Rules of the House of Representatives
Session of 2003-04
A Resolution
House Resolution 1
Adopted January 7, 2003
Table of Contents
I. DEFINITIONS
"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 a standing committee, standing subcommittee, select committee or rules
committee of the House of Representatives 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.
"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 of the electric roll call board, by such method as shall be
determined by the Speaker.
II. DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER
RULE 1 - Speaker Presiding
RULE 2 - Taking the Chair
RULE 3 - Order and Decorum
RULE 4 - Questions of Order
RULE 5 - Conference and Select Committee Appointments
RULE 6 - Signature of the Speaker
III. DUTIES OF CLERK
RULE 7 - Oath to Employees
RULE 8 - Supervision of Hall of the House and Committee Rooms
IV. DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
RULE 9 - Decorum
RULE 9 (a) - Smoking
RULE 10 - Debate
RULE 11 - Interruption of a Member who Has the Floor
RULE 12 - Personal Privilege
RULE 13 - Transgression of House Rules
RULE 14 - Members' and Employees' Expenses
V. ORDER OF DAY
RULE 15 - Time of Meeting
RULE 16 - Quorum
RULE 17 - Order of Business
RULE 18 - Introduction and Printing of Bills
VI. BILLS RESOLUTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS
RULE 19 - Bills Referred to
Committees
RULE 19 (a) - Fiscal Notes
RULE 19 (b)
- General Appropriation Bill and Non-Preferred Bills
RULE 20 - Bills Confined to One Subject
RULE 21 - Consideration of Bills
RULE 22 - First Consideration Bills
RULE 23 - Second Consideration Bills
RULE 24 - Third Consideration and Final Passage Bills
RULE 25 - Defeated Bills
RULE 26 - Reconsideration
RULE 27 - Amendments
RULE 28 - Bills Amending Existing Law
RULE 29 - Form for Printing Amendments
RULE 30 - Bills Amended by the Senate
RULE 31 - Bills Vetoed by the Governor
RULE 32 - Hospital and Home Appropriations or Acquiring Lands of the
Commonwealth
RULE 33 - Special Legislation
RULE 34 - Nonpreferred Appropriations
RULE 35 - House and Concurrent Resolutions
RULE 36 - Privileged Resolutions
RULE 37 - Legislative Citation
RULE 38 - Sine Die and Final Introduction of Bills
RULE 39 - Petitions, Remonstrances and Memorials
RULE 40 - Messages
VII. COMMITTEES
RULE 41 - Kind and Rank of
Committee
RULE 42 - Committee of the Whole
RULE 43 - Standing Committees and Subcommittees
RULE 44 - Organization of Standing Committees and Subcommittees
RULE 45 - Powers and Duties of Standing Committees and Subcommittees
RULE 46 - Committee on Rules
RULE 47 - Ethics Committee
RULE 48 - Conference Committee
RULE 49 - Committee Action
RULE 50 - Public Hearings
RULE 51 - Investigations
RULE 52 - Possession of Bills by Committee
RULE 53 - Discharge of Committees
VIII. MOTIONS
RULE 54 - Presentation and
Withdrawal of Motions
RULE 55 - Privileged Motions
RULE 56 - Adjourn
RULE 57 - Call of the House
RULE 58 - Persons Admitted Under a Call of the House
RULE 59 - Lay on the Table
RULE 60 - Motion to Take from the Table
RULE 61 - Previous Question
IX. VOTING
RULE 62 - Call for Yeas and
Nays--Reasons for Vote
RULE 63 - Division of a Question
RULE 64 - Members Required to be Present and Vote
RULE 64 (a) - Chronic Absenteeism
RULE 65 - Member Having Private Interest
RULE 65 (a) - Professionals-Legislators
RULE 66 - Electric Roll Call
RULE 67 - Verification and Challenge
RULE 68 - Changing Vote
X. RECORDS
RULE 69 - Journal
RULE 70 - History of House Bills and House Resolutions
RULE 71 - House Calendar
RULE 72 - Journal, Transcribing and Documents Rooms
XI. MISCELLANEOUS
RULE 73 - Correspondents
RULE 74 - Visitors
RULE 75 - Lobbyists
RULE 76 - Soliciting Prohibited
RULE 77 - Suspending and Changing Rules
RULE 78 - Parliamentary Authority
RULE 1
Speaker Presiding
The Speaker shall preside over the sessions of the House.
He may name a member to preside, but the substitution shall not extend beyond
an adjournment. He may appoint a member as Speaker pro tempore to act in his
absence for a period not exceeding ten consecutive legislative days.
As presiding officer and in accordance with Article II § 2
of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, within ten days after the
occurrence of a vacancy the Speaker shall issue a writ for a special election
to be held on a date
which shall occur on or before the date of the first primary, municipal or
general election which occurs not less than 60 days after the issuance of the
writ. The Speaker shall not be required to issue a writ of election if the
election cannot be scheduled until after the general election.
In case of failure to make an appointment, the House shall
elect a Speaker pro tempore to act during the absence of the Speaker.
The Speaker pro tempore shall perform all the duties of the
Chair during the absence of the Speaker.
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. On the appearance of a quorum, the Speaker shall proceed to the
regular order of business as prescribed by the rules of the House.
RULE 3
Order and Decorum
The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum. In case of
any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries or lobbies, he shall
have the power to order the same to be cleared.
The Speaker shall have the right to summon State Police to
assist in the preservation of order and decorum.
The Sergeant-at-Arms under the direction of the Speaker
shall, while the House is in session, maintain order on the floor and its
adjoining rooms. He shall enforce the rule with respect to the conduct of
visitors.
RULE 4
Questions of Order
The Speaker shall decide all questions of order subject to
an appeal by two members. 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 by him 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.
RULE 5
Conference and Select Committee Appointments
All Committees of Conference shall be appointed by the
Speaker and shall be composed of three members, two of whom shall be selected
from the majority party and one from the minority party.
The Speaker shall appoint the members of select committees,
unless otherwise ordered by the House.
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
Oath to Employees
The Chief Clerk shall administer an oath or affirmation to
the employees of the House that they will severally support, obey and defend
the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Pennsylvania,
and that they will discharge the duties of their offices with fidelity.
Each employee of the House, after taking the oath of
office, shall sign his name in the Oath Book in the presence of the Chief
Clerk.
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
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.
RULE 10
Debate
When a member desires to address the House, he shall rise
and respectfully address himself to "Mr. Speaker." Upon being
recognized, he may speak, confining himself 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.
No member, except the Majority and Minority Leaders, may
speak more than twice on any question, without the consent of the House.
With the unanimous consent of the House a member may make a
statement not exceeding ten minutes in length concerning a subject or matter
not pending before the House for consideration, providing the Majority and
Minority Leaders have agreed on a time the member is to ask for recognition.
RULE 11
Interruption of a Member who Has the Floor
A member who has the floor may not be interrupted, except
for questions of order or by a motion for the previous question.
With his consent, 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 himself, but he shall not discuss a pending question in his
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
Rules of the House, the Speaker or any member through the Speaker shall call
him to order, in which case he 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, he may proceed. If the case
requires it, he 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 a standing or
special committee of which he 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 his residence, at such rates as are
established from time to time by the Committee on Rules but not in excess of
the applicable maximum [per diem and mileage rate authorized by the Federal
Government for travel.] 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 his 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 his 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 his 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.
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 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
non-session 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 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. 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
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.
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.
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
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 under any General Appropriation Act 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 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.
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. 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) 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.
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.
RULE 15
Time of Meeting
The House shall convene on the first legislative day of the
week at 1:00 P.M. 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.
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, his 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 by the Chaplain.
(2) Pledge of Allegiance.
(3) Correction and approval of the Journal.
(4) Leaves of absence.
(5) Master Roll Call.
(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.
In lieu of offering House Resolutions on topics of
importance to members, any member, without unanimous consent, may address the
House on such issue and have his or her remarks entered into the record during
a special period of time established each week by the Speaker at the
conclusion of House business on a specific day.
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 upon written notice to the
Speaker, Majority Leader, Minority Leader and the prime sponsor. In the case
of withdrawals, the names shall be withdrawn if and when the bill is
reprinted. Additional sponsors may be added only by the prime sponsor by
providing written notice to the Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Leader.
[Such notice shall include the signatures of those members desiring to be
additional sponsors.]
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 an appropriate committee on any day whether or not the House is
in session. If the resolution creating a select committee authorizes the
referral of bills to that committee, the Speaker, in his discretion, may refer
bills, within the scope of the resolution, to such select committee. Insofar
as applicable, the select committee shall consider and report bills in
accordance with the rules governing the consideration and reporting of bills
by standing committees. The Speaker shall report to the House the committees
to which bills have been referred, 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 the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, 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 committee any
bill or 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 an appropriate committee. If the motion is carried,
said bill or bills shall be immediately surrendered by the Speaker to the
committee designated in said motion.
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 committee, shall be
printed.
Bills may not be withdrawn after reference to committee.
RULE 19
Bills Referred to Committees
No bill shall be considered unless referred to a committee,
printed for the use of the members and returned therefrom. (Constitution,
Article III, Section 2).
RULE 19
(a)
Fiscal Notes
(1) No bill, except a General Appropriation bill or
any amendments thereto, 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 shall be given second
consideration reading on the calendar until it has first been referred to the
Appropriations Committee for a fiscal note, provided however that the Rules
Committee may by an affirmative vote of three- quarters of the entire
membership to which such committee is entitled:
(a) Waive the recommittal to
the Appropriations Committee and provide that the fiscal note be attached to
the bill while on the active calendar. The providing of such note shall be a
priority item for the Appropriations Committee; or
(b) Waive the necessity of a
fiscal note on any bill which it deems to have a deminimus fiscal impact
or which merely authorizes, rather than mandates, an increase in expenditures
or an action that would result in a loss of revenue.
(2) Nothing herein shall preclude any member from
moving, at the proper time, the recommittal of any bill to the Appropriations
Committee for a fiscal note.
(3) The Appropriations Committee shall be limited in
its consideration of any such bill to the fiscal aspects of the bill and shall
not consider the substantive merits of the bill nor refuse to report any such
bill from committee for reasons other than fiscal aspects. 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;
(c) A projected cost estimate
of the program for each of the 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 Appropriation Bill out of which expenditures or losses of
Commonwealth funds shall occur as a result of the bill;
(h) The recommendation, if
any, of the Appropriations Committee and the reasons therefore 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.
(4) No bill which may result in an increase in the
expenditure of Commonwealth funds shall be given second consideration reading
on the calendar until the Appropriations Committee has certified that
provision has been made to appropriate funds equal to such increased
expenditure. Whenever the Appropriations Committee cannot so certify, the bill
shall be returned to the committee from which it was last reported for further
consideration and/or amendment.
(5) No amendment to a bill, concurrences in Senate
amendments, or adoption of a conference report which may result in an increase
in the expenditure of Commonwealth funds or those of a political subdivision
or which may entail a loss of revenues in addition to that originally provided
for in the bill prior to the proposed changes nor any bill requiring a fiscal
note for which re-referral to the Appropriations Committee has been waived by
the Rules Committee shall be voted upon until a fiscal note is available for
distribution to the members with respect to such changes or to such bill
showing the fiscal effect of the changes with respect to the bill, and
containing the information set forth by subsection (3) of this rule.
(6) In obtaining the information required by these
rules, the Appropriations Committee may utilize the services of the Budget
Bureau and any other State agency as may be necessary.
(7) Any bill proposing any change relative to the
retirement system of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof,
funded in whole or in part out of the public funds of the Commonwealth or any
political subdivision, shall have attached to it an actuarial note. Except for
the provisions pertaining to the content of fiscal notes as set forth in
paragraphs (a) through (i) of subsection (3), all the provisions pertaining to
and procedures required of bills containing fiscal notes, shall, where
applicable, also be required for bills containing actuarial note. The
actuarial note shall contain a brief explanatory statement or note which shall
include a reliable estimate of the financial and actuarial effect of the
proposed change in any such retirement system.
RULE 19
(b)
General Appropriation Bill and Non-Preferred Bills
This rule shall apply to all amendments offered to the
General Appropriation Bill for each proposed fiscal year including any
amendments offered to or for supplemental appropriations to prior fiscal years
contained within the General Appropriation Bill, and shall also apply to all
amendments offered to any non-preferred appropriation bill for the same fiscal
year.
Any amendment offered on the floor of the House to the
General Appropriation Bill that proposes to increase spending of
State dollars for the Commonwealth's proposed fiscal year
or prior fiscal years above the levels contained in the General Appropriation
Bill as reported from the Appropriations Committee plus any aggregate if
certified each year by the Appropriations Committee shall not be in order and
may not be considered unless the same amendment contains sufficient reductions
in line items of that General Appropriation Bill so that the amendment offered
does not result in a net increase in the total proposed spending contained
within the General Appropriation Bill plus any aggregate if certified by the
Appropriations Committee.
Any amendment offered on the floor of the House to any non-
preferred appropriation bill that proposes to increase spending of State
dollars for the current fiscal year above the levels contained in that
non-preferred appropriation bill as reported from the Appropriations Committee
shall not be in order and may not be considered unless the same amendment
contains sufficient reductions in that non-preferred appropriation bill so
that the amendment offered does not result in a net increase in the total
proposed spending contained within that non-preferred appropriation bill.
In order to be considered, amendments to the General
Appropriation Bill must be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk by 2:00
P.M. of the Monday of the week prior to the scheduled vote of the General
Appropriation Bill. The Appropriations Committee for special and proper reason
and by majority vote, may waive this deadline. Members shall be notified of
the scheduled vote on the General [Appropriations] Appropriation Bill
no later than 4:30 P.M. of the Wednesday preceding the above noted Monday on
which the amendments must be filed to the Bill. Rule 21 of the Rules of the
House, insofar as it applies to the filing deadline for amendments and notice
requirements for the voting schedule for the General Appropriation Bill, shall
not apply to this rule. Rule 21 shall, however, apply to the non-preferred
appropriation bills.
If the amendment cannot be submitted in accordance with the
provision of the previous paragraph because it is still being prepared by the
Legislative Reference Bureau, the member must, by 2:00 P.M. on the Monday of
the week prior to the scheduled vote, provide the Office of the Chief Clerk
with a statement, prepared by the member containing the factual content and
exact amounts of increases and decreases in line items which would be proposed
in the amendment, along with certification from the Legislative Reference
Bureau that the amendment was submitted to the Legislative Reference Bureau
prior to 2:00 P.M. on the aforementioned Monday. This filing deadline does not
apply to amendments to any non-preferred appropriation bill.
Debate on any debatable question related to the General
Appropriation Bill shall be limited to five minutes each time a member is
recognized. On the bill a sponsor of an amendment shall be entitled to be
recognized twice, a maker of a debatable motion shall be entitled to be
recognized twice, any other members shall be entitled to be recognized once.
This rule may be temporarily suspended only by two-thirds
vote of the members elected to the House by a roll call vote. Rule 77 of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, insofar as it applies to the temporary
suspension of the rules of the House, shall not apply to this rule.
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
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).
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. of the second [business] legislative day prior to the scheduled
vote on final passage for legislation that has no legal deadline. (The General
[Appropriations] Appropriation Act and non-preferred bills are included
within the definition of legislation that has no legal deadline.) All
amendments shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk by 2:00 P.M. of
the last legislative day preceding the scheduled vote. No vote on final
passage can occur before the date of the scheduled vote.
If the amendment cannot be submitted in accordance with the
above paragraph 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 2:00 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 2:00 P.M.
deadline.
Members shall be notified no later than one hour prior to
the consideration of all bills on concurrence, unless the concurrence is the
General [Appropriations] Appropriation Bill, in which case at least 24
hours' notice shall be provided. Additionally, members shall be notified and
conference committee reports shall be available to members at least 24
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.
RULE 22
First Consideration Bills
Bills reported from committees shall be considered for the
first time when reported and shall then be automatically removed from the
calendar and laid on the table, except House bills reported from committees
after the first Monday in June until the first Monday in September which shall
then be automatically recommitted to the Committee on Rules.
After the first Monday in September, any bill which was
automatically recommitted to the Committee on Rules pursuant to this Rule 22
shall automatically be re-reported to the floor of the House and laid on the
table.
The Rules Committee shall not in any instance have the
power to amend a bill that has already gone through another committee.
Any bill which was automatically laid on the table pursuant
to this Rule 22 and has remained on the table for 15 legislative days shall
automatically be removed from the table and returned to the calendar for
second consideration the next legislative day.
Any bill which was automatically laid on the table pursuant
to this Rule 22 may be removed from the table by motion of the Majority
Leader, or his designee, acting on a report of the Committee on Rules. Such
report shall be in writing and a copy thereof distributed to each member. Any
bill so removed from the table shall be placed on the second consideration
calendar on the legislative day following such removal. Nothing herein shall
affect the right of any member to make a motion to remove a bill from the
table.
Amendments shall not be proposed, nor is any other motion
in order on first consideration.
Bills shall not be considered beyond first consideration
until the latest print thereof is on the desks of the members.
Any non-controversial bill, which is defined as any bill,
other than an appropriations bill, approved by a committee with no negative
votes or abstentions, and with the approval of the Majority Leader and the
Minority Leader, shall be placed on an uncontested calendar. Bills on the
uncontested calendar shall be voted upon by a single roll-call vote. Each bill
listed on the uncontested calendar will be printed separately in the journal
with the vote recorded on the approval of the uncontested calendar as the vote
on final passage of each bill contained therein.
If any member should object to the placement of a bill on
the uncontested calendar, the bill shall be automatically removed from the
uncontested calendar and placed on the regular calendar the next legislative
day.
RULE 23
Second Consideration Bills
Bills on second consideration shall be considered in their
calendar order and be subject to amendment.
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 and final passage shall be
considered in their calendar order.
A bill on third consideration may be amended.
After a bill is agreed to on third consideration, prior to
voting, if the bill has not been caucused upon by both caucuses or if the bill
is not available on the Legislative Data Processing floor system, the title or
a brief analysis of the bill shall be read[; and the].
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 considered at the same time,
prior to voting, if the bill has not been caucused upon by both caucuses or if
the bill is not available on the Legislative Data Processing floor system, the
title or a brief analysis of the bill shall be read[; and the].
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
Defeated Bills
When a bill or resolution has been defeated by the House,
it shall not be reintroduced, or, except as provided in Rule 26, be
reconsidered, nor shall it be in order to consider a similar one, or to act on
a Senate bill or resolution of like import, during the same session.
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 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
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 made 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 made within
the aforesaid time limits and is decided by the affirmative vote prescribed
herein, the question immediately 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.
Where a bill, resolution, or other matter has been
initially defeated, and a timely made motion to reconsider the vote is lost,
or if no motion to reconsider the vote was timely made, then it shall not be
in order for the House thereafter to receive or consider a new bill,
resolution or other matter embracing therein a subject or purpose basically
identical to or of similar import to the subject matter or purpose of the
bill, resolution or matter initially defeated.
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).
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.
If an amendment is not filed in a timely manner pursuant to
the provisions of House Rule 21, then the sponsor of the amendment shall explain the amendment
prior to consideration by the House.
Before consideration, eight typewritten copies of a
proposed amendment signed by its sponsor shall be presented to the Speaker,
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.
Amendments shall be assembled in packets by bill number and
shall be distributed to the members by the beginning of each day's session.
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 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 on Rules immediately upon the reading of the
message from the Senate by the Clerk. The Committee on Rules may amend any
bill or resolution containing Senate amendments.
When said bill or resolution has been favorably reported by
the Committee on Rules, either as committed or as amended, said bill or
resolution shall be placed on the calendar and copies thereof shall be placed
on the desks of the members. When acting on bills or joint resolutions amended
by the Senate, the amendments shall be read and the question put on the
concurrence in the amendments.
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 on Rules.
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).
RULE 31
Bills Vetoed by the Governor
When the Governor has returned a bill to the House with his
objections, the veto message shall be read and the House shall 29
proceed to reconsider it. (Constitution, Article IV, Section 15).
RULE 32
Hospital and Home Appropriations or Acquiring Lands of the Commonwealth
No bills appropriating moneys to State-aided hospitals or
State-aided homes shall be introduced in the House, except such as appropriate
in single bills the total sum to be appropriated to all of the institutions
within the same class or group. Requests for appropriations for particular
State-aided hospitals or State-aided homes shall be filed with the Chairman of
the Committee on Appropriations on forms to be furnished by the said Committee
on Appropriations, and shall be signed by the member requesting the
appropriation.
No bill granting or conveying Commonwealth lands or taking
title thereto shall be reported by any committee to the House unless there has
been filed with the Chief Clerk and the chairman of the reporting committee a
memorandum from the Department of General Services indicating the use to which
the property is presently employed, the full consideration for the transfer,
if any, a departmental appraisal of the property, including its valuation and
a list of recorded liens and encumbrances, if any, the use to which the
property will be employed upon its transfer, the date by which the land is
needed for its new use, and the legislative district or districts in which the
land is located. The memorandum shall contain a statement by a responsible
person in the Department of General Services indicating whether or not the
administration favors the transfer which is the subject of the bill under
consideration.
RULE 33
Special Legislation
No local or special bill shall be passed by the House
unless notice of the intention to apply therefore 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
Non-preferred Appropriations
No bill shall be passed appropriating money to any
charitable or educational institution not under absolute control of the
Commonwealth, except by a vote of two-thirds of all members elected.
(Constitution, Article III, Section 17).
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.
Unless privileged under Rule 36 for immediate consideration
or deemed non-controversial by the Speaker in consultation with the Majority
Leader and the Minority Leader, the Speaker shall refer House resolutions
(except discharge resolutions) and Senate resolutions presented to the House
for concurrence to appropriate committees.
House resolutions deemed non-controversial by the Speaker,
including, but not limited to, condolence and congratulatory resolutions,
shall be considered under the proper order of business on the same day as
introduced or within two legislative days thereafter without being referred to
committee.
The Speaker shall report to the House the committees to
which resolutions have been referred, 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
committee shall be printed and placed in the House files.
When a resolution (House or Senate) is reported from
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) Originated by the Committee on Rules.
(4) Providing for a Joint Session of the Senate and
House and its procedure.
(5) Placing bills negatived by committees on the
calendar.
(6) Adjournment or recess.
RULE 37
Legislative Citation
A member making a request that a Legislative Citation be
issued to a particular person or on a specified occasion shall provide the
Legislative Reference Bureau with the facts necessary for the preparation of
the citation on a suitable form.
The citation request shall be filed with the Chief Clerk
and automatically referred to the Speaker who may approve and sign such
citation on behalf of the House of Representatives. One original citation
shall be issued by the Chief Clerk.
RULE 38
Sine Die and Final Introduction of Bills
Resolutions fixing the time for adjournment of the General
Assembly sine die and the last day for introduction of bills in the House
shall be referred to the Committee on Rules before consideration by the House.
RULE 39
Petitions, Remonstrances and Memorials
Petitions, remonstrances, memorials and other papers
presented by a member shall be signed, dated and filed with the Chief Clerk to
be by him handed to the Speaker for reference to appropriate committees.
The Speaker shall report to the House the committees to
which petitions, remonstrances, memorials and other papers have been referred,
not later than the next day the House is in session following the day of
filing.
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 of the appropriate
Senate officer.
RULE 41
Kind and Rank of Committee
The Committees of the House shall be of four kinds and rank
in the order named:
(1) Committee of the Whole House.
(2) Standing Committees.
(3) Select Committees.
(4) Conference Committees.
RULE 42
Committee of the Whole
The House may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole
at any time on the motion of a member adopted by a majority vote of the House.
In forming the Committee of the Whole, the Speaker shall
leave the chair, after appointing a Chairman to preside.
The rules of the House shall be observed in the Committee
of the Whole as far as applicable, except that a member may speak more than
once on the same question.
A motion to adjourn, to lay on the table, or for the
previous question cannot be put in the Committee of the Whole; but a motion to
limit or close debate is permissible.
A motion that the Committee of the Whole "do now rise
and report back to the House," shall always be in order, and shall be
decided without debate.
Amendments made in the Committee of the Whole shall not be
read when the Speaker resumes the Chair, unless so ordered by the House.
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 Chairmen, Caucus Secretaries, Caucus
Administrators, Policy Chairmen and the chairmen and minority chairmen of
standing committees, each member shall be entitled to serve on not less than
two standing committees.
The Speaker shall appoint the chairman and vice-chairman 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-
chairman appointed by the Speaker; when the standing committee has standing
subcommittees, the Speaker shall appoint a subcommittee chairman for each
standing subcommittee. The Speaker shall appoint a secretary for each standing
committee. The Minority Leader shall appoint the minority chairman, minority
vice-chairman and minority secretary of each standing committee and the
minority subcommittee chairman for each standing subcommittee.
Except for members who decline a chairmanship or minority
chairmanship in writing or who are barred from serving as a chairman or
minority chairman under this rule, the chairmanship and minority chairmanship
of 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 chairmanships or minority chairmanships
for that caucus, the selection of a chairman or minority chairman from among
such caucus members shall be in the discretion of the appointing authority.
The appointing authority may designate the standing committee to which he
shall appoint a member as chairman or minority chairman without regard to
seniority. The Speaker and the Floor Leader, Whip, Caucus Chairman, Caucus
Secretary, Caucus Administrator and Policy Chairman of the majority party and
minority party shall not be eligible to serve as chairman or minority chairman
of any standing committee and no member may serve as chairman or minority
chairman of more than one standing committee.
Any chairmanship or minority chairmanship 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 chairman or minority chairman 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 chairmanship or minority chairmanship
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
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 chairmanship or minority
chairmanship of a standing committee to the chairmanship or minority
chairmanship of another standing committee.
Whenever the appointment of a chairman or minority chairman
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 chairman or minority chairman 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 chairman or
minority chairman 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-two] Twenty-three standing committees of the
House, each to consist of 26 members except the Committee on Appropriations,
which shall consist of 32 members, are hereby created. In addition, there is
hereby created [34] 38 standing subcommittees.
All standing committees shall consist of 15 members of the
majority party and 11 members of the minority party, except the Committee on
Appropriations which shall consist of 20 members of the majority party and 12
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 Youth
(a) Subcommittee on Aging
(b) Subcommittee on Youth]
(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 Human Services
(b) Subcommittee on Education
(c) Subcommittee on Capital
Budget
(4) Children and Youth
[(4)] (5) Commerce and Economic Development
(a) Subcommittee on Financial
Services and Banking
(b) Subcommittee on Housing
(c) Subcommittee on Economic
Development
[(5)] (6) Consumer Affairs
(a) Subcommittee on Public
Utilities
(b) Subcommittee on
Telecommunications
[(6)] (7) Education
(a) Subcommittee on Basic
Education
(b) Subcommittee on Higher
Education
[(7)] (8) Environmental Resources and Energy
(a) Subcommittee on Mining
(b) Subcommittee on
Parks and Forests
[(8)] (9) Finance
[(9)] (10) Game and Fisheries
[(10)] (11) Health and Human Services
(a) Subcommittee on Health
(b) Subcommittee on Human
Services
(c) Subcommittee on Drugs and
Alcohol
[(11)] (12) Insurance
[(12)] (13) Judiciary
(a) Subcommittee on Crime and
Corrections
(b) Subcommittee on Courts
(c) Subcommittee on
Trusts and Estates
[(13)] (14) Intergovernmental Affairs
(a) Subcommittee on
Information Technology
(b) Subcommittee on
Federal-State Relations
[(14)] (15) Labor Relations
[(15)] (16) Liquor Control
(a) Subcommittee on Licensing
(b) Subcommittee on Marketing
[(16)] (17) Local Government
(a) Subcommittee on Boroughs
(b) Subcommittee on Counties
(c) Subcommittee on Townships
[(17)] (18) Professional Licensure
[(18)] (19) State Government
[(19)] (20) Tourism and Recreational
Development
(a) Subcommittee on Arts and
Entertainment
(b) Subcommittee on
Recreation
(c) Subcommittee on Travel
Promotion
[(20)] (21) Transportation
(a) Subcommittee on Highways
(b) Subcommittee on Public
Transportation
(c) Subcommittee on
Transportation Safety
(d) Subcommittee on Aviation
(e) Subcommittee on Railroads
[(21)] (22) Urban Affairs
(a) Subcommittee on Cities,
Counties - First Class
(b) Subcommittee on Cities,
Counties - Second Class
(c) Subcommittee on Cities,
Third Class
[(22)] (23) Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness
(a) Subcommittee on Military and
Veterans Facilities
(b) Subcommittee on Security and
Emergency Response Readiness
RULE 44
Organization of Standing Committees and Subcommittees
The membership of each standing committee shall first meet
upon the call of its chairman and perfect its organization. A majority of the
members to which each standing committee is entitled shall constitute a quorum
for it to proceed to business. Each standing committee shall have the power to
promulgate rules not inconsistent with these rules which may be necessary for
the orderly conduct of its business.
Where a standing committee has standing subcommittees as
prescribed by Rule 43, the membership on such standing subcommittees shall be
appointed by the Committee on Committees after consultation with each chairman
of a standing committee of which the standing subcommittee is a part. Each
standing subcommittee shall consist of the chairman of its parent standing
committee, as an ex-officio member, the chairman of the standing subcommittee,
and five other members from the parent standing committee to be appointed by
the Committee on Committees, three from among the majority party after
consultation with the Majority Leader and two from among the minority party
after consultation with the Minority Leader. Where it is deemed advisable that
the membership of any standing subcommittee be of greater number than that
prescribed herein, the Committee on Committees may appoint additional members
of the standing committee from the majority or minority party to serve on such
standing subcommittee. The number of additional members selected should be
such as to maintain, as far as is practicable, a ratio in majority and
minority party membership which affords a fair and reasonable representation
to the minority party on the standing subcommittee.
The chairman and the minority chairman of each standing
committee shall be ex-officio members of each standing subcommittee which is
part of the parent standing committee, with the right to attend standing
subcommittee meetings and vote on any matter before such standing
subcommittee.
A majority of the members of each standing subcommittee
shall constitute a quorum for the proper conduct of its business. Each
standing subcommittee may promulgate such rules necessary for the conduct of
its business which are not inconsistent with the rules of its parent standing
committee or the Rules of the House.
When the chairman of a standing committee has referred a
bill, resolution or other matter to a standing subcommittee, the power and
control over such bill, resolution or other matter shall then reside in such
subcommittee for a reasonable period of time thereafter in order that such
subcommittee may consider the bill, resolution or other matter and return the
same to its standing committee with its recommendations as to the action which
ought to be taken on such bill, resolution or other matter.
Each standing subcommittee, within a reasonable time after
it has received a bill, resolution or other matter, shall meet as a committee
for the purpose of considering the same and returning the bill, resolution or
other matter back to its parent standing committee with a subcommittee report
as to what action it recommends. The report of the subcommittee on a bill,
resolution or other matter being returned to the standing committee shall
contain one of the following recommendations:
(1) that the bill, resolution or other matter in its
present form be reported to the House,
(2) that the bill, resolution, or other matter not be
reported to the House,
(3) that the bill, resolution or other matter be
reported to the House, with recommendations for amendments,
(4) that the bill, resolution or other matter is
returned without recommendations.
When a standing committee receives reports from its
subcommittees, it shall consider the same and by majority vote of the members
of the standing committee either approve or disapprove such report. If
disapproved, the standing committee may then determine by a majority vote of
its members what further action, if any, should be taken on such bill,
resolution or other matter.
Where no action has been taken by a standing subcommittee
on a bill, resolution or other matter referred to it, and the chairman of the
standing committee considers that such subcommittee has had reasonable time to
consider the bill, resolution or other matter and return the same to its
parent standing committee, the subcommittee chairman shall then forthwith
surrender and forward the same, together with all documents or papers
pertaining thereto, to the standing committee.
In the event that a chairman of a standing committee is
absent, the following rules shall apply:
(1) If such standing committee has no subcommittee
prescribed by Rule 44, the vice-chairman of the standing committee shall act
as chairman of the committee meetings.
(2) If such standing committee has only one
subcommittee the subcommittee chairman shall act as chairman of the standing
committee.
(3) If the standing committee has more than one
subcommittee, the subcommittee chairman with the longest consecutive
legislative service shall act as chairman of the standing committee, except
where the subcommittee chairmen have equal legislative service, in which case
the Speaker of the House shall designate one of the subcommittee chairmen to
act as chairman of the standing committee.
In case of absence of a subcommittee chairman, the chairman
of the appropriate standing committee shall designate one member from either
the standing committee or subcommittee to act as chairman of the subcommittee.
RULE 45
Powers and Duties of Standing Committees and Subcommittees
The chairman 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 chairman 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 chairman of the committee or
subcommittee as they deem necessary. No recess or 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 45, all provisions
of the act of July 19, 1974 (P.L.486, No.175) 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
chairman, or subcommittee chairman, 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 chairman, 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 chairmen 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 chairman of each
standing committee shall submit to the Chief Clerk for 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 committee, the chairman of that
committee or subcommittee shall notify him of that fact and, if the member in
question fails to reasonably justify his absences to the satisfaction of a
majority of the membership of the standing committee of which he is a member,
his membership on the committee or subcommittee shall be deemed vacant and the
chairman 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 chairman 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 the act
of July 19, 1974 (P.L.486, No.175) 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
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 12 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 14 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 chairman 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 chairman or minority chairman 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
chairman or minority chairman during the meeting. The member should also
advise the chairman 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 delivered by the member in person to the
offices of both the chairman and minority chairman 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 chairman to include the same as part of the business of a
committee meeting. Upon failure of the chairman 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 chairman commanding any person
to appear before it and answer questions touching matters properly being
inquired into by the committee, which matters 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 action.
RULE 46
Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules shall consist of the Speaker, the
Majority Leader, the Majority Whip, the Minority Leader, the Minority Whip,
the Majority Appropriations Chairman, the Minority Appropriations Chairman,
eight members of the majority party appointed by the Speaker, and six members
of the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader. The Majority Leader
shall be chairman.
The committee shall make recommendations designed to
improve and expedite the business and procedure of the House and its
committees, and to propose to the House any amendments to the Rules deemed
necessary. The committee shall also do all things necessary to fulfill any
assignment or duty given to the committee by any resolution, or other rule of
the House of Representatives.
The committee shall be privileged to report at any time.
The committee shall, until or unless superseded by law,
adopt guidelines for the expenditure of all funds appropriated to the House or
to any member or nonmember officer by any appropriation act.
Such guidelines shall include a detailed statement of the
general and specific purposes for which the funds from that appropriation
account may be used, as well as uniform standards of required documentation,
accounting systems and record keeping procedures.
RULE 47
Ethics Committee
As used in the context of this rule, the word
"committee" shall mean the Committee on Ethics of the House of
Representatives, and the phrase "majority of the committee" shall
mean a majority of the members to which the committee is entitled.
The committee shall consist of eight members: four of whom
shall be members of the majority party appointed by the Speaker, and four of
whom shall be members of the minority party appointed by the Minority Leader.
The Speaker shall appoint from the members a chairman, vice chairman and
secretary for the committee. The chairman shall be a member of the majority
party and the vice chairman shall be a member of the minority party.
The chairman shall notify all members of the committee at
least 24 hours in advance of the date, time and place of a regular meeting.
Whenever the chairman shall refuse to call a regular meeting, a majority of
the committee may vote to call a meeting by giving two days' written notice to
the Speaker of the House setting forth the time and place for such meeting.
Such notice shall be read in the House and posted in the House Chamber by the
Chief Clerk, or his designee. Thereafter, the meeting shall be held at the
time and place specified in such notice.
The committee shall conduct its investigations, hearings
and meetings relating to a specific investigation or a specific member,
officer or employee of the House in closed session and the fact that such
investigation is being conducted or to be conducted or that hearings or such
meetings are being held or are to be held shall be confidential information
unless the person subject to investigation advises the committee in writing
that he elects that such hearings shall be held publicly. In the event of such
an election, the committee shall furnish such person a public hearing. All
other meetings of the committee shall be open to the public.
The committee shall receive complaints against members,
officers and employees of the House, and persons registered or carrying on
activities regulated by the act of September 30, 1961 (P.L.1778, No.712),
known as the "Lobbying Registration and Regulation Act," alleging
illegal or unethical conduct. Any such complaint must be in writing verified
by the person filing the complaint and must set forth in detail the conduct in
question and the section of the "Legislative Code of Ethics," the
"Lobbying Registration and Regulation Act," or House rule violated.
The committee shall make a preliminary investigation of the complaint, and if
it is determined by a majority of the committee that a violation of the rule
or law may have occurred, the person against whom the complaint has been
brought shall be notified in writing and given a copy of the complaint. Within
15 days after receipt of the complaint, such person may file a written answer
thereto with the committee. Upon receipt of the answer, by vote of a majority
of the committee, the committee shall either dismiss the complaint within ten
days or proceed with a formal investigation, to include hearings, not less
than ten days nor more than 30 days after notice in writing to the persons so
charged. Failure of the person charged to file an answer shall not be deemed
to be an admission or create an inference or presumption that the complaint is
true, and such failure to file an answer shall not prohibit a majority of the
committee from either proceeding with a formal investigation or dismissing the
complaint.
A majority of the committee may initiate a preliminary
investigation of the suspected violation of a Legislative Code of Ethics or
House rule by a member, officer or employee of the House or lobbyist. If it is
determined by a majority of the committee that a violation of a rule or law
may have occurred, the person in question shall be notified in writing of the
conduct in question and the section of the "Legislative Code of
Ethics," the "Lobbying Registration and Regulation Act" or
House rule violated. Within 15 days, such person may file a written answer
thereto. Upon receipt of the answer, by vote of a majority of the committee,
the committee shall either dismiss the charges within ten days or proceed with
a formal investigation, to include hearings, not less than ten days nor more
than 30 days after notice in writing to the person so charged. Failure of the
person charged to file an answer shall not be deemed to be an admission or
create an inference or presumption that the charge is true, and such failure
to file an answer shall not prohibit a majority of the committee from either
proceeding with a formal investigation or dismissing the charge.
In the event that the committee shall elect to proceed with
a formal investigation of the conduct of any member, officer or employee of
the House, the committee shall employ independent counsel who shall not be
employed by the House for any other purpose or in any other capacity during
such investigation.
All constitutional rights of any person under investigation
shall be preserved, and such person shall be entitled to present evidence,
cross-examine witnesses, face his accuser, and be represented by counsel.
The chairman may continue any hearing for reasonable cause,
and upon the vote of a majority of the committee or upon the request of the
person subject to investigation, the chairman shall issue subpoenas for the
attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary
evidence relating to any matter under formal investigation by the committee.
The committee may administer oaths or affirmations and examine and receive
evidence.
All testimony, documents, records, data, statements or
information received by the committee in the course of any investigation shall
be private and confidential except in the case of public hearings or in a
report to the House. No report shall be made to the House unless a majority of
the committee has made a finding of unethical or illegal conduct on the part
of the person under investigation. No finding of unethical or illegal conduct
shall be valid unless signed by at least a majority of the committee. Any such
report may include a minority report. No action shall be taken on any finding
of illegal or unethical conduct nor shall such finding or report containing
such finding be made public sooner than seven days after a copy of the finding
is sent by certified mail to the member, officer or employee under
investigation.
The committee may meet with a committee of the Senate to
hold investigations or hearings involving employees of the two houses jointly
or officers or employees of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Joint State
Government Commission, the Local Government Commission, the Legislative Budget
and Finance Committee and the Legislative Data Processing Committee; provided,
however, that no action may be taken at a joint meeting unless it is approved
by a majority of the committee.
In the event that a member of the committee shall be under
investigation, such member shall be temporarily replaced on the committee in a
like manner as said member's original appointment.
The committee, whether or not at the request of a member,
officer or employee concerned about an ethical problem relating to himself
alone or in conjunction with others, may render advisory opinions with regard
to questions pertaining to legislative ethics or decorum. Such advisory
opinions, with such deletions and changes as shall be necessary to protect the
identity of the persons involved or seeking them, may be published and shall
be distributed to all the members of the House.
Any member of the committee breaching the confidentiality
of materials and events as set forth in this rule shall be removed immediately
from the committee and replaced by another member of the House in a like
manner as said member's original appointment.
The committee may adopt rules of procedure for the orderly
conduct of its affairs, investigations, hearings and meetings, which rules are
not inconsistent with this rule.
The committee shall continue to exist and have authority
and power to function after the sine die adjournment of the General Assembly
and shall so continue until the expiration of the then current term of office
of the members of the committee.
RULE 48
Conference Committee
All Committees of Conference shall be appointed by the
Speaker and shall be composed of three members, two of whom shall be selected
from the majority party and one from the minority 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 each House.
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 a standing committee, and such
committee has one or more standing subcommittees, the chairman of the standing
committee may either refer it to an appropriate subcommittee or retain it for
consideration by the entire standing committee. If it is retained, such
standing committee shall have full power and control over such bill,
resolution or other matter, except that such committee shall not change the
subject nor any amendments adopted by the House. Where the chairman of the
standing committee refers such bill, resolution, or matter to a subcommittee,
such subcommittee, except as hereinafter provided, shall have full power over
the same.
The recommendations by a 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.
All standing subcommittees shall be subject to the will of
the majority of their parent standing committee and shall not promulgate any
rules or take any action inconsistent with the rules of their parent standing
committee or the Rules of the House.
RULE 50
Public Hearings
Each standing committee, subcommittee or select committee
to which a proposed bill, resolution or any matter is referred shall have full
power and authority to study said bill, resolution or other matter before it,
as such committee, shall determine is necessary to enable it to report
properly to the House thereon. To this end, a standing committee,
subcommittee, or select committee, may as hereinafter provided, conduct public
hearings. No standing committee, subcommittee or select committee shall hold
any public hearings without prior approval by a majority vote of the members
of the standing committee and the Speaker or the Majority Leader of the House.
The Speaker or the Majority Leader of the House shall withhold approval of
public hearings based only on budgetary consideration.
When a public hearing has been authorized as aforesaid, the
chairman of the standing committee, subcommittee chairman, or select committee
chairman as the case may be, 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 the act of July
19, 1974 (P.L.486, No.175), relative to notice of meetings shall be complied
with.
Public hearings held by a standing committee shall be
chaired by the chairman of such committee, unless absent, in which case an
acting chairman shall be selected in the manner prescribed by these rules to
serve in his stead. Public hearings held by standing subcommittees shall be
chaired by the subcommittee chairman thereof, but the chairman of the parent
standing committee, as an ex-officio member of the subcommittee, shall have
the right to attend and participate in the hearing proceedings. In the absence
of the subcommittee chairman, an acting chairman shall be appointed in the
manner prescribed by these rules.
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.
Such committee shall, so far as practicable, request all
witnesses appearing before it to file written statements of their proposed
testimony. The chairman 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 chairman, in presiding at such public hearings, shall
preserve order and decorum, in and adjacent to his committee room while the
hearing is being conducted and he 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 he is authorized to dispose of same by an affirmative vote of
three-quarters of the entire membership of the Rules 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.
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 or the Majority Leader of the House.
RULE 51
Investigations
Any standing committee, subcommittee or select committee,
upon resolution introduced and approved by majority vote of the House, may be
authorized and empowered to conduct hearings at any place in the Commonwealth
to investigate any matter provided for in such resolution. When authorized by
such a resolution, such committee shall be empowered to issue subpoenas under
the hand and seal of the chairman thereof commanding any person to appear
before it and answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into
by the committee and produce such books, papers, records, accounts, reports,
and documents 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. Where any person willfully neglects or
refuses to comply with any subpoena issued by the committee or refuses to
testify before the committee on any matter regarding which he may be lawfully
interrogated, it shall be the duty of the committee to report such
disobedience or refusal to the House of Representatives, and such person shall
be subject to the penalties provided by the laws of the Commonwealth in such
cases. All such subpoenaed books, papers, records, accounts, reports, and
documents shall be returned to the person from whom such material was
subpoenaed when the committee has completed its examination of such material,
but in no event later than the date on which the committee completes its
investigation. Such material, or any information derived therefrom not a part
of public sessions of the committee, shall not be turned over to any person or
authority without the consent of the person from whom such material was
subpoenaed. Each member of the committee shall have power to administer oaths
and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee. The
Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislature or other person designated by the
committee shall serve any subpoenas issued by the committee, when directed to
do so by the committee. The subpoena shall be addressed to the witness, state
that such proceeding is before a committee of the House at which the witness
is required to attend and testify at a time and place certain and be signed by
the chairman of the committee commanding attendance of such witness. Mileage
and witness fees shall be paid to such witness in an amount prescribed by law.
The chairman of the investigative hearing shall call the
committee to order and announce in an opening statement the subject or
purposes of the investigation.
A copy of this rule shall be made available to the
witnesses at least three calendar days prior to his or her scheduled
testimony. Witnesses at investigative hearings, may be accompanied by their
own counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their constitutional
rights. The chairman, for breaches of order or decorum or of professional
ethics on the part of counsel, may exclude him from the hearing. Counsel may
interpose legal objection to any and all questions which in the opinion of
counsel may violate the civil or constitutional rights of his clients.
If the committee determines that evidence or testimony at
an investigative hearing may tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any
person, it shall:
(1) receive such evidence or testimony in executive
session;
(2) afford such person an opportunity voluntarily to
appear as a witness; and
(3) receive and dispose of requests from such person
to subpoena additional witnesses.
No evidence or testimony taken in executive session may be
released to any person or authority or used in public sessions without the
consent 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
four copies thereof shall be distributed and additional copies made available
as provided in Rule 50. Such stenographic or electronic records shall be
preserved by the Chief Clerk until he is directed to dispose of same by an
affirmative vote of three-quarters of the entire membership of the Rules
Committee and shall be made available to any member upon written request for
the purpose of 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 the transcript of any testimony
given at a public session or, if given at an executive session when authorized
by the committee. All standing committees, subcommittees, special committees
or commissions which are authorized to hold public hearings and investigations
shall file a final report before being discharged of delegated
responsibilities.
RULE 52
Possession of Bills by Committee
When a 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.
A committee or subcommittee shall not consider a bill,
resolution or other matter which is not in its possession.
When a 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 the 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 a 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
writing to discharge a 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 a 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 that 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
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) A call of the House.
(3) To lay on the table.
(4) For the previous question.
(5) To postpone.
(6) To commit or recommit.
(7) 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 committee and shall not include a
discussion of the merits of the main question.
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 not debatable, cannot be
amended and is always in order, except:
(1) when another member has the floor; or
(2) when the House is voting.
When a motion to adjourn is made, it shall be in order for
the Speaker, before putting the question, to permit the Majority and Minority
Leaders and/or one member designated by each of them to state to the House any
fact relating to the condition of the business of the House which would seem
to render it inadvisable to adjourn. These statements shall be limited to two
minutes and shall not be debatable.
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 his 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
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 not debatable, 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.
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 debate or amendment.
RULE 61
Previous Question
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, he
shall order a roll call vote.
A member may submit a written explanation of his 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.
A motion to strike out and insert is indivisible, but a
motion to strike out being lost shall neither preclude amendment nor a motion
to strike out and insert.
RULE 64
Members Required to be Present and Vote
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 has a direct personal
or pecuniary interest in the determination of the question, or unless he is
excused by the House.
No member shall be permitted to vote and have his vote
recorded on the roll unless he is present in the Hall of the House during the
roll call vote.
The Legislative Journal shall show the result of each roll
call by yeas and nays and those absent and 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 their assigned committee meetings which meetings
qualify as regular committee meetings under the rules of the House of
Representatives and the Sunshine Law of the Commonwealth.
Any representative who is absent without excuse from
regular 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
regular House sessions and by motion of three members of the standing
committee of the House 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 to a member of the immediate family of a
representative.
(4) 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 the Lobbying Registration and
Regulation Act shall file a statement of that fact with the Chief Clerk.
RULE 65
(a)
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 the Commonwealth.
(b) Representing clients on
civil matters before the courts of the Commonwealth.
(c) Representing clients in
all stages of a proceeding 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 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 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, in his discretion, 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 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 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) he 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
his vote and the votes of tardy members will not be recorded.
The vote as electrically recorded on the roll of members
shall not in any manner be altered or changed by any person.
No member shall vote for another member, nor shall any
person not a member vote for a member. Any member who shall vote or attempt to
vote for another member, or a person not a member who shall vote or attempt to
vote for a member, may be punished in such manner as the House determines.
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 the Majority or Minority Whip to
cast his vote on any question while he is presiding in accordance with his
instructions from the Chair.
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
electrically recorded vote of other members. The allegations made shall be
investigated by a committee composed of the Speaker, a majority member and a
minority member 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 his vote, or have his 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 non-privileged 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 Governor.
RULE 71
House Calendar
Bills and non-privileged resolutions reported from
committees to the House with an affirmative recommendation shall be listed on
the calendar in such manner as prescribed by the Rules Committee and any other
rule of the House. House bills and House resolutions shall precede Senate
bills and Senate resolutions.
Bills and non-privileged resolutions shall be listed on the
House Calendar for no more than 15 consecutive legislative days. At the end of
the 15th consecutive legislative day the said bill or non-privileged
resolution shall be automatically recommitted to the committee from which it
was reported to the floor of the House.
Any bill or non-privileged resolution on the calendar which
cannot, by its status, be recommitted shall be removed from the calendar and
laid on the table, unless the House shall otherwise direct.
A marked calendar compiled by the Majority Leader shall be
provided to all members on each legislative day on which votes are scheduled
on the calendar.
RULE 72
Journal, Transcribing and Documents 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 his
designee; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee; the
Supervisor of the Capitol Newsroom; the President of the Pennsylvania
Legislative Correspondents' Association, or his designee and the Executive
Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, or his designee.
Persons desiring admission to the press sections of the
Senate and House of Representatives shall make application to the Chairman 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 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, shall issue a correspondent's card signed by the members of the
committee.
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 chairman or co-chairmen
conducting such hearing. However, the committee chairman 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, 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
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
Any rule of the House, which is not required by the
Constitution, may be temporarily suspended at any time for a specific purpose
only by a vote of [55%] two-thirds of the members elected to the House
by a roll call vote.
A motion to suspend the rules may not be laid on the table,
postponed, committed or amended.
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
on Rules, 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 on Rules, 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
Jefferson's Manual supplemented by Mason's Manual of
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.
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