PRINTER'S NO. 1459
No. 1179 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY D. EVANS, BLACKWELL, CAPPELLI, COSTA, DALEY, DePASQUALE, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GRUCELA, HANNA, KENNEY, KING, KIRKLAND, LENTZ, LEVDANSKY, MAHONEY, PRESTON, RAMALEY, RAYMOND, TANGRETTI, WALKO, WOJNAROSKI, KORTZ AND HORNAMAN, MAY 1, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 1, 2007
AN ACT 1 Establishing a temporary State commission to study the 2 Constitution of Pennsylvania to recommend possible amendment 3 or revision; prescribing the powers and duties of the 4 commission; and making an appropriation. 5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 6 hereby enacts as follows: 7 Section 1. Short title. 8 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Commission on 9 Constitutional Revision Act. 10 Section 2. Commission established. 11 A temporary State commission, to be known as the Commission 12 on Constitutional Revision, is hereby established. The 13 commission shall consist of 15 citizens of this Commonwealth of 14 whom five shall be appointed by the Governor, three shall be 15 appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, three 16 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 17 Representatives, two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader
1 of the Senate and two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader 2 of the House of Representatives. 3 Section 3. Election of officers. 4 The members of the Commission on Constitutional Revision 5 shall elect from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman. 6 Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in 7 the manner provided for original appointments. 8 Section 4. Purpose of commission. 9 The Commission on Constitutional Revision shall study the 10 Constitution of Pennsylvania, as amended, in the light of 11 contemporary conditions and the anticipated problems and needs 12 of the people of this Commonwealth. If the commission finds 13 change in the constitution advisable, it shall consider the best 14 means of effecting such change. If the commission determines 15 that the best means is by amendment, it shall so recommend and 16 its report shall contain drafts of the proposed amendment or 17 amendments. If the commission determines that the best means is 18 by general revision, it shall collect, compile and analyze such 19 information as it may deem useful to the delegates at a 20 constitutional convention and shall make any recommendations 21 relating to the substance of revision as it may consider 22 appropriate. 23 Section 5. Final report. 24 The Commission on Constitutional Revision shall submit its 25 final report to the Governor and the General Assembly not later 26 than one year after the effective date of this section. 27 Section 6. Studies. 28 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may conduct any 29 studies or analyses it deems relevant through its own personnel 30 or in cooperation with any public or private agency including, 20070H1179B1459 - 2 -
1 but not limited to, universities, colleges, foundations and 2 research organizations. 3 Section 7. Expenses. 4 The members of the Commission on Constitutional Revision 5 shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all 6 expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their 7 duties. 8 Section 8. Employment. 9 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may employ, and at 10 its pleasure remove, such personnel as it may deem necessary for 11 the performance of its functions and fix their compensation 12 within the amounts made available by appropriation. 13 Section 9. Other duties. 14 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may enter into any 15 agreements for research or otherwise and to do and perform any 16 acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the 17 purposes of this act. 18 Section 10. Meeting and hearings. 19 The Commission on Constitutional Revision may meet within and 20 without this Commonwealth and may hold public or private 21 hearings. 22 Section 11. Cooperation. 23 The heads of the several departments, agencies, boards, 24 commissions, authorities and instrumentalities of the 25 Commonwealth and of the governmental subdivisions of the 26 Commonwealth shall cooperate with the Commission on 27 Constitutional Revision with such facilities, assistance and 28 data as may be necessary or desirable for the commission to 29 properly carry out its functions under this act, and which will 30 not interfere with the proper conduct of the respective 20070H1179B1459 - 3 -
1 departments, agencies, boards, commissions, authorities, 2 instrumentalities and governmental subdivisions. 3 Section 12. Appropriation. 4 The sum of $475,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary, 5 is hereby appropriated to the Commission on Constitutional 6 Revision for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2006, and July 7 1, 2007. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this 8 act. Payment from the appropriation shall be made by request of 9 the chairman of the commission in the manner provided by law. 10 Section 13. Effective date. 11 This act shall take effect immediately. L26L83DMS/20070H1179B1459 - 4 -