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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 1459

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

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,
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     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
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     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.













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