TO AMEND RULE 4.6 OF THE RULES OF THE 
HOUSE
OF
REPRESENTATIVES, RELATING TO REQUESTS BY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE FOR COMMITTEES TO
TAKE UP THEIR BILLS, SO AS TO ADD the requirement that the chairman of the
committee set bills and resolutions with thirty or more sponsors for
consideration of the measure by the full committee or subcommittee within seven
days of its referral to the committee; and to amend rule 5.1, relating to introduction
of bills and resolutions and their referral to committees, so as to require
bills and resolutions sponsored by a majority of the House to be placed on the
calendar.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
(1) That Rule 4.6 of the Rules of the House of
Representatives is amended to read:
4.6 a. After twenty days from
the date of reference, the Chairman of the Committee in possession of a measure
shall, upon written request of a sponsor or, in the case of a Senate measure, a
House member, set a time for consideration of the measure by the full committee
or subcommittee which shall be no later than seven legislative working days
thereafter. Provided, however, that a member may request consideration of a
bill or resolution pursuant to this rule only one time per bill or resolution
during a legislative session.
b. The Chairman of the Committee must set bills and
resolutions with thirty or more sponsors for consideration of the measure by
the full committee or subcommittee within seven days of its referral to the
committee. At the subcommittee level, public comment or input must be allowed
upon consideration of the measure.
(2) That Rule 5.1 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended
to read:
5.1 a. No notice shall be required
of a member of his intention to introduce a bill or resolution. Bills and
resolutions shall be referred by the Speaker of the House to the appropriate
committee or committees which may then consider them at such times as the committee
meets. Provided, however, the Speaker may delay referral of a bill or
resolution for one statewide legislative day in order to review the
legislation's subject matter content. Any matter acted upon favorably by any
committee may be reported out by the committee when the House reconvenes and
need not thereafter be sent to any committee but shall then be ready, upon
compliance with other Rules of the House, for second reading consideration;
provided, however, that bills appropriating revenue shall be referred to the
Ways and Means Committee. Provided, further, that bills and resolutions
creating study committees shall first be referred to the appropriate standing
committee having jurisdiction of the subject matter of the bill or resolution.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection a., a bill or resolution sponsored by a majority of the House must
be placed on the House calendar for consideration and not referred first to a
committee.
c. The Speaker may establish procedures and dates for
prefiling legislation prior to the first day of the convening or reconvening of
the General Assembly. All bills received prior to the first day of the
convening or reconvening of the General Assembly shall receive first reading on
the first day of the session.
d. In those years in which all seats of the House are
up for election, no bill shall be received for prefiling between the dates of
adjournment sine die and the date of completion of the Organizational Session
of the House.
e. When the House of Representatives is not in
session and bills are being prefiled and assigned to committees, any member who
wishes to have their name added as a sponsor of a bill may do so by notifying
the Clerk of the House in writing. The Clerk shall then notify the Chairman of
the committee to which the bill has been assigned and their name shall be
added. If a member wishes to sponsor a bill individually then they shall so
indicate on the face of the bill and no additional sponsors shall be allowed.
----XX----
Staff Portal
