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PRINTER'S NO. 2
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
2
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY K. WARD, JANUARY 5, 2021
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JANUARY 5, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Adopting Financial Operating Rules of the Senate.
RESOLVED, That Financial Operating Rules of the Senate be
adopted for the governing of the 205th and 206th Regular
Session.
2021-2022
FINANCIAL OPERATING RULES OF THE SENATE
Rule 1. Personnel.
(a) Central office.--The office of the Chief Clerk of the
Senate shall serve as the central office of the Senate for all
personnel and payroll matters.
(b) Employees of the Senate.--
(1) Personnel files.--Before any individual is placed on
any payroll of the Senate, there must be in the office of the
Chief Clerk a payroll file containing:
(i) Full name of employee.
(ii) Full address.
(iii) Date of employment or job transfer.
(iv) Actual functional job title or description to
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include general hours of work, general job
responsibilities and primary work location.
(v) The name of the Senator or Officer responsible
for monitoring the employee's performance.
(vi) Notification of appointment signed by the
authorizing Senator or Officer including a delineation of
the account from which the employee is to be paid.
(vii) The current compensation level with signature
approval of the authorizing Senator or Officer. Overtime
payments may be authorized only in emergency maintenance
and security situations with the signature approvals of
the Senator or Officer responsible for monitoring
performance, the authorizing Senator or Officer and the
President Pro Tempore.
(viii) All information necessary for tax withholding
and benefit eligibility.
(ix) Employment Eligibility Verification Form.
(2) Maintenance.--It is the responsibility of the Chief
Clerk to develop procedures necessary to maintain this
payroll file information on a current basis. All payroll
changes shall be reflected by the next appropriate payroll
period providing said change is received in the office of the
Chief Clerk prior to processing of the payroll.
(3) Reclassification of employees.--Any reclassification
of employees under the Senate of Pennsylvania Pay Management
Plan shall be submitted by the Senator or Officer authorizing
such reclassification to the Senate Committee on Management
Operations for approval or disapproval. The Senate Committee
on Management Operations is authorized to establish a
bipartisan subcommittee to consider and approve or disapprove
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all such requests subject to an appeal by the Senator or
Officer for consideration of the reclassification by the
Senate Committee on Management Operations.
(c) Contract for services.--
(1) Service contracts.--For any person retained on a
contractual basis by any Officer or Senator to provide
services, the following documents shall be filed with the
office of the Chief Clerk:
(i) A copy of the contract signed by the authorizing
Senator or Officer including:
(A) Full name, address and Federal tax
identification number of the contractor.
(B) Duration of the contract.
(C) Maximum cost of the contract and terms of
payment.
(D) Clear, detailed description of the type of
service to be performed or product to be delivered.
(ii) The name of the Senator or Officer responsible
for monitoring the contractor's performance.
(iii) Additional information as required by policies
of the Senate Committee on Management Operations.
(2) Limitation on contracts.--Except as authorized by
policies of the Senate Committee on Management Operations, no
contract may extend beyond the expiration of the term of
office of the Senator.
(3) Contract review.--All contracts for services shall
be submitted to the Chief Clerk for review and approval
regarding conformity with applicable laws, rules and policies
adopted by the Senate Committee on Management Operations.
(4) Payment.--Payments under contract shall be made in
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accordance with provisions of the contract provided that a
voucher for such payment is received in the office of the
Chief Clerk before the applicable processing deadline.
Contractor performance shall be reviewed by the monitoring
individual designated pursuant to paragraph (1)(ii), who
under conditions of satisfactory performance and conformity
to the contract shall approve the voucher prior to
processing.
(d) Authorized accounts.--Salaries, wages and related
benefits shall be paid from accounts so authorized by the
General Appropriation Act. The authorized accounts may pay
expenses related to contracts for services.
Rule 2. Travel allowances and reimbursements.
(a) Senator travel.--Travel allowances or reimbursements may
be paid to a Senator who is engaged in travel in the performance
of legislative duties. Except as provided in subsection (c),
Senators are not authorized to lease vehicles on a long-term
basis and no payments will be made with respect to long-term
lease vehicle expenses incurred by Senators. Travel payments may
be claimed in connection with the following:
(1) Mileage between home district and Harrisburg for
attendance at a session of the Senate.
(2) Round trip travel between home district and
Harrisburg for other legislative activities.
(3) All travel in the Commonwealth for legislative
business.
(4) All travel to attend committee meetings, hearings,
conferences and seminars.
(b) Employee travel.--Travel reimbursement may be paid to
employees engaged in travel while away from their primary
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workplace provided that the travel is necessary for the
performance of official business. Except as provided in
subsection (c), employees are not authorized to lease vehicles
on a long-term basis, and no payments will be made with respect
to long-term lease vehicle expenses incurred by employees. When
away from the Harrisburg area and from their workplace,
employees may, subject to approval of the supervising Senator or
officer, rent cars on a short-term basis for a period not in
excess of that needed to carry out official business.
(c) Rental of vehicle or conveyance.--
(1) Short-term rental of vehicle or conveyance.--A
Senator whose Senate-provided leased vehicle is unavailable
may be reimbursed the actual legislative percentage expenses
for a short-term rental. A Senator or employee who rents a
vehicle or conveyance on a short-term basis, other than a
Senator's temporary replacement of a Senate-provided leased
vehicle, may be reimbursed only on an actual cost basis for
the legislative percentage of rental payments and expenses of
operation.
(2) Long-term vehicle rental by Chief Clerk.--The Chief
Clerk is authorized to enter into a master lease agreement
with the Department of General Services for the long-term
lease of automobiles to be used by Senators and in the
operation of the Senate. The actual expenses of the lease and
operation shall be paid by the Senate's Incidental Expense
Account.
(d) Allowable transportation expenses.--
(1) Common or chartered carrier.--A Senator or employee
may be reimbursed for reasonable actual costs of carriage
when traveling by common or chartered carrier, including
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expenses for parking, taxis, limousines and tolls. Claims for
payment based on miles traveled cannot be paid.
(2) Personal vehicle or conveyance.--A Senator or
employee who uses a personal vehicle may be reimbursed on
such mileage basis as may be established by the Senate
Committee on Management Operations. Reimbursement for use of
other noncommercial vehicles or noncommercial aircraft shall
be made on such basis as may be established by the Senate
Committee on Management Operations.
(3) Out-of-State travel.--
(i) Nonmember Officers of the Senate and their
employees may claim expenses for travel outside the
Commonwealth, provided that such travel is approved in
the manner described in Rule 11. All claims for Senators'
and employees' travel outside the Commonwealth shall be
filed with the Office of the Chief Clerk in the manner
described in Rule 11.
(ii) Senators and their employees may claim ordinary
and necessary expenses for travel outside the
Commonwealth provided that the travel is necessary to
attend a conference, seminar or meeting regularly or
specially scheduled by an organization which conference,
seminar or meeting has a legislative purpose. Senators
and their employees shall submit a copy of a registration
and agenda, in addition to any other documentation
required by these rules.
(iii) Senators may also claim ordinary and necessary
expenses for travel outside the Commonwealth when the
travel has a legislative purpose, but is not for
attending a conference, seminar or meeting, provided the
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purpose is approved by the Senate Committee on Management
Operations, and provided further that approval is not
required for legislative business in Washington, DC.
(4) No duplication.--If a Senator or employee is
entitled to reimbursement from more than one source for
legislative business performed on behalf of more than one
committee or group, payment shall be received from only one
source.
(e) Documentation.--
(1) Expense voucher.--All requests for travel payments
must be made on an expense voucher showing:
(i) Dates of travel.
(ii) Legislative purpose of travel described in
reasonable specificity. Claims for out-of-State travel
shall also include such information as may be required
under subsection (d)(3).
(iii) The number of miles traveled when claiming
reimbursement on a mileage basis. Such mileage claims
also should reflect an itinerary including point of
origin, furthest destination, and intermediate points and
the legislative purpose of the trips.
(2) Receipts.--Receipts must be submitted to support the
cost associated with claims for:
(i) Travel by common or chartered carrier.
(ii) Leased vehicle or conveyance operation.
Receipts for gasoline and maintenance shall include the
license number of the vehicle and the location of the
purchase.
(iii) Parking, limousine, toll charges and other
miscellaneous incidental items when any of these items
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exceeds $25.
(f) Authorized accounts.--Travel payments can be made from
any of the following accounts. Long-term vehicle or conveyance
rental payments may be made from all accounts except paragraph
(5). Authorized accounts are:
(1) Appropriations Committee Accounts.
(2) Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts.
(3) Incidental Expense Account.
(4) Caucus Operations Accounts.
(5) Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.
(6) Computer Services Accounts.
Rule 3. Meals and lodging.
(a) General.--A Senator may receive payments attributable to
ordinary and necessary expenses for meals, lodging and
incidental items provided that the Senator is engaged in the
performance of legislative duties. Depending on the nature and
location of the activity, as explained below, payments may be
made in one of the following forms: per diem allowance or
reimbursement for actual costs incurred.
(b) Per diem allowance.--
(1) A per diem allowance is an allowance for meals and
lodging expenses incurred in the course of a Senator's
duties. It is paid in lieu of reimbursement for actual
expenses in accordance with Internal Revenue Service
regulations. A Senator is entitled to receive a full or
partial per diem allowance for each day the Senator is in the
performance of legislative duties while in the Harrisburg
area (defined as within Dauphin County or otherwise within a
10-mile radius of the Capitol) or elsewhere in the
Commonwealth but away from home. Specific legislative duties
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include attendance at sessions of the Senate, attendance at
official committee meetings and participation in all other
activities necessary or appropriate to the carrying out of
the responsibilities of the Senator. Payment of a per diem
allowance is authorized only when the legislative duties
performed by the Senator occur more than 50 miles from the
Senator's residence.
(2) Types of per diem allowance.--
(i) A full per diem allowance not to exceed such
amount as may be established by the Senate Committee on
Management Operations may be claimed as an allowance for
meals and lodging and is in lieu of reimbursement for
actual expenses.
(ii) When the per diem entitlement derives from the
performance in the Harrisburg area of the specified
legislative duties set forth in paragraph (1), a Senator
may receive a partial per diem allowance in accordance
with policy established by the Senate Committee on
Management Operations for meals and incidentals.
(c) Actual costs.--A Senator may claim actual costs for
lodging, meals and other incidental items incurred in the
performance of legislative duties in lieu of a per diem
allowance. Expense claims for costs of lodging, meals and other
incidental expenses incurred in the performance of legislative
duties outside of the Commonwealth may be reimbursed on an
actual expense basis or through a per diem allowance.
(d) Employees' travel.--If an employee is engaged in travel
away from the normally assigned place of work necessary for the
performance of official business, the employee may be reimbursed
for ordinary and necessary actual expenses for lodging, meals
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and other incidental items. For rules regarding out-of-State
travel, see Rule 11.
(e) Payment from one source.--If a Senator is entitled to a
meal and lodging claim from more than one source for legislative
business performed on behalf of more than one committee or
group, payments shall be received from only one source.
(f) Review.--All authorized and approved meals and lodging
claims shall be reviewed for inadvertent duplication by the
Office of the Chief Clerk prior to processing and payment.
(g) Recordkeeping.--Where a per diem allowance or
reimbursement is paid by a legislative service agency cofunded
between both Houses of the General Assembly, a copy of the
approved claim shall be furnished to the Office of the Chief
Clerk.
(h) Documentation.--
(1) Per diem allowance.--For payment of a per diem
allowance, a Senator must submit a voucher showing the date,
the legislative activity in which the Senator was engaged on
that date, the location of the activity and an affirmative
statement that the Senator incurred overnight lodging
expense.
(2) Actual expenses of a Senator or an employee.--For
payment of actual expenses, a Senator or employee must submit
a voucher showing the date, amount, place and the legislative
activity in which the Senator or employee was engaged and
must submit a vendor or credit card receipt or invoice for
each item exceeding $10. Tips for meals may not exceed 20% of
the value of the meal.
(i) Authorized accounts.--
(1) Payments shall be made from the Incidental Expense
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Account for authorized per diem allowances only for sessions
of the Senate during which a Senator is recorded as present
on any roll call vote.
(2) Payment may be made from the following accounts for
other authorized per diem, meal and lodging claims:
(i) Appropriations Committee Accounts.
(ii) Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense
Accounts.
(iii) Incidental Expense Account.
(iv) Caucus Operations Accounts.
(v) Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.
(vi) Computer Services Accounts for actual expenses
only.
Rule 4. Equipment and furnishing control and inventory.
(a) Purchases, improvements and renovations.--The Office of
the Chief Clerk shall act as the sole agent for improvements or
renovations to Senate facilities at the Capitol Complex and for
the purchase, rental, control and inventory of durable
equipment, furniture and furnishings with a useful life of one
year or more and a cost greater than the limit established by
the Senate Committee on Management Operations for utilization in
both the Capitol and District Offices. Nonrecoverable items
including, but not limited to, carpeting, draperies and air
conditioners for use in and improvements or renovations to
district office facilities shall be purchased pursuant to
standards developed by the Senate Committee on Management
Operations.
(b) Approval of purchase or rental.--All requests for the
purchase or rental of such equipment, furniture and furnishings
must be reviewed and approved by the Chief Clerk.
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(c) Senate inventory.--All approved requests shall be
processed by the Office of the Chief Clerk, which shall maintain
a full and current inventory of all durable equipment, furniture
and furnishings secured on behalf of a Senator, Officer or
employee of the Senate.
(d) Pricing and service.--The Chief Clerk shall take all
necessary and reasonable steps to ensure that the purchase or
rental of durable equipment, furniture and furnishings with a
useful life of one year or more and a cost greater than the
limit established by the Senate Committee on Management
Operations shall be transacted at the lowest available price for
the quality, compatibility, availability and service of the
items being purchased or leased.
(e) Documentation required.--Required documentation shall
include:
(1) Request for purchase or rental showing:
(i) Date of request.
(ii) Item requested.
(iii) By whom request made.
(iv) Purpose.
(v) Signature approvals.
(vi) Record of subsection (d) actions taken.
(2) Vendor's invoice or receipt detailing:
(i) Date of purchase or rental.
(ii) Vendor's identity.
(iii) Description of item purchased or rented.
(iv) Length of rental contract when applicable.
(v) Cost and payment terms of the purchase or
rental.
(f) Authorized accounts.--Authorized accounts shall include:
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(1) Legislative and Printing Expense Account.
(2) Computer Services Accounts.
(3) Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts.
(4) Chief Clerk Employees' Salary and Expense Account.
Rule 5. District office expenses.
(a) Authorized expenses.--Expenses authorized shall include:
(1) Aggregate office rental in accordance with policies
as may be established by the Senate Committee on Management
Operations. No Senator, nor a member of the Senator's
immediate family, may have a financial interest in a district
office. For purposes of this paragraph, a financial interest
shall not include ownership in a publicly traded investment
vehicle, including a corporation, mutual fund, REIT or
limited liability partnership in which the Senator or a
member of the Senator's immediate family is not a managing
partner. Prior to entering into a district office lease
agreement, the Chief Clerk shall obtain and maintain a
written verification from the Senator that neither the
Senator nor a member of the Senator's immediate family has a
financial interest in the property. This Rule shall not
prohibit a district office from being located in a building
in which a Senator or a member of the Senator's immediate
family has a financial interest if rent, utilities or any
expenses that may inure to the benefit of the property or
landlord are not paid for by the Senate.
(2) Insurance.
(3) Printing services.
(4) Telephone and data services.
(5) Postage and mailing services.
(6) Publications and subscriptions.
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(7) Nondurable supplies.
(8) Senator, employee and visitor parking.
(9) Janitorial maintenance and cleaning services.
(10) Utility services.
(11) Other items authorized for expenses as defined in
the General Appropriations Act and policies of the Senate
Committee on Management Operations.
(b) Documentation required.--A copy of the district office
lease indicating the amount and payment terms shall be
maintained in the Office of the Chief Clerk. Vouchers shall
appropriately document expenses and legislative purpose for each
expenditure. Receipts or invoices shall be included for all
expenditures in excess of $25 per occurrence.
(c) Authorized accounts.--Accounts authorized include:
(1) Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts.
(2) Chief Clerk Employees' Salary and Expense Account.
(3) Legislative and Printing Expense Account.
(4) Computer Services Accounts.
(5) Caucus Operations Accounts.
(6) Postage and Communication Expense Account of the
Chief Clerk.
Rule 6. Capitol office expenses.
(a) Types of expenses authorized.--Expenses authorized shall
include:
(1) Utility services.
(2) Insurance.
(3) Printing services.
(4) Telephone and data services.
(5) Postage and communication.
(6) Publications and subscriptions.
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(7) Nondurable supplies.
(8) Employee parking.
(9) Janitorial maintenance and cleaning services.
(10) Other items authorized for expenses as defined in
the General Appropriations Act and policies of the Senate
Committee on Management Operations.
(b) Documentation required.--Documentation required shall
include vouchers appropriately documenting expenses and
legislative purpose for each expenditure. Receipts or invoices
shall be included for all expenditures in excess of $25 per
occurrence.
(c) Authorized accounts.--Accounts authorized include:
(1) Legislative Printing and Expense Account.
(2) Postage and Communication Expense Account of the
Chief Clerk.
(3) Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts.
(4) Appropriations Committee Accounts.
(5) Caucus Operations Accounts.
(6) Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.
(7) Incidental Expense Account.
(8) Computer Services Accounts.
Rule 7. Official expenses.
(a) General.--While engaged in the performance of
legislative duties, a Senator, Officer or employee expressly
authorized by a Senator may claim actual expenses as set forth
below.
(b) Participation in conferences and seminars.--Expenses,
such as registration fees, incurred in participating in
legislative conferences and seminars may be claimed. Related
travel expenses incurred are discussed in Rule 2. Related meals
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and lodging expenses incurred are discussed in Rule 3.
(c) Conducting meetings.--Expenses attributable to
conducting legislative meetings or performing official duties
may be claimed. Such expenses may include:
(1) Food and refreshment which are ordinary to the
performance of a Senator's legislative duties, and for which
there is a legislative purpose. In general, these expenses
will be incurred during, immediately preceding or immediately
following a substantial and bona fide legislative business
discussion.
(2) Meeting room rental.
(3) Incidental items.
(d) Documentation.--
(1) Participation in conferences and seminars.--Vouchers
shall show the amount, date, place and legislative purpose.
An agenda, and a registration form or other receipts, must be
attached.
(2) Meeting expenses.--Vouchers of meeting expenses
shall include documentation regarding the amount, date, place
and legislative purpose. If a meeting expense is claimed by a
Senator or employee, the portion of the voucher amount
attributable to that Senator or employee shall be indicated.
A receipt or invoice shall be attached to the voucher.
(3) Official duty expenses.--Vouchers shall show or
reference to records which show the amount, date, place,
legislative purpose and if claimed by a Senator or employee,
the portion of the expense amount attributable to the Senator
or employee. Restaurant, hotel or credit card receipt or
invoices must be attached.
(4) Claims by Senate employees.--Vouchers involving any
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official expenses claimed by Senate employees shall reflect
formal authorization by the supervising Senator or Officer.
(e) Authorized accounts.--Payments shall be made from the
following accounts:
(1) Appropriations Committee Accounts.
(2) Incidental Expense Account.
(3) Caucus Operations Accounts.
(4) Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.
(5) Senators' Legislative Accountable Expenses Accounts.
(6) Computer Services Accounts.
Rule 8. Special expenses.
(a) Authorized expenses.--Expenses authorized include:
(1) Flowers, baskets of fruit or other appropriate items
or memorial contributions to designated charities not to
exceed the amount established by the Senate Committee on
Management Operations. Recipients are limited to instances of
death or serious illness for Senators, Officers, employees or
their immediate families, or former Senators or their
immediate families, or deceased retired Senate employees, or
dignitaries including both incumbent or former elected or
appointed officials or their immediate families.
(2) Rental of common carrier and other expenditures
inherent thereto for attendance at funerals of a Senator or
members of a Senator's immediate family, former Senators,
dignitaries, or Officers.
(b) Documentation required.--Required documentation shall be
submitted by a member of leadership or nonmember officer and
shall include a receipt or vendor invoice showing: recipient,
instance, description of items delivered, date delivered and
cost.
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(c) Authorized accounts.--Payment shall be made only from
the Incidental Expense Account.
Rule 9. Miscellaneous expenses of standing and special
committees.
(a) Committee proceedings.--Rental of meeting rooms and
hearing facilities and payments to qualified court reporters or
stenographers to record the proceedings authorized by the
chairman of a standing or special committee of the Senate,
including the cost of transcripts. Witnesses served with a
subpoena to testify before such proceedings shall be paid
witness fees and travel expenses as provided by Section 5903 of
the Judicial Code.
(b) Printing and mailing.--Committee printing and mailing
costs for mailings relating to legislative business.
(c) Publications and subscriptions.--Publications and
subscriptions.
(d) Documentation required.--Vouchers or vendor receipts or
invoices stating vendor's name, services or amount of postage,
date, place, and total amount due or paid. Postage purchases
shall require a receipt from the Postmaster.
(e) Authorized accounts.--Accounts authorized include:
(1) Appropriations Committee Accounts.
(2) Caucus Operations Accounts.
(3) Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.
Rule 10. Senate Committee on Management Operations.
(a) Duties.--In addition to duties imposed by law or
otherwise by these rules, the duties of the Senate Committee on
Management Operations shall be:
(1) To arbitrate a decision of the Chief Clerk of the
Senate relating to these Rules, in the event that a Senator,
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Officer or employee shall disagree with a decision of the
Chief Clerk of the Senate.
(2) To make a final decision in case of a dispute on a
question of legislative intent or legislative purpose
regarding an expenditure.
(3) To make a continuing review of these Rules as to
expenditures and the reporting of expenditures, and, from
time to time, to make such recommendations as are
appropriate.
(4) To adopt clarifications to these Rules through
interim policy determinations.
(b) Records.--A record of the committee's decisions shall be
maintained. The Chief Clerk shall be responsible for maintaining
such records.
Rule 11. Out-of-State travel.
(a) Request for approval.--No nonmember Officer of the
Senate or any employee of any nonmember Officer shall be
reimbursed nor shall any of his or her expenses be paid for any
travel outside the Commonwealth unless such travel has been
approved by the Executive Committee or a majority of the
membership of the Senate Committee on Management Operations. All
requests for such approval shall be made to the Chief Clerk, and
shall include information relating to the destination, the
estimated cost of such travel, the number of days involved, and
the relationship that the travel has to the duties of the
Officer or employee making the request. In the case of an
employee, the request shall also be approved by the Officer.
(b) Time limit for filing.--A copy of any request for
reimbursement or for the payment of any expenses relating to
out-of-State travel by a Senator or employee assigned to a
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Senator shall be filed with the Office of the Chief Clerk within
30 days of such travel. Copies of these requests shall be made
available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief Clerk
in accordance with the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3),
known as the Right-to-Know Law.
Rule 12. List of employees and document access.
(a) Publication and distribution.--
(1) The Chief Clerk shall publish quarterly a listing of
all employees of the Senate and its Officers, Committee
Chairmen, and Senators and all persons holding contracts for
services with the Senate or any of its Officers, Committee
Chairmen and Senators. The list for employees shall contain
the full name of the employee, the job title of the employee,
the compensation of the employee, and the name of the Senator
or Officer for such employee. For persons holding contracts
for services with the Senate, the list shall contain the name
of the contractor, the address of the contractor, a statement
of the nature of the duties of the contractor, and the fee of
the contractor as well as the name of the Senator or Officer
responsible for monitoring the performance of the contractor.
(2) The list shall be published by February 1, for the
quarter ending December 31; by May 1, for the quarter ending
March 31; by August 1, for the quarter ending June 30; and by
November 1, for the quarter ending September 30. The list
shall be available for public inspection in the Office of the
Chief Clerk in accordance with the act of February 14, 2008
(P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law.
(b) Public inspection of vouchers and requisitions.--All
vouchers and requisitions relating to all expenditures,
expenses, disbursements and other obligations out of all
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appropriated funds of the Senate shall be available for public
inspection in accordance with the act of February 14, 2008
(P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law. Payroll and
contracts for services shall also be made available for public
inspection in accordance with the Right-to-Know Law.
(c) Copies of records.--Copies of financial records
maintained in the Office of the Chief Clerk shall be made
available in accordance with the act of February 14, 2008
(P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law.
Rule 13. Personnel policies.
(a) Preparation of rules and regulations.--The Senate
Committee on Management Operations created pursuant to Section
1.1 of Act No. 417 of 1967 is authorized to prepare and adopt
rules and regulations for uniform personnel policies and
procedures, job specification and pay plans including periodic
increments for Senate Officers and employees.
(b) Approval of rules and regulations.--Each such rule or
regulation or any amendment thereto shall be prepared in
resolution form and shall be placed on the Senate calendar for
final approval or disapproval. The committee may when approved
by at least five Members of the committee including both Floor
Leaders implement such rules and regulations pending final
Senate consideration of them. Such resolution shall have the
force and effect of law in accordance with its terms when it has
been approved by the full Senate.
Rule 14. Operations Manual.
(a) Preparation and approval.--The Chief Clerk shall prepare
an Operations Manual of all rules, regulations, policies and
procedures which are promulgated by the Senate Committee on
Management Operations.
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(b) Distribution.--Upon approval, applicable sections of the
Operations Manual shall be posted on the Chief Clerk's Intranet
site for access by all Senators, Senate Officers and Senate
employees.
(c) Maintenance and updating.--The Chief Clerk shall be
responsible for maintaining and updating this manual as a result
of revisions or amendments promulgated by the Senate Committee
on Management Operations.
Rule 15. Effect and duration.
(a) Current policies.--Policies of the Senate Committee on
Management Operations in effect on the date of the adoption of
these rules are hereby ratified and approved by the Senate.
(b) Applicability.--These rules provide guidance to
Senators, Senate Officers and Senate employees in performing
their duties in the Senate. The changes contained in these rules
are to be applied prospectively and are not intended to reflect
on the propriety of past rules or practices of the Senate or its
Senators, Officers or employees.
(c) Rules.--These rules shall be in full force and effect
until altered, changed, amended or repealed as provided in Rule
16.
Rule 16. Changes to rules.
The consent of a majority of the Senators elected shall be
necessary to alter, change or amend these rules.
Rule 17. Procedure for changing rules.
All alterations, changes or amendments to these rules shall
be by resolution which shall not be considered until first
referred to and reported from the Committee on Rules and
Executive Nominations.
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