Subchapter C. MISCELLANEOUS
BILL ANALYSES Sec.
17.71. Use and scope.
17.72. Contents.
17.73. Heading.
17.74. Time of preparation.
17.75. Printing and distribution.
CONFERENCE REPORTS
17.81. Form generally.
17.82. Print used for preparation.
17.83. Preparation of bill.
17.84. Preparation of report.
17.85. Envelope and folder.
17.86. Distribution and filing.
17.87. Printing.
REORGANIZATION AND ASSISTANCE PLANS
17.91. Use.
17.92. Form generally.
17.93. Heading.
17.94. Suspension of statutes.
17.95. Resolutions.
17.96. Folders.
17.97. Distribution and filing.
17.98. Printing.
BILL ANALYSES
§ 17.71. Use and scope.
(a) General. Bill analyses are summaries prepared by the Bureau describing the contents of certain bills and joint resolutions. The purpose of the analysis is to provide an objective expert legal analysis of the contents of the bill and is only the analyser’s opinion of what the bill does. The word opinion used in this context refers only to the legal aspects of a bill and not to its merits. The opinion of the analyser on the merits of a bill has no place in an analysis, and he must exercise great care that his opinion is not discernible through a reading of his work. In other words, he must be completely impartial to all but the technical aspects of each bill he analyzes.
(b) Amendments. As the bill is amended on its course through both houses, subsequent analyses are made, but these are limited to the effect of the amendments, with reference made to prior analyses.
§ 17.72. Contents.
The form which the analysis will take is usually determined by the nature and arrangement of the bill under consideration. Hard and fast rules for the arrangement of an analysis are impractical, but in most cases the analysis will include:
(1) A statement of the primary purpose of the bill.
(2) Any question as to the constitutionality of the bill.
(3) If an amendment to existing law, a brief explanation of other provisions of the same statute, if any, which will be affected, or an understanding of which are necessary to comprehend the full import of the bill.
(4) A summary of the specific provisions through which the purpose of the bill will be achieved.
(5) A statement of the effect, if any, upon existing law.
§ 17.73. Heading.
A bill analysis contains a heading at the right side of the top of the first page containing the bill number, printer’s number and date of the legislative day for which prepared.
§ 17.74. Time of preparation.
Bills in possession of the Senate are analyzed once a week in time for distribution at the beginning of the next week of session. Bills in possession of the House are analyzed daily in time for distribution at the beginning on the next legislative day.
§ 17.75. Printing and distribution.
The original typewritten copy of each analysis is transmitted to the House duplicating room which duplicates 300 copies and transmits them to the Legislative Printing Clerk for final preparation and distribution as follows:
(1) The original and 25 copies are transmitted to the Bureau which retains the original and distributes one copy to each of the following:
(i) Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
(ii) Bureau library and reception room.
(iii) Legislative Budget and Finance Committee.
(iv) Senate and House leaders.
(v) Court Administrator of Pennsylvania.
(vi) Pennsylvania Bar Association.
(2) The remaining copies are transmitted to each member of the General Assembly.
CONFERENCE REPORTS
§ 17.81. Form generally.
Conference reports are in the form of a bill preceded by a report of a conference committee proposing a revision of the bill for consideration by the General Assembly. Reports are prepared in quadruplicate by the Bureau by indicating the changes on the appropriate print of the bill under consideration.
§ 17.82. Print used for preparation.
Conference reports are usually prepared by indicating changes to be made on four copies of the last print of the bill. This, however, is not an unbending rule as in the case of amendments to bills. It may sometimes be more convenient to use another print especially where the conference committee decides not to use the amendments last made. If a prior report was made, that print should be used for preparing the report.
§ 17.83. Preparation of bill.
(a) General. In preparing the proper print of the bill everything to be omitted must be effectively lined out and inserts must be clearly indicated and legible.
(b) Mechanics of preparation. A line is drawn by blue pencil through everything appearing on the bill above the title, except the words ‘‘Printer’s No,’’ and also all language which is to be omitted from the conference committee report. Any language that is to be inserted in the report is typewritten on small tabs of paper which are pasted on the margin of the printed bill, interlined in blue pencil at the proper point; the purpose being that when the report is printed, it will appear as a new bill with no indications of prior amendments. All amendments appearing in capital letters are marked ‘‘L C’’ except initial letters that should remain capitalized. These letters are doubly underscored to indicate that they remain in capital letters.
(c) Precautions for amendatory bills. If the subject of the conference report is an amendatory bill, the same precautions must be taken as in writing a new amendatory bill. It must be checked for over-looked prior amendments. The text of the statute cited for amendment must be compared with the Laws of Pennsylvania. The use of brackets and underscoring must be carefully verified especially in language introduced in the bill by amendment.
§ 17.84. Preparation of report.
(a) General. The report of the conference committee consists of a completed printed form of a report which is folded around the prepared print of the bill. A blue form is used for House bills and a yellow or white form is used for Senate bills. The printed form contains lines for signatures of the members of the conference committee which are left blank.
(b) Printer’s and bill numbers. In the upper left hand corner of the form appear the words ‘‘Previous Printer’s Nos.’’ After this is typed all of the printer’s numbers, including the latest print, that have been assigned to the bill each time it has been printed. On the same line and to the right is typed ‘‘Printer’s No.’’ but with no number inserted. This is left blank. It is for the new printer’s number that will be assigned it for the new print. Just below in spaces left for the purpose is typed ‘‘Senate’’ or ‘‘House’’ and the bill number.
(c) Title of bill. In the space following ‘‘entitled,’’ is copied in quotation marks the title of the bill as it appears on the last (or active) print, or as much of the title as the space provided will permit. Even when the conference report changes the title of the bill, the title as it appears on the last printed (or active) copy of the bill is used. The bill was referred to the committee by this title, and its report must conform to the commitment. The changed title appears only on the bill recommended by the committee.
§ 17.85. Envelope and folder.
(a) Envelope for committee. Conference committee reports are not folded. They are placed flat in a large manila envelope, on which is written only the name of the member of the conference committee requesting the report and the words, ‘‘Conference Report on Senate (or House) Bill No. 310.’’
(b) Bureau folder. In the upper left hand corner of the tab on the folder, in place of the classification number, is written in the case of Senate bills ‘‘S.B.692’’ and in the case of House bills ‘‘H.B. 386.’’ Immediately following is written the initials of the draftsman preparing the report, followed by the initials of the typist copying them. In the upper right hand corner appear the name of the person for whom they are written, and the date on which they are written. In place of the title of the bill, are written only the words ‘‘CONFERENCE REPORT.’’
§ 17.86. Distribution and filing.
No classification numbers are used for conference reports. They are filed in the order of the number of the Senate or House bill which is reported. Three copies of the completed report are sent to the committee. The fourth is for the Bureau files.
§ 17.87. Printing.
Reports of conference committees are printed together with the bill in the form agreed to by the committee. In printing the report, the bill is printed as though it had just been introduced without indicating any changes.
REORGANIZATION AND ASSISTANCE PLANS
§ 17.91. Use.
(a) General. Reorganization plans are used for the reorganization of Commonwealth agencies and are submitted by the Governor to the General Assembly for its consideration and appropriate action including the adoption of a resolution by each house either approving or disapproving the plan. Reorganization plans are prepared for the Governor’s office which transmits the plan, identified by a plan number, to both houses.
(b) Supplemental assistance plans. Supplemental assistance plans, authorized under section 432 (2.1) of the Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. § 432 (2.1)) to provide payments to aged, blind and disabled persons, are prepared in the same manner and follow the same legislative procedure as reorganization plans. The plan is designated ‘‘SUPPLEMENTAL ASSISTANCE PLAN NO. 1 OF 1974’’ and identified as ‘‘S.A.P. NO. 1.’’
§ 17.92. Form generally.
The reorganization plan is prepared generally in the form of a bill and is accompanied by appropriate resolutions to approve or disapprove the plan.
§ 17.93. Heading.
The reorganization plan does not contain a title setting forth the subject matter of the plan but contains a heading identifying the plan number and year as follows:
‘‘REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 2 of 1973’’ § 17.94. Suspension of statutes.
The reorganization plan usually contains one or more sections suspending all or part of a statute or statutes that are in conflict with the plan as follows:
‘‘Articles 9 and 10, act of June 13, 1967 (P. L. 31, No. 21), known as the Public Welfare Code, are suspended in so far as they conflict with this Reorganization Plan.’’
§ 17.95. Resolutions.
(a) Approval of plan. The reorganization plan is accompanied by a resolution approving the plan in the following form:
‘‘Resolved, That Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, transmitted to the General Assembly under date of
, 1973, which is incorporated herein by reference, be approved.’’(b) Disapproval of plan. The reorganization plan is also accompanied by a resolution disapproving the plan in the following form:
‘‘Resolved, That Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, transmitted to the General Assembly under date of
1973, which is incorporated herein by reference, be disapproved.’’§ 17.96. Folders.
(a) Distribution. The tab on the folder for the Governor’s office contains the name of the person requesting the plan and designation of the Governor’s office. On the left side of the bottom of the tab is inserted ‘‘REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 2 of 1973.’’
(b) Bureau. On the first line of the tab for the Bureau folder is typed ‘‘REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 2 of 1973.’’ On the second line to the left is inserted the classification number, the draftsman’s name and the typist’s initials. To the right is typed the name of the person requesting the plan and the date. On the following line is typed a brief description of the plan.
§ 17.97. Distribution and filing.
Reorganization plans are filed according to classification number. Eight copies are placed in the distribution folder and the orginal is placed in the Bureau’s folder.
§ 17.98. Printing.
The reorganization plan is printed in the general form of a bill and is identified by R.P. 1, R.P. 2, etc. The resolutions are printed on the calendar of each house as resolution A (approved) and B (disapproved).
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