THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PILEGGI, APRIL 2, 2012

SENATOR PILEGGI, RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, AS AMENDED, APRIL 30, 2012   

A RESOLUTION

Adopting a temporary rule of the Senate relating solely to

amendments to the General Appropriation Bill and other

appropriation bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1,

2012, including any amendments offered to or for supplemental

appropriations for prior fiscal years.

RESOLVED, That the Senate adopt a temporary rule to read:

TEMPORARY RULE

I. Budget Amendments on Senate Floor

1.  Floor amendments to the General Appropriation Bill or

other General Fund or special fund appropriation bills for the

fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012, or for any prior fiscal

year, shall be in order on second or third consideration only.

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2.  Any amendment offered on the floor of the Senate to the

General Appropriation Bill or other General Fund or special fund

appropriation bills or other budget implementing legislation

(which collectively comprises and shall be referred to as the

2012-2013 Budget) that proposes spending from the General Fund

or any special fund for the Commonwealth 2012-2013 fiscal year,

or any prior fiscal year, at a level different from the amount

contained in the 2012-2013 Budget as reported from the

Appropriations Committee shall not be in order and may not be

considered unless the amendment includes a financial statement

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appended thereto based on information from the latest report of

the Commonwealth's Independent Fiscal Office that sufficient

revenue in excess of the amount contained in the 2012-2013

Budget as reported from the Appropriations Committee is

projected to be available so that the amendment yields a

balanced budget or the amendment, or any "statement of intent"

appended thereto, contains sufficient revisions or reductions to

the 2012-2013 Budget so that the amendment yields a balanced

budget based on current and projected revenues. Where a proposed

alteration in the General Appropriation Bill is balanced, in

whole or in part, by a change in other appropriation bills or

other budget implementing legislation, the amendment shall have

appended thereto a "statement of intent" setting forth the

proposed adjustment to the other appropriation bill or bills

that will result in no net increase in the total spending from

the General Fund or any special fund contained within the

2012-2013 Budget as reported from the Appropriations Committee.

3.  For the purpose of this temporary rule, the Legislative

Reference Bureau, in drafting any amendment to the General

Appropriation Bill or any other appropriation bill, shall append

the "statement of intent" required for a proposal which involves

more than one bill.

4.  Any amendment offered on the floor of the Senate

proposing to make reductions in the following appropriations

shall be out of order unless the amendment provides for a

revision not contrary to the statutes governing such programs:

(a)  Medical assistance outpatient.

(b)  Medical assistance inpatient.

(c)  Medical assistance capitation.

(d)  Long-term care.

(e)  Supplemental Security Income - aged, blind, disabled. 

(f)  School employees' retirement.

(g)  Transfer to Commonwealth Financing Agency.

II. Amendments in Appropriations Committee

1.  Any amendment offered in the Appropriations Committee to

the General Appropriation Bill proposing to make reductions in

the following appropriations shall be out of order unless the

amendment provides for a revision not contrary to the statutes

governing such programs:

(a)  Medical assistance outpatient.

(b)  Medical assistance inpatient.

(c)  Medical assistance capitation.

(d)  Long-term care.

(e)  Supplemental Security Income - aged, blind, disabled. 

(f)  School employees' retirement.

(g)  Transfer to Commonwealth Financing Agency.

III. Suspension

This temporary rule may be temporarily suspended only by a

vote of the majority of the members elected to the Senate.

IV. Expiration

This temporary rule shall expire upon the enactment of a

General Appropriation Act for the fiscal year beginning July 1,

2012.