PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRINTER'S NO. 1214
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
940
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, J. WARD, MARTIN, BARTOLOTTA, MASTRIANO AND
SCAVELLO, NOVEMBER 9, 2021
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, NOVEMBER 9, 2021
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, further providing for proposal of amendments
by the General Assembly and their adoption.
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 1 of Article XI be amended to read:
ยง 1. Proposal of amendments by the General Assembly and their
adoption.
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate
or House of Representatives; and if the same shall be agreed to
by a majority of the members elected to each House, such
proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their
journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and the
[Secretary of the Commonwealth] Legislative Reference Bureau or
a successor legislative agency prescribed by the General
Assembly shall cause the same to be published three months
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before the next general election, in at least two newspapers in
every county in which such newspapers shall be published[; and
if]. Such publication shall include only the language of the
amendment along with, as prepared by the Legislative Reference
Bureau or a successor legislative agency prescribed by the
General Assembly, both the question to be used on the ballot and
an accurate and factual summary of the amendment. If, in the
General Assembly next afterwards chosen, such proposed amendment
or amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of the members
elected to each House, the [Secretary of the Commonwealth]
Legislative Reference Bureau or a successor legislative agency
prescribed by the General Assembly shall cause the same again to
be published in the manner aforesaid; and such proposed
amendment or amendments shall be submitted to the qualified
electors of the State in such manner, and at such time at least
three months after being so agreed to by the two Houses, as the
General Assembly shall prescribe; and, if such amendment or
amendments shall be approved by a majority of those voting
thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of the
Constitution; but no amendment or amendments shall be submitted
oftener than once in five years. When two or more amendments
shall be submitted they shall be voted upon separately.
(a) In the event a major emergency threatens or is about to
threaten the Commonwealth and if the safety or welfare of the
Commonwealth requires prompt amendment of this Constitution,
such amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the
Senate or House of Representatives at any regular or special
session of the General Assembly, and if agreed to by at least
two-thirds of the members elected to each House, a proposed
amendment shall be entered on the journal of each House with the
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yeas and nays taken thereon and the [official in charge of
statewide elections] Legislative Reference Bureau or a successor
legislative agency prescribed by the General Assembly shall
promptly publish such proposed amendment in at least two
newspapers in every county in which such newspapers are
published. Such publication shall include only the language of
the amendment along with, as prepared by the Legislative
Reference Bureau or a successor legislative agency prescribed by
the General Assembly, both the question to be used on the ballot
and an accurate and factual summary of the amendment. Such
amendment shall then be submitted to the qualified electors of
the Commonwealth in such manner, and at such time, at least one
month after being agreed to by both Houses as the General
Assembly prescribes.
(b) If an emergency amendment is approved by a majority of
the qualified electors voting thereon, it shall become part of
this Constitution. When two or more emergency amendments are
submitted they shall be voted on separately.
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. The Secretary
of the Commonwealth shall issue a report on the publication
required under this subsection to the Secretary of the Senate
and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives four months
prior to the next general election.
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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
as a single ballot question 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. The
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall issue a report on the
publication required under this subsection to the Secretary of
the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives
four months prior to 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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