PRINTER'S NO.  2617

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

1952

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY BARBIN, MURPHY, BURNS, BROWN, D. COSTA, JOHNSON, DRUCKER, READSHAW, HALUSKA, SOLOBAY, DEASY, PALLONE, HANNA, SAINATO, VULAKOVICH, SIPTROTH, GIBBONS, WHITE, GOODMAN AND KORTZ, AUGUST 31, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, AUGUST 31, 2009  

  

  

  

A JOINT RESOLUTION

  

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Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth

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of Pennsylvania, providing for a mechanism to establish

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continuation of government services in the event of a budget

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impasse.

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WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania economy has been subject to a major

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recession and a budget impasse threatens the economy of the

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Commonwealth and the safety and welfare of its citizens; and

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WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of

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Pennsylvania proposes prompt amendment of its Constitution as

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follows:

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Section 1.  The following amendment to the Constitution of

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Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:

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That Article I be amended by adding a section to read:

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§ 29.  Timely appropriation and revenue bills.

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Pennsylvania taxes and revenues are the common property of

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all its citizens. Every citizen has a right to the orderly

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administration of government, including enactment of a timely

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general appropriation act and timely revenue acts, to support

 


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the common good and welfare of its citizens. In the event that a

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general appropriation act and a general revenue act or acts have

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not been enacted within 31 days of the beginning of a new fiscal

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year, the immediate past year appropriation act and revenue act

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or acts shall be imposed by operation of law until such time as

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the new fiscal year appropriation act and the new fiscal year

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revenue act or acts have been passed by both Houses of the

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General Assembly and signed by the Governor.

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

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Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the

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Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to

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comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article

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XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the

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required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in

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which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after

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passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.

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

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proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the

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Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the

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advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the

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Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required

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advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such

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newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of

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this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the

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Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment

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to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first

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primary, general or municipal election which meets the

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requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article

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XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least

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three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is

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passed by the General Assembly.

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