42 Pa.C.S. § 3

This is the official text of 42 Pa.C.S. § 3, part of Pennsylvania’s Pa.C.S — part of the compiled statutory law of Pennsylvania, published by the state as "Pa.C.S." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.

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Applicability.

Official statutory text

The following apply:

(1) The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has a duty under paragraph (3) if any of the following occur:

(i) Promulgation by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania of a rule, similar in form to Pa.R.C.P. No. 4023, stating that the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 8340.16 are not suspended.

(ii) Promulgation by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania of a direct letter of address, similar in form to In re 42 Pa.C.S. § 1703, 482 Pa. 522, 394 A.2d 444 (1978), stating that the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 8340.16 are not suspended and do not violate Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.

(iii) Promulgation by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania of procedural rules providing substantially the same content as the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 8340.16.

(2) The Legislative Reference Bureau shall determine the effective date of passage by the General Assembly of a joint resolution confirming that the procedural rules under paragraph (1)(iii) provide substantially the same content as the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 8340.16.

(3) The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts shall transmit to the Legislative Reference Bureau all of the following:

(i) Notice, for publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin, of each promulgation and effective date under paragraph (1)(i) and (ii).

(ii) Notice of a promulgation and its effective date under paragraph (1)(iii).

(4) The Legislative Reference Bureau shall publish any of the following in the Pennsylvania Bulletin:

(i) For a notice under paragraph (3)(i), the entire notice.

(ii) For a notice under paragraph (3)(ii), notice of the later of the effective date of:

(A) promulgation under paragraph (1)(iii); or

(B) passage under paragraph (2).

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

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