Regular Session 2023-2024 House Resolution 0001 P.N. 0002

PRINTER'S NO. 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY ROZZI, BRIGGS, CEPHAS AND SCHWEYER, MARCH 1, 2023

INTRODUCED, MARCH 1, 2023

A RESOLUTION

Adopting permanent rules for the House of Representatives.

RESOLVED, That the following be adopted as Permanent Rules of

the House of Representatives for the 2023-2024 session of the

House of Representatives:

2023-2024

GENERAL OPERATING RULES

OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The following words and phrases when used in the General

Operating Rules of the House of Representatives shall have the

meanings given to them in this section unless the context

clearly indicates otherwise:

"Day" shall mean any calendar day.

"Floor of the House" shall be that area within the Hall of

the House between the Speaker's rostrum and the brass rail

behind the Members' seats.

"Formal Action" shall mean any vote or motion of a member of

a standing committee, standing subcommittee, select committee or

rules committee of the House of Representatives to report or not

report, amend, consider or table a bill or resolution and the

discussion and debate thereof.

"Hall of the House" shall be the floor space within its four

walls and does not include the adjoining conference rooms, the

lobbies or the upper gallery of the House.

"Legislative Day" shall mean any day that the House shall be

in session.

"Majority Party" shall mean the political party that won the

greater number of elections for the 203 seats in the House of

Representatives in the general election preceding the term of

service that began on the first day of December next after the

general election. If a vacancy shall occur during the term, the

political party that won that seat at the last election shall

remain the party that won that seat until any subsequent special

election is held to fill that seat. Following a special election

during the term, the number of elections won by each political

party for the 203 seats in the House of Representatives shall be

redetermined as provided in this definition. Nothing in this

definition shall preclude an individual elected to hold a seat

in the House of Representatives from changing their political

party registration.

"Press Gallery" shall be within that area known as the Hall

of the House as designated by the Speaker.

"Roll Call Vote" shall be a vote taken by and displayed on

the electronic roll call board or in the event of a malfunction

of the electronic roll call board, by such method as shall be

determined by the Speaker.

RULE 1

Speaker Presiding

The Speaker shall preside over the sessions of the House. The

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Speaker may name a member to preside, but the substitution shall

not extend beyond an adjournment. The Speaker may appoint a

member as Speaker pro tempore to act in the Speaker's absence

for a period not exceeding ten consecutive legislative days.

As presiding officer and in accordance with Article II § 2 of

the Constitution of Pennsylvania and the act of June 3, 1937

(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,

within ten days after the occurrence of a vacancy the Speaker

shall issue a writ for a special election to be held on a date

which shall occur on or before the date of the first primary,

municipal or general election which occurs not less than 60 days

after the issuance of the writ. The Speaker shall not be

required to issue a writ of election if the election cannot be

scheduled until after the general election.

In case of failure to make an appointment, the House shall

elect a Speaker pro tempore to act during the absence of the

Speaker.

The Speaker pro tempore shall perform all the duties of the

Chair during the absence of the Speaker.

RULE 1 (a)

Equal Opportunity Officer, Diversity and Inclusion Officer and

Advisory Committee

The Speaker shall designate an Equal Opportunity Officer and

Diversity and Inclusion Officer who shall report to the Speaker.

There shall be an Advisory Committee, appointed by the Speaker

in consultation with the Majority Leader and Minority Leader, to

assist the Equal Opportunity Officer and Diversity and Inclusion

Officer in developing, recommending and implementing equal

opportunity employment and procurement policies and promoting

diversity and inclusion in the House of Representatives.

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The Equal Opportunity Officer and Diversity and Inclusion

Officer shall provide a report to the House prior to sine die

adjournment regarding recommendations made and actions taken on

the implementation of equal opportunity employment and

procurement policies and promoting diversity and inclusion in

the House of Representatives.

RULE 2

Taking the Chair

The Speaker shall take the Chair and call the members to

order on every legislative day at the hour to which the House

adjourned at the last sitting. On the appearance of a quorum,

the Speaker shall proceed to the regular order of business as

prescribed by the rules of the House.

RULE 3

Order and Decorum

The Speaker or Presiding Officer shall preserve order and

decorum. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the

galleries or lobbies, the Speaker shall have the power to order

the same to be cleared.

The Speaker or Presiding Officer shall have the right to

summon the Sergeant-at-Arms to enforce in the preservation of

order and decorum, and if needed, to summon the Capitol Police

and the State Police to assist.

The Sergeant-at-Arms under the direction of the Speaker or

the Presiding Officer shall, while the House is in session,

maintain order on the floor and its adjoining rooms and shall

enforce the rule with respect to the conduct of members, staff

and visitors.

RULE 4

Questions of Order

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The Speaker shall decide all questions of order subject to an

appeal. The decision of the Speaker shall stand as the decision

of the House unless so appealed and overturned by a majority of

the members elected to the House. The Speaker may, in the first

instance, submit the question to the House. Questions involving

the constitutionality of any matters shall be decided by the

House. On questions of order there shall be no debate except on

an appeal from the decision of the Speaker or on reference of a

question to the House. In either case, no member shall speak

more than once except by leave of the House.

Unless germane to the appeal, a second point of order is not

in order while an appeal is pending; but, when the appeal is

disposed of, a second point of order is in order and is subject

to appeal.

RULE 5

Conference and Select Committee Appointments

All Committees of Conference shall be appointed by the

Speaker and shall be composed of three members, two of whom

shall be selected from the majority party and one from the

minority party.

The Speaker shall appoint the members of select committees,

unless otherwise ordered by the House.

RULE 6

Signature of the Speaker

The Speaker shall, in the presence of the House, sign all

bills and joint resolutions passed by the General Assembly after

their titles have been publicly read immediately before signing,

and the fact of signing shall be entered on the Journal.

Resolutions, addresses, orders, writs, warrants and subpoenas

issued by order of the House shall be signed by the Speaker and

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attested by the Chief Clerk.

RULE 7

Oath to Employees

The Chief Clerk shall administer an oath or affirmation to

the employees of the House that they will severally support,

obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the

Constitution of Pennsylvania, and that they will discharge the

duties of their office with fidelity.

Each employee of the House, after taking the oath of office,

shall sign the Oath Book in the presence of the Chief Clerk or

the Chief Clerk's designee.

RULE 8

Supervision of Hall of the House

and Committee Rooms

Subject to the direction of the Speaker, the Chief Clerk

shall have supervision and control over the Hall of the House,

the caucus and committee rooms and all other rooms assigned to

the House.

During the sessions of the Legislature the Hall of the House

shall not be used for public or private business other than

legislative matters except by consent of the House. During

periods of recess of the House such use may be authorized by the

Speaker without the consent of the House.

RULE 9

Decorum

While the Speaker is putting a question or addressing the

House and during debate or voting, no member shall disturb

another by talking or walking up and down or crossing the floor

of the House.

RULE 9 (a)

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Smoking

No smoking of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other tobacco

products or use of electronic cigarettes, electronic nicotine

delivery systems or related devices shall be allowed in the Hall

of the House nor in any interior area of the Capitol Complex

under the control of the House of Representatives.

RULE 10

Debate

When a member desires to address the House, the member shall

rise and respectfully address the Speaker. Upon being

recognized, the member may speak, and shall be confined to the

question under consideration and avoiding personal reflections.

When two or more members rise at the same time and ask for

recognition, the Speaker shall designate the member who is

entitled to the floor.

No member, except the Majority and Minority Leaders, may

speak more than twice on any question without the consent of the

House.

With the unanimous consent of the House a member may make a

statement not exceeding ten minutes in length concerning a

subject or matter not pending before the House for

consideration, providing the Majority and Minority Leaders have

agreed on a time the member is to ask for recognition.

RULE 11

Interruption of a Member who Has the Floor

A member who has the floor may not be interrupted, except for

questions of order, by a motion to extend session or by a motion

for the previous question.

A member may yield the floor for questions related to the

subject before the House.

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RULE 12

Personal Privilege

Any member may by leave of the Speaker rise and explain a

matter personal to the member, but the member shall not discuss

a pending question in the explanation. Questions of personal

privilege shall be limited to questions affecting the rights,

reputation and conduct of members of the House in their

respective capacity.

RULE 13

Transgression of House Rules

If any member in speaking or otherwise transgresses the Rules

of the House, the Speaker or any member through the Speaker

shall call the member to order, in which case the member shall

immediately sit down unless permitted by the House to explain.

The House upon appeal shall decide the case without debate.

If the decision is in favor of the member, the member may

proceed. If the case requires it, the member shall be liable to

censure or other punishment as the House deems proper.

RULE 14

Members' and Employees' Expenses

A member who attends a duly called meeting of a standing or

special committee of which he or she is a member when the House

is not in session or who is summoned to the State Capitol or

elsewhere by the Speaker, or the Majority or Minority Leader of

the House, to perform legislative services when the House is not

in session shall be reimbursed per day for each day of service,

plus mileage to and from the member's residence, at such rates

as are established from time to time by the Committee on Rules

but not in excess of the applicable maximum mileage rate

authorized by the Federal Government. For travel to any location

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for committee meetings or for travel to the State Capitol for

any reason, members cannot receive reimbursement in excess of

the applicable maximum per diem rate authorized by the Federal

Government. These expenses shall be paid by the Chief Clerk from

appropriation accounts under the Chief Clerk's exclusive control

and jurisdiction, upon a written request approved by the Speaker

of the House, or the Majority or the Minority Leader of the

House.

An employee of the House summoned by the Speaker or the

Majority or Minority Leader of the House to perform legislative

services outside of Harrisburg shall be reimbursed for actual

expenses and mileage to and from the employee's residence. Such

expenses may be paid by the Speaker, Majority or Minority

Leader, if they agree to do so, or shall be paid by the Chief

Clerk from appropriation accounts under the Chief Clerk's

exclusive control and jurisdiction, upon a written request

approved by the Speaker, or the Majority or the Minority Leader.

District office employees are only permitted to be reimbursed

from an account under the control of the Chief Clerk when

traveling to Harrisburg for a training program sponsored by

either caucus or for travel to a legislative conference approved

by the Speaker, the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader. All

other travel by district office employees may be reimbursed from

the member's accountable expenses or an account under the

control of the Speaker, the Majority Leader or the Minority

Leader.

Members and employees traveling outside the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania who receive any reimbursement for expenses or

travel which reimbursement is from public funds shall file with

the Chief Clerk a statement containing their name and the name,

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place, date and the purpose of the function.

Money appropriated specifically to and allocated under a

specific symbol number for allowable expenses of members of the

House of Representatives shall be reimbursed to each member upon

submission of vouchers and any required documentation by each

member on forms prepared by the Chief Clerk of the House. No

reimbursement shall be made from this account where a member is

directly reimbursed for the same purpose from any other

appropriation account.

Such allowable expenses of members may be used for any

legislative purpose or function, including but not limited to

the following:

(1) Travel expense on legislative business.

(a) Mileage on session or nonsession days at a rate as

may be approved from time to time by the Committee on Rules,

but not in excess of the maximum mileage rate authorized by

the Federal Government for travel; voucher with documented

travel details.

(a.1) Actual expenses incurred for travel on session or

nonsession days by public transportation; voucher with

documented travel details and receipt.

(b) Miscellaneous transportation on legislative business

(taxi, airport limousine, parking, tolls), and expenses of a

similar nature; voucher and receipt with a statement of the

legislative reason for the expense; voucher only for any

single expense not in excess of $10.

other than taxi and airport limousine; voucher and receipt

from common carrier.

(d) Car rental; voucher and receipt from rental agency

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but reimbursement not to exceed in any month an amount as may

be approved from time to time by the Committee on Rules. Any

amount in excess of the said amount shall be paid by the

person renting the car. In no event shall other than American

manufactured cars be rented.

(e) Lodging, restaurant charges and other miscellaneous

and incidental expenses while away from home. Vouchers only

for per diem allowance approved from time to time by the

Committee on Rules, but not in excess of the applicable

maximum per diem rate authorized by the Federal Government or

for actual expenses not in excess of such per diem rate.

(2) Administrative, clerical and professional services for

legislative business, except for employment of spouses or any

relatives, by blood or marriage.

(a) Administrative and clerical services; voucher and

receipt and copy of agreement or contract.

(b) Professional services; voucher and receipt and copy

of agreement or contract.

(3) Rent for legislative office space; purchase of office

supplies; postage; telephone landline and answering services;

cellular phone legislative air time only; printing services and

rental only of office equipment; voucher and vendor's receipt,

except for postage expense.

(4) Restaurant and beverage charges for business meetings;

voucher and itemized vendor receipt, together with a statement

of the legislative reason for the expense, shall be submitted

with the request for reimbursement.

(5) Purchase of flags, plaques, publications, photographic

services, books, and other similar items in connection with

legislative activities; voucher and vendor's receipt.

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(6) Communications and donations in extending

congratulations or sympathy of illness or death; voucher only

for any single expense not in excess of $75.

No money appropriated for members' and employees' expenses

shall be used for contributions to political parties or their

affiliated organizations.

No money appropriated for members' and employees' expenses

shall be used for contributions to charitable organizations or

for charitable advertisements. This paragraph shall not prevent

a de minimis use of legislative resources, in connection with

legislative activities, to benefit a bona fide charitable

organization that serves a member's district.

Members and employees shall not request reimbursement for the

private lease of vehicles leased on a long-term basis. The Chief

Clerk is no longer authorized to enter into a master lease

agreement with the Department of General Services for the long-

term lease of additional automobiles for the use of members.

Members may not use Commonwealth funds to purchase an automobile

for official purposes. The Chief Clerk may not assign

automobiles leased or owned by the Commonwealth to members, but

may maintain automobiles previously assigned to members. A

member with a previously assigned automobile shall not be

required to surrender the automobile unless the Chief Clerk

determines that it is no longer practical or cost effective for

the automobile to remain in service to a member due to age or

high mileage of the automobile or needed repairs or damage to

the automobile. A member who is required to surrender an

automobile by the Chief Clerk may not receive a replacement

automobile.

All disbursements made, debts incurred or advancements paid

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from any appropriation account made to the House or to a member

or nonmember officer under a General Appropriation Act or any

other appropriation act shall be recorded in a monthly report

and filed with the Chief Clerk by the person authorized to make

such disbursement, incur any debt or receive any advancement on

a form prescribed by the Chief Clerk.

The Chief Clerk shall prescribe the form of all such reports

and make such forms available to those persons required to file

such reports. Such report form shall include:

(1) As to personnel:

(a) The name, home address, job title, brief description

of duties and where they are performed, department or member

or members to whom assigned, the name of immediate supervisor

and minimum hours of employment per week of each employee.

(b) The appropriation account from which such employee

is compensated, the amount of compensation and whether such

person is on salary, per diem or contract.

(2) As to all other expenditures:

(a) To whom it was paid, the amount thereof, and the

nature of the goods, services or other purpose for which the

expenditure was made.

(b) The appropriation account from which the expenditure

was made and the name or names of the person or persons

requesting and/or authorizing the same.

The reporting requirements as to personnel may be fulfilled

by the maintenance in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the House

of an alphabetized, electronic file containing the current

information for each employee as set forth above.

All monthly reports filed on disbursements made or debts

incurred by any officer or member or employee from

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appropriations made to the House or to a member or nonmember

officer under any General Appropriation Act, and the

documentation for each disbursement, shall be public information

and shall be available in accordance with the act of February

14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law.

All vouchers and requisitions relating to all expenditures,

expenses, disbursements and other obligations out of all

appropriated funds of the House, and the documentation

evidencing payment of the vouchers and requisitions, shall be

available in accordance with the Right-to-Know Law.

All requests for reimbursement out of any appropriation shall

be accompanied by a voucher, or other documents where required,

evidencing payment or approval. All requests for reimbursement

out of any appropriation payable to a member, nonmember officer

or employee shall be void if not submitted within 90 days of the

date that the otherwise allowable expense is incurred for any

and all otherwise allowable expenses, including without

limitation, per diem, mileage and actual expenses incurred. Any

such void request for reimbursement may not be paid except

pursuant to a motion to suspend this rule for good cause

specific to the voided request for reimbursement. The voucher

form shall be approved and supplied by the Chief Clerk. Receipts

or documentation of every expenditure or disbursement which is

in excess of the maximum amount as set forth herein shall be

attached to the voucher. Where a request for payment is made in

advance of an expense actually incurred, the Chief Clerk, before

making such advance payment shall require a description

satisfactory to the Chief Clerk of the item or service to be

purchased or the expense to be incurred, and a receipt or other

documentation shall be given to the Chief Clerk after the item

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or service has been purchased or expense incurred as evidence

that such advancement was in fact expended for such purpose.

All reports, vouchers and receipts from which reports are

prepared and filed shall be retained by the Chief Clerk, officer

or member, as the case may be, for such period of time as may be

necessary to enable the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission

created pursuant to the act of June 30, 1970 (P.L.442, No.151),

entitled "An act implementing the provisions of Article VIII,

section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, by designating

the Commonwealth officers who shall be charged with the function

of auditing the financial transactions after the occurrence

thereof of the Legislative and Judicial branches of the

government of the Commonwealth, establishing a Legislative Audit

Advisory Commission, and imposing certain powers and duties on

such commission," to conduct, through certified public

accountants appointed by it, annual audits to assure that such

disbursements made or debts incurred were in accordance with

Legislative Audit Advisory Commission guidelines and standards

as approved by the Committee on Rules, or for a minimum of three

years, whichever is longer. All annual audit reports shall be

available for public inspection. Photocopies of such reports

shall be available for a fee established by the Chief Clerk not

to exceed the cost of duplication.

Except as specifically prohibited by law or limited by this

rule, all expenditures of funds appropriated to the House or to

a member or nonmember officer shall be subject to the

expenditure guidelines established by the Rules Committee. The

Rules Committee shall establish standards regarding

documentation evidencing payment out of any appropriations

account made to the House or to a member or nonmember officer.

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The Bipartisan Management Committee shall receive and review

suggestions from the Comptroller on ways to reduce costs and

improve the fiscal operations of the House. The Comptroller,

following authorization by the Bipartisan Management Committee,

shall implement cost-reducing and other new measures to improve

the fiscal operations of the House.

RULE 14 (a)

Employee Payroll Information

In accordance with the act of January 10, 1968 (1967 P.L.925,

No.417), referred to as the Legislative Officers and Employes

Law, the Chief Clerk shall compile, annually, on or prior to the

first day of February of each year, a complete list of employees

of the House of Representatives. The list shall include the full

name, job title, work address and name of immediate supervisor

of every employee of the House of Representatives and shall

include such information for every person employed for any

period of time during the preceding 12 months. In addition to

the information required under the Legislative Officers and

Employes Law, the list shall include the payroll wage

information for those House employees paid during the preceding

calendar year. The list shall be available for public inspection

in the Office of the Chief Clerk during regular business hours.

RULE 14 (b)

Electronic Availability of Reports

In addition to the other methods of availability under Rule

14, all expense reports existing in electronic form shall be

provided electronically by the Chief Clerk upon request.

RULE 15

Time of Meeting

The House shall convene on the first legislative day of the

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week at 12:00 noon prevailing time, unless otherwise ordered by

a roll call vote of the majority of those elected to the House.

On other days the House shall convene at the discretion of

the House. No session of the House may begin before 8:00 A.M.

nor may any roll call votes be taken after 11:00 P.M. unless

exigent circumstances exist, as determined by an affirmative

vote of three-fourths of the members elected to the House, by a

roll call vote on a motion to extend session. A motion to extend

session may be made to extend session generally or to conclude

business on a specific question or questions. If a motion to

extend session is made prior to 10:15 P.M. and a roll call vote

has not been ordered, the arrival of 10:45 P.M. shall put an end

to all debate and shall bring the House to an immediate roll

call vote on the question to extend session. Nothing in this

rule shall prevent the House from conducting administrative

matters, including the making of announcements regarding the

House schedule for the benefit of members or in order to comply

with 65 Pa.C.S. § 709 (relating to public notice) after 11:00

P.M. Upon the Speaker's determination that all administrative

matters are concluded, the Speaker shall adjourn the House.

RULE 16

Quorum

A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum, but a

smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the

attendance of absent members. (Constitution, Article II, Section

10).

When less than a quorum vote on any question, the Speaker

shall forthwith order the doors of the House closed and the

names of the members present shall be recorded. If it is

ascertained a quorum is present, either by answering to their

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names or by their presence in the House, the Speaker shall again

order the yeas and nays. If any member present refuses to vote,

refusal shall be deemed a contempt. Unless purged, the House may

order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove the member or members

without the bar of the House. All privileges of membership shall

be refused the member or members so offending until the contempt

is purged.

RULE 17

Order of Business

The daily order of business shall be:

(1) Prayer.

(2) Pledge of Allegiance.

(3) Correction and approval of the Journal.

(4) Leaves of absence.

(5) Master Roll Call.

(6) Reports of Committee.

(7) First consideration bills.

(8) Second consideration bills.

(9) Third consideration bills, final passage bills

(including both third consideration and final passage postponed

bills) and resolutions.

(10) Final passage bills recalled from the Governor.

(11) Messages from the Senate and communications from the

Governor.

(12) Reference to appropriate committees of bills,

resolutions, petitions, memorials, remonstrances and other

papers.

(13) Unfinished business on the Speaker's table.

(14) Announcements.

(15) Adjournment.

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Any question may, by a majority vote of the members elected,

be made a special order of business. When a special order of

business is adopted for a question on second consideration, the

question shall immediately be placed on the House Voting

Schedule and the Speaker shall place the question before the

House on the earliest possible voting Session Day in accordance

with Rule 21. All other questions shall be placed before the

House on the same legislative day.

In lieu of offering House Resolutions on topics of importance

to members, any member, without unanimous consent, may address

the House on such issue and have their remarks entered into the

record during a special period of time established each week by

the Speaker either prior to, or at the conclusion of, House

business on a specific day.

RULE 18

Introduction and Printing of Bills

Bills shall be introduced in quadruplicate, signed and dated

by each member who is a sponsor of the bill, and filed with the

Chief Clerk on any day that the offices of the House of

Representatives are open for business. A sponsor may be added or

withdrawn, but in the case of withdrawals, the names shall be

withdrawn if and when the bill is reprinted.

Bills introduced when received at the Chief Clerk's desk

shall be numbered consecutively and delivered to the Speaker,

who shall refer each bill to an appropriate committee on any day

whether or not the House is in session. If the resolution

creating a select committee authorizes the referral of bills to

that committee, the Speaker may refer bills, within the scope of

the resolution, to such select committee. Insofar as applicable,

the select committee shall consider and report bills in

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accordance with the rules governing the consideration and

reporting of bills by standing committees. The Speaker shall

report to the House the committees to which bills have been

referred, either on the day introduced or received or on the

next two legislative days the House is in session, unless the

House is in recess for more than four consecutive days in which

case the Speaker shall provide a list to the Majority Leader and

the Minority Leader, within two calendar days, of all bills

which were referred during such period when the House was not in

session.

If the Speaker neglects or refuses to refer to committee any

bill or bills (whether House or Senate) as above after

introduction or presentation by the Senate for concurrence, any

member may move for the reference of the bill to an appropriate

committee. If the motion is carried, said bill or bills shall be

immediately surrendered by the Speaker to the committee

designated in said motion.

The first copy of each bill introduced shall be for the

committee, the second copy shall be for the printer, the third

copy shall be for the news media and the fourth copy shall be

for the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Every bill, after introduction and reference to committee,

shall be printed and shall also be posted on the Internet with

the hyperlink to the web page for the members of the House of

Representatives.

Bills may not be withdrawn after reference to committee.

RULE 19

Bills Referred to Committees

No bill shall be considered unless referred to a committee,

printed for the use of the members and returned therefrom.

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(Constitution, Article III, Section 2).

RULE 19 (a)

Fiscal Notes

(1) No bill, except a General Appropriation bill or any

amendments thereto, which may require an expenditure of

Commonwealth funds or funds of any political subdivision or

which may entail a loss of revenues overall, or to any

separately established fund shall be given third consideration

reading on the calendar until it has first been referred to the

Appropriations Committee for a fiscal note, provided however

that the Rules Committee may by an affirmative vote of three-

quarters of the entire membership to which such committee is

entitled:

(a) Waive the recommittal to the Appropriations

Committee and provide that the fiscal note be attached to the

bill while on the active calendar. The providing of such note

shall be a priority item for the Appropriations Committee; or

(b) Waive the necessity of a fiscal note on any bill

which it deems to have a de minimis fiscal impact or which

merely authorizes, rather than mandates, an increase in

expenditures or an action that would result in a loss of

revenue.

(2) Nothing herein shall preclude any member from moving, at

the proper time, the recommittal of any bill to the

Appropriations Committee for a fiscal note.

(3) The Appropriations Committee shall be limited in its

consideration of any such bill which has received second

consideration to the fiscal aspects of the bill and shall not

consider the substantive merits of the bill nor refuse to report

any such bill from committee for reasons other than fiscal

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aspects. The fiscal note shall accompany the bill and provide

the following information in connection with the Commonwealth

and its political subdivisions:

(a) The designation of the fund out of which the

appropriation providing for expenditures under the bill shall

be made;

(b) The probable cost of the bill for the fiscal year of

its enactment;

the five succeeding fiscal years;

(d) The fiscal history of the program for which

expenditures are to be made;

(e) The probable loss of revenue from the bill for the

fiscal year of its enactment;

(f) A projected loss of revenue estimate from the bill

for each of the five succeeding fiscal years;

(g) The line item, if any, of the General Fund, special

fund or other account out of which expenditures or losses of

Commonwealth funds shall occur as a result of the bill;

(h) The recommendation, if any, of the Appropriations

Committee and the reasons therefor relative to the passage or

defeat of the bill; and

(i) A reference to the source of the data from which the

foregoing fiscal information was obtained, and an explanation

of the basis upon which it is computed.

(4) No bill which may result in an increase in the

expenditure of Commonwealth funds shall be given third

consideration reading on the calendar until the Appropriations

Committee has certified that provision has been made to

appropriate funds equal to such increased expenditure. Whenever

20230HR0001PN0002 - 22 -

the Appropriations Committee cannot so certify, the bill shall

be returned to the committee from which it was last reported for

further consideration and/or amendment.

(5) No amendment to a bill, concurrences in Senate

amendments, or adoption of a conference report which may result

in an increase in the expenditure of Commonwealth funds or those

of a political subdivision or which may entail a loss of

revenues in addition to that originally provided for in the bill

prior to the proposed changes nor any bill requiring a fiscal

note for which re-referral to the Appropriations Committee has

been waived by the Rules Committee shall be voted upon until a

fiscal note is available for distribution to the members with

respect to such changes or to such bill showing the fiscal

effect of the changes with respect to the bill, and containing

the information set forth by subsection (3) of this rule.

(6) When an amendment or certificate is timely filed with

the amendment clerk under Rule 21, the amendment or certificate

shall be forwarded to the Appropriations Committee. Upon receipt

of an amendment, the Appropriations Committee shall

automatically prepare a fiscal note.

(7) In obtaining the information required by these rules,

the Appropriations Committee may utilize the services of the

Office of the Budget and any other State agency as may be

necessary.

(8) No bill proposing any change relative to a public

employee pension or retirement plan may be given second

consideration until an actuarial note prepared by an enrolled

pension actuary as provided in Section 615-B of the

Administrative Code of 1929 has been attached. No amendment to

any bill proposing any change relative to a public employee

20230HR0001PN0002 - 23 -

pension or retirement plan may be considered until an actuarial

note prepared by an enrolled pension actuary as provided in

Section 615-B of the Administrative Code of 1929 has been

attached. Except for the provisions pertaining to the content of

fiscal notes as set forth in paragraphs (a) through (i) of

subsection (3), all the provisions pertaining to and procedures

required of bills containing fiscal notes, shall, where

applicable, also be required for bills containing actuarial

note. The actuarial note shall contain a brief explanatory

statement or note which shall include a reliable estimate of the

financial and actuarial effect of the proposed change to such

public employee pension or retirement plan.

RULE 19 (b)

General Appropriation Bill and Non-Preferred Bills

This rule shall apply to all amendments offered to the

General Appropriation Bill for each proposed fiscal year

including any amendments offered to or for supplemental

appropriations to prior fiscal years contained within the

General Appropriation Bill, and shall also apply to all

amendments offered to any non-preferred appropriation bill for

the same fiscal year.

Any amendment offered on the floor of the House to the

General Appropriation Bill that proposes to increase spending of

State dollars for the Commonwealth's proposed fiscal year or

prior fiscal years above the levels contained in the General

Appropriation Bill as reported from the Appropriations Committee

plus any aggregate if certified each year by the Appropriations

Committee shall not be in order and may not be considered unless

the same amendment contains sufficient reductions in line items

of that General Appropriation Bill so that the amendment offered

20230HR0001PN0002 - 24 -

does not result in a net increase in the total proposed spending

contained within the General Appropriation Bill plus any

aggregate if certified by the Appropriations Committee.

Any amendment offered on the floor of the House to any non-

preferred appropriation bill that proposes to increase spending

of State dollars for the proposed fiscal year above the levels

contained in that non-preferred appropriation bill as reported

from the Appropriations Committee shall not be in order and may

not be considered unless the same amendment contains sufficient

reductions in that non-preferred appropriation bill so that the

amendment offered does not result in a net increase in the total

proposed spending contained within that non-preferred

appropriation bill.

The Appropriations Committee shall have full power and

control over any General Appropriation Bill, supplemental

appropriation bill, or non-preferred appropriation bill,

including the amendment of House amendments.

Members shall be notified of the scheduled vote on the

General Appropriation Bill no later than 4:30 P.M. of the day

that is five days prior to the scheduled vote of the General

Appropriation Bill. In order to be considered, amendments to the

General Appropriation Bill must be submitted to the Office of

the Chief Clerk by 1:00 P.M. of the day that is two days prior

to the scheduled vote of the General Appropriation Bill. The

Appropriations Committee for special and proper reason and by

majority vote, may waive this deadline. Rule 21 of the Rules of

the House, insofar as it applies to the filing deadline for

amendments and notice requirements for the voting schedule for

the General Appropriation Bill, shall not apply to this rule.

Rule 21 shall, however, apply to the non-preferred appropriation

20230HR0001PN0002 - 25 -

bills.

If the amendment cannot be submitted in accordance with the

provision of the previous paragraph because it is still being

prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the member must,

by 1:00 P.M. on the day that is two days prior to the scheduled

vote, provide the Office of the Chief Clerk with a statement,

prepared by the member containing the factual content and exact

amounts of increases and decreases in line items which would be

proposed in the amendment, along with certification from the

Legislative Reference Bureau that the amendment was submitted to

the Legislative Reference Bureau prior to the above-noted 1:00

P.M. deadline. This filing deadline does not apply to amendments

to any non-preferred appropriation bill.

Debate on any debatable question related to the General

Appropriation Bill or a nonpreferred appropriation bill shall be

limited to five minutes each time a member is recognized. On the

bill a sponsor of an amendment shall be entitled to be

recognized twice, a maker of a debatable motion shall be

entitled to be recognized twice, any other members shall be

entitled to be recognized once. Unless the chair or minority

chair of the Appropriations Committee objects to the

determination that a bill implements the General Appropriation

Bill, bills implementing the General Appropriation Bill shall be

subject to the limits of this paragraph.

RULE 20

Bills Confined to One Subject

No bill shall be passed containing more than one subject,

which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except a general

appropriation bill or a bill codifying or compiling the law or a

part thereof. (Constitution, Article III, Section 3).

20230HR0001PN0002 - 26 -

No joint resolution originating in the House which proposes

amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania shall be passed containing more than one subject.

RULE 21

Consideration of Bills

(a) Every bill and every joint resolution shall be

considered on three different days. All amendments made thereto

shall be printed for the use of the members before the final

vote is taken thereon, and before the final vote is taken, upon

written request addressed to the presiding officer by at least

25% of the members elected to the House, any bill shall be read

at length. No bill shall become law and no joint resolution

adopted unless, on its final passage, the vote is taken by yeas

and nays, the names of the persons voting for and against it are

entered on the Journal, and a majority of the members elected to

the House is recorded thereon as voting in its favor.

(Constitution, Article III, Section 4).

(b) Members shall be notified of bills and resolutions

scheduled to be voted no later than prior to the close of

business at 4:30 P.M. of the second legislative day prior to the

date of second consideration for legislation that has no legal

deadline. (The General Appropriation Act and non-preferred bills

are included within the definition of legislation that has no

legal deadline.) Except as provided in subsection (d), all

amendments shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk

by 1:00 P.M. of the last legislative day preceding the scheduled

date of second consideration. Members shall be notified of bills

scheduled to be voted on third consideration. A change in the

printer's number as a result of third consideration shall not

require an additional notice of final passage. No vote on final

20230HR0001PN0002 - 27 -

passage can occur before the date of the scheduled vote.

the above subsection because it is still being prepared by the

Legislative Reference Bureau, the member must provide the Office

of the Chief Clerk with a statement, by the above-noted 1:00

P.M. deadline, prepared by the member containing the factual

content of said amendment along with certification from the

Legislative Reference Bureau that the amendment was submitted to

the Legislative Reference Bureau for drafting prior to the

above-noted 1:00 P.M. deadline. The Legislative Reference Bureau

may not issue a certificate for an amendment to a bill as

amended by another amendment unless the requesting member can

identify by number the underlying amendment.

(d) In cases where an amendment alters a bill so as to

effectively rule out of order an amendment which was timely

filed pursuant to the provisions of this rule, a replacement

amendment may be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk

provided that the subject matter of the replacement amendment is

not substantially different from the intent of the original

amendment. The replacement amendment shall be deemed to have met

the timely filed conditions provided for in this rule. The

member shall notify the Speaker of the member's intent to file a

replacement amendment and shall file a certificate with the

Office of the Chief Clerk. The bill in question may continue to

receive consideration but shall not be moved to third

consideration until the replacement amendment is available for a

vote. If consideration of the bill is delayed to a new

legislative day due solely to delay in receipt of replacement

amendments, then only amendments timely filed for the date of

the originally scheduled vote and replacement amendments shall

20230HR0001PN0002 - 28 -

be considered. This limitation on amendments shall not apply to

the bill in question if consideration of the bill is rescheduled

beyond the new legislative day.

(e) A bill may not receive action on concurrence until at

least six hours have elapsed from the time the bill and its

amendatory language was available to the public, unless the

amendment was a technical amendment as described under the first

paragraph of Rule 24 or an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the

members elected to the House indicates they have had sufficient

time to review the language and thereby approve proceeding with

the bill.

A brief description of every bill on concurrence shall be

given prior to a vote. Additionally, members shall be notified

and conference committee reports shall be available to members

at least three hours prior to the adoption of all conference

committee reports. When these reports are considered on the

first legislative day of the week, said notice shall be provided

no later than the close of business on the last business day

preceding the vote. Notwithstanding notice provided, members

may, by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members elected to the

House, indicate that they have had sufficient time to review a

conference committee report and that they approve proceeding

with a vote.

(f) No joint resolution proposing an amendment to the

Constitution of Pennsylvania shall be given second reading on

the calendar until it has been the subject of a public hearing

as provided under Rule 50. No joint resolution proposing an

amendment to the Constitution of Pennsylvania shall be given a

third reading, final passage, action on concurrence or

consideration by the House based on a report of a Committee of

20230HR0001PN0002 - 29 -

Conference if the joint resolution proposes submitting the

amendment to the qualified electors of the State at any time

other than at the next constitutionally permissible municipal or

general election. This paragraph (f) shall not apply to a joint

resolution proposing an emergency amendment to the Constitution

of Pennsylvania under section 1(a) and (b) of Article XI of the

Constitution of Pennsylvania.

RULE 22

First Consideration Bills

Bills reported from committees shall be considered for the

first time when reported and shall then be automatically removed

from the calendar and laid on the table, except House bills

reported from committees after the first Monday in June until

the first Monday in September which shall then be automatically

recommitted to the Committee on Rules. Except as otherwise

provided, the Rules Committee shall not in any instance have the

power to amend a bill which has been reported by another

committee.

After the first Monday in September, any bill which was

automatically recommitted to the Committee on Rules pursuant to

this rule shall automatically be re-reported to the floor of the

House and laid on the table.

Any bill which was automatically laid on the table pursuant

to this rule may be removed from the table by motion of the

Majority Leader, or a designee, acting on a report of the

Committee on Rules. Such report shall be in writing and a copy

thereof distributed to each member. Any bill so removed from the

table shall be placed on the second consideration calendar on

the legislative day following such removal. Nothing herein shall

affect the right of any member to make a motion to remove a bill

20230HR0001PN0002 - 30 -

from the table.

Amendments shall not be proposed, nor is any other motion in

order on first consideration.

Bills shall not be considered beyond first consideration

until the latest print thereof is available on the Legislative

Data Processing floor system or on the desks of the members.

Any noncontroversial bill, which is defined as any bill,

other than an appropriations bill, approved by a committee with

no negative votes or abstentions, and with the approval of the

Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, shall be placed on an

uncontested calendar. Bills on the uncontested calendar shall be

voted upon by a single roll-call vote. Each bill listed on the

uncontested calendar will be printed separately in the journal

with the vote recorded on the approval of the uncontested

calendar as the vote on final passage of each bill contained

therein.

If any member should object to the placement of a bill on the

uncontested calendar, the bill shall be automatically removed

from the uncontested calendar and placed on the regular calendar

the next legislative day.

RULE 23

Second Consideration Bills

Bills on second consideration shall be considered in their

calendar order and shall be subject to amendment.

No House bill on second consideration shall be considered

until called up by a member.

RULE 24

Third Consideration and Final Passage Bills

Bills on third consideration shall be considered in their

calendar order and shall be subject to amendment only when an

20230HR0001PN0002 - 31 -

amendment is necessary to make the document internally

consistent, to clear up an ambiguity, to correct grammar or to

correct a drafting error or is necessary for purposes of

statutory construction. An amendment under this paragraph shall

not be subject to the filing deadlines under Rule 21. A bill

having received consideration by the House on three different

days and having been agreed to may be called by the Speaker to

receive action on final passage; however, a bill may not receive

action on final passage until at least six hours have elapsed

from the time the bill and its amendatory language was available

to the public, unless the amendment was a technical amendment

permitted under the first paragraph of this rule or an

affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members elected to the House

indicates that they have had sufficient time to review the

language of the bill and thereby approve proceeding with the

bill. Upon being called to receive action on final passage, the

title and a brief description of a bill shall be read. A bill on

final passage shall not be subject to amendment, but shall be

subject to debate. At the conclusion of debate, the Speaker

shall then state the question as follows:

"This bill has been considered on three different days and

agreed to and is now on final passage. The question is, shall

the bill pass finally? Agreeable to the provision of the

Constitution, the yeas and nays will now be taken."

When more than one bill shall be called for action on final

passage at the same time, prior to voting, the title or a brief

analysis of each bill shall be read.

The Speaker shall then state the question as follows:

"These bills have been considered on three different days and

agreed to and are now on final passage. The question is, shall

20230HR0001PN0002 - 32 -

the bills on the uncontested calendar pass finally? Agreeable to

the provision of the Constitution, the yeas and nays will now be

taken."

RULE 25

Defeated Bills

When a bill or resolution has been defeated by the House, it

shall not be reintroduced, or, except as provided in Rule 26, be

reconsidered, nor shall it be in order to consider a similar

one, or to act on a Senate bill or resolution of like import,

during the same term.

RULE 26

Reconsideration

A motion to reconsider the vote by which a bill, resolution

or other matter was passed or defeated shall be made in writing

and filed by two members. The motion shall be in order only

under the order of business in which the vote proposed to be

reconsidered occurred and shall be decided on a roll-call vote

by a majority vote. No motion to reconsider shall be in order

when the bill, resolution or other matter is no longer in the

possession of or is not properly before the House.

A motion to reconsider any such vote must be filed on the

same day on which the initial vote was taken or within the

succeeding five days in which the House is in session, provided

such bill, resolution or other matter is still in the possession

of or is properly before the House.

When a motion to reconsider any such vote is filed within the

aforesaid time limits, put before the House by the Speaker and

decided by the affirmative vote prescribed herein, the question

recurs on the bill, resolution or other matter reconsidered.

Where a bill, resolution or other matter has been initially

20230HR0001PN0002 - 33 -

defeated and a motion to reconsider is not timely made, then

such bill, resolution or other matter shall carry the status of

"defeated finally" and not properly before the House. Therefore,

it shall not be in order to entertain a motion to reconsider any

such vote.

Where a timely made motion to reconsider is lost, it shall

not be in order to again entertain a motion to reconsider any

such vote, even though such second motion to reconsider is

timely made.

Where a bill, resolution, or other matter has been initially

defeated, and a timely made motion to reconsider the vote is

lost, or if no motion to reconsider the vote was timely made,

then it shall not be in order for the House thereafter to

receive or consider a new bill, resolution or other matter

embracing therein a subject or purpose basically identical to or

of similar import to the subject matter or purpose of the bill,

resolution or matter initially defeated.

The vote on a bill or resolution recalled from the Governor

may be reconsidered at any time after the bill or resolution has

been returned to the House.

No bill, resolution or other matter may be reconsidered more

than twice on the same legislative day.

RULE 27

Amendments

No bill shall be amended so as to change its original

purpose. (Constitution, Article III, Section 1).

No motion or proposition on a subject different from that

under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.

Any member may move to amend a bill or resolution, provided

the proposed amendment is germane to the subject. Questions

20230HR0001PN0002 - 34 -

involving whether an amendment is germane to the subject shall

be decided by the House.

No amendment to an amendment shall be admitted nor

considered.

The sponsor of an amendment shall explain the amendment prior

to consideration by the House.

Before consideration, six typewritten copies of a proposed

amendment signed by its sponsor shall be submitted to the Office

of the Chief Clerk, one copy of which shall be delivered to the

news media and a printed copy in typewritten form prepared by

the Legislative Reference Bureau shall be placed on the desk of

each member if the amendment is not available on the Legislative

Data Processing floor system.

Amendments adopted or defeated may not be considered again

without first reconsidering the vote.

RULE 28

Bills Amending Existing Law

Bills amending existing law shall indicate present language

to be omitted by placing it within brackets and new language to

be inserted by underscoring. (Constitution, Article III, Section

6).

RULE 29

Form for Printing Amendments

In printing amendments to bills and resolutions, all new

matter added shall be in CAPITAL LETTERS, and matter to be

eliminated shall be indicated by strike-out type.

In reprinting House bills previously amended by the House and

in reprinting Senate bills previously amended by the Senate, but

not in Senate bills previously amended by the House, all matters

appearing in strike-out type shall be dropped from the new print

20230HR0001PN0002 - 35 -

and all matter appearing in CAPITAL LETTERS shall be reset in

lower case Roman type.

RULE 30

Bills Amended by the Senate

When a bill or joint resolution has been amended by the

Senate and returned to the House for concurrence, it shall be

referred automatically to the Committee on Rules immediately

upon the reading of the message from the Senate by the Clerk.

The consideration of any bill or joint resolution containing

Senate amendments may include amendments by the Committee on

Rules. The vote on concurring in amendments by the House to

bills or joint resolutions amended by the Senate shall not be

taken until said bills or joint resolutions have been favorably

reported, as committed or as amended, by the Committee on Rules.

When said bill or joint resolution has been favorably

reported by the Committee on Rules, either as committed or as

amended, said bill or joint resolution shall be placed on the

calendar. When acting on bills or joint resolutions amended by

the Senate, the bill and the amendments shall be read and the

question put on the concurrence in all amendments to the bill

since it was last considered by the House.

Any two members may object to the report of any bill or joint

resolution containing amendments by the Committee on Rules. The

objection must be raised prior to the bill or joint resolution

being put to a roll call vote. The question shall be decided by

a majority vote of the members elected to the House. If the

House rejects the report of any such bill or joint resolution,

the bill or joint resolution shall be automatically returned to

the Committee on Rules as last passed by the Senate.

The House shall not consider any proposed amendment to any

20230HR0001PN0002 - 36 -

amendment made by the Senate to a bill or joint resolution, nor

consider any amendment to any amendment made by the Committee on

Rules.

A majority vote of the members elected to the House taken by

yeas and nays shall be required to concur in amendments made by

the Senate, except for appropriations to charitable and

educational institutions not under the absolute control of the

Commonwealth, where a vote of two-thirds of all the members

elected to the House shall be required to concur. (Constitution,

Article III, Sections 5 and 30).

Unless the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader shall

agree otherwise, the offering of an amendment in the Committee

on Rules shall not be in order until at least one hour after the

filing of a copy of the amendment as prepared by the Legislative

Reference Bureau with the office of the Chief Clerk. Upon the

filing of such an amendment, the Chief Clerk shall immediately

time stamp the amendment and forthwith forward a time-stamped

copy of the amendment to the offices of the Majority Leader and

the Minority Leader. Except as provided under this paragraph, it

shall not be in order to suspend or otherwise waive the

requirements of this paragraph.

RULE 31

Bills Vetoed by the Governor

When the Governor has returned a bill to the House with

objections, the veto message shall be read and the House shall

proceed to reconsider it. (Constitution, Article IV, Section

15).

RULE 32

Hospital and Home Appropriations,

Acquiring Lands of the Commonwealth

20230HR0001PN0002 - 37 -

and Congressional Redistricting

No bills appropriating moneys to State-aided hospitals or

State-aided homes shall be introduced in the House, except such

as appropriate in single bills the total sum to be appropriated

to all of the institutions within the same class or group.

Requests for appropriations for particular State-aided hospitals

or State-aided homes shall be filed with the Chair of the

Committee on Appropriations on forms to be furnished by the said

Committee on Appropriations, and shall be signed by the member

requesting the appropriation.

No bill granting or conveying Commonwealth lands or taking

title thereto shall be reported by any committee to the House,

nor shall an amendment making substantive changes to such a bill

be offered on the floor of the House, unless there has been

filed with the Chief Clerk and the chair of the reporting

committee a memorandum from the Department of General Services

indicating the use to which the property is presently employed,

the full consideration for the transfer, if any, a departmental

appraisal of the property, including its valuation and a list of

recorded liens and encumbrances, if any, the use to which the

property will be employed upon its transfer, the date by which

the land is needed for its new use, and the legislative district

or districts in which the land is located. The memorandum shall

contain a statement by a responsible person in the Department of

General Services indicating whether or not the administration

favors the transfer which is the subject of the bill under

consideration.

No bill proposing the redistricting of congressional

districts shall be reported by any committee to the House, nor

shall an amendment making substantive changes be offered on the

20230HR0001PN0002 - 38 -

floor of the House, unless such bill or amendment is accompanied

by a map showing the proposed congressional districts. Any such

bill or amendment, along with the accompanying map, shall be

posted by the Legislative Data Processing Center on a publicly

accessible Internet website of the General Assembly.

RULE 33

Special Legislation

No local or special bill shall be passed by the House unless

notice of the intention to apply therefor has been published in

the locality where the matter or the thing to be affected may be

situated, which notice shall be at least 30 days prior to the

introduction into the General Assembly of such bill and in the

manner provided by law; the evidence of such notice having been

published shall be exhibited in the General Assembly before the

act shall be passed. (Constitution, Article III, Section 7).

No local or special bill shall be considered in violation of

Article III, Section 32, of the Constitution.

RULE 34

Nonpreferred Appropriations

No bill shall be passed appropriating money to any charitable

or educational institution not under absolute control of the

Commonwealth, except by a vote of two-thirds of all members

elected. (Constitution, Article III, Section 30).

RULE 35

House and Concurrent Resolutions

Members introducing resolutions other than concurrent

resolutions shall file five copies thereof; seven copies of

concurrent resolutions shall be filed. All resolutions shall be

signed by their sponsors, dated and filed with the Chief Clerk.

After being numbered, one copy of all resolutions shall be given

20230HR0001PN0002 - 39 -

to the news media and all other copies delivered to the Speaker.

A sponsor may not be added or withdrawn after a resolution has

been printed. Resolutions may not be withdrawn after reference

to a committee.

Unless privileged under Rule 36 for immediate consideration

or deemed noncontroversial by the Speaker in consultation with

the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, the Speaker shall

refer House resolutions (except discharge resolutions) and

Senate resolutions presented to the House for concurrence to

appropriate committees. No House resolution shall be deemed

noncontroversial if an indictment is returned or a charge is

filed before a court of record against the prime sponsor of the

resolution, and the gravamen of the indictment or charge is

directly related to the member's conduct as a member or is one

which would render the member ineligible to the General Assembly

under section 7 of Article II of the Constitution of

Pennsylvania. If, during the same legislative term, the

indictment or charge is quashed, dismissed or withdrawn, or the

court finds that the member is not guilty of the offense

alleged, the member may be the prime sponsor of subsequently

introduced House resolutions deemed noncontroversial as provided

in this rule.

House resolutions deemed noncontroversial shall be limited to

condolence resolutions for current or former public officials,

or for members of the armed services or emergency first

responders killed in the line of duty, and shall be considered

under the proper order of business on the same day as introduced

or within two legislative days thereafter without being referred

to committee. The Speaker, in consultation with the Majority

Leader and the Minority Leader, shall place noncontroversial

20230HR0001PN0002 - 40 -

resolutions on an uncontested resolution calendar. Resolutions

on the uncontested calendar may be voted by a single roll-call

vote. Each resolution listed on the uncontested resolution

calendar shall be printed separately in the journal with the

vote recorded on the approval of the uncontested calendar as the

vote on final passage of each resolution contained therein.

A House resolution other than a joint resolution shall not:

(a) encourage action on a public issue unless either the

resolution has legal force or effect concerning such action or

such action would be taken by a public body; or

(b) congratulate individuals or entities for achievements.

The Speaker shall report to the House the committees to which

resolutions have been referred, either on the day introduced or

received or the next two legislative days the House is in

session.

A resolution introduced in the House and referred to

committee shall be printed and placed in the House files.

When a resolution (House or Senate) is reported from

committee, it shall be placed on the calendar and may be called

up by a member for consideration by the House under the order of

business of resolutions. A House resolution other than a

concurrent or joint resolution shall be adopted by a majority of

the members voting.

RULE 36

Privileged Resolutions

Resolutions privileged for the immediate consideration of the

House are those:

(1) Recalling from or returning bills to the Governor.

(2) Recalling from or returning bills to the Senate.

(3) Originated by the Committee on Rules.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 41 -

(4) Providing for a Joint Session of the Senate and House

and its procedure.

(5) Placing bills negatived by committees on the calendar.

(6) Adjournment or recess.

RULE 37

Legislative Citation

A member making a request that a Legislative Citation be

issued to a particular person or on a specified occasion shall

provide the Legislative Reference Bureau with the facts

necessary for the preparation of the citation on a suitable

form.

The citation request shall be filed with the Chief Clerk and

automatically referred to the Speaker who may approve and sign

such citation on behalf of the House of Representatives.

One original citation shall be issued by the Chief Clerk.

RULE 38

Sine Die and Final Introduction of Bills

Resolutions fixing the time for adjournment of the General

Assembly sine die and the last day for introduction of bills in

the House shall be referred to the Committee on Rules before

consideration by the House.

During the period of time between a general election and the

adjournment of the House of Representatives sine die, Rule 77

may not be invoked to suspend Rule 21 or any part of this rule.

RULE 39

Petitions, Remonstrances and Memorials

Petitions, remonstrances, memorials and other papers

presented by a member shall be signed, dated and filed with the

Chief Clerk to be handed to the Speaker for reference to

appropriate committees.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 42 -

The Speaker shall report to the House the committees to which

petitions, remonstrances, memorials and other papers have been

referred, not later than the next day the House is in session

following the day of filing.

RULE 40

Messages

Messages from the Senate and communications from the Governor

shall be received and read in the House within one legislative

day thereafter.

All House and Senate bills shall be delivered to the Senate

with appropriate messages no later than the close of the next

legislative day of the Senate which follows the fifth

legislative day after which the House acted on such bill.

All House bills returned by the Senate after final passage

therein without amendment, and all conference committee reports

on House bills received from the Senate and adopted by the

House, shall be signed by the Speaker within one legislative day

after receipt or adoption, respectively, and shall be delivered

to the Senate before the close of the next legislative day of

the Senate.

All House bills and all conference committee reports on House

bills signed by the Speaker shall be delivered to the Governor

within 24 hours after return from the Senate with the signature

of the appropriate Senate officer.

RULE 41

Kind and Rank of Committee

The Committees of the House shall be of four kinds and rank

in the order named:

(1) Committee of the Whole House.

(2) Standing Committees.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 43 -

(3) Select Committees.

(4) Conference Committees.

RULE 42

Committee of the Whole

The House may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at

any time on the motion of a member adopted by a majority vote of

the House.

In forming the Committee of the Whole, the Speaker shall

leave the chair, after appointing a Chair to preside.

The rules of the House shall be observed in the Committee of

the Whole as far as applicable, except that a member may speak

more than once on the same question.

A motion to adjourn, to lay on the table, or for the previous

question cannot be put in the Committee of the Whole; but a

motion to limit or close debate is permissible.

A motion that the Committee of the Whole "do now rise and

report back to the House," shall always be in order, and shall

be decided without debate.

Amendments made in the Committee of the Whole shall not be

read when the Speaker resumes the Chair, unless so ordered by

the House.

RULE 43

Standing Committees and Subcommittees

The Committee on Committees shall consist of the Speaker and

15 members of the House, ten of whom shall be members of the

majority party and five of whom shall be members of the minority

party, whose duty shall be to recommend to the House the names

of members who are to serve on the standing committees of the

House. Except for the Speaker, the Majority and Minority

Leaders, Whips, Caucus Chairs, Caucus Secretaries, Caucus

20230HR0001PN0002 - 44 -

Administrators, Policy Chairs and the chairs and minority chairs

of standing committees, each member shall be entitled to serve

on not less than two standing committees.

The Speaker shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of each

standing committee when such standing committee has no standing

subcommittees as prescribed herein, except the Committee on

Appropriations which shall also have a vice-chair appointed by

the Speaker; when the standing committee has standing

subcommittees, the Speaker shall appoint a subcommittee chair

for each standing subcommittee. The Speaker shall appoint a

secretary for each standing committee. The Minority Leader shall

appoint the minority chair, minority vice-chair and minority

secretary of each standing committee and the minority

subcommittee chair for each standing subcommittee.

Except for members who decline chair status or minority chair

status in writing or who are barred from serving as a chair or

minority chair under this rule, the chair and minority chair of

each standing committee except the Appropriations Committee

shall be limited only to the members of the applicable caucus

with the most seniority as members of their respective caucus.

Whenever there are more caucus members with equal seniority than

available chairs or minority chairs for that caucus, the

selection of a chair or minority chair from among such caucus

members shall be in the discretion of the appointing authority.

The appointing authority may designate the standing committee to

which the appointing authority shall appoint a member as chair

or minority chair without regard to seniority. The Speaker and

the Floor Leader, Whip, Caucus Chair, Caucus Secretary, Caucus

Administrator and Policy Chair of the majority party and

minority party shall not be eligible to serve as chair or

20230HR0001PN0002 - 45 -

minority chair of any standing committee and no member may serve

as chair or minority chair of more than one standing committee.

Any chair or minority chair held by a member who fails to

meet the requirements of this rule shall become vacant by

automatic operation of this rule. If the appointing authority

fails to make an appointment of a chair or minority chair prior

to the organizational meeting of a standing committee or fails

to fill a vacancy within seven calendar days after it occurs,

such position shall be deemed to remain vacant in violation of

this rule. Whenever a chair or minority chair becomes vacant or

remains vacant in violation of this rule, the member of the

applicable caucus who meets the requirements of this rule shall

automatically fill the vacancy and, if there are two or more

such eligible caucus members for any such vacancy or vacancies,

they shall be filled from among such eligible members through a

lottery to be conducted under the supervision of the Chief Clerk

after giving notice of the time and place thereof to all

eligible members, to the Speaker, to the Majority Leader and to

the Minority Leader.

Nothing in this rule shall prohibit the appointing authority

from transferring a member from the chair or minority chair of a

standing committee to the chair or minority chair of another

standing committee.

Whenever the appointment of a chair or minority chair will

cause the applicable caucus to exceed its permissible allocation

of members on a standing committee, the appointing authority

shall make a temporary transfer of an eligible committee member

to the standing committee vacated by the member appointed as

chair or minority chair until a regular committee appointment

can be made in accordance with the rules of the House. If the

20230HR0001PN0002 - 46 -

Speaker or Minority Leader fails to make a temporary transfer

within seven calendar days after such appointment, the committee

member with the least seniority, who is eligible for transfer,

shall be automatically transferred to the committee vacated by

the newly appointed chair or minority chair and, if more than

one committee member is eligible for such transfer, the transfer

shall be implemented through a lottery conducted under the

supervision of the Chief Clerk.

The Speaker of the House, Floor Leader of the majority party

and the Floor Leader of the minority party shall be ex-officio

members of all standing committees, without the right to vote

and they shall be excluded from any limitation as to the number

of members on the committees or in counting a quorum.

Twenty-four standing committees of the House, each to consist

of 21 members except the Committee on Appropriations, which

shall consist of 37 members, are hereby created. In addition,

there are hereby created 54 standing subcommittees.

All standing committees shall consist of 12 members of the

majority party and 9 members of the minority party, except the

Committee on Appropriations which shall consist of 22 members of

the majority party and 15 members of the minority party. The

quorum for each of the standing committees and subcommittees

shall be no less than the majority of said committees. The

following are the standing committees and subcommittees thereof:

(1) Aging and Older Adult Services

(a) Subcommittee on Care and Services

(b) Subcommittee on Programs and Benefits

(2) Agriculture and Rural Affairs

(3) Appropriations

(a) Subcommittee on Health and Human Services

20230HR0001PN0002 - 47 -

(b) Subcommittee on Education

(d) Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy

(e) Subcommittee on Criminal Justice

(f) Subcommittee on Government and Financial Oversight

(4) Children and Youth

(5) Commerce

(a) Subcommittee on Financial Services and Banking

(b) Subcommittee on Housing Finance

(d) Subcommittee on Local Business

(e) Subcommittee on Automation and Technology

(6) Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities

(a) Subcommittee on Utilities

(b) Subcommittee on Consumer Protection

(7) Education

(a) Subcommittee on Basic Education

(b) Subcommittee on Higher Education

(d) Subcommittee on Career and Technical Education

(8) Environmental Resources and Energy

(a) Subcommittee on Energy

(b) Subcommittee on Mining

(9) Finance

(a) Subcommittee on Tax Modernization and Reform

(10) Game and Fisheries

(11) Gaming Oversight

(12) Health

20230HR0001PN0002 - 48 -

(a) Subcommittee on Health Facilities

(b) Subcommittee on Health Care

(13) Housing and Community Development

(14) Human Services

(a) Subcommittee on Mental Health

(b) Subcommittee on Drugs and Alcohol

(15) Insurance

(16) Judiciary

(a) Subcommittee on Crime and Corrections

(b) Subcommittee on Courts

(17) Labor and Industry

(a) Subcommittee on Employment and Unemployment

Compensation

(b) Subcommittee on Workers Compensation and Worker

Protection

(18) Liquor Control

(a) Subcommittee on Licensing

(b) Subcommittee on Marketing

(19) Local Government

(a) Subcommittee on Boroughs

(b) Subcommittee on Counties

(20) Professional Licensure

(21) State Government

(a) Subcommittee on Government Operations

(b) Subcommittee on Government Information Technology

and Communication

Transparency

20230HR0001PN0002 - 49 -

(d) Subcommittee on Public Pensions, Benefits and Risk

Management

(e) Subcommittee on Campaign Finance and Elections

(22) Tourism and Economic and Recreational Development

(a) Subcommittee on Arts and Entertainment

(b) Subcommittee on Recreation

Heritage

(23) Transportation

(a) Subcommittee on Highways

(b) Subcommittee on Public Transportation

(d) Subcommittee on Aviation

(e) Subcommittee on Railroads

(f) Subcommittee on Ports

(24) Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness

(a) Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Facilities

(b) Subcommittee on Security and Emergency Response

Readiness

RULE 44

Organization of Standing Committees

and Subcommittees

The membership of each standing committee shall first meet

upon the call of its chair and perfect its organization. A

majority of the members to which each standing committee is

entitled shall constitute a quorum for it to proceed to

business. Each standing committee shall operate pursuant to the

Standard Committee Operating Rules.

Where a standing committee has standing subcommittees as

prescribed by Rule 43, the membership on such standing

20230HR0001PN0002 - 50 -

subcommittees shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees

after consultation with each chair of a standing committee of

which the standing subcommittee is a part. Each standing

subcommittee shall consist of the chair and minority chair of

its parent standing committee, the chair of the standing

subcommittee, and five other members from the parent standing

committee to be appointed by the Committee on Committees, three

from among the majority party after consultation with the

Majority Leader and two from among the minority party after

consultation with the Minority Leader. Where it is deemed

advisable that the membership of any standing subcommittee be of

greater number than that prescribed herein, the Committee on

Committees may appoint additional members of the standing

committee from the majority or minority party to serve on such

standing subcommittee. The number of additional members selected

should be such as to maintain, as far as is practicable, a ratio

in majority and minority party membership which affords a fair

and reasonable representation to the minority party on the

standing subcommittee.

The chair and the minority chair of each standing committee

shall be members of each standing subcommittee which is part of

the parent standing committee, with the right to attend standing

subcommittee meetings and vote on any matter before such

standing subcommittee.

A majority of the members of each standing subcommittee shall

constitute a quorum for the proper conduct of its business. Each

standing subcommittee may promulgate such rules necessary for

the conduct of its business which are not inconsistent with the

rules of its parent standing committee or the Rules of the

House.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 51 -

When the chair of a standing committee has referred a bill,

resolution or other matter to a standing subcommittee, the power

and control over such bill, resolution or other matter shall

then reside in such subcommittee for a reasonable period of time

thereafter in order that such subcommittee may consider the

bill, resolution or other matter and return the same to its

standing committee with its recommendations as to the action

which ought to be taken on such bill, resolution or other

matter.

Each standing subcommittee, within a reasonable time after it

has received a bill, resolution or other matter, shall meet as a

committee for the purpose of considering the same and returning

the bill, resolution or other matter back to its parent standing

committee with a subcommittee report as to what action it

recommends. The report of the subcommittee on a bill, resolution

or other matter being returned to the standing committee shall

contain one of the following recommendations:

(1) that the bill, resolution or other matter in its present

form be reported to the House,

(2) that the bill, resolution, or other matter not be

reported to the House,

(3) that the bill, resolution or other matter be reported to

the House, with recommendations for amendments,

(4) that the bill, resolution or other matter is returned

without recommendations.

When a standing committee receives reports from its

subcommittees, it shall consider the reports and by majority

vote of the members of the standing committee either approve or

disapprove such report. If disapproved, the standing committee

may then determine by a majority vote of its members what

20230HR0001PN0002 - 52 -

further action, if any, should be taken on the bill, resolution

or other matter.

Where no action has been taken by a standing subcommittee on

a bill, resolution or other matter referred to it, and the chair

of the standing committee considers that the subcommittee had

reasonable time to consider the bill, resolution or other matter

and return the same to its parent standing committee, the

subcommittee chair shall return the bill, resolution or other

matter together with all documents or papers pertaining thereto,

to the standing committee.

In the event that a chair of a standing committee is absent,

unless a vice-chair or subcommittee chair would be precluded

from acting as chair by Rule 47, the following rules shall apply

in the following order of precedence:

(1) If the standing committee has a vice-chair, the vice-

chair of the standing committee shall act as chair of the

committee meetings.

(2) If the standing committee has only one subcommittee, the

subcommittee chair shall act as chair of the standing committee.

(3) If the standing committee has more than one

subcommittee, the subcommittee chair with the longest

consecutive legislative service shall act as chair of the

standing committee, except where the subcommittee chairs have

equal legislative service, in which case the Speaker of the

House shall designate one of the subcommittee chairs to act as

chair of the standing committee.

In case of absence of a subcommittee chair, the chair of the

appropriate standing committee shall designate one member from

either the standing committee or subcommittee to act as chair of

the subcommittee.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 53 -

RULE 45

Powers and Duties of Standing Committees

and Subcommittees

The chair of each standing committee and subcommittee shall

fix regular weekly, biweekly or monthly meeting days for the

transaction of business before the committee or subcommittee.

The chair of the committee or subcommittee shall notify all

members, at least 24 hours in advance of the date, time and

place of regular meetings, and, insofar as possible, the

subjects on the agenda. In addition to regular meetings, special

meetings may be called from time to time by the chair of the

committee or subcommittee as they deem necessary. No recess or

combination of recesses shall exceed 48 hours for any committee

meeting or subcommittee meeting. No committee shall meet during

any session of the House without first obtaining permission of

the Speaker. During any such meeting, no vote shall be taken on

the Floor of the House on any amendment, recommittal motion,

final passage of any bill, or any other matter requiring a roll

call vote. Any committee meeting called off the Floor of the

House shall meet in a committee room. In addition to the

specific provisions of this rule, all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S.

Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) relative to notice of meetings

shall be complied with.

At regularly scheduled meetings, or upon the call of the

chair, or subcommittee chair, for special meetings, the

membership of such committees shall meet to consider any bill,

resolution, or other matter on the agenda. The secretary of each

standing committee, or in case of subcommittees a secretary

designated by the subcommittee chair, shall record:

(1) the minutes of the meeting,

20230HR0001PN0002 - 54 -

(2) all votes taken,

(3) a roll or attendance of members at standing committee or

subcommittee meetings showing the names of those present, absent

or excused from attendance, and the majority and minority chairs

or their designees shall verify by their signatures all votes

taken and the roll or attendance of those members present,

absent or excused before said records are submitted to the Chief

Clerk, and

(4) dispatch of bills and resolutions before the committee.

Such records shall be open to public inspection. On the first

legislative day of each week the House is in session, the chair

of each standing committee shall submit to the Chief Clerk for

inclusion in the House Journal only, the roll or record of

attendance of members at standing committee or subcommittee

meetings held prior thereto and not yet reported, along with the

record of all votes taken at such meetings. All reports from

standing committees shall be prepared in writing by the

secretary of the committee. Members of a standing committee may

prepare in writing and file a minority report, setting forth the

reasons for their dissent. Such committee reports shall be filed

with the Chief Clerk within five days of the meeting. All

meetings at which formal action is taken by a standing committee

or subcommittee shall be open to the public, making such reports

as are required under Rule 44. When any member, except for an

excused absence, fails to attend five consecutive regular

meetings of the member's committee, the chair of that committee

or subcommittee shall notify the member of that fact and, if the

member in question fails to reasonably justify absences to the

satisfaction of a majority of the membership of the standing

committee of which he or she is a member, membership on the

20230HR0001PN0002 - 55 -

committee or subcommittee shall be deemed vacant and the chair

of the standing committee shall notify the Speaker of the House

to that effect. Such vacancy shall then be filled in the manner

prescribed by these rules.

Whenever the chair of any standing committee shall refuse to

call a regular meeting, then a majority of the members of the

standing committee may vote to call a meeting by giving two days

written notice to the Speaker of the House, setting the time and

place for such meeting. Such notice shall be read in the House

and the same posted by the Chief Clerk in the House Chamber.

Thereafter, the meeting shall be held at the time and place

specified in the notice. In addition, all provisions of 65

Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) relative to notice of

meetings shall be complied with.

Records, bills and other papers in the possession of

committees and subcommittees, upon final adjournment of the

House shall be filed with the Chief Clerk.

The chair of each standing committee shall have the power to

administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before

the committee.

No committee report, except a report of the Appropriations

Committee, shall be recognized by the House, unless the same has

been acted upon by a majority vote of the members of a standing

committee present at a committee session actually assembled and

meeting as a committee, provided such majority vote numbers at

least 10 members, and provided further a quorum is present. No

committee report of the Appropriations Committee shall be

recognized by the House, unless the same has been acted upon by

a majority vote of the members of such committee present at a

committee session actually assembled and meeting as a committee,

20230HR0001PN0002 - 56 -

provided such majority vote numbers at least 17 members, and

provided further a quorum is present.

When the majority of the members of a standing committee

believe that a certain bill or resolution in the possession of

the standing committee should be considered and acted upon by

such committee, they may request the chair to include the same

as part of the business of a committee meeting. Upon failure of

the chair to comply with such request, the membership may

require that such bill be considered by written motion made and

approved by a majority vote of the entire membership to which

such committee is entitled.

Whenever the phrase "majority of members of a standing

committee or subcommittee" is used in these rules, it shall mean

majority of the entire membership to which a standing committee

or subcommittee is entitled, unless the context thereof

indicates a different intent.

To assist the House in appraising the administration of the

laws and in developing such amendments or related legislation as

it may deem necessary, each standing committee or subcommittee

of the House shall exercise continuous watchfulness of the

execution by the administrative agencies concerned of any laws,

the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such

committee or subcommittee; and, for that purpose, shall study

all pertinent reports and data submitted to the House by the

agencies in the executive branch of the Government.

The Committee on Appropriations shall have the power to issue

subpoenas under the hand and seal of its chair commanding any

person to appear before it and answer questions touching matters

properly being inquired into by the committee, which matters

shall include data from any fund administered by the

20230HR0001PN0002 - 57 -

Commonwealth, and to produce such books, papers, records,

accounts, reports, documents and data and information produced

and stored by any electronic data processing system as the

committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any

person and shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued

out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any person who willfully

neglects or refuses to testify before the committee or to

produce any books, papers, records, accounts, reports, documents

or data and information produced and stored by any electronic

data processing system shall be subject to the penalties

provided by the laws of the Commonwealth in such case. Each

member of the committee shall have power to administer oaths and

affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee. The

committee may also cause the deposition of witnesses either

residing within or without the State to be taken in the manner

prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions.

RULE 45 (a)

Government Oversight Committee

The Government Oversight Committee shall consist of nine

members, five of whom shall be members of the majority party

appointed by the Majority Leader and four of whom shall be

members of the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader.

The Majority Leader shall appoint the chair and secretary for

the committee. The Minority Leader shall appoint the minority

chair for the committee. A majority of the members of the

committee shall constitute a quorum.

The members of the committee shall first meet upon the call

of the chair and perfect its organization. The committee shall

have the power to promulgate rules not inconsistent with this

rule or the Rules of the House that may be necessary for the

20230HR0001PN0002 - 58 -

orderly conduct of its business.

The chair of the committee shall notify all members on the

committee at least 24 hours in advance of the date, time and

place of meetings and, insofar as possible, the subjects on the

agenda. Meetings may be called from time to time by the chair of

the committee as the chair deems necessary.

The committee shall be authorized and empowered to do all of

the following:

(1) Conduct hearings at any place in this Commonwealth to

investigate any matter referred to the committee by the Speaker,

the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader. Referred matters

shall be confidential unless the chair and minority chair agree

in writing to make the referral public, must relate to executive

agencies and administrative actions and may not include matters

which are:

(a) under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ethics;

(b) under the jurisdiction of the Committee on

Appropriations, except matters which may incidentally include

information related to expenditures of public money; or

authorizing and empowering a standing committee, subcommittee or

select committee to investigate any matter.

Unless in conflict with the provisions of this rule, Rule 51

shall be applicable to hearings of the committee concerning

referred matters.

(2) Any action necessary to fulfill any assignment or duty

given to the committee by any resolution or other rule of the

House.

Upon completion of the investigation of any matter referred

to the committee, the committee shall file a final report with

20230HR0001PN0002 - 59 -

the House. A final report of a referred matter shall not be

considered in the committee unless the report has been available

to committee members for at least three days before

consideration, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays,

unless the House is in session on those days. A report on a

referred matter shall be adopted by a majority vote of the

committee members to which the committee is entitled, present at

a committee session actually assembled and meeting as a

committee. Members of the committee may prepare in writing and

file a minority report, setting forth the reasons for their

dissent. Such committee reports shall be filed with the Chief

Clerk within five days of the meeting.

The committee shall not continue to exist after sine die

adjournment of the General Assembly. Investigation of any

referred matter before the committee that has not been concluded

or disposed of by sine die adjournment of the General Assembly

shall cease on such date, and all documents, reports,

communications, transcripts and other materials compiled by the

committee for such matters shall be collected, organized and

submitted to the Chief Clerk under seal for transition to the

reconstituted committee consisting of members appointed from the

incoming General Assembly. These materials shall be held in a

secure manner and nothing in this rule shall authorize the Chief

Clerk or any other person to view such materials. Within 30 days

following the reconstitution of the committee in the next

succeeding legislative term, the committee shall review such

materials and determine whether or not to proceed with a

referred matter investigated by the former committee.

RULE 46

Committee on Rules

20230HR0001PN0002 - 60 -

The Committee on Rules shall consist of the Speaker, the

Majority Leader, the Majority Whip, the Minority Leader, the

Minority Whip, the Majority Appropriations Chair, the Minority

Appropriations Chair, 14 members of the majority party appointed

by the Speaker, and 12 members of the minority party appointed

by the Minority Leader. The Majority Leader shall be chair.

The committee shall make recommendations designed to improve

and expedite the business and procedure of the House and its

committees, and to propose to the House any amendments to the

Rules deemed necessary. The committee shall also do all things

necessary to fulfill any assignment or duty given to the

committee by any resolution, or other rule of the House of

Representatives.

The committee shall be privileged to report at any time.

The committee shall, until or unless superseded by law, adopt

guidelines for the expenditure of all funds appropriated to the

House or to any member or nonmember officer by any appropriation

act.

Such guidelines shall include a detailed statement of the

general and specific purposes for which the funds from that

appropriation account may be used, as well as uniform standards

of required documentation, accounting systems and record keeping

procedures.

Except as expressly provided in Rule 30 or this rule, the

committee shall not have the power to amend any bill or joint

resolution.

RULE 47

Status of Members Indicted or Convicted of a Crime

When an indictment is returned or a charge is filed before a

court of record against a member of the House, and the gravamen

20230HR0001PN0002 - 61 -

of the indictment or charge is directly related to the member's

conduct as a committee chair or ranking minority committee

member or in a position of leadership or is one which would

render the member ineligible to the General Assembly under

section 7 of Article II of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the

member shall be relieved of committee chair status, ranking

minority committee member status or leadership position until

the indictment or charge is disposed of, but the member shall

otherwise continue to function as a Representative, including

voting, and shall continue to be paid.

If, during the same legislative term, the indictment or

charge is quashed, dismissed or withdrawn, or the court finds

that the member is not guilty of the offense alleged, the member

shall immediately be restored to committee chair status, ranking

minority committee member status or the leadership position

retroactively from which he or she was suspended.

Upon a finding or verdict of guilt by a judge or jury, plea

or admission of guilt or plea of nolo contendere of a member of

the House of a crime, the gravamen of which relates to the

member's conduct as a Representative or which would render the

member ineligible to the General Assembly under section 7 of

Article II of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the

Parliamentarian of the House shall prepare a resolution of

expulsion under the sponsorship of the Chair and Vice-Chair of

the House Ethics Committee. The resolution shall be printed and

placed on the calendar for the next day of House session.

Upon a finding or verdict of guilt by a judge or jury, plea

or admission of guilt or plea of nolo contendere of a member of

the House of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery or perjury,

and upon imposition of sentence, the member shall no longer be

20230HR0001PN0002 - 62 -

eligible to serve in the General Assembly.

RULE 48

Conference Committee

All Committees of Conference shall be appointed by the

Speaker and shall be composed of three members, two of whom

shall be selected from the majority party and one from the

minority party.

The conferees shall confine themselves to the differences

which exist between the House and Senate.

The presentation of reports of Committees of Conference shall

be in order after having been signed by a majority of members of

the committee of each House.

Consideration of a report of a Committee of Conference by the

House shall be in order when it has been printed, placed on the

desks of the members and listed on the calendar.

RULE 49

Committee Action

Whenever a bill, resolution or other matter has been referred

by the Speaker of the House to a standing committee, and such

committee has one or more standing subcommittees, the chair of

the standing committee may either refer it to an appropriate

subcommittee or retain it for consideration by the entire

standing committee. If it is retained, such standing committee

shall have full power and control over such bill, resolution or

other matter, except that such committee shall not change the

subject nor any amendments adopted by the House. Where the chair

of the standing committee refers such bill, resolution, or

matter to a subcommittee, such subcommittee, except as

hereinafter provided, shall have full power over the same.

The recommendations by a committee that a bill or resolution

20230HR0001PN0002 - 63 -

be reported negatively shall not affect its consideration by the

House. The words "negative recommendation" shall be printed

conspicuously on a line above the title of this bill.

All standing subcommittees shall be subject to the will of

the majority of their parent standing committee and shall not

promulgate any rules or take any action inconsistent with the

rules of their parent standing committee or the Rules of the

House.

After a bill is reported out of committee, all committee

votes taken with respect to the bill shall be posted on the

Internet as soon as practicable.

RULE 50

Public Hearings

Each standing committee, subcommittee or select committee to

which a proposed bill, resolution or any matter is referred

shall have full power and authority to study said bill,

resolution or other matter before it, as such committee, shall

determine is necessary to enable it to report properly to the

House thereon. To this end, a standing committee, subcommittee,

or select committee, may as hereinafter provided, conduct public

hearings. No standing committee, subcommittee or select

committee shall hold any public hearings without prior approval

by a majority vote of the members of the standing committee and

the Speaker or the Majority Leader of the House. The Speaker or

the Majority Leader of the House shall withhold approval of

public hearings based only on budgetary consideration.

When a public hearing has been authorized as aforesaid, the

chair of the standing committee, subcommittee chair, or select

committee chair as the case may be, shall instruct the Chief

Clerk to give written notice thereof to each House Member not

20230HR0001PN0002 - 64 -

less than five calendar days before the proposed hearings and

post the same in or immediately adjacent to the House Chambers.

Such notice, which shall contain the day, hour and place of the

hearing and the number or numbers of bills or other subject

matter to be considered at such hearing, shall also be given the

supervisor of the news room, and to the news media. In addition,

all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings),

relative to notice of meetings shall be complied with.

Public hearings held by a standing committee shall be chaired

by the chair of such committee, unless absent, in which case an

acting chair shall be selected in the manner prescribed by these

rules to serve. Public hearings held by standing subcommittees

shall be chaired by the subcommittee chair thereof, but the

chair of the parent standing committee, as an ex-officio member

of the subcommittee, shall have the right to attend and

participate in the hearing proceedings. In the absence of the

subcommittee chair, an acting chair shall be appointed in the

manner prescribed by these rules.

All public hearings shall be open to the public and

reasonable opportunity to be heard shall be afforded to all

interested parties who have requested an appearance before the

committee. The minority chair shall be entitled to invite at

least one testifier who shall be entitled to testify at the

public hearing. In addition, it shall be the responsibility of

the committee in conducting its hearing to request the

presentation of testimony by any person who, in the opinion of

the committee, is qualified to present pertinent and important

testimony.

Such committee shall, so far as practicable, request all

witnesses appearing before it to file written statements of

20230HR0001PN0002 - 65 -

their proposed testimony. The chair shall have the right to fix

the order of appearance and the time to be allotted to

witnesses. Witnesses may submit brief pertinent statements in

writing for inclusion in the record. The committee is the sole

judge of the pertinency of testimony and evidence adduced at its

hearings.

The chair, in presiding at such public hearings, shall

preserve order and decorum, in and adjacent to the committee

room while the hearing is being conducted and shall have the

authority to direct the removal from the committee room of any

person who fails to comply with order and decorum of the

committee.

Proceedings of all public hearings shall be electronically

recorded and posted on the Internet as soon as practicable

thereafter. Such electronic records shall be preserved by the

Chief Clerk until authorized to dispose of same by an

affirmative vote of three-quarters of the entire membership of

the Rules Committee. A transcript may be requested by any member

at that member's expense. Any records and any reports of the

committee shall be filed with the Chief Clerk and shall be made

available to any person in accordance with reasonable rules and

regulations prescribed by the Chief Clerk. Upon payment of a

reasonable cost to be determined by the Chief Clerk, a person

may obtain a copy of the available records.

All written testimony at committee hearings shall be posted

on the Internet as soon thereafter as practicable.

The Chief Clerk shall not make payment of any expenses

incurred as a result of a public hearing without the prior

written approval of the Speaker or the Majority Leader of the

House.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 66 -

RULE 51

Investigations

Any standing committee, subcommittee or select committee,

upon resolution introduced and approved by majority vote of the

House, may be authorized and empowered to conduct hearings at

any place in the Commonwealth to investigate any matter provided

for in such resolution. When authorized by such a resolution, or

when approved by the Speaker upon application by the standing

committee, subcommittee or select committee authorized to

conduct an investigation pursuant to this rule, such committee

shall be empowered to issue subpoenas under the hand and seal of

the chair thereof commanding any person to appear before it and

answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into

by the committee and produce such books, papers, records,

accounts, reports, documents and data and information produced

and stored by an electronic data processing system as the

committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any

person and shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued

out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Where any person

willfully neglects or refuses to comply with any subpoena issued

by the committee or refuses to testify before the committee on

any matter regarding which the person may be lawfully

interrogated, it shall be the duty of the committee to report

such disobedience or refusal to the House of Representatives,

and such person shall be subject to the penalties provided by

the laws of the Commonwealth in such cases. All such subpoenaed

books, papers, records, accounts, reports, documents and data

and information produced and stored by any electronic data

processing system shall be returned to the person from whom such

material was subpoenaed when the committee has completed its

20230HR0001PN0002 - 67 -

examination of such material, but in no event later than the

date on which the committee completes its investigation. Such

material, or any information derived therefrom not a part of

public sessions of the committee, shall not be turned over to

any person or authority without the consent of the person from

whom such material was subpoenaed. Each member of the committee

shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to

witnesses appearing before the committee. The Sergeant-at-Arms

of the Legislature or other person designated by the committee

shall serve any subpoenas issued by the committee, when directed

to do so by the committee. The subpoena shall be addressed to

the witness, state that such proceeding is before a committee of

the House at which the witness is required to attend and testify

at a time and place certain and be signed by the chair of the

committee commanding attendance of such witness. Mileage and

witness fees shall be paid to such witness in an amount

prescribed by law.

The chair of the investigative hearing shall call the

committee to order and announce in an opening statement the

subject or purposes of the investigation.

A copy of this rule shall be made available to the witnesses

at least three calendar days prior to their scheduled testimony.

Witnesses at investigative hearings, may be accompanied by their

own counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their

constitutional rights. The chair, for breaches of order or

decorum or of professional ethics on the part of counsel, may

exclude counsel from the hearing. Counsel may interpose legal

objection to any and all questions which in the opinion of

counsel may violate the civil or constitutional rights of

counsel's clients.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 68 -

If the committee determines that evidence or testimony at an

investigative hearing may tend to defame, degrade or incriminate

any person, it shall:

(1) receive such evidence or testimony in executive session;

(2) afford such person an opportunity voluntarily to appear

as a witness; and

(3) receive and dispose of requests from such person to

subpoena additional witnesses.

No evidence or testimony taken in executive session may be

released to any person or authority or used in public sessions

without the consent of the committee.

Proceedings of all public hearings shall be electronically

recorded. Such electronic records, including agendas, testimony,

attendance and roll call votes shall be preserved by the Chief

Clerk until directed to dispose of same by an affirmative vote

of three-quarters of the entire membership of the Rules

Committee. A transcript may be requested by any member at that

member's expense. Any records and any reports of the committee

shall be filed with the Chief Clerk and shall be made available

to any person in accordance with reasonable rules and

regulations prescribed by the Chief Clerk.

Upon payment of a reasonable cost to be determined by the

Chief Clerk, a person may obtain a copy of the available

records. All standing committees, subcommittees, special

committees or commissions which are authorized to hold public

hearings and investigations shall file a final report before

being discharged of delegated responsibilities.

RULE 52

Possession of Bills by Committee

When a committee has ordered that a bill, resolution or other

20230HR0001PN0002 - 69 -

matter be reported to the House, the member to whom it is

assigned shall make the report thereof to the House either on

the same day or at the next meeting of the House.

Failure of a member to comply with this rule shall be

reported to the House by the committee, provided the official

copy of the bill, resolution or other matter has not been

obtained. Upon a motion agreed to by the House, a duplicate

certified copy of a House bill, House resolution or other House

matter shall be furnished to the committee by the Chief Clerk.

A committee or subcommittee shall not consider a bill,

resolution or other matter which is not in its possession.

When a committee reports to the House that a House bill,

House resolution or other House matter referred to it is lost,

upon a motion agreed to by the House, a duplicate certified copy

thereof shall be furnished by the Chief Clerk.

If the Senate bill, Senate resolution or other Senate matter

received from the Senate is lost, upon a motion agreed to by the

House, a request shall be made to the Senate to furnish the

House with a duplicate certified copy thereof.

If a bill, resolution or other matter is lost before it has

been referred to a committee, the fact shall be reported to the

House and the procedure provided by this rule shall be followed.

RULE 53

Discharge of Committees

A member may present to the Chief Clerk a resolution in

writing to discharge a committee from the consideration of a

bill or resolution which has been referred to it 15 legislative

days prior thereto (but only one motion may be presented for

each bill or resolution). The discharge resolution shall be

placed in the custody of the Chief Clerk, who shall arrange some

20230HR0001PN0002 - 70 -

convenient place for the signature of the members. A signature

may be withdrawn by a member in writing at any time before the

discharge resolution is entered in the Journal. When 50 members

of the House, 25 of whom shall be from the majority party and 25

from the minority party, shall have signed the resolution, it

shall be entered in the Journal and the title of the bill or

resolution and the name of the committee to be discharged shall

be printed on the calendar. Once filed, a discharge resolution

shall be valid to discharge the underlying bill or resolution

from a standing committee of the House without an additional

intervening period, not just the committee with possession of

the bill or resolution at the time of the filing.

Any member who has signed a discharge resolution which has

been on the calendar at least one legislative day prior thereto

and seeks recognition, shall be recognized for the purpose of

calling up the discharge resolution and the House shall proceed

to its consideration without intervening motion except one

motion to adjourn; however, no discharge resolution shall be

considered during the last six legislative days of any session

of the House. A majority vote of all the members elected to the

House shall be required to agree to a resolution to discharge a

committee. When any perfected discharge resolution has been

acted upon by the House and defeated it shall not be in order to

entertain during the same session of the House any other

discharge resolution from that committee of said measure, or

from any other committee of any other bill or resolution

substantially the same, relating in substance to or dealing with

the same subject matter.

RULE 54

Presentation and Withdrawal of Motions

20230HR0001PN0002 - 71 -

When a motion which is in order has been made, the Speaker

shall state it or (if it is in writing) cause it to be read by

the Clerk. It shall then be in the possession of the House, but

it may be withdrawn by the maker at any time before decision or

amendment.

The Speaker shall put the question in the following form,

viz: "those in favor of the motion will say 'aye'." After the

affirmative is expressed, "those who are opposed will say 'no'."

All motions, except for the previous question and a motion

for reconsideration, may be made without a second.

No dilatory motion shall be entertained by the Speaker.

RULE 55

Privileged Motions

When a question is under debate or before the House, no

motion shall be received but the following, which shall take

precedence in the order named:

(1) To adjourn, or recess.

(2) To extend session.

(3) A call of the House.

(4) For the previous question.

(5) To lay on the table.

(6) To postpone.

(7) To commit or recommit.

(8) To amend.

Debate on the motion to postpone shall be confined to the

question of the postponement and shall not include discussion of

the main question.

The motion to commit or recommit is open to debate only as to

the reasons for or against reference to committee and shall not

include a discussion of the merits of the main question.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 72 -

Debate on the motion to amend shall be limited to the

amendment and shall not include the general merits of the main

question.

RULE 56

Adjourn

A motion to adjourn or recess is debatable, cannot be amended

and is always in order, except:

(1) when another member has the floor; or

(2) when the House is voting.

RULE 57

Call of the House

If a question of the absence of a quorum is raised by a

member, the Speaker shall order the Sergeant-at-Arms to close

the doors of the House. No member shall be permitted to leave

the House, except by permission of the House. The names of the

members present, together with those members who have filed a

designation under Rule 66 (a), shall be recorded and absentees

noted. Those for whom no leave of absence has been granted or no

sufficient excuse is made may, by order of a majority of the

members present, be sent for and taken into custody by the

Sergeant-at-Arms and assistants appointed for that purpose, and

brought before the bar of the House where, unless excused by a

majority of the members present, they shall be censured or

punished for neglect of duty as the House may direct.

Further proceedings under a call of the House may be

dispensed with at any time after the completion of the roll call

and the announcement of the result.

These proceedings shall be without debate, and no motion,

except to adjourn, shall be in order.

RULE 58

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Persons Admitted Under a Call of the House

Members who voluntarily appear during a call of the House

shall be admitted to the House. Upon recognition by the Speaker

they shall announce their presence and their names shall be

recorded on the roll.

Officers of the House, accredited correspondents and

employees designated by the Chief Clerk shall be admitted to the

House during a call.

Visitors shall not be admitted to the House after the doors

are closed and until the proceedings under the call are

terminated, but they shall be permitted to leave.

RULE 59

Lay on the Table

A motion to lay on the table is debatable by the Majority

Leader, the Minority Leader, the maker of the motion, the maker

of the amendment under consideration and the prime sponsor of

the bill under consideration. It is not subject to amendment and

carries with it the main question and all other pending

questions which adhere to it, except when an appeal is laid on

the table. The passage of a motion to lay an amendment on the

table shall not cause the subject bill or resolution and all

other amendments to be laid on the table.

RULE 60

Motion to Take from the Table

A motion to take from the table a bill or other subject is in

order under the same order of business in which the matter was

laid on the table. It shall be decided without amendment and is

debatable by the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, the maker

of the motion, the maker of the amendment under consideration

and the prime sponsor of the bill under consideration.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 74 -

RULE 61

Previous Question

A motion for the previous question, seconded by 20 members

and sustained by a majority of the members present, shall put an

end to all debate and bring the House to an immediate vote on

the question then pending, or the questions on which it has been

ordered.

A motion for the previous question may be made to embrace any

or all pending amendments or motions and to include the passage

or rejection of a bill or resolution. The motion for the

previous question is only debatable by the Majority Leader and

Minority Leader. Debate shall be limited to three minutes for

each leader.

RULE 62

Call for Yeas and Nays─Reasons for Vote

The yeas and nays of the members on any question shall, at

the desire of any two of them, be entered on the Journal.

(Constitution, Article II, Section 12).

When the Speaker or any member is not satisfied with a voice

vote on a pending question, the Speaker may order a roll call

vote; or, upon request of two members, before the result of the

vote is announced, the Speaker shall order a roll call vote.

A member may submit a written explanation of their vote

immediately following the announcement of the result of the vote

and have it printed in the Journal.

RULE 63

Division of a Question

Any member may call for a division of a question by the

House, if it comprehends propositions so distinct and separate

that one being taken away, the other will stand as a complete

20230HR0001PN0002 - 75 -

proposition for the decision of the House. Bills and resolutions

shall not be subject to division.

RULE 64

Members Required to be Present and Vote

Every member shall be present within the Hall of the House

during its sittings, unless excused by the House, voting by

designation or unavoidably prevented, and shall vote for or

against each question put, unless he or she has a direct

personal or pecuniary interest in the determination of the

question or unless excused.

A member may exit the Hall of the House for brief periods

without being placed on leave to attend to the member's

immediate personal needs. In such instances, the member shall

not leave the vicinity of the Hall of the House in the Capitol

Complex and shall return to the Hall of the House promptly if

requested.

Except as otherwise provided for in the Rules of the House,

no member shall be permitted to vote and have their vote

recorded on the roll unless present in the Hall of the House

during the roll call vote, except that a member may provide

direction for their vote if the member is in the vicinity of the

Hall of the House in the Capitol Complex attending to the

member's immediate personal need.

The Legislative Journal shall show the result of each roll

call by yeas and nays and those absent and those not voting.

RULE 64 (a)

Chronic Absenteeism

For purposes of this rule the term "chronic absenteeism"

shall mean the unexcused absence of a representative for a

period of five consecutive legislative days from official

20230HR0001PN0002 - 76 -

sessions of the House of Representatives or the absence of a

committee member for a period of five consecutive days from an

assigned committee meeting which meeting qualifies as a regular

committee meeting under the rules of the House of

Representatives and the Sunshine Law of the Commonwealth.

Any representative who is absent without excuse from regular

House sessions for a period of five consecutive legislative days

or is absent for a period of five consecutive committee meetings

shall be deemed a chronic absentee and may, on a vote of the

full House, be held in contempt of this House upon motion of

five members of the House for chronic absence from regular House

sessions and by motion of three members of the standing

committee of the House to which such representative is assigned

for chronic absence from regularly scheduled committee meetings.

The term "chronic absenteeism" shall not include:

(1) Absence due to the personal illness or bodily injury of

a representative.

(2) Absence due to personal illness or bodily injury of a

member of the immediate family of the representative.

(3) Death of a member of the immediate family of a

representative.

(4) Absence due to military service.

(5) Any excused absence approved by the House pursuant to

its rules.

RULE 65

Member Having Private Interest

(1) A member who has a personal or private interest in any

measure or bill proposed or pending before the House shall

disclose the fact to the House and shall not vote thereon.

(Constitution, Article III, Section 13).

20230HR0001PN0002 - 77 -

(2) A member who, for remuneration, represents any

organization required to register under 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 13A

(relating to lobbying disclosure) shall file a statement of that

fact with the Chief Clerk.

RULE 65 (a)

Professionals-Legislators

(1) Except as hereinafter provided, any member or employee

of the House or its agencies shall not be retained for

compensation to appear in their professional capacity to

represent the interest of any client in any proceeding before

any Commonwealth department, board, agency, bureau or

commission, except that such member or employee is authorized to

represent the interest of a client at any stage of a proceeding

before the Commonwealth or its agencies where such proceeding

was initially taken or brought as a ministerial action, as

defined by this rule, and as originally taken was not initially

adverse in nature to the interest of the Commonwealth or its

agencies.

(2) The provisions of this rule shall not be applicable to

professionals-legislators:

(a) Representing clients on criminal matters before the

courts of the Commonwealth.

(b) Representing clients on civil matters before the

courts of the Commonwealth.

before the Commonwealth or its agencies which was initially

commenced as a ministerial action. The term "ministerial

action" means and includes any proceeding or action before

the Commonwealth or its agencies where the proceeding, as

initially commenced involved solely:

20230HR0001PN0002 - 78 -

(i) The uncontested or routine action by the

Commonwealth's administrative officers or employees in

issuing or renewing licenses, charters, certificates or

any other documents of a similar nature; or

(ii) The preparation, filing and review of tax

returns and supporting documents required by law; or

(iii) The preparation, filing and review of

engineering and architectural plans, drawings,

specifications and reports; or

(iv) Any other initially routine or uncontested

preparation, filing, review or other action not

enumerated above and considered and normally handled by

the Commonwealth or its agencies as a ministerial action.

(d) Representing clients in workmen's compensation

proceedings before the bureau, its referees or the Workmen's

Compensation Appeals Board.

(3) This rule shall not apply to the other members of the

firm of such member and/or employee.

RULE 65 (b)

Financial Interests in Gaming Entities

Annually, on or before May 1, every member shall file an

attestation, in electronic or paper form, with the Chief Clerk,

on a form provided by the Chief Clerk, affirming that neither

the member nor an immediate family member of the member holds a

financial interest in violation of 4 Pa.C.S. § 1512 (relating to

financial and employment interests).

For purposes of this rule, "immediate family member" shall

mean a spouse, minor child or unemancipated child.

RULE 66

Electronic Roll Call

20230HR0001PN0002 - 79 -

The names of the members shall be listed on the electronic

roll call boards by party affiliation in alphabetical order,

except the name of the Speaker shall be last.

On any question requiring the "yeas" and "nays", the

electronic roll call system shall be used. On all other

questions to be voted upon, the Speaker may order the yeas and

nays taken by the electronic roll call system or voice vote or,

upon demand of two members before the result of a vote has been

declared, the yeas and nays shall be taken by the electronic

roll call system.

In the event the electronic roll call system is not in

operating order, the Speaker shall order all yea and nay votes

be taken by calling the roll, as provided in the Rules of the

House.

The vote of any member which has not been recorded because of

mechanical malfunction of the electronic roll call system shall

be entered on the Journal, if said member was in the Hall of the

House at the time of the vote and did cast their vote at the

appropriate time, and the fact of such malfunction is reported

to the Speaker of the House prior to the announcement of the

result of the vote.

When the House is ready to vote upon any question requiring

the yeas and nays and the vote is to be taken by the electronic

roll call system, the Speaker shall state: "The

question .............. (Designating the matter to be voted

upon.)" The Speaker shall then unlock the voting machine and

announce, "The members shall now proceed to vote." Once the

voting has begun, it shall not be interrupted, except for the

purpose of questioning the validity of a member's vote or, if

the voting switch of a member present in the Hall of the House

20230HR0001PN0002 - 80 -

is locked or otherwise inoperative, a request that such switch

be rendered operative or such members vote be officially

recorded, before the result is announced.

When, in the judgment of the Speaker, reasonable time has

been allowed all members present in the House to vote (in no

event shall such time exceed ten minutes) the Speaker shall ask

the question: "Have all members present voted?" After a pause,

the Speaker shall lock the machine and instruct the Clerk to

record the vote, and the Speaker shall announce the result of

the vote.

No member or other person shall be allowed at the Clerk's

desk while the yeas and nays are being recorded, or the vote

counted.

After the voting machine is locked, no member may change a

vote and the votes of tardy members will not be recorded.

The vote as electronically recorded on the roll of members

shall not in any manner be altered or changed by any person.

Except as provided in the rules of the House, no member shall

vote for another member, nor shall any person not a member vote

for a member.

Any member or other person who willfully tampers with or

attempts to disarrange, deface, impair or destroy in any manner

whatsoever the electronic voting equipment used by the House, or

who instigates, aids or abets with the intent to destroy or

change the record of votes thereon shall be punished in such

manner as the House determines.

A member who has been appointed by the Speaker to preside as

Speaker pro tempore may designate either the Majority or

Minority Whip to cast their vote on any question while presiding

in accordance with instructions from the Chair.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 81 -

The Chief Clerk shall post all votes by the electronic roll

call system on the Internet no later than the close of business

on the day they are made.

A prime sponsor of a bill, the Minority Leader or Majority

Leader or a member designated to act on their behalf may request

that the roll call remain open for the maximum time allowed in

accordance with this rule. During such roll call, no vote shall

be recorded unless the member is at their regularly assigned

seat.

RULE 66 (a)

Vote by Designation

A member who is not present in the Hall of the House may

designate either the Majority or Minority Whip to cast the

member's vote on any question.

If a designated Whip is on leave, that designated Whip may

appoint another member to cast all votes designated to that

Whip.

A designation, including commencement date, shall be

accomplished by filing an attestation with the Chief Clerk which

identifies either the Majority or Minority Whip as the member's

designee when the member will not be present in the Hall of the

House.

A member may revoke the member's designation by notifying the

Chief Clerk in writing of the revocation.

A member voting by designation shall be counted in

determining whether a quorum is present.

A designation shall be effective until the designation is

revoked.

At any voting meeting of a committee of the House of

Representatives, a member of the committee who is not present

20230HR0001PN0002 - 82 -

may designate the chair or minority chair to cast the member's

vote on any question.

The designation shall be accomplished by filing an

attestation with the chair or minority chair which affirms that

the member will not be present at the voting meeting.

A member voting by designation shall be counted in

determining whether a quorum is present.

The Chief Clerk shall implement video conferencing or similar

remote participation technology to allow members voting by

designation on the House Floor or at any voting meeting of a

standing committee of the House of Representatives to engage in

simultaneous, interactive participation.

A voting meeting of a standing committee of the House of

Representatives shall be held in a committee room utilizing

video conferencing or similar remote participation technology

unless such a room is not available. The video conferencing or

similar remote participation technology must safeguard the

integrity of the legislative process and must make a live stream

of a voting meeting of a standing committee available to the

public.

RULE 67

Verification and Challenge

Upon completion of a roll call and before the result is

announced, if there appears to be need for verification, the

Speaker may direct the Clerk to verify it, or three members may

demand a verification.

Any member may challenge in writing the yea or nay or

electronically recorded vote of other members. The allegations

made shall be investigated by a committee composed of the

Speaker, a majority member and a minority member appointed by

20230HR0001PN0002 - 83 -

the Speaker, who shall submit a report to the House not later

than its next session. The House shall then decide whether the

challenged vote shall be recorded or not.

If the challenged vote would change the result, the

announcement of the vote shall be postponed until the House

decides the case.

RULE 68

Changing Vote

No member may change a vote, or have a vote recorded after

the result of a roll call vote has been announced, nor after an

affirmative or negative roll has been declared verified.

RULE 69

Journal

The Chief Clerk shall keep a Journal of the proceedings of

the House, which shall be printed and shall be made available to

the members.

The Journal of the proceedings of the last day's session

shall not be read unless so ordered by a majority vote of the

House.

RULE 70

History of House Bills

and House Resolutions

A weekly History, showing the title and action on House bills

and the text and action on non-privileged resolutions, shall be

compiled and indexed under the direction of the Chief Clerk and

shall be printed and placed on each member's desk.

The House History shall include a cumulative index of laws

enacted during the session and the text of vetoes by the

Governor.

RULE 71

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House Calendar

Bills and non-privileged resolutions reported from committees

to the House with an affirmative recommendation shall be listed

on the calendar in such manner as prescribed by the Rules

Committee and any other rule of the House. House bills and House

resolutions shall precede Senate bills and Senate resolutions.

Bills and non-privileged resolutions shall be listed on the

House Calendar for no more than 15 consecutive legislative days.

At the end of the 15th consecutive legislative day the said bill

or non-privileged resolution shall be automatically laid on the

table, unless the House shall otherwise direct.

A marked calendar compiled by the Majority Leader shall be

provided to all members on each legislative day on which votes

are scheduled on the calendar.

RULE 72

Journal, Transcribing and

Documents Rooms

No person, except members and employees of the House having

official business, shall be permitted in the Transcribing, the

Legislative Journal, and the Bills and Documents Rooms of the

House without the consent of the Chief Clerk.

RULE 73

Correspondents

Admission to and administration of the Press Galleries of the

Senate and House of Representatives shall be vested in a

Committee on Correspondents consisting of the President pro

tempore of the Senate, or a designee; the Speaker of the House

of Representatives, or a designee; the Supervisor of the Capitol

Newsroom; the President of the Pennsylvania Legislative

Correspondents' Association, or a designee and the Executive

20230HR0001PN0002 - 85 -

Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, or a

designee.

Persons desiring admission to the press sections of the

Senate and House of Representatives shall make application to

the Chair of the Committee on Correspondents. Such application

shall state the newspaper, press association or licensed radio

or television station, its location, times of publication or

hours of broadcasting, and be signed by the applicant.

The Committee on Correspondents shall verify the statements

made in such application, and, if the application is approved by

the committee, shall issue a correspondent's card signed by the

members of the committee.

The gallery assigned to newspaper correspondents or

recognized press association correspondents or representatives

of licensed radio and television stations, systems or

newsgathering agencies shall be for their exclusive use and

persons not holding correspondents cards shall not be entitled

to admission thereto. Employees of the General Assembly,

representatives and employees of state departments, boards,

commissions and agencies, visitors and members of the families

of correspondents entitled to admission to the press gallery

shall, at no time, be permitted to occupy the seats or be

entitled to the privileges of the press gallery.

Accredited representatives of newspapers, wire, newsreel

services and licensed radio or television stations, systems or

newsgathering agencies, may be authorized by the Speaker of the

House to take photographs, make audio or video recordings or

tapes, and to broadcast or televise in the House of

Representatives. Applications to take photographs, make audio or

video recordings or tapes, or to broadcast or televise at public

20230HR0001PN0002 - 86 -

hearings of committees shall be approved by the committee chair

or co-chairs conducting such hearing. However, the committee

chair conducting the hearing may make such orders to such

representatives as may be necessary to preserve order and

decorum.

No photographs shall be taken nor any recordings or tapes

made, nor any broadcasting or televising done in the House of

Representatives during sessions, being at ease or recessed,

without prior notice to the Representatives. When possible, such

notice shall be given at the beginning of the session, at ease

or recess, during which the photographs, recordings or taping,

broadcasting or televising are scheduled to be taken or made.

No more than one representative of each newspaper, press

association or licensed radio or television station, system or

newsgathering agency shall be admitted to the press gallery at

one time. Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative

Correspondents' Association and representatives of licensed

radio and television stations, systems or newsgathering

agencies, assigned to the House of Representatives on a daily

basis shall have permanent assigned seating in the press gallery

with identification plates. Visiting representatives of daily

newspapers, press associations, Sunday newspapers as well as

radio and television stations, systems or newsgathering agencies

shall coordinate seating accommodations with the supervisor of

the Capitol Newsroom.

Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or

temporary basis, shall at all times, refrain from loud talking

or causing any disturbance which tends to interrupt the

proceedings of the House of Representatives.

Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or

20230HR0001PN0002 - 87 -

temporary basis shall not walk onto the floor of the House of

Representatives nor approach the rostrum or the clerks' desks

during session or while being at ease.

Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or

temporary basis wishing to confer with a Representative shall

disclose this fact by having a message delivered by a page to

the Representative. Such conversation shall be conducted off the

floor of the House of Representatives.

Representatives of the Pennsylvania Public Broadcasting

System may, subject to regulations of the Speaker, televise or

make video tapes of proceedings of sessions of the House of

Representatives and meetings of all committees of the House of

Representatives.

RULE 74

Visitors

Visitors shall be admitted to the Hall of the House only when

sponsored by a member. The Chief Clerk shall issue an

appropriate pass to any visitor so sponsored.

Persons admitted to the Hall of the House other than members

and attaches, shall not be permitted to stand while the House is

in session but shall be seated in chairs provided for them. At

no time shall visitors be permitted on the Floor of the House

while the House is in session unless so permitted by the

Speaker.

RULE 75

Lobbyists

No registered lobbyist shall be admitted to the Hall of the

House.

RULE 76

Soliciting Prohibited

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No officer or employee of the House shall solicit any member,

other officer or employee of the House for any purpose.

RULE 77

Suspending and Changing Rules

Unless otherwise specified in another rule, any rule of the

House, which is not required by the Constitution, may be

temporarily suspended at any time for a specific purpose only by

a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to the House by a

roll call vote. If a rule requires a greater majority than a

two-thirds vote of the members elected to the House to take an

action, that majority greater than two-thirds vote of the

members elected to the House specified in the rule shall be

required to suspend that rule.

A motion to suspend the rules may not be laid on the table,

postponed, committed or amended and may be debated by the

majority leader, the minority leader, the maker of the motion,

the maker of the amendment under consideration and the prime

sponsor of the bill under consideration.

A brief description of the underlying bill or amendment shall

be given whenever a member moves to suspend the rules of the

House in order to consider such bill or amendment.

The existing rules of the House shall not be changed, added

to, modified or deleted except by written resolution and the

same approved by a majority vote of the members elected to the

House by a roll call vote.

Except where such resolution originates with the Committee on

Rules, no resolution proposing any change, addition,

modification or deletion to existing House rules shall be

considered until such resolution has been referred to the

Committee on Rules, reported therefrom, printed, filed on the

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desk of each member and placed on the calendar.

Any proposed change, addition, modification or deletion

offered by a member on the floor of the House to such resolution

shall be considered, in effect, a change, addition, modification

or deletion to existing House rules and shall require for

approval a majority vote of the members by a roll call vote.

RULE 78

Parliamentary Authority

Mason's Manual, supplemented by Jefferson's Manual of

Legislative Procedure, shall be the parliamentary authority of

the House, if applicable and not inconsistent with the

Constitution of Pennsylvania, the laws of Pennsylvania

applicable to the General Assembly, the Rules of the House, the

established precedents of the House and the established customs

and usages of the House.

ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT RULES OF

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

RULE 1 E

Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in the Ethical and

Professional Conduct Rules of the House of Representatives shall

have the meanings given to them in this Rule unless the context

clearly indicates otherwise:

"Campaign." An effort organized in support of or opposition

to the nomination, election or re-election of an individual to

elective office.

"Campaign activity." An activity on behalf of a candidate,

political party, political committee, campaign, campaign

committee, political organization or political body which is

intended to influence the outcome of an election, including any

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of the following:

(1) Organizing a campaign meeting, campaign rally or

other campaign event, including a fund-raiser where campaign

contributions are solicited or received.

(2) Preparing or completing responses to questionnaires

that are intended primarily for campaign use.

(3) Preparing, reviewing or filing a campaign finance

report.

(4) Conducting background research on a candidate or an

elected official to be used or intended to be used to

influence the outcome of an election.

(5) Preparing, conducting or participating in campaign

polling.

(6) Preparing, circulating or filing a candidate

nominating petition or papers.

(7) Participating in, preparing, reviewing or filing a

legal challenge to a nominating petition or papers.

(8) Preparing, distributing or mailing campaign

literature, campaign signs or other campaign material on

behalf of or in opposition to any candidate.

(9) Managing a campaign.

(10) Participating in, preparing, reviewing or filing

documents in a recount, challenge or contest of an election.

(11) Posting campaign-related information on a website

or social media website.

(12) Soliciting an individual's vote for a candidate.

(13) Working at a polling place.

"Campaign contribution." A monetary or in-kind contribution

made to a candidate or a campaign.

"Campaign polling." The preparation, compilation, collection

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or gathering of information, including focus groups and surveys,

reflecting public opinion as to an elected official, group of

elected officials, candidate, group of candidates, political

party, political committee, campaign, campaign committee,

political organization or political body that is intended to be

used for the purpose of supporting or opposing the nomination,

election or re-election of an individual to elective office.

"Committee." The Committee on Ethics of the House of

Representatives.

"Candidate." An individual seeking nomination, election or

re-election to an elective office.

"De minimis." An economic consequence which has an

insignificant effect.

"Discrimination." An adverse employment action based on a

protected classification.

"Elected official." An individual elected by the public to

serve a term in an elective office. The term shall include an

individual appointed to fill an unexpired term in an elective

office.

"Election." A general, special, municipal or primary

election, including elections at which a candidate for elective

office in a Federal governmental body is on the ballot.

"Elective office." A position in a governmental body to

which an individual is required under the Constitution of

Pennsylvania, the Constitution of the United States or by law to

be elected by the public.

"Employer." The term includes the following:

(1) An officer of the House.

(2) The Office of the Speaker of the House of

Representatives.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 92 -

(3) The House Republican Caucus.

(4) The House Democratic Caucus.

"Frivolous complaint." A complaint filed in a grossly

negligent manner without basis in law or fact.

"Harassment." Unwelcome conduct based on an individual's

protected classification when:

(1) submission to the conduct is made either an explicit

or implicit term or condition of employment;

(2) submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as

the basis for an employment decision; or

(3) the conduct is so frequent or severe that it creates

a hostile or offensive work environment.

"House employee." The term includes the following:

(1) A person employed by the Office of the Speaker of

the House of Representatives, the House Republican Caucus or

the House Democratic Caucus.

(2) Except as otherwise precluded by law, an officer of

the House or a person employed by an officer of the House.

"House office." Legislative offices and work spaces,

including:

(1) An office assigned to a Member for the conduct of

legislative duties, wherever located.

(2) House conference or meeting rooms located in the

Capitol complex.

(3) A legislative district office.

(4) The offices of an officer of the House.

"House resources." House-owned or House-leased equipment

including telephones, computer hardware or software, copiers,

scanners, fax machines, file cabinets or other office furniture,

cell phones, personal digital assistants or similar electronic

20230HR0001PN0002 - 93 -

devices, and office supplies.

"House work time." Compensated time spent in the performance

of duties by a House employee.

"Independent counsel." An attorney engaged by the Committee

for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting a specific

complaint who shall not be employed during the investigation for

any other purpose or in any other capacity by the House, the

committee or a Member.

"Legislative nonprofit organization." A nonprofit

corporation or other entity whose primary purpose is to receive

funds under the General Appropriation Act or another

appropriation act at the discretion or by reason of the

influence of a Member for use at the discretion or direction of

the Member.

"Majority of the Committee" or "majority." A majority of the

Members to which the Committee is entitled.

"Mass communication." The term shall include, but not be

limited to, the following if they are paid for with House funds:

(1) Any newsletter or similar mailing of more than 50

pieces a day in which the content of the matter is

substantially identical.

(2) Any electronic mail transmission to more than 50

addresses per day in which the content of the matter is

substantially identical.

(3) Any public service announcement via radio or

television broadcast that depicts the name, voice or image of

a Member.

(4) Any telemarketing activities or robocalls on behalf

of a Member, except for limited surveys to determine public

opinion on various issues that do not use the name, voice or

20230HR0001PN0002 - 94 -

image of a Member.

"Member." An individual elected to serve in the Pennsylvania

House of Representatives.

"Officers of the House." The Chief Clerk, the Comptroller

and the Parliamentarian of the Pennsylvania House of

Representatives.

"Official mailing lists." Any list containing individuals,

companies or vendors, including names, addresses, telephone

numbers or e-mail addresses that are procured, compiled,

maintained or produced with House funds.

"Own time." A House employee's time that is distinct from

House work time and includes time that is spent on

vacation/annual leave and personal leave. The term does not

include compensatory leave.

"Protected classification." Race, color, religion, age, sex,

sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression,

pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, disability,

genetic information, veteran or military status or any other

characteristic protected by applicable Federal or State law.

"Restricted period." The 60-day period immediately

preceding:

(1) a primary or general election in an even-numbered

year; or

(2) an election at which the Member is a candidate.

"Sexual harassment." Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for

sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual

nature.

"Subject." A person against whom a complaint has been filed

with the Committee.

RULE 2 E

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Ethical Conduct

(1) No campaign activity may be conducted by a House

employee on House work time. No campaign activity may be

conducted in a House office or with House resources or House

funds. The following shall apply:

(a) House employees are permitted to engage in campaign

activities on their own time.

(b) The solicitation or receipt of campaign

contributions in a House office, on House work time or with

House resources is prohibited. If an unsolicited contribution

is sent to a House office through the mail or in an

unidentifiable form, the employee who receives it shall turn

it over to the applicable campaign and, within two business

days, notify the donor, if known, that campaign contributions

should not be sent or delivered to a House office.

for time spent engaging in campaign activities on their own

time.

(d) A House employee, with the permission of their

employer, may go on leave without pay or benefits to engage

in campaign activities.

(e) A House employee who announces their candidacy for a

House seat or files nomination petitions or papers or for

whom a nomination certificate is filed to run for a House

seat shall be put on leave without pay or benefits during the

duration of their candidacy unless the employee voluntarily

leaves House employment.

(f) De minimis campaign activities may be unavoidable

for a Member or House employee in the course of their

official duties and shall not be considered a violation of

20230HR0001PN0002 - 96 -

these ethical conduct rules. This includes the following

activities:

(i) A Member or House employee may, in responding to

inquiries from the public, need to address incidental

questions that relate to a Member's or another person's

campaign or a related legislative record.

(ii) A Member or House employee may provide

scheduling assistance and information to campaign staff

to ensure that no conflict occurs among the Member's

campaign schedule, official schedule and personal

schedule.

(iii) A Member or House employee may engage in

political conversation in the natural course of personal

communication.

(g) A Member's official State website or State social

media website shall not contain a link to their campaign

website or campaign social media website.

(h) No House employee may be required to make a campaign

contribution as a condition of employment or continued

employment.

(i) No House employee may be required to perform any

campaign activity, on House work time or the employee's own

time, as a condition of employment or continued employment.

(j) No House employee who agrees or offers to

participate in a campaign activity on the employee's own

time, or makes a campaign contribution, shall receive

additional House compensation or employee benefit in the form

of a salary adjustment, bonus, compensatory time off,

continued employment or any other similar benefit in return.

(k) A House employee who refuses to participate in a

20230HR0001PN0002 - 97 -

campaign activity or to make a campaign contribution shall

not be subject to retaliation for that refusal.

(l) Official House mailing lists shall be used solely

for legislative purposes and shall not be provided to a

candidate, political party, political committee, campaign,

campaign committee political organization or political body

to be used for any campaign activity.

(m) House computers shall not be used to create or

update any mailing list that identifies the listed

individuals as campaign volunteers or campaign contributors

to a candidate, political party, political committee,

campaign or campaign committee, political organization or

political body.

(n) No list may be developed by a Member or a House

employee for the purpose of monitoring or tracking campaign

activity or campaign contributions of a House employee.

(o) A Member shall not use campaign funds for any event

that occurs inside any House office except to pay expenses

related to receptions in honor of a Member's swearing-in to

or retirement from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

(2) No mass communication shall be made at the direction or

on behalf of any Member which is delivered to a postal facility

or otherwise distributed during a restricted period. Nothing in

this subsection shall apply to any mass communication:

(a) in response to inquiries or affirmative requests

from persons to whom the matter is communicated,

(b) sent to colleagues in the General Assembly or other

government officials, or

communications media.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 98 -

(3) No House employee may be required to perform any task

unrelated to the House employee's official duties, on House work

time or the employee's own time, as a condition of employment or

continued employment.

(4) No House employee who agrees or offers to perform a task

unrelated to the House employee's official duties, on the

employee's own time, shall receive any additional House

compensation or employee benefit in the form of a salary

adjustment, bonus, compensatory time off, continued employment

or any other similar benefit in return.

(5) A House employee who refuses to perform a task unrelated

to the House employee's official duties while on House work time

shall not be sanctioned for that refusal.

(6) No Member or House employee may accept a cash gift

unless from a spouse, parent, parent by marriage, sibling,

child, grandchild, other family member or friend when the

circumstances make it clear that the motivation for the gift was

a personal or family relationship. For the purposes of this

paragraph, a "friend" shall not include a registered lobbyist or

an employee of a registered lobbyist. Nothing under this

subsection shall prevent a Member or House employee from

accepting a campaign contribution otherwise authorized by law.

(7) A Member shall not create, maintain or cause to be

created or maintained a legislative nonprofit organization.

(8) The following apply:

(a) No Member or officer of the House shall retaliate

against a House employee or another Member or officer of the

House in response to any of the following actions taken in

good faith:

(i) Filing:

20230HR0001PN0002 - 99 -

(A) a complaint of unethical conduct under the

Legislative Code of Ethics or Rules of the House;

(B) a complaint of unethical or illegal conduct

with the State Ethics Commission; or

conduct with a law enforcement agency.

(ii) Participating in an investigation in connection

with or a proceeding resulting from the filing of a

complaint under subparagraph (i).

(b) Nothing under paragraph (a) shall be construed to

prevent action against a Member or officer of the House who

is subject to a complaint of unethical or illegal conduct.

RULE 2.1 E

Professional Conduct

The House of Representatives is committed to creating and

maintaining a work environment free from discrimination and

harassment.

(1) No Member or officer of the House shall engage in

discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment, of:

(a) another Member or officer of the House or House

employee; or

(b) any individual:

(i) while performing services or duties of the

House;

(ii) in or on House designated offices, property or

facilities; or

(iii) at a House-sponsored meeting or event.

(2) No Member, officer of the House or House employee shall

retaliate against an individual in response to any of the

following actions taken in good faith:

20230HR0001PN0002 - 100 -

(a) Filing:

(i) a complaint of discrimination or harassment under

Rules of the House or the policies and procedures of an

employer;

(ii) a charge of discrimination or harassment with a

government agency or commission charged with enforcing

laws relating to discrimination or harassment;

(iii) a civil action or arbitration relating to

discrimination or harassment in a court of competent

jurisdiction; or

(iv) a criminal complaint relating to harassment with

a law enforcement agency.

(b) Participating in an investigation in connection with

or proceedings resulting from the filing of a complaint or

proceeding under paragraph (a).

(3) Nothing under subsection (2) shall be construed to

prevent action against a Member or officer of the House who is

the subject of a complaint or proceeding related to

discrimination or harassment.

RULE 3 E

COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

The Committee shall consist of eight Members, four of whom

shall be members of the majority party appointed by the Speaker,

and four of whom shall be members of the minority party

appointed by the Minority Leader. From the Members appointed to

the Committee, the Speaker shall appoint a chair, vice-chair and

secretary for the Committee. The chair shall be a member of the

majority party, and the vice chair shall be a member of the

minority party.

The members of the Committee shall first meet upon the call

20230HR0001PN0002 - 101 -

of the chair and perfect its organization. A majority of the

Committee shall constitute a quorum for it to proceed to

business. Unless otherwise provided in this rule, a majority of

the Committee shall be required to take any action authorized by

this rule. The Committee shall have the power to promulgate

rules not inconsistent with this rule or Rules of the House that

may be necessary for the orderly conduct of its business.

The chair of the Committee shall notify all members of the

Committee at least 24 hours in advance of the date, time and

place of meetings and, insofar as possible, the subjects on the

agenda. Meetings may be called from time to time by the chair of

the Committee as the chair deems necessary. A member of the

Committee may request that the chair call a meeting for a

specific purpose. If the chair refuses to call a meeting upon

such request, a majority of the Committee may vote to call a

meeting by giving two days' written notice to the Speaker of the

House setting forth the time and place for such meeting. Such

notice shall be read in the House and posted in the House

Chamber by the Chief Clerk or a designee. Thereafter, the

meeting shall be held at the time and place specified in such

notice.

The Committee shall not continue to exist after sine die

adjournment of the General Assembly. Proceedings on matters

before the Committee that have not been concluded or disposed of

by sine die adjournment of the General Assembly shall cease on

such date and all documents, reports, communications,

transcripts and other materials compiled by the Committee for

such matters, as well as any communications or other materials

received by the Committee after sine die adjournment of the

General Assembly, shall be collected, organized and submitted to

20230HR0001PN0002 - 102 -

the Chief Clerk under seal for transition to the reconstituted

Committee consisting of Members appointed from the incoming

General Assembly. These materials shall be held in a secure

manner and nothing in this rule shall authorize the Chief Clerk

or any other person to view such materials. Within 30 days

following the reconstitution of the Committee in the next

succeeding legislative term, the Committee shall review such

materials and determine whether or not to proceed with one or

more of the matters under review by the former Committee or

received after sine die adjournment. Any time period required

for any actions of the Committee or others under this rule shall

be tolled until the reconstituted Committee has made a

determination whether or not to proceed. If the Committee

determines to proceed with a matter, the Committee may continue

from the stage in the consideration of the matter where the

former Committee ended if a majority of the Committee determines

that such continuation is appropriate without reconsideration of

the information provided by the former Committee.

The Committee shall compile, update and distribute a Members'

Handbook on Ethics for Members and House Employees on matters

regarding the ethical conduct of their legislative duties. Each

Member shall complete two hours of ethics education and training

and one hour of discrimination and harassment in the workplace

education and training each legislative term. A Member shall be

excused from one hour of ethics training for any full year the

Member was absent due to illness, injury, military service or

any other permissible excuse under General Operating Rule 64(a).

The Committee shall be responsible for planning and

administering the education and training programs.

The Committee shall issue to a Member upon the Member's

20230HR0001PN0002 - 103 -

request an advisory opinion regarding the Member's duties under

Rule 2 E relating to legislative nonprofit organizations. The

opinion shall be issued within 14 days following the request. No

Member who acts in good faith on an opinion issued under this

paragraph shall be subject to any sanctions for so acting if the

material facts are as stated in the request. Opinions issued

under this paragraph shall be public records and may from time

to time be published. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Member

requesting the opinion may request that an opinion undergo

deletions and changes necessary to protect the identity of the

persons involved, and the Committee shall make such deletions

and changes.

The Committee may issue other advisory opinions with regard

to questions pertaining to other legislative ethics or decorum

at the request of a Member or House employee. An opinion issued

under this paragraph shall be confidential and shall apply

exclusively to the requestor. No requestor who acts in good

faith on an opinion issued under this paragraph shall be subject

to any sanctions for acting in accordance with the opinion if

the material facts are as stated in the request.

The Committee shall receive complaints against Members and

House employees alleging unethical conduct under the Legislative

Code of Ethics or the Rules of the House and complaints against

Members and officers of the House for violations of Rule 2.1 E.

A complaint must be in writing and be signed and dated by the

person filing the complaint under penalty of law under 18

Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating to unsworn falsification to

authorities). The complaint must set forth in detail the actions

constituting the alleged unethical conduct or violation. No

person shall disclose or acknowledge to any other person any

20230HR0001PN0002 - 104 -

information relating to the filing of a complaint or the

proposed filing of a complaint, except as otherwise authorized

under this rule or Rule 2.1 E, for the purpose of seeking legal

advice, as otherwise required by law or to carry out a function

of the Committee.

The Committee shall not have jurisdiction over, shall not

accept for review or action and shall return to the complainant

with a notice explaining the Committee's lack of jurisdiction

any of the following:

(1) a complaint filed later than five years following

the occurrence of the alleged unethical conduct or violation;

(2) a complaint filed against a former Member or former

House employee unless required by Section 7(c) of the

Legislative Code of Ethics; or

(3) a complaint filed against a Member during a

restricted period.

A five-year limitations period that expires during a

restricted period shall be tolled until the day following the

election occurring at the expiration of the restricted period.

Within 30 days following receipt of a complaint over which

the Committee has jurisdiction under this rule, the Committee

shall do one of the following:

(1) dismiss the complaint if it:

(a) alleges facts that do not constitute unethical

conduct or a violation of Rule 2.1 E;

(b) is objectively baseless;

(d) is a frivolous complaint; or

(2) initiate a preliminary investigation of the alleged

unethical conduct or violation.

20230HR0001PN0002 - 105 -

If the Committee dismisses the complaint, the Committee shall

provide notice to the complainant explaining the basis for

dismissal under paragraph (1).

If the Committee initiates a preliminary investigation, it

shall, promptly upon voting to proceed, send the subject a

letter setting forth each allegation in the complaint. Within 15

days after receipt of the letter, the subject may file a written

response with the Committee. Failure of the subject to file a

response shall not be deemed to be an admission, or create an

inference or presumption, that the allegations in the complaint

are true, and such failure shall not prohibit the Committee from

either proceeding with the preliminary or a formal investigation

or dismissing the complaint. The Committee may engage

independent counsel to assist in a preliminary investigation.

The subject may be represented by counsel of the subject's

choosing at any point during an investigation under this rule.

If the Committee initiates a preliminary investigation of a

complaint of a violation under Rule 2.1 E, it shall also send to

the appropriate employer a copy of the letter sent to the

subject setting forth each allegation in the complaint. Upon the

request of the complainant, the employer shall make adjustments

to the complainant's work hours, assignment or duties or

location that may be appropriate under the circumstances of the

allegations in the complaint. The adjustments may include:

(1) removing the complainant or the subject from the

physical work location of the complainant;

(2) allowing the complainant to be placed on

administrative leave with continued pay and benefits, if

applicable; or

(3) any other reasonable accommodation agreed to by the

20230HR0001PN0002 - 106 -

employer and the complainant.

The employer shall keep the letter and the fact of the

initiation of a preliminary investigation confidential but may

disclose necessary information to Members, officers of the House

or House employees as needed in order to implement the foregoing

adjustments. No House employee shall retaliate or take adverse

actions against the complainant in response to the filing of a

complaint of a violation of Rule 2.1 E with the Committee.

A Member of the Committee who is the complainant, the subject

or a witness to the unethical conduct or violation alleged in a

complaint shall not participate in any Committee consideration

of the complaint. The Member shall be temporarily replaced on

the Committee in a like manner as the Member's original

appointment.

Within 30 days following the initiation of a preliminary

investigation, the Committee shall vote to dismiss the complaint

for lack of probable cause to support the alleged unethical

conduct or violation or to proceed with a formal investigation

because it finds that probable cause exists. If a majority of

the Committee is unable to agree on either course of action, the

Committee shall dismiss the complaint. The Committee shall

promptly notify the complainant and the subject in writing of

the result.

If the Committee votes to proceed with a formal

investigation, the Committee shall engage independent counsel

unless the Committee determines that the alleged unethical

conduct or violation raised in the complaint does not warrant

the expense of engaging independent counsel. If the Committee

does not engage independent counsel, the Committee shall be

represented in the investigation and any hearing conducted under

20230HR0001PN0002 - 107 -

this rule by Committee staff attorneys, including at least one

from each party.

The Committee, including Committee staff attorneys, and any

independent counsel engaged by the Committee shall have the

power to conduct investigations and hearings under the

guidelines set out in this rule. Where a provision of this rule

conflicts with another Rule of the House, the provision of this

rule shall govern. This rule shall be construed to empower the

Committee and its independent counsel to do all of the

following:

(1) act as a neutral fact-finder;

(2) fully investigate and deter unethical conduct or

violation of Rule 2.1 E;

(3) protect due process and other constitutional rights

of a subject; and

(4) protect the public trust.

The Chief Clerk shall pay the fees and expenses of

independent counsel engaged by the Committee under this rule.

The Committee may issue subpoenas for documents or testimony

as part of a preliminary investigation, a formal investigation

or in connection with a hearing before the Committee.

Notwithstanding the provision of any other Rule of the House,

subpoenas issued under this rule shall be in the name of the

Committee, shall be signed by the chair of the Committee and

shall be attested by another Member of the Committee who voted

in favor of authorizing the subpoena.

A subpoena issued by the Committee may be served upon any

person and shall have the force and effect of a subpoena issued

out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Subpoenas shall be

served by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House or another person

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designated by the Committee when directed to do so by the

Committee. Each subpoena shall be addressed to the witness and

shall state that such proceeding is before a Committee of the

House for which the witness is required to attend and testify at

a specified time and place; or to produce books, papers,

records, accounts, reports, documents and data and information

produced and stored by any electronic data processing system; or

both, as the Committee may also require. Mileage and witness

fees shall be paid by the House to such witness in an amount

prescribed by law. Unless addressed to and served on the

subject, a copy of a subpoena issued by the Committee shall be

provided to the subject and the subject's counsel, if

applicable. A person who willfully neglects or refuses to comply

with a subpoena issued by the Committee shall be subject to the

penalties provided by the laws of this Commonwealth with respect

to such willful neglect or refusal. Notwithstanding the

foregoing, a recipient of a subpoena issued by the Committee may

object to the subpoena by serving notice of such objection on

the signatory to the subpoena and the Committee. The Committee

may quash or modify the subpoena if it finds the subpoena to be

overly broad or without proper purpose. Each Member of the

Committee shall have the power to administer oaths and

affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Committee.

All subpoenaed books, papers, records, accounts, reports,

documents, data and information shall be returned to the person

from whom such material was subpoenaed when the Committee has

completed its examination of such material, but in no event

later than the date of final disposition of the matter.

Following the completion of a formal investigation, the

Committee shall conduct a hearing if:

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(1) independent counsel engaged by the Committee

recommends that a hearing be conducted and the Committee

votes to adopt the recommendation; or

(2) independent counsel was not engaged by the Committee

but the Committee finds that the testimony and documents

reviewed by the Committee during the formal investigation

indicates more likely than not that the unethical conduct or

violation alleged in the complaint occurred.

If a hearing is to be conducted, the Committee shall provide

the subject and complainant and their counsel, if applicable,

with written notice consistent with constitutional principles of

due process. The Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence shall apply

during the hearing, unless the Committee determines otherwise.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not infringe on

the right of the subject to present evidence, cross-examine

witnesses, face accusers and be represented by counsel at a

hearing conducted under this rule.

Witnesses called to appear at a hearing under this rule,

including a subject, may be accompanied by their own counsel for

the purpose of advising them concerning their constitutional

rights. Counsel may interpose legal objection to any and all

questions which in the opinion of counsel may violate the

constitutional rights of counsel's clients.

The proceedings of a hearing conducted under this rule shall

be either stenographically or electronically recorded. The

Committee shall determine which parts of such recorded

proceedings, if any, shall be transcribed.

The burden shall be on independent counsel, if one has been

engaged by the Committee, or the Committee staff attorneys, if

independent counsel has not been engaged, to prove that the

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unethical conduct or violation alleged in the complaint

occurred. Within 30 days following the conclusion of the formal

investigation and hearing, the Committee shall make a

determination as to whether the unethical conduct or violation

occurred and shall submit its finding to the House. If the

Committee determines that the unethical conduct or violation

occurred, the Committee may make one or more of the following

recommendations to the House:

(1) a reprimand of the subject;

(2) a censure of the subject;

(3) expulsion of the subject from the House; or

(4) the denial or limitation of any right, power or

privilege of the Member granted by Rules of the House and not

contrary to the Pennsylvania Constitution.

The Committee shall provide a written report of its findings

and recommendations, if any, to the subject and complainant and

shall simultaneously submit a copy of the same to the House.

Only findings and recommendations agreed to by a majority of the

Committee shall be included in the report. A minority statement

may be included in the report by agreement of the chair and

vice-chair. The House shall not take any action on the findings

and recommendations submitted by the Committee and such findings

and recommendations shall not be made public until a period of

at least seven days has passed following the Committee's

provision of the report to the subject and complainant.

The Committee may extend any of the time periods, other than

those relating to the jurisdiction of the Committee, required

for any actions of the Committee or others under this rule.

Investigations, hearings and meetings of the Committee

relating to an investigation and the existence of such

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investigations, hearings, and meetings shall not be open to the

public and shall be confidential. All other meetings of the

Committee shall be open to the public.

Notwithstanding the above, except for a hearing on complaints

of a violation of Rule 2.1 E, the Committee shall conduct a

hearing in public upon the written request of the subject unless

the Committee determines that evidence or testimony to be

received at the hearing may substantially defame, degrade, or

incriminate a person other than the subject. In that event, the

Committee shall receive such evidence or testimony in executive

session. No evidence or testimony taken in executive session may

be released to any person or authority or used in public

sessions without the consent of the Committee.

The Committee may enter into a consent agreement with the

subject at any point in the proceedings. The Committee may make

an appropriate referral of a complaint to a law enforcement

agency at any point in the proceedings.

The complaint, response and records of the Committee shall be

confidential. Notwithstanding the foregoing:

(1) consent agreements and final findings by the

Committee of unethical conduct and the Committee's

recommendations with respect to such findings shall not be

confidential;

(1.1) consent agreements and final findings by the

Committee of a violation of Rule 2.1 E shall not be

confidential, except that at the request of a complainant,

the name of the complainant and, unless the House considers a

resolution to discipline the subject, any facts that may lead

to the identification of the complainant, including the name

of the subject, shall be redacted before an agreement or

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final findings of the Committee are made public;

(2) the subject may, in their discretion, make public a

finding by the Committee that no unethical conduct or

violation of Rule 2.1 E had occurred or that there was

insufficient evidence presented to the Committee that

unethical conduct or a violation of Rule 2.1 E had occurred,

except that the subject shall not make public the name of a

complainant who filed a complaint alleging a violation of

Rule 2.1 E; and

(3) if the Committee makes a referral of a complaint to

a law enforcement agency, the Committee may provide the

agency with copies of documents and information in its

possession.

Any Member of the Committee breaching the confidentiality

provisions set forth in this rule as determined by a majority of

the Members of the Committee shall be removed immediately from

the Committee and replaced by another Member in a like manner as

the Member's original appointment.

A nondisclosure agreement shall not be imposed on an

individual as a condition of the initiation of the procedures

available under this rule for the filing and hearing of a

complaint of a violation of Rule 2.1 E. Nothing in this

paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the complainant and the

subject from voluntarily entering into a settlement agreement

with a nondisclosure provision agreed to by each party as part

of the settlement of a complaint or proceeding. Notwithstanding

the foregoing, a Member who is the subject of a complaint of a

violation of Rule 2.1 E filed with the Committee shall not

benefit from a nondisclosure agreement or provision if a

completed formal investigation of the Committee finds that the

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complaint is credible or a final decision by the Committee finds

a violation.

The Committee may meet with a committee of the Senate to hold

investigations or hearings involving complaints against

employees of the two chambers jointly or officers or employees

of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Joint State Government

Commission, the Local Government Commission, the Legislative

Budget and Finance Committee, the Legislative Data Processing

Committee or other legislative service agencies. No action may

be taken at a joint meeting unless it is approved by the

Committee. A Member of the Committee who is the complainant, the

subject or a witness to the unethical conduct or violation of

Rule 2.1 E alleged in a complaint under this paragraph shall not

participate in any joint proceedings under this paragraph. The

Member shall be temporarily replaced on the Committee in a like

manner as the Member's original appointment.

STANDARD COMMITTEE OPERATING RULES

RULE 1 C

Majority Chair to Call Committee Meetings and Hearings

(a) The majority chair is authorized to call and set dates

and times for meetings and hearings on all matters within the

jurisdiction of the committee.

(b) Majority subcommittee chairs, with prior approval of the

majority chair of the full committee, may call and set dates and

times for subcommittee meetings and hearings on all matters

referred to the subcommittee by the majority chair.

RULE 2 C

Official Committee Leave

If a committee member is unable to attend a committee meeting

due to illness, a scheduling conflict or other business, the

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member or the member's office shall notify the offices of the

majority chair and the minority chair, prior to the end of the

day on which the meeting is held, of the member's intent to

submit an official "Leave Request" form. All completed forms

shall be promptly delivered to the office of the majority chair.

RULE 3 C

Committee Amendments

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), all amendments

must be prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau. The maker

of the amendment or the member's staff designee shall submit a

copy of each amendment electronically, or a hard copy, to the

offices of the majority chair and the minority chair by 1:00

P.M. of the business day prior to the start of the properly

advertised meeting at which the bill or resolution will be

considered. The majority chair shall disseminate a copy of each

amendment electronically, or a hard copy, to the committee

members no later than 4:00 P.M. on the same day.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), amendments to a bill or

resolution may be considered under any of the following

circumstances:

(1) The amendment is in typewritten form and less than

three days' notice has been provided to committee members

that the bill will be on the committee agenda. For the

purposes of this provision, Saturdays, Sundays and days in

which the House of Representatives is closed shall not be

counted as part of the three days.

(2) The amendment is in typewritten form and is

technical in nature; is offered to make the document

internally consistent, to clear up ambiguity, correct grammar

or correct a spelling error; and is agreed to by the majority

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chair.

(3) The amendment is in typewritten form and is agreed

to by both the majority chair and the minority chair.

committee.

(d) Any amendment offered which is inconsistent with the

provisions of this Rule may be ruled "out of order" by the

majority chair.

RULE 4 C

Suspension of the Committee Rules

Any committee rule or part of a committee rule may be

suspended by a two-thirds vote of the committee members

appointed to the committee.

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