Senate Chamber Procedure Manual

Question 1

Session days and times

Answer 1

Mon at 3pm
Tues at 3pm
Wed at 11am

Question 2

Presiding officer

Answer 2

Lieutenant governor, or temporary president appoints member (usually Bailey, Persaud)

Question 3

First order of business

Answer 3

Pledge of allegiance and prayer

Question 4

Steps after prayer

Answer 4

1). Journal of preceding session day
2). Assembly bills passed
3). Message from governor
4). Reports of committees
5). Resolutions

Question 5

Resolution steps

Answer 5

1). Pick up reso from bill drafting (308 cap)
2). Reso sent to senate desk ops (323 Mz cap); need 3 copies
3). Reso usually referred to Finance Comm

Question 6

First Report

Answer 6

Bills reported from committees go to calendar under order of first report

Question 7

Second report

Answer 7

Bills on first report will automatically advance to second report on the following session day

Question 8

Order of third reading

Answer 8

Bills on second report will automatically advance to order of third reading on the following session day. Bills on this order of third reading are eligible for consideration

Question 9

Special report

Answer 9

Some bills may be reported directly out of committee to a special report without needing to wait an extra day

If bills on special report are not acted on that day, then they go to order of first report and follow normal process

Question 10

Active bill list

Answer 10

Bills on third reading calendar that will be voted on. Active list is prepared by majority leader

Question 11

Non-controversial list

Answer 11

Secretary calls up all bills on active list. If no request to lay aside is made, then a vote is taken.

Question 12

Controversial active list

Answer 12

If there is a request to lay a bill aside, then it becomes controversial and is laid aside until all the noncontroversial bills are voted on that day. Then debate ensues on the controversial bills remaining

Question 13

Starred bills on third reading

Answer 13

If a bill has a star, that means that the bill is stuck and no further action can be taken until the star is removed.

Once the star is removed, the bill will appear on third reading calendar next session day

Question 14

Rapid roll call

Answer 14

Secretary names four or five names during roll call and assumes they all want to vote yea unless a senator raises their hand

Question 15

Speeches during rapid roll call

Answer 15

Sponsor may speak on their own bill for 5 minutes. Other senators may speak for 2 minutes

Question 16

Senators not in chamber during rapid roll call

Answer 16

If a senator is marked present for the day, but they are not in the chamber during rapid roll call vote, they are automatically recorded in affirmative

Question 17

Senator not in chamber during controversial reading

Answer 17

If senator wants to vote, they must be in their seats (not automatic)

Question 18

Triggering slow roll call

Answer 18

5 senators must stand up at their seats and request slow roll call vote. Then secretary calls name of each senator by name

Question 19

Preparing bills for final passage

Answer 19

Senator should be prepared to explain, debate, defend bill. Necessary briefs should be prepared in advance

Question 20

Introducing a bill

Answer 20

Introduced at Senate Intro and Revision in Rm 540 Mz Cap

Copies:
- 2 drafts of bill with member signatures
- 4 sponsors memos

Question 21

Final date for bill introduction

Answer 21

Temporary president may decide to stop bill introduction. Even still, bills could then be introduced by message from Assembly or Rules Committee

Question 22

Uni-bill

Answer 22

Includes BOTH Senate and Assembly sponsor

Copies:
- 4 drafts of bill with member signatures
- 8 sponsor’s memos

Question 23

Companion bill

Answer 23

Identical bills by Senate and Assembly introduced separately

Question 24

Multi-sponsored bills

Answer 24

Bill that is sponsored by multiple senators, but will not be amended later just to add or withdraw another sponsor (need additional forms for that)

Question 25

Home rule requests

Answer 25

Bills affecting a particular locality may require a home rule request from that locality. Senator must notify municipality

Copies:
- 2 requests by municipality to senate home rule counsel (Rm 500E Cap)
- 2 requests by municipality to assembly home rule counsel

Question 26

Date of action rule for home rule

Answer 26

The date of action of municipality on a home rule request must NOT be earlier than amended date of bill

Question 27

Local fiscal impact notes

Answer 27

If bill would have a substantial fiscal impact for political subdivisions (counties, towns), sponsor needs to draft a local fiscal impact note (LFIN) before it can be reported to floor

Senate’s LFIN coordinator will notify if it is necessary. Then fill out green form and file it with coordinator

Question 28

Form No. 63

Answer 28

To request a bill out of committee. Attach 2 copy of bill and 2 copies of sposnors memo

Question 29

Order of motions and resos

Answer 29

Motions may be made to amend, recommit, or star bills on the floor

Question 30

Restrictions motions for committee consideration

Answer 30

Not allowed after first monday in May

May not file more than 3 motions

Only allowed 45 days after bill referred to committee

Question 31

Amending bills

Answer 31

Copies:
- 2 marked copies of bill
- 4 detailed statements
- 4 sponsors memos
- signed authorization sheet

Send to senate desk operations (rm 323 mz cap)

Question 32

Amending bills on third reading

Answer 32

Must be done on the floor

Question 33

High bills

Answer 33

Bills amended while on calendar. Will be designated with an H, and it cannot be acted on until bill is reprinted and on file for three days

Question 34

Designation of bills amended by other house

Answer 34

If Assembly bill is amended by Senate = 21,000 reprint number

If Senate bill is amended by Assembly = 30,000 reprint number

Question 35

Notification of committee agendas

Answer 35

Should announce committee agendas by 3pm on Thursday preceding regular meeting