PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRINTER'S NO. 1919
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1238
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TEPLITZ AND BREWSTER, JUNE 14, 2016
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JUNE 14, 2016
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, providing for failure to enact a general
appropriation bill.
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:
(1) That Article III be amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 13.1. Failure to enact a general appropriation bill.
(a) If a general appropriation bill is not signed into law
within 90 days after the beginning of a fiscal year, all bills
and resolutions pending in the General Assembly other than bills
returned as a veto under section 15 of Article IV of this
Constitution and the general appropriation bill, are void and
may no longer be considered. Members of the General Assembly may
reintroduce the voided bills and resolutions after the general
appropriation bill is signed into law.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a bill or resolution may
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be introduced or reintroduced before the general appropriation
bill is signed into law if three-fourths of the members of the
General Assembly determine, by an affirmative vote, that the
bill or resolution relates to a disaster emergency.
(c) As used in this section "disaster emergency" means t hose
conditions which may, by investigation, be found, actually or
likely, to:
(1) affect seriously the safety, health or welfare of a
substantial number of citizens of this Commonwealth or
preclude the operation or use of essential public facilities;
(2) be of such magnitude or severity as to require
essential State supplementation of county and local efforts
or resources exerted or utilized in alleviating the danger,
damage, suffering or hardship faced; and
(3) have been caused by forces beyond the control of
man, by reason of civil disorder or by riot or disturbance.
Section 2. (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.
(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
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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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