Regular Session 2019-2020 Senate Resolution 0318 P.N. 1596

PRINTER'S NO. 1596

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.

318

Session of

2020

INTRODUCED BY CORMAN AND COSTA, MARCH 18, 2020

INTRODUCED, MARCH 18, 2020

A RESOLUTION

Adopting temporary emergency Rules of the Senate.

WHEREAS, The purpose of these rules is to maintain the

continuity of the legislative operations of the Senate, which in

turn, protects the health, safety and welfare of the residents

of this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, These rules are predicated upon the declaration of

disaster emergency issued by the Governor on March 6, 2020, the

effect of which makes the convening of some or all of the

members of the Senate as a body in the Senate Chamber of the

Capitol Building or at a single location imprudent, inexpedient

or impossible; and

WHEREAS, The Rules of the Senate for the 203rd and 204th

Regular Session, as adopted in Senate Resolution No. 3,

Printer's No. 3 (2019), on January 1, 2019, remain in full force

and effect; the only changes to those Rules are as provided in

this resolution; and

WHEREAS, Printing of documents may be impaired because of

remote operation of the administrative duties and proceedings of

the Senate; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That, notwithstanding Rules 6 and 7 of the Senate:

in the absence of the Secretary-Parliamentarian and the

Chief Clerk and subject to the direction of the President Pro

Tempore, the Assistant Secretary shall 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; and

in the absence of both officers and the Assistant

Secretary, the President pro tempore shall designate a

signatory;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That, notwithstanding Rule 9 of the Senate, there

shall be no guest introductions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, notwithstanding Rule 9 of the Senate, there

shall be no consideration of unanimous consent resolutions; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That, notwithstanding Rule 12(k) of the Senate, a

sponsor may electronically file with the Secretary-

Parliamentarian for introduction a bill imprinted with the stamp

of the Legislative Reference Bureau; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, notwithstanding Rule 14(h) of the Senate,

members may remotely participate in committee meetings as

follows:

remote participation means simultaneous, interactive

participation in a committee meeting by committee members not

physically present at the location of the meeting, through

means of communication technologies designed to accommodate

and facilitate such simultaneous, interactive participation;

committee members participating remotely shall be counted

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for the purpose of determining a quorum;

a quorum shall be established through a roll call; and

technology employed for remote committee meetings must

safeguard the integrity of the legislative process and

maintain the deliberative character of the meeting by

providing for simultaneous, aural and verbal communication

among all participants;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That, notwithstanding Rule 14 of the Senate:

the President pro tempore may appoint a senator to serve

in a temporary capacity as a member of a committee, serving

only for the duration of a single session day for a

particular committee meeting;

the President pro tempore shall transmit this designation

to the Secretary-Parliamentarian for retention during the

two-year legislative session, and this record shall be

available for public inspection upon request; and

the communication shall be read across the desk and

printed in the Senate journal on the next legislative day of

the Senate;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That, in addition to the provisions of Rule 14 of

the Senate:

regulations shall be deposited with the Legislative

Reference Bureau;

the bureau shall transmit the regulations to the

appropriate committee for consideration within 24 hours;

the bureau shall transmit notice of the transmission of

the regulations to the Secretary-Parliamentarian; and

the time for consideration shall begin on the date the

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committee receives the regulations from the bureau;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That, in addition to the provisions of Rule 17 of

the Senate:

members participating remotely may cast votes for all

measures considered and brought to a vote by the committee,

as if the members were physically present at the committee

meeting;

the identity of the voting member must be verified by the

Chair; and

a member may also vote on matters before the committee

pursuant to Rule 16(3);

and be it further

RESOLVED, That, notwithstanding Rule 20 of the Senate,

members may remotely participate in the session of the Senate:

members participating remotely may cast votes for all

measures considered and brought to a vote during session, as

if the members were physically present at the session of the

Senate;

the identity of the voting member must be verified by the

Presiding Officer;

technology employed for remote participation in Senate

session must safeguard the integrity of the legislative

process and maintain the deliberative character of the

session by providing for simultaneous, aural and verbal

communication among all participants; and

a member may also vote as provided in Rule 20(b)(1) and

(2);

and be it further

RESOLVED, Notwithstanding Rule 23 of the Senate, the Chief

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Clerk may provide for remote participation technology that

enables members to participate in committee meetings and Senate

Session; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, notwithstanding Rule 27 of the Senate:

Senators participating remotely in the session of the

Senate shall be counted for the purpose of determining a

quorum; and

a quorum shall be established through a roll call if the

identity of the voting member is identified by the Presiding

Officer;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That this resolution shall expire July 31, 2020, or

10 days following the expiration of the emergency declaration,

whichever is earlier, unless otherwise further extended in

accordance with the Rules of the Senate.

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