S0378

	2013 -- S 0378
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	LC01774
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

	____________


	S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
	ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE SENATE


	Introduced By: Senators Lynch, and Goodwin

	Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

	Referred To: Senate Rules





1-1	RESOLVED, That the following rules be and the same are hereby adopted as the rules of
1-2	this Senate for the years 2011 and 2012.
1-3	SECTION 1
1-4	DEFINITIONS
1-5	As used in these rules, the following terms are defined as follows:
1-6	1.1 "Bill" shall include any act, resolve, resolution or petition which comes before the
1-7	senate for consideration.
1-8	1.2 "Day" as used in these rules is intended and shall be construed to mean one full
1-9	legislative day of the same session. ~~In no event shall one (1) calendar day be construed as two (2)~~
1-10	~~legislative days.~~
1-11	1.3 "Legislative Day" is a period of time which begins when the senate meets after an
1-12	adjournment and ends when the senate next adjourns. A legislative day is not defined by, or
1-13	confined to, a calendar day.
1-14	1.4 "Public Bill" shall include all bills except:
1-15	(i) those which pertain to a particular city or town;
1-16	(ii) those which relate to an individual's pension and retirement;
1-17	(iii) those which pertain to restoration of corporation charters, and to amendments to
1-18	authorized holdings by nonprofit organizations of a charitable, civic, library or like nature;
1-19	(iv) resolutions memorializing congress, or of congratulations, or expressing sympathy or
1-20	condolences, and all resolutions requesting the several departments of state government to grant
1-21	some privilege, consideration or relief.
2-1	1.5 "Prime Sponsor" shall be that senator whose signature first appears upon the bill.
2-2	1.6 "President Pro Tempore" is a member of the senate elected to that position, who
2-3	presides over the senate in the absence of the president of the senate.
2-4	1.7 "Deputy President Pro Tempore" is a member of the senate appointed by the
2-5	president of the senate, who may preside over the senate in the absence of the president of the
2-6	senate and the president pro tempore.
2-7	1.8 "Reading Clerk" is the person elected to that position under provisions of section 22-
2-8	3-2 of the general laws who shall, at the direction of the presiding officer, read to the chamber
2-9	any communication to the senate, resolution, bill or other document and who shall, at the
2-10	direction of the presiding officer, except as provided in section 4.4 hereof, date the bills and other
2-11	documents before the senate, date recording thereon the action taken and/or the disposition
2-12	thereof. The reading clerk also shall, at the direction of the senate, amend any bill and transmit
2-13	any bill to the house of representatives and perform such other duties as may from time to time be
2-14	prescribed by the president of the senate.
2-15	1.9 "Secretary of the Senate" is the person elected to that position under provisions of
2-16	section 22-3-2 of the general laws who shall, at the direction of the presiding officer, record the
2-17	proceedings of the senate in a journal, signing said journal as secretary of the senate, and who
2-18	shall, upon their referral, deliver bills and other documents to their respective committees, hold
2-19	and maintain in good order any bill assigned to the calendar or the consent calendar, and transmit
2-20	any bill or document to the governor. The secretary of the senate also shall perform those duties
2-21	prescribed in other sections hereof and those which may from time to time be prescribed by the
2-22	president of the senate.
2-23	1.10 “The Rise of the Senate” occurs upon the conclusion of senate floor business and the
2-24	exact time varies by the amount of business to be conducted on a particular legislative day.
2-25	1.11 “The Senate Chamber” or “Chamber” shall include the floor, the corridor behind
2-26	the floor, the cloak room and the senate lounge.
2-27	1.12 “Calendar Day” is that period of 24 hours between 12:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight.
2-28	1.13 “Vote” or “Majority Vote” as used herein shall mean a majority of members present
2-29	and voting unless specifically stated otherwise.
2-30	SECTION 2
2-31	PRESIDING OFFICER
2-32	2.1 Presiding Officer.
2-33	The president of the senate shall, unless absent from the chamber, be the presiding officer
2-34	of the sessions of the senate. In the absence of the president from the chair, the president pro
3-1	tempore shall preside over the senate. The president may appoint a member of the senate to
3-2	temporarily preside over the senate, but in no event shall such appointment continue beyond the
3-3	legislative day on which it is made. In case of a vacancy in the offices of president, president pro
3-4	tempore and the deputy president pro tempore, or in case all said officers are absent at the hour to
3-5	which the senate stands adjourned, the reading clerk shall call the senate to order, and shall
3-6	preside until a president pro tempore is elected, which election shall be the first order of business.
3-7	2.2 Duties of the Presiding Officer.
3-8	The presiding officer shall preserve order and decorum in and about the senate chamber
3-9	during the senate session in order to prevent interference with the senate's business and
3-10	deliberations. The presiding officer may speak in preference to the senators, shall decide all
3-11	questions of order without debate and shall declare all votes. The assignment of bills to
3-12	committee shall be at the discretion of the president of the senate subject to rule 4.5; provided,
3-13	however, that the president of the senate may delegate such authority to the majority leader of the
3-14	senate.
3-15	2.3 Appealing the Ruling of Presiding Officer.
3-16	Any senator may appeal the ruling of the presiding officer by rising as soon as the ruling
3-17	is made, even though another has the floor and, without waiting to be recognized by the chair,
3-18	stating, "I appeal the ruling of the chair," and upon such appeal being seconded, the presiding
3-19	officer shall immediately and without debate put the question, "Shall the ruling of the chair be
3-20	sustained?", which question shall be decided by majority vote of the senators present and voting.
3-21	Once sustained, the ruling shall not be subject to another appeal on the same point.
3-22	SECTION 3
3-23	ORDER OF BUSINESS ON THE SENATE FLOOR
3-24	3.1 Commencement of Daily Session.
3-25	The presiding officer shall take the chair at the hour to which the senate shall have
3-26	adjourned, call the senators to order, and record attendance by electronic roll call. A quorum shall
3-27	consist of 20 members. Upon late arrival, at any time prior to the adjournment of the senate a
3-28	senator may report his or her presence to the secretary of the senate who shall record the senator's
3-29	attendance in the journal.
3-30	3.2 Reading the Journal.
3-31	The reading clerk of the senate shall, at the commencement of the session of each
3-32	legislative day, read the proceedings of the previous legislative day, unless such reading is
3-33	dispensed with by a majority of the senators present and voting.
4-34	3.3 Daily Business.
4-35	After the reading of the proceedings of the previous legislative day the order of business
4-36	shall be as follows unless otherwise ordered by the President of the Senate:
4-37	(1) Introduction of guests
4-38	(2) Communications
4-39	(3) Reports of committees
4-40	(4) Introduction and reference of new business
4-41	(5) Unfinished business
4-42	(6) Consideration of house transmittals
4-43	(7) Consent calendar
4-44	(8) Calendar
4-45	(9) Introduction of guests
4-46	(10) Personal privilege
4-47	(11) Address of important matters
4-48	(12) Daily adjournment
4-49	3.4 Final Adjournment.
4-50	The last order of business of the annual session of the senate shall be the vote in
4-51	conformity with the resolution of final adjournment or recess which must be carried by a majority
4-52	vote of the senators present and voting.
4-53	3.5 Time for Sessions.
4-54	Unless otherwise provided for by agreement of president of the senate, the majority
4-55	leader and minority leader, sessions of the senate shall convene at 4:00 p.m. All sessions must
4-56	adjourn at or before 11:00 p.m.
4-57	SECTION 4
4-58	ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS
4-59	4.1 Form of Bills.
4-60	Every bill offered which is intended to amend any part or parts of an existing statute, any
4-61	part or parts intended to be stricken shall be contained in the bill and by appropriate mechanical
4-62	mark, struck through. All new matter contained in the bill shall be underlined, underscored or
4-63	printed in italics so that the new matter shall be easily discerned. If the bill contains all new
4-64	matter constituting a totally new law or a totally new section, and the bill itself so indicates, no
4-65	underlining, underscoring or italics shall be required. Every bill containing a commission to
4-66	which appointments shall be made shall be indicated in the title of such bill.
4-67	No bill without a body or substantive content shall be introduced at any time, nor shall a
4-68	substitute bill be accepted which is not consistent with the title and substance of the original bill.
5-1	All bills introduced on behalf of any general officer, branch, department or division of
5-2	state government shall be stamped on the face sheet thereof with the title of the general officer or
5-3	the name of the branch, department or division on whose behalf the bill is introduced.
5-4	A prime sponsor may withdraw a bill or resolution previously introduced at any time
5-5	prior to its consideration by a committee, upon written request to the secretary of the senate.
5-6	Other than the prime sponsor of a bill, a senator may elect in writing to the secretary of
5-7	the senate to have his/her name disassociated from the bill and the secretary of the senate shall
5-8	immediately notify the committee clerk to which the bill is assigned.
5-9	All bills shall be processed through legislative council.
5-10	4.2 Explanation of Bills.
5-11	There shall be attached to each bill a brief explanation thereof and the explanation of
5-12	such bill shall indicate the proposed changes, and/or the statute or existing law which such bill
5-13	purports to amend.
5-14	4.3 Copies of Bills.
5-15	Each bill introduced shall be accompanied by not less than eight (8) copies thereof, with
5-16	said copies delivered by the secretary of the senate to the office of the president of the senate for
5-17	subsequent distribution as determined by the president of the senate. Nothing in this section shall
5-18	prevent a senator from obtaining a preliminary draft of legislation for his/her review prior to
5-19	introduction.
5-20	4.4 Prefiling.
5-21	A bill or resolution may be filed by delivery to the secretary of the senate at any time
5-22	from November 15 to the day prior to the commencement of the annual session. The secretary of
5-23	the senate shall order it printed by legislative council and make said bill or resolution available
5-24	for first reading on the second legislative day of the succeeding session.
5-25	4.5 Filing with Secretary of the Senate.
5-26	All senators desiring to introduce a bill shall file the bill with the secretary of the senate
5-27	not later than the time at which the presiding officer calls the senate to order. The secretary of the
5-28	senate shall transmit to the office of the president of the senate all bills on the legislative day of
5-29	their introduction. On the day of introduction, the president shall, upon adjournment, assign bills
5-30	to committee. The secretary of the senate shall cause all bills introduced to be published in the
5-31	senate journal for that legislative day. Any senator may object to the committee assignment of
5-32	any bill on the first or second legislative day following the bill's introduction. Upon objection
5-33	being made, the presiding officer shall assign the bill to the committee requested by the senator
5-34	making the objection; provided, however, that if another senator objects to any assignment or
6-1	proposed assignment of the bill, then the presiding officer shall call for a vote of the senate on
6-2	any motion for assignment which has been made and seconded, such motion requiring a majority
6-3	vote of those Senators present and voting for assignment to a particular committee. First reading
6-4	of all such bills and resolutions shall be by acceptance of the bill and the committee assignment.
6-5	4.6 Deadline for Introductions.
6-6	No public bill shall be introduced in the senate after February 14, 2013 for the year 2013
6-7	and February 13, 2014 for the year 2014, except by consent of a majority of the senators present
6-8	and voting. Except as otherwise expressly directed by the president of the senate, all requests for
6-9	the preparation of public bills shall be submitted to the offices of Legislative Council no later than
6-10	the close of business on the Friday next preceding the bill-introduction deadline set forth herein.
6-11	4.7 Omnibus Claims Against the State.
6-12	Claims against the state in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less shall not
6-13	be presented in bill or resolution form, but shall be submitted to the clerk of the joint committee
6-14	on accounts and claims in writing upon a form approved by the chairperson of the joint
6-15	committee on accounts and claims. Any claims approved by the joint committee shall be
6-16	submitted in the form of an omnibus bill which will be placed upon the consent calendar.
6-17	4.8 Resolutions of Congratulations and Condolences.
6-18	Notwithstanding any other provisions of these rules, all resolutions of congratulations or
6-19	expressing sympathy or condolences except with respect to former and present members of the
6-20	general assembly, general officers, members of the judiciary and elected state or federal officials,
6-21	shall be placed on the consent calendar, unless otherwise ordered by the president of the senate.
6-22	Said resolution of congratulations and condolences shall not require concurrent action; upon
6-23	passage, shall be forthwith transmitted to the secretary of state, and an appropriate notice of the
6-24	action of the senate thereon shall be forwarded, as requested in the resolution, by the secretary of
6-25	state. One formal resolution may include all the expressions of sympathy or congratulations of the
6-26	several senators.
6-27	4.9 Enactment of Laws.
6-28	The concurrence of the two houses in the same session shall be necessary for the
6-29	enactment of all bills except for senate resolutions.
6-30	4.10 Electronic Availability of Public Bills--Requirements.
6-31	4.10-1 Public Bills.
6-32	No public bill shall be considered upon its merits unless it has been electronically
6-33	available to the members at least two (2) calendar days prior to its consideration on the merits,
6-34	except any public bill passed by the senate and amended by the house, provided that the amended
7-1	public bill shall be electronically available to the senators before consideration.
7-2	4.10-2 Committee Amendments.
7-3	Except by majority vote, no public bill amended in a committee of the senate shall be
7-4	considered upon the senate floor unless it has been electronically available to the senators.
7-5	4.10-3 Materially Altered Bills.
7-6	Whenever a committee shall have determined to report a bill which has been materially
7-7	altered by the committee, the committee chair shall forthwith provide for printing and electronic
7-8	reproduction of the same. In the event that a bill is not deemed to have been materially altered,
7-9	which determination shall be made by the committee chair, a bill shall be printed only upon the
7-10	request of the president of the senate, the majority leader or the minority leader. Nothing in these
7-11	rules shall preclude the committee chair, with a majority of the committee, to change an act to a
7-12	resolution or a resolution to an act on a substitute bill.
7-13	4.11 Copies of Bills and Voting Records.
7-14	The secretary of the senate shall retain in the files of the senate as many copies of each
7-15	bill as the secretary of the senate deems necessary and the voting records on each question.
7-16	4.12 Requests for Funding of Community Service Objectives.
7-17	Requests for the funding of community service objectives grants shall not be presented in
7-18	bill or resolution form, but shall be submitted to the senate fiscal advisor in writing upon a form
7-19	approved by the chairperson of the senate committee on finance.
7-20	4.13 Death of a Member.
7-21	In the event that any member or member-elect shall die after filing and before
7-22	consideration by committee, the death of said member or member-elect shall constitute automatic
7-23	withdrawal of said bill or resolution and automatic withdrawal of the number of said bill or
7-24	resolution and said number shall not be used again during the legislative session; provided,
7-25	however, that where a bill or resolution shall have had more than one sponsor, said bill or
7-26	resolution and number shall not be withdrawn and the member whose name appears second on
7-27	said bill or resolution shall become the prime sponsor.
7-28	4.14 Limitation on Number of Bills Introduced.
7-29	No Senator shall introduce more than twenty-five (25) public bills during the
7-30	annual session except with the permission of the President of the Senate.
7-31	SECTION 5
7-32	COMMITTEES
7-33	5.1 Standing Committees.
8-34	The senate shall have the following standing committees:
8-35	Committee on Judiciary
8-36	Committee on Finance
8-37	Committee on Housing and Municipal Government
8-38	Committee on Labor
8-39	Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans' Affairs
8-40	Committee on Health and Human Services
8-41	Committee on Education
8-42	Committee on Commerce
8-43	Committee on Environment and Agriculture
8-44	Committee on Government Oversight
8-45	Committee on Rules
8-46	5.1-1 Committee on Judiciary.
8-47	It shall be the duty of the committee on judiciary to consider the appointments of the
8-48	governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent of the senate and all
8-49	legislation and matters which affect the penal code, judicial system, ethics, open meetings, access
8-50	to public records and election laws of the state, to maintain oversight over the application,
8-51	execution and operation of the laws within its jurisdiction and to consider such other matters as
8-52	may be referred to it by the senate. In the matters of judicial appointments and those public
8-53	hearings designated by the committee chair, all testimony shall be under oath and preserved by
8-54	stenographic record which shall be transcribed upon the order of the chair.
8-55	5.1-2 Committee on Finance.
8-56	It shall be the duty of the committee on finance to consider the appointments of the
8-57	governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent of the senate and all
8-58	legislation and matters relative to revenue, appropriations and taxes, to inquire into the state of
8-59	the public debt, to report from time to time its opinion thereon and such propositions relative
8-60	thereto as it shall deem expedient, to maintain oversight over the application, execution and
8-61	operation of the laws within its jurisdiction and to consider such other matters as may be referred
8-62	to it by the senate. The chair of the committee shall be authorized to appoint as many sub-
8-63	committees as he or she deems necessary, including, but not limited to, a sub-committee on
8-64	veterans affairs.
8-65	5.1-3 Committee on Housing and Municipal Government.
8-66	It shall be the duty of the committee on housing and municipal government to consider
8-67	the appointments of the governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent
8-68	of the senate and all legislation and matters affecting housing, municipal government,
9-1	transportation, to maintain oversight over the application, execution and operation of the laws
9-2	within its jurisdiction and to consider such other matters as may be referred to it by the senate.
9-3	5.1-4 Committee on Labor.
9-4	It shall be the duty of the committee on labor to consider the appointments of the
9-5	governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent of the senate and all
9-6	legislation and matters relating to the workers' compensation and labor laws of the state, to
9-7	maintain oversight over the application, execution and operation of the laws within its jurisdiction
9-8	and to consider such other matters as may be referred to it by the senate.
9-9	5.1-5 Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs.
9-10	It shall be the duty of the committee on special legislation and veterans’ affairs to
9-11	consider the appointments of the governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice
9-12	and consent of the senate and all legislation and matters relating to constitutional amendments,
9-13	liquor laws, gaming issues, license plates, veterans’ affairs, domestic animals, commissions and
9-14	resolutions, to maintain oversight over the application, execution and operation of the laws within
9-15	its jurisdiction and to consider such other matters as may be referred to it by the senate.
9-16	5.1-6 Committee on Health and Human Services.
9-17	It shall be the duty of the committee on health and human services to consider the
9-18	appointments of the governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent of
9-19	the senate and to consider all reports of the departments of health, of human services, of mental
9-20	health, retardation and hospitals, of children and their families, and of elderly affairs; to consider
9-21	all legislation and matters expanding or defining further areas of responsibility of the foregoing
9-22	and to consider all legislation and matters relative to public health and welfare; health care and
9-23	human service access and quality; health and human service professional standards of practice,
9-24	and facility standards of care; to maintain oversight over the application, execution and operation
9-25	of the laws within its jurisdiction; and to consider such other matters as may be referred to it by
9-26	the senate.
9-27	5.1-7 Committee on Education.
9-28	It shall be the duty of the committee on education to consider the appointments of the
9-29	governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent of the senate and all
9-30	legislation and matters relating to student performance, governance, programming, teacher
9-31	preparation and planning, as well as the work and operation of all state agencies regarding all
9-32	levels of education, make findings, and recommend policy initiatives and other actions to the
9-33	general assembly. The commission shall also exercise oversight in relation to the implementation
9-34	of all legislation and grants of authority relating to all levels of public education in the state by all
10-1	agencies, state and local, charged and empowered by the general assembly in relating to all levels
10-2	of public education, to maintain oversight over the application, execution and operation of the
10-3	laws within its jurisdiction and to consider such other matters as may be referred to it by the
10-4	senate.
10-5	5.1-8 Committee on Commerce.
10-6	It shall be the duty of the committee on commerce to consider the appointments of the
10-7	governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent of the senate and all
10-8	legislation and matters relating to financial institutions, business regulation, property and casualty
10-9	insurance, technology and telecommunications, for profit as well as not-for-profit business
10-10	entities, to maintain oversight over the application, execution and operation of the laws within its
10-11	jurisdiction and to consider such other matters as may be referred to it by the senate.
10-12	5.1-9 Committee on Environment and Agriculture.
10-13	It shall be the duty of the committee on environment and agriculture to consider the
10-14	appointments of the governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent of
10-15	the senate and all legislation and matters relating to the conservation of the air, land, water, plant,
10-16	animal, mineral and other natural resources of the state, and to adopt all means necessary and
10-17	proper by law to protect the natural environment of the people of the state by providing adequate
10-18	resource planning for the control and regulation of the use of the natural resources of the state and
10-19	for the preservation, regeneration, and restoration of the natural environment of the state, to
10-20	maintain oversight over the application, execution and operation of the laws within its jurisdiction
10-21	and to consider such other matters as may be referred to it by the senate.
10-22	5.1-10 Committee on Government Oversight.
10-23	It shall be the duty of the committee on government oversight to consider the
10-24	appointments of the governor referred to it by the senate which require the advice and consent of
10-25	the senate, and (1) to monitor and evaluate past, current and prospective performance of public
10-26	bodies and statutory entities, including quasi-public agencies that exercise executive
10-27	governmental functions (except public bodies and statutory entities of the legislative and judiciary
10-28	branches of the state) and any other public or private person, including any agencies,
10-29	partnerships, corporation or business entity insofar as such person is acting on behalf of and/or in
10-30	place of any public agency; (2) to consider the organization, reorganization, creation or
10-31	termination of such public bodies, statutory entities, including quasi-public agencies and public or
10-32	private persons; (3) to review and consider the reports of the auditor general; (4) to report its
10-33	opinion and/or recommendation of legislation or action regarding the foregoing matters; (5) to
10-34	consider any bill referred to it by the senate, including, but not limited to any act, resolve,
11-1	resolution or petition; and (6) to consider such other matters that are referred to it by the senate.
11-2	5.1-11 Committee on Rules.
11-3	It shall be the duty of the committee on senate rules to consider all matters relating to the
11-4	rules of the senate.
11-5	5.2 Committee Membership.
11-6	Each of the standing committees of the senate shall consist of the president of the senate,
11-7	ex officio with voting rights, and the majority and minority leaders of the senate, ex officio, with
11-8	voting rights, and senators appointed by the president of the senate, each to serve until January 6,
11-9	2015. Provided, however, that the president of the senate may change the committee assignment
11-10	of a member with the member's consent; and provided further, however, that each senator other
11-11	than the president and the majority and minority leaders, shall serve as a member of one of the
11-12	following standing committees: committee on housing and municipal government; committee on
11-13	commerce; committee on finance; committee on the judiciary.
11-14	5.3 Vacancies on Committees.
11-15	All vacancies occurring in any committee of the senate shall be filled by the president of
11-16	the senate.
11-17	5.4 Officers of Committees.
11-18	The president of the senate shall appoint from the membership of each committee a chair,
11-19	vice chair and secretary and such other committee officers as the president of the senate deems
11-20	appropriate.
11-21	5.5 Select Committees.
11-22	The senate may, from time to time, by resolution, provide for the establishment of select
11-23	committees upon such subjects as it may deem proper, and upon the adoption of such resolution,
11-24	the president of the senate shall appoint the chair and members thereof, and shall provide for
11-25	minority party representation. Any committee created pursuant to this rule shall be deemed a
11-26	standing committee for all purposes of law, including the applicability of section 22-6-2.1 of the
11-27	general laws.
11-28	5.6 Referral to Committee.
11-29	No bill shall be considered or acted upon by the senate unless the same has been
11-30	considered by, reported, or recalled from a committee thereof, or from a joint committee, except
11-31	as otherwise provided in these rules. All acts seeking to vacate the forfeiture of a charter
11-32	previously granted under the laws of this state shall not be referred to committee but rather
11-33	directly assigned to the calendar.
12-34	5.7 Committees of Conference.
12-35	There shall be appointed from time to time committees of conference to which are
12-36	referred matters of difference with the house with respect to bills or resolutions. Such committees
12-37	shall be appointed by the speaker and the president of the senate, and shall be comprised of five
12-38	(5) members from the house and five (5) members from the senate. At least one (1) member in
12-39	each chamber shall be a member of the minority party. When possible, one (1) member shall be
12-40	the prime sponsor of the bill or resolution being considered before the committee of conference
12-41	and one (1) member shall be from the committee that shall have considered the bill or resolution.
12-42	The committee may propose any changes within the scope of the bill or resolution, but any action,
12-43	including changes, taken by committee shall be by a majority vote of the members of each
12-44	chamber on the committee. The committee report shall be made to both chambers at the same
12-45	time. Each chamber shall vote to accept or reject the report. A vote by either chamber to accept
12-46	the report of the committee shall be the final action by that chamber on the bill or resolution. If
12-47	both chambers vote to accept the report of the committee, the bill is passed or the resolution
12-48	adopted as of the time the last chamber votes to accept the report. If either chamber rejects the
12-49	report of the committee, the bill or resolution is defeated and the second chamber shall not be
12-50	required to consider the committee report. The report of the committee may be accepted or
12-51	rejected, but it may not be amended. The committee report shall contain the following
12-52	information: the bill number and title, the members of the committee, the action of the committee,
12-53	and the signature of the members of the committee accepting or rejecting the report.
12-54	The conferees shall confine themselves to the differences which exist within bills or
12-55	resolutions between the house and senate. The presentation of reports of committees of
12-56	conference shall be in order after having been signed by a majority of the members of the
12-57	committee of each chamber. Consideration of a report of a committee of conference by the
12-58	senate shall be in order when it has been made electronically available to all members and listed
12-59	on the calendar for the required period of time according to these rules.
12-60	SECTION 6
12-61	PROCEEDINGS IN COMMITTEE
12-62	6.1 Time for Committee Meetings.
12-63	The president of the senate, in consultation with the chairs, shall establish regular
12-64	calendar days and times for the meetings of all standing committees. The committee chair may
12-65	call such other meetings as may be required to conduct the business of the committee.
12-66	6.2 Committee Agenda -- Posting.
12-67	At least forty-eight (48) hours before any standing committee meeting, a committee
12-68	agenda containing the number, title and a short explanation of the bill to be considered must be
13-1	placed on the bulletin boards provided for such agenda. The rule shall not apply to bills
13-2	previously passed by the senate and amended by the house. There shall be at least two (2) bulletin
13-3	boards for such posting, at least one (1) of which shall be for the public's use and shall be under
13-4	the control of and situated at the main entrance to the state library. There shall also be at least one
13-5	(1) bulletin board for the exclusive use of the senators which shall be situated in a convenient
13-6	location.
13-7	6.3 Convening of Meeting.
13-8	The chair of the committee or, in the chair's absence, the vice chair, shall call all regular
13-9	sessions of the committee, set agenda and proceed with the order of business.
13-10	6.4 Public Participation.
13-11	6.4-1 Open Meetings.
13-12	Every standing committee meeting, except executive sessions, shall be open to the public
13-13	during the consideration of all matters coming before it. At such open meetings, persons other
13-14	than members of the committee may testify at the discretion of the committee chair.
13-15	6.4-2 Executive Sessions.
13-16	Any standing committee may be called into executive session by the chair or upon
13-17	motion of one of the committee members if the matter under consideration is deemed by the chair
13-18	to comply with those provisions of the "Open Meetings" law (chapter 42-46) which provides for
13-19	closed meetings; provided, however, when the chair of any standing committee calls the
13-20	committee into executive session, the majority of those members present in the executive session
13-21	may vote not to meet in executive session after having heard the reasons for such executive
13-22	session but no other votes shall be permitted in executive sessions. The chair of the committee
13-23	which may be called into executive session shall provide a general description to the public of the
13-24	reason for calling such committee into executive session.
13-25	6.4-3 Public Hearings.
13-26	In the discretion of the chair, public hearings may be advertised in newspapers,
13-27	stenographic records kept and hearings held at locations other than the state house. The purpose
13-28	of the public hearing shall be to solicit the comments of the public on the matter being
13-29	considered. At the public hearing all persons shall be permitted to testify; provided, however, the
13-30	committee chair may limit the amount of time allotted to speakers except that the prime sponsor
13-31	shall not have a time limit to speak and shall upon request be the first speaker at the hearing.
13-32	After the public hearing has been held for a reasonable period and if there are still persons
13-33	wishing to speak, the committee chair may continue the hearing until another date.
14-34	6.5 Hearing and Consideration of Bills.
14-35	(a) Upon a written request by the prime sponsor of any public bill received by the
14-36	secretary of the senate before the closing of the next legislative day after the deadline for
14-37	introduction as specified in section 4.6 that a committee hearing be held with respect to such bill,
14-38	the committee chair shall schedule a committee hearing within eight (8) legislative days of such
14-39	request unless a later date is agreed to by the prime sponsor. "Received" as used herein shall
14-40	mean receipt in hand by the secretary of the senate or his/her designee. The secretary shall note
14-41	the date and time of receipt on the request and such notation shall be dispositive. On the same
14-42	day, the sponsor shall hand deliver copies of the request to the president of the senate and to the
14-43	committee chair or their designees. The committee shall consider said bill not more than eight (8)
14-44	days after the committee hearing, unless a later date is agreed to by the prime sponsor. If the
14-45	committee does not consider the bill then the committee shall be discharged of its responsibility
14-46	to consider such bill and such bill shall be placed on the senate calendar pursuant to section 7.6
14-47	hereof. Consideration by a committee shall mean any one of the following actions:
14-48	recommendation of passage, recommendation of passage as amended, transfer to another
14-49	committee, indefinite postponement, hold for further study or defeat of the bill.
14-50	(b) Provided further, the minority leader may request in writing within twenty-four (24)
14-51	hours after the deadline for introductions specified in section 4.6 a hearing on any senate bill in
14-52	committee.
14-53	(c) In the event a request is made pursuant to this rule at a time less than sixteen (16) days
14-54	before the deadline for committee consideration set forth in section 6.9, then such request shall
14-55	not be proper and shall be automatically denied.
14-56	6.6 Quorum.
14-57	A committee shall not vote upon any bill in the absence of a quorum which shall consist
14-58	of a majority of the committee's members; provided, however, that at the discretion of the chair,
14-59	less than a quorum may conduct any hearing including public hearings.
14-60	6.7 Minority Representation.
14-61	When there is no minority member present and the committee is to consider a bill, the
14-62	committee chair shall notify the office of the minority leader that there is no senator from the
14-63	minority present. Unless waived by the minority leader, the committee shall not conduct business
14-64	for a reasonable time not to exceed 15 minutes or until a senator from the minority is present.
14-65	Once a minority member is present, his subsequent absence will not require further notice to the
14-66	minority leader.
14-67	6.8 Committee Votes.
15-68	All votes in committee on public bills shall be a recorded roll call vote. The vote upon all
15-69	motions or bills not considered a "public bill" shall, upon the request of any member of the
15-70	committee, be a recorded roll call vote. Otherwise all votes shall be put by yeas and nays.
15-71	Committee chairs shall submit all bills approved by committee to the floor forthwith, with a
15-72	record of the committee vote.
15-73	6.9 Deadline for Consideration.
15-74	After April 11, 2013 for the year 2013 and April 10, 2014 for the year 2014, committees
15-75	shall consider only those public bills which have been acted upon and transmitted to the senate by
15-76	the house of representatives; provided, however, that the president of the senate may request a
15-77	senate committee to immediately consider a senate bill then in committee and said bill shall be
15-78	considered by the committee.
15-79	6.10 Discharge from Committee.
15-80	No bill shall be taken or called from any such committee, or the committee discharged
15-81	from the consideration thereof, except:
15-82	(a) Any senator may present a petition, in writing, to discharge a committee from further
15-83	consideration of a bill which has been in the possession of the committee for thirty (30)
15-84	legislative days without having been considered, but only one petition on a particular bill may be
15-85	presented during the course of a session. Prior to presenting the petition, the senator must
15-86	introduce a resolution of intent to discharge such committee. Such resolution of intent shall
15-87	contain the bill number and the committee to be discharged. The presiding officer shall cause the
15-88	resolution of intent to be printed in the journal of the senate. The petition shall be placed in the
15-89	custody of the presiding officer who shall arrange some convenient place for the signatures of the
15-90	senators to be placed thereon in the presence of the reading clerk during the hours in which the
15-91	senate is in session. A signature may be withdrawn by a senator at any time before the petition
15-92	shall become effective.
15-93	On the first day of each week, there shall be printed in the journal of the senate the
15-94	petitions pending under these rules, together with the signatures thereto; provided, however, that
15-95	as soon as a majority of all the senators elected to the senate shall have affixed their signatures to
15-96	any such petition to discharge a committee under this rule, the presiding officer shall cause notice
15-97	thereof to be given to chair and clerk of the committee to which such bill was referred, and such
15-98	notice shall, thereupon, automatically discharge the committee from further consideration of the
15-99	bill and the bill shall be placed upon the calendar in accordance with section 7.6 hereof.
15-100	(b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to change the deadline for
15-101	consideration as specified in section 6.9.
16-102	6.11 Compelling Committee Action.
16-103	If a committee to which a bill has been referred fails to consider such bill within sixteen
16-104	(16) legislative days of its referral, the prime sponsor of such bill, or a majority of the appointed
16-105	members, but not less than four (4) committee members, may, in writing, request the chair of the
16-106	committee, through the presiding officer of the senate, that such bill be considered. The request
16-107	shall be printed in the journal of the senate. The committee shall consider such bill at its first
16-108	meeting held at least two (2) legislative days after such request is made. If the committee does not
16-109	consider the bill within eight (8) legislative days of receipt of the request then the committee shall
16-110	be discharged of its responsibility to consider such bill and such bill shall be placed on the senate
16-111	calendar pursuant to section 7.6 hereof. Consideration by a committee shall be interpreted to
16-112	mean any one of the following actions: recommendation of passage, recommendation of passage
16-113	as amended, transfer to another committee, indefinite postponement, hold for further study or
16-114	defeat of the bill. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to change the deadline for
16-115	consideration as specified in section 6.9.
16-116	6.12 Defeat of a Bill.
16-117	Once a bill is defeated in committee, the same shall not be acted upon or considered
16-118	again during the same legislative year.
16-119	6.13 Indefinite Postponement.
16-120	Whenever any bill is postponed indefinitely in committee, the same shall not be acted
16-121	upon or considered again during the same legislative year.
16-122	6.14 Transfer of Bills.
16-123	In the event the chair of any standing committee determines that any bill then pending
16-124	before the committee would more properly be pending before another standing committee of the
16-125	senate, the chair shall transfer such bill to such other standing committee as is deemed appropriate
16-126	during the reports of committees.
16-127	6.15 Committee Records.
16-128	All recorded votes of committees, all written testimony submitted to a committee, and the
16-129	transcripts of any recorded testimony shall be retained by the clerk of each committee, shall
16-130	constitute public records, and shall be available for inspection to any senator and to any person
16-131	upon request. All committee votes, transcripts and testimony shall be transmitted to the secretary
16-132	of state pursuant to state law and senate policy following final adjournment in even numbered
16-133	years.
16-134	6.16 Attribution of Bills.
16-135	Upon presentation of testimony before a committee, the prime sponsor of the bill shall
16-136	provide to the committee the name of any individual, group or organization responsible for the
17-1	substantive basis or text of the bill.
17-2	SECTION 7
17-3	PROCEEDINGS ON THE SENATE FLOOR
17-4	7.1 Right to the Floor.
17-5	No senator shall address another except through the presiding officer. A senator shall rise
17-6	to put a question, may state it or read a paper sitting. When any senator wishes to speak or to
17-7	deliver any matter to the senate, the senator shall press his or her recognition control and the
17-8	presiding officer shall recognize the senator who so requests recognition and the order of
17-9	recognition shall be determined by the presiding officer. The senator so recognized shall not be
17-10	interrupted while speaking except by a call to order or a motion to suspend section 3.5. The
17-11	senator shall then immediately be seated unless permitted by the senate to proceed, which shall be
17-12	determined upon motion without debate. No senator shall speak more than twice on the same
17-13	question without leave of the senate which shall be determined without debate, nor more than
17-14	once until the other senators who have not spoken shall speak if they so desire, provided, however
17-15	that a senator may yield his or her right to the floor to another senator.
17-16	7.2 Personal Privilege.
17-17	Only at the time provided for in section 3.3, a senator may claim the floor to address the
17-18	senate on personal privilege. Personal privilege shall include the right to reply to criticism, or to
17-19	discuss anything clearly derogatory to the member or which reflects upon his or her character that
17-20	appears in the press or other public medium but shall not include the right to discuss favorable
17-21	references to the senator, nor to reply to generalized criticism of the senate which does not refer
17-22	to him or to her specifically, nor to attack another member of the senate personally. Whether a
17-23	member's remarks constitute personal privilege shall be determined by the presiding officer.
17-24	7.3 Addressing the Senate on Important Matters.
17-25	Only at the time provided for in section 3.3, a senator may request unanimous consent of
17-26	the senators present to address the senate on a topic or matter of importance to the welfare of the
17-27	state. A senator granted the right to so address the senate may be interrupted at any time by
17-28	another senator who wishes to object to the first senator's right to continue to address the senate
17-29	and upon such objection the first senator's right to address the senate shall terminate.
17-30	7.4 Objectionable Language.
17-31	No senator shall use profane, insulting, or abusive language in the course of public debate
17-32	on the senate floor, or in testimony before any committee of the general assembly.
17-33	7.5 Priority of Business.
18-34	All questions relating to priority of business to be acted upon shall be decided by the
18-35	presiding officer without debate.
18-36	7.6 Calendar.
18-37	There shall be a calendar kept by the secretary of the senate upon which shall be placed
18-38	the bills reported by all committees, and all other matters ordered placed thereon by the senate.
18-39	Matters on the calendar shall be arranged by the secretary of the senate in numerical order by
18-40	committee unless otherwise ordered by the president of the senate in agreement with the majority
18-41	leader and the minority leader. Such calendar shall be electronically available to all members of
18-42	the senate. Except as provided in section 7.13, and during consideration of the calendar, no other
18-43	business shall intervene except to receive a communication from the house or a motion to
18-44	suspend section 3.5.
18-45	All business on the calendar not disposed of at the time of adjournment shall be first in
18-46	order on the calendar the next day. No matter of business on the calendar shall be considered
18-47	upon its merits unless it has been on such calendar for at least two (2) calendar days; except that
18-48	the president of the senate may order a bill placed on the calendar for more than two (2) calendar
18-49	days; provided, however, a bill passed by the senate and amended by the house of representatives
18-50	may be considered by the senate without being on the calendar for two (2) calendar days if the
18-51	requirements of section 4.10-1 have been met.
18-52	7.7 Consent Calendar.
18-53	Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7.6, the secretary of the senate shall also
18-54	maintain a separate calendar, designated as the consent calendar, upon which shall be placed
18-55	resolutions required by Rule 4.8, acts seeking to vacate the forfeiture of a corporate charter and
18-56	such other bills as directed by the president of the senate. Matters on the consent calendar shall be
18-57	in order for disposal on each day and shall include all such matters reported or referred thereto
18-58	from the previous day. Such consent calendar shall be posted in the chamber of the senate. All
18-59	matters on the consent calendar shall be disposed by roll call vote on a single motion except such
18-60	matters as may be objected to by any single senator, which said matter or matters shall be held
18-61	over on the regular calendar for the next legislative day.
18-62	7.8 Reports of Joint Committees.
18-63	No bill reported by or forwarded on the recommendation of a joint committee of the two
18-64	houses shall be in order for concurrence by the senate if it shall appear that the members of such
18-65	joint committee on the part of the senate, if in attendance on the general assembly, shall not have
18-66	been notified or present when the subject was acted on by such joint committee. No report shall
18-67	be acted on in the senate from any joint committee unless as subscribed by a senator who is a
18-68	member of said committee. Any report from a joint committee shall be made on the floor of the
19-1	senate by a member of said committee, notwithstanding that said member may not have
19-2	concurred in the report and said report shall be held on the desk unless ordered placed on the
19-3	calendar pursuant to section 7.6 by the president of the senate or by a majority vote of the senate.
19-4	7.9 Messages from the House.
19-5	When a message is received from the house of representatives, transmitting any papers,
19-6	the secretary of the senate shall transmit to the office of the president of the senate all house
19-7	transmittals received on that day. The president of the senate shall assign house transmittals to
19-8	committees upon adjournment of the senate. The secretary of the senate shall cause all house
19-9	transmittals to be published in the senate journal for the day such transmittals are received. Any
19-10	senator may object to the committee assignment for any transmittal received during the previous
19-11	legislative day. Upon objection being made, the presiding officer shall assign the transmittal to
19-12	the committee requested by the senator making the objection, provided, however, that if another
19-13	senator objects to any assignment or proposed assignment of the transmittal, then the presiding
19-14	officer shall call for a vote of the senate on any motion for assignment which has been made and
19-15	seconded, such motion requiring a majority vote of those senators present and voting for
19-16	assignment to a particular committee.
19-17	During the time for consideration of house transmittals, a senator may move for
19-18	immediate consideration of a house transmittal, received by the secretary of the senate on the
19-19	previous legislative day. If there is no objection to the motion, it is deemed to be approved, but if
19-20	there is objection to the motion for immediate consideration, the presiding officer shall submit the
19-21	motion to a vote of the senate, such motion for immediate consideration shall require the votes of
19-22	two-thirds (2/3) of those senators present and voting, for approval.
19-23	7.10 Amendments.
19-24	No senator may amend from the floor any bill pending before the senate unless such
19-25	amendment be submitted, electronically or in writing, with sufficient copies signed by the
19-26	proponent, and read to the body; provided, however, that no amendment to the annual budget bill
19-27	making appropriations for the support of the state may be offered, except with the agreement of
19-28	two-thirds (2/3) of the members present, unless copies thereof shall have been filed with the
19-29	secretary of the senate no later than 12:00 o'clock noon on the legislative day preceding the
19-30	legislative day on which the budget bill shall be in order for consideration: provided however that
19-31	with majority consent a senator may make an oral amendment of a technical or minor nature.
19-32	7.11 Votes in Concurrence.
19-33	Whenever any bill shall come before the senate for concurrence, and the senate concurs
19-34	without amendments, or fails to concur, the secretary of the senate may announce the concurrence
20-1	or nonconcurrence to the other house, but the original bill received by the senate shall not be
20-2	transmitted to the other house.
20-3	7.12 Motions.
20-4	No motion shall be debated until it has been seconded. For the purpose of recorded votes
20-5	only the first second shall be recorded. A motion may be withdrawn by the mover at any time
20-6	before a decision or a motion to amend, except a motion to reconsider, which shall not be
20-7	withdrawn after the time has elapsed within which it could be originally made.
20-8	7.13 Interruption of Debate.
20-9	When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received except to suspend section
20-10	3.5, to adjourn, to recommit, for the previous question, to close debate, to fix a time for closing
20-11	debate, to take a recess, to lay on the table, to take from the table, to transmit, to postpone
20-12	indefinitely, to change calendar arrangement, or to amend, and any motion or resolution the
20-13	purpose of which is to take any bill or any other matter from committees of the senate or to
20-14	discharge a committee from the consideration thereof, which several motions shall have
20-15	precedence in the order in which they are here arranged and shall be decided by majority vote
20-16	without debate.
20-17	7.14 Adjournment.
20-18	When time for meeting of the senate shall have been previously fixed, a motion to
20-19	adjourn and a motion to suspend section 3.5 shall always be in order. The senate shall not be
20-20	adjourned except by affirmative vote of a majority of the senators present and voting.
20-21	7.15 Lay on the Table.
20-22	When an amendment proposed to any pending measure be laid on the table, it shall not
20-23	carry with it, or prejudice such measure.
20-24	7.16 Dividing Questions.
20-25	A question that is susceptible of division shall, at the request of the majority, be divided
20-26	and put separately upon the propositions of which it is compounded.
20-27	7.17 Non-Germane Amendments.
20-28	No motion or proposition of a subject different from that under consideration shall be
20-29	admitted under color of amendment.
20-30	7.18 Motion for Reconsideration.
20-31	A senator on the prevailing side of any vote may, on the same legislative day, move to
20-32	reconsider the vote on the same or following legislative day. When a bill has been reconsidered it
20-33	shall not be reconsidered again during the session. Bills and other papers in reference to which a
20-34	motion to reconsider is pending shall, unless otherwise ordered, remain in the possession of the
21-1	secretary of the senate until the right of reconsideration has expired. The privilege to reconsider
21-2	granted by this rule may be suspended by a majority vote of the senators present and voting.
21-3	7.19 Printed Material.
21-4	If the reading of any printed or written paper be objected to, the matter shall be
21-5	determined by a majority vote of the senate without debate.
21-6	7.20 Recommittal.
21-7	No motion to recommit shall be entertained by the presiding officer as to any bill which
21-8	is placed on the calendar as the result of section 6.10 until every senator desiring to be heard has
21-9	been recognized, notwithstanding the provisions of section 7.13.
21-10	7.21 Immediate Consideration.
21-11	During the time for introduction and reference of new business, as provided in section
21-12	3.3, a senator may introduce a bill and move for immediate consideration of the bill at that time.
21-13	If there is no objection to the motion, for immediate consideration it is deemed to be approved,
21-14	but if there is objection to the motion for immediate consideration, the presiding officer shall
21-15	submit the motion to a vote of the senate; such motion for immediate consideration shall require
21-16	the votes of two-thirds (2/3) of those senators present and voting, for approval. If the bill is not
21-17	available electronically to all members of the senate at the time of the request for immediate
21-18	consideration, then a hard copy of the bill shall be made available to any senator upon request.
21-19	7.22 Questions During Debate.
21-20	A senator, while speaking after recognition by the chair, may, upon request of a senator,
21-21	yield to him or her temporarily without thereby relinquishing his or her prior right to the floor
21-22	and, thereafter, may terminate such interruption and resume speaking at any time; provided,
21-23	however, that it shall not be in order for a senator to rise and request that a senator, other than the
21-24	one with the right to the floor, yield to a question. Furthermore, it shall not be in order for a
21-25	senator, with the right to the floor, to ask another senator to yield to a question, unless such
21-26	senator has previously spoken during the debate on the matter. All questions and responses shall
21-27	be directed through the chair and the presiding officer shall not be interrupted when speaking.
21-28	SECTION 8
21-29	VOTING ON THE SENATE FLOOR
21-30	8.1 Method of Voting.
21-31	The electronic roll of the senate shall be called upon any vote pertaining to a public bill
21-32	and for passage of the consent calendar and on any other vote at the request of any senator
21-33	present; otherwise, votes shall be put by yeas and nays. In naming sums or numbers, and fixing
21-34	times, the largest sum or longest time shall be put first.
22-1	8.2 Voting Machine Inoperative.
22-2	In the event the machine is not to be used to record a vote or is not operating properly, all
22-3	votes and other determinations may be taken as required by senate rules, either by voice vote,
22-4	division vote or by calling the roll alphabetically and recording the yeas and nays. If a senator's
22-5	voting device is out of order, the senator shall rise and announce it to the presiding officer and
22-6	cast his or her vote orally prior to the declaration of the result of the vote.
22-7	8.3 Who May Vote.
22-8	Any member who is present on the senate floor must vote. Any senator who is not on the
22-9	floor at such time, but who returns before the machine is locked, shall be permitted to vote.
22-10	Without objection or with a majority vote, a senator may be permitted to cast a vote after the
22-11	results have been announced, provided however such request shall be made on the same calendar
22-12	day and, only if the vote if so permitted, will not change the result previously announced.
22-13	8.4 Control of Electronic Voting System.
22-14	The electronic voting system shall be under the control of the presiding officer and shall
22-15	be operated by such personnel as the president of the senate so designates.
22-16	8.5 Conducting a Vote.
22-17	At a reasonable time prior to any vote being taken, the presiding officer shall announce
22-18	that a vote is about to be taken. When any senator other than the president of the senate is
22-19	presiding, such senator may direct either the Secretary of the Senate or the reading clerk to cast
22-20	his or her vote at his or her voting station, but at no other time may a senator designate any other
22-21	person to cast his or her vote. Until the completion of the voting, no senator shall be recognized,
22-22	and no other business shall be transacted. When sufficient time has elapsed for each senator to
22-23	vote prior to locking the machine, the presiding officer shall ask if any member present desires to
22-24	vote or change his or her vote. The presiding officer shall then order the machine locked and
22-25	activate the recording process. The voting machine shall remain locked between all votes.
22-26	8.6 Announcing the Tally.
22-27	When the vote is completely recorded, the Secretary of the Senate shall advise the
22-28	presiding officer of the result; and the presiding officer shall announce the result to the senate and
22-29	the result shall be recorded in the journal.
22-30	8.7 Changing a Vote.
22-31	No vote may be changed after the system has been locked and the vote recorded except
22-32	that, after a vote has been recorded, any senator may, by a majority vote of the senate, be
22-33	permitted to change his or her vote, provided that such change be effected on the same calendar
22-34	day as his or her original vote.
23-1	8.8 Recording Votes.
23-2	8.8-1 On any recorded vote, no senator shall be recorded as having voted unless he or she
23-3	has been recorded or recognized as being present prior to the conduct of said vote.
23-4	8.8-2 Upon request, on any non-recorded vote, any senator shall have his or her vote
23-5	recorded so that it shall appear in the journal of the senate.
23-6	8.9 Voting for Another.
23-7	No senator may vote for another senator; nor may any person cast a vote for a senator,
23-8	except as otherwise provided in section 8.5. A senator who voted for another senator may be
23-9	punished in a manner the senate determines. A person voting for a senator, when not authorized
23-10	by section 8.5, is barred from the floor of the senate and may be further punished as the senate
23-11	determines.
23-12	8.10 Explanation of Vote.
23-13	No explanation of any vote will be permitted during the voting or after a vote has been
23-14	cast.
23-15	8.11 Statement of the Question.
23-16	After the question has been put, but before the system is locked, any senator may call for
23-17	a statement of the question.
23-18	8.12 No Interruption.
23-19	While the presiding officer is putting the question, or the vote is being recorded, no
23-20	senator shall speak or leave his or her place.
23-21	SECTION 9
23-22	PROCEEDINGS ON NOMINATIONS
23-23	9.1 Scope.
23-24	The senate’s exercise of its constitutional obligation to give advice and consent to
23-25	executive appointees shall be governed solely and exclusively by these rules.
23-26	9.2 Delivery.
23-27	Nominations shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Senate, or his designee, at the
23-28	Office of the Secretary for presentation to the Senate.
23-29	9.3 Presentation to the Senate.
23-30	When a nomination shall be presented to the Senate for advice and consent, it shall,
23-31	unless otherwise ordered, be referred to the appropriate committee or committees and a copy of
23-32	the nomination shall be delivered to the senator within whose district the nominee resides. Except
23-33	as set forth herein, nominations shall follow the same course and be subject to the same
23-34	procedures as bills introduced pursuant to Rules of the Senate.
24-1	9.4 Questions Presented.
24-2	The final question on every nomination shall be, "Will the Senate advise and consent to
24-3	this nomination?" which question shall not be put on the same legislative day on which the
24-4	nomination is received, nor on the legislative day on which it may be reported by a committee.
24-5	Provided, however, that this provision may be waived by vote of a majority of the Senate.
24-6	9.5 Effect of Non-action.
24-7	Nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the annual session at which they are
24-8	made shall not be acted upon at any succeeding session unless renewed by the appointing
24-9	authority; and if the Senate shall adjourn or be in recess for a period in excess of thirty (30) days,
24-10	all nominations pending and not finally acted upon at the time of such adjournment or recess shall
24-11	be returned by the Secretary of the Senate to the appointing authority, and shall not again be
24-12	considered unless they shall again be made and delivered to the Senate by the appointing
24-13	authority.
24-14	9.6 Withdrawal of Nominations.
24-15	Nominations may be withdrawn by the appointing authority at any time prior to final
24-16	action thereon by the Senate.
24-17	SECTION 10
24-18	MISCELLANEOUS
24-19	10.1 Legislative Aides.
24-20	The president of the senate may appoint and prescribe the duties and terms of a
24-21	parliamentarian and one head page and as many assistant pages, doorkeepers and legislative aides
24-22	as the president of the senate shall deem necessary; and any or all of them may be removed at the
24-23	pleasure of the president of the senate.
24-24	10.2 Absence of a Quorum.
24-25	When there shall be seven (7) or more senators, but less than a quorum of the senate
24-26	present, a majority of the senators present may direct the presiding officer to compel the
24-27	attendance of absent senators in accordance with law.
24-28	10.3 Amendment and Suspension of Rules.
24-29	No rule shall be repealed, suspended or amended, or the operation thereof temporarily
24-30	suspended except by two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting.
24-31	10.4 Access to the Senate Chamber.
24-32	10.4-1 Access During Senate Session.
24-33	Ten minutes prior to the time the senate is scheduled to convene, the secretary of the
24-34	senate shall clear the senate chamber of all persons other than members of the general assembly,
25-1	general assembly staff, guests of a senator, and authorized representatives of the news media.
25-2	From this time to the adjournment or recess of said session no persons other than those listed
25-3	above shall be admitted to the senate chamber except with permission from the senate president.
25-4	10.4-2 Senators' Seats.
25-5	The seat of each senator shall be assigned by the president of the senate, and in no event
25-6	shall any other person be permitted to occupy such assigned seat.
25-7	10.4-3 Sheriff's Duties.
25-8	It shall be the duty of the sheriff, or the sheriff's deputies in attendance in the senate, or in
25-9	their absence, a member of the capitol police department, to see that rules 10.4-1, 10.4-2, 10.4-3,
25-10	10.4-4 and 10.4-9 are enforced, and that all senate entrances and exits are kept completely clear
25-11	and open to passage to and from the chamber.
25-12	10.4-4 Gallery.
25-13	When the normal seating accommodations for visitors in the gallery have been filled, no
25-14	additional seats shall be installed, and no persons shall be thereafter admitted to the gallery of the
25-15	senate while in session except to fill vacancies.
25-16	10.5 Confidentiality of Drafting.
25-17	At the request of any senator or senate attorney to the director of the legislative council,
25-18	an entry into the word processing system may be made confidential so that the entry shall be
25-19	accessible only to the senator or senate attorney making such request or his or her designee. An
25-20	entry may be a bill, letter, memorandum or any other document.
25-21	10.6 Misuse of Rules.
25-22	If it appears that the rules are being used as a tactic to impede senate business, the
25-23	presiding officer may make a decision to that effect and put the matter before the senate and a
25-24	majority vote of the senators present shall sustain with finality the ruling of the presiding officer.
25-25	10.7 Extraordinary and Special Session.
25-26	In the event of the calling of an extraordinary session of the general assembly by the
25-27	governor, or a reconvened session by the speaker of the house and the president of the senate,
25-28	said session shall be conducted pursuant to these rules; provided, however, that rules 4.10-1, 6.2,
25-29	7.6 and 7.8 are not applicable to any such session; and, provided further, that any bill, act or
25-30	resolution for consideration of which the session is called shall have been provided to the
25-31	members at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the consideration of the senate.
25-32	10.8 Robert's Rules.
25-33	Robert's Rules of Order shall govern procedure on the senate floor and in the committees
25-34	of the senate in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with these rules or with any joint rules
26-1	of the senate and house.
26-2	10.9 Use of Facilities.
26-3	The senate locker room, lounge and corridor adjacent to them shall be for the exclusive
26-4	use of the senators and their guests.
26-5	10.10 Decorum.
26-6	No senator shall use profane, insulting or abusive language or act in any manner that
26-7	interferes with the orderly conduct of the session of the senate.
26-8	10.11 Smoking Prohibited.
26-9	Smoking shall be prohibited in all senate areas including, but not limited to: the chamber,
26-10	gallery, lounge, committee rooms, offices, restrooms or hallways. The presiding officer shall
26-11	enforce this rule.
26-12	10.12 Consumption of Food and Alcoholic Beverages.
26-13	The consumption of food and alcoholic beverages shall be prohibited on the senate floor.
26-14	Except at the specific request of a member, all beverages consumed on the floor shall be in paper
26-15	or plastic cups.
26-16	10.13 Appropriate Attire Required.
26-17	All persons on the floor of the senate while the senate is in session shall be properly
26-18	dressed, and the presiding officer shall enforce this rule by appropriate means.
26-19	10.14 Electronic Devices.
26-20	During sessions cell phones shall not be used on the floor of the senate or in committee
26-21	hearing rooms when committee meetings are in session. Further, pagers may be used only on the
26-22	silent/vibrate mode.
26-23	10.15 Photographic Equipment.
26-24	During sessions, photographic equipment shall not be used on the floor of the senate or in
26-25	committee hearing rooms when committee meetings are in session unless he or she has the
26-26	permission of the president of the senate or the senate committee chair. This section shall not
26-27	apply to properly credentialed representatives of the news media.
26-28	10.16 Display of Posters, Signs, and Banners on the Floor.
26-29	No placard, sign, poster, banner, chart or other visual aid of similar nature shall be
26-30	displayed on the floor of the Senate or used in debate at any time when the Senate is in session
26-31	without the consent of the presiding officer. Any decision of the presiding officer under this rule
26-32	may be appealed to the body.
26-33	10.17 Display of Posters, Signs, and Banners Prohibited in the Gallery.
27-34	No placard, sign, poster, banner, chart or visual aid of similar nature shall be displayed in
27-35	the gallery at any time when the Senate is in session. The presiding officer shall order any such
27-36	object so displayed to be removed.
27-37	10.18 Official Notice.
27-38	Except as otherwise provided in these rules, notice to a member transmitted from the
27-39	Office of the President through the RILIN system to the RILIN address assigned to the member
27-40	shall constitute official written notice to the member as of the date and time of the transmission. It
27-41	is the responsibility of the members to monitor their RILIN address on a regular basis, or to have
27-42	RILIN messages forwarded to an address which is monitored on a regular basis. Alternatively, a
27-43	member may elect to receive such notice directly at an email address other than the member's
27-44	RILIN address by executing a form available in the Office of the President. Once designated,
27-45	transmissions to the alternate email address shall constitute written notice to the member as of the
27-46	date and time of the transmission and will continue to be such until the Office of the President is
27-47	notified of a different address.
27-48	SECTION 11
27-49	TRANSPARENCY
27-50	11.1 Policy.
27-51	It is declared to be the policy of the senate that to the maximum extent possible senate
27-52	votes on public bills and proceedings on the floor and in committee shall be recorded, or video
27-53	screened and published on the general assembly website and/or broadcast on capitol television.
27-54	11.2 Publication of Committee Votes.
27-55	To the extent possible, committee votes shall be published on the general assembly
27-56	website prior to the floor vote on the bill; provided however, that failure of a committee vote to
27-57	appear on the website prior to the floor vote shall not be grounds for objection to consideration of
27-58	the bill on the floor.
27-59	11.3 Televising or Otherwise Recording Committee Hearing.
27-60	To the extent possible, committee hearings shall be video recorded and broadcast to the
27-61	public on capitol television.
27-62	11.4 Publication of Votes.
27-63	All votes on public bills recorded electronically or by roll call shall be placed forthwith
27-64	on the general assembly website.
27-65	11.5 Publication of the Senate Rules.
27-66	The senate rules together with an index thereof shall be published on the general
27-67	assembly website.
28-68	11.6 Authorization and Direction.
28-69	The president of the senate and the senate staff are authorized and directed to take such
28-70	reasonable and prudent action as may be necessary to carry out the policies and directives set
28-71	forth in this section.

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	LC01774
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S0378