Bill Text: PA HR1 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Adopting temporary rules for the House of Representatives, further providing for members' and employees' expenses, for electronic availability of reports, for standing committees and subcommittees and for powers and duties of standing committees and subcommittees.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-01-06 - Introduced and adopted [HR1 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR1-Introduced.html

---

PRINTER'S NO. 1
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 1 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY EACHUS, JANUARY 6, 2009
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JANUARY 6, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Adopting temporary rules for the House of Representatives,
further providing for members' and employees' expenses, for
electronic availability of reports, for standing committees
and subcommittees and for powers and duties of standing
committees and subcommittees.
RESOLVED, That this resolution expire in 30 days; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Permanent Rules of the House of
Representatives (2007-2008) be adopted as the Temporary Rules of
the House of Representatives for the 2009-2010 session of the
House of Representatives with the following amendments to Rules
14, 43 and 45:
(2009-2010)
RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
* * *
RULE 14
Members' and Employees' Expenses
A member who attends a duly called meeting of a standing or
special 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 the Majority or Minority Leader of
the House, to perform legislative services when the House is not
in session shall be 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 by the Committee on Rules
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 cannot 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 the Majority or the Minority Leader of the
House.
An employee of the House summoned by the Speaker or the
Majority or Minority Leader 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, Majority or Minority
Leader, 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 Majority or the Minority Leader.
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, the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader. All
other travel by district office employees may be reimbursed from
20090HR0001PN0001 - 2 -
the member's accountable expenses or an account under the
control of the Speaker, the Majority Leader or the Minority
Leader.
Members and employees traveling outside the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania who receive any reimbursement for expenses or
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 by the Committee on Rules,
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.
(c) Travel on legislative business by common carrier
other than taxi and airport limousine; voucher and receipt
20090HR0001PN0001 - 3 -
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 by the Committee on Rules. Any
amount in excess of the said amount shall be paid by the
person renting the car. In no event 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 by the
Committee on Rules, 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. No reimbursement
or expenditure shall be made out of any appropriation account
for any mass mailing including a bulk rate mailing made at the
direction or on behalf of any member which is mailed or
delivered to a postal facility within 60 days immediately
preceding any primary or election at which said member is a
candidate for public office.
20090HR0001PN0001 - 4 -
Mass mailing shall mean a newsletter or similar mailing of
more than 50 pieces in which the content of the matter is
substantially identical. Nothing in this rule shall apply to any
mailing which is in direct response to inquiries or requests
from persons to whom matter is mailed, which is addressed to
colleagues in the General Assembly or other government officials
or which consists entirely of news releases to the
communications media.
(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
affiliated organizations or to charitable organizations or for
charitable advertisements.
A member shall not create, maintain or cause to be created or
maintained a legislative nonprofit organization. A "legislative
nonprofit organization" means a nonprofit corporation or other
entity whose primary purpose is to receive funds under the
General Appropriation Act or another appropriations act at the
discretion or by reason of the influence of a member for the use
at the direction or discretion of the member. The Ethics
Committee shall issue to any member upon such member's request
20090HR0001PN0001 - 5 -
an opinion with respect to such member's duties under this rule.
The Ethics Committee shall, within 14 days, issue the opinion.
No member who acts in good faith on an opinion issued to that
member by the Ethics Committee shall be subject to any sanctions
for so acting, provided that the material facts are as stated in
the opinion request. The Ethics Committee's opinions shall be
public records and may from time to time be published. The
member requesting the opinion may, however, require that the
opinion shall contain such deletions and changes as shall be
necessary to protect the identity of the persons involved.
No money may be expended within 60 days before a primary
election or within 60 days before a general election in even-
numbered years for:
(i) purchase of or the reimbursement for the purchase of any
radio or television broadcast time for public service
announcements that depict the name, voice or image of a member;
or
(ii) payment for telemarketing activities on behalf of a
member. This prohibition shall not apply to limited surveys to
determine public opinion on various issues.
Members and employees shall not request reimbursement for the
private lease of vehicles leased on a long-term basis. No
payments will be made with respect to private, long-term lease
vehicle expenses incurred by members or employees except with
respect to private, long-term lease arrangements entered into by
a member prior to the effective date of this rule, payments for
which will be made in accord with the rules in place on the day
before the effective date of this rule. The Chief Clerk is
authorized to enter into a master lease agreement with the
Department of General Services for the long-term lease of
20090HR0001PN0001 - 6 -
automobiles.
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 made and the name or names of the person or persons
requesting and/or authorizing the same.
A copy of each such report shall also be filed with the
Special Committee on Internal Affairs and House Administration
for use in the performance of its duties under Rule 47(a).
The reporting requirements as to personnel may be fulfilled
20090HR0001PN0001 - 7 -
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 for public inspection during regular
business hours in the office of the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk
shall prescribe reasonable rules and regulations for inspection
of such reports but in no case shall inspection be denied to any
person for a period exceeding 48 hours (excluding Saturdays and
Sundays) from the time a written request has been submitted to
the Chief Clerk. Photocopies of such reports shall be made
available upon request to a member at no charge or to the public
for a duplication fee as may be fixed by the Chief Clerk. Such
reports shall be made available to a member or to the public on
or before the last day of the month next succeeding the month in
which the report was filed.
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 for public inspection during regular business hours in
the office of the Chief Clerk or at such other location within
the Capitol as the Chief Clerk shall prescribe. Nothing in this
rule shall permit release of any information deemed
confidential, including, but not limited to, a telephone number
or call history, a credit card number and a Social Security
20090HR0001PN0001 - 8 -
number or a Federal or a State tax identification number.
All requests to review payroll and independent contractor
records of the House or any other vouchers or requisitions for
funds appropriated to the House shall be made to the Chief
Clerk, in writing, at least three working days prior to the date
on which the review is requested. The request shall be signed by
the party who will be making the review and it shall indicate
the name of the organization or entity employing such
individual. The Chief Clerk shall establish a time during normal
business hours for the review to occur and he shall provide that
the review shall not interfere with the necessary functioning of
the Chief Clerk's office.
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 [at
any time from the adoption of this rule]. 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. 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
20090HR0001PN0001 - 9 -
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 by the Committee on Rules, or for a minimum of three
years, whichever is 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.
Except as specifically prohibited by law or limited by this
rule, all expenditures of funds appropriated to the House or to
a member or nonmember officer shall be subject to the
expenditure guidelines established by the Rules Committee. The
20090HR0001PN0001 - 10 -
Rules Committee shall establish standards regarding
documentation evidencing payment out of any appropriations
account made to the House or to a member or nonmember officer.
* * *
RULE 43
Standing Committees and Subcommittees
The Committee on Committees shall consist of the Speaker and
15 members of the House, ten of whom shall be members of the
majority party and five of whom shall be members of the minority
party, whose duty shall be to recommend to the House the names
of members who are to serve on the standing committees of the
House. Except for the Speaker, the Majority and Minority
Leaders, Whips, Caucus Chairs, Caucus Secretaries, Caucus
Administrators, Policy Chairs and the chairs and minority chairs
of standing committees, each member shall be entitled to serve
on not less than two standing committees.
The Speaker shall appoint the chair and vice-chair of each
standing committee when such standing committee has no standing
subcommittees as prescribed herein, except the Committee on
Appropriations which shall also have a vice-chair appointed by
the Speaker; when the standing committee has standing
subcommittees, the Speaker shall appoint a subcommittee chair
for each standing subcommittee. The Speaker shall appoint a
secretary for each standing committee. The Minority Leader shall
appoint the minority chair, minority vice-chair and minority
secretary of each standing committee and the minority
subcommittee chair for each standing subcommittee.
Except for members who decline chair status or minority chair
status in writing or who are barred from serving as a chair or
minority chair under this rule, the chair and minority chair of
20090HR0001PN0001 - 11 -
each standing committee except the Appropriations Committee
shall be limited only to the members of the applicable caucus
with the most seniority as members of their respective caucus.
Whenever there are more caucus members with equal seniority than
available chairs or minority chairs for that caucus, the
selection of a chair or minority chair from among such caucus
members shall be in the discretion of the appointing authority.
The appointing authority may designate the standing committee to
which the appointing authority shall appoint a member as chair
or minority chair without regard to seniority. The Speaker and
the Floor Leader, Whip, Caucus Chair, Caucus Secretary, Caucus
Administrator and Policy Chair of the majority party and
minority party shall not be eligible to serve as chair or
minority chair of any standing committee and no member may serve
as chair or minority chair of more than one standing committee.
Any chair or minority chair held by a member who fails to
meet the requirements of this rule shall become vacant by
automatic operation of this rule. If the appointing authority
fails to make an appointment of a chair or minority chair prior
to the organizational meeting of a standing committee or fails
to fill a vacancy within seven calendar days after it occurs,
such position shall be deemed to remain vacant in violation of
this rule. Whenever a chair or minority chair becomes vacant or
remains vacant in violation of this rule, the member of the
applicable caucus who meets the requirements of this rule shall
automatically fill the vacancy and, if there are two or more
such eligible caucus members for any such vacancy or vacancies,
they shall be filled from among such eligible members through a
lottery to be conducted under the supervision of the Chief Clerk
after giving notice of the time and place thereof to all
20090HR0001PN0001 - 12 -
eligible members, to the Speaker, to the Majority Leader and to
the Minority Leader.
Nothing in this rule shall prohibit the appointing authority
from transferring a member from the chair or minority chair of a
standing committee to the chair or minority chair of another
standing committee.
Whenever the appointment of a chair or minority chair will
cause the applicable caucus to exceed its permissible allocation
of members on a standing committee, the appointing authority
shall make a temporary transfer of an eligible committee member
to the standing committee vacated by the member appointed as
chair or minority chair until a regular committee appointment
can be made in accordance with the rules of the House. If the
Speaker or Minority Leader fails to make a temporary transfer
within seven calendar days after such appointment, the committee
member with the least seniority, who is eligible for transfer,
shall be automatically transferred to the committee vacated by
the newly appointed chair or minority chair and, if more than
one committee member is eligible for such transfer, the transfer
shall be implemented through a lottery conducted under the
supervision of the Chief Clerk.
The Speaker of the House, Floor Leader of the majority party
and the Floor Leader of the minority party shall be ex-officio
members of all standing committees, without the right to vote
and they shall be excluded from any limitation as to the number
of members on the committees or in counting a quorum.
Twenty-four standing committees of the House, each to consist
of [29] 24 members except the Committee on Appropriations, which
shall consist of 35 members, are hereby created. In addition,
there are hereby created 43 standing subcommittees.
20090HR0001PN0001 - 13 -
All standing committees shall consist of [16] 14 members of
the majority party and [13] ten members of the minority party,
except the Committee on Appropriations which shall consist of 21
members of the majority party and 14 members of the minority
party. The quorum for each of the standing committees and
subcommittees shall be no less than the majority of said
committees. The following are the standing committees and
subcommittees thereof:
(1) Aging and Older Adult Services
(a) Subcommittee on Care and Services
(b) Subcommittee on Programs and Benefits
(2) Agriculture and Rural Affairs
(3) Appropriations
(a) Subcommittee on Health and Welfare
(b) Subcommittee on Education
(c) Subcommittee on Economic Impact and Infrastructure
(d) Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy
(4) Children and Youth
(5) Commerce
(a) Subcommittee on Financial Services and Banking
(b) Subcommittee on Housing
(c) Subcommittee on Economic Development
(d) Subcommittee on Small Business
(6) Consumer Affairs
(a) Subcommittee on Public Utilities
(b) Subcommittee on Telecommunications
(7) Education
(a) Subcommittee on Basic Education
(b) Subcommittee on Higher Education
(c) Subcommittee on Special Education
20090HR0001PN0001 - 14 -
(8) Environmental Resources and Energy
(a) Subcommittee on Energy
(b) Subcommittee on Mining
(c) Subcommittee on Parks and Forests
(9) Finance
(10) Game and Fisheries
(11) Gaming Oversight
(12) Health and Human Services
(a) Subcommittee on Health
(b) Subcommittee on Human Services
(c) Subcommittee on Drugs and Alcohol
(13) Insurance
(14) Judiciary
(a) Subcommittee on Crime and Corrections
(b) Subcommittee on Courts
(c) Subcommittee on Family Law
(15) Intergovernmental Affairs
(a) Subcommittee on Information Technology
(b) Subcommittee on Federal-State Relations
(16) Labor Relations
(17) Liquor Control
(a) Subcommittee on Licensing
(b) Subcommittee on Marketing
(18) Local Government
(a) Subcommittee on Boroughs
(b) Subcommittee on Counties
(c) Subcommittee on Townships
(19) Professional Licensure
(20) State Government
(21) Tourism and Recreational Development
20090HR0001PN0001 - 15 -
(a) Subcommittee on Arts and Entertainment
(b) Subcommittee on Recreation
(c) Subcommittee on Travel Promotion
(22) Transportation
(a) Subcommittee on Highways
(b) Subcommittee on Public Transportation
(c) Subcommittee on Transportation Safety
(d) Subcommittee on Aviation
(e) Subcommittee on Railroads
(23) Urban Affairs
(a) Subcommittee on Cities, Counties - First Class
(b) Subcommittee on Cities, Counties - Second Class
(c) Subcommittee on Cities, Third Class
(24) Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
(a) Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Facilities
(b) Subcommittee on Security and Emergency Response
Readiness
* * *
RULE 45
Powers and Duties of Standing Committees
and Subcommittees
The chair of each standing committee and subcommittee shall
fix regular weekly, biweekly or monthly meeting days for the
transaction of business before the committee or subcommittee.
The chair of the committee or subcommittee 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 or subcommittee as they deem necessary. No recess or
20090HR0001PN0001 - 16 -
combination of recesses shall exceed 48 hours for any committee
meeting or subcommittee meeting. No committee shall 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 regularly scheduled meetings, or upon the call of the
chair, or subcommittee chair, for special meetings, the
membership of such committees shall meet to consider any bill,
resolution, or other matter on the agenda. The secretary of each
standing committee, or in case of subcommittees a secretary
designated by the subcommittee chair, shall record:
(1) the minutes of the meeting,
(2) all votes taken,
(3) a roll or attendance of members at standing committee or
subcommittee meetings showing the names of those present, absent
or excused from attendance, and the majority and minority chairs
or their designees shall verify by their signatures 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.
Such records shall be open to public inspection. On the first
legislative day of each week the House is in session, the chair
of each standing committee shall submit to the Chief Clerk for
20090HR0001PN0001 - 17 -
inclusion in the House Journal only, the roll or record of
attendance of members at standing committee or subcommittee
meetings held prior thereto and not yet reported, along with the
record of all votes taken at such meetings. All reports from
standing committees shall be prepared in writing by the
secretary of the committee. Members of a standing 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 a standing committee
or subcommittee shall be open to the public, making such reports
as are required under Rule 44. When any member, except for an
excused absence, fails to attend five consecutive regular
meetings of his or her committee, the chair of that committee or
subcommittee shall notify the member of that fact and, if the
member in question fails to reasonably justify absences to the
satisfaction of a majority of the membership of the standing
committee of which he or she is a member, membership on the
committee or subcommittee shall be deemed vacant and the chair
of the standing committee shall notify the Speaker of the House
to that effect. Such vacancy shall then be filled in the manner
prescribed by these rules.
Whenever the chair of any standing committee shall refuse to
call a regular meeting, then a majority of the members of the
standing 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
20090HR0001PN0001 - 18 -
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
committees and subcommittees, upon final adjournment of the
House shall be filed with the Chief Clerk.
No committee report, except a report of the Appropriations
Committee, shall be recognized by the House, unless the same has
been acted upon by a majority vote of the members of a standing
committee present at a committee session actually assembled and
meeting as a committee, provided such majority vote numbers at
least [15] 11 members, and provided further a quorum is present.
No committee report of the Appropriations Committee shall be
recognized by the House, unless the same has been acted upon by
a majority vote of the members of such committee present at a
committee session actually assembled and meeting as a committee,
provided such majority vote numbers at least [18] 16 members,
and provided further a quorum is present.
No proxy voting shall be permitted in committee, except as
provided for herein. If a member reports to a scheduled
committee meeting and advises the chair and other members of a
conflicting committee meeting or other legislative meeting which
he or she must attend on the same day, the member is authorized
to give the chair or minority chair his or her proxy in writing
which shall be valid only for that day and which shall include
written instructions for the exercise of such proxy by the chair
or minority chair during the meeting. The member should also
advise the chair where he or she can be reached. In the event
the conflicting committee meeting or other legislative meeting
is scheduled to convene at the same time or prior to the meeting
at which a member desires to vote by proxy, such proxy shall be
20090HR0001PN0001 - 19 -
delivered by the member in person to the offices of both the
chair and minority chair prior to, but on the same day as, the
conflicting meetings.
When the majority of the members of a standing committee
believe that a certain bill or resolution in the possession of
the standing committee should be considered and acted upon by
such 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
such committee is entitled.
Whenever the phrase "majority of members of a standing
committee or subcommittee" is used in these rules, it shall mean
majority of the entire membership to which a standing committee
or subcommittee is entitled, unless the context thereof
indicates a different intent.
To assist the House in appraising the administration of the
laws and in developing such amendments or related legislation as
it may deem necessary, each standing committee or subcommittee
of the House shall exercise continuous watchfulness of the
execution by the administrative agencies concerned of any laws,
the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of such
committee or subcommittee; and, for that purpose, shall study
all pertinent reports and data submitted to the House by the
agencies in the executive branch of the Government.
The Committee on Appropriations shall have the power to issue
subpoenas under the hand and seal of its chair commanding any
person to appear before it and answer questions touching matters
properly being inquired into by the committee, which matters
20090HR0001PN0001 - 20 -
shall include data from any fund administered by the
Commonwealth, and to produce such books, papers, records,
documents and data and information produced and stored by any
electronic data processing system as the committee deems
necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any person and
shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued out of the
courts of this Commonwealth. Any person who willfully neglects
or refuses to testify before the committee or to produce any
books, papers, records, documents or data and information
produced and stored by any electronic data processing system
shall be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the
Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the committee shall
have power to administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses
appearing before the committee. The committee may also cause the
deposition of witnesses either residing within or without the
State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking
depositions in civil actions.
* * *
20090HR0001PN0001 - 21 -