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Bill 4362

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      4362
Type of Legislation:              House Resolution HR
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  20000111
Primary Sponsor:                  Altman
All Sponsors:                     Altman
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\nbd\11586ac00.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Rules Committee 29 HR
Subject:                          General Assembly, House of 
                                  Representatives, Rules, Quorum not present, 
                                  return of members (R-3.9)


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   20000111  Introduced, referred to Committee      29 HR
House   19991229  Prefiled, referred to Committee        29 HR


                             Versions of This Bill

TO AMEND RULE 3.9 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR RETURNING MEMBERS TO THE STATE HOUSE AND BARRING MEMBERS FROM LEAVING THE STATE HOUSE WHEN A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN THIS RULE IS INVOKED THE HOUSE AUTOMATICALLY IS IN RECESS FOR FIVE HOURS.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That Rule 3.9 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

"Rule 3.9. If any member shall be absent without leave and a quorum is not present, the Speaker shall instruct the Sergeant at Arms or appoint other authorized persons to send for such member or members and take them into custody. The outer doors to the Chamber shall be closed. The Speaker shall order that security personnel shall be posted at the outer doors of the Chamber and no member shall be permitted to leave the second floor of the State House without written leave of the Speaker. The Speaker may also order that security personnel be posted at all entrances to the State House to prevent members from leaving without authorization. An absent member who is taken into custody after the invocation of this rule shall pay for all reasonable expenses incurred which shall include mileage at the prevailing rate for state employees. In addition, such absent member who is taken into custody shall forfeit his entitlement to subsistence and mileage for that legislative day and shall be subject to any additional penalties the Speaker deems necessary. Should a quorum be present and ten members request, such absent member or members shall be sent for as herein provided and subjected to the same penalties. The Speaker shall strictly enforce the provisions of this rule. Provided, however, in the case of a member not being present when Rule 3.9 is invoked and such member voluntarily returns without being taken into custody, he shall not be subject to the penalties of this section. The invocation of this rule may be rescinded by a majority vote of those present and voting. When this rule is invoked, and not rescinded by the next order of business, the House automatically is in recess for five hours, and no business may be conducted."

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