PRINTER'S NO. 192
No. 17 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY RICHARDSON, WHITE, JOHNSON, DUMAS, BARBER,
OLIVER AND HARPER, FEBRUARY 7, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 8, 1977
In the House of Representatives, February 7, 1977
1 WHEREAS, There has recently been considerable notoriety over
2 the firing of the executive director of the Pennsylvania Legal
3 Services Center and other staff members; and
4 WHEREAS, There have been several questions raised as to
5 possible fraud, charges of alleged racism, conflicts of
6 interest, the legality of the Pennsylvania Legal Services
7 Corporation, Community Legal Services and Pennsylvania Legal
8 Services Center and the funding of the programs; therefore be it
9 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the President pro
10 tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate and the Speaker of the House
11 of Representatives shall each appoint five members, three from
12 the Majority Party and two from the Minority Party, who shall
13 constitute a joint bipartisan committee to investigate the
14 programs, charges of alleged racism, conflicts of interest,
15 activities, funding and legality of the Pennsylvania Legal
16 Services Corporation, Community Legal Services and Pennsylvania
17 Legal Services Center; and be it further
1 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
2 testimony, and make its investigations at such places as it
3 deems necessary. It may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal
4 of its chairman commanding any person to appear before it and to
5 answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into
6 by the committee and to produce such books, papers, records and
7 documents as the committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may
8 be served upon any person and shall have the force and effect of
9 subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any
10 person who willfully neglects or refuses to testify before the
11 committee or to produce any books, papers, records or documents,
12 shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the
13 Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall
14 have power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses
15 appearing before the committee; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That the committee report back as soon as its
17 investigation is completed with its findings and
18 recommendations.
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