THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PILEGGI AND COSTA, JANUARY 4, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JANUARY 4, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Providing for the Rules of the Senate for the 195th and 196th

Regular Session.

RESOLVED, That the following be adopted as the Rules of the

Senate for the governing of the 195th and 196th Regular Session.

(2011-2012)

RULES OF THE SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA

I SESSIONS

Regular and Special

1.  The General Assembly shall be a continuing body during

the term for which its Representatives are elected. It shall

meet at twelve o'clock noon on the first Tuesday of January each

year. Special sessions shall be called by the Governor on

petition of a majority of the Members elected to each House or

may be called by the Governor whenever in his opinion the public

interest requires. (Const. Art. 2, Sec. 4)

Weekly

2.  The Senate shall convene its weekly sessions on Monday,

unless the Senate shall otherwise direct.

II PRESIDENT

The Lieutenant Governor shall be President of the Senate.

(Const. Art. 4, Sec. 4)

III DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

1.   The President shall:

(a)  Take the chair on every legislative day precisely at the

hour to which the Senate stands adjourned, immediately call the

Senators to order, and on the appearance of a quorum proceed

with the Order of Business of the Senate.

(b)  While in session have general direction of the Senate

Chamber. It shall be the President's duty to preserve order and

decorum, and, in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in

the Chamber or galleries, may cause the same to be cleared. When

in the President's opinion there arises a case of extreme

disturbance or emergency the President shall, with the

concurrence of the President Pro Tempore, the Majority and

Minority Leaders, adjourn the Senate. Such adjournment shall not

extend beyond the limitation imposed by Article 2, Section 14 of

the Constitution.

(c)  During debate, prevent personal reflections and confine

Senators, in debate, to the question.

(d)  Decide, when two or more Senators arise, who shall be

first to speak.

(e)  In the presence of the Senate, within one legislative

day after receipt or adoption, sign all bills and joint

resolutions which have passed both Houses after their titles

have been read.

(f)  Sign resolutions, orders, writs, warrants and subpoenas

issued by order of the Senate. The signature shall be attested

by the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate, or, if absent,

by the Chief Clerk; and the fact of signing shall be entered in

the Journal.

(g)  Decide all points of order, subject to appeal, giving,

however, any Member called to order the right to extenuate or

justify. Debate shall not be permitted unless there be an appeal

from a decision of the President in which event the President

shall submit the question to the whole Senate for decision. The

President shall submit points of order involving the

constitutionality of any matter to the Senate for decision.

Questions of order submitted to the Senate may be debated.

IV PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

1.  (a)  The Senate shall, at the beginning and close of each

regular session and at such other times as may be necessary,

elect one of its Members President Pro Tempore, who shall

perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor in any case of

absence or disability of that officer, and whenever the office

of Lieutenant Governor shall be vacant. (Const. Art. 2, Sec. 9)

(b)  The vote of a majority of the Members voting shall be

required to elect a President Pro Tempore. Except at the

beginning and close of each regular session, the Senate shall

only elect a President Pro Tempore when the office has become

vacant and the vote of the majority of the Members elected shall

be required to vacate the office of a seated President Pro

Tempore.

V DUTIES OF PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

1.   The President Pro Tempore shall:

(a)  Appoint the Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and members of the

Standing Committees of the Senate as soon after the election of

the President Pro Tempore as possible.

(b)  Appoint members to special committees whenever

authorized.

(c)  Fill all vacancies occurring in standing and special

committees.

(d)  Refer to the appropriate standing committee, every bill

and joint resolution which may be introduced in the Senate or

received from the House of Representatives. Such referral shall

be at the President Pro Tempore's convenience but not later than

the succeeding legislative day.

(e)  Appoint and have under the President Pro Tempore's

direction such Senate employees as are authorized by law.

(f)  Vote last on all questions when occupying the Chair.

2.   The President Pro Tempore may:

(a)  Name any Senator to preside in the absence of the

President, or if both the President and President Pro Tempore

are absent the Majority Leader, or the Majority Leader's

designee, shall preside. The Majority Leader, during such time,

shall be vested with all powers of the President. This authority

shall not extend beyond a day's adjournment.

VI OTHER OFFICERS

1.  Each House shall choose its other officers. (Const. Art.

2, Sec. 9)

VII DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY-PARLIAMENTARIAN

1.   At the beginning of each regular session convening in an

odd-numbered year and at other times as may be necessary, the

Senate shall elect a Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate.

2.  The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall:

(a)  Assist the presiding officer in conducting the business

of the session.

(b)  Act in the capacity of Parliamentarian.

3.  The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall,

subject to the direction of the President Pro Tempore:

(a)  Direct the following functions: (1) amending bills in

the Senate; (2) preparing and publishing the Senate Calendar;

(3) publication of the Senate History. (4) numbering Senate

bills as they are introduced and causing them to be distributed

to the chairman of the committee to which they are referred and

receiving a receipt for same; (5) printing of bills.

(b)  Keep a record of the Senate action on a bill on a

special record sheet attached to the bill after it has been

reported from committee.

(c)  Transmit all bills, joint resolutions, concurrent

resolutions and appropriate memorials to the House of

Representatives within twenty-four hours of final passage, and

each shall be accompanied by a message stating the title to the

measure being transmitted and requesting concurrence of the

House.

(d)  Attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order

of the Senate; certify as to the passage of Senate Bills and the

approval of executive nominations.

(e)  Be in charge of the Senate Library and assist Senators

by making reference material available to them.

(f)  Perform any duties assigned to the Senate Librarian by

any statute.

(g)  Supervise the Chief Sergeant-at-Arms, the Senate Bill

Room, the Senate Print Shop, the Official Reporter's Office and

the Senate Page Service.

4.  The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall post

each roll call vote taken in the Senate on the Internet website

maintained by the Senate immediately, but in no case later than

24 hours after the vote. Each roll call vote shall be posted in

a manner which clearly identifies the bill, resolution or other

subject of the vote.

5.  The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall post

the Legislative Journal of the Senate on the Internet website

maintained by the Senate upon approval of the Journal or within

45 calendar days of each session day, whichever is earlier. If

the Secretary-Parliamentarian posts the Legislative Journal on

the Internet website prior to Senate approval, the copy shall be

marked "Official Reporter's Document."

VIII DUTIES OF THE CHIEF CLERK

1.  At the beginning of each regular session convening in an

odd-numbered year and whenever necessary, the Senate shall elect

a Chief Clerk of the Senate.

2.  The Chief Clerk shall be the chief fiscal officer of the

Senate and shall perform those duties prescribed in section 2.4

of the act of January 10, 1968 (1967 P.L.925, No.417), referred

to as the Legislative Officers and Employes Law. In addition the

Chief Clerk, subject to the direction of the President Pro

Tempore, shall perform those powers and duties prescribed in the

Financial Operating Rules of the Senate. In the absence of the

Secretary-Parliamentarian, the Chief Clerk shall, subject to the

direction of the President Pro Tempore, attest all writs,

warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the Senate and shall

certify as to the passage of Senate Bills and the approval of

executive nominations.

IX DUTIES OF THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

1.  The Chief Sergeant-at-Arms shall:

(a)  Be constantly in attendance during the sessions of the

Senate except when absent in discharging other duties.

(b)  Have charge of and direct the work of the Assistant

Sergeant-at-Arms.

(c)  Serve all subpoenas and warrants issued by the Senate or

any duly authorized officer or committee.

(d)  Maintain order, at the direction of the presiding

officer, in the Senate Chamber and adjoining rooms.

(e)  See that no person, except those authorized to do so,

disturbs or interferes with the desks of the Senators or

officers, or with books, papers, etc., thereat.

(f)  Exclude from the floor all persons not entitled to the

privilege of the same.

(g)  Have charge of all entrances to the Chamber during the

sessions of the Senate and shall see that the doors are properly

attended.

(h)  Announce, upon recognition by the presiding officer, all

important messages and committees.

(i)  Escort the Senate to all Joint meetings with the mace.

(j)  Escort the Senate Committee appointed to attend funeral

services of members or former members of the Senate with the

mace.

X ORDER OF BUSINESS

1.  The Order of Business to be observed in taking up

business shall be as follows:

2.  Any subject may, by a vote of a majority of the Members

present, be made a special order; and when the time so fixed for

its consideration arrives, the presiding officer shall lay it

before the Senate.

XI ORDER AND DECORUM

Recognition

1.  Any Senator who desires to speak or deliver any matter to

the Senate shall rise and respectfully address the presiding

officer as "Mr. President" or "Madam President," and on being

recognized, may address the Senate preferably at a microphone

conveniently located on the floor, and shall confine remarks to

the question under debate, avoiding personalities.

Speaking Out of Order

2.  If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise shall transgress

the Rules of the Senate, the President shall, or any Senator may

through the chair, call that Senator to order.

Speaking More than Once

3.  No Senator shall speak more than once on one question, to

the prevention of any other who has not spoken and is desirous

to speak; nor more than twice without leave of the Senate.

Decorum

4.  While the President is putting a question, no Member

shall walk out or across the hall, nor when a Senator is

speaking pass between the Senator and the chair, and during the

session of the Senate no Senator shall remain at the clerk's

desk during the calling of the roll or the tabulating thereof.

Smoking

4.1.  No smoking of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other

tobacco products shall be allowed in the Hall of the Senate.

Order and Privilege

5.  No Senator speaking shall be interrupted by another

except by a call to order, or by a question of privilege, or by

a call for the previous question, without the consent of the

Senator speaking, and no Senator shall speak on a question after

it is put to a vote.

Questions of Order

6.  The presiding officer shall decide all questions of

order, subject to appeal by any member. No debate shall be

allowed on questions of order, unless there be an appeal. A

second point of order on the same general subject, but not the

same point, is not in order while an appeal is pending, but when

the first appeal is decided, laid on the table or otherwise

disposed of, the second point of order is in order and is

subject to appeal. While an appeal is pending no other business

is in order. It is within the discretion of the presiding

officer as to whether to vacate the chair on an appeal.

Question When Interrupted

7.  A question regularly before the Senate can be interrupted

only by a call for the previous question, for amendment,

postponement, to lay on the table, commitment, recess or

adjournment.

XII MOTIONS

Putting a Motion

1.  When a motion is made, it shall, before debate, be stated

by the President. Every motion made to the Senate and

entertained by the President shall be reduced to writing on the

demand of any member, and shall be entered on the Journal with

the name of the Senator making it. A motion may be withdrawn by

the Member making it before amendment, postponement, an order to

lie on the table, or decision.

Precedence of Motions

2.  Motions shall take precedence in the following order:

1.  Adjourn.

2.  Previous question.

3.  Recess.

4.  Privilege.

5.  Orders of the day.

6.  Lay on the table.

7.  Limit, close or extend limit on debate.

8.  Postpone.

9.  Commit or recommit.

10.  Amend.

11.  Main motion.

Non-Debatable Motions

3.  Non-debatable motions are:

1.  Adjourn or recess.

2.  Previous question.

3.  Lay on table.

4.  Orders of the day.

5.  Limit, close or extend limit on debate.

Motions Which Permit Limited Debate

4.  On the motion to postpone, the question of postponement

is open to debate, but the main question is not.

5.  The motion to commit or recommit to committee is

debatable as to the propriety of the reference, but the main

question is not open to debate.

6.  The motion to amend is debatable on the amendments only

and does not open the main question to debate.

Seconding Motions

7.  All motions except for the previous questions (which

shall be moved by not less than four Senators) may be made

without a second.

Adjournment and Convening

8.  (a)  A motion to adjourn shall always be in order,

excepting when on the call for the previous question, the main

question shall have been ordered to be now put, or when a Member

has the floor and shall be decided without debate.

(b)  A motion to adjourn, adopted and not having a

reconvening time, the Senate will meet the following day at

10:00 a.m.

(c)  The Senate shall not convene earlier than 8:00 a.m.

unless the Senate adopts a motion that sets forth the need to

convene earlier than 8:00 a.m.

(d)  The Senate shall not adjourn later than 11:00 p.m. each

session day unless the Senate adopts a motion that sets forth

the need to adjourn later than 11:00 p.m.

Motion for Previous Question

9.  Pending the consideration of any question before the

Senate, a Senator may call for the previous question, and if

seconded by four Senators, the President shall submit the

question: "Shall the main question now be put?" If a majority

vote is in favor of it, the main question shall be ordered, the

effect of which shall cut off all further amendments and debate,

and bring the Senate to a direct vote first upon the pending

amendments and motions, if there be any, then upon the main

proposition. The previous question may be ordered on any pending

amendment or motion before the Senate.

Motion to Lay on Table

10.  The motion to lay on the table is not debatable and the

effect of the adoption of this motion is to place on the table

the pending question and everything adhering to it. Questions

laid on the table remain there for the entire session unless

taken up before the session closes.

Motion to Take from Table

11.  A motion to take from the table, a bill or other

subject, is in order under the same order of business in which

the matter was tabled. It shall be decided without debate or

amendment.

Reconsideration

12.  When a question has once been made and carried in the

affirmative or negative, it shall be in order to move the

reconsideration thereof. When the Senate has been equally

divided on a question, or a bill shall have failed to pass, by

reason of not having received the number of votes required by

the Constitution, it shall be in order to move the

reconsideration thereof.

Provided, however, that no motion for the reconsideration of

any vote shall be in order after a bill, resolution, report,

amendment or motion upon which the vote was taken shall have

gone out of the possession of the Senate.

Provided, further, that no motion for reconsideration shall

be in order unless made on the same day on which the vote was

taken, or within the next five days of actual session of the

Senate thereafter.

A motion to reconsider the same question a third time is not

in order. Identical bills cannot be considered at the same

session.

When a bill, resolution, report, amendment, order, or

message, upon which a vote has been taken, shall have gone out

of the possession of the Senate and been communicated to the

House of Representatives or to the Governor, the motion to

reconsider shall not be in order until a resolution has been

passed to request the House or Governor to return the same and

the same shall have been returned to the possession of the

Senate.

XIII BILLS

Passage of Bills

1.  (a)  No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill

shall be so altered or amended, on its passage through either

House, as to change its original purpose. (Const. Art. 3, Sec.

1)

(b)  No alteration or amendment shall be considered which is

not appropriate and closely allied to the original purpose of

the bill. If a bill has been amended after being reported by the

Appropriations Committee and if the amendment may require the

expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds of a political

subdivision or cause a loss of revenue to the Commonwealth or a

political subdivision, the bill may not be voted on final

passage until a fiscal note reflecting the impact of the

amendment has been attached.

Reference and Printing

2.  No bill shall be considered unless referred to a

committee, printed for the use of the members and returned

therefrom. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 2)

Form of Bills

3.  No bill shall be passed containing more than one subject,

which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except a general

appropriation bill or a bill codifying or compiling the law or a

part thereof. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 3)

Consideration of Bills

4.  Every bill shall be considered on three different days in

each House. All amendments made thereto shall be printed for the

use of the members before the final vote is taken on the bill

and before the final vote is taken, upon written request

addressed to the presiding officer of either House by at least

twenty-five per cent of the Members elected to that House, any

bill shall be read at length in that House. No bill shall become

a law, unless on its final passage the vote is taken by yeas and

nays, the names of the persons voting for and against it are

entered on the Journal, and a majority of the Members elected to

each House is recorded thereon as voting in its favor. (Const.

Art. 3, Sec. 4)

Local and Special Bills

5.  No local or special bill shall be passed unless notice of

the intention to apply therefor shall have been published in the

locality where the matter or the thing to be effected may be

situated, which notice shall be at least thirty days prior to

the introduction into the General Assembly of such bill and in

the manner to be provided by law; the evidence of such notice

having been published, shall be exhibited in the General

Assembly, before such act shall be passed. (Const. Art. 3, Sec.

7)

Revenue Bills

6.  All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the

House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose amendments

as in other bills. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 10)

Appropriation Bills

7. (a)  The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing

but appropriations for the executive, legislative and judicial

departments of the Commonwealth, for the public debt and for

public schools. All other appropriations shall be made by

separate bills, each embracing but one subject. (Const. Art. 3,

Sec. 11)

(b)  No appropriation shall be made for charitable,

educational or benevolent purposes to any person or community

nor to any denomination and sectarian institution, corporation

or association: Provided, That appropriations may be made for

pensions or gratuities for military service and to blind persons

twenty-one years of age and upwards and for assistance to

mothers having dependent children and to aged persons without

adequate means of support and in the form of scholarship grants

or loans for higher educational purposes to residents of the

Commonwealth enrolled in institutions of higher learning except

that no scholarship, grants or loans for higher educational

purposes shall be given to persons enrolled in a theological

seminary or school of theology. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 29)

Charitable and Educational Appropriations

8.  No appropriation shall be made to any charitable or

educational institution not under the absolute control of the

Commonwealth, other than normal schools established by law for

the professional training of teachers for the public schools of

the State, except by a vote of two-thirds of all the members

elected to each House. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 30)

Land Transfer Legislation

8.1.  No bills granting or conveying Commonwealth land or

taking title thereto shall be reported by any committee of the

Senate unless there has been filed with the Secretary-

Parliamentarian and the Chairman of the Reporting Committee, a

memorandum from the Department of General Services indicating

the use to which the property is presently employed, the full

consideration for the transfer, if any, a departmental appraisal

of the property, including its valuation and a list of recorded

liens and encumbrances, if any, the use to which the property

will be employed upon its transfer, the date by which the land

is needed for its new use, and the senatorial district or

districts in which the land is located. The memorandum shall be

filed within 60 days after a request is made for same and

contain a statement by a responsible person in the Department of

General Services indicating whether or not the departments

involved favor the transfer which is the subject of the bill

under consideration.

Consideration - Second Regular Session

9.  All bills, joint resolutions, resolutions, concurrent

resolutions, or other matters pending before the Senate upon the

adjournment sine die of a first regular session convening in an

odd-numbered year shall maintain their status and be pending

before a second regular session convening in an even-numbered

year but not beyond adjournment sine die or November 30th of

such year, whichever first occurs.

Introduction

10.  All bills shall be introduced in quintuplicate. A

sponsor may be added after a bill has been printed but the

addition of sponsors shall not require that the bill be

reprinted. All bills shall be examined by the Legislative

Reference Bureau for correctness as to form and shall be

imprinted with the stamp of the Bureau before being accepted by

the President for introduction.

Character of Bills in Place - Et cetera

11.  No Member shall read in place, nor shall any committee

report any bill for the action of the Senate, proposing to

legislate upon any of the subjects prohibited by Article III,

section 32 of the Constitution; nor shall any bill be read in

place or reported from a committee, reviving, amending,

extending or conferring the provisions of any law, by reference

to its title only, but so much of the law as is revived,

amended, extended or conferred shall be reenacted and published

at length by such bill.

Reference to Committee by President Pro Tempore

12.  Every bill and joint resolution which may be introduced

by a Senator or which may be received from the House of

Representatives, shall, after being presented to the Chair, be

referred by the President Pro Tempore to the appropriate

committee, but not later than the succeeding legislative day.

Printing of Amended Bills

13.  All bills reported or re-reported from committee, if

amended by the committee, and all bills on the Calendar, if

amended by the Senate, shall be reprinted and a new printer's

number assigned thereto before any action is taken thereon.

Any bill or resolution re-reported from committee as amended

shall not be finally considered until it has appeared on the

Senate Calendar for two legislative days. Such bills shall

appear under a separate heading on the Senate Calendar.

First Consideration

14.  Bills on first consideration shall not be subject to

amendment, debate or a vote thereon.

Second Consideration

15.  Bills on second consideration shall be subject to

amendment, debate and a vote thereon.

Third Consideration and Final Passage

16. (a)  Bills on third consideration may be amended and are

subject to debate. Bills on final passage may not be amended but

are open to debate. The vote on final passage shall be taken by

a roll call and the names of the Senators voting for and against

recorded and entered in the Journal. No bill shall be declared

passed unless a majority of all Senators elected to the Senate

shall be recorded as voting for the same.

(b)  No bill which may require an expenditure of Commonwealth

funds or funds of any political subdivision or cause a loss of

revenue to the Commonwealth or any political subdivision shall

be given third consideration on the Calendar until it has been

referred to the Appropriations Committee and a fiscal note

attached thereto.

(c)  In obtaining the information required by these Rules,

the Appropriations Committee may utilize the services of the

Budget Office and any other State agency as may be necessary.

17.  (a)  It shall not be in order, by suspension of this

Rule or otherwise, to consider a bill on final passage unless it

is printed, together with amendments, if any, and placed on the

desks of the Senators.

(b)  No bill amended on third consideration may be voted on

final passage until at least six hours have elapsed from the

time of adoption of the amendment.

Appropriation Bills for Charitable Purposes

18.  No bills appropriating money for charitable or

benevolent purposes shall be considered finally until after the

general appropriation bill shall have been reported from

committee.

Pre-Filing

19.  Senators may, on days when the Senate is not in session

or in the period between sine die adjournment of a First Regular

Session and the convening of a Second Regular Session, introduce

bills, joint resolutions and resolutions by filing the same with

the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate. The Secretary-

Parliamentarian of the Senate shall notify the President Pro

Tempore of the fact of such filing. The President Pro Tempore

shall refer the bills, joint resolutions and resolutions to the

appropriate committees as soon as possible but not later than

two weeks from the time of notification of filing. Upon

referral, the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall

deliver said bills, joint resolutions and resolutions to the

committees to which they have been referred. The Secretary-

Parliamentarian of the Senate shall have the bills, joint

resolutions and resolutions printed for distribution and

notification of such filing shall be given to the Members and

news media in the usual manner.

20.  Any Member of the Senate or Member-elect of the Senate

may file bills with the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate

commencing on December 15 of each even-numbered year. The

Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall number the bills

in the order received; print and distribute such measures; and,

in the usual manner, give notification of such filing to the

Members and news media.

21.  Upon the naming of the committees of the Senate at the

convening of a First Regular Session, the President Pro Tempore

shall refer all pre-filed measures to the proper committee,

announcing the number, sponsors and committee referred to the

Senate.

XIV AMENDMENTS

When in Order

1.  Amendments shall be in order when a bill is reported or

re-reported from committee, on second consideration and on third

consideration. No amendments shall be received by the presiding

officer or considered by the Senate which destroys the general

sense of the original bill, or is not appropriate and closely

allied to the original purpose of the bill. Any Member, upon

request, must be furnished a copy of a proposed amendment and be

given a reasonable opportunity to consider same before being

required to vote thereon.

2.  Amendments offered on the floor shall be read by the

clerk and stated by the presiding officer to the Senate before

being acted upon. Amendments shall be presented in ten

typewritten copies, the original of which shall be signed by the

Sponsor. No amendment may be considered by the Senate until the

Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate has posted the amendment

on the Internet website maintained by the Senate.

3.  Amendments to bills or other main motions or questions

before the Senate may be tabled. When an amendment proposed to

any bill or other main motion or question before the Senate is

laid on the table, it shall not carry with it or prejudice the

bill, main motion or question. A motion to remove an amendment

from the table shall only be in order if the bill or other main

motion or question remains before the Senate for decision. The

motion to remove an amendment from the table is not debatable

and shall have the same precedence as the motion to amend.

Amendments Reconsidering-Revert to Prior Print

4.  Amendments adopted or defeated may not be again

considered without reconsidering the vote by which said

amendments were adopted or defeated, unless a majority vote of

the Senators present shall decide to revert to a prior printer's

number. If such a motion is made to a bill on third

consideration and carried it shall not be in order to vote on

the final passage of said bill until a copy of the reverted

printer's number is placed on the Senators' desks.

Concurrence in House Amendments

5.  (a)  No amendments to bills by the House shall be

concurred in by the Senate, except by the vote of a majority of

the Members elected to the Senate, taken by yeas and nays.

(Const. Art. 3, Sec. 5)

(b)  If a bill on concurrence contains an amendment which may

require the expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds of a

political subdivision or cause a loss of revenue to the

Commonwealth or a political subdivision, the bill may not be

voted finally until a fiscal note reflecting the impact of the

amendment has been attached.

(c)  No bill on concurrence may be voted finally until at

least six hours have elapsed from the time of adoption of the

amendment.

6.  (a)  Any bill or resolution containing House amendments

which is returned to the Senate shall be referred to the

Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations immediately upon

the reading of the message by the clerk. The consideration of

any bill or resolution containing House amendments may include

the amendment of House amendments by the Committee on Rules and

Executive Nominations. The vote on concurring in amendments by

the House to bills or resolutions amended by the House shall not

be taken until said bills or resolutions have been favorably

reported, as committed or as amended, by the Committee on Rules

and Executive Nominations and have been placed on the desks of

the Senators and particularly referred to on their calendars.

(b)  Unless the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader shall

agree otherwise, the offering of an amendment to House

amendments in the Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations

shall not be in order until at least one hour after the filing

of a copy of the amendment as prepared by the Legislative

Reference Bureau with the office of the Secretary-

Parliamentarian. Upon the filing of such an amendment, the

Secretary-Parliamentarian shall immediately time stamp the

amendment and forthwith forward a time-stamped copy of the

amendment to the offices of the Majority Leader and the Minority

Leader. Except as provided in this subsection, it shall not be

in order to suspend or otherwise waive the requirements of this

subsection.

XV COMMITTEES

1.  There shall be the following permanent Standing

committees, the Chairmen, the Vice-Chairmen and members thereof

to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore as soon as possible

after his election in sessions convening in odd-numbered years

or such other times as may be necessary. The composition of each

Standing Committee shall reasonably reflect the party

composition of the Senate membership.

Aging and Youth -- 10 members

Agriculture and Rural Affairs -- 10 members

Appropriations -- 23 members

Banking and Insurance -- 13 members

Communications and Technology -- 10 members

Community, Economic and Recreational Development -- 13

members

Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure -- 13 members

Education -- 10 members

Environmental Resources and Energy -- 10 members

Finance -- 10 members

Game and Fisheries -- 10 members

Judiciary -- 13 members

Labor and Industry -- 10 members

Law and Justice -- 10 members

Local Government -- 10 members

Public Health and Welfare -- 10 members

Rules and Executive Nominations -- 16 members

State Government -- 10 members

Transportation -- 13 members

Urban Affairs and Housing -- 10 members

Veterans' Affairs and Emergency Preparedness -- 10 members

Members-ex-officio

2.  (a)  The President Pro Tempore shall be an ex-officio

voting Member of all standing committees and subcommittees and

not included in the number of committee members herein provided

except that the President Pro Tempore shall not be an ex-officio

Member of the Committee on Ethics and Official Conduct.

(b)  The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader shall each

be an ex-officio member of the Committee on Appropriations and

shall not be included in the number of members of the committee

provided herein.

Committees' Function Between Sessions

3.  Permanent standing committees shall exist and function

both during and between sessions. Such power shall not extend

beyond November 30th of any even-numbered year.

Subcommittees

4.  Each standing committee or the chairman thereof may

appoint, from time to time, a subcommittee to study or

investigate a matter falling within the jurisdiction of the

standing committee or to consider a bill or resolution referred

to it. Subcommittees shall be regulated by the Senate Rules of

Procedure and shall be in existence for only that time necessary

to complete their assignments and report to their standing

committees. Their reports, whether favorable or unfavorable,

shall be considered by the standing committee.

Powers and Responsibilities

5.   Permanent standing committees are authorized:

(a)  To maintain a continuous review of the work of the

Commonwealth agencies concerned with their subject areas and the

performance of the functions of government within each such

subject area, and for this purpose to request reports from time

to time, in such form as the standing committee or select

subcommittee shall designate, concerning the operation of any

Commonwealth agency and presenting any proposal or

recommendation such agency may have with regard to existing laws

or proposed legislation in its subject area. The standing

committee or subcommittee is authorized to require public

officials and employees and private individuals to appear before

the standing committee or subcommittee for the purpose of

submitting information to it.

(b)  In order to carry out its duties, each standing

committee or subcommittee is empowered with the right and

authority to inspect and investigate the books, records, papers,

documents, data, operation, and physical plant of any public

agency in this Commonwealth.

(c)  In order to carry out its duties, each standing

committee or subcommittee may issue subpoenas duces tecum and

other necessary process to compel the attendance of witnesses

and the production of any books, letters or other documentary

evidence desired by such committee. The chairman may administer

oaths and affirmations in the manner prescribed by law to

witnesses who shall appear before such committee for the purpose

of testifying in any matter about which such committee may

desire evidence.

Notice of Meetings

6.  (a)  The chairman of a committee or subcommittee, or, in

the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman with the approval

of the chairman, shall provide each Member of the committee with

written notice of committee meetings, which shall include the

date, time and place of the meeting and the number of each bill

which may be considered. During session notice of meetings of

standing committees may be published in the daily Calendar. If

notice of publication in the daily Calendar of standing

committee or subcommittee meetings has been ordered by a

committee chairman such information shall be delivered to the

Secretary-Parliamentarian's office in writing by the end of the

session on the day preceding its intended publication.

(b)  Whenever the chairman of any standing committee shall

refuse to call a regular meeting, then a majority plus one of

its members of the standing committee may vote to call a meeting

by giving two days' written notice to the Secretary-

Parliamentarian of the Senate, setting the time and place for

such meeting. Such notice shall be read in the Senate and the

same posted by the Secretary-Parliamentarian in the Senate.

Thereafter, the meeting shall be held at the time and place

specified in the notice. In addition, all provisions of 65

Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) relative to notice of

meetings shall be complied with.

(c)  When the majority plus one of the members of a standing

committee believe that a certain bill or resolution in the

possession of the standing committee should be considered and

acted upon by such committee, they may request the chairman to

include the same as part of the business of a committee meeting.

Upon failure of the chairman to comply with such request, the

membership may require that such bill be considered by written

motion made and approved by a majority plus one vote of the

entire membership to which such committee is entitled.

7.  A committee meeting, or hearing for which notice has not

been published in the daily Calendar of standing committee or

subcommittee meetings as provided in section 6(a), may be held

during a session only if approval is granted by the Majority and

Minority Leaders and if notice of the bills to be considered is

given during session.

8.  Before any standing committee or subcommittee of the

Senate holds a meeting while the Legislature is in recess, a

notice of said meeting, stating date, time and place, shall be

filed with the Secretary of the Senate at least seven days prior

thereto.

Bills Recommitted

9.  Any bill or resolution reported by any standing committee

without prior notice having been given as required by these

Rules shall be recommitted to the committee reporting the same.

Public Meetings or Hearings

10.  (a)  The chairman of a standing committee may hold

hearings open to the public and in doing so shall make public

announcement of the date, the place, and the subject matter of

the hearing in ample time to permit participation by the public.

All subcommittees may hold public hearings with the permission

of the parent standing committee.

(b)  The chairman of a standing committee shall have the

power to designate whether or not a meeting of the committee for

the purpose of transacting committee business shall be open to

the public or shall be held in executive session and therefore

closed to the public, but no matters may be considered in

executive session for which an open meeting is required under 65

Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).

11.  All permanent standing committees, and with permission

of the parent committee, subcommittees, may have their hearings

reported and transcribed if payment for such service is being

made from committee funds. The chairman shall contact the

Secretary-Parliamentarian to make arrangements for such

reporting and transcribing. However, if payment is expected to

be made from a source other than committee funds, approval must

be first obtained from the President Pro Tempore. The President

Pro Tempore shall notify the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the

Senate if permission is granted.

Subcommittee Reports

12.  It shall be the duty of a subcommittee to report all

measures referred to it directly to the parent standing

committee. The subcommittee shall report all measures either (a)

favorably, (b) favorably with amendments, or (c) unfavorably.

13.  Such reports shall also reflect (a) the time and place

of the meeting at which the action was taken, (b) the name and

address of each person (if any) addressing the committee

relative to each measure and the interest represented (proponent

or opponent), and (c) the vote of each member of the

subcommittee on the motion to report each measure.

14.  A subcommittee may not report a bill directly to the

Senate but must report it back to the parent committee, which in

turn shall be authorized to report to the Senate if it is so

ordered.

15.  When a bill with a favorable report by a subcommittee is

considered by the parent committee, no additional testimony of

witnesses shall be permitted except upon vote of a majority of

members of the parent committee as provided by these Rules.

Quorum of Committee

16.  A committee or subcommittee is actually assembled only

when a quorum constituting a majority of the members of that

committee is present in person. A majority of the quorum of the

whole committee shall be required to report any measure to the

floor for action by the whole Senate. Any measure reported in

violation of this Rule shall be immediately recommitted by the

President when it is called to the President's attention by a

Senator.

Discharging Committees

17.  (a)  No committee shall be discharged from consideration

of any measure within ten legislative days of its reference

without unanimous consent of the Senate or after such ten-day

period except by majority vote of all Members elected to the

Senate.

(b)  Such discharge shall be by resolution which shall lie

over one day for consideration upon introduction and which shall

be considered under the Order of Business of Resolutions.

XVI COMMITTEE OFFICERS

Chairman - Ex-officio

1.  The Chairman of each standing committee shall be ex-

officio a member of each subcommittee which is part of the

standing committee with the right to attend meetings of such

subcommittees and vote on any matter before such subcommittees.

Calling Committee to Order

2.  The Chairman, or, if absent, the Vice-Chairman shall call

the committee to order at the hour provided by these Rules. Upon

the appearance of a quorum, the committee shall proceed with the

order of business. Any member of the committee may question the

existence of a quorum.

The Chairman Control of the Committee Room

3.  The Chairman or, if the Chairman is absent, the Vice-

Chairman shall preserve order and decorum and shall have general

control of the committee room. In case of a disturbance or

disorderly conduct in the committee room, the Chairman or, if

the Chairman is absent, the Vice-Chairman may cause the same to

be cleared. The use of any cellular telephones or other

disruptive devices within any Senate committee room by other

than members of the Senate or their staffs is strictly

prohibited.

Chairman's Authority to Sign Notices, etc.

Decide Questions of Order

4.  The Chairman shall sign all notices, vouchers, subpoenas

or reports required or permitted by these Rules. The Chairman

shall decide all questions of order relative to parliamentary

procedure, subject to an appeal by any Senator to the committee.

Vote of Chairman, Vice-Chairman

5.  The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall vote on all matters

before such committee provided that the name of the Chairman

shall be called last.

Temporary Designation of Alternate to Chairman

6.  The Chairman may name any member of the committee to

perform the duties of the Chair provided that such substitution

shall not extend beyond such meeting. In the Chairman's absence

and omission to make such designation, the Vice-Chairman shall

act during that absence.

Performance of Duties by Vice-Chairman

7.  Upon the death of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall

perform the duties of the office until and unless the President

Pro Tempore shall appoint a successor. Upon and during

disability, or incapacity of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman

shall perform the Chairman's duties.

Chairman's Duty to Report

8.  The Chairman shall report any bill to the floor of the

Senate within four legislative days of the committee's vote to

report it.

XVII COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Members, Attendance, Voting

1.  Every member of a committee shall be in attendance during

each of its meetings, unless excused or necessarily prevented

and shall vote on each question, except that no member of a

committee shall be required or permitted to vote on any

questions immediately concerning that member's private rights as

distinct from the public interest.

2.  The Chairman may excuse any Senator for just cause from

attendance during the meetings of the committee for any stated

period, and such excused absence shall be noted on the records

of such committee.

3.  Any member of a committee who is otherwise engaged in

legislative duties may have the member's vote recorded on

measures pending before the committee by communicating in

writing to the chairman: (a) the nature of the legislative

duties that prohibits the member's attendance and; (b) the

manner in which the member desires to be voted on such measures

pending before the committee.

XVIII COMMITTEE VOTING

Taking the Vote

1.  The Chairman shall declare all votes and said votes and

the results thereof shall be open to the public. In all cases

where the committee shall be equally divided, the question shall

be lost.

2.  A vote in a standing committee to report a bill or

resolution or a vote regarding an executive nomination shall be

posted on the Internet website maintained by the Senate within

24 hours.

XIX MOTIONS IN COMMITTEES

1.  All motions made in committee shall be governed and take

the same precedence as those set forth in these Rules.

XX CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

1.  The President Pro Tempore shall appoint three Senators to

comprise a Committee of Conference. Two shall be from the

majority party and one from the minority party.

2.  The deliberations of the committee shall be confined to

the subject of difference between the two Houses, unless both

Houses shall direct a free conference, and if their authority

has been exceeded it shall be the duty of the presiding officer

to call it to the attention of the Senate, which shall then

decide the question by a majority vote of those present.

Report of Conference Committee

3.  (a)  The report of a Committee of Conference shall be

prepared in triplicate by the Legislative Reference Bureau and

shall be signed by the members or a majority of the members of

the committee. Every report of a committee of conference shall

be printed together with the bill as amended by the committee,

placed on the desks of the Senators and particularly referred to

on their calendars before action shall be taken on such report.

No report of a Committee of Conference may be adopted by the

Senate until at least six hours have elapsed from the time of

adoption of the report by the Committee of Conference.

(b)  A report of a Committee of Conference which requires the

expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds of a political

subdivision or causes a loss of revenue to the Commonwealth or a

political subdivision shall have a fiscal note attached before

the report is voted finally.

Report of Conference Committee - Adoption

4.  Reports of committees of conference shall be adopted only

by the vote of a majority of the Members elected to the Senate,

taken by yeas and nays. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 5)

XXI VOTING

Must be Present and Vote

1.  (a)  Except as may be otherwise provided by this Rule, no

Senator shall be permitted to vote on any question unless the

Senator is present in the Senate Chamber at the time the roll is

being called, or prior to the announcement of the vote.

Harrisburg Assignment

(b)  A Senator who is performing a legislative assignment in

the Harrisburg area (as defined in the Financial Operating Rules

of the Senate) on behalf of the body of the Senate and to which

the Senator was duly appointed by the Senate or the appropriate

officer thereof may be voted by the Senator's respective floor

leader. A specific reason must be given by the Senator and it

must be announced by the respective floor leader.

Legislative Leave

(c)  A Senator who is performing a legislative assignment

outside of the Harrisburg area on behalf of the body of the

Senate and to which the Senator was duly appointed by the Senate

or the appropriate officer thereof may be voted by the Senator's

respective floor leader. A specific reason for the legislative

leave must be given in writing by the Senator and it must be

announced by the respective floor leader.

Personal or Private Interest

2.  Senators who have a personal or private interest in any

measure or bill proposed or pending before the Senate shall

disclose the fact to the Senate, and shall not vote thereon.

Senators Must be Present

3.  Every Senator shall be present within the Senate Chamber

during the sessions of the Senate, unless a Senator is on duty

with a reserve component of the armed forces of the United

States or the Pennsylvania National Guard or Air National Guard

or is duly excused or necessarily prevented, and shall be

recorded as voting on each question stated from the Chair which

requires a roll call vote unless the Senator is on duty with a

reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or

the Pennsylvania National Guard or Air National Guard or is duly

excused by the Senate. The refusal of any Senator to vote as

provided by this section shall be deemed a contempt unless the

Senator be excused by the Senate or unless the Senator has a

direct personal or pecuniary interest in connection with the

pending question.

Excused from Voting

4.  A Senator desiring to be excused from voting shall, when

the Senator's name is called, make a brief statement of the

reasons for making such request, and the question on excusing

the Senator shall then be decided by the Chair without debate.

Changing Vote

5.  No Senator may vote or change a vote after the result is

announced by the Chair. Before the announcement of the final

result, however, a Senator may change a vote, or may vote, if

previously absent from the Chamber. Should a Senator be

erroneously recorded on any vote, the Senator may at any time,

with the permission of the Senate, make a statement to that

effect which shall be entered in the Journal. Similarly, should

the Senator be absent when a vote is taken on any question, the

Senator may later, with the permission of the Senate, make a

statement for entry upon the Journal, indicating how the Senator

would have voted had the Senator been present when the roll was

taken and the reasons therefor shall be submitted in writing or

delivered orally not to exceed five minutes.

Persons Allowed at Desk During Roll Call

6.  No Senator or other person, except the majority or

minority leader or other persons designated by them, shall be

permitted at the Reading Clerk's desk during the recording,

counting or verification of a roll call vote.

Two-Thirds Vote

7.  When bills or other matters which require a two-thirds

vote are under consideration, the concurrence of two-thirds of

all the Senators elected shall not be requisite to decide any

question or amendment short of the final question and on any

question short of the final one, a majority of Senators voting

shall be sufficient to pass the same.

Majority Vote Defined

8.  A majority of the Senators elected shall mean a majority

of the Senators elected, living, sworn and seated.

Majority Vote

9.  When bills or other matters which require a vote of the

majority of Senators elected are under consideration, the

concurrence of a majority of all the Senators elected shall not

be requisite to decide any question or amendment short of the

final question; and, on any question short of a final one, a

majority of Senators voting shall be sufficient to pass the

same.

Announcement of Vote

10.  Upon completion of a roll call vote or a voice vote the

result shall be announced immediately unless the majority or

minority leader requests a delay.

Explanation of Vote

11.  Any Senator may, with the consent of the Senate, make an

explanation of a vote on any question and have the explanation

printed in the Journal.

Tie Vote

12.  In the case of a tie vote, the President of the Senate

may cast a vote to break such tie so long as by doing so it does

not violate any provisions of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.

In the event there is a tie vote on a question requiring a

constitutional majority, the question falls.

Verifying Vote

13.  Any Senator may demand a verification of a vote

immediately upon the completion of a roll call or after the

announcement of vote by the presiding officer. In verifying a

vote the Clerk shall first read the affirmative roll at which

time any additions or corrections shall be made. Upon the

completion and verification of the affirmative roll call, the

Clerk shall proceed with the reading of the negative roll at

which time any additions or corrections shall be made. Upon the

completion and verification of the negative roll call, the roll

call shall be declared verified. It shall not be in order for a

Senator to change a vote after the verified roll call is

announced. A demand for a verification shall not be in order

when all Senators vote one way. The demand for a verification of

a vote is not debatable.

Voice Vote

14.  Unless otherwise ordered or demanded, a voice vote may

be taken. Any Senator who doubts the accuracy of a voice vote

may demand a roll call vote. Such request must be made

immediately upon the announcement of the vote by the presiding

officer and shall not be in order after other business has

intervened. The demand for a verification of a voice vote shall

not be in order.

XXII CORRESPONDENTS

Admission to Press Gallery -

Committee on Correspondents

1.  Admission to and administration of the Press Galleries of

the Senate and House of Representatives shall be vested in a

Committee on Correspondents consisting of the President Pro

Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

Representatives, or their designees; the Supervisor of the

Capitol Newsroom; the President of the Pennsylvania Legislative

Correspondents' Association, and the Executive Director of the

Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, or their designees.

Application to Press Gallery

2.  Persons desiring admission to the press sections of the

Senate and House of Representatives shall make application to

the Chairman of the Committee on Correspondents. Such

applications shall state the newspaper, press association or

licensed radio or television station, its location, times of

publication or hours of broadcasting, and be signed by the

applicant.

Committee to Verify Statement

3.  The Committee on Correspondents shall verify the

statements made in such application, and, if the application is

approved by the committee, shall issue a correspondent's card

signed by the members of the committee.

Exclusive Use of Gallery

4.  The Gallery on the Senate floor assigned to newspaper

correspondents or recognized press association correspondents or

representatives of licensed radio and television stations,

systems or news-gathering agencies shall be for their exclusive

use and persons not holding correspondents cards shall not be

entitled to admission thereto. Representatives and employees of

State departments, boards, commissions and agencies, visitors

and members of the families of correspondents entitled to

admission to the press gallery shall, at no time, be permitted

to occupy seats or be entitled to the privilege of the press

gallery. Employees of the Senate may be permitted to occupy

seats and be entitled to the privilege of the press section of

the Senate Gallery when not in use by accredited press

representatives.

Photographs in Senate Chamber - Hearings

5.  Accredited media photographers may be authorized by the

President Pro Tempore to take still photographs in the Senate,

and by the Speaker of the House to take still photographs in the

House of Representatives. Applications to take still photographs

at public hearings of committees must be approved by the

Committee Chairman or Co-chairman conducting such hearing.

Photographs - Notice to be Given

6.  No still photographs shall be taken in the Senate or

House of Representatives during sessions, being at ease or

recessed, without prior notice to the Senators in the Senate or

the Representatives in the House of Representatives. When

possible, such notice shall be given at the beginning of the

session, at ease or recess, during which the still photographs

are scheduled to be taken.

Correspondents - Number Limited

7.  No more than one representative of each newspaper, press

association or licensed radio or television station, system or

news-gathering agency shall be admitted to the press gallery at

one time. Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative

Correspondents' Association and representatives of licensed

radio and television stations, systems or news-gathering

agencies, assigned to the Senate and/or House of Representatives

on a daily basis shall have permanent assigned seating in the

press gallery with identification plates. Visiting

representatives of daily newspapers, press associations, Sunday

newspapers as well as radio and television stations, systems or

news-gathering agencies shall coordinate seating accommodations

with the supervisor of the Capitol Newsroom.

Order and Decorum of Press

8.  Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or

temporary basis shall, at all times, refrain from loud talking

or causing any disturbance which tends to interrupt the

proceedings of the Senate or House of Representatives.

9.  Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or

temporary basis shall not walk onto the floor of the Senate or

House of Representatives nor approach the rostrum or the clerks'

desks during session or while being at ease.

10.  Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or

temporary basis wishing to confer with a Senator or

Representative shall disclose this fact by having a message

delivered by a Page to the Senator or Representative. Such

conversation shall be conducted off the floor of the Senate or

House of Representatives.

XXIII RADIO AND TELEVISION

1.  Filming, videotaping, televising or broadcasting of

Senate sessions shall be permitted as provided in policy

directives developed and recommended by the Committee on

Management Operations. The policy directives recommended by the

Committee on Management Operations shall be submitted to the

Senate and shall become effective upon the approval of a

resolution by the Senate by the vote of a majority of the

Senators elected. Filming, videotaping, televising or

broadcasting of Senate sessions shall be prohibited prior to the

adoption of the policy directives.

2.  Nothing in this Rule shall be construed to prohibit any

licensed radio station from broadcasting a session from the

Senate or any part thereof provided that the signal originates

from the Senate-operated sound system which transmits Senate

session activity to the offices in the Main Capitol and

environs.

XXIV RECORDS OF THE SENATE

1.  The records of the Senate may be inspected by the

Members, but no paper shall be withdrawn therefrom without the

consent of the Senate.

XXV WHO PRIVILEGED TO THE

FLOOR OF THE SENATE

1.  No person shall be admitted within the Senate Chamber

(galleries and press boxes excepted) during Senate sessions,

unless invited by an officer or the majority or minority

leaders. Such authorized staff shall be restricted to the area

immediate to the majority and minority leaders' desks and shall

be allowed to advise Members during debate only when such Member

is using the microphones at the leaders' desks.

Rear Entrance Closed During Session

2.  No person or persons shall, during a session, be

permitted to enter through the rear door of the Senate Chamber

nor be present in the rooms immediately to the rear of the

Senate Chamber except Senators, officers and employees expressly

authorized.