GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PROCLAMATION Constitutional Amendment--Article II, Section 17 [31 Pa.B. 4952] Whereas, Joint Resolution No. 1 of 2000, Ballot Question No. 1 proposed to amend Article II, Section 17 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, adding a provision relating to legislative reapportionment to read as follows:
§ 17 (f) Any district which does not include the residence from which a member of the Senate was elected whether or not scheduled for election at the next general election shall elect a senator at such election.
[(f)] (g) The General Assembly shall appropriate sufficient funds for the compensation and expenses of members and staff appointed by the commission, and other necessary expenses. The members of the commission shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as the General Assembly from time to time shall determine, but no part thereof shall be paid until a preliminary plan is filed. If a preliminary plan is filed but the commission fails to file a revised or final plan within the time prescribed, the commission members shall forfeit all right to compensation not paid.
[(g)] (h) If a preliminary, revised or final reapportionment plan is not filed by the commission within the time prescribed by this section, unless the time be extended by the Supreme Court for cause shown, the Supreme Court shall immediately proceed on its own motion to reapportion the Commonwealth.
[(h)] (i) Any reapportionment plan filed by the commission, or ordered or prepared by the Supreme Court upon the failure of the commission to act, shall be published by the elections officer once in at least one newspaper of general circulation in each senatorial and representative district. The publication shall contain a map of the Commonwealth showing the complete reapportionment of the General Assembly by districts, and a map showing the reapportionment districts in the area normally served by the newspaper in which the publication is made. The publication shall also state the population of the senatorial and representative districts having the smallest and largest population and the percentage variation of such districts from the average population for senatorial and representative districts.
Whereas, Joint Resolution No. 3 of 1998 was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each House of the General Assembly and published pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, in the General Assembly next afterwards chosen, the aforesaid amendment to Article II, Section 17 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was proposed in Joint Resolution No. 1 of 2000, which was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each House of the General Assembly and published pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, the aforesaid proposed amendment to Article II, Section 17 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was submitted for approval to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania at an election held on May 15, 2001; and
Whereas, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, pursuant to law, has certified to me that the aforesaid proposed amendment to Article II, Section 17 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was approved by a majority of those voting thereon on the aforesaid day; and
Whereas, Section 903 of Title 1 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes requires the Governor, upon receiving the aforesaid certification of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to issue his proclamation indicating whether or not the proposed amendment to Article II, Section 17 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania has been adopted by a majority of the electors voting thereon.
Now Therefore, I, Thomas J. Ridge, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim that the aforesaid amendment to Article II, Section 17 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted by a majority of the electors voting thereon on May 15, 2001.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the Commonwealth, at the City of Harrisburg, this eighteenth day of July in the year of our Lord two thousand one and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and twenty-sixth.
Governor
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 01-1596. Filed for public inspection August 31, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]
