SENATE RESOLUTION
8657
BySenator Liias
WHEREAS, The Senate adopted permanent rules for the 2019-2021 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 Rules 41, 45, and 49 are amended as follows:
"Rule 41. The president shall appoint all conference, special, joint and standing committees and standing subcommittees on the part of the senate. The appointment of the conference, special, joint and standing committees and standing subcommittees shall be confirmed by the senate.
In the event the senate shall refuse to confirm any conference, special, joint or standing committee or standing subcommittee, such committee or standing subcommittee shall be elected by the senate.
The following standing committees shall constitute the standing committees of the senate:
Standing Committee Total Membership
1. Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks. . . .7
2. Early Learning & K-12 Education. . . .11
3. Environment, Energy, & Technology. . . .15
4. Financial Institutions, Economic Development & Trade. . . .7
5. Health & Long-Term Care. . . .11
6. Higher Education & Workforce Development. . . .((7))5
7. Housing Stability & Affordability. . . .7
8. Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation. . . .7
9. Labor & Commerce. . . .((7))9
10. Law & Justice. . . .7
11. Local Government. . . .5
12. Rules. . . . 16 (plus the Lieutenant Governor)
13. State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections. . . .7
14. Transportation. . . .15
15. Ways & Means. . . .24
The following constitutes a standing subcommittee of the senate:
1. Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long-Term Care. . . .5"
"Rule 45. 1. 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.
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 legislatureor within three days of sine die, this rule may be suspended by a majority vote of those present.
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.
13. When a standing committee has a standing subcommittee established under Senate Rule 41, the chair of the committee may rerefer any measures referred to the committee to the standing subcommittee with the consent of the ranking member of the committee or, in the event of a dispute between the chair and ranking member, referral may occur with a majority vote of the committee."
"Rule 49. All bills reported by a committee to the senate shall then be referred to the committee on rules for second reading without action on the report unless otherwise ordered by the senate. (See also Senate Rules 63 and 64.) A bill may not be referred to the committee on rules for second reading unless a standing committee has held a public hearing on the bill."
I, Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate,
do hereby certify that this is a true and
correct copy of Senate Resolution 8657,
adopted by the Senate
January 13, 2020
BRAD HENDRICKSON
Secretary of the Senate