In a significant development, House Majority Leader Matt Bradford introduced a resolution on Thursday seeking the expulsion of State Rep. Kevin Boyle from the Pennsylvania House. The move comes as Boyle faces criminal charges and his family raises concerns about his serious mental health condition.

The resolution put forth by Bradford aims to create a new process for expulsion based on a member's incapacity to fulfill their duties. If approved, it would form a five-member subcommittee consisting of top legislative leaders from both parties to investigate whether a member is unable to effectively serve as a state representative. The subcommittee would assess whether the member suffers from a temporary or permanent impairment, physical or mental, that renders them unable to discharge their responsibilities. Substance abuse or other cognitive impairments would also be considered during the investigation.

Boyle, a Democrat, currently faces an arrest warrant issued by the Philadelphia police for allegedly violating a protection from abuse order. Despite these legal challenges, Boyle is slated to remain on the upcoming Democratic primary ballot. His primary challenger, Sean Dougherty, has garnered support from party leaders.

If Boyle were to be expelled from the House, it would temporarily jeopardize the narrow majority held by the Democratic Party. The House Democrats require 102 votes to pass bills along party lines, and without Boyle, they would fall short. In such a scenario, a special election could be held 60 days after his expulsion to fill the vacant seat. It remains uncertain how House leaders would navigate this situation, particularly with the looming June 30 state budget deadline.

Boyle's family, including his brother U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, has made efforts to encourage him to seek treatment for his mental health condition. However, they lament the limited power afforded to loved ones in such circumstances. House Majority Leader Bradford, who is a close friend of Kevin Boyle, shares concerns about his mental well-being and expressed his distress over the situation.

The timeline for a potential expulsion is still unclear. The House is scheduled to reconvene on April 29, and the resolution would need to be adopted before any expulsion proceedings can commence. Bradford's proposed confidential process also outlines alternative outcomes besides expulsion, such as suspension with or without pay. The member under investigation would have the opportunity to participate in the closed-door process alongside legal representation.

The Pennsylvania House has not expelled a member since 1975 when Rep. Leonard Sweeney was removed following a conviction for mail fraud. Throughout the history of the House, only 15 members have been expelled since its establishment in 1683.

House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler, a Republican, criticized Bradford's resolution, arguing that revoking Boyle's voting privileges would be a more straightforward solution, given his current unknown whereabouts. Cutler accused House Democrats of exploiting the situation to maintain their majority, a claim vehemently denied by Democratic leaders who endorsed Boyle's primary opponent and have expressed concern for his mental health.

For now, Boyle's voting privileges remain intact, allowing Democratic leaders to cast votes on his behalf. This proxy voting arrangement was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been employed by House Democrats in recent months, even though Boyle has been absent from his duties.

As the fate of State Rep. Kevin Boyle hangs in the balance, the Pennsylvania House faces a critical decision regarding his potential expulsion. The resolution proposed by House Majority Leader Bradford aims to address concerns of mental incapacity, but the process and repercussions of such an expulsion are yet to be determined.