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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY GALLOWAY, PETRI, BARRAR, BOYD, BRENNAN, CREIGHTON, DeLUCA, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, KAUFFMAN, KORTZ, MELIO, MOUL, MURT, PYLE, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SWANGER, WATSON AND YUDICHAK, FEBRUARY 27, 2009 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 27, 2009 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Providing for a Citizens Constitutional Convention on public |
2 | school funding and property taxes, for a referendum on the |
3 | question and for the nomination and election of delegates; |
4 | defining the powers and duties of the convention; providing |
5 | for operation of the convention; conferring powers and |
6 | imposing duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the |
7 | Commonwealth, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, |
8 | officers of the General Assembly and county election boards; |
9 | providing for a referendum on the convention's report; and |
10 | making an appropriation. |
11 | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
12 | Section 1. Short title. |
13 | Section 2. Definitions. |
14 | Section 3. Referendum. |
15 | Section 4. Convention, membership, qualifications and |
16 | vacancies. |
17 | Section 5. Nomination of elected delegates and withdrawals. |
18 | Section 6. Elected and alternate delegates. |
19 | Section 7. Vacancies. |
20 | Section 8. Organization of convention and sessions. |
21 | Section 9. Function. |
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1 | Section 10. Manner of submitting proposals to electorate. |
2 | Section 11. Submission to electorate. |
3 | Section 12. Lobbying. |
4 | Section 13. Convention open to public. |
5 | Section 14. Judicial immunity. |
6 | Section 15. Appropriation. |
7 | Section 16. Effective date. |
8 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
9 | hereby enacts as follows: |
10 | Section 1. Short title. |
11 | This act shall be known and may be cited as the Citizens |
12 | Constitutional Convention on Public School Funding and Property |
13 | Taxes Act. |
14 | Section 2. Definitions. |
15 | The following words and phrases when used in this act shall |
16 | have the meanings given to them in this section unless the |
17 | context clearly indicates otherwise: |
18 | "Candidate." An individual seeking to become an elected |
19 | delegate. |
20 | "Committee." The preparatory committee established under |
21 | this act. |
22 | "Convention." The Citizens Constitutional Convention |
23 | authorized by this act. |
24 | "County board." A county board of elections. |
25 | "Delegate." An elected or alternate delegate to the |
26 | convention. |
27 | "Elected delegate." A delegate who is elected to the |
28 | convention under this act. |
29 | "Public official." A person elected by the public, elected |
30 | or appointed by a governmental body or an appointed official in |
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1 | the executive, legislative or judicial branch of this |
2 | Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions. The term |
3 | shall not include members of advisory boards that have no |
4 | authority to do any of the following: |
5 | (1) Expend public funds, other than reimbursement for |
6 | personal expenses. |
7 | (2) Otherwise exercise the power of the Commonwealth or |
8 | any of its subdivisions. |
9 | "Secretary." The Secretary of the Commonwealth. |
10 | Section 3. Referendum. |
11 | (a) Question.--At the municipal election in November 2009, |
12 | the following question shall be submitted to the electorate of |
13 | this Commonwealth to determine its will regarding a |
14 | Constitutional Convention: |
15 | Shall a Constitutional Convention be called in accordance |
16 | with and subject to the limitations and requirements |
17 | contained in the Citizens Constitutional Convention on |
18 | Public School Funding and Property Taxes Act of 2009, to |
19 | prepare for submission to the electorate proposals for |
20 | the revision of Article III, Sections 14, 15 and 30 of |
21 | the Constitution of Pennsylvania, which deal with the |
22 | public school system and its funding? |
23 | (b) Election.--The secretary shall certify questions to the |
24 | county boards. The election shall be conducted in accordance |
25 | with the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the |
26 | Pennsylvania Election Code. |
27 | (c) Secretary.--If a majority of the electors casting votes |
28 | on the question under subsection (a) vote in the affirmative, |
29 | the secretary shall transmit notice of the vote to the |
30 | Legislative Reference Bureau for publication as a notice in the |
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1 | Pennsylvania Bulletin. |
2 | Section 4. Convention, membership, qualifications and |
3 | vacancies. |
4 | (a) Call.--If a majority of the electors voting upon the |
5 | question set forth in section 3(a) vote in the affirmative, a |
6 | convention shall be called by the Governor. |
7 | (b) Delegates.--The convention shall consist of three |
8 | elected delegates from each senatorial district. Each elector in |
9 | each senatorial district may vote for not more than two |
10 | candidates. The three candidates receiving the highest number of |
11 | votes shall be elected delegates. The candidate receiving the |
12 | fourth-highest number of votes shall be the first alternate |
13 | delegate; the candidate receiving the fifth-highest number of |
14 | votes shall be the second alternate delegate. |
15 | (c) Qualifications.--A delegate must meet the following |
16 | qualifications: |
17 | (1) Be at least 18 years of age prior to November 3, |
18 | 2009. |
19 | (2) Have been a citizen and resident of this |
20 | Commonwealth for at least four years before election. |
21 | (3) Have resided in and been a registered elector of the |
22 | elected delegate's senatorial district for at least one year |
23 | preceding election. |
24 | (4) Reside in the elected delegate's senatorial district |
25 | during their term of service. |
26 | (5) Not be a public official on the effective date of |
27 | this section under section 16(2), or during their term of |
28 | service. |
29 | (6) Not be a registered lobbyist in this Commonwealth on |
30 | the effective date of this section, or during their term of |
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1 | service. |
2 | (d) Salary.--Elected delegates shall be entitled to a salary |
3 | equal to the salary of a member of the General Assembly during |
4 | their term of service, payable monthly. |
5 | (e) Expenses.--Elected delegates shall be entitled to |
6 | reimbursement for the following expenses: |
7 | (1) Actual mileage traveled in a personal vehicle in the |
8 | performance of their duties during their term of service, |
9 | documented, reported and payable monthly at the applicable |
10 | Federal rate, including commuting mileage. |
11 | (2) Actual expenses for other modes of ground |
12 | transportation in the performance of their duties during |
13 | their term of service, documented, reported and payable |
14 | monthly, including commuting expenses. |
15 | (3) Actual expenses for overnight lodging required for |
16 | the convenience of elected delegates traveling more than 50 |
17 | miles from their residence in the performance of their duties |
18 | during their term of service, documented, reported and |
19 | payable monthly. |
20 | (f) Terms of service.--Terms of service for elected |
21 | delegates shall commence on the date of their oath of office. |
22 | Terms shall expire September 30, 2010, except for delegate |
23 | members of the preparatory committee, whose terms shall expire |
24 | October 31, 2010. |
25 | (g) Immunity.--The following shall apply: |
26 | (1) A delegate shall, in all cases except treason, |
27 | felony, violation of oath of office and breach of the peace, |
28 | be privileged from arrest during attendance and travel to and |
29 | from the convention. |
30 | (2) A delegate shall not be questioned in any other |
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1 | place for any speech or debate in the convention. |
2 | (h) Exclusions.--The following shall apply: |
3 | (1) No elected delegate shall, during their term of |
4 | service, be appointed to or hold any civil office under this |
5 | Commonwealth to which a salary, fee or perquisite is |
6 | attached. |
7 | (2) No member of Congress or other person holding any |
8 | office, except that of attorney-at-law or in the National |
9 | Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the |
10 | United States, under the United States or this Commonwealth |
11 | to which a salary, fee or perquisite is attached shall be a |
12 | delegate during their continuance in office. |
13 | (3) Elected delegates shall be prohibited from serving |
14 | as a public official as defined in section 2 for a period of |
15 | two years after their term of service expires. |
16 | Section 5. Nomination of elected delegates and withdrawals. |
17 | (a) Nomination.--Candidates for delegates to the convention |
18 | shall be nominated by petition in accordance with all of the |
19 | following: |
20 | (1) The secretary shall prescribe the form of the |
21 | petition, which shall not include any reference to the |
22 | political affiliation of the candidate. |
23 | (2) A petition must be signed by at least 100 qualified |
24 | electors of the candidate's senatorial district in accordance |
25 | with all of the following: |
26 | (i) An elector may not sign more than two nomination |
27 | petitions. |
28 | (ii) A signer must state the signer's residence, |
29 | giving city, borough or township, with street and number, |
30 | and that the signer is a qualified elector of the |
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1 | district. The signature must be dated. |
2 | (iii) A petition shall not be circulated prior to |
3 | August 18, 2009. A signature shall not be counted unless |
4 | it bears a date later than August 17, 2009. |
5 | (iv) A petition may be on one or more sheets. |
6 | Different sheets must be used for signers residing in |
7 | different counties. If more than one sheet is used, the |
8 | sheets must be bound together when offered for filing if |
9 | they are intended to constitute one petition, and each |
10 | sheet must be numbered consecutively at the foot of each |
11 | page, beginning with number one. Each sheet must have |
12 | appended to it the affidavit for the individual who |
13 | circulated it setting forth all of the following: |
14 | (A) That the individual is a qualified elector |
15 | of the senatorial district named in the petition. |
16 | (B) The individual's residence, giving city, |
17 | borough or township, with street and number. |
18 | (C) That the signers to the petition signed with |
19 | the knowledge of the contents of the petition. |
20 | (D) That the residences of the signers are |
21 | correctly stated. |
22 | (E) That each signer resides in the district |
23 | named in the affidavit. |
24 | (F) That each signer signed on the date set |
25 | forth. |
26 | (G) That, to the best of the affidavit's |
27 | knowledge and belief, the signers are qualified |
28 | electors of the district. |
29 | (3) A petition must be filed in the office of the |
30 | secretary by 5 p.m. on September 8, 2009. A filing fee of |
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1 | $100 must be paid by the candidate by certified check or |
2 | money order. |
3 | (b) Candidate's affidavit.--A candidate must file with the |
4 | office of the secretary, by 5 p.m. on September 8, 2009, an |
5 | affidavit stating or attesting to all of the following: |
6 | (1) The candidate's residence with street, number and |
7 | post office address. |
8 | (2) That the candidate is eligible for the office of |
9 | elected delegate to the convention. |
10 | (3) That, if elected, the candidate will faithfully |
11 | observe the limitations and requirements imposed upon the |
12 | convention by this act. |
13 | (4) That the candidate meets the qualifications set |
14 | forth in section 4(c). |
15 | (c) Statement of financial interests.--A candidate must file |
16 | copies of a statement of financial interests with the office of |
17 | the secretary and the State Ethics Commission by 5 p.m. on |
18 | September 8, 2009. |
19 | (d) Withdrawal.--A candidate may withdraw as a candidate if |
20 | the candidate: |
21 | (1) Makes the request in writing. The request must be |
22 | signed by the candidate and acknowledged before an officer |
23 | empowered to administer oaths. |
24 | (2) Files the request in the office of the secretary by |
25 | 5 p.m. on September 15, 2009. |
26 | (e) Certification.--The secretary shall certify the names of |
27 | the nominees to the county boards as provided by law no later |
28 | than September 22, 2009. |
29 | (f) Forms.--The secretary shall provide all forms and |
30 | instructions for candidates in a timely and convenient manner |
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1 | consistent with that used for legislative elections. |
2 | Section 6. Elected and alternate delegates. |
3 | Elections for elected delegates shall be held at the |
4 | municipal election on November 3, 2009, and shall be |
5 | nonpartisan. The secretary shall forward to each county board |
6 | the names of the candidates. Candidates' names shall be grouped |
7 | together on the ballot without reference to party affiliation, |
8 | separate from the names of candidates for any other office, and |
9 | subsequent to the question set forth in section 3(a). Each |
10 | elector voting at the municipal election shall be entitled to |
11 | vote for two candidates from the elector's senatorial district. |
12 | If the question which is set forth in section 3(a) is approved |
13 | by a majority of the electors casting votes: |
14 | (1) The three candidates receiving the highest number of |
15 | votes shall be the elected delegates of that district. |
16 | (2) The candidate receiving the fourth-highest number of |
17 | votes shall be the first alternate delegate; the candidate |
18 | receiving the fifth-highest number of votes shall be the |
19 | second alternate delegate. |
20 | (3) In the case of a tie vote, the election shall be |
21 | determined in accordance with the provisions of section 1418 |
22 | of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the |
23 | Pennsylvania Election Code. |
24 | (4) The county boards shall, by November 17, 2009, |
25 | certify the return of the election for all delegates to the |
26 | secretary. |
27 | (5) The secretary shall, by November 24, 2009, certify |
28 | to the Governor the names of elected and alternate delegates. |
29 | Section 7. Vacancies. |
30 | (a) Candidate.--In the event of the death of a candidate |
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1 | prior to September 22, 2009, that candidate's name shall be |
2 | removed from the ballot. In the event of the death of a |
3 | candidate on or after September 22, 2009, votes received by that |
4 | candidate in the municipal election shall be counted and |
5 | recorded, but void, and a vacancy shall exist. |
6 | (b) Elected delegate.--In the event of a vacancy in the |
7 | office of elected delegate, the first alternate delegate from |
8 | the same senatorial district shall become the elected delegate; |
9 | if the first alternate is unable to serve, the second alternate |
10 | delegate shall become the elected delegate, etc. If no such |
11 | alternate delegate is available to fill a vacancy, the remaining |
12 | elected delegates from the same district, together with the |
13 | Senator from that district, shall collectively nominate a single |
14 | candidate to be confirmed by a majority of the convention as |
15 | soon as practicable to fill the vacancy. |
16 | Section 8. Organization of convention and sessions. |
17 | (a) Convening.--The following shall apply: |
18 | (1) The convention's elected delegates shall convene in |
19 | the Hall of the House of Representatives on December 1, 2009, |
20 | at 12 noon. |
21 | (2) The convention shall be called to order by the |
22 | Governor. |
23 | (3) The secretary shall certify the returns of the |
24 | elections for elected and alternate delegates and issue |
25 | certificates of election. |
26 | (4) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall, after |
27 | the returns have been certified, administer the oath of |
28 | office in the following form: |
29 | I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, |
30 | obey and defend the Constitution of the United States |
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1 | and the Constitution of Pennsylvania, that I will |
2 | abide by the limitations and requirements of the |
3 | Citizens Constitutional Convention on Public School |
4 | Funding and Property Taxes Act of 2009, and that I |
5 | will discharge my duties with fidelity. |
6 | (5) Each elected delegate shall sign and swear a written |
7 | version of the oath of office, provided by the secretary, to |
8 | be preserved with the official journals of the convention, |
9 | and other copies as needed by the secretary. |
10 | (b) Organization.--The following shall apply: |
11 | (1) The convention shall be the final judge of the |
12 | qualifications of its own delegates. |
13 | (2) The convention shall elect from among its elected |
14 | delegates a president, first vice-president, second vice- |
15 | president and a secretary. |
16 | (3) The convention shall elect from among its elected |
17 | delegates 15 members to serve on a preparatory committee with |
18 | the elected officers of the convention. The committee shall |
19 | also include the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Minority |
20 | Leader of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the House of |
21 | Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of |
22 | Representatives. |
23 | (4) The convention shall organize a committee to |
24 | separately address Article III, sections 14, 15 and 30 of the |
25 | Constitution of Pennsylvania subject to the scope of the |
26 | convention. |
27 | (5) The convention shall organize a committee on |
28 | arrangement, submission and address to the people. |
29 | (c) Duties of preparatory committee.--The following shall |
30 | apply: |
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1 | (1) The committee shall prescribe rules for all of the |
2 | following, subject to adoption by a majority of the elected |
3 | delegates at the commencement of working sessions: |
4 | (i) Procedure. |
5 | (ii) Conduct of delegates, including censure, |
6 | suspension or removal. |
7 | (2) The committee shall be authorized to do all of the |
8 | following, when required for the conduct of the business of |
9 | the convention: |
10 | (i) Lease or otherwise obtain suitable meeting and |
11 | office space and to purchase or lease supplies, |
12 | equipment, publications and other material necessary for |
13 | the work of the convention. |
14 | (ii) Hire or engage staff necessary for the work of |
15 | the convention. |
16 | (iii) Initiate relevant studies through its own |
17 | personnel or in cooperation with any public or private |
18 | agencies. |
19 | (iv) Hold public hearings. |
20 | (v) Enter into contracts. |
21 | (vi) Receive from the Commonwealth agencies and |
22 | political subdivisions and local agencies assistance |
23 | necessary or desirable to carry out properly the powers |
24 | and duties under this subsection. |
25 | (vii) Submit a budget and additional reports to the |
26 | General Assembly in sufficient time for the General |
27 | Assembly to pass any necessary appropriation act required |
28 | by section 15, as needed. |
29 | (d) Sessions.--The following shall apply: |
30 | (1) The organizational session shall be adjourned no |
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1 | later than 5 p.m. on December 3, 2009. |
2 | (2) Working sessions of the convention shall commence on |
3 | January 11, 2010. |
4 | (e) Sine die adjournment.--The convention shall adjourn sine |
5 | die no later than September 14, 2010. |
6 | Section 9. Function. |
7 | (a) Scope.--The convention has the power, by a vote of two- |
8 | thirds of its elected delegates on final passage, to make |
9 | recommendations to the electorate on Article III, sections 14, |
10 | 15 and 30 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania. |
11 | (b) Reorganization.--In dealing with the subject matter |
12 | under subsection (a), the convention may recommend amendment, |
13 | addition, deletion, division, transfer, continuation without |
14 | change and implementation schedules. |
15 | Section 10. Manner of submitting proposals to electorate. |
16 | (a) Convention.--The following shall apply: |
17 | (1) The recommendations of the convention shall be |
18 | submitted to the electorate as determined by the convention. |
19 | (2) The convention shall frame the ballot question or |
20 | questions. |
21 | (b) Certification.--The changes proposed and the ballot |
22 | question or questions shall be certified by the president and |
23 | secretary of the convention to the secretary by September 28, |
24 | 2010. |
25 | Section 11. Submission to electorate. |
26 | (a) Secretary.--The following shall apply: |
27 | (1) The secretary shall publish the Constitution of |
28 | Pennsylvania showing the changes proposed by the convention |
29 | and any address to the people by the convention, in |
30 | convenient printed form and in convenient digital form at the |
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1 | earliest time practicable after certification. |
2 | (2) The secretary shall advertise the proposals and |
3 | address of the convention in at least two newspapers of |
4 | general circulation in every county once during the second |
5 | week of October 2010 and once during the fourth week of |
6 | October 2010. |
7 | (3) The secretary shall send a sufficient number of |
8 | copies of the printed publication under paragraph (1) to each |
9 | county board to satisfy the requirements of subsection (b). |
10 | (4) Upon request of an elector, the secretary shall send |
11 | a copy of the publication under paragraph (1). |
12 | (b) County boards.--Each county board shall make the |
13 | publication under subsection (a)(1) available at each polling |
14 | place in a quantity equal to the number of voting booths, |
15 | terminals or stations at that polling place. |
16 | (c) Election.--The following shall apply: |
17 | (1) The recommendations of the convention shall be |
18 | submitted to the electors for their approval or rejection at |
19 | the general election in November 2010. |
20 | (2) A majority affirmative vote of the electors casting |
21 | votes on the ballot question or questions certified under |
22 | section 10(b) in the election is necessary for the adoption |
23 | of the recommendations of the convention. |
24 | (d) Certification.--The secretary shall certify the results |
25 | of the election within three weeks of the general election in |
26 | November 2010. |
27 | Section 12. Lobbying. |
28 | (a) Delegates.--The following shall apply: |
29 | (1) Direct lobbying of individual delegates by |
30 | organizations or individuals registered as lobbyists within |
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1 | this Commonwealth on the effective date of this section and |
2 | for the duration of the convention, other than meetings |
3 | between individual electors of a senatorial district and the |
4 | delegate or delegates representing the same district, shall |
5 | be prohibited. |
6 | (2) No delegate shall accept any gift, meal, service or |
7 | other benefit, or any promise of such in the future, offered |
8 | by any party in an effort to influence the outcome of the |
9 | convention. |
10 | (b) Convention.--The following shall apply: |
11 | (1) Lobbyists prohibited from lobbying delegates in |
12 | subsection (a)(1) shall be permitted to lobby the convention |
13 | as a whole by the following methods: |
14 | (i) Providing printed reference materials in |
15 | quantities sufficient for distribution to all elected |
16 | delegates, subject to any pertinent policies adopted by |
17 | the convention. |
18 | (ii) Providing printed and oral testimony at a |
19 | hearing before any committee or subcommittee of the |
20 | convention, subject to any pertinent policies adopted by |
21 | the convention. |
22 | (iii) Providing printed reference materials to |
23 | committees or subcommittees of the convention in |
24 | quantities sufficient for distribution to all elected |
25 | delegates, subject to any pertinent policies adopted by |
26 | the convention. |
27 | (2) The convention shall not accept, on behalf of its |
28 | delegates, any gift, meal, service or other benefit, or any |
29 | promise of such in the future, offered by any party in an |
30 | effort to influence the outcome of the convention. |
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1 | Section 13. Convention open to public. |
2 | Sessions of the convention as a whole and all meetings of its |
3 | committees and subcommittees shall be open to the public. |
4 | Section 14. Judicial immunity. |
5 | Provided no portion of the resultant Constitution of |
6 | Pennsylvania, duly proposed by the convention and adopted by the |
7 | electorate according to the provisions of this act, is found to |
8 | be in violation of the Constitution of the United States, no |
9 | court of this Commonwealth shall have the authority to overturn |
10 | its provisions. |
11 | Section 15. Appropriation. |
12 | If the question in section 3(a) is approved by the |
13 | electorate, the sum of $20,000,000 shall be transferred from the |
14 | nonlapsing leadership accounts of the General Assembly, in four |
15 | equal contributions by the majority and minority caucuses of the |
16 | Senate and the House of Representatives, to carry out the |
17 | provisions of this act. Further sums required by the convention |
18 | to perform its duties, contributed in similar fashion, shall be |
19 | provided upon request by the convention in accordance with |
20 | section 8(c)(2)(vii). |
21 | Section 16. Effective date. |
22 | This act shall take effect as follows: |
23 | (1) Section 15 of this act shall take effect upon |
24 | publication of the notice under section 3(c). |
25 | (2) The remainder of this act shall take effect |
26 | immediately. |
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