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Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission
Bureau of Archives and History
Pennsylvania State Archives
RG-7
Records of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Series Descriptions
Members of the Senate must be at least 25 years of age and a citizen and inhabitant of the state for at least four years. Since the passage of the Constitution of 1874, the Senate has consisted of fifty members and they are elected to four-year terms. The term of service commences upon the first day of December following their election. The members of the Senate elect one among themselves as President pro tempore to preside over the sessions of the Senate and this officer also performs the duties of the Lieutenant Governor should the office of Lieutenant Governor fall vacant. All appropriations bills must originate in the House of Representatives before they can be taken up by the Senate, and under Article III, Section 11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, general appropriation bills can only be used to authorize funds for the ordinary expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments; for interest on the public debt, and for public schools. All other appropriations for the expenditure of state funds must be made through separate bills, each of which may cover only one subject.
Appointment
Books,
1881-1919, 1921-1938, 1943-1947.
(35 volumes)
{series #7.31} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of appointee.
Record books of appointments made by the Governor and sent to the Senate for confirmation. Information provided is name of appointee, date appointed by the Governor, position to which appointed, county where appointed, date appointment received the Senate, date confirmed by Senate, date returned, and remarks that generally give the term of the appointment.
Appointment
File,
1923-1938, 1961.
(5 boxes)
{series #7.32} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Records of nominations made by the Governor for appointments that were sent to the Senate for confirmation. Information provided is name of appointee, date appointed by the Governor, position to which appointed, county where appointed, and date appointment received the Senate.
Bills in Place
Books,
1875-1891, 1893-1962.
(46 volumes)
{series #7.33} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Record of bills introduced into the Senate. Information provided is date bill was read in place, bill number, name of Senator by whom bill was read, title of bill, name of committee to which referred, dated reported, how reported, and remarks.
Budget Requests
Submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee,
1984-1987.
(5 cartons)
{series #7.34} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by department or agency.
Budget requests submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Information generally provided in each appropriation request is a transmittal statement, a department or agency policy statement, a summary by fund of the appropriations requested, the details of the appropriation request by line item, an agency program plan, program revision requests, and a breakdown of the capital budget.
Card File
of House Senate Bills,
1975-1976.
(1 carton)
{series #7.35} [Holdings]
Arranged numerically by bill number.
Card file of bills introduced into the Senate that was used for keeping track of the status of such bills. Information provided is name of the committee to which bill was referred, how reported out of the committee, a record of each consideration in the Senate, dates received and reported back and how received and reported, record of return from the House and referral to conference committee, whether signed by the president of the Senate and occasional marginal notations providing additional information.
Catalogue
of Books Belonging to the Senate,
[ca. 1812].
(1 volume)
{series #7.36} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by title of book.
Catalogue of books belonging to the Senate library ca. 1812. Information given is title of the book, number of volumes in the set and number of sets owned by the Senate library.
Clippings
of Titles of Senate and House and Legislative Acts,
1879.
(1 volume)
{series #7.37} [Holdings]
Arranged numerically by Senate bill number.
Record book containing clippings of tabs containing Senate bill number and title of each bill introduced into the Senate.
Committee
Books,
1810-1850, 1897-1899.
(14 volumes)
Microfilm Rolls 3513-3514 for the period up to 1850.
{Series #7.38} [Holdings]
Information grouped by committee and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of entry.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by subject.
Register of letters and petitions received by Senate committees. Information provided is date petition or correspondence was received, committee to which referred, and a brief description of the subject of the petition or correspondence.
Compared Bill
Books,
1847-1876.
(13 volumes)
{series #7.39} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Registers of House and Senate versions of bills before the General Assembly. Information provided is House and Senate bill numbers, names of sponsors, dates introduced, and brief description of the subject of the bill.
Department
of Mines Expense Account Book,
1909-1912.
(1 volume)
{series #7.40} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Account book providing a record of salaries paid to mine inspectors employed by the Department of Mines in the bituminous mine districts. Information provided is date of entry, name of mine inspector, and amount of salary paid.
Document Requisition
Books,
1913-1955.
(7 volumes)
{series #7.41} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Record books of the number of documents
requisitioned by the Senate from various state agencies. Information provided
includes the name of the requester, date of requisition, name of the agency
from which documents were requested, and the number of documents requested by
the Senate as a whole.
Executive
Documents from the State Library,
1848-1886.
(6 cartons)
{series #7.42} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by session.
Published annual Reports of the Heads of Departments Transmitted to the Governor in Pursuance of Law together with the Report of the of the Superintendent of Common Schools containing detailed fiscal and performance information on all of the executive branch agencies. These volumes were originally kept in the Senate library.
Executive Nominations,House Communications,
1971-1972.
(1 carton)
{series #7.44} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of communication.
Record of communications by the Clerk of the House of Representatives on the status of various bills in the House. Information provided is date of communication, House or Senate bill number, title of the bill, status of the bill, and the names of bill's sponsors. Records from previous years are available in series 7.78, Senate File, 1823-1972.
House Journals
from the Senate Library,
1823-1942.
(16 cartons)
{series #7.45} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of session.
The Senate library copies of the published and bound volumes of the Journal of the House of Representatives providing a detailed daily record of the business conducted in the House including motions made, bills and resolutions introduced, roll calls of votes taken, speeches delivered, and record of bills passed or sent to committees.
House Resolutions
in the Senate,
1969-1972.
(2 folders)
{series #7.46} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of resolution.
Transcripts of House resolutions introduced into the Senate. Information provided is resolution number, names of sponsors, date passed in the House, transcript of the resolution and date introduced in the Senate. Records from previous years are available in Senate File, 1823-1972, {series #7.78}.
History Ledgers
of House and Senate Bills and Resolutions,
1905-1909, 1932.
(4 volumes)
{series #7.47} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically by date of entry and listed thereunder by name of Senator.
Ledgers of House and Senate Bills and Resolutions providing a legislative history of each bill or resolution introduced. Information provided is House or Senate bill or resolution number, names of sponsors, date introduced, name of bill or resolution, date sent to committee and name of committee to which sent, date reported out of committee, dates of readings, and disposition of the bill or resolution.
History of Senate Bills, Resolutions and Executive Communications,{series #7.85} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of indigent insane person.
Index to names of indigent insane persons in Pennsylvania. Information provided is case number, name of patient, and place of residence or name of county. On the first page are sequentially arranged lists of case numbers for inmates from various counties.
Journals,
1818, 1851, 1853, 1955-1956, 1959-1961, 1968-1974, 1983.
(22 cartons, 60 boxes, 3 volumes)
Microfilm Rolls 3337-3349, 3404-3415, 3516-3541 for period from 1853-1905
{series #7.49} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically by Senate session and thereunder alphabetically by subject of bill.
Legislative journals contain the verbatim record of the daily procedures, motions
made, bill and amendment proposals, speeches, debates, roll call votes, record
of bills passed or sent to committees, and other announcements that occur on
the Senate Floor during Session. For the years 1955-1956, 1959-1961, and 1968-1974
the records are legislative journal papers used for preparing the published
Legislative Journal: House similar to the records found in Legislative
Journal Papers, 1971-1980, {series #7.53}.
Journals not represented here may be found in Legislative Record
in Legislative Proceedings from the Senate Library, 1854-1909,
{series #7.51} and in Legislative Journal in Legislative
Journals from the Senate Library, 1871-1874, {series #7.52}.
These publications contained the daily record from both chambers, and at times
were more detailed, containing additional remarks submitted by legislators.
Journals from 1790-1802 may also be found in the Library of Congress' Records
of the States of the United States, microfilm rolls 2084-2086, located in
the Search Room.
The House of Representatives maintains a website
providing digital access to the Legislative Journal: Senate for
1993-present.
Legislative
Documents from the Senate Library,
1854-1886.
(9 cartons)
{series #7.50} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of publication.
Published annual reports entitled Legislative Documents Comprising the Reports Made to the Senate and House of Representatives of Pennsylvania that were originally maintained by the State Library. The volumes provide detailed fiscal and operational information regarding the broad spectrum of programs administered by state government agencies. Also present are volumes containing material of a merely historical, geographical, or statistical nature that were read into the record and compiled under the title Miscellaneous Documents Read in the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Legislative
Proceedings from the Senate Library,
1854-1909.
(17 cartons)
Microfilm
Rolls 2097, 3337-3349, 3404-3415, 3516-3541
{series #7.51} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by subject.
Bound and published record of the daily proceedings of the General Assembly under the title The Legislative Record that were published by the authority of the legislature. These volumes were originally kept by the State Library and provide a detailed daily record of the business conducted in the House and Senate including motions made, bills and resolutions introduced, roll calls of votes taken, speeches delivered, and record of bills passed or sent to committees.
Legislative
Journals from the Senate Library,
1871-1874.
(1 carton)
Microfilm Rolls 3404-3415
{series #7.52} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of session.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by subject.
Bound and published account of the daily proceedings of the General Assembly under the title The Legislative Journal, Containing the Debates and Proceedings of the Legislature of Pennsylvania that were maintained by the State Library. These volumes provide a detailed daily record of the business conducted in the House including motions made, bills and resolutions introduced, roll calls of votes taken, speeches delivered, and record of bills passed or sent to committees.
Legislative
Journal Papers,
1971-1980.
(41 cartons)
{series #7.53} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of published issue of the Legislative Journal: Senate.
Loose published issues of the daily Legislative Journal: Senate together with rough typed drafts of the materials published in each issue journal. Information provided gives a detailed daily record of the business conducted in the General Assembly including motions made, bills and resolutions introduced, roll calls of votes taken, speeches delivered, and a record of bills and resolutions passed or sent to committees.
Message Books,
1871-1951,
(41 volumes)
{series #7.54} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Record books of messages delivered in the chamber of the Senate. Information provided is date message was delivered, name of person by whom it was delivered, and transcript of the message delivered.
Minute Books,
1826-1974.
(152 volumes)
{series #7.55} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Daily minute books of the sessions of the Senate providing a record of bills read before the Senate. Information provided is the House or Senate bill number, the action taken, name of the Senator who read the bill before the Senate, a brief description of the subject of the bill, a record of the action taken and the name of the committee to which referred..
Newspaper
Subscriptions Record and Payment Books,
1817-1824, 1837, 1847-1849, 1853.
(4 volumes)
{series #7.56} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry, grouped thereunder alphabetically by name of newspaper, and grouped thereunder alphabetically by name of Senator except for the year 1817 where names of Senators are random. The subscription payment book for 1853 is arranged alphabetically by name of Senator.
Record books of newspaper subscriptions maintained for the members of the Senate and a record book of payments for newspaper subscriptions. Information provided is date of session, name of Senator and name of newspaper subscribed. Information provided in the subscription payment book for 1853 is name of Senator, name of each newspaper to which subscribed, and amount of each subscription paid.
Oath Books,
1823-1982.
(40 volumes)
{series #7.57} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of oath.
Record books of oaths sworn by the Governor, Senators and members of their staff. Information provided is date oath was sworn, name and signature of person swearing oath, text of the oath, office for which oath was taken, and signature of person before whom oath was sworn.
Official Documents
from the Senate Library,
1886-1910, 1913.
(30 cartons)
{series #7.58} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of session.
Bound copies of the published Official Documents Comprising the Department and Other Reports made to the Governor, Senate and House of Representatives that were originally kept in the Senate Library. Information provided is dates of session and of the report and complete text of each report submitted.
Payment Books
of Patients Being Treated as Indigent and Confined in State Hospitals,
1897-1914.
(1 volume)
{series #7.59} [Holdings]
Grouped by hospital and arranged thereunder by date of entry.
Record book of patients who were being treated as indigent and confined in State Hospitals for the Insane who may have been able to pay. Information generally provided is name of hospital, name of patient, county of residence, date confined, amount due, name of attorney, name of guardian or committee, and whether amount shown was to be collected. In the front is a list of the names of patients with such notations as amounts of payments per quarter, "omitted from report," "poor district relieved of maintenance," or "reported to be wealthy."
Petition Books,
1832-1943.
(53 volumes)
{series #7.60} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by name of petitioner or subject of petition.
Record books of petitions placed before the Senate. Information provided is date of petition, name of petitioner, a very brief description of the subject of the petition, and the name of Senator by whom the petition was presented or the committee to which referred.
Postage Account
Books,
1876-1921.
(13 volumes)
{series #7.61} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Record of payments made to the postmaster by the Clerk of the Senate. Information provided is date of receipt, name of the Clerk of the Senate, amount received from the Clerk of the Senate for postage stamps, and the signature of the postmaster or his agent.
Presentation
Copies of Senate Proclamations,
1997.
(1 box)
{series #7.105) [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Presentation copy of the March 10, 1997 Senate proclamation proclaiming March 6-11, 1997 as Charter Days and March 9, 1997 as Charter Day.
Private Bill
Calendar of William J. Bayard,
1871.
(1 volume)
{series #7.62)[Holdings]
Arranged numerically by Senate bill number.
Calendar book of private bills placed before the Senate kept by William J. Bayard. Information provided is sequentially assigned Senate bill number and occasionally the corresponding House bill number. Also occasionally given is the surname of an individual.
Receipt Books,
1881-1953.
(33 volumes)
{series #7.63} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Records of receipts for the State Printer from the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Senate. Information provided is date of receipt, amount paid, and nature of the expenditure.
Record of
Action on Bills in the Senate,
1815-1816, 1844-1959.
(82 volumes)
{series #7.64} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by subject of bill.
Record books of date of action taken on bills before the Senate. Information provided is bill number, title of bill, dates read before the Senate, date sent to the Governor, and date received by the Governor.
Record of
Action on House Bills,
1879-1968.
(50 volumes)
{series #7.65} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Record books of action taken on House bills before the Senate. Information provided is House bill number, Senate bill number, date of the bill, surname of sponsor, a brief description of the subject of the bill, committee to which referred, date reported out of committee, and action taken on the bill.
Record of
Bills,
1875-1891.
(9 volumes)
{series #7.66} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date bill was introduced.
Record of bills introduced into the Senate. Information provided is House or Senate bill number, date bill was introduced, names of sponsors, and brief description of the subject of the bill.
Record of
Bills Taken to the Governor,
1867.
(1 volume)
{series #7.67} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Record book of bills passed in the Senate and sent to the Governor from March 13 through April 11, 1867. Information provided is the House or Senate Bill Number, title of bill, and date taken to the Governor.
Record of
House Resolutions and House Bills in the Senate,
1969-1972.
(2 cartons)
{series #7.69} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically by year and arranged thereunder numerically by bill or resolution number.
Non-inclusive copies of House resolutions and House bills placed before the Senate, to each of which records documenting each bill's or resolution's legislative history are attached. Information provided is bill or resolution number, printer number, date introduced in the House, names of sponsors, text of the bill or resolution, and the dates of the various readings, referrals to committees, and dates reported from committees. Records from previous years are available in Senate File, 1823-1972, {series #7.78}.
Record of
Post Office Addresses of Prominent Democrats in Pennsylvania,
undated.
(1 volume)
{series #7.70} [Holdings]
Grouped by township or municipality.
Lists of the names of prominent Democrats living in Schuylkill Haven, Tamaqua, West Penn, Kepnersville P.O. in West Penn, Silver Creek P.O. in Blythe Township, Foster, North Cass, Ashland, Mount Carbon, Lower Mahantongo, Cressona, Upper Magantongo, Hegins, Hubley, Auburn, Frailey, Saint Clair, Norwegian, Tuscarora, Orwigsburg, Middleport, Minersville, Sacramento, Pinegrove Township, Tremont, Pottsville, Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Mahanoy Plane, Manheim, South Manheim, Girardville, Gordon, Branch, Brunswig East, Ringtown in Union Township, Port Clinton, Port Carbon, Wayne Township, Reilly Township, Butler, and Rush.
Record of
Printer Numbers on House and Senate Bills,
1942-1949.
(7 volumes)
{series #7.71} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically by Senate session.
Record of printer numbers assigned to House and Senate bills and resolutions. Information provided is date of session, sequential number of House or Senate bill, and the printer number.
Record of
Senate Bills and Actions on Bills in the Senate,
1971-1972.
(12 cartons)
{series #7.72} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by session and thereunder numerically by bill number..
Original bills introduced into the Senate. Information provided is bill number, date introduced, signatures of the sponsors, committee to which referred, dates referred to and reported out of committee where applicable and the complete text of the bill. Records from previous years are available in Senate File, 1823-1972, {series #7.78}.
Record of
Senate Resolutions and Actions on Resolutions in the Senate,
1971-1972.
(1 carton)
{series #7.73} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by session and thereunder numerically by resolution number..
Original resolutions introduced into the Senate. Information provided is bill number, date introduced, signatures of the sponsors, committee to which referred, dates referred to and reported out of committee where applicable, and the complete text of the resolution. Records from previous years are available in Senate File, 1823-1972, {series #7.78}.
Recordings of Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee Hearings and Meetings,{series #7.74} [Holdings]
Grouped by type of material and arranged thereunder more or less chronologically by date of document.
Correspondence, copies of regulations, subpoenaed documents and final report of the Committee of Military Affairs and Aeronautics investigation and review of accusations of criminal misconduct on the part of Adjutant General Harry J. Mier, Jr. and of the alleged mishandling of those accusations by the administration of Governor Milton Shapp. Information provided varies with type of document but generally provides details of the chronology of events concerning the accusations sent to Governor Shapp by Captain Kay S. Henery in a letter dated October 23, 1974 and Colonel Edward J. Bollen in a letter dated September 24, 1976. The resulting investigation considered the validity of the allegations made in the two letters, the way in which various officers in the Executive Branch handled the Henery and Bollen correspondence, the manner in which the criminal investigations were handled by the Department of Military Affairs, specific conduct of various government employees with regard to the allegations, an analysis of existing federal and state laws available for deterring such abuses, and recommendations for future legislation to remedy problems revealed in the investigation.
Records of the Senate Local Government Committee Chair,{series #7.75} [Holdings]
Grouped numerically by Senate Bill number or House Bill number. Correspondence is loosely grouped chronologically by date of meeting.
Records of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee consist primarily of House and Senate bills and draft modifications to bills considered by the committee. Prominent among these are materials relating to condominium reform legislation. Information generally provided is House or Senate bill number, date bill was introduced, names of sponsors, printer's number, and transcript of the bill. Interspersed among these are minutes of the various committee meetings. Also present is correspondence by various interested parties and Senators serving on the committee together with photocopies of newspaper clippings relating to the subject of bills before the committee. Related materials present are copies of the Legislative Digest of the Senate Republican Caucus, records relating to "non-preferred appropriations" under the provisions of Section 30 in Article III of the Constitution of 1974, bound copies of the Department of Community Affairs Budget Presentations to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, a copy of "Background: Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Crisis" issued by the Department of Labor and Industry (1980), "Report to The District Attorney of Philadelphia - Youth Unemployment Tax Credits: Economic Impact and Guidelines for Legislation" by Public Financial Management, Inc.(1981), a report entitled "Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Problems with the Proposed Sentencing Guidelines" (1981), a report entitled "Improving the Delivery of Services to Philadelphia Children and Youth" issued by the Citizen's Committee on Services to Children and Youth in Philadelphia (1979) among others.Resolution
Books,
1877-1961.
(42 volumes)
{series #7.76} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by subject or title of resolution.
Record books of resolutions introduced into the Senate. Information provided is resolution number, date resolution was introduced, subject of the resolution, and names of sponsors.
Secretary's
File of A. Boyd Hamilton,
1922-1923, 1929-1937.
(22 boxes)
{series #7.77} [Holdings]
Files of Senate Secretary and Disbursing Officer A. Boyd Hamilton concerned with the ways and means of financing the Commonwealth. Includes the minutes, reports, correspondence, testimony and exhibits of the Joint Legislative Committee on Finances (Sterling Committee), 1929-1933; Judiciary General Committees of the House and Senate investigation of the Public Service Commission and Public Utilities, 1931; Joint Committee of Senate and House investigation of the Department of Banking with regard to closed banks, 1931-1933; and the general correspondence of Senator George Woodward, 1922-1923, 1937. Included are exhibits and testimony relating to the budgets for the Departments of Highways, Judiciary, Justice, Military Affairs, Mines, Public Instruction, Welfare and State Athletic Commission among others. Also present are such published materials as "Unemployment Relief in Pennsylvania, September 1, 1932-October 31, 1933, Report of the Ex-Director of the State Emergency Relief Board of Pennsylvania," (State Emergency Relief Board, Harrisburg: December 1933), "Proceedings Prohibition Amendment Repeal Convention, Senate Chamber," (December 5, 1933), "The Civil Works Administration Program in Pennsylvania, November 15, 1933-March 13, 1934, Report of the Administration of the Federal Civil Works Administration of Pennsylvania," (Harrisburg: April 1934), "Pennsylvania State Emergency Relief Board, Department of Research and Statistics Social Surveys section, Unemployment in Adams-York Counties, Preliminary Results," (Harrisburg: April 15, 1934), "Proceedings of Hearing Before Committee on Constitutional Changes, Senate Bill No. 28 and Senate Bill No. 150," "Preliminary Report of Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Public Relief in Pennsylvania Presented to Senate by Chairman Miles Horst" (May 5, 1935), and "Proceedings of Hearing Before the Senate Committee on Insurance on House Bill No. 55" (July 1, 1936).
Senate File,
1823-1972.
(313 cartons, 1 box)
{series #7.78} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically by Senate session..
Petitions and bills placed before the Senate. Information provided is Senate
bill number and title or title of petition, date of bill or petition, names
of sponsors or petitioners, date bill or petition was introduced, and the full
text of the bill or petition. Other records include communications from the
Governor regarding legislation and the budget; official signed copies of budgets
and gubernatorial messages to joint sessions of the General Assembly; reasons
for pardons and commutations granted; congratulatory and condolence resolutions;
election returns for state offices; reports submitted by committees, subcommittees,
and commissions to the Senate; appointments made by the President Pro Tempore
of the Senate; acts passed by the General Assembly; and executive nominations.
Some records from the 155th and 156th sessions (1971-1972) are available in
Executive Nominations, 1938-2006 {series #7.43},
House Communications, 1971-1972, {series #7.44};
House Resolutions in the Senate, 1969-1972, {series
#7.46}; Record of House Resolutions and House Bills in
the Senate, 1969-1972, {series 7.69}; Record
of Senate Bills and Actions on Senate Bills in the Senate, 1971-1972,
{series #7.72}; and Record of Senate Resolutions and
Actions on Resolutions in the Senate, 1971-1972, {series #7.73}.
Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee Records (Senator
W. Louis Coppersmith)
[ca. 1974-1980].
(1 carton, 1 box)
{series #7.131} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
First elected to the State Senate in 1966 from the 35th District covering parts
of Cambria and Westmoreland Counties, Senator W. Louis Coppersmith served as
the chairman of the Senate Health and Public Welfare Committee. Materials include
committee reports, bills and resolutions, transcripts of committee hearings,
as well as committee correspondence.
Senate Journals
from the Senate Library,
1829-1942.
(13 cartons)
{series #7.79} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Published and bound copies of the Journal of the Senate that were formerly kept in the Senate library. The journals provide a detailed daily record of the business conducted in the Senate including motions made, bills and resolutions introduced, roll calls of votes taken, speeches delivered, and record of bills passed or sent to committees.
Speaker's
Books,
1853, 1863, 1866.
(3 volumes)
{series #7.80} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
The earliest volume is a record books kept by the Speaker of Senators' recount votes for bills called up before the Senate in 1853. Pasted inside the front cover are the titles of miscellaneous resolutions adopted. The 1863 and 1866 volumes each contain a list of the names of Senators together with the names of their counties, a list of the Senatorial Districts, a record of calls by each Senator on private bills, a list of the Senate committees, and a chronological record of the reading of Senate bills providing the date of the reading, bill number, and title of bill.
Statements
and Maps Submitted to the Senate from the Secretary of Highways,
1931-1932.
(4 items)
{series #7.81} [Holdings]
Statements are arranged chronologically by date of item and maps are arranged alphabetically by name of county..
Statements and maps relating to the status of Pennsylvania's rural road network that were submitted by the Secretary of Highways to the Senate in compliance with Senate resolutions dated December 16. 1931 and June 28, 1932. The statements reveal the cash balance in the Motor Vehicle Licensure Fund and the number of miles of roads and highways in the Commonwealth as of January 20, 1931 as well as a detailed breakdown of the number of miles by type of the roads and highways reconstructed or improved in the period from January 20, 1931 through May 31, 1931. These records also provide specific answers to other similar types of questions asked by the Senate. The county color-coded road maps are bound into two volumes entitled Rural Road System Showing Improvements and Construction Under Way as of December 1, 1931 and Status of Rural Road System as of May 31, 1932. The color coding distinguishes roads already improved, roads improved by contract, roads constructed but not yet improved, roads under construction or reconstruction, and roads projected for construction or reconstruction.
Warrant Books
for Senate Members' Pay, Mileage and Stationary,
1877-1899, 1909.
(11 volumes)
{series #7.82} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Warrant record books for pay, mileage, and stationary paid for the members of the Senate. Information provided is warrant number, date of session, name of Senator, amount paid, and the signature of the Senator acknowledging receipt of payment.
Work Time
Book for Cleaning Women,
1919-1923.
(1 volume)
{series #7.83} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry and thereunder alphabetically by surname of employee..
Monthly time book of work performed by cleaning women employed by the Senate. Information provided is name of employee, dates on which she worked, total number of days worked for the month, rate of pay per day, and amount paid for the month.
{series #7.29} [Holdings]
Arranged more or less chronologically by date of hearing.
Individual transcripts are generally indexed internally by names of witnesses.
Typed transcripts of committee hearings and testimony. Information provided is name of committee, date of hearing, names of committee members present, index of witnesses, and verbatim transcript of the testimony given. Among the materials present are the April 27, 1855 "Report on Alleged Improper Influence in Election of a US Senator," the 1872 printed correspondence between the Joint Legislative Committee and Governor John W. Geary concerning the settlement of Pennsylvania war claims, the February 11, 1915 "Report and Recommendation of Commission to Investigate Dependents of the Commonwealth," the March 13, 1933 report of the Committee on State Finance investigating the efficiency of state government pursuant to Concurrent Resolutions 81-1929 and 45-1931, the May 5, 1936 preliminary report of the Joint Legislative Committee investigating poor relief pursuant to the House Resolution 110-1935, the July 10, 1940 report of the Joint Committee on aerial defense of Pennsylvania pursuant to Joint Resolution 20, and the March 24, 1941 report of the Special Commission of the General Assembly to Investigate the Regulation of Milk. Hearing transcripts for 1955 cover the investigation of Laurelton State Village and for 1956 cover the investigation of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and tolls charged on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The hearing transcripts for 1959 cover investigations into the seating of Louis Silverman as a Representative for the 6th District of Philadelphia County, House Bill 324 (the Air Pollution Control Bill), House Bill 1178 (concerning fisheries), House Bill 322 (on employment discrimination), House Bills 1418 and 1419 (on the Industrial Board), Senate Bill 1703 (on food and sanitation laws), House Bill 1702 (on highways), House Bill 1417 (on escheat), House Resolution 19 (on the investigation of the Knox Mine disaster), and House Resolution 95 (investigating the decline of fishing license sales), and House Bill 1079 (investigating Veteran's Preference).
For the year 1960 there is a report on the study conducted regarding amendments to Article II, Section 4 of the Pennsylvania Constitution and hearing transcripts concerning Spring Creek pollution and the House Committee on Fisheries investigation into fishing and lake management problems in northeastern Pennsylvania. For 1961, there are hearing transcripts for the House Committee on Welfare investigation of the registration of charitable organizations and for 1963 there are hearing transcripts concerning amendments to the anti-strike legislation passed in 1947, hearing transcripts concerning fiscal home rule for Philadelphia schools, and a report of the Senate Committee on Banking concerning consumer credit practices. Much of the material for 1965 concerns reapportionment of election districts and House Appropriations Committee hearings concerning the budgets for the Department of Internal Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the University of Pittsburgh. Also present for 1965 are hearing transcripts concerning the milk industry, transportation problems in Erie, an investigation of the Insurance Department, the prohibition of detergents containing more than 500 mg per liter of phosphate, and the cost of higher education including materials on California, Slippery Rock and Cheyney State Colleges and Bucks County Community College.
Among the materials for the period 1966-1972, most are primarily of a budgetary nature but also include investigations of unlicensed taxicabs in Pittsburgh, the clean streams program, the use of marijuana by college students, proposed changes to the crime code, the Intermediate Unit plan, , wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping, cruelty to animals, Sunday Blue Laws, court consolidation, the Privacy Act of 1967, the use of pesticides, the disposal of garbage in abandoned coal mines in Schuylkill County, the divorce code, the reassessment program in Lackawanna County, the closing of facilities for mentally disturbed children, the Stillmeadow Home for Exceptional Children, and mysterious deaths that occurred at the Ridge View Center, Hill Crest, and Reilly Home. The material for 1973-1985 concern labor relations, drunken driving, the energy crisis, condominiums, abolishing the Human Relations Act and Commission, rent control, no-fault divorce, landlord-tenant legislation, state contract practices, consumer protection, juvenile justice, medical malpractice insurance, licensure of boarding homes, the lead paint bill, the graduated income tax, the licensing of court reporters, nuclear power plants and the cost of electricity, investigation into the activities of Adjutant General Mier, Liquor Control Board management practices, cigarette smuggling, organized crime and public corruption, prison overcrowding, revision of corporation law, low level radioactive waste, and the catastrophic loss trust fund among others. See the RG-7 card file drawer in the search room for a complete record of the contents of each carton.
Committee
Hearing Transcripts, Testimony Reports Received from the State Library,
1820-1980.
(369 volumes)
{series #7.30} [Holdings]
Arranged more or less chronologically by date of hearing.
Individual transcripts are generally indexed internally by names of witnesses.
Published transcripts of committee hearings and testimony originally kept by the State Library that duplicates much of the material in Committee Hearing Transcripts, Testimony and Reports, 1855, 1872, 1915, 1933, 1940-1941, 1955-1956, 1959-1961, 1963, 1965-1985, {series #7.29}. Information provided is name of committee, date of hearing, names of committee members present, index of witnesses, and verbatim transcript of the testimony given.
Arranged chronologically by date.
Reports submitted to the General Assembly by Joint Legislative Committees. Included is Report of Findings of the Joint Legislative Committee on Turnpike Safety: under authority of Senate Concurrent Resolution Serial No. 110 from March 1953 and Report of the Joint Legislative Committee on Unemployment from April 25, 1961.
The Eisenhower Centennial Commission was established in 1988 by the General Assembly to enhance participation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the observance of the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Dwight D. Eisenhower by encouraging, planning, developing, and coordinating observances and activities.
The periodic establishment of legislative reapportionment commissions to redistribute representation in the General Assembly each year following the Federal Decennial Census is mandated by a 1968 Amendment to the State Constitution (Section 17, article 11, approved April 23, 1968). Prior to this Amendment, the General Assembly was responsible for apportioning the state into Senatorial and Representative districts.
In accordance with the Constitution, each Commission is to consist of the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, or deputies appointed by each of them, and a fifth member, selected by the designated four members. The fifth member is the Chair of the Commission and may not hold any public office to which compensation is attached. If the four members fail to select the fifth member within forty-five days after their certification to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Supreme Court appoints the Chair.
The reapportionment process involves several stages. Within ninety days of either the certification of the Commission or the availability of Federal Decennial Census population data, whichever is later in time, a preliminary reapportionment plan must be prepared. Any citizen may file exceptions to the preliminary plan within thirty days. The Commission has thirty days after the exceptions are filed to prepare a revised reapportionment plan. If no exceptions are filed, or if filed and acted upon, the Commission’s final reapportionment plan becomes law. Further appeals concerning the final reapportionment plan must be filed with the Supreme Court within thirty days of the date on which the Commission filed the final reapportionment plan. The Court may issue an order directing the Legislative Reapportionment Commission to revise the redistricting plan in accordance with constitutional requirements. If a preliminary, revised, or final reapportionment plan is not filed within the aforementioned time limitation, the Supreme Court is responsible for the preparation and approval of a redistricting plan for the Commonwealth.
Records of 1971 Legislative Reapportionment Commission,
1971-1972.
(2 cartons and maps)
{series #7.116} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Mainly census data, transcripts of public hearings, minutes, newspaper clippings,
original preliminary and final reapportionment plans for the Pennsylvania Districts,
maps, and computer printouts of voting and population statistics from the Legislative
Data Processing Center.
Records of 1981 Legislative Reapportionment Commission,
1981-1982.
(1 box, 3 cartons and maps.)
{series #7.118} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Primarily court appeals and other legal actions, voting and census statistics,
preliminary and final plans for the reapportionment of Pennsylvania after the
1980 census, minutes, newspaper clippings, petitions, and computer generated
statistics.
Records of 1991 Legislative Reapportionment Commission,
1991-1992.
(2 cartons and maps)
{series #7.125} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Mainly court appeals, Census data, public hearing transcripts, preliminary
reapportionment plans, computer printouts of voting and population statistics
from the Legislative Data Processing Center, maps, minutes, newspaper clippings,
and original preliminary and final plans for the reapportionment of Pennsylvania
after the 1990 census.
Census Data,
2001.
(2 folders, 6 CDs and 2 diskettes)
{series #7.126} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Data from the 2000 Census.
Certificate of Commission,
2001.
(1 folder)
{series #7.127} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Official certification of the members and chairman of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
Documents Filed by the Commission to the Supreme Court
of Pennsylvania,
2001-2002,
(5 folders)
{series #7.128} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Topics of the folders include: Commission's Concise Memorandum; Consolidated Answer of Respondent Pennsylvania 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Commission to Petitions; Petition for Consolidation and Setting of Consolidated Pleating, Briefing and Argument Schedule; Answer to Petition for Leave to File a Petition for Review Nunc Pro Tunc (Radnor Township); Brief (and Appendix) for 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
Legal Notices and Press Releases,
2001.
(1 folder)
{series #7.129} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Official legal notices and press and news releases primarily focusing on the goals and proceedings of the meetings of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, as well as organizational information such as the date, time, and location of the meetings.
Master Index: Pennsylvania Supreme Court,
2001-2002.
(1 folder)
{series #7.130} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Index of all materials concerning the 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Commission and any documents involving the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's role in the reapportionment process. Includes materials kept at the State Archives and elsewhere.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP) Proposal Files,
2001.
(4 folders)
{series #7.132} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
Proposals made by the NAACP to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission.Contains analyses of minority populations in various Pennsylvania voting districts. Professed goal of proposals is to "establish a benchmark the number of electorally effective majority minority districts that should be contained in any plan that is adopted" and to insure that any redistricting plans comply with the Voting Rights Act.
Oral Arugment: Pennsylvania Supreme Court,
2001-2002.
(1 folder)
{series #7.133} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Protocol for oral argument in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and listings of specific arguments.
Orders and Opinions: Pennsylvania Supreme Court,
2001-2002.
(1 folder)
{series #7.135} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Orders and concurring opinions from specific court dates.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Opinion: 1991 Legislative
Reapportionment Plan,
1991-1992.
(1 folder)
{series #7.136} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Investigates and outlines the legality of the Final Plan of the 1991 Legislative Reapportionment Commission in light of the Voting Rights Act and other stipulations.Concludes that the plan did in fact comply with these standards.
Petitions Filed with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,
2001-2002.
(13 folders)
{series #7.137} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically after the index.
Petitions filed with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania concerning the reapportionment of legislative districts. Some petitions were brought to the court by legislators and some by residents of the counties in question. Topics of the folders include: Aspinwall Borough; Carlos A. Zayaas and Valentin Roderiguez, Jr. Appeal; Dennis J. Baylor; Gerald Francis, et al.; Jeffrey B. Albert, et al.; Kenneth E. Davis, et al.; Langhorne Virginia Brickwedde; Radnor Township; Representative Kelly Lewis; Ross Township; Senator Lisa M. Boscola; William J. O'Brien II.
Preliminary and Final Plans and Related Documents,
2001.
(3 folders, 2 CDs, 3 diskettes, and 1 oversize folder)
{series #7.138} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Contains proposed legislative redistricting plan, proposed technical changes, and the final version of the reapportionment plan. Includes official correspondence, e-mails, maps, and drafts of the plans.
Reports on Places Sub-Divided into Multiple Districts,
2001.
(1 folder)
{series #7.139} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Statistics gathered by the Legislative Data Processing Center listing places and counties split by house districts. Of 122 total places, there were 179 splits.
Resolutions,
(1 folder)
2001.
{series #7.140} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
Resolutions made by the 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Commission, concerning both general procedure and specific actions.
Senate Guidelines for Handling Mail,
undated.
(1 folder)
{series #7.141} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Protocol for handling mail in light of recent anthrax concerns. Includes a sample pair of gloves that should be worn by anyone handling Senate mail.
Transcripts,
1993, 2001.
(15 folders)
{series #7.142} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
Transcripts of the meeting proceedings of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
Videos of Public Meetings and Hearings,
2001.
(5 video cassettes)
{series #7.143} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Videos of meetings of the 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Commission.
The Capitol Preservation Committee is an independent Commonwealth Committee established by the General Assembly in 1982 for the purpose of coordinating and overseeing programs to conserve, restore, preserve, and maintain the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex. The Committee consists of fourteen members who are appointed by officials of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches of the Commonwealth government, or who hold membership by virtue of holding public office. In creating the Committee, the Legislature also provided for a Capitol Restoration Trust Fund that is independent of the Commonwealth General Fund and that may receive contributions from the private sector.
Arranged in chronological order by report date.
Annual reports entitled Preserving a Palace of Art, detailing through narrative and pictures the history of the Capitol, projects completed, projects in progress; publications, gifts, and collectibles available for purchase; and awards received, such as the National Preservation Honor Award, the Save Outdoor Sculpture Achievement Award, the Mohawk Paper Award, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award. Projects referenced in the reports include the Historic Structure Report, the Civil War Flag project, the statue, Commonwealth, the Governor's reception room and the Lieutenant Governor's suite; the Governors' portraits, the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, ante rooms, caucus rooms, hearing rooms, and other areas; the light courts and public corridors; various ceilings, vestibules, walls, masonry, and stairways within the capitol building; the bronze work throughout the capitol complex; the Violet Oakley, Donald MacGregor, William Brantley Van Ingen, Vincent Maragliotti, and Edwin A. Abbey murals; the George Grey Barnard statuary; the Mexican War Monument; the Supreme and Superior Court room; the historic furniture collection; chandeliers; the ladies lounge; the House chamber rostrum; the stained glass windows; the Henry Chapman Mercer Moravian tile floor; clock maintenance; carpet reproduction; Capitol dome moisture repairs and study; the Rotunda; the Annex building; and life safety upgrades. The Committee maintains a website providing digital access to their annual reports dating from 2001-present.
Capitol Complex Restoration and Conservation Project Reports,Microfilmed documentary history file is arranged numerically according the internal
index. Textual and audio/visual records are grouped by restoration/conservation
site, thereunder arranged chronologically by report or filming date.
Microfilm indexed alphabetically in an internal quick reference subject index.
Microfilmed documentary history file consists of correspondence, reports and photographs relating to the construction, furnishing, and renovation of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Subjects covered include the Abbey murals, alterations made by the Department of General Services, architectural and art contracts, the 1907 Attorney General's Report, the 1907 Audit Company of New York Report, George Grey Barnard Papers, Handbook of the New Capitol of Pennsylvania by Charles H. Coffen (1906), Capitol Design Competition Reports (1897, 1901), Capitol Investigation Commission Expert Witness Reports with Index, construction contracts, furnishing and fine arts reports, Expert Report Concerning Quality of Granite, graft scandal materials; lighting design drawings, Violet Oakley Papers, a Special Furnishings Schedule, Construction Specifications (1902), State Art Commission Minutes, and various trade catalogs and advertisements. Also present are the Huston Architectural Papers including correspondence with Governors Stone and Pennypacker, correspondence with artists commissioned by the state, and correspondence dealing with contracts and contractors.
Three rolls of microfilm are devoted to descriptive condition reports of Civil War and Spanish American War battle flags under the purview of the Committee. Information provided in these reports includes flag registration number, historical name of the flag, branch of service, name of manufacturer, signature, inscription, staff label, battle honors and designation, dimensions of all components of the flag, design description, alterations and repairs made, a detailed description of the condition of the flag and a treatment log.
Textual records consist of reports detailing restoration and conservation work performed on buildings and statues throughout the capitol complex. Most reports are accompanied by drawings, photographs, slides, videocassettes and/or digital copies of reports and photographs on compact discs, while some reports are photocopies of originals held by the Committee. Projects include the statue, Commonwealth; the Governor's reception room; the Lieutenant Governor's suite; the Governors' portraits, the Senate and House of Representatives chambers, ante rooms, caucus rooms, hearing rooms, and other areas; the light courts and public corridors, various ceilings, vestibules, walls, masonry, and stairways within the capitol building; the Carl Milles doors in the Finance Building; the bronze work throughout the Capitol Complex; the Violet Oakley murals; the George Grey Barnard statuary; the Mexican War Monument; the Leroy K. Irvis office building southeast balustrade; the Rotunda glass and exterior windows; and the Camp Curtin Monument.
For more records relating to the conservation of the Carl Milles doors in the Finance Building, including the original conservation report, photographs, and an interview with Marshall Fredericks (former assistant to Carl Milles), see Conservation Records of the Finance Building Doors, 1989-1991, {series #28.128} within the Records of the Treasury Department (RG-28).
To view slides, videocassettes and/or compact discs, please make an appointment in advance by contacting the Pennsylvania State Archives.
Capitol Park Extension Files Compiled by Gilbert Seltzer,The Center for Rural Pennsylvania is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency that serves as a resource for rural policy within the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Center works with the legislature, educators, state and federal executive branch agencies, and national, statewide, regional and local organizations to maximize resources and strategies that can better serve Pennsylvania's rural residents. The Center promotes and sustains the vitality of Pennsylvania's rural and small communities by sponsoring research projects to identify policy options for legislative and executive branch consideration and action; collecting data on trends and conditions to understand the diversity of rural Pennsylvania; publishing information and research results to inform and educate audiences about the diverse people and communities of rural Pennsylvania; and participating in local, state and national forums on rural issues to present and learn from best practices.
The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, commonly known as the Joint Conservation Committee (JCC), is a bi-partisan committee which conducts studies, holds hearings, and makes recommendations to the General Assembly on a variety of environmental issues. It also makes recommendations in regard to the custodianship and care of Pennsylvania's land, water, and air to determine where there are problems, what solutions have been found, and what can be done to bring about positive change.
The Joint State Government Commission is the primary non-partisan research organization that serves the General Assembly. It provides the legislature with a readily available mechanism for conducting interdisciplinary studies. The Commission’s multidisciplinary staff provides services to legislative task forces and advisory committees, standing committees, and individual legislators. There are two types of organizational structures that the Commission uses when conducting studies: task force and staff studies. Task forces are typically utilized for large, complex areas of study. They consist of members of both the House and Senate, representing both caucuses. An advisory committee of experts is usually appointed to assist the task force and Commission. The goal of these studies is to reach consensus on recommendations to propose to the legislature. Staff studies are of shorter duration and provide for the Commission to conduct independent research.
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative service agency consisting of twelve members of the General Assembly. It conducts studies and makes recommendations aimed at eliminating unnecessary expenditures; promoting economy in the government of the Commonwealth; and assuring that state funds are being expended in accordance with legislative intent and law. To carry out these mandates, the Committee is authorized to conduct a wide range of research activities pertaining to the operation and performance of state-funded programs and agencies.
These records are restricted for 20 years from the date of the report. Please
contact the Pennsylvania State Archives for more information.
Minutes,
1985-1998.
(2 cartons, 1 box)
{series #7.102} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by meeting date.
Minutes of committee meetings. Information provided includes agenda, attendance
record, transcript of each meeting, roll call vote, and text of oral presentations
relating to audit reports being released. Statements from agencies being audited
as well as news clippings about audits are sometimes included.
Records of the Committee Chairman,
1981-1984.
(2 cartons)
{series #7.92} [Holdings]
Loosely grouped chronologically by year.
Records of Committee Chairman Senator Clarence D. Bell. Included are agendas,
minutes, reports, and correspondence relating to professional licensing, committee
status reports, public assistance programs, medical assistance programs, the
vocational rehabilitation program, bridge inspections, Sunset Act performance
audits, and the Statistical Digest. Also included are the policies, rules,
and regulations of the Committee; correspondence from Executive Director Richard
D. Dario informing Senator Bell of committee activities and administrative affairs;
a copy of the Sunset Act (P.L.508, No.142); lists of state agencies to be audited
under the Sunset Act; and confidential drafts of Sunset Act audit reports.
Reports,
1961-1998.
(8 cartons, 1 box)
{series #7.90} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by report date.
Reports, annual reports, Statistical Digest, and performance audit reports
issued by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. Report topics include
funds of the Commonwealth; Medicaid and other medical assistance programs; emergency
medical services (EMS); teen pregnancy; various transportation issues; the emissions
inspection program; public assistance programs; law enforcement and correctional
programs; nuclear power plants and radioactive waste disposal; the vocational
rehabilitation program; consumer protection and citizen redress activities;
government funded job training programs; computer viruses; the year 2000 computer
problem (Y2K); state computer purchasing practices; publishing of state documents;
logo signing program; the merger of commissions; adoption processes; veterans'
programs; tourism promotion; minority business development; the voter registration
act; and the Sunset Act audit process. Performance audit reports, released under
provisions of the Sunset Act (P.L.508, No.142), are included for the Department
of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Aging, the state lottery, the
Department of Corrections; and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department; as well
as various state boards, commissions, committees, programs, authorities, and
advisory councils. See Agency Audit Background Materials,
1984-1995, {series #7.92} for the materials used to create the performance
audit reports.
The Committee maintains a website
providing digital access to some of their released reports, including performance
audit reports, dating from 1987-present.
Study of Civil Service Reform,
1997-1998.
(3 cartons, 2 boxes)
{series #7.87} [Holdings] [RESTRICTED]
Grouped by record type.
Study of Civil Service Reform pursuant to Senate Resolution 1997-14. Records
present include the final report, report drafts, surveys, legislation, correspondence,
workpapers, findings, and research materials (trunk files).
These records are restricted for 20 years from the date of the report. Please
contact the Pennsylvania State Archives for more information.
Study of the Fiscal Impact on Counties of the PA Voters
Registration Act,
1996-1998.
(2 cartons, 1 box)
{series #7.89} [Holdings] [RESTRICTED]
Grouped by record type.
Internal index available in carton 3.
Study of the Fiscal Impact on Counties of the Pennsylvania Voters Registration
Act pursuant to House Resolution 1996-445. Records present include the final
report, report drafts, workpapers, findings, and research materials (trunk files).
These records are restricted for 20 years from the date of the report. Please
contact the Pennsylvania State Archives for more information.
The Local Government Commission is a bipartisan legislative service agency created in 1935 and is comprised of five Senators and five House Members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House. The Commission provides research assistance to the General Assembly and to individual legislators, as well as proposes legislation that will enable local governments to be more effective and efficient in providing public services. After the adoption of Article IX (Local Government) of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the General Assembly delegated to the Commission the authority to recommend to the Legislature proposals for implementation of Article IX. Other established functions and responsibilities of the Commission include: performing in-depth research projects for all levels of local government; being a major resource for legislators who need assistance in the field of local government; holding monthly meetings to provide a forum for state-wide local government associations; reviewing resolutions adopted by local government associations for consideration and possible introduction as legislation; providing technical assistance to standing committees on local government in both the House and Senate; updating and distributing county and municipal codes; developing an analysis of acts signed into law by the Governor for distribution to members of the legislature and to other interested parties; and reviewing certain cooperation agreements pursuant to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Law of 1972. For more information, you may the Commission's website, http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/index.shtml.
The Pennsylvania Crime Commission, formerly within the Department of Justice (1968-1978), was restructured by the General Assembly into an independent agency with law enforcement powers in 1978. The major responsibilities of the Commission were to investigate organized criminal activity and public corruption within the Commonwealth, issuing a detailed report of findings from each investigation, including recommendations for legislative or administrative action. It also submitted an annual report on the status of organized crime within the Commonwealth during public hearings of the judiciary committees of the General Assembly. The Commission gathered criminal intelligence information during its investigative process, creating a repository of data useful to other agencies in the criminal justice system and was a member of the Leviticus Project Association and the Middle Atlantic, Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN). The Commission was dissolved in 1994 and the Pennsylvania State Police stored the Commission's investigative records until their transfer to the State Archives.
Cartons 1-55 are grouped by investigation topic, thereunder grouped by case
file. Cartons 56-204 are grouped as hearing transcripts or by case file.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by case file.
Investigative reports, transcripts, and exhibits dealing with the Pennsylvania
lottery, gambling, narcotics, legitimate business infiltration, political corruption,
unions and labor, murder, arson, prostitution, organized crime, and fraud involving
individuals, businesses, and federal, state, local, and out-of-state agencies.
Records dating post-1988 consist of exhibits and supporting materials only.
This series is restricted for 50 years from the date of the respective investigative
report. Those wishing to review these records in the meantime will need permission
from the Pennsylvania State Police. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Archives
for more information on this process.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing was created by the General Assembly in 1978 for the primary purpose of creating a consistent and rational statewide sentencing policy that would increase sentencing severity for serious crimes and promote fairer and more uniform sentencing practices. The legislation required the Commission to adopt sentencing guidelines that would be "…considered by the sentencing court in determining the appropriate sentence for defendants who plead guilty or nolo contendere to, or who were found guilty of, felonies and misdemeanors" (42 Pa.C.S. §2154). The guidelines were intended to promote sentencing equity and fairness by providing every judge with a common reference point for sentencing similar offenders convicted of similar crimes. In 1986, the Commission was designated a legislative service agency. The House and Senate Judiciary Committees have been designated as the standing committees to review regulations issued by the Commission.
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