PRINTER'S NO. 1119
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1085
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY BULLOCK, KRUEGER, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, N. NELSON,
ROZZI, SCHLOSSBERG, ISAACSON, HOHENSTEIN, LEE, STURLA,
KINKEAD, DELLOSO, HOWARD, MADDEN, GUZMAN, WARREN, WEBSTER,
SIMS, DEASY, INNAMORATO, A. DAVIS AND KINSEY, APRIL 5, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 5, 2021
AN ACT
Establishing the Joint Legislative Equity Committee and
providing for composition and duties of members.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Joint
Legislative Equity Committee Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Committee." The Joint Legislative Equity Committee
established under section 3.
"Gender identity." An individual's sense of being male,
female or a different identification standard.
"Institutional policies." A rule, principle or practice
proposed or implemented to better guide decisions or decision
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
making which leads to the development of procedures and
protocols that dictate the execution of a policy.
Section 3. Establishment.
(a) Establishment.--The Joint Legislative Equity Committee
is established to solicit input from members of the public,
especially those individuals, stakeholders, groups or
organizations with expertise related to racial, ethnic, sex and
gender equity issues, in order to aid the committee in carrying
out the duties under this act.
(b) Composition.--The committee shall consist of 18 members
of the General Assembly who shall serve without compensation as
follows:
(1) Five members shall be appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate from among the majority party.
(2) Four members shall be appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate from among the minority party.
(3) Five members shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives from among the majority party.
(4) Four members shall be appointed by the Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives from among the
minority party.
(c) Term.--The term of each member of the committee shall
run from the date of the member's appointment until 30 days
after the convening of the next regular session of the General
Assembly in odd-numbered years and until the member's successor
is appointed and qualified. Appointments to the committee shall
take effect 31 days after the convening of each regular session
of the General Assembly in odd-numbered years. Any vacancy
occurring in the committee shall be filled by the appointing
power making the original appointment for the unexpired term.
20210HB1085PN1119 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(d) Organization and meetings.--The committee shall organize
as soon as possible after the appointment of members 31 days
after the convening of each regular session of the General
Assembly in odd-numbered years, at the call of the President pro
tempore of the Senate, by electing a chairperson, vice
chairperson and secretary by majority vote of the committee. The
secretary need not be a member of the committee.
(e) Powers and duties.--The committee shall have the same
powers as other standing committees of the General Assembly. The
committee shall:
(1) Upon request of a member of either chamber of the
General Assembly, complete a racial, ethnic, sex and gender
equity impact assessment for any legislation, including Rule
29 resolutions under the General Operating Rules of the
Senate and Rule 35 resolutions under the General Operating
Rules of the House of Representatives, which are initially
reported from either a standing committee of the Senate or a
standing committee of the House of Representatives, but not
both, to minimize unanticipated adverse consequences by
utilizing resources that may have any of the following:
(i) A history of expertise and positive outcomes in
racial, ethnic, sex or gender equity.
(ii) A deep understanding of ameliorating
disproportionate outcomes and unintended costs.
(2) Convene committee meetings and public hearings on
any matter relating to the functions, powers and duties of
the committee.
(3) Identify institutional policies and actions that, in
conjunction with public and private sector partners and
stakeholders and in support of racial, ethnic, sex or gender
20210HB1085PN1119 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
equity, can work to improve or achieve racial, ethnic, sex or
gender equity.
(4) Review and make recommendations to align State
statutes, regulations, policies, programs, services and
budgetary priorities with the goal of racial, ethnic, sex and
gender equity.
(5) Conduct a search for any interdepartmental gaps,
inconsistencies and inefficiencies in the implementation or
attainment of institutional policies and actions.
(6) Identify any new laws, regulations, programs,
policies, services and budgetary priorities that are needed
to ensure and promote desired conditions of racial, ethnic,
sex and gender equity.
(7) Serve as an informational resource for the Senate
and the House of Representatives.
(8) Perform other activities determined necessary to
promote and achieve racial, ethnic, sex and gender equity,
including public awareness, working with Commonwealth
agencies, stakeholders, academic institutions and other
individuals or groups concerned with the elimination of
institutional policies, attitudes and cultural messages that
reinforce differential outcomes by race, ethnicity, sex or
gender identity.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
20210HB1085PN1119 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25