HR 77 — A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and issue a report reviewing the possibility of transitioning the General Assembly to part-time status.

PRINTER'S NO.   589

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 77
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY STAMBAUGH, KAUFFMAN, HAMM, COOPER, BOROWICZ,
        GROVE, CUTLER, SHAFFER AND GILLEN, FEBRUARY 12, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 12, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
 2      conduct a study and issue a report reviewing the possibility
 3      of transitioning the General Assembly to part-time status.
 4      WHEREAS, In 1967, the Constitution of Pennsylvania was
 5   amended to require that the General Assembly "be a continuing
 6   body during the term for which its Representatives are elected,"
 7   leading to today's full-time legislature; and
 8      WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is 1 of 10 states with a full-time
 9   legislature; and
10      WHEREAS, Part-time legislatures are common even among states
11   of similar size to this Commonwealth, with 9 of the 15 most
12   populous states maintaining a part-time legislature; and
13      WHEREAS, With 253 members, Pennsylvania is ranked as the
14   second largest state legislature in the nation; and
15      WHEREAS, Legislation reducing the size of the General
16   Assembly has been introduced in recent sessions, including in
17   the 2015-2016 session where House Bill 153 received bicameral
18   and bipartisan support; and
 1      WHEREAS, A formal study on this matter would be beneficial
 2   for lawmakers as they consider and deliberate this topic;
 3   therefore be it
 4      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
 5   Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and
 6   issue a report reviewing the possibility of transitioning the
 7   General Assembly to part-time status; and be it further
 8      RESOLVED, That the study include:
 9          (1)   A comprehensive review of the other 49 state
10      legislatures, including:
11                (i)    Full-time or part-time status.
12                (ii)    Session length.
13                (iii)    Composition size.
14                (iv)    Number of people represented by each
15          legislator.
16                (v)    A legislator's salary.
17                (vi)    Instances of political corruption.
18                (vii)    Costs incurred by legislatures, including
19          staff, on an overall and per capita basis.
20          (2)   A comprehensive history of the General Assembly's
21      full-time and part-time status.
22          (3)   A comprehensive explanation of the amendatory
23      process for the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
24          (4)   A list of topics that should be considered prior to
25      proceeding with legislation affecting the General Assembly's
26      full-time or part-time status.
27          (5)   Estimates of the potential costs savings to the
28      Commonwealth of a variety of approaches to legislative
29      reform, including multiple models of part-time status;
30   and be it further

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1      RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
2   use other studies and existing resources that may assist in
3   completing the study; and be it further
4      RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
5   prepare a report of its findings and recommendations from the
6   study and submit the report to all members of the General
7   Assembly not later than 18 months after the adoption of this
8   resolution.




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