PRINTER'S NO. 399
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
422
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY VOGEL, FOLMER, COSTA, BAKER, YAW, K. WARD AND
BROWNE, MARCH 12, 2019
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 12, 2019
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," providing for Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory
Board.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known
as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XIII-D
Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board
Section 1301-D. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
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"Board." The Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board
established under section 1302-D(a).
"Department." The Department of State of the Commonwealth.
Section 1302-D. Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board.
(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory
Board is established within the department.
(b) Members.--The board shall be comprised of the following
members:
(1) The Secretary of State or a designee.
(2) The President pro tempore of the Senate or a
designee.
(3) The Minority Leader of the Senate or a designee.
(4) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or a
designee.
(5) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
or a designee.
(6) One member from each congressional district, of whom
no more than half may be registered with the same political
party, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate
and which shall include members who:
(i) represent groups advocating for individuals with
disabilities;
(ii) represent groups advocating for voting rights;
and
(iii) represent county commissioners or county
election officials.
(c) Duties.--The board shall have the following duties:
(1) Study this act and identify statutory language to
repeal, modify or update.
(2) Collaborate with other agencies and political
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subdivisions of the Commonwealth to study election-related
issues.
(3) Study the development of new election technology and
voting machines.
(4) Evaluate and make recommendations on:
(i) improving the electoral process in Pennsylvania
by amending this act; and
(ii) implementing best practices identified to
ensure the integrity and efficiency of the electoral
process in Pennsylvania.
(5) By the end of each fiscal year, publish extensive
and detailed findings on the department's publicly accessible
Internet website and make them available in electronic format
to the Office of the Governor and members of the General
Assembly.
(d) Quorum.--A majority of appointed members shall
constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.
(e) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The members shall
select a member to be chairperson and another member to be vice
chairperson.
(f) Transparency and ethics.--The board shall be subject to
the following laws:
(1) The act of July 19, 1957 (P.L.1017, No.451), known
as the State Adverse Interest Act.
(2) The act of October 4, 1978 (P.L.883, No.170),
referred to as the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law.
(3) The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as
the Right-to-Know Law.
(4) 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
(g) Information gathering.--The board may conduct hearings
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and otherwise gather pertinent information and analysis that it
considers appropriate and necessary to fulfill its duties.
(h) Reimbursement.--The board and members of the board shall
be reimbursed for reasonable expenses.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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