Bill Text: PA SB1253 | 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, authorizing a Constitutional Convention.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 10-5)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-10 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [SB1253 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB1253-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1747
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1253 Session of2010
INTRODUCED BY WAUGH, ALLOWAY, BOSCOLA, BRUBAKER, EICHELBERGER, FOLMER, KASUNIC, O'PAKE, RAFFERTY, WARD, D. WHITE, M. WHITE, WOZNIAK AND FARNESE, MARCH 10, 2010
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 10, 2010
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, authorizing a Constitutional Convention.
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 XI be amended by adding a section to read:
§ 2. Constitutional Convention.
(a) By a majority vote of both Houses, the General Assembly
may provide for the submission to the qualified electors of this
Commonwealth at the next general election the following
question:
Shall a Constitutional Convention be called in accordance
with act (fill in number) of (fill in year), to prepare
for submission to the electorate proposals for the
revision of (fill in the provisions to be revised) of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania?
If a majority of those voting on the question decide in favor
of a Convention, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall provide
for the election of Convention delegates at the next general
election.
(b) The Convention shall be composed of 150 delegates. The
qualified electors of each senatorial district shall elect three
delegates. The qualifications of delegates shall be the same as
those of members of the Senate.
(c) The delegates elected shall convene in the Hall of the
House of Representatives on the first Tuesday in April after
their election.
(d) Every delegate shall receive compensation as shall be
provided by law for their services.
(e) A majority of the Convention shall constitute a quorum
for conducting business.
(f) The Convention shall have the power to appoint officers,
employees and assistants as it may deem necessary and to fix
their compensation.
(g) The Convention may provide for the printing and
electronic posting of its documents, journals, debates and
proceedings and other expenses necessary for conducting the
Convention.
(h) Whenever there is a delegate vacancy, a special election
shall be provided for and the vacancy shall be filled by the
qualified electors of the district.
(i) No proposed amendment to the Constitution adopted by the
Convention shall be submitted for approval unless by assent of a
majority of the elected delegates serving in the Convention.
A proposed amendment which has been adopted by the Convention
shall be submitted to a vote by the qualified electors of this
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Commonwealth.
If more than one amendment is submitted at a general
election, each shall be voted upon separately. Upon the approval
of an amendment by a majority of qualified electors, it shall
take effect on the first day of January after the approval.
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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