Bill Text: PA SR33 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Providing for the adoption of Financial Operating Rules of the Senate.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-07 - Adopted (49-0) [SR33 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SR33-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  1285

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

No.

33

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY PILEGGI AND COSTA, JUNE 6, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JUNE 6, 2011  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

1

Providing for the adoption of Financial Operating Rules of the

2

Senate.

3

RESOLVED, That Senate Resolution No. 2, Printer's No. 2 of

4

2011 be repealed.

5

RESOLVED, That Financial Operating Rules of the Senate be

6

adopted for the governing of the 195th and 196th Regular

7

Session.

8

(2011-2012)

9

FINANCIAL OPERATING RULES OF THE SENATE

10

I.  PERSONNEL

11

1.  Central Office.

12

The office of the Chief Clerk of the Senate shall serve as

13

the central office of the Senate for all personnel and payroll

14

matters.

15

2.  Employees of the Senate.

16

(a)  Personnel Files.

17

Before any person is placed on any payroll of the Senate,

18

there must be in the office of the Chief Clerk a payroll file

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1

containing:

2

(1)  Full name of employee.

3

(2)  Full address.

4

(3)  Date of employment/termination/or job transfer.

5

(4)  Actual functional job title or description to

6

include general hours of work, general job responsibilities

7

and job location.

8

(5)  The name of the Senator or Officer responsible for

9

monitoring the employee's performance.

10

(6)  Letter of appointment signed by the authorizing

11

Senator or Officer including a delineation of the account

12

from which the employee is to be paid.

13

(7)  The current compensation level with signature

14

approval of the authorizing Senator or Officer. Overtime

15

payments may be authorized only in emergency maintenance and

16

security situations with the signature approvals of the

17

Senator or Officer responsible for monitoring performance,

18

the authorizing Senator or Officer and the President Pro

19

Tempore.

20

(8)  All information necessary for tax withholding and

21

benefit eligibility.

22

(9)  Employment Eligibility Verification Form.

23

(b)  Maintenance of the Personnel Files.

24

It is the responsibility of the Chief Clerk to develop

25

procedures necessary to maintain this payroll file information

26

on a current basis. All payroll changes shall be reflected by

27

the next appropriate payroll period providing said change is

28

received in the office of the Chief Clerk prior to processing of

29

the payroll.

30

(c)  Reclassification of Employees.

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1

Any reclassification of employees under the Senate of

2

Pennsylvania Pay Management Plan shall be submitted by the

3

Senator or Officer authorizing such reclassification to the

4

Senate Committee on Management Operations for approval or

5

disapproval. The Senate Committee on Management Operations is

6

authorized to establish a bi-partisan subcommittee to consider

7

and approve or disapprove all such requests subject to an appeal

8

by the Senator or Officer for consideration of the

9

reclassification by the Senate Committee on Management

10

Operations.

11

3.  Contract for services.

12

(a)  Files for Service Contracts.

13

For any person retained on a contractual basis by any Officer

14

or Senator to provide services, there shall be in the office of

15

the Chief Clerk a file containing:

16

(1)  A copy of the contract signed by the authorizing

17

Senator or Officer including:

18

(i)  Full name, address and Federal tax

19

identification number of the contractor.

20

(ii)  Duration of the contract.

21

(iii)  Cost of the contract and terms of payment.

22

(iv)  Clear, detailed description of the type of

23

service to be performed or product to be delivered.

24

(2)  The name of the Senator or Officer responsible for

25

monitoring the contractor's performance.

26

(3)  Additional information as required by policies of

27

the Senate Committee on Management Operations.

28

(b)  Limitation on contract.

29

Except as authorized by policies of the Senate Committee on

30

Management Operations, no contract may extend beyond the

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1

expiration of the term of office of the Senator.

2

(c)  Contract Review.

3

All contracts for services shall be submitted to the Chief

4

Clerk for review and approval regarding conformity with

5

applicable laws, rules and policies adopted by the Senate

6

Committee on Management Operations.

7

(d)  Payment.

8

Payments under contract shall be made in accordance with

9

provisions of the contract provided that a voucher for such

10

payment is received in the office of the Chief Clerk before the

11

applicable processing deadline. Contractor performance shall be

12

reviewed by the monitoring individual designated pursuant to

13

Rule I.3.(a)(2), who under conditions of satisfactory

14

performance and conformity to the contract shall approve the

15

voucher prior to processing.

16

4.  Authorized Accounts.

17

Salaries, wages and related benefits shall be paid from

18

accounts so authorized by the General Appropriation Act. Such

19

accounts also may pay expenses related to contracts for

20

services.

21

II.  TRAVEL ALLOWANCES AND REIMBURSEMENTS

22

1.  Travel by Senators.

23

Travel allowances or reimbursements may be paid to a Senator

24

who is engaged in travel in the performance of legislative

25

duties. Travel payments may be claimed in connection with the

26

following:

27

(1)  One round trip between home district and Harrisburg

28

for each week a Senator is in actual attendance at a session

29

of the Senate ("Session Mileage").

30

(2)  Round trip travel between home district and

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1

Harrisburg for other legislative activities.

2

(3)  All travel on intradistrict and interdistrict

3

legislative business.

4

(4)  All travel to attend committee meetings, hearings,

5

conferences and seminars.

6

2.  Employee Travel.

7

Travel reimbursement may be paid to employees engaged in

8

travel from their work place to the place of legislative

9

business provided that the travel is necessary for the

10

performance of official business. Except as provided in Rule

11

II.3., Senators and employees are not authorized to lease

12

vehicles on a long-term basis, and no payments will be made with

13

respect to long-term lease vehicle expenses incurred by Senators

14

or employees. When away from the Harrisburg area and from their

15

workplace, employees may, subject to approval of the supervising

16

Senator or officer, rent cars on a short-term basis for a period

17

not in excess of that needed to carry out official business.

18

3.  Rental of Vehicle or Conveyance.

19

(a)  Short-Term Rental of Vehicle or Conveyance.

20

A Senator whose long-term leased vehicle is unavailable may

21

be reimbursed the actual legislative percentage expenses for a

22

short-term rental. A Senator or employee who rents a vehicle or

23

conveyance on a short-term basis, other than a Senator's

24

temporary replacement of a long-term leased vehicle, may be

25

reimbursed only on an actual cost basis for the legislative

26

percentage of rental payments and expenses of operation.

27

(b)  Vehicle Rental by Chief Clerk.

28

The Chief Clerk is authorized to lease such vehicles as

29

deemed necessary by the Senate Committee on Management

30

Operations for the operation of the Senate. The actual expenses

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1

of the lease and operation shall be paid by the Senate's

2

Incidental Expense Account. The Chief Clerk is also authorized

3

to enter into a master lease agreement with the Department of

4

General Services for the long-term lease of automobiles to be

5

used by Senators. Rules relating to the payment of expenses

6

relating to vehicles leased through the Department of General

7

Services to be used by Senators shall be promulgated by the

8

Senate Committee on Management Operations.

9

4.  Allowable Transportation Expenses.

10

(a)  General.

11

(1)  Common or Chartered Carrier. A Senator or employee

12

may be reimbursed for reasonable actual costs of carriage

13

when traveling by common or chartered carrier, including

14

expenses for parking, taxis, limousines and tolls. Claims for

15

payment based on miles traveled cannot be paid.

16

(2)  Personal Vehicle and Noncommercial Conveyance. A

17

Senator or employee who uses a personal vehicle may be

18

reimbursed on such mileage basis as may be established by the

19

Senate Committee on Management Operations. Reimbursement for

20

use of other noncommercial vehicles or noncommercial aircraft

21

shall be made on such basis as may be established by the

22

Senate Committee on Management Operations.

23

(3)  Session Mileage. The mileage rate for Session

24

Mileage payments under Rule II.1 shall be as set forth by

25

law.

26

(4)  Out-of-State Travel.

27

(i)  Nonmember Officers of the Senate and their

28

employees may claim expenses for travel outside the

29

Commonwealth, provided that such travel is approved in

30

the manner described in Rule XI. All claims for Senators'

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1

and employees' travel outside the Commonwealth shall be

2

filed with the Office of the Chief Clerk in the manner

3

described in Rule XI.

4

(ii)  Senators may claim expenses for travel outside

5

the Commonwealth provided that the travel is necessary to

6

attend a conference, seminar or meeting regularly or

7

specially scheduled by an organization which conference,

8

seminar or meeting has a legislative purpose. Senators

9

shall submit a copy of a registration and agenda, in

10

addition to any other documentation required by these

11

rules.

12

(iii)  Senators may also claim expenses for travel

13

outside the Commonwealth when the travel has a

14

legislative purpose, but is not for attending a

15

conference, seminar or meeting, provided the purpose is

16

approved by the Senate Committee on Management

17

Operations, and provided further that approval is not

18

required for legislative business in Washington, DC.

19

(b)  No Duplication.

20

(1)  Session Mileage. Senators claiming reimbursement for

21

travel expenses associated with attendance at a legislative

22

session shall reduce such claim by an amount equal to the

23

"session mileage" entitlement for the same period.

24

(2)  Reimbursement From One Source. If a Senator or

25

employee is entitled to reimbursement from more than one

26

source for legislative business performed on behalf of more

27

than one committee or group, payment shall be received from

28

only one source.

29

5.  Documentation.

30

(a)  Expense Voucher.

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1

All requests for travel payments must be made on an expense

2

voucher showing:

3

(1)  Dates of travel.

4

(2)  Legislative purpose of travel described in

5

reasonable specificity. Claims for out-of-State travel shall

6

also include such information as may be required under

7

Section 4.(a).

8

(3)  The number of miles traveled when claiming

9

reimbursement on a mileage basis. Such mileage claims also

10

should reflect an itinerary including point of origin,

11

furthest destination, and intermediate points and the

12

legislative purpose of the trips.

13

(b)  Receipts.

14

Receipts must be submitted to support the cost associated

15

with claims for:

16

(1)  Travel by common or chartered carrier.

17

(2)  Leased vehicle or conveyance operation. Receipts for

18

gasoline and maintenance shall include the license number of

19

the vehicle and the location of the purchase. In addition, a

20

copy of such lease must be on file with the Office of the

21

Chief Clerk.

22

(3)  Parking, limousine, toll charges and other

23

miscellaneous incidental items when any of these items exceed

24

$10.

25

6.  Authorized Accounts.

26

Travel payments can be made from any of the following

27

accounts. Long-term vehicle or conveyance rental payments may be

28

made from all accounts except (3) and (6). Authorized accounts

29

are:

30

(1)  Appropriations Committee Accounts.

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1

(2)  Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts.

2

(3)  Senators' Mileage and Expense Accounts for "session

3

mileage" travel.

4

(4)  Incidental Expense Account.

5

(5)  Caucus Operations Accounts.

6

(6)  Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.

7

(7)  Computer Services Accounts.

8

III.  MEALS AND LODGING

9

1.  General.

10

A Senator may receive payments attributable to ordinary and

11

necessary expenses for meals, lodging and incidental items

12

provided that the Senator is engaged in the performance of

13

legislative duties. Depending on the nature and location of the

14

activity, as explained below, payments may be made in one of the

15

following forms: per diem allowance or reimbursement for actual

16

costs incurred.

17

2.  Per Diem Allowance.

18

(a)  Per Diem Entitlement.

19

A Senator is entitled to receive a per diem allowance for

20

each day the Senator is in the performance of legislative duties

21

while in the Harrisburg area (defined as within Dauphin County

22

or otherwise within a 10-mile radius of the Capitol) or

23

elsewhere in the Commonwealth but away from home. Specific

24

legislative duties include attendance at sessions of the Senate,

25

attendance at official committee meetings and participation in

26

all other activities necessary or appropriate to the carrying

27

out of the responsibilities of the Senator. Payment of a per

28

diem allowance is authorized only when the legislative duties

29

performed by the Senator occur more than 50 miles from the

30

Senator's residence.

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1

(b)  Types of Per Diem Allowance.

2

(1)  Full Per Diem. A full per diem allowance not to

3

exceed such amount as may be established by the Senate

4

Committee on Management Operations may be claimed as an

5

allowance for meals and lodging.

6

(2)  Partial Per Diem. When the per diem entitlement

7

derives from the performance in the Harrisburg area of the

8

specified legislative duties set forth in Rule III.2.(a), a

9

Senator may receive a partial per diem allowance up to an

10

amount established by the Senate Committee on Management

11

Operations for meals and incidentals.

12

3.  Actual Costs.

13

A Senator may claim actual costs for lodging, meals and other

14

incidental items incurred in the performance of legislative

15

duties. Expense claims for costs of lodging, meals and other

16

incidental expenses incurred in the performance of legislative

17

duties outside of the Commonwealth may be reimbursed on an

18

actual expense basis or through a per diem allowance.

19

4.  Employees' Travel.

20

If an employee is engaged in travel away from the normally

21

assigned place of work necessary for the performance of official

22

business, the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable actual

23

cost of lodging, meals and other incidental items. For rules

24

regarding out-of-State travel, see Rule XI.

25

5.  Payment From One Source.

26

If a Senator is entitled to a meal and lodging claim from

27

more than one source for legislative business performed on

28

behalf of more than one committee or group, payments shall be

29

received from only one source.

30

6.  Review.

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1

All authorized and approved meals and lodging claims shall be

2

reviewed for inadvertent duplication by the Office of the Chief

3

Clerk prior to processing and payment.

4

7.  Record Keeping.

5

Where a per diem allowance or reimbursement is paid by a

6

legislative service agency cofunded between both Houses of the

7

General Assembly, a copy of the approved claim shall be

8

furnished to the Office of the Chief Clerk.

9

8.  Documentation.

10

(a)  Per Diem Allowance.

11

For payment of a per diem allowance, a Senator must submit a

12

voucher showing the date, the legislative activity in which the

13

Senator was engaged on that date, and the location of the

14

activity.

15

(b)  Actual Expenses of a Senator or an Employee.

16

For payment of actual expenses, a Senator or employee must

17

submit a voucher showing the date, amount, place and the

18

legislative activity in which the Senator or employee was

19

engaged and must submit a vendor or credit card receipt or

20

invoice for each item exceeding $10.

21

9.  Authorized Accounts.

22

(a)  Attendance at Sessions.

23

Payments shall be made from the Incidental Expense Account

24

for authorized Per Diem Allowances only for sessions of the

25

Senate during which a Senator is recorded as present on any roll

26

call vote.

27

(b)  Authorized Accounts.

28

Payment may be made from the following accounts for other

29

authorized per diem, meal and lodging claims:

30

(1)  Appropriations Committee Accounts.

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1

(2)  Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts.

2

(3)  Incidental Expense Account.

3

(4)  Caucus Operations Accounts.

4

(5)  Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.

5

(6)  Computer Services Accounts for actual expenses only.

6

IV.  EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHING CONTROL AND INVENTORY

7

1.  Purchases, Improvements, Renovations.

8

The Office of the Chief Clerk shall act as the sole agent for

9

improvements or renovations to Senate facilities at the Capitol

10

Complex and for the purchase, rental, control and inventory of

11

durable equipment, furniture and furnishings with a useful life

12

of one year or more and a cost greater than the limit

13

established by the Senate Committee on Management Operations for

14

utilization in both the Capitol and District Offices.

15

Nonrecoverable items including, but not limited to, carpeting,

16

draperies and air conditioners for use in and improvements or

17

renovations to district office facilities shall be purchased

18

pursuant to standards developed by the Senate Committee on

19

Management Operations. The Chief Clerk shall serve as the sole

20

agent for the purchase of United States and Pennsylvania flags.

21

2.  Approval of Purchase or Rental.

22

All requests for the purchase or rental of such equipment,

23

furniture and furnishings must be reviewed and approved by the

24

Chief Clerk.

25

3.  Senate/Officer Inventory.

26

All approved requests shall be processed by the office of the

27

Chief Clerk, which shall maintain a full and current inventory

28

of all durable equipment, furniture and furnishings secured on

29

behalf of a Senator, Officer or employee of the Senate.

30

4.  Pricing and Service.

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1

The Chief Clerk shall take all necessary and reasonable steps

2

to ensure that the purchase or rental of durable equipment,

3

furniture and furnishings with a useful life of one year or more

4

and a cost greater than the limit established by the Senate

5

Committee on Management Operations shall be transacted at the

6

lowest available price for the quality, compatibility,

7

availability and service of the items being purchased or leased.

8

5.  Dissemination of Literature.

9

The Secretary of the Senate shall provide for the publication

10

and dissemination of educational or informational literature

11

pertaining to the Senate of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of

12

Pennsylvania or the Government of the United States.

13

6.  Documentation Required.

14

(a)  Request for Purchase or Rental Showing:

15

(1)  Date of request.

16

(2)  Item requested.

17

(3)  By whom request made.

18

(4)  Purpose.

19

(5)  Signature approvals.

20

(6)  Record of Rule IV.4. actions taken.

21

(b)  Vendor's invoice or receipt detailing:

22

(1)  Date of purchase or rental.

23

(2)  Vendor's identity.

24

(3)  Description of item purchased or rented.

25

(4)  Length of rental contract when applicable.

26

(5)  Cost and payment terms of the purchase or rental.

27

7.  Authorized Accounts.

28

(a)  Legislative and Printing Expense Account as provided in

29

General Appropriations Act.

30

(b)  Computer Services (R) & (D) Accounts for the acquisition

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1

of equipment and fixtures necessary for the implementation and

2

administration of the respective caucus information technology

3

systems.

4

(c)  The account as provided in the General Appropriations

5

Act for the purchase of flags.

6

(d)  Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts for

7

the purchase of flags and for the rental of durable equipment,

8

furniture and furnishings.

9

V.  DISTRICT OFFICE EXPENSES

10

1.  Authorized Expenses.

11

Expenses authorized shall include:

12

(a)  Aggregate office rental in accordance with policies as

13

may be established by the Senate Committee on Management

14

Operations. Except as provided in this Rule, no Senator nor a

15

member of the Senator's immediate family may have a financial

16

interest in a district office. For purposes of this subsection,

17

a financial interest shall not include ownership in a publicly

18

traded investment vehicle, including a corporation, mutual fund,

19

REIT or limited liability partnership in which the Senator or a

20

member of the Senator's immediate family is not a managing

21

partner. Prior to entering into a district office lease

22

agreement, the Chief Clerk shall obtain written verification

23

from the Senator that neither the Senator nor a member of the

24

Senator's immediate family has a financial interest in the

25

property. This Rule shall not prohibit a district office from

26

being located in a building in which a Senator or a member of

27

the Senator's immediate family has a financial interest if rent,

28

utilities or any expenses that may inure to the benefit of the

29

property or landlord are not paid for by the Senate.

30

(b)  Insurance

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1

(c)  Printing services.

2

(d)  Telephone and answering services.

3

(e)  Postage and mailing services.

4

(f)  Publications and subscriptions.

5

(g)  Nondurable supplies.

6

(h)  Senator, employee and visitor parking.

7

(i)  Janitorial maintenance and cleaning services.

8

(j)  Utility services.

9

(k)  Other items authorized for expenses as defined in the

10

General Appropriations Act and policies of the Senate Committee

11

on Management Operations.

12

2.  Documentation Required.

13

A copy of the district office lease indicating the amount and

14

payment terms shall be maintained in the office of the Chief

15

Clerk. Vouchers shall appropriately document expenses and

16

legislative purpose for each expenditure. Receipts or invoices

17

shall be included for all expenditures in excess of $25 per

18

occurrence.

19

3.  Authorized Accounts.

20

Accounts authorized include:

21

(1)  Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts.

22

(2)  Chief Clerk Employees' Salary and Expense Account.

23

(3)  Legislative and Printing Expense Account.

24

VI.  CAPITOL OFFICE EXPENSES

25

1.  Types of Expenses Authorized.

26

Expenses authorized shall include:

27

(1)  Utility services.

28

(2)  Insurance.

29

(3)  Printing services.

30

(4)  Telephone and answering services.

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1

(5)  Postage and mailing services.

2

(6)  Publications and subscriptions.

3

(7)  Nondurable supplies.

4

(8)  Employee parking.

5

(9)  Janitorial maintenance and cleaning services.

6

(10)  Other items authorized for expenses as defined in

7

the General Appropriations Act.

8

2.  Documentation Required.

9

Documentation required shall include vouchers appropriately

10

documenting expenses and legislative purpose for each

11

expenditure. Receipts or invoices shall be included for all

12

expenditures in excess of $25 per occurrence.

13

3.  Authorized Accounts.

14

Accounts authorized include:

15

(1)  Legislative Printing and Expense Account.

16

(2)  Postage Account of Chief Clerk (for postage only).

17

(3)  Senators' Legislative Accountable Expense Accounts.

18

(4)  Appropriations Committee Accounts, exclusive of

19

office rental.

20

(5)  Caucus Operations Accounts, exclusive of office

21

rental.

22

(6)  Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts,

23

exclusive of office rental.

24

(7)  Incidental Expense Account.

25

VII.  OFFICIAL EXPENSES

26

1.  General.

27

While engaged in the performance of legislative duties, a

28

Senator, Officer or employee expressly authorized by a Senator

29

may claim actual expenses as set forth below.

30

2.  Participation in Conferences and Seminars.

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1

Expenses, such as registration fees, incurred in

2

participating in legislative conferences and seminars may be

3

claimed. Related travel expenses incurred are discussed in Rule

4

II. Related meals and lodging expenses incurred are discussed in

5

Rule III.

6

3.  Conducting Meetings.

7

Expenses attributable to conducting legislative meetings or

8

performing official duties may be claimed. Such expenses may

9

include:

10

(a)  Food and refreshment which are ordinary to the

11

performance of a Senator's legislative duties, and for which

12

there is a legislative purpose. In general, these expenses will

13

be incurred during, immediately preceding or immediately

14

following a substantial and bona fide legislative business

15

discussion.

16

(b)  Meeting room rental.

17

(c)  Incidental items.

18

4.  Documentation.

19

(a)  Participation in Conferences and Seminars.

20

Vouchers shall show the amount, date, place and legislative

21

purpose. Registration or other receipts must be attached.

22

(b)  Meeting expenses.

23

Vouchers of meeting expenses shall include documentation

24

regarding the amount, date, place and legislative purpose. If a

25

meeting expense is claimed by a Senator or employee, the portion

26

of the voucher amount attributable to that Senator or employee

27

shall be indicated. A receipt or invoice shall be attached to

28

the voucher.

29

(c)  Official Duty Expenses.

30

Vouchers shall show or reference to records which show the

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1

amount, date, place, legislative purpose and if claimed by a

2

Senator or employee, the portion of the amount attributable to

3

the expense. Restaurant, hotel or credit card receipt or

4

invoices must be attached.

5

(d)  Claims by Senate Employees.

6

Vouchers involving any official expenses claimed by Senate

7

employees shall reflect formal authorization by the supervising

8

Senator or officer.

9

5.  Authorized Accounts.

10

Payments shall be made from the following accounts:

11

(1)  Appropriations Committee Accounts.

12

(2)  Incidental Expense Account.

13

(3)  Caucus Operations Accounts.

14

(4)  Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.

15

(5)  Senators' Legislative Expenses Accounts.

16

VIII.  SPECIAL EXPENSES

17

1.  Authorized Expenses.

18

Expenses authorized include:

19

(a)  Flowers, baskets of fruit or other appropriate items or

20

memorial contributions to designated charities not to exceed the

21

amount established by the Senate Committee on Management

22

Operations. Recipients are limited to instances of death or

23

illness for Senators, Officers, employees or their immediate

24

families, or former Senators or their immediate families or

25

dignitaries including both incumbent or former elected or

26

appointed officials or their immediate families.

27

(b)  Rental of common carrier and other expenditures inherent

28

thereto for attendance at funerals of a Senator or members of a

29

Senator's immediate family, former Senators, dignitaries, or

30

Officers.

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1

2.  Documentation Required.

2

Documentation required shall include a receipt or vendor

3

invoice showing: recipient, instance, description of items

4

delivered, date delivered and cost.

5

3.  Authorized Accounts.

6

Payment shall be made only from Contingent Expense Accounts

7

or the Incidental Expense Account.

8

IX.  MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES OF STANDING

9

AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

10

1.  Committee Proceedings.

11

Rental of meeting rooms and hearing facilities and payments

12

to qualified court reporters or stenographers to record the

13

proceedings authorized by the chairman of a standing or special

14

committee of the Senate, including the cost of transcripts.

15

Witnesses served with a subpoena to testify before such

16

proceedings shall be paid witness fees and travel expenses as

17

provided by Section 5903 of the Judicial Code.

18

2.  Printing and Mailing.

19

Committee printing and mailing costs for mailings relating to

20

legislative business.

21

3.  Publications and Subscriptions.

22

Publications and subscriptions.

23

4.  Documentation Required.

24

Vouchers or vendors receipts or invoices stating vendor's

25

name, services or amount of postage, date, place, and total

26

amount due or paid. Postage purchases shall require a receipt

27

stamped by the Postmaster.

28

5.  Authorized Accounts.

29

Accounts authorized include:

30

(1)  Appropriations Committee Accounts.

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1

(2)  Caucus Operations Accounts.

2

(3)  Committee and Contingent Expenses Accounts.

3

X.  SENATE COMMITTEE ON MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS

4

1.  Duties.

5

In addition to duties imposed by law or otherwise by these

6

rules, the duties of the Senate Committee on Management

7

Operations shall be:

8

(1)  To arbitrate a decision of the Secretary or Chief

9

Clerk of the Senate relating to these Rules, in the event

10

that a Senator, Officer or employee shall disagree with a

11

decision of the Secretary or Chief Clerk of the Senate.

12

(2)  To make a final decision in case of a dispute on a

13

question of legislative intent or legislative purpose

14

regarding an expenditure.

15

(3)  To make a continuing review of these Rules as to

16

expenditures and the reporting of expenditures, and, from

17

time to time, to make such recommendations as are

18

appropriate.

19

(4)  To adopt clarifications to these Rules through

20

interim policy determinations.

21

2.  Records.

22

A record of the committee's decisions shall be maintained.

23

The Chief Clerk shall be responsible for maintaining such

24

records.

25

XI.  OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL

26

1.  Request for Approval.

27

No nonmember Officer of the Senate or any employee of any

28

nonmember Officer shall be reimbursed nor shall any of his or

29

her expenses be paid for any travel outside the Commonwealth

30

unless such travel has been approved by a majority of the

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1

membership of the Senate Committee on Management Operations. All

2

requests for such approval shall be made to the Chief Clerk, and

3

shall include information relating to the destination, the

4

estimated cost of such travel, the number of days involved, and

5

the relationship that the travel has to the duties of the

6

Officer or employee making the request. In the case of an

7

employee, the request shall also be approved by the Officer.

8

2.  Time Limit for Filing.

9

A copy of any request for reimbursement or for the payment of

10

any expenses relating to out-of-state travel by a Senator or

11

employee assigned to a Senator shall be filed with the Office of

12

the Chief Clerk within 30 days of such travel. Copies of these

13

requests shall be made available for public inspection in the

14

Office of the Chief Clerk in accordance with the act of February

15

14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law.

16

XII. LIST OF EMPLOYEES; DOCUMENT ACCESS

17

1.  Publication and Distribution.

18

(a)  The Chief Clerk shall have published quarterly and shall

19

mail to each Senator's residence a listing of all employees of

20

the Senate or any of its Officers, Committee Chairmen, and

21

Senators and all persons holding purchase of service contracts

22

with the Senate or any of its Officers, Committee Chairmen and

23

Senators. The list for employees shall contain the full name of

24

the employee, the job title of the employee, the compensation of

25

the employee, and the name of the Senator or Officer for such

26

employee. For individuals holding contracts for services with

27

the Senate, the list shall contain the name of the contractor,

28

the address of the contractor, a statement of the nature of the

29

duties of the contractor, and the fee of the contractor as well

30

as the name of the Senator or Officer responsible for monitoring

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1

the performance of the contractor.

2

(b)  The list shall be submitted by February 1, for the

3

quarter ending December 31; by May 1, for the quarter ending

4

March 31; by August 1, for the quarter ending June 30; and by

5

November 1, for the quarter ending September 30. The list shall

6

also be updated on a monthly basis including additions and

7

deletions and shall be available for public inspection in the

8

office of the Chief Clerk in accordance with the act of February

9

14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law.

10

2.  Public Inspection of Vouchers and Requisitions.

11

All vouchers and requisitions relating to all expenditures,

12

expenses, disbursements and other obligations out of all

13

appropriated funds of the Senate shall be available for public

14

inspection in accordance with the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.

15

6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law. Payroll and

16

independent contractor records of the Senate shall also be made

17

available for public inspection in accordance with the Right-to-

18

Know Law.

19

3.  Photocopies of Records.

20

Photocopies of financial records maintained in the Office of

21

the Chief Clerk shall be made available in accordance with the

22

act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-

23

Know Law.

24

XIII.  PERSONNEL POLICIES

25

1.  Preparation of Rules and Regulations.

26

The Senate Committee on Management Operations created

27

pursuant to Section 1.1 of Act No. 417 of 1967 is authorized to

28

prepare and adopt rules and regulations for uniform personnel

29

policies and procedures, job specification and pay plans

30

including periodic increments for Senate Officers and employees.

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1

2.  Approval of Rules and Regulations.

2

Each such rule or regulation or any amendment thereto shall

3

be prepared in resolution form and shall be placed on the Senate

4

calendar for final approval or disapproval. The committee may

5

when approved by at least five Members of the committee

6

including both Floor Leaders implement such rules and

7

regulations pending final Senate consideration of them. Such

8

resolution shall have the force and effect of law in accordance

9

with its terms when it has been approved by the full Senate.

10

XIV.  ACCOUNTING AND OPERATIONS MANUAL

11

1.  Preparation and Approval.

12

The Chief Clerk shall prepare an Accounting and Operations

13

Manual with separate sections applicable to Senators and their

14

employees and fund custodians. This Manual shall be submitted to

15

the Senate Committee on Management Operations for its approval.

16

2.  Distribution.

17

Upon approval applicable sections of the Accounting and

18

Operations Manual shall be distributed to all Senators and

19

Officers. A complete manual shall be forwarded to the

20

Legislative Audit Advisory Commission.

21

3.  Maintenance and Updating.

22

The Chief Clerk shall be responsible for maintaining and

23

updating this manual as a result of revisions or amendments

24

promulgated by the Senate Committee on Management Operations.

25

XV.  EFFECT AND DURATION

26

1.  Current Policies.

27

Policies of the Senate Committee on Management Operations in

28

effect on the date of the adoption of these rules are hereby

29

ratified and approved by the Senate.

30

2.  Applicability.

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1

These rules provide guidance to Senators, Senate officers and

2

Senate employees in performing their duties in the Senate. The

3

changes contained in these rules are to be applied prospectively

4

and are not intended to reflect on the propriety of past rules

5

or practices of the Senate or its Senators, officers or

6

employees. 

7

3.  Rules.

8

These rules shall be in full force and effect until altered,

9

changed, amended or repealed as provided in Article XVI.

10

XVI.  CHANGES TO RULES

11

The consent of a majority of the Senators elected shall be

12

necessary to alter, change or amend these rules.

13

XVII.  PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING RULES

14

All alterations, changes or amendments to these rules shall

15

be by resolution which shall not be considered until first

16

referred to and reported from the Committee on Rules and

17

Executive Nominations.

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