HR 44 — A Resolution appointing and empowering the Judiciary Committee to conduct an investigation.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

633 THEPRINTER'S GENERALNO. ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION Session of No.

441831 2023THE INTRODUCEDGENERAL BYASSEMBLY TWARDZIK,OF BARTON,PENNSYLVANIA STEHRHOUSE AND WATRO, MARCH 23, 2023 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 23, 2023 A RESOLUTION AppointingSession andof empoweringNo. the Judiciary Committee to conduct an investigation.

RESOLVED,44 By2023 theINTRODUCED HouseBY ofTWARDZIK, Representatives,BARTON, thatSTEHR theAND JudiciaryWATRO, CommitteeMARCH of23, the2023 HouseAS ofREPORTED RepresentativesFROM beCOMMITTEE authorizedON toJUDICIARY, investigateHOUSE theOF conductREPRESENTATIVES, ofAS AMENDED, JULY 7, 2023 A RESOLUTION Appointing and empowering the HonorableJudiciary GeorgeCommittee F.to conduct an investigation.

WHEREAS, HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

99 OF 2021-2022 ("HOUSE <-- RESOLUTION NO.

99") WAS REFERRED TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON MAY 7, 2021;

AND WHEREAS, HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

99 UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON JUNE 25, 2021;

AND WHEREAS, THE FULL HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

99 ON NOVEMBER 10, 2021;

AND WHEREAS, HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

99 AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND DETERMINE WHETHER GEORGE F.

HALCOVAGE, JR., IS LIABLE TO IMPEACHMENT FOR MISBEHAVIOR IN OFFICE;

AND WHEREAS, HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

99 AUTHORIZED THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH RESPECT TO THE INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINATION WITH ITS APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS;

AND WHEREAS, THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS FIRST MET ON JANUARY 11, 2021, AND VOTED TO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION OF GEORGE F.

HALCOVAGE, JR.;

AND WHEREAS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE CONDUCTED A HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2022, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TAKE TESTIMONY FROM INVOLVED PARTIES WHO HAVE FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST COMMISSIONER HALCOVAGE;

AND WHEREAS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE HELD ITS NEXT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2022, AND VOTED TO EXTEND THE INVESTIGATION;

AND WHEREAS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE ALSO VOTED TO MAKE A CRIMINAL REFERRAL TO THE PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL;

AND WHEREAS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE COLLECTED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS, CONDUCTED MANY INTERVIEWS AND RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM SCHUYLKILL COUNTY SEEKING COMMISSIONER HALCOVAGE'S REMOVAL FROM OFFICE BY IMPEACHMENT;

AND WHEREAS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS AUTHORIZED UNDER HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

99 FAILED TO COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION OR SUBMIT A REPORT OR RECOMMENDATIONS PRIOR TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADJOURNING SINE DIE ON NOVEMBER 30, 2022;

AND WHEREAS, ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE HAS THE EFFECT OF CLOSING THE SESSION AND TERMINATING ALL UNFINISHED BUSINESS BEFORE THE HOUSE, AND ALL LEGISLATION PENDING UPON ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE EXPIRES WITH THE SESSION;

AND WHEREAS, HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

99 AND THE POWERS IT BESTOWED UPON THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS EXPIRED AT THE END OF THE 206TH SESSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY;

AND WHEREAS, THE COMPOSITION OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS FOR THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM LAST SESSION;

AND 20230HR0044PN1831 - 2 - WHEREAS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONSHIP HAS SHIFTED FROM THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO THE MAJORITY HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT ALL PAPERS, DOCUMENTS, TESTIMONY, REPORTS AND OTHER MATERIALS GATHERED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS DURING THE 206TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE AND UTILIZED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE CREATED UNDER THIS RESOLUTION IN THE 207TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE CHAIRPERSON AND MINORITY CHAIRPERSON OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE BE GIVEN ACCESS TO ALL INVESTIGATION MATERIALS PRODUCED UNDER HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

99 AS WELL AS ALL MATERIALS PRODUCED UNDER THIS RESOLUTION;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives, that the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives be authorized to investigate the conduct of the Honorable George F.

(4) prepare and file pleadings and other legal 20230HR0044PN1831 - 3 - documents;

and <-- (5) employCONDUCT staffINTERVIEWS forAND theTAKE useSTATEMENTS ofAND theANY JudiciaryOTHER Committee<-- andINVESTIGATIVE theSTEP SubcommitteeAS onDETERMINED Courts;BY THE CHAIRPERSON;

AND (5) (6) employ COUNSEL, INCLUDING OUTSIDE COUNSEL, AND <-- staff for the use of the Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Courts;

and be it further RESOLVED, That a Sergeant-at-Arms or his deputy shall serve <-- the process of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives and Subcommittee on Courts and execute their orders;

and be it further RESOLVED, That the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives and Subcommittee on Courts are BE authorized to <-- 20230HR0044PN1831 - 4 - sit during the sessions of the House of Representatives;

and be it further 20230HR0044PN0633 - 2 - RESOLVED, That the expenses of the investigation shall be <-- paid by the Chief Clerk from appropriation accounts under the Chief Clerk's exclusive control and jurisdiction upon a written request approved by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.Representatives.;

20230HR0044PN0633AND -BE 3IT -<-- FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WITHIN NINE MONTHS OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION OR REQUEST AN EXTENSION, AND THAT AN EXTENSION NOT EXTEND BEYOND THE END OF THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.