PRINTER'S NO. 2867
No. 155 Session of 1982
INTRODUCED BY CESSAR, KUKOVICH, PETERSON, SIEMINSKI, DAWIDA AND
WACHOB, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
In the House of Representatives, February 8, 1982
1 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of Pennsylvania is
2 faced with many complex public issues having scientific,
3 technologic or technical components; and
4 WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the House of Representatives of
5 Pennsylvania to provide its individual members or their staff
6 and committees with proper resources to evaluate these public
7 issues including sources of independent, nonpartisan information
8 and expertise; and
9 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is blessed with
10 many great colleges and universities and other organizations
11 with vast scientific and technical resources; and
12 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
13 Pennsylvania in November 1976, and with partial funding from the
14 National Science Foundation, in cooperation with Drexel
15 University, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania State University,
16 Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania and the
17 University of Pittsburgh established the Legislative Office for
1 Research Liaison to provide the House of Representatives with an
2 independent, nonpartisan source of information and expertise on
3 public issues having scientific, technologic or technical
4 components; and
5 WHEREAS, During the first five years of operation, the
6 Legislative Office for Research Liaison has completed over 1,200
7 projects in response to inquiries initiated by over 200
8 legislators and their staff; and
9 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of Pennsylvania has
10 been a national leader as evidenced by the fact that the
11 Legislative Office for Research Liaison has served as a model
12 for other state legislatures in Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland,
13 Michigan, Puerto Rico and Texas, each of which has established
14 its own research agency that is formally linked to academic
15 institutions; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, The House of Representatives of Pennsylvania does
17 hereby establish a Legislative Office for Research Liaison,
18 hereinafter referred to as LORL, to provide the House of
19 Representatives with an independent, nonpartisan source of
20 information and expertise on public issues having scientific,
21 technologic or technical components; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, LORL shall serve as the legislative service agency
23 responsible for the on-line access to the Legislative
24 Information Service administered by the National Conference of
25 State Legislatures (NCSL). On any topic of interest to
26 legislators or their staff, contact with LORL will result in a
27 computerized search for information from four major data files:
28 State legislative research reports, NCSL articles, other
29 publications such as Federal documents and Congressional
30 Research Service issue briefs and NCSL research management
19820H0155R2867 - 2 -
1 information. Upon request, LORL shall be responsible for
2 obtaining the full text of all those publications identified
3 through NCSL's Legislative Information Service; and be it
4 further
5 RESOLVED, The operation of LORL shall be under the control
6 and direction of the Legislative Committee for Research Liaison,
7 hereinafter referred to as the LORL Committee, which shall
8 consist of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
9 Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, one member of
10 the Majority Party of the House of Representatives to be
11 appointed by the Speaker, the Minority Leader of the House of
12 Representatives, the Minority Whip of the House of
13 Representatives, one member of the Minority Party of the House
14 of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker after
15 consultation with the Minority Leader of the House of
16 Representatives, and two representatives from among the
17 participating organizations to be appointed by the Speaker after
18 consultation with the University Committee for Research Liaison
19 The Speaker, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader and the
20 Minority Whip of the House of Representatives may designate
21 another member of their respective caucuses to be a member of
22 the LORL Committee in their stead or to temporarily act on
23 behalf of such officer. Members of the LORL Committee who are
24 members of the House of Representatives shall serve during each
25 regular session of the General Assembly and shall continue as
26 members until the first Tuesday in January of the next odd-
27 numbered year and until their respective successors shall
28 qualify, provided they continue to be members of the House of
29 Representatives. Members of the LORL Committee who are
30 representatives of a participating organization shall serve
19820H0155R2867 - 3 -
1 during a regular session of the General Assembly and until their
2 respective successors shall qualify. Such members of the LORL
3 Committee who are representatives of participating organizations
4 shall be chosen from the University Committee for Research
5 Liaison, but no such member may serve on the LORL Committee for
6 two consecutive regular sessions of the General Assembly. The
7 LORL Committee has a continuing existence and may meet and
8 conduct its business during sessions of the Legislature or any
9 recess thereof and in the interim between sessions; and be it
10 further
11 RESOLVED, The LORL Committee shall organize immediately after
12 the final enactment of this resolution, and thereafter within 30
13 days after the convening of the regular session of the General
14 Assembly. The Speaker of the House of Representatives or his
15 designee shall be the Chairman and the Executive Director of
16 LORL shall serve as the recording secretary for the LORL
17 Committee. The LORL Committee shall elect a Secretary and such
18 other officers as it deems necessary. The LORL Committee shall
19 meet at least semi-annually during each calendar year. The time
20 and place of meetings of the LORL Committee shall be at the call
21 of the chairman. Five members of the LORL Committee shall
22 constitute a quorum and an affirmative vote of five members
23 shall be necessary to pass on any matter requiring action; and
24 be it further
25 RESOLVED, The LORL Committee shall have the following powers
26 and duties:
27 (1) To establish and operate LORL.
28 (2) To appoint and employ an Executive Director, who
29 shall be the chief executive officer of the LORL Committee,
30 and to fix the compensation for such Executive Director. The
19820H0155R2867 - 4 -
1 LORL Committee shall seek the advice of the University
2 Committee for Research Liaison in the selection of an
3 Executive Director of LORL.
4 (3) To determine the number of permanent professional
5 and support staff as the LORL Committee deems necessary in
6 the performance of its duties. In addition, the LORL
7 Committee shall establish job qualifications and descriptions
8 for each permanent position and set initial appointment
9 salary ranges for all permanent positions.
10 (4) To determine the terms and conditions for the
11 appointment of visiting scientists and student interns and
12 the appointment of part-time staff as the LORL Committee
13 deems necessary in the performance of its duties.
14 (5) To enter into contracts for such professional,
15 expert, or technical services as the LORL Committee deems
16 necessary in the performance of its duties.
17 (6) To purchase or rent such equipment and supplies as
18 the LORL Committee deems necessary in the performance of its
19 duties.
20 (7) To make such rules and regulations as the LORL
21 Committee deems necessary to properly fulfill its powers and
22 duties including, but not limited to, the determination of
23 the terms and conditions to be met by any participating
24 organization.
25 (8) To receive applications and to prepare for
26 ratification by the House of Representatives, prior to the
27 beginning of an odd-numbered calendar year, the list of new
28 participating organizations, if any, deemed appropriate for
29 carrying out the purposes of this resolution.
30 (9) To determine the long-term research projects to be
19820H0155R2867 - 5 -
1 undertaken by LORL. Such determination shall be made after
2 consultation with the University Committee for Research
3 Liaison.
4 (10) To monitor and evaluate the performance of LORL.
5 (11) To accept on behalf of LORL monetary aid or grants
6 from the Federal Government, any college or university, or
7 any foundation or agency. Such aid or grants shall be
8 appropriated to LORL to carry out the purposes of this
9 resolution; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, The Executive Director of LORL shall perform such
11 duties as shall be assigned him by the LORL Committee including,
12 but not limited to, the day-to-day operation of LORL and the
13 determination of personnel policies for LORL staff. However, the
14 Executive Director may hire only those permanent staff in
15 positions authorized by the LORL Committee and at initial
16 starting salaries that fall within the salary ranges set by the
17 LORL Committee; visiting scientists and interns may be appointed
18 by the Executive Director in compliance with the terms and
19 conditions applicable to said part-time positions. In addition,
20 the Executive Director of LORL shall be responsible for:
21 (1) The preparation of an annual expenditure plan for
22 the review and approval of the LORL Committee.
23 (2) Conveying and assigning legislative inquiries to the
24 LORL staff and issuing completed responses/reports to the
25 appropriate Legislators or their staff and committees of the
26 House of Representatives.
27 (3) Overseeing the continuous and efficient search for
28 information from the NCSL's Legislative Information Service;
29 and be it further
30 RESOLVED, The Executive Director shall have the following
19820H0155R2867 - 6 -
1 minimum qualifications to be eligible for appointment:
2 (1) An earned doctoral degree from an accredited
3 institution of higher learning in the physical, life, or
4 social sciences.
5 (2) Direct working experience in the legislative process
6 and experience in higher education as an administrator and
7 teacher/researcher.
8 (3) The ability to translate complex scientific or
9 technical information into language that is reasonably
10 understandable.
11 (4) The tact, diplomacy, and credentials to form a good
12 working relationship between the House of Representatives and
13 the various participating organizations in LORL.
14 In lieu of the above qualifications, the LORL Committee may
15 determine that the educational background and experience of a
16 person is such that they are equivalent to the above
17 qualifications and that such person is capable of performing the
18 duties of Executive Director of LORL; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, The interaction of the participating organizations
20 with LORL shall be coordinated by the University Committee for
21 Research Liaison, hereinafter referred to as the University
22 Committee. The University Committee shall consist of the Speaker
23 of the House, the Minority Leader of the House, one member from
24 each participating organization appointed by the Chairman of the
25 LORL Committee after consultation with the chief administrative
26 officer of each participating organization, and the Executive
27 Director of LORL who shall serve as Chairman of the University
28 Committee. The designated Legislators may each name another
29 member of their respective caucuses to serve in their stead on
30 the University Committee. Such members of the University
19820H0155R2867 - 7 -
1 Committee shall serve during each regular session of the General
2 Assembly and until their respective successors shall qualify;
3 and be it further
4 RESOLVED, The University Committee shall meet at the call of
5 the chairman and shall be responsible for recommending to the
6 LORL Committee those policies and procedures which would
7 contribute to the objectives of LORL; advising the Executive
8 Director of LORL on means to facilitate and make more mutually
9 beneficial the relationship of LORL with the participating
10 organizations in their use of resource personnel and data in
11 responding to inquiries from LORL; and handling those matters
12 specifically referred to it by the LORL Committee; and be it
13 further
14 RESOLVED, The following shall be the charter participating
15 organizations for purposes of this resolution:
16 Drexel University.
17 Lincoln University.
18 Pennsylvania State University.
19 Temple University.
20 University of Pennsylvania.
21 University of Pittsburgh; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, Within 60 days of the enactment of this resolution,
23 the chief administrative officer of each of the above-named
24 colleges and universities shall submit in writing to the
25 Chairman of the LORL Committee a statement including, but not
26 limited to,
27 (1) the name, title, address, and phone number of the
28 person on his campus designated as the contact for the
29 processing of legislative inquiries received from LORL;
30 (2) agreement to provide the services without cost to
19820H0155R2867 - 8 -
1 the House of Representatives of visiting scientists according
2 to a master schedule for visiting scientists as developed and
3 approved by the LORL Committee;
4 (3) the name, title, address, and phone number of the
5 person on his campus designated as the person responsible for
6 government relations between his institution and the
7 Commonwealth; and
8 (4) a statement indicating that his institution is
9 willing to continue as a participating organization during
10 the remainder of the regular session of the General Assembly
11 in which this resolution is enacted; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, The chief administrative officer of any other
13 organization, unnamed herein, seeking membership as a
14 participating organization for purposes of this resolution shall
15 submit in writing, not later than August 31 in any even-numbered
16 year, to the Chairman of the LORL Committee, an application for
17 membership including, but not limited to, evidence of ability to
18 meet the terms and conditions as required by the LORL Committee
19 for any participating organization; however, no organization
20 having an apparent advocacy interest in any public issues
21 handled by LORL shall be considered for membership as a
22 participating organization; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, The House of Representatives, not later than
24 December 31 in any even-numbered year, shall consider for
25 ratification by appropriate resolution the list of new
26 participating organizations, if any, as submitted and
27 recommended by the LORL Committee and, upon ratification by the
28 House of Representatives, those organizations so approved by the
29 House of Representatives shall be considered as participating
30 members as of January 1 in the following odd-numbered year; and
19820H0155R2867 - 9 -
1 be it further
2 RESOLVED, The House of Representatives, its members or their
3 staff, and committees may request assistance from LORL on any
4 public issue having scientific, technologic or technical
5 components including those requests requiring a search for
6 information from the NCSL's Legislative Information Service. A
7 response to each inquiry shall be made according to guidelines
8 developed and approved by the LORL Committee; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, The Controller in the Office of the Chief Clerk of
10 the House of Representatives shall be responsible for the
11 payment of all salaries and expenses of LORL according to
12 guidelines developed and approved by the LORL Committee; and be
13 it further
14 RESOLVED, All prior unspent appropriations to LORL shall not
15 lapse and are hereby reappropriated to LORL established by this
16 resolution; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, The members of the LORL Committee and the
18 University Committee, except the Executive Director of LORL,
19 shall serve without compensation. Only legislators shall be
20 reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred while attending
21 sessions of the committee of which they are members or any
22 subcommittee thereof; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, This resolution shall take effect immediately.
B1L82WMB/19820H0155R2867 - 10 -