HARRISBURG (May 11, 2011) - A public hearing to examine public education in Pennsylvania and the taxation and uniformity clause will be held in Harrisburg on May 20 as part of a thorough review of the state's Constitution by a subcommittee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Constitutional Review Commission.

"These hearings are valuable opportunities for citizens to provide information that will help shape the subcommittee's recommendations to improve the structure and operation of government in the commonwealth," said Pennsylvania Bar Association President Matthew J. Creme Jr. "If the members of the commission's committees conclude that changes are needed based on public input and members' own findings, they will offer suggestions for enacting legislation, amending the state's Constitution or convening a Constitutional Convention."

"It's important that we hear all points of view during the hearing process," said James Gardner Colins, a former Commonwealth Court president judge and Philadelphia lawyer who is chairing the commission. "The constitutional scholars, practicing lawyers, sitting judges and public policy experts serving on our commission want to take a broad view and consider the multitude of ideas and opinions that could improve our commonwealth."

The hearings on May 20 will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the State Capitol Complex, East Wing, 8EB, Harrisburg.

The Taxation and Uniformity Clause Subcommittee's scheduled speakers include Michael J. Sernes and Matt Wilk, both of Ernst & Young L.L.P. The subcommittee is seeking input on concepts that would lead to a reasonable and equitable system of taxation within Pennsylvania.

The Public Education Subcommittee's scheduled speakers include Dr. Kathleen Kelley, Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, and Barach Kintisch, Education Law Center. The subcommittee is seeking input on the following issues:

• funding duties of the state versus the local school districts
• adding language to the Constitution requiring a minimum state appropriation
• adding language to the Constitution to specify basic curriculum requirements
• public education as an individual right versus a collective obligation
• periodic review of the adequacy/equity/effectiveness of the public education system
• charter schools, educational tax credits, tuition vouchers and other educational reforms

For more information, consult the webpages of the PBA Constitutional Review Commission website,www.pabarcrc.org, or contact Lindsay Still, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 100 South Street, P.O. Box 186, Harrisburg, PA 17108, [email protected].

In addition to the Public Education and Taxation and Uniformity Clause Subcommittees, there are subcommittees of the PBA commission examining the judiciary, legislative reapportionment, local government and the structure of the general assembly. Some of these subcommittees are also holding public hearings.

In early 2012, the commission will submit a report to the association's House of Delegates, which sets the association's policies, for review and possible action.

Interest in potential changes to the state's Constitution is not new to the association. The Pennsylvania Bar Association had a leadership role in the convening of the limited constitutional convention in 1967-1968.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.