PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRINTER'S NO. 460
No. 432 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY KUKOVICH, LAVALLE, HELFRICK, SCHWARTZ, WHITE,
COSTA, BOSCOLA AND WOZNIAK, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 23, 1999
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
2 of Pennsylvania, increasing the number of votes required by
3 each house of the General Assembly to propose amendments to
4 the Constitution.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby resolves as follows:
7 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
8 Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
9 That section 1 of Article XI be amended to read:
10 § 1. Proposal of amendments by the General Assembly and their
11 adoption.
12 Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate
13 or House of Representatives; and if the same shall be agreed to
14 by [a majority] two-thirds of the members elected to each House,
15 such proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their
16 journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and the Secretary
17 of the Commonwealth shall cause the same to be published three
18 months before the next general election, in at least two
1 newspapers in every county in which such newspapers shall be
2 published; and if, in the General Assembly next afterwards
3 chosen, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to
4 by [a majority] two-thirds of the members elected to each House,
5 the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall cause the same again to
6 be published in the manner aforesaid; and such proposed
7 amendment or amendments shall be submitted to the qualified
8 electors of the State in such manner, and at such time at least
9 three months after being so agreed to by the two Houses, as the
10 General Assembly shall prescribe; and, if such amendment or
11 amendments shall be approved by a majority of those voting
12 thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of the
13 Constitution; but no amendment or amendments shall be submitted
14 oftener than once in five years. When two or more amendments
15 shall be submitted they shall be voted upon separately.
16 (a) In the event a major emergency threatens or is about to
17 threaten the Commonwealth and if the safety or welfare of the
18 Commonwealth requires prompt amendment of this Constitution,
19 such amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the
20 Senate or House of Representatives at any regular or special
21 session of the General Assembly, and if agreed to by at least
22 two-thirds of the members elected to each House, a proposed
23 amendment shall be entered on the journal of each House with the
24 yeas and nays taken thereon and the official in charge of
25 statewide elections shall promptly publish such proposed
26 amendment in at least two newspapers in every county in which
27 such newspapers are published. Such amendment shall then be
28 submitted to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth in such
29 manner, and at such time, at least one month after being agreed
30 to by both Houses as the General Assembly prescribes.
19990S0432B0460 - 2 -
1 (b) If an emergency amendment is approved by a majority of
2 the qualified electors voting thereon, it shall become part of
3 this Constitution. When two or more emergency amendments are
4 submitted they shall be voted on separately.
5 Section 2. (a) Upon the first passage by the General
6 Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the
7 Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to
8 comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article
9 XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the
10 required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in
11 which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after
12 passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.
13 (b) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of this
14 proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the
15 Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the
16 advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
17 Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required
18 advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such
19 newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of
20 this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the
21 Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment
22 to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first
23 primary, general or municipal election occurring at least three
24 months after the proposed constitutional amendment is passed by
25 the General Assembly which meets the requirements of and is in
26 conformance with section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of
27 Pennsylvania.
L8L83JLW/19990S0432B0460 - 3 -