THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY KOTIK, SAINATO, READSHAW, PASHINSKI, GERGELY, HARHAI, HORNAMAN, KORTZ, SWANGER AND MURT, JANUARY 31, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 31, 2011  

A JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth

of Pennsylvania, further providing for qualifications of

members.

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 5 of Article II be amended to read:

§ 5.  Qualifications of members.

Senators shall be at least 25 years of age and

Representatives 21 years of age. They shall have been citizens

and inhabitants of the State four years, and Senators shall be 

inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before

their election (unless absent on the public business of the

United States or of this State), and Representatives shall be

inhabitants of their respective districts three years next

before their election (unless absent on the public business of

the United States or of this State), and shall reside in their

respective districts during their terms of service.

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

primary, general or municipal 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.