Legislative intent controls - 1 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1921

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                               SUBCHAPTER B
                         CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES

     Sec.
     1921.  Legislative intent controls.
     1922.  Presumptions in ascertaining legislative intent.
     1923.  Grammar and punctuation of statutes.
     1924.  Construction of titles, preambles, provisos,
            exceptions and headings.
     1925.  Constitutional construction of statutes.
     1926.  Presumption against retroactive effect.
     1927.  Construction of uniform laws.
     1928.  Rule of strict and liberal construction.
     1929.  Penalties no bar to civil remedies.
     1930.  Penalties for each offense.
     1931.  Intent to defraud.
     1932.  Statutes in pari materia.
     1933.  Particular controls general.
     1934.  Irreconcilable clauses in the same statute.
     1935.  Irreconcilable statutes passed by same General Assembly.
     1936.  Irreconcilable statutes passed by different
            General Assemblies.
     1937.  References to statutes and regulations.
     1938.  References to public bodies and public officers.
     1939.  Use of comments and reports.
     § 1921.  Legislative intent controls.
        (a)  Object and scope of construction of statutes.--The
     object of all interpretation and construction of statutes is to
     ascertain and effectuate the intention of the General Assembly.
     Every statute shall be construed, if possible, to give effect to
     all its provisions.
        (b)  Unambiguous words control construction.--When the words
     of a statute are clear and free from all ambiguity, the letter
     of it is not to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its
     spirit.
        (c)  Matters considered in ascertaining intent.--When the
     words of a statute are not explicit, the intention of the
     General Assembly may be ascertained by considering, among other
     matters:
            (1)  The occasion and necessity for the statute.
            (2)  The circumstances under which it was enacted.
            (3)  The mischief to be remedied.
            (4)  The object to be attained.
            (5)  The former law, if any, including other statutes
        upon the same or similar subjects.
            (6)  The consequences of a particular interpretation.
            (7)  The contemporaneous legislative history.
            (8)  Legislative and administrative interpretations of
        such statute.

Last modified: November 27, 2007