PRINTER'S NO. 3789
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
878
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY DERMODY, HOHENSTEIN, DRISCOLL, SCHWEYER, SOLOMON,
MARKOSEK, BIZZARRO, HANBIDGE, KINSEY, GALLOWAY, STURLA,
DELLOSO, SCHLOSSBERG, HARRIS, ULLMAN, YOUNGBLOOD, HOWARD,
HILL-EVANS, McNEILL, BRADFORD, WEBSTER, DeLUCA, ROZZI,
SANCHEZ, KORTZ, WARREN, WILLIAMS, GREEN, FRANKEL, CIRESI,
MADDEN, GAINEY, MERSKI, NEILSON, DONATUCCI, MALAGARI AND
McCLINTON, MAY 19, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MAY 19, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Establishing a Task Force on Emergency Remote Voting.
WHEREAS, In times of emergency, the continued operation of
the House of Representatives is essential to provide for the
welfare of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has
highlighted the need for the House of Representatives to adopt a
contingency plan for remote operation in times of emergency when
meeting in person is either impossible or unsafe; and
WHEREAS, On March 16, 2020, the House of Representatives
unanimously adopted House Resolution 834, a temporary rule
providing for designated voting for the duration of the
declaration of disaster emergency issued by the Governor on
March 6, 2020; and
WHEREAS, House Resolution 834 provided that members could
designate the Majority or Minority Whip to cast their votes on
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their behalf rather than being required to be physically present
in the House Chamber; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives designated voting
process became a model for the other states of the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Despite House Resolution 834's laudable achievement
in providing for the continued operation of the House of
Representatives during the COVID-19 emergency, the model
requires the physical presence of members and staff in the House
of Representatives, a luxury that may be unavailable during
future emergencies; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives establish a Task
Force on Emergency Remote Voting to research and recommend an
emergency remote voting contingency plan for the House of
Representatives to provide for continued operation of the House
in the case of an emergency that prevented members from being
physically present; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Emergency Remote Voting
consist of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives
or his designee, the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives or his designee, the Parliamentarian of the
House of Representatives, the Chief Clerk of the House of
Representatives, the Director of the Legislative Reference
Bureau and the Director of the Legislative Data Processing
Center; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the House of
Representatives shall serve as the chairperson of the Task
Force; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Emergency Remote Voting
submit its recommendations to the House of Representatives by
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November 30, 2020; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force on Emergency Remote Voting
expires upon the submission of its recommendations to the House
of Representatives.
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