SENATE RESOLUTION
8647
By Senator Nelson
WHEREAS, The Senate adopted permanent rules for the 2015-2017 biennium under Senate Resolution 8601; and
WHEREAS, The notice requirements set forth in Senate Rule 35 have been satisfied;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That Rule 45 is amended as follows:
"Rule 45. 1. a. At least five days' notice shall be given of all public hearings held by any committee other than the rules committee. Such notice shall contain the date, time and place of such hearing together with the title and number of each bill, or identification of the subject matter, to be considered at such hearing. By a majority vote of the committee members present at any committee meeting such notice may be dispensed with. The reason for such action shall be set forth in a written statement preserved in the records of the meeting. To the extent practicable, testimony in public hearings should be balanced between those in support of and in opposition to proposed legislation, with consideration given to providing an opportunity for members of the public to testify within available time. If a person indicates that he or she wishes to testify and is not able to do so within available time, the bill report must contain the person's name and position on the bill.
b. At least five days' notice must be given of all work sessions held by any committee other than the rules committee. The notice must contain the date, time, and place of the work session, together with the subject matter to be considered during the work session. A list of the organizations or individuals that have been invited to participate in a work session must be available for review upon request at least forty-eight hours prior to the work session. In a work session where the matter under consideration involves an issue with competing viewpoints, if presenters representing one viewpoint are given an opportunity to participate, an organization or individual representing the other viewpoint must also be invited to participate.
2. No committee may hold a public hearing during a regular or extraordinary session on a proposal identified as a draft unless the draft has been made available to the public at least twenty-four hours prior to the hearing. This rule does not apply during the five days prior to any cutoff established by concurrent resolution nor does it apply to any measure exempted from the resolution.
3. During its consideration of or vote on any bill, resolution or memorial, the deliberations of any committee or subcommittee of the senate shall be open to the public. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct at any such deliberations, the chair shall order the sergeant at arms to suppress the same and may order the meeting closed to any person or persons creating such disturbance.
4. No committee shall amend a measure, adopt a substitute bill, or vote upon any measure or appointment absent a quorum. A committee may conduct a hearing absent a quorum. A majority of any committee shall constitute a quorum and committees shall be considered to have a quorum present unless the question is raised. Any question as to quorum not raised at the time of the committee action is deemed waived.
5. Bills reported to the senate from a standing committee must have a majority report, which shall be prepared upon a printed standing committee report form; shall be adopted at a regularly or specially called meeting during a legislative session and shall be signed by a majority of the committee; and shall carry only one of the following recommendations:
a. Do pass;
b. Do pass as amended;
c. That a substitute bill be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass; or
d. Without recommendation.
In addition to one of the above-listed recommendations, a report may also recommend that a bill be referred to another committee.
6. A majority report of a committee must carry the signatures of a majority of the members of the committee. In the event a committee has a quorum pursuant to subsection 4 of this rule, subject to the limitation of subsection 12 of this rule, a majority of the members present may act on a measure, subject to obtaining the signatures of a majority of the members of the committee on the majority report.
7. Any measure, appointment, substitute bill, or amendment still within a committee's possession before it has been reported out to the full senate may be reconsidered to correct an error, change language, or otherwise accurately reflect the will of the committee in its majority and minority reports to the full senate. Any such reconsideration may be made at any time, by any member of the committee, provided that the committee has not yet reported the measure, appointment, substitute bill, or amendment out to the full senate. Any such reconsideration made after a vote has been taken or signatures obtained will require a new vote and signature sheet. Any measure which does not receive a majority vote of the members present may be reconsidered at that meeting and may again be considered upon motion of any committee member if one day's notice of said motion is provided to all committee members. For purposes of this rule, a committee is deemed to have reported a measure, appointment, substitute bill, or amendment out when it has delivered its majority and minority reports to the senate workroom. After such delivery, the committee no longer has possession of the measure, appointment, substitute bill, or amendment and no further committee action, including reconsideration, may be taken.
8. Any member of the committee not concurring in the majority report may sign a minority report containing a recommendation of "do not pass" or "without recommendation," which shall be signed by those members of the committee subscribing thereto, and submitted with the majority report. Unless the signatory of a minority report expressly indicates a "do not pass" recommendation, the member's vote shall be deemed to be "without recommendation." In every case where a majority report form is circulated for signature, a minority report form shall also be circulated.
9. When a committee reports a substitute for an original bill with the recommendation that the substitute bill do pass, it shall be in order to read the substitute bill the first time and have the same ordered printed.
A motion for the substitution of the substitute bill for the original bill shall not be in order until the committee on rules places the original bill on the second reading calendar.
10. No vote in any committee shall be taken by secret ballot nor shall any committee have a policy of secrecy as to any vote on action taken in such committee.
11. All reports of standing committees must be on the secretary's desk one hour prior to convening of the session in order to be read at said session. During any special session of the legislature, this rule may be suspended by a majority vote.
12. When a standing committee is operated by cochairs, the committee may not vote upon any measure or appointment without the consent of each cochair."