Pennsylvania Code
Title 101 - GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Part I - LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU
Subpart C - LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING MANUAL
Chapter 15 - STATUTES
Subchapter B - STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS
PARTICULAR PROVISIONS
Section 15.64 - Declaration of purpose
Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) Use. Language stating the purpose of a statute or a recital of facts upon which the statute is predicated should not be included in a statute. A well drafted statute requires no extraneous statement within itself of what it seeks to accomplish nor the reasons prompting its enactment. The practice of resorting to purpose clauses is but a revival of the tried and convicted preamble. However, if it is desirable to express the policy or purpose of a statute, the "declaration of purpose" is preferred to the preamble in a bill since it is a section of the statute and becomes part of the statute.
(b) Form. The declaration of purpose may be a variation of the following form:
"It is the purpose of this act to protect the health and safety of the people of Pennsylvania from the menace of drug addiction. The General Assembly intends that the criminal laws shall be enforced against drug users as well as other persons. This act shall not be construed as intending to substitute treatment for punishment where crimes are committed by drug users."
