Bill Text: PA HR557 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishing a bipartisan Speaker's Commission on Budgetary Reform to study the budget process and make recommendations for reforms needed to improve the process.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 53-8)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-12-08 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [HR557 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR557-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2971
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 557 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY GRELL, BENNINGHOFF, SHAPIRO, M. KELLER, ADOLPH, BEAR, BEYER, BOBACK, BROOKS, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALLY, DAY, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, GABIG, GABLER, GEIST, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GROVE, HARHART, HARRIS, HELM, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, KORTZ, KRIEGER, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MATZIE, McILVAINE SMITH, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, MUNDY, MUSTIO, D. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PETRI, PICKETT, QUIGLEY, QUINN, REESE, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, ROHRER, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TRUE, VULAKOVICH AND WATSON, DECEMBER 8, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 8, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Establishing a bipartisan Speaker's Commission on Budgetary
Reform to study the budget process and make recommendations
for reforms needed to improve the process.
WHEREAS, The 2009-2010 budget approval process extended 101
days beyond the June 30 constitutional (section 24 of Article
III) and statutory (section 617 of the act of April 9, 1929
(P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929),
deadline, leaving counties, municipalities, school districts and
social service agencies and other Commonwealth vendors without
State funds; and
WHEREAS, These same local governments and social service
agencies struggled to maintain services as the Governor and
legislative leaders negotiated and utilized legislative tactics
to further delay resolution of the budget; and
WHEREAS, Failure to enact a State budget in advance of July 1
places State employees in jeopardy for possible furlough, layoff
or not being paid timely for work performed; and
WHEREAS, The continuing budget stalemate eroded the faith of
our citizens in the ability of State government to function in
the best interests of the public; and
WHEREAS, While much has been done on reform of the general
operating rules of the House of Representatives, there should be
an organized bipartisan effort to consider many pending
legislative proposals on the subject of budget process reform
and modernization; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That a bipartisan Commission on Budgetary Reform be
established under the direction of the Office of the Speaker of
the House of Representatives to study the budgetary process in
an effort to propose changes which will improve and modernize
the process to avoid future budget impasses; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission should expressly consider those
statutory and rules changes which:
(1) establish fixed timelines and milestones for the
orderly review and completion of the annual budget to include
consequences if milestones are not met;
(2) adopt performance-based budgeting principles into
the annual appropriations process;
(3) afford greater involvement in the process by every
member of the House of Representatives; and
(4) implement continuity provisions for State government
operations in the event of a future budget impasse;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission be composed of members as
follows: 12 members to be appointed by the Majority Leader of
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the House of Representatives and 12 members to be appointed by
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the commission be led by cochairmen, with the
majority party members electing one of its members as chairman
and the minority party members electing one of its members as
chairman; and be it further
RESOLVED, That appointments be made within 15 days of the
approval of this resolution by the House of Representatives; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission make a report of its findings
and recommendations to the House of Representatives by January
1, 2010, at which time the commission shall cease to exist; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission rely on the existing staff of
the appointing authorities to the greatest extent possible; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That necessary and reasonable costs and
expenditures of the commission be paid from funds already
appropriated to the House of Representatives.
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