PRINTER'S NO. 1349
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
220
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY K. WARD AND COSTA, JANUARY 25, 2022
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JANUARY 25, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Amending the Rules of the Senate, providing for 2022 temporary
Rules of the Senate.
RESOLVED, That the Rules of the Senate of Pennsylvania be
amended by adding a Rule to read:
Rule 39. 2022 temporary Rules of the Senate.
(a) Continuity of legislative operations .--In light of
evidence suggesting that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is more
easily transmissible than prior variants of the virus that
causes COVID-19, certain Senators or members of their immediate
family who reside in the same household with a physical
condition may be at a greater risk of substantial harm to the
individual's physical health if exposed to COVID-19. It is the
intent of the Senate to allow such members the temporary,
limited ability to participate remotely in Senate sessions,
committee meetings and hearings. Therefore, the following apply:
(1) Notwithstanding Rule 14(h), members may remotely
participate in committee meetings as follows:
(i) A quorum shall be established through a roll
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call.
(ii) 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.
(2) In addition to the provisions of Rule 17, the
following apply:
(i) 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.
(ii) The identity of the voting member must be
verified by the Chair.
(iii) A member may also vote on matters before the
committee pursuant to Rule 16(3).
(3) Notwithstanding Rule 20, members may remotely
participate in the session of the Senate as follows:
(i) 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.
(ii) The identity of the voting member must be
verified by the presiding officer.
(iii) 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.
(iv) A member may also vote as provided in Rule
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20(b)(1) and (2).
(v) Notwithstanding any other Rule to the contrary,
remote participation in Senate session shall not include
the introduction of petitions and remonstrances. However,
a Senator participating remotely may submit remarks for
the record through their respective Floor Leader.
(4) Notwithstanding Rule 23, the Chief Clerk may provide
for remote participation technology that enables members to
participate in committee meetings and Senate session.
(5) Notwithstanding Rule 27, the following apply:
(i) Senators participating remotely in the session
of the Senate shall be counted for the purpose of
determining a quorum.
(ii) A quorum shall be established through a roll
call if the identity of the voting member is identified
by the presiding officer.
(6) This rule shall expire February 28, 2022, unless
further extended in accordance with the Rules of the Senate.
(b) Applicability.--Remote participation under this
temporary Rule shall be limited to members for which both of the
following apply:
(1) the Senator or a member of their immediate family
who resides in the same household has a physical condition
which places that individual at greater risk of substantial
harm to the individual's physical health if exposed to COVID-
19; and
(2) the Senator has submitted to the President Pro
Tempore a written request to participate remotely, signed by
a physician licensed in this Commonwealth, attesting to the
fact that the Senator or an immediate family member residing
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in the same household has a physical condition which places
the individual at greater risk of substantial harm to the
individual's physical health if exposed to COVID-19. The
request must be submitted with sufficient advance notice of
the remote participation need in order to allow for remote
participation equipment to be appropriately deployed.
(c) Definitions.--As used in this Rule, the following words
and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Remote participation." 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.
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