2021 -- H 5003

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LC000333

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS

2019 AND 2020

     Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Carson, and Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2021

     Referred To: House Rules

     RESOLVED, That section 7 of the rules for the House of Representatives adopted by the

House of Representatives at its January session A.D. 2019 entitled "House Resolution Adopting

the Rules of the House of Representatives for the years 2019 and 2020", be and the same is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     Rules Pertaining to the Order of Business

     (7)(a) The Speaker, or the Speaker’s designee, shall prepare the floor calendar for each

legislative day. The calendar shall be printed or made available electronically to the members

daily. During the legislative session, the House shall convene at 4 p.m. provided that the Speaker,

with adequate notice to the members, may convene the House at another time.

     (b) At the commencement of each day's session the roll shall be called or taken by use of

the electronic voting system. If a quorum is determined to be present the Speaker shall seek

approval of the previous day’s journal and thereafter proceed to business. The order of business,

unless the Speaker determines otherwise, shall be as follows:

     (i) Reports of standing and select committees.

     (ii) Introduction and reference of new business.

     (iii) Communications, including communications from the Senate.

     (iv) Unfinished business in which the House was engaged at the time of last adjournment.

     (v) Consent calendar.

     (vi) Calendar.

     (vii) Introduction of guests and announcements.

     (viii) Matters of personal privilege.

     (ix) Recess or adjournment.

     (c) A representative desiring to introduce a bill or resolution shall file the same with the

Clerk of the House. At the request of any representative, an announcement presented to the

Speaker may be placed directly in the House Journal noting his or her absence from session.

     (d) All bills and resolutions shall be filed no later than February 14, 2019 (for the 2019

session) and February 13, 2020 (for the 2020 session). The provisions of this section shall not

apply to city or town bills, to bills for the reinstatement of corporate charters, to bills relating to

the solemnization of marriages, appropriations and budget bills, or to bills to create or extend the

reporting dates of study commissions. Further, a member may introduce a public bill or resolution

after this date in February if one day previous to such introduction, the member shall have

notified the House of his or her intention to introduce such bill or resolution by reading the title

and giving a brief explanation of its purpose. A member may avail himself or herself of the

opportunity afforded by this rule three (3) times only in each calendar year, but in no event after

the fortieth (40th) legislative day unless the matter is submitted with the approval of the Speaker.

House Committees may, but shall not be obligated to, hear and consider public bills or resolutions

approved for introduction pursuant to this rule.

     (e) Any bill or resolution introduced on or before April 11, 2019 (for the 2019 session)

and on or before April 16, 2020 (for the 2020 session):

     (i) if filed after the convening of the session, shall be in order for the first reading and

where appropriate, assignment to committee, as early as the next legislative day and shall be

considered a part of the days business, provided that the Speaker may direct that any given

measure may be treated in accord with subparagraph (ii) below, and

     (ii) if filed prior to the convening of the session in the instance where the desk has been

left open to receive matters, shall be in order for the first reading and, where appropriate,

assignment to committee, as early as that day.

     (iii) All bills or resolutions introduced after April 11, 2019 (for the 2019 session) and

after April 16, 2020 (for the 2020 session) shall be in order for the first reading and, may be

assigned to committee, as early as the day of introduction.

     (iv) In the discretion of the Speaker, any bill filed after the convening of the session on

the last legislative day of any week shall also be in order for the first reading as early as the next

day and assigned to committee as if the desk were left open.

     (f) The Clerk of the House shall cause the title and numbers of all bills and resolutions

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introduced along with the name of up to ten (10) co-sponsors to be published in the House

Journal for the day on which said bill or resolution is deemed, as herein provided, to have been

introduced.

     (g) Whenever a member has requested that the text of a resolution be read into the House

Journal, the Speaker may, at his or her discretion, comply with the request and have the resolution

read either during a recess, while the House is at ease or following adjournment. The decorum of

the House shall be maintained throughout the requested reading of the resolution.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

AMENDING THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE YEARS

2019 AND 2020

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     This resolution would amend the house rules to permit up to ten (10) co-sponsor names to

be included on all bills and resolutions.

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