Bill Text: PA SB1136 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for budget by operation of law.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 8-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-12-17 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [SB1136 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB1136-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1573
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1136 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, ARGALL, BRUBAKER, EICHELBERGER, FONTANA, O'PAKE, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, EARLL, GREENLEAF, WARD AND BOSCOLA, DECEMBER 17, 2009
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 17, 2009
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, providing for budget by operation of law.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
That Article VIII be amended by adding a section to read:
§ 18. Budget by operation of law.
(a) In the event that a balanced operating budget, including
a general appropriation act and a general revenue act or acts,
has not been enacted by 12 midnight on the final day of any
fiscal year, the immediate past year general appropriation act
with each line item appropriation therein reduced by 10% shall
be imposed by operation of law from 12:01 a.m. on the first day
of the new fiscal year until such time as the new fiscal year
balanced operating budget, including a general appropriation act
and a revenue act or acts, has been passed by both Houses of the
General Assembly and signed by the Governor.
(b) A general revenue act or acts shall not be required to
be enacted for the fiscal year under subsection (a) if the State
Treasurer certifies that operating budget appropriations in the
general appropriation act do not exceed the actual and estimated
revenues and surplus available for the fiscal year.
Section 2. (a) Upon the first passage by the General
Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to
comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the
required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in
which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after
passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.
(b) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of this
proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the
advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required
advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such
newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of
this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment
to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first
primary, general or municipal election which meets the
requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least
three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is
passed by the General Assembly.
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