Pennsylvania Code
Title 101 - GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Part I - LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU
Subpart C - LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING MANUAL
Chapter 13 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Subchapter B - DRAFTING FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES
DRAFTING LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS
Section 13.13 - Duty of draftsman

(a) General. It is not always possible to foresee and provide for every situation that should be covered by a bill. While this may be primarily the function of the proponents of a measure, the draftsman fails in his calling who does not detect and supply or suggest an omission or an error in the proposal as submitted to him. Frequently the application and details are left entirely to the draftsman. It is always his duty to guard against violations of the Constitution and unintended effect on existing law.

(b) Amendatory bills. Before preparing an amendatory bill, it is necessary to make a proper search of prior amendments to the provision to be amended. Where the provision has been amended, it is necessary to ascertain that the last amendment has taken into consideration all preceding amendments. This is particularly important in the case of sections amended more than once in the same legislative session.

(c) Amendments to bills. In preparing amendments to bills, the draftsman must be sure that he is working with the correct print of the bill and must check prior amendments to the statute to be amended, if any, as well as the title, effective date and the proofreading correction file.