PRINTER'S NO.  444

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

457

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY VOGEL, KASUNIC, PICCOLA, FOLMER, ERICKSON, SMUCKER, ROBBINS, D. WHITE, TOMLINSON, PIPPY, ALLOWAY, ORIE, WAUGH, BOSCOLA, EARLL, BAKER, BREWSTER AND FERLO, FEBRUARY 8, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 8, 2011  

  

  

  

A JOINT RESOLUTION

  

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Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth

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of Pennsylvania, reducing the size of the General Assembly.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby resolves as follows:

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Section 1.  The following amendment to the Constitution of

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Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:

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That section 16 of Article II be amended to read:

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§ 16.  Legislative districts.

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The Commonwealth shall be divided into [50] 30 senatorial and

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[203] 121 representative districts, which shall be composed of

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compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population

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as practicable. Each senatorial district shall elect one

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Senator, and each representative district one Representative.

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Unless absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town,

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borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a

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senatorial or representative district.

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Section 2.  (a)  Upon the first passage by the General

 


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Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the

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Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to

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comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article

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XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the

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required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in

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which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after

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passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.

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(b)  Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of this

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proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the

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Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the

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advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the

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Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required

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advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such

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newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of

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this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the

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Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment

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to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first

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primary, general or municipal election which meets the

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requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article

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XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least

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three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is

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passed by the General Assembly.

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Section 3.  The amendment of section 16 of Article II of the

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Constitution of Pennsylvania shall become effective after the

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2010 Federal census reapportionment.

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Section 4.  The Senate and House of Representatives, upon the

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effective date of the amendment of section 16 of Article II of

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the Constitution of Pennsylvania, shall each reduce their

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budgets by 40% compared to the budgets of the prior year.

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