HB 1320 — A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for removal of civil officers.

PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
                                                     PRINTER'S NO.     1512

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1320
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY DAVANZO, COOK, ROWE AND STAATS, APRIL 28, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 28, 2025


                              A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1   Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
 2      of Pennsylvania, further providing for removal of civil
 3      officers.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby resolves as follows:
 6      Section 1.    The following amendment to the Constitution of
 7   Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
 8      That section 7 of Article VI be amended to read:
 9   § 7.   Removal of civil officers.
10      (a)   All civil officers shall hold their offices on the
11   condition that they behave themselves well while in office, and
12   shall be removed on conviction of misbehavior in office or of
13   any infamous crime. Appointed civil officers, other than judges
14   of the courts of record, may be removed at the pleasure of the
15   power by which they shall have been appointed. [All] Except as
16   provided under subsection (b), all civil officers elected by the
17   people, except the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, members of
18   the General Assembly and judges of the courts of record, shall
 1   be removed by the Governor for reasonable cause, after due
 2   notice and full hearing, on the address of two-thirds of the
 3   Senate.
 4      (b)    The General Assembly shall provide, by uniform general
 5   law or by classification, for the removal of elected officers of
 6   a municipality. Elected officers shall be removed only for cause
 7   as defined by the General Assembly. Cause shall include
 8   absenteeism from meetings and dereliction of duty. The
 9   authorization provided by this subsection shall not preclude the
10   use of provisions in this Constitution for the disqualification,
11   impeachment or removal of municipal officers.
12      Section 2.     The following procedure applies to the proposed
13   constitutional amendment in this joint resolution:
14             (1)   Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of
15      the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
16      proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
17      requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
18      of Pennsylvania.
19             (2)   Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of
20      the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
21      proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
22      requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
23      of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
24      submit the amendment to the qualified electors of this
25      Commonwealth at the first general or municipal election which
26      meets the requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
27      Constitution of Pennsylvania.




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