Pennsylvania Act 1937-459 — JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, CREATION OF

Act text

JOINT STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, CREATION OF
                 Act of Jul. 1, 1937, P.L. 2460, No. 459              Cl. 46
                                  AN ACT

     Creating a joint legislative commission, to be known as the
        Joint State Government Commission; providing for its
        membership, chairman and executive committee; defining its
        powers and duties; and defining the powers and duties of
        standing committees of the General Assembly. (Title amended
        May 15, 1955, P.L.1605, No.535)

        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That the entire membership of
     the House of Representatives and the entire membership of the
     Senate shall constitute a continuing joint legislative
     commission, to be known as the Joint State Government
     Commission. The President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker
     of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority
     leaders of each house, the majority and minority whips of each
     house, and the chairman of the majority and minority caucuses of
     each house, shall constitute the executive committee of the
     commission. The President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker
     of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority
     leaders of each house, the majority and minority whips of each
     house, and the chairman of the majority and minority caucuses of
     each house may designate any member of the Senate or House,
     respectively, to act in their stead and to serve at their
     discretion as a member of the executive committee. The
     commission shall organize by the selection of a chairman who
     shall be selected by the executive committee and who shall be ex
     officio a member of the executive committee without a vote. The
     commission shall have power to employ a director and such
     professional, technical, clerical and other assistance as may be
     deemed necessary. The commission shall have power to call upon
     any department or agency of the State Government for such
     information as it deems pertinent to the studies in which it is
     engaged. The commission shall also have the power to designate
     persons, other than members of the General Assembly, to act in
     advisory capacities. The commission shall organize within thirty
     days after the final enactment of this act, and thereafter the
     executive committee shall hold the organization meeting within
     thirty days after the convening of the regular session of the
     General Assembly in odd-numbered years beginning with the
     regular session of 1957. Meetings of the commission shall be
     scheduled by the executive committee. The executive committee
     shall conduct the business of the commission and shall meet at
     the call of the chairman or upon written request of six or more
     members thereof.
        (1 amended Nov. 20, 1969, P.L.301, No.128)
        Section 2.  The commission shall have power and its duty
     shall be:
        (a)  To make such investigations and studies and to gather
     such information as may be deemed useful to General Assembly and
     to the standing committees of the Senate and the House of
     Representatives.
        (b)  To sit during the interim between regular legislative
     sessions convening in odd-numbered years.
        (c)  From time to time, to report to the General Assembly or
     to the various standing committees of the Senate and the House
     of Representatives such findings and recommendations accompanied
     with such drafts of legislation as it deems necessary for the
     information of and consideration by the General Assembly.
        (d)  To furnish such technical staff services as shall be
     requested by the standing committees of the Senate and House of
     Representatives during regular or special sessions of the
     General Assembly.
        (2 amended Dec. 8, 1959, P.L.1740, No.646)
        Section 3.  The commission shall undertake, through the
     standing committees of the Senate and House of Representatives,
     such studies and investigations as the General Assembly by
     resolution shall direct.
        When a study or investigation is to be made, the Speaker of
     the House of Representatives shall designate the appropriate
     standing committee of House and the President pro tempore of the
     Senate shall designate the appropriate standing committee of the
     Senate, to make such study or investigation. These two standing
     committees, when so designated, shall constitute a joint study
     committee of the commission for such purpose.
        During the interim between regular sessions of the General
     Assembly which convene in odd-numbered years, each joint study
     committee assigned to make a study shall meet at the call of the
     chairman of the commission or at the joint call of the chairman
     of the designated standing committees of the Senate and House of
     Representatives.
        (3 amended Dec. 8, 1959, P.L.1740, No.646)
        Section 4.  An item of appropriation shall be inserted in the
     General Appropriation Bill to pay the expenses of the members of
     the commission as constituted by this act, and for the salary of
     the director, clerical and other hire and incidental expenses.
     No member of the commission shall receive any remuneration,
     salary or expenses as a member of the commission other than
     remuneration, salary and expenses as a member of the General
     Assembly and travelling expenses incurred upon the business of
     the commission or its study committees. (4 amended Dec. 8, 1959,
     P.L.1740, No.646)
        Section 5.  For the purposes of this act, the standing
     committees of the Senate and House of Representatives shall
     continue during the interim between sessions convening in odd-
     numbered years.
        (5 amended Dec. 8, 1959, P.L.1740, No.646)