PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2621, 2742 PRINTER'S NO. 2969
No. 1995 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, RYAN, PERZEL, DeWEESE, BASTIAN, ARMSTRONG,
M. BAKER, BARRAR, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BISHOP, BUXTON,
CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CORRIGAN, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, EACHUS,
D. EVANS, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE,
GORDNER, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART, HERMAN, JAMES, LAUGHLIN,
LEDERER, LESCOVITZ, MANN, MARKOSEK, MAYERNIK, McCALL,
McGEEHAN, MELIO, MICHLOVIC, PALLONE, PETRONE, READSHAW,
ROBERTS, ROBINSON, ROONEY, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SAMUELSON,
SANTONI, SATHER, SCRIMENTI, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STABACK,
R. STEVENSON, T. STEVENSON, SURRA, TRELLO, TRICH, VEON,
WALKO, WATERS, C. WILLIAMS, J. WILLIAMS, WOJNAROSKI,
M. WRIGHT, YUDICHAK, E. Z. TAYLOR, S. MILLER, CLARK, DAILEY,
THOMAS, WILT, YOUNGBLOOD, BROWNE, FREEMAN, PISTELLA, HORSEY,
SCHULER, COLEMAN, BELFANTI, KENNEY, STEELMAN, SCHRODER,
DeLUCA, BENNINGHOFF, HESS, LUCYK, WANSACZ, WASHINGTON, GABIG,
EGOLF, MARSICO, ALLEN, FLICK, STURLA, ADOLPH, STEIL,
M. COHEN, GRUITZA, DiGIROLAMO, HABAY, TURZAI, BLAUM AND
WATSON, OCTOBER 5, 2001
AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, DECEMBER 3, 2001
AN ACT
1 Establishing the William Penn Liberty Medal of Honor; providing
2 for awarding of medals, for an advisory board and for design
3 and cost of medals.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Establishment of medal.
7 The William Penn Liberty Medal of Honor is hereby established
8 in commemoration of the idealism and struggle of William Penn in
9 founding the Commonwealth.
10 Section 2. Awarding of medals.
1 (a) General rule.--The William Penn Liberty Medal of Honor
2 may be awarded annually by the Governor to native sons or
3 daughters or residents of this Commonwealth who have
4 distinguished themselves:
5 (1) Through a lifetime of great accomplishment.
6 (2) By an act or acts of great heroism.
7 (3) By a singular, outstanding contribution to this
8 Commonwealth, the United States or the world.
9 The medal may also be awarded to persons not of this
10 Commonwealth who have distinguished themselves as provided in
11 this subsection in this Commonwealth or on behalf of the
12 Commonwealth and its citizens.
13 (b) Roles of Governor, public and advisory board.--
14 (1) Medals may be awarded annually by the Governor,
15 whose decision shall be final.
16 (2) Nominations for the medal may be made by the public
17 to the advisory board, which shall advise the Governor on
18 potential recipients and recommend recipients based on
19 nominations received from the public or on their own
20 knowledge.
21 Section 3. Advisory board.
22 (a) Membership.--The advisory board shall be comprised of
23 the following:
24 (1) The Secretary of State, who shall chair the board.
25 (2) The Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of
26 Representatives.
27 (3) The President pro tempore and Minority Leader of the
28 Senate.
29 (4) Five residents of this Commonwealth selected by the
30 Governor. These residents shall not hold State office or
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1 employment and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
2 (b) Meetings.--Meetings of the board and their
3 recommendations shall be confidential and not available for
4 public inspection.
5 Section 4. Design of medal.
6 The advisory board shall oversee a competition for the design
7 of the medal, which shall conclude no later than six months
8 after enactment of this act.
9 Section 5. Cost of medals.
10 The cost for striking medals shall be borne by private
11 contributions solicited by the Commonwealth. and such other <--
12 funds as the Governor may make available from moneys already
13 appropriated for any purpose.
14 Section 6. Initial medals.
15 Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2, the first four
16 medals shall be awarded in the names of Todd Beamer, Mark
17 Bingham, Thomas Burnett and Jeremy Glick in recognition of their
18 profound courage and outstanding heroism in knowingly
19 sacrificing their lives in order to divert United Airlines
20 Flight 93 from its terrorist mission on September 11, 2001. The
21 medals shall be presented to their nearest of kin.
22 Section 7. Effective date.
23 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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