PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1122, 1240, 1293 PRINTER'S NO. 1357
No. 53 Session of 1979
INTRODUCED BY MR. RYAN, APRIL 24, 1979
AS AMENDED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAY 7, 1979
In the House of Representatives, April 24, 1979
1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives hereby adopts the
2 following Rules as the Rules of the House for the Session
3 beginning January 2, 1979, superseding all other rules
4 heretofore adopted:
5 RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
6 Definitions
7 A. "Day" shall mean any Calendar day.
8 B. "Legislative Day" shall mean any day that the
9 House shall be in session.
10 C. "Hall of the House" shall be the floor space
11 within its four walls and does not include the
12 adjoining conference rooms, the lobbies or the
13 upper gallery of the House.
14 D. "Floor of the House" shall be that area within the
15 Hall of the House between the Speaker's rostrum
16 and the brass rail behind the Members' seats.
17 E. "Press Gallery" shall be within that area known
18 as the Hall of the House as designated by
1 the Speaker.
2 F. "Roll Call Vote" shall be a vote taken and
3 displayed by and on the electric roll call
4 board or in the event of a malfunction of the electric
5 roll call board, by such method as shall be determined by
6 the Speaker.
7 G. "Formal Action" shall mean any vote or motion
8 of a member of a standing committee, standing
9 sub-committee, select committee or rules
10 committee of the House of Representatives to
11 report or not report, amend, consider or table
12 a bill or resolution and the discussion and
13 debate thereof.
14 RULE 1
15 Speaker Presiding
16 The Speaker shall preside over the sessions of the House. He
17 may name a member to preside, but the substitution shall not
18 extend beyond an adjournment. He may appoint a member as Speaker
19 Pro Tempore to act in his absence for a period not exceeding ten
20 consecutive legislative days.
21 In case of failure to make an appointment, the House shall
22 elect a Speaker Pro Tempore to act during the absence of the
23 Speaker.
24 The Speaker Pro Tempore shall perform all the duties of the
25 Chair during the absence of the Speaker.
26 RULE 2
27 Taking the Chair
28 The Speaker shall take the Chair and call the members to
29 order on every legislative day at the hour to which the House
30 adjourned at the last sitting. On the appearance of a quorum,
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1 the Speaker shall proceed to the regular order of business as
2 prescribed by the rules of the House.
3 RULE 3
4 Order and Decorum
5 The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum. In case of any
6 disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries or lobbies,
7 he shall have the power to order the same to be cleared.
8 The Speaker shall have the right to summon State Police to
9 assist in the preservation of order and decorum.
10 The Sergeant-at-Arms under the direction of the Speaker
11 shall, while the House is in session, maintain order on the
12 floor and its adjoining rooms. He shall enforce the rule with
13 respect to the conduct of visitors.
14 RULE 4
15 Questions of Order
16 The Speaker shall decide all questions of order subject to an
17 appeal by two members. The Speaker may, in the first instance,
18 submit the question to the House. Questions involving the
19 constitutionality of any matters shall be decided by the House.
20 On questions of order there shall be no debate except on an
21 appeal from the decision of the Speaker or on reference of a
22 question by him to the House. In either case, no member shall
23 speak more than once except by leave of the House.
24 Unless germane to the appeal, a second point of order is not
25 in order while an appeal is pending; but, when the appeal is
26 disposed of, a second point of order is in order and is subject
27 to appeal.
28 RULE 5
29 Conference and Select Committee Appointments
30 All Committees of Conference shall be appointed by the
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1 Speaker and shall be composed of three members, two of whom
2 shall be selected from the majority party and one from the
3 minority party.
4 The Speaker shall appoint the members of Select Committees,
5 unless otherwise ordered by the House.
6 RULE 6
7 Signature of the Speaker
8 The Speaker shall, in the presence of the House, sign all
9 bills and joint resolutions passed by the General Assembly after
10 their titles have been publicly read immediately before signing,
11 and the fact of signing shall be entered on the Journal.
12 Resolutions, addresses, orders, writs, warrants and subpoenas
13 issued by order of the House, shall be signed by the Speaker and
14 attested by the Chief Clerk.
15 RULE 7
16 Oath to Employees
17 The Chief Clerk shall administer an oath or affirmation to
18 the employees of the House that they will severally support,
19 obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the
20 Constitution of Pennsylvania, and that they will discharge the
21 duties of their offices with fidelity.
22 Each employee of the House, after taking the oath of office,
23 shall sign his name in the Oath Book in the presence of the
24 Chief Clerk.
25 RULE 8
26 Supervision of Hall of the House
27 and Committee Rooms
28 Subject to the direction of the Speaker, the Chief Clerk
29 shall have supervision and control over the Hall of the House,
30 the caucus and committee rooms and all other rooms assigned to
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1 the House.
2 During the sessions of the Legislature the Hall of the House
3 shall not be used for public or private business other than
4 legislative matters except by consent of the House. During
5 periods of recess of the House such use may be authorized by the
6 Speaker without the consent of the House.
7 RULE 9
8 Decorum
9 While the Speaker is putting a question or addressing the
10 House and during debate or voting, no member shall disturb
11 another by talking or walking up and down or crossing the floor
12 of the House.
13 RULE 9 (a)
14 SMOKING
15 No smoking of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other tobacco
16 products shall be allowed in the Hall of the House.
17 RULE 10
18 Debate
19 When a member desires to address the House, he shall rise and
20 respectfully address himself to "Mr. Speaker." Upon being
21 recognized, he may speak, confining himself to the question
22 under consideration and avoiding personal reflections.
23 When two or more members rise at the same time and ask for
24 recognition, the Speaker shall designate the member who is
25 entitled to the floor.
26 No member, except the Majority and Minority Leaders, may
27 speak more than twice on any question, without the consent of
28 the House.
29 With the unanimous consent of the House a member may make a
30 statement not exceeding ten minutes in length concerning a
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1 subject or matter not pending before the House for
2 consideration, providing the Majority and Minority Leaders have
3 agreed on a time the member is to ask for recognition.
4 RULE 11
5 Interruption of a Member who Has the Floor
6 A member who has the floor may not be interrupted, except for
7 questions of order or by a motion for the previous question.
8 With his consent, a member may yield the floor for questions
9 related to the subject before the House.
10 RULE 12
11 Personal Privilege
12 Any member may by leave of the Speaker rise and explain a
13 matter personal to himself, but he shall not discuss a pending
14 question in his explanation. Questions of personal privilege
15 shall be limited to questions affecting the rights, reputation
16 and conducts of members of the House in their respective
17 capacity.
18 RULE 13
19 Transgression of House Rules
20 If any member in speaking or otherwise transgresses the Rules
21 of the House, the Speaker or any member through the Speaker
22 shall call him to order, in which case he shall immediately sit
23 down unless permitted by the House to explain.
24 The House upon appeal shall decide the case without debate.
25 If the decision is in favor of the member, he may proceed. If
26 the case requires it, he shall be liable to censure or other
27 punishment as the House deems proper.
28 RULE 14
29 Members' and Employees' Expenses
30 A member who attends a duly called meeting of a standing or
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1 special committee of which he is a member when the House is not
2 in session or who is summoned to the State Capitol or elsewhere
3 by the Speaker, or the Majority or Minority Leader of the House,
4 to perform legislative services when the House is not in session
5 shall be reimbursed per day for each day of service, plus
6 mileage to and from his residence, at such rates as are provided
7 herein. These expenses shall be paid by the Chief Clerk from
8 appropriation accounts under his exclusive control and
9 jurisdiction, upon a written request approved by the Speaker of
10 the House, or the Majority or the Minority Leader of the House.
11 An employee of the House summoned by the Speaker or the
12 Majority or Minority Leader of the House to perform legislative
13 services outside of Harrisburg shall be reimbursed for actual
14 expenses and mileage to and from his residence. Such expenses
15 may be paid by the Speaker, Majority or Minority Leader, if they
16 agree to do so, or shall be paid by the Chief Clerk from
17 appropriation accounts under his exclusive control and
18 jurisdiction, upon a written request approved by the Speaker of
19 the House, or the Majority or the Minority Leader of the House.
20 Members and employees traveling outside the Commonwealth of
21 Pennsylvania who receive any reimbursement for expenses or
22 travel which reimbursement is from public funds shall file with
23 the Chief Clerk a statement containing his name and the name,
24 place, date and the purpose of the function.
25 Money appropriated specifically to and allocated under a
26 specific symbol number for allowable expenses of members of the
27 House of Representatives shall be reimbursed to each member upon
28 submission of vouchers and any required documentation by each
29 member on forms prepared by the Chief Clerk of the House. No
30 reimbursement shall be made from this account where a member
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1 receives reimbursement for the same purpose from any other
2 appropriation account.
3 Such allowable expenses of members may be used for any
4 legislative purpose or function, including but not limited to
5 the following:
6 (1) Travel expense on legislative business.
7 (a) Mileage on session or nonsession days at a rate not
8 to exceed seventeen cents a mile as may be authorized by the
9 Committee on Rules for travel by private transportation on
10 legislative business; voucher only.
11 (b) Miscellaneous transportation on legislative business
12 (taxi, airport limousine parking, tolls), and expenses of a
13 similar nature; voucher only for any single expense not in
14 excess of ten dollars ($10).
15 (c) Travel on legislative business by common carrier
16 other than taxi and airport limousine; voucher and receipt
17 from common carrier.
18 (d) Car rental; voucher and receipt from rental agency
19 but reimbursement not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars
20 ($250) in any month. Any amount in excess of the said amount
21 shall be paid by the person renting the car. In no event
22 shall other than American manufactured cars be rented.
23 (e) Lodging, restaurant charges and other miscellaneous
24 and incidental expenses while away from home. Vouchers only
25 for per diem allowance of forty-four dollars ($44) per day or
26 for actual expenses not in excess of forty-four dollars ($44)
27 per day.
28 (2) Administrative, clerical and professional services for
29 legislative business, except for employment of spouses or any
30 relatives, by blood or marriage.
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1 (a) Administrative and clerical services; voucher and
2 receipt from person employed.
3 (b) Professional services; voucher and receipt and copy
4 of agreement or contract of employment.
5 (3) Rent for legislative office space; purchase of office
6 supplies; postage; telephone and answering services; printing
7 services and rental only of office equipment; voucher and
8 vendor's receipt, except for postage expense. No reimbursement
9 or expenditure shall be made out of any appropriation account
10 for any mass mailing including a bulk rate mailing made at the
11 direction or on behalf of any member which is mailed or
12 delivered to a postal facility within sixty (60) days
13 immediately preceding any primary or election at which said
14 member is a candidate for public office.
15 Mass mailing shall mean a newsletter or similar mailing of
16 more than fifty (50) pieces in which the content of the matter
17 is substantially identical. Nothing in this rule shall apply to
18 any mailing which is in direct response to inquiries or requests
19 from persons to whom matter is mailed, which is addressed to
20 colleagues in the General Assembly or other government officials
21 or which consists entirely of news releases to the
22 communications media.
23 (4) Official entertainment--restaurant and beverage charges;
24 voucher only for expenses. Receipts for entertainment expenses,
25 together with a statement of the reason for the expense, shall
26 be submitted with the request for reimbursement.
27 (5) Purchase of flags, plaques, publications, photographic
28 services, books, and other similar items in connection with
29 legislative activities; voucher and vendor's receipt.
30 (6) Communications and donations in extending
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1 congratulations or sympathy of illness or death; voucher only on
2 expenses not in excess of thirty-five dollars ($35).
3 No money appropriated for members' and employees' expenses
4 shall be used for contributions to political parties or their
5 affiliated organizations or to charitable organizations or for
6 charitable advertisements.
7 The Chief Clerk, the Secretary and the Minority Administrator
8 solely on their own behalf, shall be entitled to reimbursement
9 for food, lodging or travel in such amounts not in excess of
10 seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year as may be
11 authorized by the Committee on Rules; provided that such
12 expenditures are in furtherance of legislative business
13 regardless of where, in the Commonwealth, such business is
14 transacted.
15 All disbursements made, debts incurred or advancements paid
16 from any appropriation account made to the House or to a member
17 or non member officer under a General Appropriation Act or any
18 other appropriation act shall be recorded in a monthly report
19 and filed with the Chief Clerk by the person authorized to make
20 such disbursement, incur any debt or receive any advancement on
21 a form prescribed by the Chief Clerk.
22 The Chief Clerk shall prescribe the form of all such reports
23 and make such forms available to those persons required to file
24 such reports. Such report form shall include:
25 (1) As to personnel:
26 (a) The name, home address, social security number, job
27 title, brief description of duties and where they are performed,
28 department or member or members to whom assigned, the name of
29 immediate supervisor and minimum hours of employment per week of
30 each employee.
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1 (b) The appropriation account from which such employee is
2 compensated, the amount of compensation and whether such person
3 is on salary, per diem or contract.
4 (2) As to all other expenditures:
5 (a) To whom it was paid, the amount thereof, and the nature
6 of the goods, services or other purpose for which the
7 expenditure was made.
8 (b) The appropriation account from which the expenditure was
9 made and the name or names of the person or persons requesting
10 and/or authorizing the same.
11 A copy of each such report shall also be filed with the
12 special committee on internal affairs and House administration
13 for use in the performance of its duties under Rule 47(a).
14 The reporting requirements as to personnel may be fulfilled
15 by the maintenance in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the House
16 of an alphabetized file containing the current information for
17 each employee as set forth above. In such event, however, the
18 Chief Clerk shall supply annually, on or before February 1, a
19 list of all employees appearing in said file together with the
20 required information as to each as of January 1 of such year to
21 the Special Committee on Internal Affairs and House
22 Administration. The committee shall also be supplied with copies
23 of all payroll changes as they occur.
24 All monthly reports filed on disbursements made or debts
25 incurred by any officer or member or employee from
26 appropriations made to the House under any General Appropriation
27 Act shall be public information and shall be available for
28 public inspection during regular business hours in the office of
29 the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk shall prescribe reasonable
30 rules and regulations for inspection of such reports but in no
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1 case shall inspection be denied to any person for a period
2 exceeding forty-eight hours (excluding Saturdays and Sundays)
3 from the time a written request has been submitted to the Chief
4 Clerk. Photocopies of such reports shall be made available upon
5 request to a member at no charge or to the public for a
6 duplication fee as may be fixed by the Chief Clerk. Such reports
7 shall be made available to a member or to the public on or
8 before the last day of the month next succeeding the month in
9 which the report was filed.
10 All requests for reimbursement out of any appropriation shall
11 be accompanied by a voucher, or other documents where required,
12 evidencing payment or approval. The voucher form shall be
13 approved and supplied by the Chief Clerk. Receipts or
14 documentation of every expenditure or disbursement which is in
15 excess of the maximum amount as set forth herein shall be
16 attached to the voucher. Where a request for payment is made in
17 advance of an expense actually incurred, the Chief Clerk, before
18 making such advance payment shall require a description
19 satisfactory to the Chief Clerk of the item or service to be
20 purchased or the expense to be incurred, and a receipt or other
21 documentation shall be given to the Chief Clerk after the item
22 or service has been purchased or expense incurred as evidence
23 that such advancement was in fact expended for such purpose.
24 All reports, vouchers and receipts from which reports are
25 prepared and filed shall be retained by the Chief Clerk, officer
26 or member, as the case may be, for such period of time as may be
27 necessary to enable the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission
28 created pursuant to the act of June 30, 1970 (P.L.442, No.151),
29 to conduct, through certified public accountants appointed by
30 it, annual audits to assure that such disbursements made or
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1 debts incurred were in accordance with Legislative Audit
2 Advisory Commission guidelines and standards, or for a minimum
3 of three years whichever is longer. All annual audit reports
4 shall be available for public inspection. Photo copies of such
5 reports shall be available for a fee established by the Chief
6 Clerk not to exceed the cost of duplication.
7 All expenditures of funds appropriated to the House or to a
8 member or nonmember officer shall be subject to the expenditure
9 guidelines established by the Rules Committee until or unless
10 such guidelines are superseded by law.
11 RULE 15
12 Time of Meeting
13 The House shall convene on the first legislative day of the
14 week at 1:00 P.M. prevailing time, and adjourn not later than
15 11:00 P.M. prevailing time, unless otherwise ordered by a roll
16 call vote of the majority of those elected to the House.
17 On other days the House shall convene at the discretion of
18 the House and adjourn not later than 11:00 P.M. prevailing time
19 unless otherwise ordered by a roll call vote of the majority of
20 those elected to the House.
21 RULE 16
22 Quorum
23 A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum, but a
24 smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the
25 attendance of absent members. (Constitution, Article II, Section
26 10).
27 When less than a quorum vote on any question, the Speaker
28 shall forthwith order the doors of the House closed and the
29 names of the members present shall be recorded. If it is
30 ascertained a quorum is present, either by answering to their
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1 names or by their presence in the House, the Speaker shall again
2 order the yeas and nays. If any member present refuses to vote,
3 his refusal shall be deemed a contempt. Unless purged, the House
4 may order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove the member or members
5 without the bar of the House. All privileges of membership shall
6 be refused the member or members so offending until the contempt
7 is purged.
8 RULE 17
9 Order of Business
10 The daily order of business shall be:
11 1. Prayer by the Chaplain.
12 1(a). Pledge of Allegiance.
13 2. Correction and approval of the Journal.
14 3. Leaves of Absence.
15 4. Master Roll Call.
16 5. Reports of Committee.
17 6. First consideration bills.
18 7. Second consideration bills.
19 8. Final passage bills recalled from the Governor.
20 9. Final passage bills (bills on final passage postponed
21 calendar may be called up under this order of business).
22 10. Third consideration bills (bills on third consideration
23 postponed calendar may be called up under this order of
24 business).
25 11. Resolutions (House and concurrent).
26 12. Messages from the Senate and communications from the
27 Governor.
28 13. Reference to appropriate committees of bills,
29 resolutions, petitions, memorials, remonstrances and
30 other papers.
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1 14. Unfinished business on the Speaker's table.
2 15. Announcements.
3 16. Adjournment.
4 Any question may, by a majority vote of the House, be made a
5 special order of business. When the time arrives for its
6 consideration, the Speaker shall lay the special order of
7 business before the House.
8 RULE 18
9 Introduction and Printing of Bills
10 Bills shall be introduced in quadruplicate, signed and dated
11 by each member who is a sponsor of the bill, and filed with the
12 Chief Clerk. A sponsor may be added or withdrawn upon written
13 notice to the Speaker, Majority Leader, Minority Leader and the
14 prime sponsor. In the case of withdrawals, the names shall be
15 withdrawn if and when the bill is reprinted. Additional sponsors
16 may be added only by the prime sponsor by providing written
17 notice to the Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Leader. Such
18 notice shall include the signatures of those members desiring to
19 be additional sponsors.
20 Bills introduced when received at the Chief Clerk's desk
21 shall be numbered consecutively and delivered to the Speaker,
22 who shall refer each bill to an appropriate committee. The
23 Speaker shall report to the House the committees to which bills
24 have been referred, either on the day introduced or received or
25 on the next two legislative days the House is in session.
26 If the Speaker neglects or refuses to refer to committee any
27 bill or bills (whether House or Senate) as above after
28 introduction or presentation by the Senate for concurrence, any
29 member may move for the reference of the bill to an appropriate
30 committee. If the motion is carried, said bill or bills shall be
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1 immediately surrendered by the Speaker to the committee
2 designated in said motion.
3 The first copy of each bill introduced shall be for the
4 committee, the second copy shall be for the printer, the third
5 copy shall be for the news media and the fourth copy shall be
6 for the Legislative Reference Bureau.
7 Every bill, after introduction and reference to committee,
8 shall be printed.
9 Bills may not be withdrawn after reference to committee.
10 RULE 19
11 Bills Referred to Committees
12 No bill shall be considered unless referred to a committee,
13 printed for the use of the members and returned therefrom.
14 (Constitution, Article III, Section 2).
15 RULE 19 (a)
16 Fiscal Notes
17 (1) No bill, except a General Appropriation bill or any
18 amendments thereto, which may require an expenditure of
19 Commonwealth funds or funds of any political subdivision or
20 which may entail a loss of revenues overall, or to any
21 separately established fund shall be given second consideration
22 reading on the calendar until it has first been referred to the
23 Appropriations Committee for a fiscal note, provided however
24 that the Rules Committee may by an affirmative vote of three-
25 quarters of the entire membership to which such committee is
26 entitled:
27 (a) Waive the recommittal to the Appropriations Committee
28 and provide that the fiscal note be attached to the bill while
29 on the active calendar. The providing of such note shall be a
30 priority item for the Appropriations Committee; or
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1 (b) Waive the necessity of a fiscal note on any bill which
2 it deems to have a deminimus fiscal impact or which merely
3 authorizes, rather than mandates, an increase in expenditures or
4 an action that would result in a loss of revenue.
5 (2) Nothing herein shall preclude any member from moving, at
6 the proper time, the recommittal of any bill to the
7 Appropriations Committee for a fiscal note.
8 (3) The Appropriations Committee shall be limited in its
9 consideration of any such bill to the fiscal aspects of the bill
10 and shall not consider the substantive merits of the bill nor
11 refuse to report any such bill from committee for reasons other
12 than fiscal aspects. The fiscal note shall accompany the bill
13 and provide the following information in connection with the
14 Commonwealth and its political subdivisions:
15 (a) The designation of the fund out of which the
16 appropriation providing for expenditures under the bill shall be
17 made;
18 (b) The probable cost of the bill for the fiscal year of its
19 enactment;
20 (c) A projected cost estimate of the program for each of the
21 five succeeding fiscal years;
22 (d) The fiscal history of the program for which expenditures
23 are to be made;
24 (e) The probable loss of revenue from the bill for the
25 fiscal year of its enactment;
26 (f) A projected loss of revenue estimate from the bill for
27 each of the five succeeding fiscal years; and
28 (g) The line item, if any, of the General Appropriation Bill
29 out of which expenditures or losses of Commonwealth funds shall
30 occur as a result of the bill;
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1 (h) The recommendation, if any, of the Appropriations
2 Committee and the reasons therefor relative to the passage or
3 defeat of the bill;
4 (i) A reference to the source of the data from which the
5 foregoing fiscal information was obtained, and an explanation of
6 the basis upon which it is computed.
7 (4) No bill which may result in an increase in the
8 expenditure of Commonwealth funds shall be given second
9 consideration reading on the calendar until the Appropriations
10 Committee has certified that provision has been made to
11 appropriate funds equal to such increased expenditure. Whenever
12 the Appropriations Committee cannot so certify, the bill shall
13 be returned to the committee from which it was last reported for
14 further consideration and/or amendment.
15 (5) No amendment to a bill, concurrences in Senate
16 amendments, or adoption of a conference report which may result
17 in an increase in the expenditure of Commonwealth funds or those
18 of a political subdivision or which may entail a loss of
19 revenues in addition to that originally provided for in the bill
20 prior to the proposed changes nor any bill requiring a fiscal
21 note for which re-referral to the Appropriations Committee has
22 been waived by the Rules Committee shall be voted upon until the
23 day following the distribution of a fiscal note to the members
24 with respect to such changes or to such bill showing the fiscal
25 effect of the changes with respect to the bill, and containing
26 the information set forth by subsection (3) of this rule.
27 (6) In obtaining the information required by these rules,
28 the Appropriations Committee may utilize the services of the
29 Budget Bureau and any other State agency as may be necessary.
30 (7) Any bill proposing any change relative to the retirement
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1 system of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof,
2 funded in whole or in part out of the public funds of the
3 Commonwealth or any political subdivision, shall have attached
4 to it an actuarial note. Except for the provisions pertaining to
5 the content of fiscal notes as set forth in paragraphs (a)
6 through (i) of subsection (3), all the provisions pertaining to
7 and procedures required of bills containing fiscal notes, shall,
8 where applicable, also be required for bills containing
9 actuarial note. The actuarial note shall contain a brief
10 explanatory statement or note which shall include a reliable
11 estimate of the financial and actuarial effect of the proposed
12 change in any such retirement system.
13 RULE 20
14 Bills Confined to One Subject
15 No bill shall be passed containing more than one subject,
16 which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except a general
17 appropriation bill or a bill codifying or compiling the law or a
18 part thereof. (Constitution, Article III, Section 3).
19 RULE 21
20 Consideration of Bills
21 Every bill and every joint resolution shall be considered on
22 three different days. All amendments made thereto shall be
23 printed for the use of the members before the final vote is
24 taken thereon, and before the final vote is taken, upon written
25 request addressed to the presiding officer by at least twenty-
26 five per cent of the members elected to the House, any bill
27 shall be read at length. No bill shall become law and no joint
28 resolution adopted unless, on its final passage, the vote is
29 taken by yeas and nays, the names of the persons voting for and
30 against it are entered on the Journal, and a majority of the
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1 members elected to the House is recorded thereon as voting in
2 its favor. (Constitution, Article III, Section 4).
3 RULE 22
4 First Consideration Bills
5 Bills reported from committees shall be considered for the
6 first time when reported and shall then be automatically removed
7 from the calendar and laid on the table, except House bills
8 reported from committees after the first Monday in June until
9 the first Monday in September which shall then be automatically
10 recommitted to the Committee on Rules.
11 After the first Monday in September, any bill which was
12 automatically recommitted to the Committee on Rules pursuant to
13 this Rule 22 shall automatically be re-reported to the floor of
14 the House and laid on the table.
15 The Rules Committee shall not in any instance have the power
16 to amend a bill that has already gone through another committee.
17 Any bill which was automatically laid on the table pursuant
18 to this Rule 22 and has remained on the table for fifteen
19 legislative days shall automatically be removed from the table
20 and returned to the calendar for second consideration the next
21 legislative day.
22 Any bill which was automatically laid on the table pursuant
23 to this Rule 22 may be removed from the table by motion of the
24 Majority Leader, or his designee, acting on a report of the
25 Committee on Rules. Such report shall be in writing and a copy
26 thereof distributed to each member. Any bill so removed from the
27 table shall be placed on the second consideration calendar on
28 the legislative day following such removal. Nothing herein shall
29 affect the right of any member to make a motion to remove a bill
30 from the table.
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1 Amendments shall not be proposed, nor is any other motion in
2 order on first consideration.
3 Bills shall not be considered beyond first consideration
4 until the latest print thereof is on the desks of the members.
5 Any noncontroversial bill, which is defined as any bill,
6 other than an appropriations bill, approved by a committee with
7 no negative votes or abstentions, shall be placed on an
8 uncontested calendar. Bills on the uncontested calendar shall be
9 voted upon by a single roll-call vote. Each bill listed on the
10 uncontested calendar will be printed separately in the journal
11 with the vote recorded on the approval of the uncontested
12 calendar as the vote on final passage of each bill contained
13 therein.
14 If any member should object to the placement of a bill on the
15 uncontested calendar, the bill shall be automatically removed
16 from the uncontested calendar and placed on the regular calendar
17 the next legislative day.
18 RULE 23
19 Second Consideration Bills
20 Bills on second consideration shall be considered in their
21 calendar order and be subject to amendment.
22 No House bill on second consideration shall be considered
23 until called up by a member.
24 RULE 24
25 Third Consideration and Final Passage Bills
26 Bills on third consideration and final passage shall be
27 considered in their calendar order.
28 A bill on third consideration may be amended.
29 After a bill is agreed to on third consideration, the Speaker
30 shall state the question as follows:
19790H0053R1357 - 21 -
1 "This bill has been considered on three
2 different days and agreed to and is now on final
3 passage."
4 "The question is, shall the bill pass finally?"
5 "Agreeable to the provision of the Constitution,
6 the yeas and nays will now be taken."
7 When more than one bill shall be considered at the same time,
8 the Speaker shall state the question as follows:
9 "These bills have been considered on three different
10 days and agreed to and are now on final passage."
11 "The question is, shall the bills on the Uncontested
12 Calendar pass finally?"
13 "Agreeable to the provision of the Constitution, the
14 yeas and nays will now be taken."
15 RULE 25
16 Defeated Bills
17 When a bill or resolution has been defeated by the House, it
18 shall not be reintroduced, or, except as provided in Rule 26, be
19 reconsidered, nor shall it be in order to consider a similar
20 one, or to act on a Senate bill or resolution of like import,
21 during the same session.
22 RULE 26
23 Reconsideration
24 A motion to reconsider the vote by which a bill, resolution
25 or other matter was passed or defeated shall be made in writing
26 by two members. The motion shall be in order only under the
27 order of business in which the vote proposed to be reconsidered
28 occurred and shall be decided on a roll call vote by a majority
29 vote. No motion to reconsider shall be in order when the bill,
30 resolution or other matter is no longer in the possession of or
19790H0053R1357 - 22 -
1 is not properly before the House.
2 A motion to reconsider any such vote must be made on the same
3 day on which the initial vote was taken or within the succeeding
4 five days in which the House is in session, provided such bill,
5 resolution or other matter is still in the possession of or is
6 properly before the House.
7 When a motion to reconsider any such vote is made within the
8 aforesaid time limits and is decided by the affirmative vote
9 prescribed herein, the question immediately recurs on the bill,
10 resolution or other matter reconsidered.
11 Where a bill, resolution or other matter has been initially
12 defeated and a motion to reconsider is not timely made, then
13 such bill, resolution or other matter shall carry the status of
14 "defeated finally" and not properly before the House. Therefore,
15 it shall not be in order to entertain a motion to reconsider any
16 such vote.
17 Where a timely made motion to reconsider is lost, it shall
18 not be in order to again entertain a motion to reconsider any
19 such vote, even though such second motion to reconsider is
20 timely made.
21 Where a bill, resolution, or other matter has been initially
22 defeated, and a timely made motion to reconsider the vote is
23 lost, or if no motion to reconsider the vote was timely made,
24 then it shall not be in order for the House thereafter to
25 receive or consider a new bill, resolution or other matter
26 embracing therein a subject or purpose basically identical to or
27 of similar import to the subject matter or purpose of the bill,
28 resolution or matter initially defeated.
29 The vote on a bill or resolution recalled from the Governor
30 may be reconsidered at any time after the bill or resolution has
19790H0053R1357 - 23 -
1 been returned to the House.
2 RULE 27
3 Amendments
4 No bill shall be amended so as to change its original
5 purpose. (Constitution, Article III, Section 1).
6 No motion or proposition on a subject different from that
7 under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.
8 Any member may move to amend a bill or resolution, provided
9 the proposed amendment is germane to the subject. Questions
10 involving whether an amendment is germane to the subject shall
11 be decided by the House.
12 No amendment to an amendment shall be admitted nor
13 considered.
14 The sponsor of the amendment shall explain the amendment
15 prior to consideration by the House.
16 Before consideration, eight typewritten copies of a proposed
17 amendment signed by its sponsor shall be presented to the
18 Speaker, one copy of which shall be delivered to the news media
19 and a printed copy in typewritten form prepared by the
20 Legislative Reference Bureau shall be placed on the desk of each
21 member.
22 Amendments adopted or defeated may not be considered again
23 without first reconsidering the vote.
24 RULE 28
25 Bills Amending Existing Law
26 Bills amending existing law shall indicate present language
27 to be omitted by placing it within brackets and new language to
28 be inserted by underscoring. (Constitution, Article III, Section
29 6).
30 RULE 29
19790H0053R1357 - 24 -
1 Form for Printing Amendments
2 In printing amendments to bills and resolutions, all new
3 matter added shall be in CAPITAL LETTERS, and matter to be
4 eliminated shall be indicated by strike-out type.
5 In reprinting House bills previously amended by the House and
6 in reprinting Senate bills previously amended by the Senate, but
7 not in Senate bills previously amended by the House, all matters
8 appearing in strike-out type shall be dropped from the new print
9 and all matter appearing in CAPITAL LETTERS shall be reset in
10 lower case Roman type.
11 RULE 30
12 House Bills Amended by the Senate
13 When a House bill or joint resolution has been amended by the
14 Senate and returned to the House for concurrence, it shall not
15 be considered until placed on the calendar and copies thereof
16 are on the desks of the members.
17 When acting on bills or joint resolutions amended by the
18 Senate, the amendments shall be read and the question put on the
19 concurrence in the amendments.
20 The House shall not consider any proposed amendment to any
21 amendment made by the Senate to a House bill or joint
22 resolution.
23 A majority vote of the members elected to the House taken by
24 yeas and nays shall be required to concur in amendments made by
25 the Senate, except for appropriations to charitable and
26 educational institutions not under the absolute control of the
27 Commonwealth, where a vote of two-thirds of all the members
28 elected to the House shall be required to concur. (Constitution,
29 Article III, Sections 5 and 30).
30 RULE 31
19790H0053R1357 - 25 -
1 Bills Vetoed by the Governor
2 When the Governor has returned a bill to the House with his
3 objections, the veto message shall be read and the House shall
4 proceed to reconsider it. (Constitution, Article IV, Section
5 15).
6 RULE 32
7 Hospital and Home Appropriations or
8 Acquiring Lands of the Commonwealth
9 No bills appropriating moneys to State-aided hospitals or
10 State-aided homes shall be introduced in the House, except such
11 as appropriate in single bills the total sum to be appropriated
12 to all of the institutions within the same class or group.
13 Requests for appropriations for particular State-aided hospitals
14 or State-aided homes shall be filed with the Chairman of the
15 Committee on Appropriations on forms to be furnished by the said
16 Committee on Appropriations, and shall be signed by the member
17 requesting the appropriation.
18 No bill granting or conveying Commonwealth lands or taking
19 title thereto shall be reported by any Committee to the House
20 unless there has been filed with the Chief Clerk and the
21 Chairman of the reporting committee a memorandum from the
22 Department of General Services indicating the use to which the
23 property is presently employed, the full consideration for the
24 transfer, if any, a departmental appraisal of the property,
25 including its valuation and a list of recorded liens and
26 encumbrances, if any, the use to which the property will be
27 employed upon its transfer, the date by which the land is needed
28 for its new use, and the legislative district or districts in
29 which the land is located. The memorandum shall contain a
30 statement by a responsible person in the Department of General
19790H0053R1357 - 26 -
1 Services indicating whether or not the administration favors the
2 transfer which is the subject of the bill under consideration.
3 RULE 33
4 Special Legislation
5 No local or special bill shall be passed by the House unless
6 notice of the intention to apply therefor has been published in
7 the locality where the matter or the thing to be affected may be
8 situated, which notice shall be at least thirty days prior to
9 the introduction into the General Assembly of such bill and in
10 the manner provided by law; the evidence of such notice having
11 been published shall be exhibited in the General Assembly before
12 the act shall be passed. (Constitution, Article III, Section 7).
13 No local or special bill shall be considered in violation of
14 Article III, Section 32, of the Constitution.
15 RULE 34
16 Non-Preferred Appropriations
17 No bill shall be passed appropriating money to any charitable
18 or educational institution not under absolute control of the
19 Commonwealth, except by a vote of two-thirds of all members
20 elected. (Constitution, Article III, Section 17).
21 RULE 35
22 House and Concurrent Resolutions
23 Members introducing resolutions other than concurrent
24 resolutions shall file five copies thereof; seven copies of
25 concurrent resolutions shall be filed. All resolutions shall be
26 signed by their sponsors, dated and filed with the Chief Clerk.
27 After being numbered, one copy of all resolutions shall be given
28 to the news media and all other copies delivered to the Speaker.
29 A sponsor may not be added or withdrawn after a resolution has
30 been printed. Resolutions may not be withdrawn after reference
19790H0053R1357 - 27 -
1 to a committee.
2 Unless privileged under Rule 36 for immediate consideration,
3 the Speaker shall refer House resolutions (except Discharge
4 Resolutions) and Senate resolutions presented to the House for
5 concurrence to appropriate committees.
6 The Speaker shall report to the House the committees to which
7 resolutions have been referred, either on the day introduced or
8 received or the next two legislative days the House is in
9 session.
10 A resolution introduced in the House and referred to
11 committee shall be printed and placed in the House files.
12 When a resolution (House or Senate) is reported from
13 committee, it shall be placed on the calendar and may be called
14 up by a member for consideration by the House under the order of
15 business of resolutions. A House resolution other than a
16 concurrent or joint resolution shall be adopted by a majority of
17 the members voting.
18 RULE 36
19 Privileged Resolutions
20 Resolutions privileged for the immediate consideration of the
21 House are those:
22 a. Recalling from or returning bills to the Governor
23 b. Recalling from or returning bills to the Senate
24 c. Originated by the Committee on Rules
25 d. Providing for a Joint Session of the Senate and House and
26 its procedure
27 e. Placing bills negatived by committees on the calendar
28 f. Adjournment or recess
29 RULE 37
30 Legislative Citation
19790H0053R1357 - 28 -
1 A member making a request that a Legislative Citation be
2 issued to a particular person or on a specified occasion shall
3 provide the Legislative Reference Bureau with the facts
4 necessary for the preparation of the Citation on a suitable
5 form.
6 The Citation request shall be filed with the Chief Clerk and
7 automatically referred to the Speaker who may approve and sign
8 such citation on behalf of the House of Representatives.
9 One original Citation shall be issued by the Chief Clerk.
10 RULE 38
11 Sine Die and Final Introduction of Bills
12 Resolutions fixing the time for adjournment of the General
13 Assembly sine die and the last day for introduction of bills in
14 the House shall be referred to the Committee on Rules before
15 consideration by the House.
16 RULE 39
17 Petitions, Remonstrances and Memorials
18 Petitions, remonstrances, memorials and other papers
19 presented by a member shall be signed, dated and filed with the
20 Chief Clerk to be by him handed to the Speaker for reference to
21 appropriate committees.
22 The Speaker shall report to the House the committees to which
23 petitions, remonstrances, memorials and other papers have been
24 referred, not later than the next day the House is in session
25 following the day of filing.
26 RULE 40
27 Messages
28 Messages from the Senate and communications from the Governor
29 shall be received and read in the House within one legislative
30 day thereafter.
19790H0053R1357 - 29 -
1 All House and Senate bills shall be delivered to the Senate
2 with appropriate messages no later than the close of the next
3 legislative day of the Senate which follows the fifth
4 legislative day after which the House acted on such bill.
5 All House bills returned by the Senate after final passage
6 therein without amendment, and all conference committee reports
7 on House bills received from the Senate and adopted by the
8 House, shall be signed by the Speaker within one legislative day
9 after receipt or adoption, respectively, and shall be delivered
10 to the Senate before the close of the next legislative day of
11 the Senate.
12 All House bills and all conference committee reports on House
13 bills signed by the Speaker shall be delivered to the Governor
14 within twenty-four hours after return from the Senate with the
15 signature of the appropriate Senate officer.
16 RULE 41
17 Kind and Rank of Committee
18 The Committees of the House shall be of four kinds and rank
19 in the order named:
20 Committee of the Whole House
21 Standing Committees
22 Select Committees
23 Conference Committees
24 RULE 42
25 Committee of the Whole
26 The House may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at
27 any time on the motion of a member adopted by a majority vote of
28 the House.
29 In forming the Committee of the Whole, the Speaker shall
30 leave the chair, after appointing a Chairman to preside.
19790H0053R1357 - 30 -
1 The rules of the House shall be observed in the Committee of
2 the Whole as far as applicable, except that a member may speak
3 more than once on the same question.
4 A motion to adjourn, to lay on the table, or for the previous
5 question cannot be put in the Committee of the Whole; but a
6 motion to limit or close debate is permissible.
7 A motion that the Committee of the Whole "do now rise and
8 report back to the House," shall always be in order, and shall
9 be decided without debate.
10 Amendments made in the Committee of the Whole shall not be
11 read when the Speaker resumes the Chair, unless so ordered by
12 the House.
13 RULE 43
14 Standing Committees and Sub-Committees
15 The Committee on Committees shall consist of the Speaker and
16 fifteen members of the House, ten of whom shall be members of
17 the Majority Party and five of whom shall be members of the
18 Minority Party, whose duty shall be to recommend to the House
19 the names of members who are to serve on the Standing Committees
20 of the House.
21 The Speaker shall appoint the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of
22 each Standing Committee when such Standing Committee has no
23 Standing Sub-committees as prescribed herein; when the Standing
24 Committee has Standing Sub-Committees, the Speaker shall appoint
25 a Sub-committee Chairman for each Standing Sub-committee. The
26 Speaker shall appoint a secretary for each Standing Committee.
27 The Minority Leader shall appoint the Minority Chairman and
28 Minority Vice-Chairman of each Standing Committee and the
29 Minority Sub-Committee Chairman for each Standing Sub-Committee.
30 The Speaker of the House, Floor Leader of the Majority Party
19790H0053R1357 - 31 -
1 and the Floor Leader of the Minority Party shall be ex-officio
2 members of all Standing Committees, without the right to vote
3 and they shall be excluded from any limitation as to the number
4 of members on the Committees or in counting a quorum.
5 Twenty-one Standing Committees of the House, each to consist
6 of twenty-three members except the Committee on Appropriations,
7 which shall consist of thirty-one members, are hereby created.
8 In addition, there is hereby created twenty-two Standing Sub-
9 Committees.
10 All Standing Committees shall consist of fourteen members of
11 the Majority Party and nine TEN members of the Minority Party, <--
12 except the Committee on Appropriations which shall consist of
13 twenty members of the Majority Party and eleven TWELVE members <--
14 of the Minority Party. The quorum for each of the Standing
15 Committees and Sub-committees shall be no less than the majority
16 of said Committees. The following are the Standing Committees
17 and Sub-committees thereof:
18 1. Agriculture and Rural Affairs
19 2. Appropriations
20 a. Sub-committee on Health and Welfare
21 b. Sub-committee on Education
22 c. Sub-committee on Capital Budget
23 3. Business and Commerce
24 a. Sub-committee on Banking and Savings and Loan
25 Associations
26 b. Sub-committee on Housing
27 c. Sub-committee on Industrial Development, Recreation
28 and Tourism
29 4. Conservation
30 5. Consumer Affairs
19790H0053R1357 - 32 -
1 a. Sub-committee on Public Utilities
2 6. Education
3 a. Sub-committee on Basic Education
4 b. Sub-committee on Higher Education
5 7. Federal-State Relations
6 8. Finance
7 9. Game and Fisheries
8 10. Health and Welfare
9 a. Sub-committee on Health
10 b. Sub-committee on Welfare
11 c. Sub-committee on Youth and Aging
12 11. Insurance
13 12. Judiciary
14 a. Sub-committee on Crime and Corrections
15 b. Sub-committee on Courts
16 13. Labor Relations
17 14. Liquor Control
18 15. Local Government
19 a. Sub-committee on Boroughs
20 b. Sub-committee on Counties
21 c. Sub-committee on Townships
22 16. Mines and Energy Management
23 17. Professional Licensure
24 18. State Government
25 a. Sub-committee on Telecommunications
26 19. Transportation
27 a. Sub-committee on Highways
28 b. Sub-committee on Public Transportation
29 c. Sub-committee on Transportation Safety
30 d. Sub-committee on Aviation
19790H0053R1357 - 33 -
1 20. Urban Affairs
2 a. Sub-committee on Cities, Counties - First Class
3 b. Sub-committee on Cities, Counties - Second Class
4 21. Military and Veterans Affairs
5 RULE 44
6 Organization of Standing Committees and Sub-Committees
7 The membership of each Standing Committee shall first meet
8 upon the call of its Chairman and perfect its organization. A
9 majority of the members to which each Standing Committee is
10 entitled shall constitute a quorum for it to proceed to
11 business. Each Standing Committee shall have the power to
12 promulgate rules not inconsistent with these rules which may be
13 necessary for the orderly conduct of its business.
14 Where a Standing Committee has Standing Sub-Committees as
15 prescribed by Rule 43, the membership on such Standing Sub-
16 Committees shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees
17 after consultation with each Chairman of a Standing Committee of
18 which the Standing Sub-Committee is a part. Each Standing Sub-
19 Committee shall consist of the Chairman of its parent Standing
20 Committee, as an ex-officio member, the Chairman of the Standing
21 Sub-Committee, and five other members from the parent Standing
22 Committee to be appointed by the Committee on Committees three
23 from among the majority party after consultation with the
24 Majority Leader, and two from among the minority party after
25 consultation with the Minority Leader. Where it is deemed
26 advisable that the membership of any Standing Sub-Committee be
27 of greater number than that prescribed herein, the Committee on
28 Committees may appoint additional members of the Standing
29 Committee from the majority or minority party to serve on such
30 Standing Sub-Committee. The number of additional members
19790H0053R1357 - 34 -
1 selected should be such as to maintain, as far as is
2 practicable, a ratio in majority and minority party membership
3 which affords a fair and reasonable representation to the
4 minority party on the Standing Sub-committee.
5 The Chairman and the Minority Chairman of each Standing
6 Committee shall be ex-officio members of each Standing Sub-
7 committee which is part of the parent Standing Committee, with
8 the right to attend Standing Sub-committee meetings and vote on
9 any matter before such Standing Sub-committee.
10 A majority of the members of each Standing Sub-committee
11 shall constitute a quorum for the proper conduct of its
12 business. Each Standing Sub-committee may promulgate such rules
13 necessary for the conduct of its business which are not
14 inconsistent with the rules of its parent Standing Committee or
15 the Rules of the House.
16 When the chairman of a Standing Committee has referred a
17 bill, resolution or other matter to a Standing Sub-committee,
18 the power and control over such bill, resolution or other matter
19 shall then reside in such Sub-committee for a reasonable period
20 of time thereafter in order that such Sub-committee may consider
21 the bill, resolution or other matter and return the same to its
22 Standing Committee with its recommendations as to the action
23 which ought to be taken on such bill, resolution or other
24 matter.
25 Each Standing Sub-committee, within a reasonable time after
26 it has received a bill, resolution or other matter, shall meet
27 as a committee for the purpose of considering the same and
28 returning the bill, resolution or other matter back to its
29 parent Standing Committee with a Sub-committee report as to what
30 action it recommends. The report of the Sub-committee on a bill,
19790H0053R1357 - 35 -
1 resolution or other matter being returned to the Standing
2 Committee shall contain one of the following recommendations:
3 a. That the bill, resolution or other matter in its
4 present form be reported to the House,
5 b. that the bill, resolution, or other matter not be
6 reported to the House,
7 c. that the bill, resolution or other matter be reported
8 to the House, with recommendations for amendments,
9 d. that the bill, resolution or other matter is returned
10 without recommendations.
11 When a Standing Committee receives reports from its Sub-
12 committees, it shall consider the same and by majority vote of
13 the members of the Standing Committee either approve or
14 disapprove such report. If disapproved, the Standing Committee
15 may then determine by a majority vote of its members what
16 further action, if any, should be taken on such bill, resolution
17 or other matter.
18 Where no action has been taken by a Standing Sub-committee on
19 a bill, resolution or other matter referred to it, and the
20 chairman of the Standing Committee considers that such Sub-
21 committee has had reasonable time to consider the bill,
22 resolution or other matter and return the same to its parent
23 Standing Committee. The Sub-committee Chairman shall then
24 forthwith surrender and forward the same, together with all
25 documents or papers pertaining thereto, to the Standing
26 Committee.
27 In the event that a Chairman of a Standing Committee is
28 absent, the following rules shall apply:
29 1. If such Standing Committee has no Sub-committee
30 prescribed by Rule 44, the Vice-Chairman of the Standing
19790H0053R1357 - 36 -
1 Committee shall act as Chairman of the Committee meetings;
2 2. If such Standing Committee has only one Sub-Committee,
3 the Sub-committee Chairman shall act as Chairman of the Standing
4 Committee; and
5 3. If the Standing Committee has more than one Sub-
6 committee, the Sub-committee Chairman with the longest
7 consecutive legislative service shall act as Chairman of the
8 Standing Committee, except where the Sub-committee Chairmen have
9 equal legislative service, in which case the Speaker of the
10 House shall designate one of the Sub-committee Chairmen to act
11 as Chairman of the Standing Committee.
12 In case of absence of a Sub-committee Chairman, the Chairman
13 of the appropriate standing Committee shall designate one member
14 from either the Standing Committee or Sub-committee to act as
15 Chairman of the Sub-committee.
16 RULE 45
17 Powers and Duties of Standing Committees
18 and Sub-Committees
19 The Chairman of each Standing Committee and Sub-committee
20 shall fix regular weekly, biweekly or monthly meeting days for
21 the transaction of business before the Committee or Sub-
22 committee. The Chairman of the Committee or Sub-committee shall
23 notify all members, at least twenty-four hours in advance of the
24 date, time and place of regular meetings, and, insofar as
25 possible, the subjects on the agenda. In addition to regular
26 meetings, special meetings may be called from time to time by
27 the Chairman of the Committee or Sub-committee as they deem
28 necessary. No committee shall meet during any session of the
29 House without first obtaining permission of the Speaker. During
30 any such meeting, no vote shall be taken on the Floor of the
19790H0053R1357 - 37 -
1 House on any amendment, recommittal motion, final passage of any
2 bill, or any other matter requiring a roll call vote. Any
3 Committee meeting called off the Floor of the House shall meet
4 in a committee room. In addition to the specific provisions of
5 this Rule 45, all provisions of the act of July 19, 1974
6 (P.L.486, No.175) relative to notice of meetings shall be
7 complied with.
8 At regularly scheduled meetings, or upon the call of the
9 Chairman, or Sub-Committee Chairman, for special meetings, the
10 membership of such Committees shall meet to consider any bill,
11 resolution, or other matter on the agenda. The Secretary of each
12 Standing Committee, or in case of Sub-Committees a secretary
13 designated by the Sub-Committee Chairman, shall record: (1) the
14 minutes of the meeting, (2) all votes taken, (3) a roll or
15 attendance of members at Standing Committee or Sub-Committee
16 meetings showing the names of those present, absent or excused
17 from attendance, and (4) dispatch of bills and resolutions
18 before the committee; such records shall be open to public
19 inspection. On the first legislative day of each week the House
20 is in session, the Chairman of each Standing Committee shall
21 submit to the Chief Clerk for inclusion in the House Journal
22 only, the roll or record of attendance of members at Standing
23 Committee or Sub-committee meetings held prior thereto and not
24 yet reported, along with the record of all votes taken at such
25 meetings. All reports from Standing Committees shall be prepared
26 in writing by the Secretary of the Committee. Members of a
27 Standing Committee may prepare in writing and file a minority
28 report, setting forth the reasons for their dissent. Such
29 Committee reports shall be filed with the Chief Clerk within
30 five days of the meeting. All meetings at which formal action is
19790H0053R1357 - 38 -
1 taken by a Standing Committee or Sub-Committee shall be open to
2 the public, making such reports as are required under Rule 44.
3 When any member, except for an excused absence, fails to attend
4 five consecutive regular meetings of his committee, the Chairman
5 of that Committee or Sub-Committee shall notify him of that fact
6 and, if the member in question fails to reasonably justify his
7 absences to the satisfaction of a majority of the membership of
8 the Standing Committee of which he is a member, his membership
9 on the Committee or Sub-Committee shall be deemed vacant and the
10 Chairman of the Standing Committee shall notify the Speaker of
11 the House to that effect. Such vacancy shall then be filled in
12 the manner prescribed by these rules.
13 Whenever the Chairman of any Standing Committee shall refuse
14 to call a regular meeting, then a majority of the members of the
15 Standing Committee may vote to call a meeting by giving two days
16 written notice to the Speaker of the House, setting the time and
17 place for such meeting. Such notice shall be read in the House
18 and the same posted by the Chief Clerk in the House Chamber.
19 Thereafter, the meeting shall be held at the time and place
20 specified in the notice. In addition, all provisions of the act
21 of July 19, 1974 (P.L.486, No.175), relative to notice of
22 meetings shall be complied with.
23 Records, bills and other papers in the possession of
24 committees and sub-committees, upon final adjournment of the
25 House shall be filed with the Chief Clerk.
26 No Committee report, except a report of the Appropriations
27 Committee, shall be recognized by the House, unless the same has
28 been acted upon by a majority vote of the members of a Standing
29 Committee present at a Committee session actually assembled and
30 meeting as a Committee, provided such majority vote numbers at
19790H0053R1357 - 39 -
1 least ten ELEVEN members, and provided further a quorum is <--
2 present. No committee report of the Appropriations Committee
3 shall be recognized by the House, unless the same has been acted
4 upon by a majority vote of the members of such committee present
5 at a committee session actually assembled and meeting as a
6 committee, provided such majority vote numbers at least fourteen
7 members, and provided further a quorum is present.
8 When the majority of the members of a Standing Committee
9 believe that a certain bill or resolution in the possession of
10 the Standing Committee should be considered and acted upon by
11 such Committee, they may request the Chairman to include the
12 same as part of the business of a committee meeting. Upon
13 failure of the Chairman to comply with such request, the
14 membership may require that such bill be considered by written
15 motion made and approved by a majority vote of the entire
16 membership to which such Committee is entitled.
17 Whenever the phrase "majority of members of a Standing
18 Committee or Sub-committee" is used in these rules, it shall
19 mean majority of the entire membership to which a Standing
20 Committee or Sub-committee is entitled, unless the context
21 thereof indicates a different intent.
22 To assist the House in appraising the administration of the
23 laws and in developing such amendments or related legislation as
24 it may deem necessary, each Standing Committee or Sub-committee
25 of the House shall exercise continuous watchfulness of the
26 execution by the administrative agencies concerned of any laws,
27 the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such
28 committee or sub-committee; and, for that purpose, shall study
29 all pertinent reports and data submitted to the House by the
30 agencies in the executive branch of the Government.
19790H0053R1357 - 40 -
1 RULE 46
2 Committee on Rules
3 The Committee on Rules shall consist of the Speaker, the
4 Majority Leader, the Majority Whip, the Minority Leader, the
5 Minority Whip, six members of the majority party appointed by
6 the Speaker, and three FOUR members of the minority party <--
7 appointed by the Minority Leader. The Majority Leader shall be
8 Chairman.
9 The Committee shall make recommendations designed to improve
10 and expedite the business and procedure of the House and its
11 committees, and to propose to the House any amendments to the
12 Rules deemed necessary. The Committee shall also do all things
13 necessary to fulfill any assignment or duty given to the
14 Committee by any resolution, or other rule of the House of
15 Representatives.
16 The Committee shall be privileged to report at any time.
17 The Committee shall, until or unless superseded by law, adopt
18 guidelines for the expenditure of all funds appropriated to the
19 House or to any member or nonmember officer by any appropriation
20 act.
21 Such guidelines shall include a detailed statement of the
22 general and specific purposes for which the funds from that
23 appropriation account may be used, as well as uniform standards
24 of required documentation, accounting systems and record keeping
25 procedures.
26 RULE 47
27 Ethics Committee
28 As used in the context of this rule, the word "Committee"
29 shall mean the Committee on Ethics of the House of
30 Representatives, and the phrase "majority of the Committee:
19790H0053R1357 - 41 -
1 shall mean a majority of the members to which the Committee is
2 entitled:
3 The Committee shall consist of eight members: four of whom
4 shall be members of the Majority Party appointed by the Speaker,
5 and four of whom shall be members of the Minority Party
6 appointed by the Minority Leader. The Speaker shall appoint from
7 the members a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary for the
8 Committee. The Chairman shall be a member of the majority party
9 and the Vice Chairman shall be a member of the minority party.
10 The Chairman shall notify all members of the Committee at
11 least twenty-four hours in advance of the date, time and place
12 of a regular meeting. Whenever the Chairman shall refuse to call
13 a regular meeting, a majority of the Committee may vote to call
14 a meeting by giving two days' written notice to the Speaker of
15 the House setting forth the time and place for such meeting.
16 Such notice shall be read in the House and posted in the House
17 Chamber by the Chief Clerk, or his designee. Thereafter, the
18 meeting shall be held at the time and place specified in such
19 notice.
20 The Committee shall conduct its investigations, hearings and
21 meetings relating to a specific investigation or a specific
22 member, officer or employee of the House in closed session and
23 the fact that such investigation is being conducted or to be
24 conducted or that hearings or such meetings are being held or
25 are to be held shall be confidential information unless the
26 person subject to investigation advises the Committee in writing
27 that he elects that such hearings shall be held publicly. In the
28 event of such an election, the Committee shall furnish such
29 person a public hearing. All other meetings of the Committee
30 shall be open to the public.
19790H0053R1357 - 42 -
1 The Committee shall receive complaints against members,
2 officers and employees of the House, and persons registered or
3 carrying on activities regulated by the act of September 30,
4 1961 (P.L.1778, No.712), known as the "Lobbying Registration and
5 Regulation Act," alleging illegal or unethical conduct. Any such
6 complaint must be in writing verified by the person filing the
7 complaint and must set forth in detail the conduct in question
8 and the section of the "Legislative Code of Ethics," the
9 "Lobbying Registration and Regulation Act," or House rule
10 violated. The Committee shall make a preliminary investigation
11 of the complaint, and if it is determined by a majority of the
12 Committee that a violation of the rule or law may have occurred,
13 the person against whom the complaint has been brought shall be
14 notified in writing and given a copy of the complaint. Within
15 fifteen days after receipt of the complaint, such person may
16 file a written answer thereto with the Committee. Upon receipt
17 of the answer, by vote of a majority of the Committee, the
18 Committee shall either dismiss the complaint within ten days or
19 proceed with a formal investigation, to include hearings, not
20 less than ten days nor more than thirty days after notice in
21 writing to the persons so charged. Failure of the person charged
22 to file an answer shall not be deemed to be an admission or
23 create an inference or presumption that the complaint is true,
24 and such failure to file an answer shall not prohibit a majority
25 of the Committee from either proceeding with a formal
26 investigation or dismissing the complaint.
27 A majority of the Committee may initiate a preliminary
28 investigation of the suspected violation of a Legislative Code
29 of Ethics or House rule by a member, officer or employee of the
30 House or lobbyist. If it is determined by a majority of the
19790H0053R1357 - 43 -
1 Committee that a violation of a rule or law may have occurred,
2 the person in question shall be notified in writing of the
3 conduct in question and the section of the "Legislative Code of
4 Ethics," the "Lobbying Registration and Regulation Act" or House
5 rule violated. Within fifteen days, such person may file a
6 written answer thereto. Upon receipt of the answer, by vote of a
7 majority of the Committee, the Committee shall either dismiss
8 the charges within ten days or proceed with a formal
9 investigation, to include hearings, not less than ten days nor
10 more than thirty days after notice in writing to the person so
11 charged. Failure of the person charged to file an answer shall
12 not be deemed to be an admission or create an inference or
13 presumption that the charge is true, and such failure to file an
14 answer shall not prohibit a majority of the Committee from
15 either proceeding with a formal investigation or dismissing the
16 charge.
17 In the event that the Committee shall elect to proceed with a
18 formal investigation of the conduct of any member, officer or
19 employee of the House, the Committee shall employ independent
20 counsel who shall not be employed by the House for any other
21 purpose or in any other capacity during such investigation.
22 All constitutional rights of any person under investigation
23 shall be preserved, and such person shall be entitled to present
24 evidence, cross-examine witnesses, face his accuser, and be
25 represented by counsel.
26 The Chairman may continue any hearing for reasonable cause,
27 and upon the vote of a majority of the Committee or upon the
28 request of the person subject to investigation, the Chairman
29 shall issue subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of
30 witnesses and the production of documentary evidence relating to
19790H0053R1357 - 44 -
1 any matter under formal investigation by the Committee. The
2 Committee may administer oaths or affirmations and examine and
3 receive evidence.
4 All testimony, documents, records, data, statements or
5 information received by the Committee in the course of any
6 investigation shall be private and confidential except in the
7 case of public hearings or in a report to the House. No report
8 shall be made to the House unless a majority of the Committee
9 has made a finding of unethical or illegal conduct on the part
10 of the person under investigation. No finding of unethical or
11 illegal conduct shall be valid unless signed by at least a
12 majority of the Committee. Any such report may include a
13 minority report. No action shall be taken on any finding of
14 illegal or unethical conduct nor shall such finding or report
15 containing such finding be made public sooner than seven days
16 after a copy of the finding is sent by certified mail to the
17 member, officer or employee under investigation.
18 The Committee may meet with a Committee of the Senate to hold
19 investigations or hearings involving employees of the two houses
20 jointly or officers or employees of the Legislative Reference
21 Bureau, the Joint State Government Commission, Local Government
22 Commission, Legislative Budget and Finance Committee and the
23 Legislative Data Processing Committee; provided, however, that
24 no action may be taken at a joint meeting unless it is approved
25 by a majority of the Committee.
26 In the event that a member of the Committee shall be under
27 investigation, such member shall be temporarily replaced on the
28 Committee in a like manner as said member's original
29 appointment.
30 The Committee, whether or not at the request of a member,
19790H0053R1357 - 45 -
1 officer or employee concerned about an ethical problem relating
2 to himself alone or in conjunction with others, may render
3 advisory opinions with regard to questions pertaining to
4 legislative ethics or decorum. Such advisory opinions, with such
5 deletions and changes as shall be necessary to protect the
6 identity of the persons involved or seeking them, may be
7 published and shall be distributed to all the members of the
8 House.
9 Any member of the Committee breaching the confidentiality of
10 materials and events as set forth in this rule shall be removed
11 immediately from the Committee and replaced by another member of
12 the House in a like manner as said member's original
13 appointment.
14 The Committee may adopt rules of procedure for the orderly
15 conduct of its affairs, investigations, hearings and meetings,
16 which rules are not inconsistent with this rule.
17 The Committee shall continue to exist and have authority and
18 power to function after the sine die Adjournment of the General
19 Assembly and shall so continue until the expiration of the then
20 current term of office of the members of the Committee.
21 RULE 47 (a)
22 Special Committee on Internal Affairs
23 and House Administration
24 (1) The Committee shall consist of the Speaker, Majority
25 Leader, Minority Leader, four members of the Majority Party to
26 be elected by the caucus, one of whom shall be named by the
27 Speaker as Chairperson, and five members of the Minority Party
28 to be elected by the caucus.
29 (2) The powers and duties of the Committee shall include,
30 but not be limited to the following:
19790H0053R1357 - 46 -
1 (a) To review all public payroll accounts under the control
2 or jurisdiction of the Chief Clerk, Secretary, Comptroller,
3 Minority Staff Administrator, Majority and Minority Committee
4 Chairpersons, all members elected by the respective caucuses and
5 any other member or person elected by the membership of the
6 House.
7 (b) Such review shall be conducted at least quarterly and at
8 such other times as the Committee may choose.
9 (c) The findings of each review shall be published in a
10 Committee report and shall be available for public inspection. A
11 copy of said report shall be furnished to any interested person
12 upon request and payment of the actual cost to duplicate the
13 same.
14 (d) The Committee may promulgate rules and regulations to
15 carry out the purview of this Rule which shall be distributed to
16 the members of the House and which shall remain in effect unless
17 voided by a majority vote of the members elected to the House.
18 (3) No employee shall be assigned, hired or otherwise
19 engaged to regularly perform duties outside the City of
20 Harrisburg unless specifically authorized in writing by the
21 person responsible for their performance and a copy of said
22 authorization is filed with the Committee. Such person shall
23 have thirty days after adoption of this rule to comply initially
24 with such written authorization requirement.
25 (4) Before an employee is assigned to a member or members,
26 said member or members shall receive a written statement of the
27 employee's job related qualifications. Any member or members
28 assigned an employee shall thereafter be responsible for the
29 faithful performance by the employee of his or her designated
30 duties.
19790H0053R1357 - 47 -
1 (5) (a) Any member or nonmember having funds under his or
2 her control or jurisdiction who intentionally provides any
3 remuneration to another person in an apparent violation of this
4 Rule or any employee who intentionally accepts any remuneration
5 without providing the required services or otherwise receives
6 public funds to which he or she is not entitled in any other
7 apparent violation of this Rule, shall be notified in writing by
8 the Committee of such alleged violation. Immediately following
9 such notice, the Committee shall turn over all pertinent
10 information on the matter to the House Ethics Committee, which
11 shall conduct an immediate investigation of the allegations and
12 report to the House within sixty days. The Ethics Committee
13 shall make a recommendation to the House for appropriate action
14 by the House which may include a recommendation that the person
15 or persons so involved shall be discharged from employment and
16 said person or persons shall not thereafter be eligible for
17 further employment by the House and/or a recommendation to the
18 House or respective caucus that said member be removed from his
19 or her leadership position and the House or respective caucus
20 shall then act on said recommendation within five legislative
21 days.
22 (b) Whenever a determination is made that a violation has
23 occurred, the Committee shall utilize all available means to
24 recover the moneys disbursed in violation of this Rule.
25 (6) The Committee is authorized to employ the services of an
26 Executive Director and a secretary. Said employees shall be
27 compensated in the same manner and pay range as comparable
28 employees of the several Standing House Committees.
29 (7) All meetings of the Committee shall be open to the
30 public and the votes of the members recorded. No action may be
19790H0053R1357 - 48 -
1 taken without a quorum present and without a majority vote of
2 those members present. A quorum shall consist of at least seven
3 members. The Committee may meet in executive session from time
4 to time subject to the limitations of the act of July 19, 1974
5 (P.L.486, No.175), referred to as the Public Agency Open Meeting
6 Law.
7 RULE 48
8 Conference Committee
9 All Committees of Conference shall be appointed by the
10 Speaker and shall be composed of three members, two of whom
11 shall be selected from the Majority Party and one from the
12 Minority Party.
13 The conferees shall confine themselves to the differences
14 which exist between the House and Senate.
15 The presentation of reports of Committees of Conference shall
16 be in order after having been signed by a majority of members of
17 the Committee of each House.
18 Consideration of a report of a Committee of Conference by the
19 House shall be in order when it has been printed, placed on the
20 desks of the members and listed on the calendar.
21 RULE 49
22 Committee Action
23 Whenever a bill, resolution or other matter has been referred
24 by the Speaker of the House to a Standing Committee, and such
25 Committee has one or more Standing Sub-committees, the Chairman
26 of the Standing Committee may either refer it to an appropriate
27 Sub-committee or retain it for consideration by the entire
28 Standing Committee. If it is retained, such Standing Committee
29 shall have full power and control over such bill, resolution or
30 other matter, except that such Committee shall not change the
19790H0053R1357 - 49 -
1 subject nor any amendments adopted by the House. Where the
2 Chairman of the Standing Committee refers such bill, resolution,
3 or matter to a Sub-committee, such Sub-committee, except as
4 hereinafter provided, shall have full power over the same.
5 The recommendations by a committee that a bill or resolution
6 be reported negatively shall not affect its consideration by the
7 House. The words "negative recommendation" shall be printed
8 conspicuously on a line above the title of this bill.
9 All Standing Sub-committees shall be subject to the will of
10 the majority of their parent Standing Committee and shall not
11 promulgate any rules or take any action inconsistent with the
12 rules of their parent Standing Committee or the Rules of the
13 House.
14 RULE 50
15 Public Hearings
16 Each Standing Committee, Sub-committee or select committee to
17 which a proposed bill, resolution or any matter is referred
18 shall have full power and authority to study said bill,
19 resolution or other matter before it, as such Committee, shall
20 determine is necessary to enable it to report properly to the
21 House thereon. To this end, a Standing Committee, Sub-committee,
22 or select committee, may as hereinafter provided, conduct public
23 hearings. No Standing Committee, Sub-committee or select
24 committee shall hold any public hearings without prior approval
25 by a majority vote of the members of the Standing Committee and
26 the Speaker or the Majority Leader of the House. The Speaker or
27 the Majority Leader of the House shall withhold approval of
28 public hearings based only on budgetary consideration.
29 When a public hearing has been authorized as aforesaid, the
30 Chairman of the Standing Committee, Sub-committee Chairman, or
19790H0053R1357 - 50 -
1 Select Committee Chairman as the case may be, shall instruct the
2 Chief Clerk to give written notice thereof to each House Member
3 not less than five calendar days before the proposed hearings
4 and post the same in or immediately adjacent to the House
5 Chambers. Such notice, which shall contain the day, hour and
6 place of the hearing and the number or numbers of bills or other
7 subject matter to be considered at such hearing, shall also be
8 given the supervisor of the news room, and to the news media. In
9 addition, all provisions of the act of July 19, 1974 (P.L.486,
10 No.175), relative to notice of meetings shall be complied with.
11 Public hearings held by a Standing Committee shall be chaired
12 by the Chairman of such Committee, unless absent, in which case
13 an acting Chairman shall be selected in the manner prescribed by
14 these rules to serve in his stead. Public hearings held by
15 Standing Sub-committees shall be chaired by the Sub-committee
16 Chairman thereof, but the Chairman of the parent Standing
17 Committee, as an ex-officio member of the Sub-committee, shall
18 have the right to attend and participate in the hearing
19 proceedings. In the absence of the Sub-committee Chairman, an
20 acting Chairman shall be appointed in the manner prescribed by
21 these rules.
22 All public hearings shall be open to the public and
23 reasonable opportunity to be heard shall be afforded to all
24 interested parties who have requested an appearance before the
25 Committee. In addition, it shall be the responsibility of the
26 Committee in conducting its hearing to request the presentation
27 of testimony by any person who, in the opinion of the Committee,
28 is qualified to present pertinent and important testimony.
29 Such Committee shall, so far as practicable, request all
30 witnesses appearing before it to file written statements of
19790H0053R1357 - 51 -
1 their proposed testimony. The Chairman shall have the right to
2 fix the order of appearance and the time to be allotted to
3 witnesses. Witnesses may submit brief pertinent statements in
4 writing for inclusion in the record. The Committee is the sole
5 judge of the pertinency of testimony and evidence adduced at its
6 hearings.
7 The Chairman, in presiding at such public hearings, shall
8 preserve order and decorum, in and adjacent to his committee
9 room while the hearing is being conducted and he shall have the
10 authority to direct the removal from the Committee room of any
11 person who fails to comply with order and decorum of the
12 Committee.
13 Proceedings of all public hearings shall be either
14 stenographically or electronically recorded. The Committee shall
15 determine which parts of such recorded proceedings, if any,
16 shall be transcribed and the distribution thereof. Except as
17 hereinafter provided, no more than four (4) copies of any
18 transcript shall be made. Such stenographic or electronic
19 records and at least one copy of any transcription shall be
20 preserved by the Chief Clerk until he is authorized to dispose
21 of same by an affirmative vote of three-quarters of the entire
22 membership of the Rules Committee and shall be made available to
23 any member upon written request for the purpose of copying or
24 transcription at that member's expense. Any transcribed records
25 and any reports of the Committee shall be filed with the Chief
26 Clerk or his designee and shall be made available to any person
27 in accordance with reasonable rules and regulations prescribed
28 by the Chief Clerk. Upon payment of a reasonable cost to be
29 determined by the Chief Clerk, a person may obtain a copy of
30 such transcribed records or reports.
19790H0053R1357 - 52 -
1 The Chief Clerk shall not make payment of any expenses
2 incurred as a result of a public hearing without the prior
3 written approval of the Speaker or the Majority Leader of the
4 House.
5 RULE 51
6 Investigations
7 Any Standing Committee, Sub-committee or Select Committee,
8 upon resolution introduced and approved by majority vote of the
9 House, may be authorized and empowered to conduct hearings at
10 any place in the Commonwealth to investigate any matter provided
11 for in such resolution. When authorized by such a resolution,
12 such Committee shall be empowered to issue subpoenas under the
13 hand and seal of the Chairman thereof commanding any person to
14 appear before it and answer questions touching matters properly
15 being inquired into by the Committee and produce such books,
16 papers, records, accounts, reports, and documents as the
17 Committee deems necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any
18 person and shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued
19 out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Where any person
20 willfully neglects or refuses to comply with any subpoena issued
21 by the Committee or refuses to testify before the Committee on
22 any matter regarding which he may be lawfully interrogated, it
23 shall be the duty of the Committee to report such disobedience
24 or refusal to the House of Representatives, and such person
25 shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the
26 Commonwealth in such cases. All such subpoenaed books, papers,
27 records, accounts, reports, and documents shall be returned to
28 the person from whom such material was subpoenaed when the
29 Committee has completed its examination of such material, but in
30 no event later than the date on which the Committee completes
19790H0053R1357 - 53 -
1 its investigation. Such material, or any information derived
2 therefrom not a part of public sessions of the Committee, shall
3 not be turned over to any person or authority without the
4 consent of the person from whom such material was subpoenaed.
5 Each member of the Committee shall have power to administer
6 oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the
7 Committee. The Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislature or other
8 person designated by the Committee shall serve any subpoenas
9 issued by the Committee, when directed to do so by the
10 Committee. The subpoena shall be addressed to the witness, state
11 that such proceeding is before a Committee of the House at which
12 the witness is required to attend and testify at a time and
13 place certain and be signed by the Chairman of the Committee
14 commanding attendance of such witness. Mileage and witness fees
15 shall be paid to such witness in an amount prescribed by law.
16 The Chairman of the investigative hearing shall call the
17 Committee to order and announce in an opening statement the
18 subject or purposes of the investigation.
19 A copy of this rule shall be made available to the witnesses
20 at least three calendar days prior to his or her scheduled
21 testimony. Witnesses at investigative hearings, may be
22 accompanied by their own counsel for the purpose of advising
23 them concerning their constitutional rights. The Chairman, for
24 breaches of order or decorum or of professional ethics on the
25 part of counsel, may exclude him from the hearing. Counsel may
26 interpose legal objection to any and all questions which in the
27 opinion of counsel may violate the civil or constitutional
28 rights of his clients.
29 If the Committee determines that evidence or testimony at an
30 investigative hearing may tend to defame, degrade or incriminate
19790H0053R1357 - 54 -
1 any person, it shall:
2 a. receive such evidence or testimony in executive session;
3 b. afford such person an opportunity voluntarily to appear
4 as a witness; and
5 c. receive and dispose of requests from such person to
6 subpoena additional witnesses.
7 No evidence or testimony taken in executive session may be
8 released to any person or authority or used in public sessions
9 without the consent of the Committee.
10 Proceedings of all public hearing shall be either
11 stenographically or electronically recorded. The Committee shall
12 determine which parts of such recorded proceedings, if any,
13 shall be transcribed and four copies thereof shall be
14 distributed and additional copies made available as provided in
15 Rule 50. Such stenographic or electronic records shall be
16 preserved by the Chief Clerk until he is directed to dispose of
17 same by an affirmative vote of three-quarters of the entire
18 membership of the Rules Committee and shall be made available to
19 any member upon written request for the purpose of transcription
20 at that member's expense. Any transcribed records and any
21 reports of the Committee shall be filed with the Chief Clerk or
22 his designee and shall be made available to any person in
23 accordance with reasonable rules and regulations prescribed by
24 the Chief Clerk.
25 Upon payment of a reasonable cost to be determined by the
26 Chief Clerk, a person may obtain a copy of the transcript of any
27 testimony given at a public session or, if given at an executive
28 session when authorized by the Committee. All standing
29 committees, subcommittees, special committees or commissions
30 which are authorized to hold public hearings and investigations
19790H0053R1357 - 55 -
1 shall file a final report before being discharged of delegated
2 responsibilities.
3 RULE 52
4 Possession of Bills by Committee
5 When a committee has ordered that a bill, resolution or other
6 matter be reported to the House, the member to whom it is
7 assigned shall make the report thereof to the House either on
8 the same day or at the next meeting of the House.
9 Failure of a member to comply with this rule shall be
10 reported to the House by the committee, provided the official
11 copy of the bill, resolution or other matter has not been
12 obtained. Upon a motion agreed to by the House, a duplicate
13 certified copy of a House bill, House resolution or other House
14 matter shall be furnished to the committee by the Chief Clerk.
15 A committee or Sub-committee shall not consider a bill,
16 resolution or other matter which is not in its possession.
17 When a committee reports to the House that a House bill,
18 House Resolution or other House matter referred to it is lost,
19 upon a motion agreed to by the House, a duplicate certified copy
20 thereof shall be furnished by the Chief Clerk.
21 If the Senate bill, Senate resolution or other Senate matter
22 received from the Senate is lost, upon a motion agreed to by the
23 House, a request shall be made to the Senate to furnish the
24 House with a duplicate certified copy thereof.
25 If a bill, resolution or other matter is lost before it has
26 been referred to a committee, the fact shall be reported to the
27 House and the procedure provided by this rule shall be followed.
28 RULE 53
29 Discharge of Committees
30 A member may present to the Chief Clerk a resolution in
19790H0053R1357 - 56 -
1 writing to discharge a committee from the consideration of a
2 bill or resolution which has been referred to it fifteen
3 legislative days prior thereto (but only one motion may be
4 presented for each bill or resolution). The discharge resolution
5 shall be placed in the custody of the Chief Clerk, who shall
6 arrange some convenient place for the signature of the members.
7 A signature may be withdrawn by a member in writing at any time
8 before the discharge resolution is entered in the Journal. When
9 twenty-five members of the House shall have signed the
10 resolution, it shall be entered in the Journal and the title of
11 the bill or resolution and the name of the committee to be
12 discharged shall be printed on the calendar.
13 Any member who has signed a discharge resolution which has
14 been on the calendar at least one legislative day prior thereto
15 and seeks recognition, shall be recognized for the purpose of
16 calling up the discharge resolution and the House shall proceed
17 to its consideration without intervening motion except one
18 motion to adjourn; however, no discharge resolution shall be
19 considered during the last six legislative days of any session
20 of the House. A majority vote of all the members elected to the
21 House shall be required to agree to a resolution to discharge a
22 committee. When any perfected discharge resolution has been
23 acted upon by the House and defeated it shall not be in order to
24 entertain during the same session of the House any other
25 discharge resolution from that committee of said measure, or
26 from any other committee of any other bill or resolution
27 substantially the same, relating in substance to or dealing with
28 the same subject matter.
29 RULE 54
30 Presentation and Withdrawal of Motions
19790H0053R1357 - 57 -
1 When a motion which is in order has been made, the Speaker
2 shall state it or (if it is in writing) cause it to be read by
3 the Clerk. It shall then be in the possession of the House, but
4 it may be withdrawn by the maker at any time before decision or
5 amendment.
6 The Speaker shall put the question in the following form,
7 viz: "those in favor of the motion will say 'aye'." After the
8 affirmative is expressed, "those who are opposed will say 'no'."
9 All motions, except for the previous question and a motion
10 for reconsideration, may be made without a second.
11 No dilatory motion shall be entertained by the Speaker.
12 RULE 55
13 Privileged Motions
14 When a question is under debate or before the House, no
15 motion shall be received but the following, which shall take
16 precedence in the order named:
17 1. To adjourn, or recess
18 2. A call of the House
19 3. To lay on the table
20 4. For the previous question
21 5. To postpone
22 6. To commit or recommit
23 7. To amend
24 Debate on the motion to postpone shall be confined to the
25 question of the postponement and shall not include discussion of
26 the main question.
27 The motion to commit or recommit is open to debate only as to
28 the reasons for or against reference to committee and shall not
29 include a discussion of the merits of the main question.
30 Debate on the motion to amend shall be limited to the
19790H0053R1357 - 58 -
1 amendment and shall not include the general merits of the main
2 question.
3 RULE 56
4 Adjourn
5 A motion to adjourn or recess is not debatable, cannot be
6 amended and is always in order, except: (a) when another member
7 has the floor; (b) when the House is voting.
8 When a motion to adjourn is made, it shall be in order for
9 the Speaker, before putting the question, to permit the Majority
10 and Minority Leaders and/or one member designated by each of
11 them to state to the House any fact relating to the condition of
12 the business of the House which would seem to render it
13 inadvisable to adjourn. These statements shall be limited to two
14 minutes and shall not be debatable.
15 RULE 57
16 Call of the House
17 If a question of the absence of a quorum is raised by a
18 member, the Speaker shall order the Sergeant-at-Arms to close
19 the doors of the House. No member shall be permitted to leave
20 the House, except by permission of the House. The names of the
21 members present shall be recorded and absentees noted. Those for
22 whom no leave of absence has been granted or no sufficient
23 excuse is made may, by order of a majority of the members
24 present, be sent for and taken into custody by the Sergeant-at-
25 Arms and his assistants appointed for that purpose, and brought
26 before the bar of the House where, unless excused by a majority
27 of the members present, they shall be censured or punished for
28 neglect of duty as the House may direct.
29 Further proceedings under a call of the House may be
30 dispensed with at any time after the completion of the roll call
19790H0053R1357 - 59 -
1 and the announcement of the result.
2 These proceedings shall be without debate, and no motion,
3 except to adjourn, shall be in order.
4 RULE 58
5 Persons Admitted Under a Call of the House
6 Members who voluntarily appear during a call of the House
7 shall be admitted to the House. Upon recognition by the Speaker
8 they shall announce their presence and their names shall be
9 recorded on the roll.
10 Officers of the House, accredited correspondents and
11 employees designated by the Chief Clerk shall be admitted to the
12 House during a call.
13 Visitors shall not be admitted to the House after the doors
14 are closed and until the proceedings under the call are
15 terminated, but they shall be permitted to leave.
16 RULE 59
17 Lay on the Table
18 A motion to lay on the table is not debatable, is not subject
19 to amendment and carries with it the main question and all other
20 pending questions which adhere to it, except when an appeal is
21 laid on the table.
22 RULE 60
23 Motion to Take from the Table
24 A motion to take from the table a bill or other subject is in
25 order under the same order of business in which the matter was
26 laid on the table. It shall be decided without debate or
27 amendment.
28 RULE 61
29 Previous Question
30 A motion for the previous question, seconded by twenty
19790H0053R1357 - 60 -
1 members and sustained by a majority of the members present,
2 shall put an end to all debate and bring the House to an
3 immediate vote on the question then pending, or the questions on
4 which it has been ordered.
5 A motion for the previous question may be made to embrace any
6 or all pending amendments or motions and to include the passage
7 or rejection of a bill or resolution.
8 RULE 62
9 Call for Yeas and Nays--Reasons for Vote
10 The yeas and nays of the members on any question shall, at
11 the desire of any two of them, be entered on the Journal.
12 (Constitution, Article II, Section 12).
13 When the Speaker or any member is not satisfied with a voice
14 vote on a pending question, the Speaker may order a roll call
15 vote; or, upon request of two members, before the result of the
16 vote is announced, he shall order a roll call vote.
17 A member may submit a written explanation of his vote
18 immediately following the announcement of the result of the vote
19 and have it printed in the Journal.
20 RULE 63
21 Division of a Question
22 Any member may call for a division of a question by the
23 House, if it comprehends propositions so distinct and separate
24 that one being taken away, the other will stand as a complete
25 proposition for the decision of the House.
26 A motion to strike out and insert is indivisible, but a
27 motion to strike out being lost shall neither preclude amendment
28 nor a motion to strike out and insert.
29 RULE 64
30 Members Required to be Present and Vote
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1 Every member shall be present within the Hall of the House
2 during its sittings, unless excused by the House or unavoidably
3 prevented, and shall vote for or against each question put,
4 unless he has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in the
5 determination of the question, or unless he is excused by the
6 House.
7 No member shall be permitted to vote and have his vote
8 recorded on the roll unless he is present in the Hall of the
9 House during the roll call vote.
10 The Legislative Journal shall show the result of each roll
11 call by yeas and nays and those absent and not voting.
12 RULE 64.1
13 Chronic Absenteeism
14 For purposes of this rule the term "chronic absenteeism"
15 shall mean the unexcused absence of a representative for a
16 period of five consecutive legislative days from official
17 sessions of the House of Representatives or the absence of a
18 committee member for a period of five consecutive days from
19 their assigned committee meetings which meetings qualify as
20 regular committee meetings under the rules of the House of
21 Representatives and the Sunshine Law of the Commonwealth.
22 Any representative who is absent without excuse from regular
23 House sessions for a period of five consecutive legislative days
24 or is absent for a period of five consecutive committee meetings
25 shall be deemed a chronic absentee and may, on a vote of the
26 full House, be held in contempt of this House upon motion of
27 five members of the House for chronic absence from regular House
28 sessions and by motion of three members of the standing
29 committee of the House to which such representative is assigned
30 for chronic absence from regularly scheduled committee meetings.
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1 The term "chronic absenteeism" shall not include:
2 (1) Absence due to the personal illness or bodily injury of
3 a representative.
4 (2) Absence due to personal illness or bodily injury of a
5 member of the immediate family of the representative.
6 (3) Death to a member of the immediate family of a
7 representative.
8 (4) Any excused absence approved by the House pursuant to
9 its rules.
10 RULE 65
11 Member Having Private Interest
12 (A) A member who has a personal or private interest in any <--
13 measure or bill proposed or pending before the House shall
14 disclose the fact to the House and shall not vote thereon.
15 (Constitution, Article III, Section 13).
16 (B) A MEMBER WHO, FOR REMUNERATION, REPRESENTS ANY <--
17 ORGANIZATION REQUIRED TO REGISTER UNDER THE LOBBYING
18 REGISTRATION AND REGULATION ACT SHALL FILE A STATEMENT OF THAT
19 FACT WITH THE CHIEF CLERK.
20 RULE 65 (A)
21 PROFESSIONALS-LEGISLATORS
22 (1) EXCEPT AS HEREINAFTER PROVIDED, ANY MEMBER OR EMPLOYEE
23 OF THE HOUSE OR ITS AGENCIES SHALL NOT BE RETAINED FOR
24 COMPENSATION TO APPEAR IN HIS OR HER PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY TO
25 REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF ANY CLIENT IN ANY PROCEEDING BEFORE
26 ANY COMMONWEALTH DEPARTMENT, BOARD, AGENCY, BUREAU OR
27 COMMISSION, EXCEPT THAT SUCH MEMBER OR EMPLOYEE IS AUTHORIZED TO
28 REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF A CLIENT AT ANY STAGE OF A PROCEEDING
29 BEFORE THE COMMONWEALTH OR ITS AGENCIES WHERE SUCH PROCEEDING
30 WAS INITIALLY TAKEN OR BROUGHT AS A MINISTERIAL ACTION, AS
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1 DEFINED BY THIS RULE, AND AS ORIGINALLY TAKEN WAS NOT INITIALLY
2 ADVERSE IN NATURE TO THE INTEREST OF THE COMMONWEALTH OR ITS
3 AGENCIES.
4 (2) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS RULE SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO
5 PROFESSIONALS-LEGISLATORS:
6 (A) REPRESENTING CLIENTS ON CRIMINAL MATTERS BEFORE THE
7 COURTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
8 (B) REPRESENTING CLIENTS ON CIVIL MATTERS BEFORE THE COURTS
9 OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
10 (C) REPRESENTING CLIENTS IN ALL STAGES OF A PROCEEDING
11 BEFORE THE COMMONWEALTH OR ITS AGENCIES WHICH WAS INITIALLY
12 COMMENCED AS A MINISTERIAL ACTION. THE TERM "MINISTERIAL ACTION"
13 MEANS AND INCLUDES ANY PROCEEDING OR ACTION BEFORE THE
14 COMMONWEALTH OR ITS AGENCIES WHERE THE PROCEEDING, AS INITIALLY
15 COMMENCED INVOLVED SOLELY:
16 (I) THE UNCONTESTED OR ROUTINE ACTION BY THE COMMONWEALTH'S
17 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES IN ISSUING OR RENEWING
18 LICENSES, CHARTERS, CERTIFICATES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OF A
19 SIMILAR NATURE; OR
20 (II) THE PREPARATION, FILING AND REVIEW OF TAX RETURNS AND
21 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY LAW; OR
22 (III) THE PREPARATION, FILING AND REVIEW OF ENGINEERING AND
23 ARCHITECTURAL PLANS, DRAWINGS, SPECIFICATIONS AND REPORTS; OR
24 (IV) ANY OTHER INITIALLY ROUTINE OR UNCONTESTED PREPARATION,
25 FILING, REVIEW OR OTHER ACTION NOT ENUMERATED ABOVE AND
26 CONSIDERED AND NORMALLY HANDLED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OR ITS
27 AGENCIES AS A MINISTERIAL ACTION.
28 (3) THIS RULE SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
29 FIRM OF SUCH MEMBER AND/OR EMPLOYEE.
30 RULE 66
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1 Electric Roll Call
2 The names of the members shall be listed on the electric roll
3 call boards by party affiliation in alphabetical order, except
4 the name of the Speaker shall be last.
5 On any question requiring the "yeas" and "nays", the electric
6 roll call system shall be used. On all other questions to be
7 voted upon, the Speaker may, in his discretion, order the yeas
8 and nays taken by the electric roll call system or voice vote
9 or, upon demand of two members before the result of a vote has
10 been declared, the yeas and nays shall be taken by the electric
11 roll call system.
12 In the event the electric roll system is not in operating
13 order, the Speaker shall order all yea and nay votes be taken by
14 calling the roll, as provided in the Rules of the House.
15 The vote of any member which has not been recorded because of
16 mechanical malfunction of the electric roll call system shall be
17 entered on the Journal, if said member was in the Hall of the
18 House at the time of the vote and did cast his vote at the
19 appropriate time, and the fact of such malfunction is reported
20 to the Speaker of the House prior to the announcement of the
21 result of the vote.
22 When the House is ready to vote upon any question requiring
23 the yeas and nays and the vote is to be taken by the electric
24 roll call system, the Speaker shall state: "The question
25 .............. .............. .............. (Designating the
26 matter to be voted upon.)" The Speaker shall then unlock the
27 voting machine and announce, "The members shall now proceed to
28 vote." Once the voting has begun, it shall not be interrupted,
29 except for the purpose of questioning the validity of a member's
30 vote or, if the voting switch of a member present in the Hall of
19790H0053R1357 - 65 -
1 the House is locked or otherwise inoperative, a request that
2 such switch be rendered operative or such members vote be
3 officially recorded, before the result is announced.
4 When, in the judgment of the Speaker, reasonable time has
5 been allowed all members present in the House to vote (in no
6 event shall such time exceed ten minutes) he shall ask the
7 question: "Have all members present voted"? After a pause, the
8 Speaker shall lock the machine and instruct the Clerk to record
9 the vote, and the Speaker shall announce the result of the vote.
10 No member or other person shall be allowed at the Clerk's
11 desk while the yeas and nays are being recorded, or the vote
12 counted.
13 After the voting machine is locked, no member may change his
14 vote and the votes of tardy members will not be recorded.
15 The vote as electrically recorded on the roll of members
16 shall not in any manner be altered or changed by any person.
17 No member shall vote for another member, nor shall any person
18 not a member vote for a member. Any member who shall vote or
19 attempt to vote for another member, or a person not a member who
20 shall vote or attempt to vote for a member, may be punished in
21 such manner as the House determines.
22 Any member or other person who willfully tampers with or
23 attempts to disarrange, deface, impair or destroy in any manner
24 whatsoever the electrical voting equipment used by the House, or
25 who instigates, aids or abets with the intent to destroy or
26 change the record of votes thereon shall be punished in such
27 manner as the House determines.
28 A member who has been appointed by the Speaker to preside as
29 Speaker Pro Tempore may designate either the Majority or
30 Minority Whip to cast his vote on any question while he is
19790H0053R1357 - 66 -
1 presiding in accordance with his instructions from the Chair.
2 RULE 67
3 Verification and Challenge
4 Upon completion of a roll call and before the result is
5 announced, if there appears to be need for verification, the
6 Speaker may direct the Clerk to verify it, or three members may
7 demand a verification.
8 Any member may challenge in writing the yea or nay or
9 electrically recorded vote of other members. The allegations
10 made shall be investigated by a committee composed of the
11 Speaker, a majority member and a minority member appointed by
12 the Speaker, who shall submit a report to the House not later
13 than its next session. The House shall then decide whether the
14 challenged vote shall be recorded or not.
15 If the challenged vote would change the result, the
16 announcement of the vote shall be postponed until the House
17 decides the case.
18 RULE 68
19 Changing Vote
20 No member may change his vote, or have his vote recorded
21 after the result of a roll call vote has been announced, nor
22 after an affirmative or negative roll has been declared
23 verified.
24 RULE 69
25 Journal
26 The Chief Clerk shall keep a Journal of the proceedings of
27 the House, which shall be printed and shall be made available to
28 the members.
29 The Journal of the proceedings of the last day's session
30 shall not be read unless so ordered by a majority vote of the
19790H0053R1357 - 67 -
1 House.
2 RULE 70
3 History of House Bills
4 and House Resolutions
5 A weekly History, showing the title and action on House bills
6 and the text and action on non-privileged resolutions, shall be
7 compiled and indexed under the direction of the Chief Clerk and
8 shall be printed and placed on each member's desk.
9 The House History shall include a cumulative index of laws
10 enacted during the session and the text of vetoes by the
11 Governor.
12 RULE 71
13 House Calendar
14 Bills and non-privileged resolutions reported from committees
15 to the House with an affirmative recommendation shall be listed
16 on the calendar in such manner as prescribed by the Rules
17 Committee and any other rule of the House. House bills and House
18 resolutions shall precede Senate bills and Senate resolutions.
19 Bills and non-privileged resolutions shall be listed on the
20 House Calendar for no more than fifteen consecutive legislative
21 days. At the end of the fifteenth consecutive legislative day
22 the said bill or non-privileged resolution shall be
23 automatically recommitted to the committee from which it was
24 reported to the floor of the House.
25 Any bill or non-privileged resolution on the calendar which
26 cannot, by its status, be recommitted shall be removed from the
27 calendar and laid on the table, unless the House shall otherwise
28 direct.
29 RULE 72
30 Journal, Transcribing and
19790H0053R1357 - 68 -
1 Documents Rooms
2 No person, except members and employees of the House having
3 official business, shall be permitted in the Transcribing, the
4 Legislative Journal, and the Bills and Documents Rooms of the
5 House without the consent of the Chief Clerk.
6 RULE 73
7 Correspondents
8 Admission to and administration of the Press Galleries of the
9 Senate and House of Representatives shall be vested in a
10 Committee on Correspondents consisting of the President Pro
11 Tempore of the Senate, or his designee; the Speaker of the House
12 of Representatives, or his designee; the Supervisor of the
13 Capitol Newsroom; the President of the Pennsylvania Legislative
14 Correspondents' Association, or his designee and the Executive
15 Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, or his
16 designee.
17 Persons desiring admission to the press sections of the
18 Senate and House of Representatives shall make application to
19 the Chairman of the Committee on Correspondents. Such
20 application shall state the newspaper, press association or
21 licensed radio or television station, its location, times of
22 publication or hours of broadcasting, and be signed by the
23 applicant.
24 The Committee on Correspondents shall verify the statements
25 made in such application, and, if the application is approved by
26 the Committee, shall issue a correspondent's card signed by the
27 members of the Committee.
28 The gallery assigned to newspaper correspondents or
29 recognized press association correspondents or representatives
30 of licensed radio and television stations, systems or
19790H0053R1357 - 69 -
1 newsgathering agencies shall be for their exclusive use and
2 persons not holding correspondents cards shall not be entitled
3 to admission thereto. Employees of the General Assembly,
4 representatives and employees of state departments, boards,
5 commissions and agencies, visitors and members of the families
6 of correspondents entitled to admission to the press gallery
7 shall, at no time, be permitted to occupy the seats or be
8 entitled to the privileges of the press gallery.
9 Accredited representatives of newspapers, wire, newsreel
10 services and licensed radio or television stations, systems or
11 newsgathering agencies, may be authorized by the Speaker of the
12 House to take photographs, make audio or video recordings or
13 tapes, and to broadcast or televise in the House of
14 Representatives. Applications to take photographs, make audio or
15 video recordings or tapes, or to broadcast or televise at public
16 hearings of committees shall be approved by the Committee
17 Chairman or Co-chairmen conducting such hearing. However, the
18 Committee Chairman conducting the hearing may make such orders
19 to such representatives as may be necessary to preserve order
20 and decorum.
21 No photographs shall be taken nor any recordings or tapes
22 made, nor any broadcasting or televising done in the House of
23 Representatives during sessions, being at ease or recessed,
24 without prior notice to the Representatives. When possible, such
25 notice shall be given at the beginning of the session, at ease
26 or recess, during which the photographs, recordings or taping,
27 broadcasting or televising are scheduled to be taken or made.
28 No more than one representative of each newspaper, press
29 association or licensed radio or television station, system or
30 newsgathering agency shall be admitted to the press gallery at
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1 one time. Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative
2 Correspondents' Association and representatives of licensed
3 radio and television stations, systems or newsgathering
4 agencies, assigned to the House of Representatives on a daily
5 basis shall have permanent assigned seating in the press gallery
6 with identification plates. Visiting representatives of daily
7 newspapers, press associations, Sunday newspapers as well as
8 radio and television stations, systems or newsgathering agencies
9 shall coordinate seating accommodations with the supervisor of
10 the Capitol Newsroom.
11 Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or
12 temporary basis, shall at all times, refrain from loud talking
13 or causing any disturbance which tends to interrupt the
14 proceedings of the House of Representatives.
15 Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or
16 temporary basis shall not walk onto the floor of the House of
17 Representatives nor approach the rostrum or the clerks' desks
18 during session or while being at ease.
19 Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or
20 temporary basis wishing to confer with a Representative shall
21 disclose this fact by having a message delivered by a page to
22 the Representative. Such conversation shall be conducted off the
23 floor of the House of Representatives.
24 Representatives of the Pennsylvania Public Broadcasting
25 System may, subject to regulations of the Speaker, televise or
26 make video tapes of proceedings of sessions of the House of
27 Representatives and meetings of all committees of the House of
28 Representatives.
29 RULE 74
30 Visitors
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1 Visitors shall be admitted to the Hall of the House only when
2 sponsored by a member. The chief clerk shall issue an
3 appropriate pass to any visitor so sponsored.
4 Persons admitted to the Hall of the House other than members
5 and attaches, shall not be permitted to stand while the House is
6 in session but shall be seated in chairs provided for them. At
7 no time shall visitors be permitted on the Floor of the House
8 while the House is in Session unless so permitted by the
9 speaker.
10 RULE 75
11 Lobbyists
12 No registered lobbyist shall be admitted to the Hall of the
13 House.
14 RULE 76
15 Soliciting Prohibited
16 No officer or employee of the House shall solicit any member,
17 other officer or employee of the House for any purpose.
18 RULE 77
19 Suspending and Changing Rules
20 Any rule of the House, which is not required by the
21 Constitution, may be temporarily suspended at any time for a
22 specific purpose only by a majority vote of the members elected
23 to the House by a roll call vote.
24 A motion to suspend the rules may not be laid on the table,
25 postponed, committed or amended.
26 The existing rules of the House shall not be changed, added
27 to, modified or deleted except by written resolution and the
28 same approved by a majority vote of the members elected to the
29 House by a roll call vote.
30 Except where such resolution originates with the Committee on
19790H0053R1357 - 72 -
1 Rules, no resolution proposing any change, addition,
2 modification or deletion to existing House rules shall be
3 considered until such resolution has been referred to the
4 Committee on Rules, reported therefrom, printed, filed on the
5 desk of each member and placed on the calendar.
6 Any proposed change, addition, modification or deletion
7 offered by a member on the floor of the House to such resolution
8 shall be considered, in effect, a change, addition, modification
9 or deletion to existing House rules and shall require for
10 approval a majority vote of the members by a roll call vote.
11 RULE 78
12 Parliamentary Authority
13 Jefferson's Manual supplemented by Mason's Manual of
14 Legislative Procedure shall be the parliamentary authority of
15 the House, if applicable and not inconsistent with the
16 Constitution of Pennsylvania, the laws of Pennsylvania
17 applicable to the General Assembly, the Rules of the House, the
18 established precedents of the House and the established customs
19 and usages of the House.
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