House Resolution 101 PAG LIN 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. ___ 1 2 BY SCHICKEL 1 3 A Resolution amending the permanent rules of the 1 4 House for the Eightieth General Assembly. 1 5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 1 6 That the permanent rules of the House for the 1 7 Eightieth General Assembly, as adopted in House 1 8 Resolution 4, be amended as follows: 1 9 House Rule 52 in House Resolution 4 is amended to 1 10 read as follows: 1 11 Rule 52 1 12 Open Meetings 1 13 Standing committee meetings shall be open, and 1 14 voting by secret ballot is prohibited. The 1 15 requirement that standing committee meetings be open 1 16 and that voting by secret ballot is prohibited shall 1 17 not be circumvented by a closed meeting of members of 1 18 a standing committee from only one political party. 1 19 However, a closed meeting of members of a standing 1 20 committee from one political party can be held upon 1 21 motion requesting such a meeting and adoption by a 1 22 majority of members of the standing committee. The 1 23 committee on administration and rules may close its 1 24 meetings to evaluate the professional competency of an 1 25 individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or 1 26 discharge is being considered when necessary to 1 27 prevent needless and irreparable injury to that 1 28 individual's reputation on the request of the affected 1 29 individual. 1 30 House Rule 57 in House Resolution 4 is amended to 2 1 read as follows: 2 2 Rule 57 2 3 Committee Notice and Agenda 2 4 Each committee shall prepare and publish a notice 2 5 and agenda of each committee meeting at least one 2 6 legislative day prior to the meeting. The notice and 2 7 agenda shall be posted on a bulletin board maintained 2 8 by the house and accessible by the public and on the 2 9 general assembly's public internet web site in an 2 10 electronic format. The notice and agenda may be 2 11 placed on the desks of or transmitted electronically 2 12 to committee members. 2 13 The notice shall contain the committee name, the 2 14 date, time, and location of the meeting. 2 15 The agenda shall contain the matters to be 2 16 discussed, including a list of bills, joint 2 17 resolutions, nullification resolutions, and study 2 18 bills by number. The agenda should contain the names 2 19 of individuals who are scheduled to appear before the 2 20 committee and the organization which they represent. 2 21 A bill, joint resolution, nullification resolution, 2 22 or study bill shall not be reported out of committee 2 23 if the bill was not included in the published notice 2 24 and agenda unless this rule is suspended by a majority 2 25 of the total membership of the committee. 2 26 A committee chair may call a meeting without 2 27 providing the required notice and agenda upon leave of 2 28 the house if a notice is either electronically 2 29 transmitted to committee members and placed on the 2 30 bulletin board or placed on the desks of committee 3 1 members. 3 2 The House Rules in House Resolution 4 are amended 3 3 by adding the following new rule: 3 4 NEW RULE. 3 5 Rule 61A 3 6 Standing Committee Testimony 3 7 Members of the public shall be given the 3 8 opportunity for public comment on bills pending before 3 9 a standing committee pursuant to the requirements of 3 10 this rule. Persons wishing to appear before a 3 11 committee and provide public comment on a bill shall 3 12 notify the committee chair in writing in advance of 3 13 the meeting or by signing a registration form that 3 14 shall be made available at each committee meeting 3 15 location. Public comment from persons who have 3 16 registered in advance of the meeting shall be taken at 3 17 the discretion of the committee chair during the 3 18 meeting. If public comment is deemed appropriate and 3 19 necessary, the chair shall set time guidelines for 3 20 public comments. 3 21 LSB 5113YH 80 3 22 ec/pj/5