PRINTER'S NO. 2419
No. 180 Session of 1975
INTRODUCED BY RYAN, BITTLE, McGINNIS AND O'CONNELL,
OCTOBER 16, 1975
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, OCTOBER 21, 1975
In the House of Representatives, October 16, 1975
1 WHEREAS, There is bi-partisan accord within the House of
2 Representatives that standards of management within the
3 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation should be reviewed,
4 and improved prior to considering whether or not to increase
5 fees and taxation; and
6 WHEREAS, Substantial public support has been expressed for an
7 objective analysis of the use of existing funds by the
8 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to determine whether
9 or not the need for increased revenues can be sharply reduced
10 through the establishment of cost-cutting practices, and a
11 reordering of priorities; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
13 shall appoint a select five member committee composed of three
14 members of the majority party and two members of the minority
15 party. The committee shall be aided and advised by a Citizens
16 Advisory Council composed of one highway user member of the
17 general public and one certified public accountant from a
1 reputable accounting firm both to be appointed by the Chairman
2 of the committee, and one representative to be appointed from
3 and by each of the following organizations: the Governor's
4 Review-75, Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania
5 Highway Information Association, Pennsylvania AAA Federation,
6 Pennsylvania Economy League, Pennsylvania Motor Truck
7 Association. The committee shall investigate each and every
8 aspect of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
9 administrative and operational policies and procedures to
10 determine the best method to effectuate the most efficient use
11 of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation funds for road
12 maintenance and repair, and shall recommend remedial legislation
13 where necessary. The committee shall report its findings to the
14 full House, January 15, 1976. No additional funds shall in any
15 manner be raised, appropriated, transferred, or otherwise
16 provided to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for
17 highway maintenance until this report has been filed and any
18 recommendations and proposed legislation has been considered by
19 the House; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
21 testimony, and make its investigations at such places as it
22 deems necessary. It may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal
23 of its chairman commanding any person to appear before it and to
24 answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into
25 by the committee and to produce such books, papers, records and
26 documents as the committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may
27 be served upon any person and shall have the force and effect of
28 subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any
29 person who wilfully neglects or refuses to testify before the
30 committee or to produce any books, papers, records or documents,
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1 shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the
2 Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall
3 have the power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses
4 appearing before the committee; and be it further
5 RESOLVED, That within thirty calendar days after the
6 committee has made its report, the Chairman of the committee
7 shall cause a record of all expenses incurred by the committee,
8 or the members thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth
9 expense, to be filed with the Speaker of the House and the
10 Speaker shall cause the same to be entered in the journal
11 thereof. No expenses incurred by the committee or any member
12 thereof shall be reimbursable by the Chief Clerk unless such
13 expense shall first have been included as an expense item in the
14 record heretofore required; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That all expenses of the committee shall be
16 reimbursable only from the Incidental and Legislative Printing
17 Expense Fund of the House of Representatives.
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