HARRISBURG – Montgomery County Rep. Greg Scott plans to introduce a four-bill package to improve the safety and security of members of the PA General Assembly. The June assassination of Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband came on the heels of the arson of the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. The first bill would exempt the home address of a PA legislator from public access under the Right-to-Know Law, a protection that already exists for state judges. The second would permit legislators to file a certificate of nomination to declare their candidacy for office, rather than requiring them to gather signatures on a nomination petition, similar to the requirements currently followed by magisterial district judges. The third would establish a Capitol Police Board and transfer jurisdiction of the Capitol Police – currently overseen by the governor – to the board. This would enable the legislature to evaluate whether security arrangements are sufficient. The fourth would amend the PA Constitution to require each member of the General Assembly to name three people who could serve as their temporary replacement should they die while in office. The individual named would serve as the legislator until a special election is held to fill the vacancy. All four bills are currently being circulated for co-sponsors and will be formally introduced soon.
REP. GREG SCOTT