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PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRINTER'S NO. 635
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
562
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY KAUFFMAN, KILLION, BLOOM, KAMPF, HELM, COX,
MUSTIO, MASSER, BARRAR, MENTZER, SAYLOR, MAHONEY, GROVE,
DeLUCA, GINGRICH, MURT, FEE AND GILLEN, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, further providing for legislative districts.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
That section 16 of Article II be amended to read:
ยง 16. Legislative districts.
[The] (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, the Commonwealth shall be divided into 50 senatorial
and 203 representative districts, which shall be composed of
compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population
as practicable.
(2) Beginning with the legislative session that commences
the first Tuesday of January 2023 , the Commonwealth shall be
divided into 193 representative districts, which shall be
composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in
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population as practicable.
(3) Beginning with the legislative session that commences
the first Tuesday of January 2033 , the Commonwealth shall be
divided into 183 representative districts, which shall be
composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in
population as practicable.
(4) Beginning with the legislative session that commences
the first Tuesday of January 2043 , the Commonwealth shall be
divided into 173 representative districts, which shall be
composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in
population as practicable.
(5) Beginning with the legislative session that commences
the first Tuesday of January 2053 , the Commonwealth shall be
divided into 163 representative districts, which shall be
composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in
population as practicable.
(6) Beginning with the legislative session that commences
the first Tuesday of January 2063 , the Commonwealth shall be
divided into 153 representative districts, which shall be
composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in
population as practicable.
(b) Each senatorial district shall elect one Senator, and
each representative district one Representative. Unless
absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town,
borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a
senatorial or representative district.
Section 2. (a) The first elections after reapportionment of
the Commonwealth under section 17 of Article II of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania to conform to the amendment under
section 1 of this Joint Resolution, as it relates to the
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addition of section 16(a)(2) of Article II, shall be held in the
year 2022.
(b) The first elections after reapportionment of the
Commonwealth under section 17 of Article II of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania to conform to the amendment under section 1 of
this Joint Resolution, as it relates to the addition of section
16(a)(3) of Article II, shall be held in the year 2032.
(c) The first elections after reapportionment of the
Commonwealth under section 17 of Article II of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania to conform to the amendment under section 1 of
this Joint Resolution, as it relates to the addition of section
16(a)(4) of Article II, shall be held in the year 2042.
(d) The first elections after reapportionment of the
Commonwealth under section 17 of Article II of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania to conform to the amendment under section 1 of
this Joint Resolution, as it relates to the addition of section
16(a)(5) of Article II, shall be held in the year 2052.
(e) The first elections after reapportionment of the
Commonwealth under section 17 of Article II of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania to conform to the amendment under section 1 of
this Joint Resolution, as it relates to the addition of section
16(a)(6) of Article II, shall be held in the year 2062.
Section 3. (a) Upon the first passage by the General
Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to
comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the
required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in
which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after
passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.
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(b) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of this
proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the
advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required
advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such
newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of
this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment
to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first
primary, general or municipal election which meets the
requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least
three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is
passed by the General Assembly.
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