Adjournment usually occurs by 11 a.m. Sunday afternoon will provide the best opportunity for individual members to comment on any issue coming before the House. Again, officers and staff in the House of Delegates Office will assist members who wish to find out where discussion on the issues in which they are interested will take place. Four concurrent reference committee hearings will be held on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m., with issues being divided among these four committees. Reference committees are composed of seven members who are appointed by the President with consideration to geographical distribution as well as experience with the issues and processes of the House. At these open hearings, when an issue of interest is discussed, any member may step to the microphone and comment.
All members are welcome and are encouraged to attend and participate.
Discussion is rarely curtailed. The chair will impose limits only when discussion is repetitive or if the extent of the committee s agenda demands it. Open hearings will continue until 3 p.m. or until testimony has concluded. Hearings must adjourn or recess no later than 5 p.m. and will reconvene at 8 a.m. the next morning if necessary. The written reports of the reference committees recommendations are usually available by 5 p.m. Tuesday in the House of Delegates Office.