PRINTER'S NO. 1760
No. 103 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY FUMO, RHOADES, LOGAN, BROWNE, KITCHEN, CONTI,
MUSTO, EARLL, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, BOSCOLA, COSTA, O'PAKE,
LAVALLE, KASUNIC, STACK, WASHINGTON, C. WILLIAMS, WOZNIAK,
FERLO, MELLOW, A. WILLIAMS, HUGHES AND STOUT, APRIL 26, 2006
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 26, 2006
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 1 (General Provisions) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for legislative process.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Title 1 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
6 is amended by adding a chapter to read:
7 CHAPTER 13
8 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
9 Sec.
10 1301. Definitions.
11 1302. Public notice.
12 1303. Referral to appropriations committee.
13 1304. Public hearing.
14 1305. Exigent circumstances.
15 1306. Legislative journal and voting history.
16 1307. Procedural violations.
17 § 1301. Definitions.
1 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
2 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
3 context clearly indicates otherwise:
4 "Committee." A standing committee of a chamber of the
5 General Assembly.
6 "Listing." The scheduling of a bill, resolution or report of
7 a conference committee on the official legislative voting
8 calendar in either chamber of the General Assembly.
9 "Post." To print and make publicly available by its
10 publication on the Internet website maintained by the
11 appropriate chamber of the General Assembly the entire contents
12 of a bill or resolution, an amendment of a bill or resolution or
13 a report of conference committee.
14 § 1302. Public notice.
15 (a) Final passage.--
16 (1) The version, by printer's number, of a bill,
17 resolution or report of conference committee must be posted
18 at least 72 hours prior to the final vote on that printer's
19 number.
20 (2) Except as set forth in section 1305 (relating to
21 exigent circumstances), no bill, resolution or report of a
22 conference committee may be passed by a chamber unless there
23 is compliance with paragraph (1).
24 (b) Report by committee.--
25 (1) The version, by printer's number, of a bill or
26 resolution must be posted at least 48 hours prior to a vote
27 of a committee reporting out that printer's number.
28 (2) Except as set forth in section 1305, no bill or
29 resolution may be reported out by a committee unless there is
30 compliance with paragraph (1).
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1 (c) Floor amendments.--
2 (1) An amendment must be posted at least 24 hours prior
3 to a vote on the amendment on the floor of a chamber.
4 (2) Except as set forth in section 1305, no amendment
5 may be offered, considered or voted on the floor of either
6 chamber unless there is compliance with paragraph (1).
7 (d) Committee amendments.--
8 (1) An amendment to be offered, considered or voted by a
9 committee must be posted at least 24 hours prior to a vote on
10 the amendment.
11 (2) Except as set forth in section 1305, no amendment
12 may be voted by a committee unless there is compliance with
13 paragraph (1).
14 § 1303. Referral to appropriations committee.
15 (a) Scope.--This section applies to a bill which does any of
16 the following:
17 (1) Requires the expenditure of Commonwealth funds.
18 (2) Requires the expenditure of the funds of a political
19 subdivision.
20 (3) Causes loss of revenue to the Commonwealth.
21 (4) Causes loss of revenue to a political subdivision.
22 (b) Requirement.--Prior to final consideration of a bill
23 referred to in subsection (a), all of the following apply:
24 (1) The version, by printer's number, of the bill must
25 be referred to the appropriations committee of the chamber.
26 (2) The appropriations committee must attach a fiscal
27 note to that printer's number.
28 (c) Prohibition.--Except as set forth in section 1305
29 (relating to exigent circumstances), a bill referred to in
30 subsection (a) may not be finally considered in a chamber unless
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1 there is compliance with subsection (b).
2 § 1304. Public hearing.
3 If a version, by printer's number, of a bill has not been the
4 subject of a public hearing, 10% of the elected members of a
5 chamber may sign and submit to the presiding officer of the
6 chamber a petition for a public hearing. If a petition is
7 submitted under this section, a public hearing shall be held on
8 that printer's number prior to a vote on final passage.
9 § 1305. Exigent circumstances.
10 A chamber may temporarily suspend the mandatory provisions of
11 section 1302 (relating to public notice), 1303 (relating to
12 referral to appropriations committee) or 1304 (relating to
13 public hearing) upon the consent of two-thirds of the elected
14 members of the chamber.
15 § 1306. Legislative journal and voting history.
16 (Reserved).
17 § 1307. Procedural violations.
18 (Reserved).
19 Section 2. This act shall apply to sessions of the General
20 Assembly which begin after January 1, 2007.
21 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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