Special Session 1 2023-2024 House Resolution 0007 P.N. 0003

PRINTER'S NO. 3

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

Special Session No. 1 of

2023-2024

INTRODUCED BY SCHWEYER, BRIGGS AND CEPHAS, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

INTRODUCED, FEBRUARY 21, 2023

A RESOLUTION

Providing for the Operating Rules For The Special Session On

Providing Justice To Otherwise Barred Victims Of Childhood

Sexual Abuse (Special Session No. 1).

RESOLVED, That the business of the House of Representatives

during Special Session No. 1 (2023) be confined to the subject

contained in the Governor's Proclamation of a Special and

Extraordinary Session issued January 6, 2023; and be it further

RESOLVED, That no other business, including removal of the

presiding Officer or Officers of the House, is in order during

Special Session No. 1 (2023) except consideration of the subject

contained in the Governor's Proclamation of a Special and

Extraordinary Session; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the following be adopted as the Operating

Rules of the House of Representatives For Special Session No. 1

(2023) On Providing Justice To Otherwise Barred Victims Of

Childhood Sexual Abuse:

2023-2024

OPERATING RULES FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION ON

PROVIDING JUSTICE TO OTHERWISE BARRED

VICTIMS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE

(SPECIAL SESSION NO. 1)

The following words and phrases when used in the Operating

Rules For The Special Session On Providing Justice To Otherwise

Barred Victims Of Childhood Sexual Abuse shall have the meanings

given to them in this section unless the context clearly

indicates otherwise:

"Bill" shall mean a bill or joint resolution providing

justice to otherwise barred victims of childhood sexual abuse.

"Committee" shall mean the Committee to Provide Justice to

Otherwise Barred Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

"Day" shall mean any calendar day.

"Floor of the House" shall be that area within the Hall of

the House between the Speaker's rostrum and the brass rail

behind the Members' seats.

"Formal Action" shall mean any vote or motion of a member of

the Committee to report or not report, amend, consider or table

a bill or resolution and the discussion and debate thereof.

"Hall of the House" shall be the floor space within its four

walls and does not include the adjoining conference rooms, the

lobbies or the upper gallery of the House.

"Legislative Day" shall mean any day that the House shall be

in session.

"Officers of the House" shall mean the Chief Clerk, the

Comptroller and the Parliamentarian of the House of

Representatives.

"Press Gallery" shall be within that area known as the Hall

of the House as designated by the Speaker.

"Roll Call Vote" shall be a vote taken and displayed by and

on the electric roll call board or in the event of a malfunction

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of the electric roll call board, by such method as shall be

determined by the Speaker.

"Session" shall mean when the House of Representatives is

sitting in special session.

"Special Session" shall mean Special Session No. 1 (2023) On

Providing Justice To Otherwise Barred Victims of Childhood

Sexual Abuse.

"Special Session Rules" shall mean the Operating Rules For

Special Session.

RULE 1

Speaker Presiding

The Speaker shall preside over the Special Session of the

House. The Speaker may name a member to preside, but the

substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment. The Speaker

may appoint a member as Speaker pro tempore to act in the

Speaker's absence for a period not exceeding ten consecutive

legislative days.

RULE 1 (a)

(Reserved)

RULE 2

Taking the Chair

The Speaker shall take the Chair and call the members to

order on every legislative day at the hour to which the House

adjourned at the last sitting of the House in Special Session.

On the appearance of a quorum, the Speaker shall proceed to the

regular order of business as prescribed by the Special Session

Rules and the limited scope of the Governor's Proclamation of a

Special and Extraordinary Session issued January 6, 2023.

RULE 3

Order and Decorum

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The Speaker or Presiding Officer shall preserve order and

decorum. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the

galleries or lobbies, the Speaker shall have the power to order

the same to be cleared.

The Speaker or Presiding Officer shall have the right to

summon Legislative Security Officers to enforce in the

preservation of order and decorum, and if needed, to summon the

Capitol and State Police to assist.

The Sergeant-at-Arms and Legislative Security Officers under

the direction of the Speaker or the Presiding Officer shall,

while the House is in session, maintain order on the floor and

its adjoining rooms and shall enforce the rule with respect to

the conduct of members, staff and visitors.

RULE 4

Questions of Order

The Speaker shall decide all questions of order subject to an

appeal by two members. The decision of the Speaker shall stand

as the decision of the House unless so appealed and overturned

by a majority of the members elected to the House. The Speaker

may, in the first instance, submit the question to the House.

Questions involving the constitutionality of any matters

shall be decided by the House. On questions of order there shall

be no debate except on an appeal from the decision of the

Speaker or on reference of a question to the House. In either

case, no member shall speak more than once except by leave of

the House.

Unless germane to the appeal, a second point of order is not

in order while an appeal is pending; but, when the appeal is

disposed of, a second point of order is in order and is subject

to appeal.

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RULE 5

Conference Committee Appointments

All Committees of Conference shall be appointed by the

Speaker and shall be composed of three members, with no more

than two being from the same political party.

RULE 6

Signature of the Speaker

The Speaker shall, in the presence of the House, sign all

bills and joint resolutions passed by the General Assembly after

their titles have been publicly read immediately before signing,

and the fact of signing shall be entered on the Journal.

Resolutions, addresses, orders, writs, warrants and subpoenas

issued by order of the House shall be signed by the Speaker and

attested by the Chief Clerk.

RULE 7

(Reserved)

RULE 8

Supervision of Hall of the House and Committee Rooms

Subject to the direction of the Speaker, the Chief Clerk

shall have supervision and control over the Hall of the House,

the caucus and committee rooms and all other rooms assigned to

the House.

During the sessions of the Legislature the Hall of the House

shall not be used for public or private business other than

legislative matters except by consent of the House.

During periods of recess of the House such use may be

authorized by the Speaker without the consent of the House.

RULE 9

Decorum

While the Speaker is putting a question or addressing the

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House and during debate or voting, no member shall disturb

another by talking or walking up and down or crossing the floor

of the House.

RULE 9 (a)

Smoking

No smoking of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other tobacco

products shall be allowed in the Hall of the House nor in any

interior area of the Capitol Complex under the control of the

House of Representatives.

RULE 10

Debate

When a member desires to address the House, the member shall

rise and respectfully address the Speaker. Upon being

recognized, the member may speak, and shall be confined to the

question under consideration and avoiding personal reflections.

When two or more members rise at the same time and ask for

recognition, the Speaker shall designate the member who is

entitled to the floor.

The Leaders may speak more than twice on any question,

without the consent of the House. The sponsor of a bill or

amendment shall be entitled to be recognized twice, and the

maker of a debatable motion shall be entitled to be recognized

twice; but all other members shall be recognized only once.

When recognized, no member except the Leaders and the sponsor

of the bill or amendment under consideration may debate on any

debatable question for more than five minutes each time the

member is recognized.

RULE 11

Interruption of a Member who Has the Floor

A member who has the floor may not be interrupted, except for

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questions of order, by a motion to extend session or by a motion

for the previous question.

A member may yield the floor for questions related to the

subject before the House.

RULE 12

Personal Privilege

Any member may by leave of the Speaker rise and explain a

matter personal to the member, but the member shall not discuss

a pending question in the explanation. Questions of personal

privilege shall be limited to questions affecting the rights,

reputation and conduct of members of the House in their

respective capacity.

RULE 13

Transgression of House Rules

If any member in speaking or otherwise transgresses the

Special Session Rules, the Speaker or any member through the

Speaker shall call the member to order, in which case the member

shall immediately sit down unless permitted by the House to

explain.

The House upon appeal shall decide the case without debate.

If the decision is in favor of the member, the member may

proceed. If the case requires it, the member shall be liable to

censure or other punishment as the House deems proper.

RULE 14

Members' and Employees' Expenses

A member who attends a duly called meeting of the Committee

of which he or she is a member when the House is not in session

or who is summoned to the State Capitol or elsewhere by the

Speaker, or either of the Leaders of the House, to perform

legislative services when the House is not in session shall be

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reimbursed per day for each day of service, plus mileage to and

from the member's residence, at such rates as are established

from time to time, but not in excess of the applicable maximum

mileage rate authorized by the Federal Government. For travel to

any location for committee meetings or for travel to the State

Capitol for any reason, members may not receive reimbursement in

excess of the applicable maximum per diem rate authorized by the

Federal Government. These expenses shall be paid by the Chief

Clerk from appropriation accounts under the Chief Clerk's

exclusive control and jurisdiction, upon a written request

approved by the Speaker of the House or either of the Leaders of

the House.

An employee of the House summoned by the Speaker or either of

the Leaders of the House to perform legislative services outside

of Harrisburg shall be reimbursed for actual expenses and

mileage to and from the employee's residence. Such expenses may

be paid by the Speaker or the Leaders, if they agree to do so,

or shall be paid by the Chief Clerk from appropriation accounts

under the Chief Clerk's exclusive control and jurisdiction, upon

a written request approved by the Speaker, or the Leaders.

District office employees are only permitted to be reimbursed

from an account under the control of the Chief Clerk when

traveling to Harrisburg for a training program sponsored by

either caucus or for travel to a legislative conference approved

by the Speaker or a Leader.

All other travel by district office employees may be

reimbursed from the member's accountable expenses or an account

under the control of the Speaker, or either of the Leaders.

Members and employees traveling outside the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania who receive any reimbursement for expenses or

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travel which reimbursement is from public funds shall file with

the Chief Clerk a statement containing his or her name and the

name, place, date and the purpose of the function.

Money appropriated specifically to and allocated under a

specific symbol number for allowable expenses of members of the

House of Representatives shall be reimbursed to each member upon

submission of vouchers and any required documentation by each

member on forms prepared by the Chief Clerk of the House. No

reimbursement shall be made from this account where a member is

directly reimbursed for the same purpose from any other

appropriation account.

Such allowable expenses of members may be used for any

legislative purpose or function, including but not limited to

the following:

(1) Travel expense on legislative business.

(a) Mileage on session or nonsession days at a rate as may

be approved from time to time, but not in excess of the maximum

mileage rate authorized by the Federal Government for travel;

voucher only.

(b) Miscellaneous transportation on legislative business

(taxi, airport limousine parking, tolls), and expenses of a

similar nature; voucher only for any single expense not in

excess of $10.

than taxi and airport limousine; voucher and receipt from common

carrier.

(d) Car rental; voucher and receipt from rental agency but

reimbursement not to exceed in any month an amount as may be

approved from time to time. Any amount in excess of the said

amount shall be paid by the person renting the car. In no event

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shall other than American manufactured cars be rented.

(e) Lodging, restaurant charges and other miscellaneous and

incidental expenses while away from home. Vouchers only for per

diem allowance approved from time to time, but not in excess of

the applicable maximum per diem rate authorized by the Federal

Government or for actual expenses not in excess of such per diem

rate.

(2) Administrative, clerical and professional services for

legislative business, except for employment of spouses or any

relatives, by blood or marriage.

(a) Administrative and clerical services; voucher and

receipt from person employed.

(b) Professional services; voucher and receipt and copy of

agreement or contract of employment.

(3) Rent for legislative office space; purchase of office

supplies; postage; telephone and answering services; printing

services and rental only of office equipment; voucher and

vendor's receipt, except for postage expense.

(4) Official entertainment─restaurant and beverage charges;

voucher only for expenses. Receipts for entertainment expenses,

together with a statement of the reason for the expense, shall

be submitted with the request for reimbursement.

(5) Purchase of flags, plaques, publications, photographic

services, books, and other similar items in connection with

legislative activities; voucher and vendor's receipt.

(6) Communications and donations in extending

congratulations or sympathy of illness or death; voucher only on

expenses not in excess of $35.

No money appropriated for members' and employees' expenses

shall be used for contributions to political parties or their

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affiliated organizations.

No money appropriated for members' and employees' expenses

shall be used for contributions to charitable organizations or

for charitable advertisements. This paragraph shall not prevent

a de minimis use of legislative resources, in connection with

legislative activities, to benefit a bona fide charitable

organization that serves a member's district.

All disbursements made, debts incurred or advancements paid

from any appropriation account made to the House or to a member

or nonmember officer under a General Appropriation Act or any

other appropriation act shall be recorded in a monthly report

and filed with the Chief Clerk by the person authorized to make

such disbursement, incur any debt or receive any advancement on

a form prescribed by the Chief Clerk.

The Chief Clerk shall prescribe the form of all such reports

and make such forms available to those persons required to file

such reports. Such report form shall include:

(1) As to personnel:

(a) The name, home address, job title, brief description of

duties and where they are performed, department or member or

members to whom assigned, the name of immediate supervisor and

minimum hours of employment per week of each employee.

(b) The appropriation account from which such employee is

compensated, the amount of compensation and whether such person

is on salary, per diem or contract.

(2) As to all other expenditures:

(a) To whom it was paid, the amount thereof, and the nature

of the goods, services or other purpose for which the

expenditure was made.

(b) The appropriation account from which the expenditure was

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made and the name or names of the person or persons requesting

and/or authorizing the same.

The reporting requirements as to personnel may be fulfilled

by the maintenance in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the House

of an alphabetized file containing the current information for

each employee as set forth above.

All monthly reports filed on disbursements made or debts

incurred by any officer or member or employee from

appropriations made to the House or to a member or nonmember

officer under any General Appropriation Act, and the

documentation for each disbursement, shall be public information

and shall be available in accordance with the act of February

14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law.

All vouchers and requisitions relating to all expenditures,

expenses, disbursements and other obligations out of all

appropriated funds of the House, and the documentation

evidencing payment of the vouchers and requisitions, shall be

available in accordance with the Right-to-Know Law.

All requests for reimbursement out of any appropriation shall

be accompanied by a voucher, or other documents where required,

evidencing payment or approval. All requests for reimbursement

out of any appropriation payable to a member, nonmember officer

or employee shall be void if not submitted within 90 days of the

date that the otherwise allowable expense is incurred for any

and all otherwise allowable expenses, including without

limitation, per diem, mileage and actual expenses incurred. Any

such void request for reimbursement may not be paid except

pursuant to a motion to suspend this rule for good cause

specific to the voided request for reimbursement. In no event

shall any payment or reimbursement be made for any otherwise

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allowable expense incurred on or before March 12, 2007. The

voucher form shall be approved and supplied by the Chief Clerk.

Receipts or documentation of every expenditure or disbursement

which is in excess of the maximum amount as set forth herein

shall be attached to the voucher. Where a request for payment is

made in advance of an expense actually incurred, the Chief

Clerk, before making such advance payment shall require a

description satisfactory to the Chief Clerk of the item or

service to be purchased or the expense to be incurred, and a

receipt or other documentation shall be given to the Chief Clerk

after the item or service has been purchased or expense incurred

as evidence that such advancement was in fact expended for such

purpose.

All reports, vouchers and receipts from which reports are

prepared and filed shall be retained by the Chief Clerk, officer

or member, as the case may be, for such period of time as may be

necessary to enable the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission

created pursuant to the act of June 30, 1970 (P.L.442, No.151),

entitled "An act implementing the provisions of Article VIII,

section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, by designating

the Commonwealth officers who shall be charged with the function

of auditing the financial transactions after the occurrence

thereof of the Legislative and Judicial branches of the

government of the Commonwealth, establishing a Legislative Audit

Advisory Commission, and imposing certain powers and duties on

such commission," to conduct, through certified public

accountants appointed by it, annual audits to assure that such

disbursements made or debts incurred were in accordance with

Legislative Audit Advisory Commission guidelines and standards

as approved, or for a minimum of three years, whichever is

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longer. All annual audit reports shall be available for public

inspection. Photocopies of such reports shall be available for a

fee established by the Chief Clerk not to exceed the cost of

duplication.

RULE 14 (a)

(Reserved)

RULE 14 (b)

Electronic Availability of Reports

In addition to the other methods of availability under Rule

14, all expense reports existing in electronic form shall be

provided electronically by the Chief Clerk upon request.

RULE 15

Time of Meeting

The House shall convene on the first legislative day of the

week at 12:00 noon prevailing time, unless otherwise ordered by

a roll call vote of the majority of those elected to the House.

On other days the House shall convene at the discretion of

the House. No session of the House may begin before 8:00 A.M.

nor may any roll call votes be taken after 11:00 P.M. unless

exigent circumstances exist, as determined by an affirmative

vote of three-fourths of the members elected to the House, by a

roll call vote on a motion to extend session. A motion to extend

session may be made to extend session generally or to conclude

business on a specific question or questions. If a motion to

extend session is made prior to 10:15 P.M. and a roll call vote

has not been ordered, the arrival of 10:45 P.M. shall put an end

to all debate and shall bring the House to an immediate roll

call vote on the question to extend session.

Nothing in this rule shall prevent the House from conducting

administrative matters, including the making of announcements

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regarding the House schedule for the benefit of members or in

order to comply with 65 Pa.C.S. § 709 (relating to public

notice) after 11:00 P.M. Upon the Speaker's determination that

all administrative matters are concluded, the Speaker shall

adjourn the House.

RULE 16

Quorum

A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum, but a

smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the

attendance of absent members. (Constitution, Article II, Section

10).

When less than a quorum vote on any question, the Speaker

shall forthwith order the doors of the House closed and the

names of the members present shall be recorded. If it is

ascertained a quorum is present, either by answering to their

names or by their presence in the House, the Speaker shall again

order the yeas and nays. If any member present refuses to vote,

refusal shall be deemed a contempt. Unless purged, the House may

order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove the member or members

without the bar of the House. All privileges of membership shall

be refused the member or members so offending until the contempt

is purged.

RULE 17

Order of Business

The daily order of business shall be:

(1) Prayer.

(2) Pledge of Allegiance.

(3) Correction and approval of the Journal.

(4) Leaves of absence.

(5) Master Roll Call.

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(6) Reports of Committee.

(7) First consideration bills.

(8) Second consideration bills.

(9) Third consideration bills, final passage bills,

including both third consideration and final passage postponed

bills, and resolutions.

(10) Final passage bills recalled from the Governor.

(11) Messages from the Senate and communications from the

Governor.

(12) Reference to appropriate committees of bills,

resolutions, petitions, memorials, remonstrances and other

papers.

(13) Unfinished business on the Speaker's table.

(14) Announcements.

(15) Adjournment.

Any question may, by a majority vote of the members elected,

be made a special order of business. When the time arrives for

its consideration, the Speaker shall lay the special order of

business before the House.

RULE 18

Introduction and Printing of Bills

Bills shall be introduced in quadruplicate, signed and dated

by each member who is a sponsor of the bill, and filed with the

Chief Clerk on any day that the offices of the House of

Representatives are open for business. A sponsor may be added or

withdrawn, but in the case of withdrawals, the names shall be

withdrawn if and when the bill is reprinted.

Bills introduced when received at the Chief Clerk's desk

shall be numbered consecutively and delivered to the Speaker,

who shall refer each bill to the Committee on any day whether or

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not the House is in session. The Speaker shall report to the

House the bills referred to the Committee, either on the day

introduced or received or on the next two legislative days the

House is in session, unless the House is in recess for more than

four consecutive days in which case the Speaker shall provide a

list to both Leaders, within two calendar days, of all bills

which were referred during such period when the House was not in

session.

If the Speaker neglects or refuses to refer to the Committee

any bills (whether House or Senate) as above after introduction

or presentation by the Senate for concurrence, any member may

move for the reference of the bill to the Committee. If the

motion is carried, said bill or bills shall be immediately

surrendered by the Speaker to the Committee.

The first copy of each bill introduced shall be for the

Committee, the second copy shall be for the printer, the third

copy shall be for the news media and the fourth copy shall be

for the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Every bill, after introduction and reference to the

Committee, shall be printed and shall also be posted on the

Internet with the hyperlink to the web page for the members of

the House of Representatives.

Bills may not be withdrawn after reference to the Committee.

RULE 19

Bills Referred to Committees

No bill shall be considered unless referred to the Committee,

printed for the use of the members and returned therefrom.

(Constitution, Article III, Section 2).

RULE 19(a)

Fiscal Notes

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The Committee shall prepare a fiscal note for a bill or

amendment to a bill considered by the Committee or the House

which may require an expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds

of any political subdivision or which may entail a loss of

revenues overall, or to any separately established fund.

The fiscal note shall accompany the bill and provide the

following information in connection with the Commonwealth and

its political subdivisions:

(a) The designation of the fund out of which the

appropriation providing for expenditures under the bill shall be

made;

(b) The probable cost of the bill for the fiscal year of its

enactment;

five succeeding fiscal years;

(d) The fiscal history of the program for which expenditures

are to be made;

(e) The probable loss of revenue from the bill for the

fiscal year of its enactment;

(f) A projected loss of revenue estimate from the bill for

each of the five succeeding fiscal years;

(g) The line item, if any, of the General Fund, special fund

or other account out of which expenditures or losses of

Commonwealth funds shall occur as a result of the bill;

(h) The recommendation, if any, of the Committee and the

reasons therefor relative to the passage or defeat of the bill;

and

(i) A reference to the source of the data from which the

foregoing fiscal information was obtained, and an explanation of

the basis upon which it is computed.

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RULE 19(b)

(Reserved)

RULE 20

Bills Confined to One Subject

No bill shall be passed containing more than one subject,

which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except a general

appropriation bill or a bill codifying or compiling the law or a

part thereof. (Constitution, Article III, Section 3).

RULE 21

Consideration of Bills

(a) Every bill and every joint resolution shall be

considered on three different days. All amendments made thereto

shall be printed for the use of the members before the final

vote is taken thereon, and before the final vote is taken, upon

written request addressed to the presiding officer by at least

25% of the members elected to the House, any bill shall be read

at length. No bill shall become law and no joint resolution

adopted unless, on its final passage, the vote is taken by yeas

and nays, the names of the persons voting for and against it are

entered on the Journal, and a majority of the members elected to

the House is recorded thereon as voting in its favor.

(Constitution, Article III, Section 4).

(b) Members shall be notified of bills and resolutions

scheduled to be voted no later than prior to the close of

business at 4:30 P.M. the second legislative day prior to the

date of second consideration for legislation that has no legal

deadline. (The General Appropriation Act and non-preferred bills

are included within the definition of legislation that has no

legal deadline.) Except as provided in subsection (d), all

amendments shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk

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by 1:00 P.M. of the last legislative day preceding the scheduled

date for second consideration. Members shall be notified of

bills scheduled to be voted on third consideration. A change in

the printer's number as a result of third consideration shall

not require an additional notice of final passage. No vote on

final passage can occur before the date of the scheduled vote.

the above subsection because it is still being prepared by the

Legislative Reference Bureau, the member must provide the Office

of the Chief Clerk with a statement, by the above-noted 1:00

P.M. deadline, prepared by the member containing the factual

content of said amendment along with certification from the

Legislative Reference Bureau that the amendment was submitted to

the Legislative Reference Bureau for drafting prior to the

above-noted 1:00 P.M. deadline. The Legislative Reference Bureau

may not issue a certificate for an amendment to a bill as

amended by another amendment unless the requesting member can

identify by number the underlying amendment.

(d) In cases where an amendment alters a bill so as to

effectively rule out of order an amendment which was timely

filed pursuant to the provisions of this rule, a replacement

amendment may be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk

provided that the subject matter of the replacement amendment is

not substantially different from the intent of the original

amendment. The replacement amendment shall be deemed to have met

the timely filed conditions provided for in this rule. The

member shall notify the Speaker of the member's intent to file a

replacement amendment and shall file a certificate with the

Office of the Chief Clerk. The bill in question may continue to

receive consideration but shall not be moved to third

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consideration until the replacement amendment is available for a

vote. If consideration of the bill is delayed to a new

legislative day due solely to delay in receipt of replacement

amendments, then only amendments timely filed for the date of

the originally scheduled vote and replacement amendments shall

be considered. This limitation on amendments shall not apply to

the bill in question if consideration of the bill is rescheduled

beyond the new legislative day.

(e) A bill may not receive action on concurrence until at

least three hours have elapsed from the time the bill and its

amendatory language was available to the public, unless the

amendment was a technical amendment as described under the first

paragraph of Rule 24 or an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the

members elected to the House indicates they have had sufficient

time to review the language and thereby approve proceeding with

the bill. A brief description of every bill on concurrence shall

be given prior to a vote. Additionally, members shall be

notified and conference committee reports shall be available to

members at least three hours prior to the adoption of all

conference committee reports. When these reports are considered

on the first legislative day of the week, said notice shall be

provided no later than the close of business on the last

business day preceding the vote.

Notwithstanding notice provided, members may, by an

affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members elected to the House,

indicate that they have had sufficient time to review a

conference committee report and that they approve proceeding

with a vote.

RULE 22

First Consideration Bills

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Bills reported from committees shall be considered for the

first time when reported and shall be immediately placed upon

the calendar.

Bills shall not be considered beyond first consideration

until the latest print thereof is on the desks of the members.

Amendments shall not be proposed nor is any other motion in

order on first consideration.

RULE 23

Second Consideration Bills

Bills on second consideration shall be considered in their

calendar order and shall be subject to amendment if approved by

an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members elected to the House.

No House bill on second consideration shall be considered until

called up by a member.

RULE 24

Third Consideration and Final Passage Bills

Bills on third consideration shall be considered in their

calendar order and shall be subject to amendment only when an

amendment is necessary to make the document internally

consistent, to clear up an ambiguity, to correct grammar or to

correct a drafting error or is necessary for purposes of

statutory construction. An amendment under this paragraph shall

not be subject to the filing deadlines under Rule 21. A bill

having received consideration by the House on three different

days and having been agreed to may be called by the Speaker to

receive action on final passage; however, a bill may not receive

action on final passage until at least three hours have elapsed

from the time the bill and its amendatory language was available

to the public, unless the amendment was a technical amendment

permitted under the first paragraph of this rule or an

20231HR0007PN0003 - 22 -

affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members elected to the House

indicates that they have had sufficient time to review the

language of the bill and thereby approve proceeding with the

bill. Upon being called to receive action on final passage, the

title and a brief description of a bill shall be read. A bill on

final passage shall not be subject to amendment, but shall be

subject to debate. At the conclusion of debate, the Speaker

shall then state the question as follows:

"This bill has been considered on three different days and

agreed to and is now on final passage. The question is, shall

the bill pass finally? Agreeable to the provision of the

Constitution, the yeas and nays will now be taken." When more

than one bill shall be called for action on final passage at the

same time, prior to voting, the title or a brief analysis of

each bill shall be read. The Speaker shall then state the

question as follows: "These bills have been considered on three

different days and agreed to and are now on final passage. The

question is, shall the bills on the uncontested calendar pass

finally? Agreeable to the provision of the Constitution, the

yeas and nays will now be taken."

RULE 25

(Reserved)

RULE 26

Reconsideration

A motion to reconsider the vote by which a bill, resolution

or other matter was passed or defeated shall be made in writing

and filed by two members. The motion shall be in order only

under the order of business in which the vote proposed to be

reconsidered occurred and shall be decided on a roll-call vote

by a majority vote. No motion to reconsider shall be in order

20231HR0007PN0003 - 23 -

when the bill, resolution or other matter is no longer in the

possession of or is not properly before the House.

A motion to reconsider any such vote must be filed on the

same day on which the initial vote was taken or within the

succeeding five days in which the House is in session, provided

such bill, resolution or other matter is still in the possession

of or is properly before the House.

When a motion to reconsider any such vote is filed within the

aforesaid time limits, put before the House by the Speaker and

decided by the affirmative vote prescribed herein, the question

recurs on the bill, resolution or other matter reconsidered.

Where a bill, resolution or other matter has been initially

defeated and a motion to reconsider is not timely made, then

such bill, resolution or other matter shall carry the status of

"defeated finally" and not properly before the House.

Therefore, it shall not be in order to entertain a motion to

reconsider any such vote.

Where a timely made motion to reconsider is lost, it shall

not be in order to again entertain a motion to reconsider any

such vote, even though such second motion to reconsider is

timely made.

The vote on a bill or resolution recalled from the Governor

may be reconsidered at any time after the bill or resolution has

been returned to the House.

No bill, resolution or other matter may be reconsidered more

than twice on the same legislative day.

RULE 27

Amendments

No bill shall be amended so as to change its original purpose

(Constitution, Article III, Section 1) or amended so as to go

20231HR0007PN0003 - 24 -

beyond the subject contained in the Governor's Proclamation of a

Special and Extraordinary Session issued January 6, 2023.

No motion or proposition on a subject different from that

under consideration shall be admitted under color of amendment.

Any member may move to amend a bill or resolution, provided

the proposed amendment is germane to the subject. Questions

involving whether an amendment is germane to the subject shall

be decided by the House.

No amendment to an amendment shall be admitted nor

considered.

The sponsor of an amendment shall explain the amendment prior

to consideration by the House. Before consideration, six

typewritten copies of a proposed amendment signed by its sponsor

shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk, one copy of

which shall be delivered to the news media and a printed copy in

typewritten form prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau

shall be placed on the desk of each member if the amendment is

not available on the Legislative Data Processing floor system.

Amendments adopted or defeated may not be considered again

without first reconsidering the vote.

RULE 28

Bills Amending Existing Law

Bills amending existing law shall indicate present language

to be omitted by placing it within brackets and new language to

be inserted by underscoring. (Constitution, Article III, Section

6).

RULE 29

Form for Printing Amendments

In printing amendments to bills and resolutions, all new

matter added shall be in CAPITAL LETTERS, and matter to be

20231HR0007PN0003 - 25 -

eliminated shall be indicated by strike-out type.

In reprinting House bills previously amended by the House and

in reprinting Senate bills previously amended by the Senate, but

not in Senate bills previously amended by the House, all matters

appearing in strike-out type shall be dropped from the new print

and all matter appearing in CAPITAL LETTERS shall be reset in

lower case Roman type.

RULE 30

Bills Amended by the Senate

When a bill or joint resolution has been amended by the

Senate and returned to the House for concurrence, it shall be

referred automatically to the Committee immediately upon the

reading of the message from the Senate by the Clerk. The

consideration of any bill or joint resolution containing Senate

amendments may include amendments by the Committee. The vote on

concurring in amendments by the House to bills or joint

resolutions amended by the Senate shall not be taken until said

bills or joint resolutions have been favorably reported, as

committed or as amended, by the Committee. When said bill or

joint resolution has been favorably reported by the Committee,

either as committed or as amended, said bill or joint resolution

shall be placed on the calendar. When acting on bills or joint

resolutions amended by the Senate, the bill and the amendments

shall be read and the question put on the concurrence in all

amendments to the bill since it was last considered by the

House. Any two members may object to the report of any bill or

joint resolution containing amendments by the Committee. The

objection must be raised prior to the bill or joint resolution

being put to a roll call vote. The question shall be decided by

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to the House. If

20231HR0007PN0003 - 26 -

the House rejects the report of any such bill or joint

resolution, the bill or joint resolution shall be automatically

returned to the Committee as last passed by the Senate. The

House shall not consider any proposed amendment to any amendment

made by the Senate to a bill or joint resolution, nor consider

any amendment to any amendment made by the Committee. A majority

vote of the members elected to the House taken by yeas and nays

shall be required to concur in amendments made by the Senate,

except for appropriations to charitable and educational

institutions not under the absolute control of the Commonwealth,

where a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to the

House shall be required to concur. (Constitution, Article III,

Sections 5 and 30).

Unless the Leaders shall agree otherwise, the offering of an

amendment in the Committee shall not be in order until at least

one hour after the filing of a copy of the amendment as prepared

by the Legislative Reference Bureau with the office of the Chief

Clerk. Upon the filing of such an amendment, the Chief Clerk

shall immediately time stamp the amendment and forthwith forward

a timestamped copy of the amendment to the offices of the

Leaders. Except as provided under this paragraph, it shall not

be in order to suspend or otherwise waive the requirements of

this paragraph.

RULE 31

Bills Vetoed by the Governor

When the Governor has returned a bill to the House with

objections, the veto message shall be read and the House shall

proceed to reconsider it. (Constitution, Article IV, Section

15).

RULE 32

20231HR0007PN0003 - 27 -

(Reserved)

RULE 33

Special Legislation

No local or special bill shall be passed by the House unless

notice of the intention to apply therefor has been published in

the locality where the matter or the thing to be affected may be

situated, which notice shall be at least 30 days prior to the

introduction into the General Assembly of such bill and in the

manner provided by law; the evidence of such notice having been

published shall be exhibited in the General Assembly before the

act shall be passed. (Constitution, Article III, Section 7).

No local or special bill shall be considered in violation of

Article III, Section 32, of the Constitution.

RULE 34

(Reserved)

RULE 35

House and Concurrent Resolutions

Members introducing resolutions other than concurrent

resolutions shall file five copies thereof; seven copies of

concurrent resolutions shall be filed. All resolutions shall be

signed by their sponsors, dated and filed with the Chief Clerk.

After being numbered, one copy of all resolutions shall be given

to the news media and all other copies delivered to the Speaker.

A sponsor may not be added or withdrawn after a resolution has

been printed.

Resolutions may not be withdrawn after reference to a

committee.

The Speaker shall refer House resolutions (except discharge

resolutions) and Senate resolutions presented to the House for

concurrence to the Committee.

20231HR0007PN0003 - 28 -

A House resolution other than a concurrent or joint

resolution shall not:

(a) recognize or designate a day or other period of time

which is not a Federal or Pennsylvania state holiday for any

purpose;

(b) encourage action on a public issue unless either the

resolution has legal force or effect concerning such action or

such action would be taken by a public body;

(d) be offered for any non-legislative purpose or function.

The Speaker shall report to the House when resolutions have

been referred to the Committee, either on the day introduced or

received or the next two legislative days the House is in

session.

A resolution introduced in the House and referred to the

Committee shall be printed and placed in the House files.

When a resolution (House or Senate) is reported from the

Committee, it shall be placed on the calendar and may be called

up by a member for consideration by the House under the order of

business of resolutions. A House resolution other than a

concurrent or joint resolution shall be adopted by a majority of

the members voting.

RULE 36

Privileged Resolutions

Resolutions privileged for the immediate consideration of the

House are those:

(1) Recalling from or returning bills to the Governor.

(2) Recalling from or returning bills to the Senate.

(3) Originating from the Committee.

20231HR0007PN0003 - 29 -

(4) Providing for a Joint Session of the Senate and House

and its procedure.

(5) Placing bills negatived by the Committee on the

calendar.

(6) Adjournment or recess.

RULE 37

(Reserved)

RULE 38

(Reserved)

RULE 39

(Reserved)

RULE 40

Messages

Messages from the Senate and communications from the Governor

shall be received and read in the House within one legislative

day thereafter.

All House and Senate bills shall be delivered to the Senate

with appropriate messages no later than the close of the next

legislative day of the Senate which follows the fifth

legislative day after which the House acted on such bill.

All House bills returned by the Senate after final passage

therein without amendment, and all conference committee reports

on House bills received from the Senate and adopted by the

House, shall be signed by the Speaker within one legislative day

after receipt or adoption, respectively, and shall be delivered

to the Senate before the close of the next legislative day of

the Senate.

All House bills and all conference committee reports on House

bills signed by the Speaker shall be delivered to the Governor

within 24 hours after return from the Senate with the signature

20231HR0007PN0003 - 30 -

of the appropriate Senate officer.

RULE 41

(Reserved)

RULE 42

(Reserved)

RULE 43

Committee to Provide Justice to Otherwise

Barred Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse

There shall be one committee established, known as the

Committee to Provide Justice to Otherwise Barred Victims of

Childhood Sexual Abuse whose members shall be appointed by the

Speaker under Rule 44.

RULE 44

Organization of Committee

The Committee shall consist of five members, including the

Democratic and Republican leaders or their designees, the

Democratic and Republican Chairs of the Committee on

Appropriations or their designees, and a fifth member appointed

by the Speaker who shall serve as chair of the Committee. The

Speaker may not be appointed to the Committee. The Speaker shall

designate a secretary of the Committee from among the members of

the Committee. The membership of the Committee shall first meet

upon the call of its chair and perfect its organization. A

majority of the members to which the Committee is entitled shall

constitute a quorum for it to proceed to business. The Committee

shall have the power to promulgate rules not inconsistent with

these rules which may be necessary for the orderly conduct of

its business.

RULE 45

Powers and Duties of Committee

20231HR0007PN0003 - 31 -

The chair of the Committee shall schedule meetings for the

transaction of business before the Committee. The chair of the

Committee shall notify all members, at least 24 hours in advance

of the date, time and place of regular meetings, and, insofar as

possible, the subjects on the agenda. In addition to regular

meetings, special meetings may be called from time to time by

the chair of the Committee as they deem necessary. No recess or

combination of recesses shall exceed 48 hours for any committee

meeting. The Committee may not meet during any session of the

House without first obtaining permission of the Speaker. During

any such meeting, no vote shall be taken on the Floor of the

House on any amendment, recommittal motion, final passage of any

bill, or any other matter requiring a roll call vote. Any

committee meeting called off the Floor of the House shall meet

in a committee room. In addition to the specific provisions of

this rule, all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open

meetings) relative to notice of meetings shall be complied with.

At a scheduled meeting, or upon the call of the chair, the

membership of the Committee shall meet to consider any bill,

resolution, or other matter on the agenda. The secretary of the

Committee shall record:

(1) the minutes of the meeting;

(2) all votes taken;

(3) a roll or attendance of members at the committee meeting

showing the names of those present, absent or excused from

attendance, and the chair shall verify by signature all votes

taken and the roll or attendance of those members present,

absent or excused before said records are submitted to the Chief

Clerk; and

(4) dispatch of bills and resolutions before the Committee.

20231HR0007PN0003 - 32 -

Such records shall be open to public inspection. On the first

legislative day of each week the House is in session, the chair

of the Committee shall submit to the Chief Clerk for inclusion

in the House Journal only, the roll or record of attendance of

members at the committee meetings held prior thereto and not yet

reported, along with the record of all votes taken at such

meetings. All reports from the Committee shall be prepared in

writing by the secretary of the Committee. Members of the

Committee may prepare in writing and file a minority report,

setting forth the reasons for their dissent. Such committee

reports shall be filed with the Chief Clerk within five days of

the meeting. All meetings at which formal action is taken by the

Committee shall be open to the public, making such reports as

are required under this rule.

Whenever the chair of the Committee shall refuse to call a

regular meeting, then a majority of the members of the Committee

may vote to call a meeting by giving two days' written notice to

the Speaker of the House, setting the time and place for such

meeting. Such notice shall be read in the House and the same

posted by the Chief Clerk in the House Chamber. Thereafter, the

meeting shall be held at the time and place specified in the

notice. In addition, all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7

(relating to open meetings) relative to notice of meetings shall

be complied with.

Records, bills and other papers in the possession of the

Committee upon final adjournment of the House shall be filed

with the Chief Clerk.

No committee report shall be recognized by the House, unless

the same has been acted upon by a majority vote of the members

of the Committee present at a committee session actually

20231HR0007PN0003 - 33 -

assembled and meeting as a committee, provided such majority

vote numbers at least three members, and provided further a

quorum is present.

When the majority of the members of the Committee believe

that a certain bill or resolution in the possession of the

Committee should be considered and acted upon by the Committee,

they may request the chair to include the same as part of the

business of a committee meeting. Upon failure of the chair to

comply with such request, the membership may require that such

bill be considered by written motion made and approved by a

majority vote of the entire membership to which the Committee is

entitled.

RULE 45 (a)

(Reserved)

RULE 46

(Reserved)

RULE 47

Status of Members Indicted or Convicted of a Crime

When an indictment is returned or a charge is filed before a

court of record against a member of the House, and the gravamen

of the indictment or charge is directly related to the member's

conduct as a committee chair or in a position of leadership or

is one which would render the member ineligible to the General

Assembly under section 7 of Article II of the Constitution of

Pennsylvania, the member shall be relieved of committee chair

status or leadership position until the indictment or charge is

disposed of, but the member shall otherwise continue to function

as a Representative, including voting, and shall continue to be

paid.

If, during the same legislative term, the indictment or

20231HR0007PN0003 - 34 -

charge is quashed, dismissed or withdrawn, or the court finds

that the member is not guilty of the offense alleged, the member

shall immediately be restored to committee chair status or the

leadership position retroactively from which he or she was

suspended.

Upon a finding or verdict of guilt by a judge or jury, plea

or admission of guilt or plea of nolo contendere of a member of

the House of a crime, the gravamen of which relates to the

member's conduct as a Representative or which would render the

member ineligible to the General Assembly under section 7 of

Article II of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the

Parliamentarian of the House shall prepare a resolution of

expulsion under the sponsorship of the Speaker or the Leaders.

The resolution shall be printed and placed on the calendar for

the next day of House session.

Upon a finding or verdict of guilt by a judge or jury, plea

or admission of guilt or plea of nolo contendere of a member of

the House of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery or perjury,

and upon imposition of sentence, the member shall no longer be

eligible to serve in the General Assembly.

RULE 48

Conference Committee

All Committees of Conference shall be appointed by the

Speaker and shall be composed of three members, no more than two

coming from the same political party.

The conferees shall confine themselves to the differences

which exist between the House and Senate.

The presentation of reports of Committees of Conference shall

be in order after having been signed by a majority of members of

the Committee of Conference of each House.

20231HR0007PN0003 - 35 -

Consideration of a report of a Committee of Conference by the

House shall be in order when it has been printed, placed on the

desks of the members and listed on the calendar.

RULE 49

Committee Action

Whenever a bill, resolution or other matter has been referred

by the Speaker of the House to the Committee, the Committee

shall have full power and control over such bill, resolution or

other matter, except that the Committee shall not change the

subject of the bill nor any amendments adopted by the House.

The recommendations by the committee that a bill or

resolution be reported negatively shall not affect its

consideration by the House. The words "negative recommendation"

shall be printed conspicuously on a line above the title of this

bill.

After a bill is reported out of the Committee, all committee

votes taken with respect to the bill shall be posted on the

Internet as soon as practicable.

RULE 50

Public Hearings

When a proposed bill, resolution or any matter is referred to

the Committee, the Committee shall have full power and authority

to study said bill, resolution or other matter before it, as the

Committee shall determine is necessary to enable it to report

properly to the House thereon. To this end the Committee may, as

hereinafter provided, conduct public hearings. The Committee may

not hold any public hearings without prior approval by a

majority vote of the members of the Committee and the Speaker of

the House. The Speaker of the House shall withhold approval of

public hearings based only on budgetary consideration.

20231HR0007PN0003 - 36 -

When a public hearing has been authorized as aforesaid, the

chair of the Committee shall instruct the Chief Clerk to give

written notice thereof to each House Member not less than five

calendar days before the proposed hearings and post the same in

or immediately adjacent to the House Chambers.

Such notice, which shall contain the day, hour and place of

the hearing and the number or numbers of bills or other subject

matter to be considered at such hearing, shall also be given the

supervisor of the news room, and to the news media. In addition,

all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings),

relative to notice of meetings shall be complied with.

Public hearings held by the Committee shall be chaired by the

chair of the Committee, unless absent, in which case an acting

chair shall be selected by the chair.

All public hearings shall be open to the public and

reasonable opportunity to be heard shall be afforded to all

interested parties who have requested an appearance before the

Committee. In addition, it shall be the responsibility of the

Committee in conducting its hearing to request the presentation

of testimony by any person who, in the opinion of the Committee,

is qualified to present pertinent and important testimony.

The Committee shall, so far as practicable, request all

witnesses appearing before it to file written statements of

their proposed testimony. The chair shall have the right to fix

the order of appearance and the time to be allotted to

witnesses. Witnesses may submit brief pertinent statements in

writing for inclusion in the record. The Committee is the sole

judge of the pertinency of testimony and evidence adduced at its

hearings.

The chair, in presiding at such public hearings, shall

20231HR0007PN0003 - 37 -

preserve order and decorum, in and adjacent to the committee

room while the hearing is being conducted and shall have the

authority to direct the removal from the committee room of any

person who fails to comply with order and decorum of the

Committee.

Proceedings of all public hearings shall be either

stenographically or electronically recorded. The committee shall

determine which parts of such recorded proceedings, if any,

shall be transcribed and the distribution thereof. Except as

hereinafter provided, no more than four copies of any transcript

shall be made. Such stenographic or electronic records and at

least one copy of any transcription shall be preserved by the

Chief Clerk until authorized to dispose of same by an

affirmative vote of three-quarters of the entire membership of

the Committee and shall be made available to any member upon

written request for the purpose of copying or transcription at

that member's expense. Any transcribed records and any reports

of the Committee shall be filed with the Chief Clerk or his

designee and shall be made available to any person in accordance

with reasonable rules and regulations prescribed by the Chief

Clerk. Upon payment of a reasonable cost to be determined by the

Chief Clerk, a person may obtain a copy of such transcribed

records or reports.

All written testimony and all transcribed testimony at

committee hearings shall be posted on the Internet as soon

thereafter as practicable.

The Chief Clerk shall not make payment of any expenses

incurred as a result of a public hearing without the prior

written approval of the Speaker of the House.

RULE 51

20231HR0007PN0003 - 38 -

(Reserved)

RULE 52

Possession of Bills by Committee

When the Committee has ordered that a bill, resolution or

other matter be reported to the House, the member to whom it is

assigned shall make the report thereof to the House either on

the same day or at the next meeting of the House.

Failure of a member to comply with this rule shall be

reported to the House by the Committee, provided the official

copy of the bill, resolution or other matter has not been

obtained. Upon a motion agreed to by the House, a duplicate

certified copy of a House bill, House resolution or other House

matter shall be furnished to the Committee by the Chief Clerk.

The Committee shall not consider a bill, resolution or other

matter which is not in its possession.

When the Committee reports to the House that a House bill,

House resolution or other House matter referred to it is lost,

upon a motion agreed to by the House, a duplicate certified copy

thereof shall be furnished by the Chief Clerk.

If a Senate bill, Senate resolution or other Senate matter

received from the Senate is lost, upon a motion agreed to by the

House, a request shall be made to the Senate to furnish the

House with a duplicate certified copy thereof.

If a bill, resolution or other matter is lost before it has

been referred to the Committee, the fact shall be reported to

the House and the procedure provided by this rule shall be

followed.

RULE 53

Discharge of Committees

A member may present to the Chief Clerk a resolution in

20231HR0007PN0003 - 39 -

writing to discharge the Committee from the consideration of a

bill or resolution which has been referred to it 15 legislative

days prior thereto (but only one motion may be presented for

each bill or resolution). The discharge resolution shall be

placed in the custody of the Chief Clerk, who shall arrange some

convenient place for the signature of the members. A signature

may be withdrawn by a member in writing at any time before the

discharge resolution is entered in the Journal. When 25 members

of the House shall have signed the resolution, it shall be

entered in the Journal and the title of the bill or resolution

and the name of the Committee to be discharged shall be printed

on the calendar.

Any member who has signed a discharge resolution which has

been on the calendar at least one legislative day prior thereto

and seeks recognition, shall be recognized for the purpose of

calling up the discharge resolution and the House shall proceed

to its consideration without intervening motion except one

motion to adjourn; however, no discharge resolution shall be

considered during the last six legislative days of any session

of the House. A majority vote of all the members elected to the

House shall be required to agree to a resolution to discharge

the Committee. When any perfected discharge resolution has been

acted upon by the House and defeated it shall not be in order to

entertain during the same session of the House any other

discharge resolution from the Committee of said measure, or from

any other committee of any other bill or resolution

substantially the same, relating in substance to or dealing with

the same subject matter.

RULE 54

Presentation and Withdrawal of Motions

20231HR0007PN0003 - 40 -

When a motion which is in order has been made, the Speaker

shall state it or (if it is in writing) cause it to be read by

the Clerk. It shall then be in the possession of the House, but

it may be withdrawn by the maker at any time before decision or

amendment.

The Speaker shall put the question in the following form,

viz: "those in favor of the motion will say 'aye'." After the

affirmative is expressed, "those who are opposed will say 'no'."

All motions, except for the previous question and a motion

for reconsideration, may be made without a second.

No dilatory motion shall be entertained by the Speaker.

RULE 55

Privileged Motions

When a question is under debate or before the House, no

motion shall be received but the following, which shall take

precedence in the order named:

(1) To adjourn, or recess.

(2) To extend session.

(3) A call of the House.

(4) For the previous question.

(5) To lay on the table.

(6) To postpone.

(7) To commit or recommit.

(8) To amend.

Debate on the motion to postpone shall be confined to the

question of the postponement and shall not include discussion of

the main question.

The motion to commit or recommit is open to debate only as to

the reasons for or against reference to the Committee and shall

not include a discussion of the merits of the main question.

20231HR0007PN0003 - 41 -

Debate on the motion to amend shall be limited to the

amendment and shall not include the general merits of the main

question.

RULE 56

Adjourn

A motion to adjourn or recess is debatable, cannot be amended

and is always in order, except:

(1) when another member has the floor; or

(2) when the House is voting.

RULE 57

Call of the House

If a question of the absence of a quorum is raised by a

member, the Speaker shall order the Sergeant-at-Arms to close

the doors of the House. No member shall be permitted to leave

the House, except by permission of the House. The names of the

members present shall be recorded and absentees noted. Those for

whom no leave of absence has been granted or no sufficient

excuse is made may, by order of a majority of the members

present, be sent for and taken into custody by the Sergeant-at-

Arms and assistants appointed for that purpose, and brought

before the bar of the House where, unless excused by a majority

of the members present, they shall be censured or punished for

neglect of duty as the House may direct.

Further proceedings under a call of the House may be

dispensed with at any time after the completion of the roll call

and the announcement of the result.

These proceedings shall be without debate, and no motion,

except to adjourn, shall be in order.

RULE 58

Persons Admitted Under a Call of the House

20231HR0007PN0003 - 42 -

Members who voluntarily appear during a call of the House

shall be admitted to the House. Upon recognition by the Speaker

they shall announce their presence and their names shall be

recorded on the roll. Officers of the House, accredited

correspondents and employees designated by the Chief Clerk shall

be admitted to the House during a call.

Visitors shall not be admitted to the House after the doors

are closed and until the proceedings under the call are

terminated, but they shall be permitted to leave.

RULE 59

Lay on the Table

A motion to lay on the table is debatable by the Leaders, the

maker of the motion, the maker of the amendment under

consideration and the prime sponsor of the bill under

consideration. It is not subject to amendment and carries with

it the main question and all other pending questions which

adhere to it, except when an appeal is laid on the table. The

passage of a motion to lay an amendment on the table shall not

cause the subject bill or resolution and all other amendments to

be laid on the table.

RULE 60

Motion to Take from the Table

A motion to take from the table a bill or other subject is in

order under the same order of business in which the matter was

laid on the table. It shall be decided without amendment and is

debatable by the Leaders, the maker of the motion, the maker of

the amendment under consideration and the prime sponsor of the

bill under consideration.

RULE 61

Previous Question

20231HR0007PN0003 - 43 -

A motion for the previous question, seconded by 20 members

and sustained by a majority of the members present, shall put an

end to all debate and bring the House to an immediate vote on

the question then pending, or the questions on which it has been

ordered.

A motion for the previous question may be made to embrace any

or all pending amendments or motions and to include the passage

or rejection of a bill or resolution.

RULE 62

Call for Yeas and Nays-Reasons for Vote

The yeas and nays of the members on any question shall, at

the desire of any two of them, be entered on the Journal.

(Constitution, Article II, Section 12).

When the Speaker or any member is not satisfied with a voice

vote on a pending question, the Speaker may order a roll call

vote; or, upon request of two members, before the result of the

vote is announced, the Speaker shall order a roll call vote.

A member may submit a written explanation of his or her vote

immediately following the announcement of the result of the vote

and have it printed in the Journal.

RULE 63

Division of a Question

Any member may call for a division of a question by the

House, if it comprehends propositions so distinct and separate

that one being taken away, the other will stand as a complete

proposition for the decision of the House. Bills and resolutions

shall not be subject to division.

RULE 64

Members Required to be Present and Vote

Except as provided in these special session rules, the

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provisions of this rule shall apply.

Every member shall be present within the Hall of the House

during its sittings, unless excused by the House or unavoidably

prevented, and shall vote for or against each question put,

unless he or she has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in

the determination of the question or unless excused.

A member may exit the Hall of the House for brief periods

without being placed on leave to attend to the member's

immediate personal needs. In such instances, the member shall

not leave the vicinity of the Hall of the House in the Capitol

Complex and shall return to the Hall of the House promptly if

requested.

No member shall be permitted to vote and have his or her vote

recorded on the roll unless present in the Hall of the House

during the roll call vote, except that a member may provide

direction for his or her vote if the member is in the vicinity

of the Hall of the House in the Capitol Complex attending to the

member's immediate personal need.

The Legislative Journal shall show the result of each roll

call by yeas and nays and those absent and those not voting.

RULE 64 (a)

Chronic Absenteeism

For purposes of this rule the term "chronic absenteeism"

shall mean the unexcused absence of a representative for a

period of five consecutive legislative days from official

sessions of the House of Representatives or the absence of a

committee member for a period of five consecutive days from a

committee meeting which meeting qualifies as a regular committee

meeting under these special session rules of the House of

Representatives and the Sunshine Law of the Commonwealth.

20231HR0007PN0003 - 45 -

Any representative who is absent without excuse from House

sessions for a period of five consecutive legislative days or is

absent for a period of five consecutive committee meetings shall

be deemed a chronic absentee and may, on a vote of the full

House, be held in contempt of this House upon motion of five

members of the House for chronic absence from House sessions and

by motion of three members of the committee to which such

representative is assigned for chronic absence from regularly

scheduled committee meetings.

The term "chronic absenteeism" shall not include:

(1) Absence due to the personal illness or bodily injury of

a representative.

(2) Absence due to personal illness or bodily injury of a

member of the immediate family of the representative.

(3) Death of a member of the immediate family of a

representative.

(4) Absence due to military service.

(5) Any excused absence approved by the House pursuant to

its rules.

RULE 65

Member Having Private Interest

(1) A member who has a personal or private interest in any

measure or bill proposed or pending before the House shall

disclose the fact to the House and shall not vote thereon.

(Constitution, Article III, Section 13).

(2) A member who, for remuneration, represents any

organization required to register under 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 13A

(relating to lobbying disclosure) shall file a statement of that

fact with the Chief Clerk.

RULE 65 (a)

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Professionals-Legislators

(1) Except as hereinafter provided, any member or employee

of the House or its agencies shall not be retained for

compensation to appear in his or her professional capacity to

represent the interest of any client in any proceeding before

any Commonwealth department, board, agency, bureau or

commission, except that such member or employee is authorized to

represent the interest of a client at any stage of a proceeding

before the Commonwealth or its agencies where such proceeding

was initially taken or brought as a ministerial action, as

defined by this rule, and as originally taken was not initially

adverse in nature to the interest of the Commonwealth or its

agencies.

(2) The provisions of this rule shall not be applicable to

professionals-legislators:

(a) Representing clients on criminal matters before the

courts of this Commonwealth.

(b) Representing clients on civil matters before the courts

of this Commonwealth.

before the Commonwealth or its agencies which was initially

commenced as a ministerial action. The term "ministerial action"

means and includes any proceeding or action before the

Commonwealth or its agencies where the proceeding, as initially

commenced involved solely:

(i) The uncontested or routine action by the Commonwealth's

administrative officers or employees in issuing or renewing

licenses, charters, certificates or any other documents of a

similar nature; or

(ii) The preparation, filing and review of tax returns and

20231HR0007PN0003 - 47 -

supporting documents required by law; or

(iii) The preparation, filing and review of engineering and

architectural plans, drawings, specifications and reports; or

(iv) Any other initially routine or uncontested preparation,

filing, review or other action not enumerated above and

considered and normally handled by the Commonwealth or its

agencies as a ministerial action.

(d) Representing clients in workmen's compensation

proceedings before the bureau, its referees or the Workmen's

Compensation Appeals Board.

(3) This rule shall not apply to the other members of the

firm of such member and/or employee.

RULE 65 (b)

(Reserved)

RULE 66

Electric Roll Call

The names of the members shall be listed on the electric roll

call boards by party affiliation in alphabetical order, except

the name of the Speaker shall be last.

On any question requiring the "yeas" and "nays", the electric

roll call system shall be used. On all other questions to be

voted upon, the Speaker may order the yeas and nays taken by the

electric roll call system or voice vote or, upon demand of two

members before the result of a vote has been declared, the yeas

and nays shall be taken by the electric roll call system.

In the event the electric roll call system is not in

operating order, the Speaker shall order all yea and nay votes

be taken by calling the roll, as provided in the Rules of the

House.

The vote of any member which has not been recorded because of

20231HR0007PN0003 - 48 -

mechanical malfunction of the electric roll call system shall be

entered on the Journal, if said member was in the Hall of the

House at the time of the vote and did cast his or her vote at

the appropriate time, and the fact of such malfunction is

reported to the Speaker of the House prior to the announcement

of the result of the vote.

When the House is ready to vote upon any question requiring

the yeas and nays and the vote is to be taken by the electric

roll call system, the Speaker shall state: "The

question .............. (Designating the matter to be voted

upon.)" The Speaker shall then unlock the voting machine and

announce, "The members shall now proceed to vote." Once the

voting has begun, it shall not be interrupted, except for the

purpose of questioning the validity of a member's vote or, if

the voting switch of a member present in the Hall of the House

is locked or otherwise inoperative, a request that such switch

be rendered operative or such members vote be officially

recorded, before the result is announced.

When, in the judgment of the Speaker, reasonable time has

been allowed all members present in the House to vote (in no

event shall such time exceed ten minutes) the Speaker shall ask

the question: "Have all members present voted?" After a pause,

the Speaker shall lock the machine and instruct the Clerk to

record the vote, and the Speaker shall announce the result of

the vote.

No member or other person shall be allowed at the Clerk's

desk while the yeas and nays are being recorded, or the vote

counted.

After the voting machine is locked, no member may change a

vote and the votes of tardy members will not be recorded.

20231HR0007PN0003 - 49 -

The vote as electrically recorded on the roll of members

shall not in any manner be altered or changed by any person.

Except as provided in these special session rules, no member

shall vote for another member, nor shall any person not a member

vote for a member.

Any member or other person who willfully tampers with or

attempts to disarrange, deface, impair or destroy in any manner

whatsoever the electrical voting equipment used by the House, or

who instigates, aids or abets with the intent to destroy or

change the record of votes thereon shall be punished in such

manner as the House determines.

A member who has been appointed by the Speaker to preside as

Speaker pro tempore may designate either Whip to cast his or her

vote on any question while presiding in accordance with

instructions from the Chair.

The Chief Clerk shall post all votes by the electric roll

call system on the Internet no later than the close of business

on the day they are made.

A prime sponsor of a bill, the Leaders or a member designated

to act on their behalf may request that the roll call remain

open for the maximum time allowed in accordance with this rule.

During such roll call, no vote shall be recorded unless the

member is at his or her regularly assigned seat.

RULE 67

Verification and Challenge

Upon completion of a roll call and before the result is

announced, if there appears to be need for verification, the

Speaker may direct the Clerk to verify it, or three members may

demand a verification.

Any member may challenge in writing the yea or nay or

20231HR0007PN0003 - 50 -

electrically recorded vote of other members. The allegations

made shall be investigated by a committee composed of the

Speaker and a member of each party appointed by the Speaker, who

shall submit a report to the House not later than its next

session. The House shall then decide whether the challenged vote

shall be recorded or not.

If the challenged vote would change the result, the

announcement of the vote shall be postponed until the House

decides the case.

RULE 68

Changing Vote

No member may change a vote, or have a vote recorded after

the result of a roll call vote has been announced, nor after an

affirmative or negative roll has been declared verified.

RULE 69

Journal

The Chief Clerk shall keep a Journal of the proceedings of

the House, which shall be printed and shall be made available to

the members.

The Journal of the proceedings of the last day's session

shall not be read unless so ordered by a majority vote of the

House.

RULE 70

History of House Bills and House Resolutions

A weekly History, showing the title and action on House bills

and the text and action on nonprivileged resolutions, shall be

compiled and indexed under the direction of the Chief Clerk and

shall be printed and placed on each member's desk.

The House History shall include a cumulative index of laws

enacted during the session and the text of vetoes by the

20231HR0007PN0003 - 51 -

Governor.

RULE 71

House Calendar

Bills and nonprivileged resolutions reported from the

Committee to the House with an affirmative recommendation shall

be listed on the calendar.

A marked calendar shall be provided to all members on each

legislative day on which votes are scheduled on the calendar.

RULE 72

Journal, Transcribing and Document Rooms

No person, except members and employees of the House having

official business, shall be permitted in the Transcribing, the

Legislative Journal, and the Bills and Documents Rooms of the

House without the consent of the Chief Clerk.

RULE 73

Correspondents

Admission to and administration of the Press Galleries of the

Senate and House of Representatives shall be vested in a

Committee on Correspondents consisting of the President pro

tempore of the Senate, or a designee; the Speaker of the House

of Representatives, or a designee; the Supervisor of the Capitol

Newsroom; the President of the Pennsylvania Legislative

Correspondents' Association, or a designee and the Executive

Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, or a

designee.

Persons desiring admission to the press sections of the

Senate and House of Representatives shall make application to

the Chair of the Committee on Correspondents. Such application

shall state the newspaper, press association or licensed radio

or television station, its location, times of publication or

20231HR0007PN0003 - 52 -

hours of broadcasting, and be signed by the applicant.

The Committee on Correspondents shall verify the statements

made in such application, and, if the application is approved by

the Committee on Correspondents, shall issue a correspondent's

card signed by the members of the Committee on Correspondents.

The gallery assigned to newspaper correspondents or

recognized press association correspondents or representatives

of licensed radio and television stations, systems or

newsgathering agencies shall be for their exclusive use and

persons not holding correspondents cards shall not be entitled

to admission thereto. Employees of the General Assembly,

representatives and employees of state departments, boards,

commissions and agencies, visitors and members of the families

of correspondents entitled to admission to the press gallery

shall, at no time, be permitted to occupy the seats or be

entitled to the privileges of the press gallery.

Accredited representatives of newspapers, wire, newsreel

services and licensed radio or television stations, systems or

newsgathering agencies, may be authorized by the Speaker of the

House to take photographs, make audio or video recordings or

tapes, and to broadcast or televise in the House of

Representatives. Applications to take photographs, make audio or

video recordings or tapes, or to broadcast or televise at public

hearings of committees shall be approved by the Committee chair

conducting such hearing. However, the Committee chair conducting

the hearing may make such orders to such representatives as may

be necessary to preserve order and decorum.

No photographs shall be taken nor any recordings or tapes

made, nor any broadcasting or televising done in the House of

Representatives during sessions, being at ease or recessed,

20231HR0007PN0003 - 53 -

without prior notice to the Representatives. When possible, such

notice shall be given at the beginning of the session, at ease

or recess, during which the photographs, recordings or taping,

broadcasting or televising are scheduled to be taken or made.

No more than one representative of each newspaper, press

association or licensed radio or television station, system or

newsgathering agency shall be admitted to the press gallery at

one time. Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative

Correspondents' Association and representatives of licensed

radio and television stations, systems or newsgathering

agencies, assigned to the House of Representatives on a daily

basis shall have permanent assigned seating in the press gallery

with identification plates. Visiting representatives of daily

newspapers, press associations, Sunday newspapers as well as

radio and television stations, systems or newsgathering agencies

shall coordinate seating accommodations with the supervisor of

the Capitol Newsroom.

Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or

temporary basis, shall at all times, refrain from loud talking

or causing any disturbance which tends to interrupt the

proceedings of the House of Representatives. Persons assigned to

the press gallery on a permanent or temporary basis shall not

walk onto the floor of the House of Representatives nor approach

the rostrum or the clerks' desks during session or while being

at ease. Persons assigned to the press gallery on a permanent or

temporary basis wishing to confer with a Representative shall

disclose this fact by having a message delivered by a page to

the Representative. Such conversation shall be conducted off the

floor of the House of Representatives.

Representatives of the Pennsylvania Public Broadcasting

20231HR0007PN0003 - 54 -

System may, subject to regulations of the Speaker, televise or

make video tapes of proceedings of sessions of the House of

Representatives and meetings of all committees of the House of

Representatives.

RULE 74

Visitors

Visitors shall be admitted to the Hall of the House only when

sponsored by a member. The Chief Clerk shall issue an

appropriate pass to any visitor so sponsored.

Persons admitted to the Hall of the House other than members

and attaches, shall not be permitted to stand while the House is

in session but shall be seated in chairs provided for them. At

no time shall visitors be permitted on the Floor of the House

while the House is in session unless so permitted by the

Speaker.

RULE 75

Lobbyists

No registered lobbyist shall be admitted to the Hall of the

House.

RULE 76

Soliciting Prohibited

No officer or employee of the House shall solicit any member,

other officer or employee of the House for any purpose.

RULE 77

Suspending and Changing Rules

Unless otherwise specified in another rule, any rule provided

herein, which is not required by the Constitution, may be

temporarily suspended at any time for a specific purpose only by

a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to the House by a

roll call vote. If a rule requires a greater majority than a

20231HR0007PN0003 - 55 -

two-thirds vote of the members elected to the House to take an

action, that majority greater than two-thirds vote of the

members elected to the House specified in the rule shall be

required to suspend that rule.

A motion to suspend the rules may not be laid on the table,

postponed, committed or amended and may be debated by the

Leaders, the maker of the motion, the maker of the amendment

under consideration and the prime sponsor of the bill under

consideration.

A brief description of the underlying bill or amendment shall

be given whenever a member moves to suspend the rules of the

House in order to consider such bill or amendment.

The existing rules of the House shall not be changed, added

to, modified or deleted except by written resolution and the

same approved by a majority vote of the members elected to the

House by a roll call vote.

Except where such resolution originates with the Committee,

no resolution proposing any change, addition, modification or

deletion to existing House rules shall be considered until such

resolution has been referred to the Committee, reported

therefrom, printed, filed on the desk of each member and placed

on the calendar.

Any proposed change, addition, modification or deletion

offered by a member on the floor of the House to such resolution

shall be considered, in effect, a change, addition, modification

or deletion to existing House rules and shall require for

approval a majority vote of the members by a roll call vote.

RULE 78

Parliamentary Authority

Mason's Manual supplemented by Jefferson's Manual of

20231HR0007PN0003 - 56 -

Legislative Procedure shall be the parliamentary authority of

the House, if applicable and not inconsistent with the

Constitution of Pennsylvania, the laws of Pennsylvania

applicable to the General Assembly, the Rules of the House, the

established precedents of the House and the established customs

and usages of the House.

RULE 79

Voting by Designation on the Floor of the House

A member who is not present in the Hall of the House may

designate either party's Whip to cast the member's vote on any

question.

If a designated Whip is on leave, that designated Whip may

appoint another member to cast all votes designated to that

Whip.

A designation, including commencement date, shall be

accomplished by filing an attestation with the Chief Clerk which

identifies either party's Whip as the member's designee when the

member will not be present in the Hall of the House.

A member may revoke the member's designation by notifying the

Chief Clerk in writing of the revocation.

A member voting by designation under this temporary rule

shall be counted in determining whether a quorum is present. A

designation shall be effective until the designation is revoked.

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