PRINTER'S NO. 3279
No. 2490 Session of 1996
INTRODUCED BY VITALI, BELARDI, LEVDANSKY, DeLUCA, FAJT, CARONE,
BROWNE AND PLATTS, MARCH 19, 1996
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, MARCH 19, 1996
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L.388, No.84), entitled "An
2 act requiring public agencies to hold certain meetings and
3 hearings open to the public; and providing penalties,"
4 requiring open budget negotiations for General Assembly
5 appropriations.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 12 of the act of July 3, 1986 (P.L.388,
9 No.84), known as the Sunshine Act, is amended to read:
10 Section 12. General Assembly meetings covered.
11 (a) Meetings covered.--Notwithstanding any other provision,
12 for the purpose of this act, meetings of the General Assembly
13 which are covered are as follows: All meetings of committees
14 where bills are considered, all budget and appropriation
15 negotiations undertaken by committees, staff or members of the
16 General Assembly, all hearings where testimony is taken and all
17 sessions of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Not
18 included in the intent of this act are caucuses or meetings of
19 any ethics committee created pursuant to the Rules of the Senate
1 or the House of Representatives. Meetings between agents of two
2 or more of the following groups for the purpose of budget
3 negotiations shall be open to the public: the Governor's Office;
4 the Senate Democratic Caucus; the Senate Republican Caucus; the
5 House Democratic Caucus; and the House Republican Caucus.
6 (b) Three different days.--Subject matter of appropriation
7 bills shall be considered for three different calendar days in
8 each house, and the members of each house shall be given the
9 opportunity to review the appropriations each calendar day,
10 prior to a final vote.
11 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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