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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 7, 2022 02:35 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Kate A. Klunk and Rep. Todd Stephens |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Proposed Change to House Ethical Conduct Rules on Sexual Harrassment |
| Over the course of the last few months, there have been discussions about expanding the scope of current House Ethical Conduct Rules to specifically encompass complaints of sexual harassment against a Member or Officer of the House in circumstances related to their office or employment. By way of background, our current House Ethical Conduct Rules concerning incidents of sexual harassment were adopted on January 1, 2019. This historic step expanded the Rules to cover incidents of sexual harassment by Members or Officers of the House against House employees. The current House Rules include a process for complaints and investigations including referrals to law enforcement agencies where warranted. The current process outlines that if the House Ethics Committee investigates and determines that sexual harassment against a House employee or retaliation against a House employee has occurred, the Committee can recommend a reprimand, censure, expulsion and/or the denial or limitation of other privileges granted to a Member. The ultimate discipline would be decided by the full House of Representatives, as provided in Article II, Section 11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. My legislation would expand these current House Ethical Conduct Rules and procedures to also apply to complaints of sexual harassment made against a Member or Officer of the House in circumstances related to their office or employment. Please consider co-sponsoring this important change to our House Rules. I plan to introduce this proposed change in the near future. Thank you. |
Introduced as HR192