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PART I. THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED
STATUTES
Chapter 1. Short Title, Form of Citation and Effective Date

• § 101.  Short title.
  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes." (Dec. 10, 1974, P.L.816, No.271, eff. imd.) 1974 Amendment. Act 271 ...
• § 102.  Citation of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
  The Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes may be cited by title and section number. Without prejudice to any other form of citation, a citation to any section ...
• § 103.  Effective date.
  This act shall take effect immediately. ...

Chapter 2. (Reserved)
Chapter 3. Format of the Consolidated Statutes

• § 301.  Arrangement.
  (a) Titles and major subdivisions.--This act consists of titles subdivided into parts, articles, chapters and such other major subdivisions as may be required for clarity ...
• § 302.  Section headings.
  Each section of this act shall be given a brief descriptive heading immediately preceding the body of the section. The headings of sections may be ...
• § 303.  Cross references between provisions of the Consolidated Statutes.
  § 303. Cross references between provisions of the Consolidated Statutes. When reference is made in this act to a provision contained in any other section ...
• § 304.  References to other statutes.
  (a) Method and scope of reference.--Acts of the General Assembly shall be referred to generically in this act as statutes and, unless the context clearly ...
• § 305.  Re-use of section numbers.
  A section number shall not be re-used for a different subject, except in a bill to revise a part, article, chapter or other major subdivision ...
• § 306.  Bills to amend the Consolidated Statutes.
  (a) Conformity with requirements of chapter.--Bills to amend this act shall be drafted to conform with the structure of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, as provided ...

Chapter 4. (Reserved)
Chapter 5. Official Publication of the Consolidated Statutes

• § 501.  Publication and distribution.
  (a) General rule.--The Legislative Reference Bureau may compile, edit, publish, print, supplement and revise or contract directly or through the Legislative Printing Clerk for the ...
• § 502.  Preparation and contents.
  (a) General rule.--In compiling and editing the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and amendments thereto for publication, the bureau may: (1) Omit provisions of the amendatory acts ...
• § 503.  Official status of publication.
  The publication prepared by the bureau pursuant to this chapter shall constitute an official publication of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and shall be legal evidence ...

PART II. (Reserved)
PART III. ADOPTION AND PUBLICATION OF
CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY PROVISIONS
Chapter 9. Constitutional Provisions

• § 901.  Legislation to show changes.
  Bills or joint resolutions introduced in the General Assembly proposing amendments to the Constitution of Pennsylvania shall be printed in such a manner as to ...
• § 902.  Conduct of election.
  The manner in which proposed amendments to the Constitution of Pennsylvania shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth and the manner and ...
• § 903.  Governor to proclaim result of election.
  The officer of this Commonwealth to whom election returns are required by law to be certified shall, whenever a proposed amendment to the Constitution of ...
• § 904.  Governor to proclaim corrected numbering.
  Whenever an amendment of an article or of a section of the Constitution of Pennsylvania is adopted without specifying an article or section number, or ...
• § 905.  Section headings.
  The Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, with the approval of the Department of Justice, shall prepare and promulgate an appropriate heading for any section ...
• § 906.  Short titles of Constitutions of 1874 and 1968.
  (a) Constitution of 1874.--The Constitution of Pennsylvania, as adopted by referendum of December 16, 1873, shall be known and may be cited as the "Constitution ...

Chapter 11. Statutory Provisions

• § 1101.  Enacting clause and unofficial provisions.
  (a) Style and position of enacting clause.--All statutes shall begin in the following style: "The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as ...
• § 1102.  Publication of notice of application for local or special legislation.
  § 1102. Publication of notice of application for local or special legislation. (a) General rule.--No local or special bill to enact a local or special ...
• § 1103.  Preparation of statutes for printing.
  The Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau shall, as soon as any bill becomes a law, prepare the same for printing, cause the same to ...
• § 1104.  Printing of amendatory statutes.
  (a) General rule.--The Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau shall, in printing amendatory statutes, cause to be printed the section or part of the statute ...
• § 1105.  Editing statutes for printing.
  (a) Correction of errors.--Where any statute shall have been finally enacted and it shall be ascertained that such statute is technically defective in form, or ...
• § 1106.  Prothonotaries to keep files of advance copies of statutes.
  § 1106. Prothonotaries to keep files of advance copies of statutes. The prothonotaries of the several counties shall file and keep in their offices, in ...

PART IV. (Reserved)
PART V. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Chapter 15. General Provisions

• § 1501.  Short title of part.
  This part shall be known and may be cited as the "Statutory Construction Act of 1972." ...
• § 1502.  Application of part.
  (a) Direct application.-- (1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, the provisions of this part shall apply to the following unless the General Assembly ...
• § 1503.  Applicability of colonial law.
  (a) English law.--The common law and such of the statutes of England as were in force in the Province of Pennsylvania on May 14, 1776 ...
• § 1504.  Statutory remedy preferred over common law.
  In all cases where a remedy is provided or a duty is enjoined or anything is directed to be done by any statute, the directions ...

Chapter 17. Effective Date of Statutes

• § 1701.  Statutes generally.
  (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this chapter all statutes enacted finally at any regular session of the General Assembly not containing a specified ...
• § 1702.  Statutes making appropriations.
  Appropriation statutes, or statutes having appropriation items enacted finally at any regular session of the General Assembly, shall be effective on the date specified by ...
• § 1703.  Statutes affecting the budget of any political subdivision.
  § 1703. Statutes affecting the budget of any political subdivision. Statutes affecting the budget of any political subdivision enacted finally at any regular session of ...
• § 1704.  Statutes enacted at a special session.
  (a) General rule.--Statutes enacted finally at a special or extraordinary session of the General Assembly shall, except as otherwise provided in this section, be governed ...

Chapter 19. Rules of Construction
Subchapter A. Construction of Words and Phrases

• § 1901.  Rules of interpretation.
  In the construction of the statutes of this Commonwealth, the rules set forth in this chapter shall be observed, unless the application of such rules ...
• § 1902.  Number; gender; tense.
  The singular shall include the plural, and the plural, the singular. Words used in the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter. Words used ...
• § 1903.  Words and phrases.
  (a) General rule.--Words and phrases shall be construed according to rules of grammar and according to their common and approved usage; but technical words and ...
• § 1904.  Numerals.
  The Roman numerals and the Arabic numerals shall be deemed parts of the English language. ...
• § 1905.  Joint authority; quorum.
  (a) Joint authority.--Words in a statute conferring a joint authority upon three or more public officers or other persons shall be construed to confer authority ...
• § 1906.  Bonds.
  A statute requiring a bond or undertaking with sureties to be given by any person, shall be construed to permit in lieu thereof a bond ...
• § 1907.  Uniform standard time.
  Every mention of, or reference to any hour or time in any statute, shall be construed with reference to and in accordance with the mean ...
• § 1908.  Computation of time.
  When any period of time is referred to in any statute, such period in all cases, except as otherwise provided in section 1909 of this ...
• § 1909.  Time; publication for successive weeks.
  Whenever in any statute providing for the publishing of notices, the phrase "successive weeks" is used, weeks shall be construed as calendar weeks. The publication ...
• § 1910.  Time; computation of months.
  Whenever in any statute the lapse of a number of months after or before a certain day is required, such number of months shall be ...

Subchapter B. Construction of Statutes

• § 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 ...
• § 1922.  Presumptions in ascertaining legislative intent.
  In ascertaining the intention of the General Assembly in the enactment of a statute the following presumptions, among others, may be used: (1) That the ...
• § 1923.  Grammar and punctuation of statutes.
  (a) Grammatical errors and transposition of words.-- Grammatical errors shall not vitiate a statute. A transposition of words and clauses may be resorted to where ...
• § 1924.  Construction of titles, preambles, provisos, exceptions and headings.
  § 1924. Construction of titles, preambles, provisos, exceptions and headings. The title and preamble of a statute may be considered in the construction thereof. Provisos ...
• § 1925.  Constitutional construction of statutes.
  The provisions of every statute shall be severable. If any provision of any statute or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held ...
• § 1926.  Presumption against retroactive effect.
  No statute shall be construed to be retroactive unless clearly and manifestly so intended by the General Assembly. ...
• § 1927.  Construction of uniform laws.
  Statutes uniform with those of other states shall be interpreted and construed to effect their general purpose to make uniform the laws of those states ...
• § 1928.  Rule of strict and liberal construction.
  (a) Statutes in derogation of common law.--The rule that statutes in derogation of the common law are to be strictly construed, shall have no application ...
• § 1929.  Penalties no bar to civil remedies.
  The provision in any statute for a penalty or forfeiture for its violation shall not be construed to deprive an injured person of the right ...
• § 1930.  Penalties for each offense.
  Whenever a penalty or forfeiture is provided for the violation of a statute, such penalty or forfeiture shall be construed to be for each such ...
• § 1931.  Intent to defraud.
  Whenever an intent to defraud is required in any statute in order to constitute an offense, the statute shall be construed to require only an ...
• § 1932.  Statutes in pari materia.
  (a) Meaning.--Statutes or parts of statutes are in pari materia when they relate to the same persons or things or to the same class of ...
• § 1933.  Particular controls general.
  Whenever a general provision in a statute shall be in conflict with a special provision in the same or another statute, the two shall be ...
• § 1934.  Irreconcilable clauses in the same statute.
  Except as provided in section 1933 of this title (relating to particular controls general), whenever, in the same statute, several clauses are irreconcilable, the clause ...
• § 1935.  Irreconcilable statutes passed by same General Assembly.
  § 1935. Irreconcilable statutes passed by same General Assembly. Whenever the provisions of two or more statutes enacted finally during the same General Assembly are ...
• § 1936.  Irreconcilable statutes passed by different General Assemblies.
  § 1936. Irreconcilable statutes passed by different General Assemblies. Whenever the provisions of two or more statutes enacted finally by different General Assemblies are irreconcilable, ...
• § 1937.  References to statutes and regulations.
  (a) General rule.--A reference in a statute to a statute or to a regulation issued by a public body or public officer includes the statute ...
• § 1938.  References to public bodies and public officers.
  A reference in a statute to a governmental agency, department, board, commission or other public body or to a public officer includes an entity or ...
• § 1939.  Use of comments and reports.
  The comments or report of the commission, committee, association or other entity which drafted a statute may be consulted in the construction or application of ...

Subchapter C. Amendatory Statutes

• § 1951.  Interpretation of amendatory statutes.
  In ascertaining the correct reading, status and interpretation of an amendatory statute, the matter inserted within brackets shall be omitted, and the matter in italics ...
• § 1952.  Effect of separate amendments on code provisions enacted by same General Assembly.
  § 1952. Effect of separate amendments on code provisions enacted by same General Assembly. Whenever any existing statute, incorporated into and repealed by a code, ...
• § 1953.  Construction of amendatory statutes.
  Whenever a section or part of a statute is amended, the amendment shall be construed as merging into the original statute, become a part thereof, ...
• § 1954.  Merger of subsequent amendments.
  Whenever a statute has been more than once amended, the latest amendment shall be read into the original statute as previously amended and not into ...
• § 1955.  Two or more amendments to same provision, one overlooking the other.
  § 1955. Two or more amendments to same provision, one overlooking the other. Whenever two or more amendments to the same provision of a statute ...
• § 1956.  Repeal of amendatory statutes and original statutes subsequently amended.
  § 1956. Repeal of amendatory statutes and original statutes subsequently amended. The repeal of an amendatory statute does not revive the corresponding provision or section ...
• § 1957.  Ineffective provisions not revived by reenactment in amendatory statutes.
  § 1957. Ineffective provisions not revived by reenactment in amendatory statutes. Provisions of a statute no longer effective because of having been deleted by an ...

Subchapter D. Reenactments

• § 1961.  Effect of reenactment on original statute.
  Whenever a statute reenacts a former statute, the provisions common to both statutes shall date from their first adoption. Such provisions only of the former ...
• § 1962.  Repeal and reenactment.
  Whenever a statute is repealed and its provisions are at the same time reenacted in the same or substantially the same terms by the repealing ...
• § 1963.  Effect of reenactment on intervening statutes.
  A statute which reenacts the provisions of an earlier statute shall not be construed to repeal an intermediate statute which modified but did not effect ...

Subchapter E. Repealing Statutes

• § 1971.  Implied repeal by later statute.
  (a) Revision or exclusive system covering entire subject.-- Whenever a statute purports to be a revision of all statutes upon a particular subject, or sets ...
• § 1972.  Nonexistence of reason for statute does not effect repeal.
  § 1972. Nonexistence of reason for statute does not effect repeal. A statute shall not be deemed repealed because the reason for its passage no ...
• § 1973.  No implied repeal by nonuser.
  A statute shall not be deemed repealed by failure to use such statute. ...
• § 1974.  Effect of separate repeals on code provisions by same General Assembly.
  § 1974. Effect of separate repeals on code provisions by same General Assembly. Whenever a statute repeals any provision of another statute incorporated into a ...
• § 1975.  Effect of repeal on limitations.
  Whenever a limitation or period of time, prescribed in any statute for acquiring a right or barring a remedy, or for any other purpose, has ...
• § 1976.  Effect of repeal on rights, et cetera.
  (a) Existing rights and pending actions.--The repeal of any civil provisions of a statute shall not affect or impair any act done, or right existing ...
• § 1977.  Repeal does not revive repealed statute.
  The repeal of a repealing statute shall not be construed to revive the statute originally repealed. ...
• § 1978.  Repeal as obsolete does not affect substantive rights.
  § 1978. Repeal as obsolete does not affect substantive rights. Whenever a statute which created a personal or property right in derogation of the common ...

Subchapter F. Definitions of Words and Phrases

• § 1991.  Definitions.
  The following words and phrases, when used in any statute finally enacted on or after September 1, 1937, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall ...

PART VI. IMPLEMENTATION OF
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 23. Implementation of Constitutional Provisions

• § 2301.  Equality of rights based on sex.
  (a) General rule.--In recognition of the adoption of section 28 of Article I of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, it is hereby declared to be the ...
• § 2310.  Sovereign immunity reaffirmed; specific waiver.
  Pursuant to section 11 of Article I of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, it is hereby declared to be the intent of the General Assembly that ...

PART VII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Chapter 31. Board of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws

• § 3101.  Definitions.
  The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section: "Board." The Board of Commissioners ...
• § 3102.  Board established.
  (a) Establishment.--The Board of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws is reestablished within the Office of General Counsel. (b) Composition.--The board shall be composed of nine ...
• § 3103.  Powers and duties.
  The board has the following powers and duties: (1) To examine subjects it deems necessary. (2) To ascertain the best means to effect an assimilation ...

Last modified: November 22, 2007