General Appropriations (Budget) Bill
The general appropriations can be nothing but the expenditures for the executive, legislative and judicial departments of the Commonwealth, and for the public debt and for public schools. All other appropriations must be made in separate bills. Each bill should embrace only one subject. (This is in the Constitution. Art. 3, Sec. 11)
Fiscal Code (Trailer Bill)
The Budget Bill only contains all the guidelines for how much money will be given to each department and school. The Fiscal Code, often called the Trailer Bill, then follows along with exact instructions for how this money should be spent after given to the departments and schools. Many fiscal code bills are introduced by various legislators and then the appropriate one must be chosen and passed by each chamber.
Non-Preferred Appropriation Bill
Legislation that provides an appropriation to an institution not under the control of the state, such as Penn State University. These bills must be approved by both chambers by a 2/3 majority vote.
The Budget Process
Sometime after the Legislature comes back into session, typically in February, the governor will deliver his budget address. This is his plan for how the state’s money should be allocated to all the legislative, judicial, and executive departments/agencies and for public schools in Pennsylvania.
In the following months, the Appropriations Committees of both chambers will hold budget hearings with the Departments to question them about different line items in the budget, on why certain funds are needed, and their expenses from the year before, etc.
The general appropriations (or budget) bill is typically introduced by a member of the Appropriations Committee (from either chamber) that is of the same party as the governor. However, technically it can be introduced by any legislator. This year the General Appropriations Bill (HB 2380) was introduced by Dwight Evans (D – Philadelphia), Majority Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The bill will then move through the Appropriations Committee of that the chamber where it was introduced and onto the floor where it will be debated.
Typically a 100 plus amendments will be proposed before moving to the Senate. This process is generally so the rank-and-file members of the House can draw attention to the concerns and needs of their constituents as related to the budget. Also, so the members will be able to point to things they did or did not vote for in the budget debate when returning to their constituents that year for re-election/campaigning purposes.
In the end, this action on the floor does not have a whole lot of clout in the scope of the final budget bill that will be passed. Typically, the Senate President Pro Tempore, The House Speaker, the Majority and Minority Leaders of both chambers and the House and Senate Appropriations Committee Majority and Minority Chairman will meet to negotiate budget compromises that both chambers can finally agree upon. They will then meet with the governor to work out additional details and compromises.
The deadline for the budget is June 30 – the new fiscal year for which that money is to be spent begins July 1st. However, in the six years that Gov. Rendell has been in office the budget has not been passed on time once. Many in the political arena are skeptical that this year will be any different.