PRINTER'S NO. 3407
No. 552 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY O'NEILL, BALDWIN, FAIRCHILD, JAMES, LEH, R. MILLER, MUNDY, NICKOL, REICHLEY, SOLOBAY, R. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS AND TIGUE, JANUARY 25, 2006
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 25, 2006
A RESOLUTION 1 Directing the House State Government Committee to conduct a 2 comprehensive study and review of the compensation provisions 3 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and to make 4 recommendations. 5 WHEREAS, The Constitution of Pennsylvania contains several 6 sections pertaining to the process through which compensation is 7 to be dispensed to public officers, including, but not limited 8 to: 9 Article II, section 8, providing for the compensation of the 10 members of the General Assembly; 11 Article III, section 26, providing for the retirement 12 allowances and pensions of members of the General Assembly; 13 Article III, section 27, prohibiting the term extension of 14 any public officer or the increase or decrease in his salary 15 after his election or appointment; 16 Article V, section 16, providing for the compensation of 17 justices, judges and justices of the peace; 18 Schedule No. 1, section 17, providing that the General
1 Assembly shall fix and determine the compensation of judges; 2 Schedule No. 1, section 29, providing for the compensation of 3 all State, county, city, ward, borough and township officers; 4 and 5 WHEREAS, Due to constitutional issues raised after the 6 passage of the act of July 7, 2005 (P.L.201, No.44), entitled 7 "An act amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure), 8 46 (Legislature) and 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania 9 Consolidated Statutes, providing for compensation; and making an 10 inconsistent repeal," it is necessary for the General Assembly 11 to fully examine these sections of the Constitution of 12 Pennsylvania as to their content and meaning; therefore be it 13 RESOLVED, That the House State Government Committee be 14 directed to conduct a comprehensive study and review of the 15 Constitution of Pennsylvania relating to the compensation 16 provisions identified in this resolution, including any related 17 judicial decisions not so identified; and be it further 18 RESOLVED, That the committee hold public hearings on this 19 issue and determine whether or not constitutional amendments are 20 needed to clarify these sections; and be it further 21 RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and 22 recommendations to the House no later than June 1, 2006. K21L82DMS/20060H0552R3407 - 2 -