PRINTER'S NO. 246
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
283
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, MADDEN, HANBIDGE, SIEGEL, PROBST,
SANCHEZ, CERRATO, OTTEN AND O'MARA, MARCH 10, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 10, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further
providing for explanation of ballot question.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 201.1 of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is
amended to read:
Section 201.1. Explanation of Ballot Question.--(a)
Whenever a proposed constitutional amendment or other State-wide
ballot question shall be submitted to the electors of the
Commonwealth in referendum, the Attorney General shall prepare a
statement in plain English which indicates the purpose,
limitations and effects of the ballot question on the people of
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the Commonwealth. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
include such statement in his publication of a proposed
constitutional amendment as required by Article XI of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth
shall certify such statement to the county boards of elections
who shall publish such statement as a part of the notice of
elections required by section 1201 or any other provision of
this act. The county board of elections shall also require that
at least three copies of such statement be posted in or about
the voting room outside the enclosed space with the specimen
ballots and other instructions and notices of penalties. In
election questions which affect only one county or portion
thereof, the county board of elections shall fulfill these
requirements in the place of the Attorney General and the
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
(b) Each member of the General Assembly shall hold a public
meeting within the member's respective legislative district for
the purpose of receiving public comment on a proposed
constitutional amendment or other State-wide ballot question.
The public meeting shall:
(1) be held after the preparation of the statement of plain
English under subsection (a), but before the submission of the
proposed constitutional amendment or other State-wide ballot
question to the electors of the Commonwealth in referendum; and
(2) comply with 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open
meetings).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20230HB0283PN0246 - 2 -
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