A house RESOLUTION

To amend rule 3.10 of the rules of the house of representatives, relating to house seat allotment procedures, so as to revise the process by which seats are selected, to provide for seating by seniority, and provide that members are required to choose seats as close to their other delegation members as possible.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That Rule 3.10 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

            3.10     As soon as practicable, after the House has been organized, the seats of the members shall be allotted as follows:

            The Clerk shall prepare a ballot for each county with only its name printed on it.  These shall be put in a closed box.  The Speaker shall then direct a person or persons to draw them out, one by one. As each ballot is drawn, the delegation from that county shall select their seats, in accordance with the county in which the member resides.  In the event a member's district consists of more than one county, the member may elect to be seated with the delegation the member desires, provided the member indicates the preference to the Clerk of the House prior to balloting.  No delegation may select more than one seat on the main aisle.  The Clerk shall prepare a list of all House members by seniority.  The Speaker shall then call the names of the members one by one in their order of seniority.  As each member is called, the member shall select his preferred seat.  After this member has chosen his seat, the members of his delegation shall then choose their seats which also must be chosen in seniority order.  Delegation members shall choose their seats as close to their other delegation members as possible.  In the event a member serves on more than one delegation, the member may elect to be seated with the delegation the member desires, and such member shall indicate his preference to the Clerk of the House before seat selection begins.

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