time, at least one month after being agreed

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to by both Houses as the General Assembly prescribes.

(b) If an emergency amendment is approved by a majority of

the qualified electors voting thereon, it shall become part of

this Constitution. When two or more emergency amendments are

submitted they shall be voted on separately.

Section 2. (a) Upon the first passage by the General

Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the

Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to

comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article

XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the

required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in

which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after

passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.

(b) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of this

proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the

Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the

advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the

Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required

advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such

newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of

this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the

Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment

to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first

general election which meets the requirements of and is in

conformance with section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of

Pennsylvania and which occurs at least three months after the

proposed constitutional amendment is passed by the General

Assembly.

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