PRINTER'S NO. 534
No. 475 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY SCHEETZ, HERMAN, LANGTRY, BROUJOS, DENT,
FAIRCHILD, BUNT, SAURMAN, TRELLO, NICKOL, LEH, PHILLIPS,
ARMSTRONG, ARNOLD AND KREBS, MARCH 11, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 11, 1991
AN ACT
1 Providing for a constitutional convention with limited powers;
2 providing for a referendum on the question; providing for the
3 selection, nomination and election of delegates; defining the
4 powers and duties of the convention; providing for its
5 operation; conferring powers and imposing duties on the
6 Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, officers of the
7 General Assembly and county election boards; providing for a
8 referendum on the convention's report; and making an
9 appropriation.
10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11 hereby enacts as follows:
12 Section 1. Referendum.
13 At the primary election in April 1992, the following question
14 shall be submitted to the electorate of the Commonwealth to
15 determine its will regarding a constitutional convention with
16 limited powers:
17 Shall a constitutional convention be called in accordance
18 with and subject to limitations and requirements
19 contained in Act No. of the Session of the General
20 Assembly, to prepare, for submission to the electorate,
21 proposals for the revision of Articles II, III and V as
1 provided in section 7(b) of Act No. of the Session
2 of the General Assembly.
3 The county board of elections in each county shall print in
4 bound form separate official ballots in sufficient numbers to
5 furnish to the election officers in each election district of
6 the county, one ballot to be supplied to each voter at the
7 primary election and also specimen ballots equal in number to
8 one-fifth of the official ballots. In districts where voting
9 machines are used, the question may appear on the face of the
10 machine where the machine is properly equipped for such purpose;
11 otherwise, a separate printed ballot shall be used. The results
12 of such election shall be tabulated by the proper election
13 officers of each county and duly certified to the Secretary of
14 the Commonwealth.
15 Section 2. Convention; membership; qualifications; vacancies.
16 (a) Convention.--If a majority of the electors voting upon
17 the question favor the holding of a constitutional convention
18 with limited powers, a convention shall be called by the
19 Governor. It shall consist of 163 members. Three district
20 delegates shall be elected from each senatorial district, all as
21 hereinafter provided. Each elector in each such district may
22 vote for not more than two candidates for the office of
23 delegate. The three candidates receiving the highest number of
24 votes shall be elected to the office of delegate. In addition,
25 the Lieutenant Governor, the President pro tempore of the
26 Senate, the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Majority Whip of
27 the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Whip
28 of the Senate, the Minority Caucus Chairman of the Senate, the
29 Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of
30 the House of Representatives, the Majority Whip of the House of
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1 Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of
2 Representatives, the Minority Whip of the House of
3 Representatives and the Minority Caucus Chairman of the House of
4 Representatives shall be members ex officio of the convention
5 and shall have the powers of elected delegates.
6 (b) Delegates.--Delegates shall be 21 years of age or older
7 and shall have been citizens and residents of this Commonwealth
8 for at least four years. Delegates shall have resided in and
9 been registered electors of their respective senatorial
10 districts one year next before their election, and shall reside
11 in their respective senatorial districts during their terms of
12 service.
13 (c) Vacancies.--In case of a vacancy in the office of
14 delegate occurring after the municipal election, if the member
15 is an ex officio member, the vacancy shall be filled by the
16 person assuming such office; if the member was nominated in
17 accordance with section 3(a), the remaining delegates of that
18 political party shall elect a successor meeting the
19 qualifications prescribed in subsection (b), and if the member
20 was nominated in accordance with section 3(b), all the remaining
21 delegates shall elect a successor meeting the qualifications
22 prescribed in subsection (b).
23 Section 3. Nomination of delegates; withdrawals.
24 (a) General rule.--The county committee or committees of
25 each political party in each senatorial district shall
26 collectively nominate two candidates for the office of delegates
27 in accordance with party rules and the names of the nominees
28 shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth who
29 shall certify the names of the nominees to the county board of
30 elections as provided by law not later than 60 days preceding
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1 the general election in 1992.
2 (b) Petition.--Subject to the limitations upon the number in
3 this act applicable to political parties, candidates may also be
4 nominated by political bodies by petition in the form prescribed
5 by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and shall be signed by at
6 least 500 qualified electors of the senatorial district.
7 (c) Filing of petitions.--Such petitions shall be filed in
8 the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth not later than
9 September 15, 1992. A filing fee of $25 shall be paid by each
10 candidate to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by certified
11 check or money order.
12 (1) Any elector may sign not more than two nomination
13 petitions for delegate to represent his district. Every
14 signer of a nomination petition shall state his occupation
15 and residence, giving city, borough or township, with street
16 and number, if any, and that he is a qualified elector of the
17 district named, and shall add the date of signing, expressed
18 in words or numbers. No nomination petition shall be
19 circulated prior to 20 days before the last day on which said
20 petition may be filed, and no signature shall be counted
21 unless it bears date within 20 days of the last day of filing
22 the same.
23 (2) Nomination petitions may be on one or more sheets
24 and different sheets must be used for signers resident in
25 different counties. If more than one sheet is used, they
26 shall be bound together when offered for filing if they are
27 intended to constitute one petition, and each sheet shall be
28 numbered consecutively at the foot of each page beginning
29 with number one.
30 (3) Each sheet shall have appended thereto the affidavit
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1 of the person who circulated it setting forth:
2 (i) that such person is a qualified elector of the
3 senatorial district named in the petition;
4 (ii) his or her residence giving city, borough or
5 township, with street and number, if any;
6 (iii) that the signers thereto signed with
7 foreknowledge of the contents of the petition;
8 (iv) that their respective residences are correctly
9 stated therein;
10 (v) that each signer resides in the district named
11 in the affidavit;
12 (vi) that each signed on the date set opposite his
13 name; and
14 (vii) that to the best of affiant's knowledge and
15 belief the signers are qualified electors of the
16 district.
17 (d) Affidavits.--Each candidate for delegate shall file with
18 the Secretary of the Commonwealth an affidavit stating:
19 (1) his residence with street and number, if any, and
20 his post office address;
21 (2) that he is eligible for the office of delegate to
22 the constitutional convention;
23 (3) that, if elected, he will faithfully observe the
24 limitations and requirements imposed upon the convention by
25 this act; and
26 (4) that he has been a citizen and resident of this
27 Commonwealth for at least four years and has been a
28 registered elector in the district which he seeks to
29 represent for at least one year.
30 (e) Withdrawal.--Any candidate for election as a delegate to
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1 the convention may withdraw his name as a candidate by a request
2 in writing, signed by him and acknowledged before an officer
3 empowered to administer oaths, filed in the office of the
4 Secretary of the Commonwealth not later than 5 p.m. on the fifth
5 day next succeeding the last day for filing nomination
6 petitions. In the event of the death or withdrawal of a
7 candidate occurring prior to the time prescribed by this
8 subsection, substitute nominations shall be made in accordance
9 with the provisions of this section.
10 Section 4. Election of delegates.
11 Elections for delegates to the limited constitutional
12 convention, if approved by the electorate, shall be held at the
13 general election in the year 1992. The Secretary of the
14 Commonwealth shall forward to the county board of elections of
15 each county the names of the candidates for delegate to the
16 constitutional convention. Each elector voting at the general
17 election shall be entitled to vote for two candidates for
18 delegate from his district. The three candidates receiving the
19 highest number of votes in each district shall be elected
20 delegates of that district. The county board of elections shall,
21 on or before November 17, make to the Secretary of the
22 Commonwealth the proper certification of returns of votes cast
23 for the candidates for election for the office of delegate to
24 the constitutional convention. The Secretary of the Commonwealth
25 shall, not later than November 24, certify to the Governor the
26 names of the delegates elected to the constitutional convention.
27 In the case of a tie vote the election shall be determined in
28 accordance with the provisions of section 1418 of the act of
29 June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania
30 Election Code.
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1 Section 5. Preparatory committee; appropriation.
2 (a) Establishment.--The Lieutenant Governor, the President
3 pro tempore of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the Senate,
4 the Majority Whip of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the
5 Senate, the Minority Whip of the Senate, the Minority Caucus
6 Chairman of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
7 Representatives, the Majority Leader of the House of
8 Representatives, the Majority Whip of the House of
9 Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of
10 Representatives, the Minority Whip of the House of
11 Representatives and the Minority Caucus Chairman of the House of
12 Representatives shall constitute a preparatory committee to make
13 arrangements for the convention.
14 (b) Authority.--The committee shall have authority
15 immediately following an affirmative vote by the electorate on
16 the question of holding a constitutional convention to lease or
17 otherwise obtain suitable meeting and office space, to purchase
18 or lease office supplies, equipment, books and other
19 publications and other materials necessary for the work of the
20 convention and to hire or engage such secretaries, technical
21 assistants, printers and other employees or consultants as may
22 be deemed necessary for the preparatory work of the convention.
23 The committee shall initiate any studies, inquiries, surveys or
24 analyses it may deem relevant through its own personnel or in
25 cooperation with any public or private agencies, including
26 institutes, universities, foundations or research organizations.
27 In so doing, the committee may hold public or private hearings.
28 It may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal of its chairman
29 commanding any person to appear before it and to answer
30 questions touching matters properly being inquired into by the
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1 committee and to produce such books, papers, records and
2 documents as the committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may
3 be served upon any person and shall have the force and effect of
4 subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any
5 person who willfully neglects or refuses to testify before the
6 committee or to produce any books, papers, records or documents
7 shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of this
8 Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall
9 have power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses
10 appearing before the committee. The committee may request and
11 shall receive from any department, division, board, bureau,
12 commission or agency of the Commonwealth or any political
13 subdivision thereof, such facilities, assistance and data as it
14 deems necessary or desirable to carry out properly its powers
15 and duties. The committee is hereby authorized and empowered to
16 make and sign any agreements and to do and perform any acts that
17 may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the
18 provisions of this act. The committee shall also prepare budgets
19 for the holding of the constitutional convention. Such
20 recommended budgets shall be submitted to the General Assembly
21 in sufficient time for the General Assembly to pass the
22 necessary appropriation acts. The members of the committee shall
23 receive no compensation for their service but shall be allowed
24 their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance
25 of their duties. The authority of the preparatory committee
26 shall expire on December 1, 1992, at 12 noon, except to sign
27 documents necessary to obtain payments from the State Treasury
28 for any commitments made under the authority of this section
29 prior to December 1, 1992, and to submit any report to the
30 constitutional convention. The sum of $250,000 is hereby
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1 appropriated to the preparatory committee for the purposes set
2 forth in this section.
3 Section 6. Organization of convention.
4 (a) Convening.--The convention shall convene in the Hall of
5 the House of Representatives at Harrisburg, Dauphin County,
6 Pennsylvania, on December 1, 1992, at 12 noon. The
7 constitutional convention shall be called to order by the
8 Governor. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall certify the
9 returns of the elections for delegates to the constitutional
10 convention and issue certificates of election to those elected.
11 The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania or his
12 appointee shall then administer the oath of office in the
13 following form: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will
14 support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States
15 and the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and that I will
16 discharge the duties of my office with fidelity."
17 (b) Procedure.--The convention shall then organize by
18 electing from among its delegates a president, secretary and
19 such other officers as shall be necessary for the transaction of
20 its business. No member of the General Assembly shall be an
21 officer of the convention. It shall determine the rules of its
22 own proceedings and shall be the final judge of the
23 qualifications of its own delegates. It shall also determine
24 rules for the conduct of its delegates and provide for the
25 censure, suspension or removal of a delegate, if necessary.
26 (c) Privilege.--Delegates to the constitutional convention
27 shall, in all cases, except treason, felony, violation of their
28 oath of office and breach or surety of the peace, be privileged
29 from arrest during their attendance at the session of the
30 convention and in going to and returning from the same; and for
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1 any speech or debate in the convention they shall not be
2 questioned in any other place.
3 (d) Authority.--In addition to any powers provided in this
4 section, the convention shall have all of the powers given to
5 the preparatory committee in section 5.
6 (e) Adjournment.--The convention shall also have the power
7 to adjourn from time to time and to meet at such appropriate
8 places in the City of Harrisburg as it shall determine.
9 (f) Sine die.--It shall conclude its session sine die not
10 later than February 28, 1993.
11 Section 7. Substantive powers of convention; limitations;
12 mandatory duties of convention.
13 (a) General rule.--Except as hereinafter provided in
14 subsection (b), the constitutional convention shall have the
15 power by a vote of a majority of the 163 members to make
16 recommendations to the electorate on the following subjects
17 only:
18 (1) All of Articles II, III and V of the Constitution of
19 Pennsylvania.
20 (2) Any amendment proposed but not approved at the April
21 1992 primary.
22 (b) Exclusion.--The convention shall not consider or include
23 in its recommendations any proposal not germane to Articles II,
24 III and V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
25 (c) Format.--In dealing with the subject matter as
26 prescribed by this section, the convention may recommend the
27 transfer to another article of any provision contained in those
28 articles, or it may recommend its modification, deletion,
29 repeal, the substitution of an entirely new provision or its
30 continuation without change.
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1 (d) Numbering.--The recommendations of the convention on any
2 of the articles shall not be numbered. If approved by the
3 electors, these articles shall be numbered by the Governor as
4 provided by law.
5 Section 8. Manner of submitting proposals to electorate.
6 (a) General rule.--The recommendations of the constitutional
7 convention shall be submitted to the electorate separately as
8 determined by the convention. The replacements may be in any
9 number of sections which the convention deems suitable. The
10 convention shall also frame the ballot questions which shall
11 bring before the electorate the recommendations of the
12 convention. There shall be no less than one separate question
13 for each of the articles to be recommended by the convention and
14 another question for the amendment on legislative apportionment.
15 (b) Certification.--The changes proposed together with the
16 questions framed by the convention, shall be certified by the
17 president and secretary of the convention to the Secretary of
18 the Commonwealth not later than March 7, 1993. The Secretary of
19 the Commonwealth shall advertise the proposals of the convention
20 in at least two newspapers of general circulation, if there are
21 such, in every county of this Commonwealth once during the first
22 week in April 1992. He shall also publish the Constitution of
23 Pennsylvania showing the changes proposed by the convention in
24 convenient form and send a copy thereof to each elector
25 requesting it, and ten copies thereof through the county board
26 of elections to each polling place for the use of the voters
27 during the election.
28 Section 9. Submission of proposals to electorate; proclamation
29 by Governor of results.
30 The recommendations of the constitutional convention shall be
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1 submitted to the electors for their approval or rejection on a
2 separate ballot at the primary held in April 1992. In districts
3 where voting machines are used, the question may appear on the
4 face of the machine where the machine is properly equipped for
5 such purpose; otherwise a separate printed ballot shall be used.
6 A majority vote of the electors voting thereon shall be
7 necessary for the adoption of any of the recommendations of the
8 convention. If adopted, any recommendation shall become
9 effective as provided therein or by the schedule attached
10 thereto. The Governor, upon receipt from the Secretary of the
11 Commonwealth of a certificate of the results of the election,
12 shall immediately make proclamation thereof.
13 Section 10. Expenses of members of convention.
14 Except for members of the General Assembly, officers and
15 employees of the Commonwealth, the members of the constitutional
16 convention shall each receive the total sum of $5,000 for
17 expenses in four equal installments, three of which shall be
18 payable on December 15, 1992, and January 15 and February 15,
19 1993, and the fourth on the day when the convention adjourns
20 finally. In addition, the members of the convention shall
21 receive an allowance for traveling expenses of 25¢ per circular
22 mile per week, computed on the same basis as traveling expenses
23 for State Senators, payable monthly. The members of the General
24 Assembly, officers and employees of the Commonwealth shall be
25 reimbursed only for expenses actually incurred in attendance as
26 delegates, unless the same are otherwise paid by the
27 Commonwealth.
28 Section 11. Registration of lobbyists.
29 (a) General rule.--Any natural person who is employed or
30 engaged for compensation by any other person or any partnership,
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1 committee, association, corporation or any other organization,
2 to advocate passage or defeat of proposals of the constitutional
3 convention or of any of its delegates shall, before beginning
4 such activities, submit to the secretary of the convention a
5 registration statement made under oath or affirmation before an
6 officer authorized by law to administer oaths setting forth the
7 name and business address of the lobbyist, the name and address
8 of the person, partnership, committee, association, corporation
9 or other organization by whom he is employed or engaged, the
10 name and address of the person, partnership, committee,
11 association, corporation or other organization in whose interest
12 he will advocate the passage or defeat of proposals of the
13 convention and the duration of his employment. Whenever any of
14 the facts required herein change, the lobbyist shall file a
15 revised statement.
16 (b) Penalty.--Any person violating any of the provisions of
17 this section commits a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction,
18 be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500 or to
19 imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
20 Section 12. Conventions open to public.
21 Sessions of the convention as a whole shall be open to the
22 public.
23 Section 13. Effective date.
24 This act shall take effect immediately.
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