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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION |
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| INTRODUCED BY EACHUS, JANUARY 6, 2009 |
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| INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JANUARY 6, 2009 |
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| A RESOLUTION |
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1 | Adopting temporary rules for the House of Representatives, |
2 | further providing for members' and employees' expenses, for |
3 | electronic availability of reports, for standing committees |
4 | and subcommittees and for powers and duties of standing |
5 | committees and subcommittees. |
6 | RESOLVED, That this resolution expire in 30 days; and be it |
7 | further |
8 | RESOLVED, That the Permanent Rules of the House of |
9 | Representatives (2007-2008) be adopted as the Temporary Rules of |
10 | the House of Representatives for the 2009-2010 session of the |
11 | House of Representatives with the following amendments to Rules |
12 | 14, 43 and 45: |
13 | (2009-2010) |
14 | RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
15 | * * * |
16 | RULE 14 |
17 | Members' and Employees' Expenses |
18 | A member who attends a duly called meeting of a standing or |
19 | special committee of which he or she is a member when the House |
20 | is not in session or who is summoned to the State Capitol or |
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1 | elsewhere by the Speaker, or the Majority or Minority Leader of |
2 | the House, to perform legislative services when the House is not |
3 | in session shall be reimbursed per day for each day of service, |
4 | plus mileage to and from the member's residence, at such rates |
5 | as are established from time to time by the Committee on Rules |
6 | but not in excess of the applicable maximum mileage rate |
7 | authorized by the Federal Government. For travel to any location |
8 | for committee meetings or for travel to the State Capitol for |
9 | any reason, members cannot receive reimbursement in excess of |
10 | the applicable maximum per diem rate authorized by the Federal |
11 | Government. These expenses shall be paid by the Chief Clerk from |
12 | appropriation accounts under the Chief Clerk's exclusive control |
13 | and jurisdiction, upon a written request approved by the Speaker |
14 | of the House, or the Majority or the Minority Leader of the |
15 | House. |
16 | An employee of the House summoned by the Speaker or the |
17 | Majority or Minority Leader of the House to perform legislative |
18 | services outside of Harrisburg shall be reimbursed for actual |
19 | expenses and mileage to and from the employee's residence. Such |
20 | expenses may be paid by the Speaker, Majority or Minority |
21 | Leader, if they agree to do so, or shall be paid by the Chief |
22 | Clerk from appropriation accounts under the Chief Clerk's |
23 | exclusive control and jurisdiction, upon a written request |
24 | approved by the Speaker, or the Majority or the Minority Leader. |
25 | District office employees are only permitted to be reimbursed |
26 | from an account under the control of the Chief Clerk when |
27 | traveling to Harrisburg for a training program sponsored by |
28 | either caucus or for travel to a legislative conference approved |
29 | by the Speaker, the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader. All |
30 | other travel by district office employees may be reimbursed from |
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1 | the member's accountable expenses or an account under the |
2 | control of the Speaker, the Majority Leader or the Minority |
3 | Leader. |
4 | Members and employees traveling outside the Commonwealth of |
5 | Pennsylvania who receive any reimbursement for expenses or |
6 | travel which reimbursement is from public funds shall file with |
7 | the Chief Clerk a statement containing his or her name and the |
8 | name, place, date and the purpose of the function. |
9 | Money appropriated specifically to and allocated under a |
10 | specific symbol number for allowable expenses of members of the |
11 | House of Representatives shall be reimbursed to each member upon |
12 | submission of vouchers and any required documentation by each |
13 | member on forms prepared by the Chief Clerk of the House. No |
14 | reimbursement shall be made from this account where a member is |
15 | directly reimbursed for the same purpose from any other |
16 | appropriation account. |
17 | Such allowable expenses of members may be used for any |
18 | legislative purpose or function, including but not limited to |
19 | the following: |
20 | (1) Travel expense on legislative business. |
21 | (a) Mileage on session or nonsession days at a rate as |
22 | may be approved from time to time by the Committee on Rules, |
23 | but not in excess of the maximum mileage rate authorized by |
24 | the Federal Government for travel; voucher only. |
25 | (b) Miscellaneous transportation on legislative business |
26 | (taxi, airport limousine parking, tolls), and expenses of a |
27 | similar nature; voucher only for any single expense not in |
28 | excess of $10. |
29 | (c) Travel on legislative business by common carrier |
30 | other than taxi and airport limousine; voucher and receipt |
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1 | from common carrier. |
2 | (d) Car rental; voucher and receipt from rental agency |
3 | but reimbursement not to exceed in any month an amount as may |
4 | be approved from time to time by the Committee on Rules. Any |
5 | amount in excess of the said amount shall be paid by the |
6 | person renting the car. In no event shall other than American |
7 | manufactured cars be rented. |
8 | (e) Lodging, restaurant charges and other miscellaneous |
9 | and incidental expenses while away from home. Vouchers only |
10 | for per diem allowance approved from time to time by the |
11 | Committee on Rules, but not in excess of the applicable |
12 | maximum per diem rate authorized by the Federal Government or |
13 | for actual expenses not in excess of such per diem rate. |
14 | (2) Administrative, clerical and professional services for |
15 | legislative business, except for employment of spouses or any |
16 | relatives, by blood or marriage. |
17 | (a) Administrative and clerical services; voucher and |
18 | receipt from person employed. |
19 | (b) Professional services; voucher and receipt and copy |
20 | of agreement or contract of employment. |
21 | (3) Rent for legislative office space; purchase of office |
22 | supplies; postage; telephone and answering services; printing |
23 | services and rental only of office equipment; voucher and |
24 | vendor's receipt, except for postage expense. No reimbursement |
25 | or expenditure shall be made out of any appropriation account |
26 | for any mass mailing including a bulk rate mailing made at the |
27 | direction or on behalf of any member which is mailed or |
28 | delivered to a postal facility within 60 days immediately |
29 | preceding any primary or election at which said member is a |
30 | candidate for public office. |
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1 | Mass mailing shall mean a newsletter or similar mailing of |
2 | more than 50 pieces in which the content of the matter is |
3 | substantially identical. Nothing in this rule shall apply to any |
4 | mailing which is in direct response to inquiries or requests |
5 | from persons to whom matter is mailed, which is addressed to |
6 | colleagues in the General Assembly or other government officials |
7 | or which consists entirely of news releases to the |
8 | communications media. |
9 | (4) Official entertainment─restaurant and beverage charges; |
10 | voucher only for expenses. Receipts for entertainment expenses, |
11 | together with a statement of the reason for the expense, shall |
12 | be submitted with the request for reimbursement. |
13 | (5) Purchase of flags, plaques, publications, photographic |
14 | services, books, and other similar items in connection with |
15 | legislative activities; voucher and vendor's receipt. |
16 | (6) Communications and donations in extending |
17 | congratulations or sympathy of illness or death; voucher only on |
18 | expenses not in excess of $35. |
19 | No money appropriated for members' and employees' expenses |
20 | shall be used for contributions to political parties or their |
21 | affiliated organizations or to charitable organizations or for |
22 | charitable advertisements. |
23 | A member shall not create, maintain or cause to be created or |
24 | maintained a legislative nonprofit organization. A "legislative |
25 | nonprofit organization" means a nonprofit corporation or other |
26 | entity whose primary purpose is to receive funds under the |
27 | General Appropriation Act or another appropriations act at the |
28 | discretion or by reason of the influence of a member for the use |
29 | at the direction or discretion of the member. The Ethics |
30 | Committee shall issue to any member upon such member's request |
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1 | an opinion with respect to such member's duties under this rule. |
2 | The Ethics Committee shall, within 14 days, issue the opinion. |
3 | No member who acts in good faith on an opinion issued to that |
4 | member by the Ethics Committee shall be subject to any sanctions |
5 | for so acting, provided that the material facts are as stated in |
6 | the opinion request. The Ethics Committee's opinions shall be |
7 | public records and may from time to time be published. The |
8 | member requesting the opinion may, however, require that the |
9 | opinion shall contain such deletions and changes as shall be |
10 | necessary to protect the identity of the persons involved. |
11 | No money may be expended within 60 days before a primary |
12 | election or within 60 days before a general election in even- |
13 | numbered years for: |
14 | (i) purchase of or the reimbursement for the purchase of any |
15 | radio or television broadcast time for public service |
16 | announcements that depict the name, voice or image of a member; |
17 | or |
18 | (ii) payment for telemarketing activities on behalf of a |
19 | member. This prohibition shall not apply to limited surveys to |
20 | determine public opinion on various issues. |
21 | Members and employees shall not request reimbursement for the |
22 | private lease of vehicles leased on a long-term basis. No |
23 | payments will be made with respect to private, long-term lease |
24 | vehicle expenses incurred by members or employees except with |
25 | respect to private, long-term lease arrangements entered into by |
26 | a member prior to the effective date of this rule, payments for |
27 | which will be made in accord with the rules in place on the day |
28 | before the effective date of this rule. The Chief Clerk is |
29 | authorized to enter into a master lease agreement with the |
30 | Department of General Services for the long-term lease of |
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1 | automobiles. |
2 | All disbursements made, debts incurred or advancements paid |
3 | from any appropriation account made to the House or to a member |
4 | or nonmember officer under a General Appropriation Act or any |
5 | other appropriation act shall be recorded in a monthly report |
6 | and filed with the Chief Clerk by the person authorized to make |
7 | such disbursement, incur any debt or receive any advancement on |
8 | a form prescribed by the Chief Clerk. |
9 | The Chief Clerk shall prescribe the form of all such reports |
10 | and make such forms available to those persons required to file |
11 | such reports. Such report form shall include: |
12 | (1) As to personnel: |
13 | (a) The name, home address, job title, brief description |
14 | of duties and where they are performed, department or member |
15 | or members to whom assigned, the name of immediate supervisor |
16 | and minimum hours of employment per week of each employee. |
17 | (b) The appropriation account from which such employee |
18 | is compensated, the amount of compensation and whether such |
19 | person is on salary, per diem or contract. |
20 | (2) As to all other expenditures: |
21 | (a) To whom it was paid, the amount thereof, and the |
22 | nature of the goods, services or other purpose for which the |
23 | expenditure was made. |
24 | (b) The appropriation account from which the expenditure |
25 | was made and the name or names of the person or persons |
26 | requesting and/or authorizing the same. |
27 | A copy of each such report shall also be filed with the |
28 | Special Committee on Internal Affairs and House Administration |
29 | for use in the performance of its duties under Rule 47(a). |
30 | The reporting requirements as to personnel may be fulfilled |
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1 | by the maintenance in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the House |
2 | of an alphabetized file containing the current information for |
3 | each employee as set forth above. |
4 | All monthly reports filed on disbursements made or debts |
5 | incurred by any officer or member or employee from |
6 | appropriations made to the House or to a member or nonmember |
7 | officer under any General Appropriation Act, and the |
8 | documentation for each disbursement, shall be public information |
9 | and shall be available for public inspection during regular |
10 | business hours in the office of the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk |
11 | shall prescribe reasonable rules and regulations for inspection |
12 | of such reports but in no case shall inspection be denied to any |
13 | person for a period exceeding 48 hours (excluding Saturdays and |
14 | Sundays) from the time a written request has been submitted to |
15 | the Chief Clerk. Photocopies of such reports shall be made |
16 | available upon request to a member at no charge or to the public |
17 | for a duplication fee as may be fixed by the Chief Clerk. Such |
18 | reports shall be made available to a member or to the public on |
19 | or before the last day of the month next succeeding the month in |
20 | which the report was filed. |
21 | All vouchers and requisitions relating to all expenditures, |
22 | expenses, disbursements and other obligations out of all |
23 | appropriated funds of the House, and the documentation |
24 | evidencing payment of the vouchers and requisitions, shall be |
25 | available for public inspection during regular business hours in |
26 | the office of the Chief Clerk or at such other location within |
27 | the Capitol as the Chief Clerk shall prescribe. Nothing in this |
28 | rule shall permit release of any information deemed |
29 | confidential, including, but not limited to, a telephone number |
30 | or call history, a credit card number and a Social Security |
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1 | number or a Federal or a State tax identification number. |
2 | All requests to review payroll and independent contractor |
3 | records of the House or any other vouchers or requisitions for |
4 | funds appropriated to the House shall be made to the Chief |
5 | Clerk, in writing, at least three working days prior to the date |
6 | on which the review is requested. The request shall be signed by |
7 | the party who will be making the review and it shall indicate |
8 | the name of the organization or entity employing such |
9 | individual. The Chief Clerk shall establish a time during normal |
10 | business hours for the review to occur and he shall provide that |
11 | the review shall not interfere with the necessary functioning of |
12 | the Chief Clerk's office. |
13 | All requests for reimbursement out of any appropriation shall |
14 | be accompanied by a voucher, or other documents where required, |
15 | evidencing payment or approval. All requests for reimbursement |
16 | out of any appropriation payable to a member, nonmember officer |
17 | or employee shall be void if not submitted within 90 days of the |
18 | date that the otherwise allowable expense is incurred for any |
19 | and all otherwise allowable expenses, including without |
20 | limitation, per diem, mileage and actual expenses incurred [at |
21 | any time from the adoption of this rule]. Any such void request |
22 | for reimbursement may not be paid except pursuant to a motion to |
23 | suspend this rule for good cause specific to the voided request |
24 | for reimbursement. The voucher form shall be approved and |
25 | supplied by the Chief Clerk. Receipts or documentation of every |
26 | expenditure or disbursement which is in excess of the maximum |
27 | amount as set forth herein shall be attached to the voucher. |
28 | Where a request for payment is made in advance of an expense |
29 | actually incurred, the Chief Clerk, before making such advance |
30 | payment shall require a description satisfactory to the Chief |
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1 | Clerk of the item or service to be purchased or the expense to |
2 | be incurred, and a receipt or other documentation shall be given |
3 | to the Chief Clerk after the item or service has been purchased |
4 | or expense incurred as evidence that such advancement was in |
5 | fact expended for such purpose. |
6 | All reports, vouchers and receipts from which reports are |
7 | prepared and filed shall be retained by the Chief Clerk, officer |
8 | or member, as the case may be, for such period of time as may be |
9 | necessary to enable the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission |
10 | created pursuant to the act of June 30, 1970 (P.L.442, No.151), |
11 | entitled "An act implementing the provisions of Article VIII, |
12 | section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, by designating |
13 | the Commonwealth officers who shall be charged with the function |
14 | of auditing the financial transactions after the occurrence |
15 | thereof of the Legislative and Judicial branches of the |
16 | government of the Commonwealth, establishing a Legislative Audit |
17 | Advisory Commission, and imposing certain powers and duties on |
18 | such commission," to conduct, through certified public |
19 | accountants appointed by it, annual audits to assure that such |
20 | disbursements made or debts incurred were in accordance with |
21 | Legislative Audit Advisory Commission guidelines and standards |
22 | as approved by the Committee on Rules, or for a minimum of three |
23 | years, whichever is longer. All annual audit reports shall be |
24 | available for public inspection. Photocopies of such reports |
25 | shall be available for a fee established by the Chief Clerk not |
26 | to exceed the cost of duplication. |
27 | Except as specifically prohibited by law or limited by this |
28 | rule, all expenditures of funds appropriated to the House or to |
29 | a member or nonmember officer shall be subject to the |
30 | expenditure guidelines established by the Rules Committee. The |
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1 | Rules Committee shall establish standards regarding |
2 | documentation evidencing payment out of any appropriations |
3 | account made to the House or to a member or nonmember officer. |
4 | * * * |
5 | RULE 43 |
6 | Standing Committees and Subcommittees |
7 | The Committee on Committees shall consist of the Speaker and |
8 | 15 members of the House, ten of whom shall be members of the |
9 | majority party and five of whom shall be members of the minority |
10 | party, whose duty shall be to recommend to the House the names |
11 | of members who are to serve on the standing committees of the |
12 | House. Except for the Speaker, the Majority and Minority |
13 | Leaders, Whips, Caucus Chairs, Caucus Secretaries, Caucus |
14 | Administrators, Policy Chairs and the chairs and minority chairs |
15 | of standing committees, each member shall be entitled to serve |
16 | on not less than two standing committees. |
17 | The Speaker shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of each |
18 | standing committee when such standing committee has no standing |
19 | subcommittees as prescribed herein, except the Committee on |
20 | Appropriations which shall also have a vice-chair appointed by |
21 | the Speaker; when the standing committee has standing |
22 | subcommittees, the Speaker shall appoint a subcommittee chair |
23 | for each standing subcommittee. The Speaker shall appoint a |
24 | secretary for each standing committee. The Minority Leader shall |
25 | appoint the minority chair, minority vice-chair and minority |
26 | secretary of each standing committee and the minority |
27 | subcommittee chair for each standing subcommittee. |
28 | Except for members who decline chair status or minority chair |
29 | status in writing or who are barred from serving as a chair or |
30 | minority chair under this rule, the chair and minority chair of |
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1 | each standing committee except the Appropriations Committee |
2 | shall be limited only to the members of the applicable caucus |
3 | with the most seniority as members of their respective caucus. |
4 | Whenever there are more caucus members with equal seniority than |
5 | available chairs or minority chairs for that caucus, the |
6 | selection of a chair or minority chair from among such caucus |
7 | members shall be in the discretion of the appointing authority. |
8 | The appointing authority may designate the standing committee to |
9 | which the appointing authority shall appoint a member as chair |
10 | or minority chair without regard to seniority. The Speaker and |
11 | the Floor Leader, Whip, Caucus Chair, Caucus Secretary, Caucus |
12 | Administrator and Policy Chair of the majority party and |
13 | minority party shall not be eligible to serve as chair or |
14 | minority chair of any standing committee and no member may serve |
15 | as chair or minority chair of more than one standing committee. |
16 | Any chair or minority chair held by a member who fails to |
17 | meet the requirements of this rule shall become vacant by |
18 | automatic operation of this rule. If the appointing authority |
19 | fails to make an appointment of a chair or minority chair prior |
20 | to the organizational meeting of a standing committee or fails |
21 | to fill a vacancy within seven calendar days after it occurs, |
22 | such position shall be deemed to remain vacant in violation of |
23 | this rule. Whenever a chair or minority chair becomes vacant or |
24 | remains vacant in violation of this rule, the member of the |
25 | applicable caucus who meets the requirements of this rule shall |
26 | automatically fill the vacancy and, if there are two or more |
27 | such eligible caucus members for any such vacancy or vacancies, |
28 | they shall be filled from among such eligible members through a |
29 | lottery to be conducted under the supervision of the Chief Clerk |
30 | after giving notice of the time and place thereof to all |
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1 | eligible members, to the Speaker, to the Majority Leader and to |
2 | the Minority Leader. |
3 | Nothing in this rule shall prohibit the appointing authority |
4 | from transferring a member from the chair or minority chair of a |
5 | standing committee to the chair or minority chair of another |
6 | standing committee. |
7 | Whenever the appointment of a chair or minority chair will |
8 | cause the applicable caucus to exceed its permissible allocation |
9 | of members on a standing committee, the appointing authority |
10 | shall make a temporary transfer of an eligible committee member |
11 | to the standing committee vacated by the member appointed as |
12 | chair or minority chair until a regular committee appointment |
13 | can be made in accordance with the rules of the House. If the |
14 | Speaker or Minority Leader fails to make a temporary transfer |
15 | within seven calendar days after such appointment, the committee |
16 | member with the least seniority, who is eligible for transfer, |
17 | shall be automatically transferred to the committee vacated by |
18 | the newly appointed chair or minority chair and, if more than |
19 | one committee member is eligible for such transfer, the transfer |
20 | shall be implemented through a lottery conducted under the |
21 | supervision of the Chief Clerk. |
22 | The Speaker of the House, Floor Leader of the majority party |
23 | and the Floor Leader of the minority party shall be ex-officio |
24 | members of all standing committees, without the right to vote |
25 | and they shall be excluded from any limitation as to the number |
26 | of members on the committees or in counting a quorum. |
27 | Twenty-four standing committees of the House, each to consist |
28 | of [29] 24 members except the Committee on Appropriations, which |
29 | shall consist of 35 members, are hereby created. In addition, |
30 | there are hereby created 43 standing subcommittees. |
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1 | All standing committees shall consist of [16] 14 members of |
2 | the majority party and [13] ten members of the minority party, |
3 | except the Committee on Appropriations which shall consist of 21 |
4 | members of the majority party and 14 members of the minority |
5 | party. The quorum for each of the standing committees and |
6 | subcommittees shall be no less than the majority of said |
7 | committees. The following are the standing committees and |
8 | subcommittees thereof: |
9 | (1) Aging and Older Adult Services |
10 | (a) Subcommittee on Care and Services |
11 | (b) Subcommittee on Programs and Benefits |
12 | (2) Agriculture and Rural Affairs |
13 | (3) Appropriations |
14 | (a) Subcommittee on Health and Welfare |
15 | (b) Subcommittee on Education |
16 | (c) Subcommittee on Economic Impact and Infrastructure |
17 | (d) Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy |
18 | (4) Children and Youth |
19 | (5) Commerce |
20 | (a) Subcommittee on Financial Services and Banking |
21 | (b) Subcommittee on Housing |
22 | (c) Subcommittee on Economic Development |
23 | (d) Subcommittee on Small Business |
24 | (6) Consumer Affairs |
25 | (a) Subcommittee on Public Utilities |
26 | (b) Subcommittee on Telecommunications |
27 | (7) Education |
28 | (a) Subcommittee on Basic Education |
29 | (b) Subcommittee on Higher Education |
30 | (c) Subcommittee on Special Education |
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1 | (8) Environmental Resources and Energy |
2 | (a) Subcommittee on Energy |
3 | (b) Subcommittee on Mining |
4 | (c) Subcommittee on Parks and Forests |
5 | (9) Finance |
6 | (10) Game and Fisheries |
7 | (11) Gaming Oversight |
8 | (12) Health and Human Services |
9 | (a) Subcommittee on Health |
10 | (b) Subcommittee on Human Services |
11 | (c) Subcommittee on Drugs and Alcohol |
12 | (13) Insurance |
13 | (14) Judiciary |
14 | (a) Subcommittee on Crime and Corrections |
15 | (b) Subcommittee on Courts |
16 | (c) Subcommittee on Family Law |
17 | (15) Intergovernmental Affairs |
18 | (a) Subcommittee on Information Technology |
19 | (b) Subcommittee on Federal-State Relations |
20 | (16) Labor Relations |
21 | (17) Liquor Control |
22 | (a) Subcommittee on Licensing |
23 | (b) Subcommittee on Marketing |
24 | (18) Local Government |
25 | (a) Subcommittee on Boroughs |
26 | (b) Subcommittee on Counties |
27 | (c) Subcommittee on Townships |
28 | (19) Professional Licensure |
29 | (20) State Government |
30 | (21) Tourism and Recreational Development |
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1 | (a) Subcommittee on Arts and Entertainment |
2 | (b) Subcommittee on Recreation |
3 | (c) Subcommittee on Travel Promotion |
4 | (22) Transportation |
5 | (a) Subcommittee on Highways |
6 | (b) Subcommittee on Public Transportation |
7 | (c) Subcommittee on Transportation Safety |
8 | (d) Subcommittee on Aviation |
9 | (e) Subcommittee on Railroads |
10 | (23) Urban Affairs |
11 | (a) Subcommittee on Cities, Counties - First Class |
12 | (b) Subcommittee on Cities, Counties - Second Class |
13 | (c) Subcommittee on Cities, Third Class |
14 | (24) Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness |
15 | (a) Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Facilities |
16 | (b) Subcommittee on Security and Emergency Response |
17 | Readiness |
18 | * * * |
19 | RULE 45 |
20 | Powers and Duties of Standing Committees |
21 | and Subcommittees |
22 | The chair of each standing committee and subcommittee shall |
23 | fix regular weekly, biweekly or monthly meeting days for the |
24 | transaction of business before the committee or subcommittee. |
25 | The chair of the committee or subcommittee shall notify all |
26 | members, at least 24 hours in advance of the date, time and |
27 | place of regular meetings, and, insofar as possible, the |
28 | subjects on the agenda. In addition to regular meetings, special |
29 | meetings may be called from time to time by the chair of the |
30 | committee or subcommittee as they deem necessary. No recess or |
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1 | combination of recesses shall exceed 48 hours for any committee |
2 | meeting or subcommittee meeting. No committee shall meet during |
3 | any session of the House without first obtaining permission of |
4 | the Speaker. During any such meeting, no vote shall be taken on |
5 | the Floor of the House on any amendment, recommittal motion, |
6 | final passage of any bill, or any other matter requiring a roll |
7 | call vote. Any committee meeting called off the Floor of the |
8 | House shall meet in a committee room. In addition to the |
9 | specific provisions of this rule, all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. |
10 | Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) relative to notice of meetings |
11 | shall be complied with. |
12 | At regularly scheduled meetings, or upon the call of the |
13 | chair, or subcommittee chair, for special meetings, the |
14 | membership of such committees shall meet to consider any bill, |
15 | resolution, or other matter on the agenda. The secretary of each |
16 | standing committee, or in case of subcommittees a secretary |
17 | designated by the subcommittee chair, shall record: |
18 | (1) the minutes of the meeting, |
19 | (2) all votes taken, |
20 | (3) a roll or attendance of members at standing committee or |
21 | subcommittee meetings showing the names of those present, absent |
22 | or excused from attendance, and the majority and minority chairs |
23 | or their designees shall verify by their signatures all votes |
24 | taken and the roll or attendance of those members present, |
25 | absent or excused before said records are submitted to the Chief |
26 | Clerk, and |
27 | (4) dispatch of bills and resolutions before the committee. |
28 | Such records shall be open to public inspection. On the first |
29 | legislative day of each week the House is in session, the chair |
30 | of each standing committee shall submit to the Chief Clerk for |
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1 | inclusion in the House Journal only, the roll or record of |
2 | attendance of members at standing committee or subcommittee |
3 | meetings held prior thereto and not yet reported, along with the |
4 | record of all votes taken at such meetings. All reports from |
5 | standing committees shall be prepared in writing by the |
6 | secretary of the committee. Members of a standing committee may |
7 | prepare in writing and file a minority report, setting forth the |
8 | reasons for their dissent. Such committee reports shall be filed |
9 | with the Chief Clerk within five days of the meeting. All |
10 | meetings at which formal action is taken by a standing committee |
11 | or subcommittee shall be open to the public, making such reports |
12 | as are required under Rule 44. When any member, except for an |
13 | excused absence, fails to attend five consecutive regular |
14 | meetings of his or her committee, the chair of that committee or |
15 | subcommittee shall notify the member of that fact and, if the |
16 | member in question fails to reasonably justify absences to the |
17 | satisfaction of a majority of the membership of the standing |
18 | committee of which he or she is a member, membership on the |
19 | committee or subcommittee shall be deemed vacant and the chair |
20 | of the standing committee shall notify the Speaker of the House |
21 | to that effect. Such vacancy shall then be filled in the manner |
22 | prescribed by these rules. |
23 | Whenever the chair of any standing committee shall refuse to |
24 | call a regular meeting, then a majority of the members of the |
25 | standing committee may vote to call a meeting by giving two days |
26 | written notice to the Speaker of the House, setting the time and |
27 | place for such meeting. Such notice shall be read in the House |
28 | and the same posted by the Chief Clerk in the House Chamber. |
29 | Thereafter, the meeting shall be held at the time and place |
30 | specified in the notice. In addition, all provisions of 65 |
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1 | Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) relative to notice of |
2 | meetings shall be complied with. |
3 | Records, bills and other papers in the possession of |
4 | committees and subcommittees, upon final adjournment of the |
5 | House shall be filed with the Chief Clerk. |
6 | No committee report, except a report of the Appropriations |
7 | Committee, shall be recognized by the House, unless the same has |
8 | been acted upon by a majority vote of the members of a standing |
9 | committee present at a committee session actually assembled and |
10 | meeting as a committee, provided such majority vote numbers at |
11 | least [15] 11 members, and provided further a quorum is present. |
12 | No committee report of the Appropriations Committee shall be |
13 | recognized by the House, unless the same has been acted upon by |
14 | a majority vote of the members of such committee present at a |
15 | committee session actually assembled and meeting as a committee, |
16 | provided such majority vote numbers at least [18] 16 members, |
17 | and provided further a quorum is present. |
18 | No proxy voting shall be permitted in committee, except as |
19 | provided for herein. If a member reports to a scheduled |
20 | committee meeting and advises the chair and other members of a |
21 | conflicting committee meeting or other legislative meeting which |
22 | he or she must attend on the same day, the member is authorized |
23 | to give the chair or minority chair his or her proxy in writing |
24 | which shall be valid only for that day and which shall include |
25 | written instructions for the exercise of such proxy by the chair |
26 | or minority chair during the meeting. The member should also |
27 | advise the chair where he or she can be reached. In the event |
28 | the conflicting committee meeting or other legislative meeting |
29 | is scheduled to convene at the same time or prior to the meeting |
30 | at which a member desires to vote by proxy, such proxy shall be |
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1 | delivered by the member in person to the offices of both the |
2 | chair and minority chair prior to, but on the same day as, the |
3 | conflicting meetings. |
4 | When the majority of the members of a standing committee |
5 | believe that a certain bill or resolution in the possession of |
6 | the standing committee should be considered and acted upon by |
7 | such committee, they may request the chair to include the same |
8 | as part of the business of a committee meeting. Upon failure of |
9 | the chair to comply with such request, the membership may |
10 | require that such bill be considered by written motion made and |
11 | approved by a majority vote of the entire membership to which |
12 | such committee is entitled. |
13 | Whenever the phrase "majority of members of a standing |
14 | committee or subcommittee" is used in these rules, it shall mean |
15 | majority of the entire membership to which a standing committee |
16 | or subcommittee is entitled, unless the context thereof |
17 | indicates a different intent. |
18 | To assist the House in appraising the administration of the |
19 | laws and in developing such amendments or related legislation as |
20 | it may deem necessary, each standing committee or subcommittee |
21 | of the House shall exercise continuous watchfulness of the |
22 | execution by the administrative agencies concerned of any laws, |
23 | the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such |
24 | committee or subcommittee; and, for that purpose, shall study |
25 | all pertinent reports and data submitted to the House by the |
26 | agencies in the executive branch of the Government. |
27 | The Committee on Appropriations shall have the power to issue |
28 | subpoenas under the hand and seal of its chair commanding any |
29 | person to appear before it and answer questions touching matters |
30 | properly being inquired into by the committee, which matters |
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1 | shall include data from any fund administered by the |
2 | Commonwealth, and to produce such books, papers, records, |
3 | documents and data and information produced and stored by any |
4 | electronic data processing system as the committee deems |
5 | necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any person and |
6 | shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued out of the |
7 | courts of this Commonwealth. Any person who willfully neglects |
8 | or refuses to testify before the committee or to produce any |
9 | books, papers, records, documents or data and information |
10 | produced and stored by any electronic data processing system |
11 | shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the |
12 | Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall |
13 | have power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses |
14 | appearing before the committee. The committee may also cause the |
15 | deposition of witnesses either residing within or without the |
16 | State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking |
17 | depositions in civil actions. |
18 | * * * |
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