In the near future I will be introducing a joint resolution for a constitutional amendment to effectively change Swearing-in Day for the General Assembly from the first Tuesday in January to the first day of December.
 
There have been questions and confusion in recent years regarding when members of the General Assembly can be sworn in, due to various circumstances.
 
Additionally, with the adoption of constitutional amendments in 2021 addressing the General Assembly’s authority and duties to act within 21 days of the declaration of a disaster emergency, the gap in time between the beginning of a new legislative session on December 1 of even-numbered years and Swearing-in Day the following January serves as an obstacle to effective and vigilant governance.
 
Finally, with legislative base salaries now set at roughly $110,000 per year, an idle General Assembly during the month of December in even-numbered years costs taxpayers at least $2.3 million dollars in member salaries alone.
 
Article II Section 4 of the Pennsylvania Constitution currently states: “The General Assembly shall be a continuing body during the term for which its Representatives are elected. It shall meet at 12 o'clock noon on the first Tuesday of January each year.”
 
My legislation will simply replace “first Tuesday of January” with “first day of December” in Article II Section 4.
 
Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.