Source: http://www.wyoleg.gov/2008/Rules/Joint.htm
Timestamp: 2018-06-18 11:11:45
Document Index: 100297429

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 766', '§ 771', '§ 761', '§ 761', '§ 761', '§ 761', '§ 763', '§ 702', '§ 738', '§ 740', '§ 726', '§ 694', '§ 618', '§ 2', '§ 30', '§ 19', '§ 21', '§ 279']

JOINT RULES OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE
1-1 Whenever the word "bill" is used in these rules, it shall be understood to include Senate Files, House Bills, Senate and House Joint Memorials and Resolutions unless otherwise specified. Also, the Wyoming Manual of Legislative Procedures, Revised, will be referred to as the "Manual".
APPOINTMENT; LIMITATIONS
2-1 (a) In every case of amendment to a bill agreed upon in one house and dissented from in the other, the latter house shall appoint a committee of three (3) to confer on the matter and request the other house to appoint a like committee. Appointments shall be made by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House pursuant to Sections 769 and 770 of "Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure" generally, and to Paragraph 6 of Section 769, specifically.
(b) A first joint conference committee is not a free committee, however, in addition to recommending that the houses adopt or delete amendments previously adopted by either house, a first committee may propose additional amendments to:
(1) Correct technical errors in a previously adopted amendment;
(2) Make minor language changes in a previously adopted amendment provided the modified amendment is substantially the same as the original amendment; or
(3) Propose an alternative which reflects a compromise position on an issue on which the two houses have adopted conflicting amendments, provided the compromise lies between the positions taken by the two houses.
(c) If the first conference committee report is not adopted, each committee appointed thereafter shall be a free conference committee as defined in Section 773 of "Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure". [Ref: Mason's §§ 766 to 775]
(d) Chapter 71, Section 766, Paragraphs 6 and 7 of "Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure" shall not apply.
CONFERENCE PROCEDURES; MEETING NOTICES
(b) No Conference Committee shall meet to consider any bill referred to it unless notice of the date, time and place of the meeting and the bill to be considered has been announced in open session on the floor of the House and Senate no later than adjournment on the day the meeting is to be held. This section does not apply to:
(i) Continued consideration of a bill by a Conference Committee after the Committee has begun consideration at a meeting for which notice was provided in compliance with this section so long as the date, time and place of the continuation of the meeting is announced by the chairman;
(ii) Conference Committee meetings held on the day scheduled by the officers of the House and Senate to be the last day of the session.
2-3 (a) Report of a conference committee shall be made with two original copies. A majority of the conferees from each house are to sign both copies in the proper places with the chairman from each house signing the top line of their sections. The chairman from the house of the bill's origin shall deliver the two (2) signed copies to his Chief Clerk for processing and approval as to form. The house of origin shall consider the report first. [Ref: Mason's § 771]
(b) An objection that a first conference committee has not confined itself to the scope of its authority to propose amendments pursuant to Joint Rule 2-1(b), or that a conference committee failed to provide notice of a meeting as required by Joint Rule 2-2(b), shall be made from the floor prior to the vote on the report, and if not made at that time is not in order at a later time.
RECEDING FROM NONCONCURRENCE
2-4 If the house of the bill's origin adopts a conference committee report that adopts all of the amendments of the second house and makes no other amendment to the bill, the house of origin shall be deemed to have receded from its nonconcurrence and to have concurred in the amendments of the second house. The action of the house of origin in adopting the conference committee report constitutes final passage of the bill with the amendments of the second house and the bill shall thereupon be sent for enrollment. A message that the house of origin has receded from its nonconcurrence shall be sent to the second house.
MESSAGES, BY WHOM
3-1 Messages shall be sent by persons each house determines to be proper. [Ref: Mason's §§ 761, 763]
MESSAGES ON ACTION TAKEN
3-2 Notice of action of either house to the other shall be in writing and over the signature of the chief clerk of the house from which the notice is sent and addressed to the presiding officer of the other house. [Ref: Mason's § 761]
MESSAGES ON REJECTED BILLS
3-3 When a bill, which has passed in one house, is rejected by the other, a message shall be immediately given to the house in which the bill had passed and the bill transmitted with the message. [Ref: Mason's §§ 761, 769]
MESSAGES OF FINAL ACTION ON A BILL
3-4 When a bill has been finally acted upon by either house, the chief clerk thereof shall, by message, inform the other house of such final action and of any unengrossed amendments thereto. The message, upon receipt, shall be entered upon its journal. Messages shall identify the bill covered thereby by referring to the number and giving a short title, setting forth in a general way the subject thereof. [Ref: Mason's § 761]
MESSAGES, RECEIPT OF
3-5 A receipt shall be taken from the person to whom messages and bills are delivered when same are conveyed from house to house or from one area of responsibility to another. [Ref: Mason's § 763]
4. ENGROSSING AND ENROLLING
4-1 When a bill has passed the house of origin with amendments, it shall first be delivered to the Legislative Service Office to be engrossed with all adopted amendments before the bill is forwarded to the second house for action. A bill delivered to and in the possession of the Legislative Service Office for engrossing shall not be recalled for further action by the first house without the consent of the second house.
4-2 Every bill which has passed both houses shall be delivered by the house which last took action on the bill to the Legislative Service Office which shall promptly prepare the enrolled act to include all adopted amendments in proper form and deliver the act to the chief clerk of the house of origin. A bill received by the Legislative Service Office under this rule shall not be recalled by the second house without the consent of the house of origin. The chief clerk shall endorse on the back of the last sheet of each enrolled act a certificate specifying the house of origin. [Ref: Mason's § 702, 738]
ENROLLED ACT SIGNING
4-3 When enrolled acts are presented to the presiding officer for signing, they shall be the first order of business after the current order and be signed immediately after their titles have been publicly read and the fact of signing shall be entered in the journal. [Ref: Mason's §§ 738, 739]
PRESENTMENT TO GOVERNOR
4-4 When both presiding officers have signed an enrolled act, the messenger shall present the act to the governor for approval and exchange the act for a signed receipt which gives the day and hour of presentation to the governor. [Ref: Mason's §§ 740]
5. RE‑INTRODUCTION OF REJECTED BILLS
5-1 When a bill has been passed in one house and rejected by the other, it shall not be brought in again during the same session, without a notice of three (3) days and approval by a majority of the house in which it is to be renewed. However, the same bill shall not be presented more than twice in either house. [Ref: Mason's § 726]
6. BOTH HOUSES RECEIVE ALL BILLS
6-1 The Legislative Service Office shall distribute a sufficient quantity of bills to both houses for the use of members and staff.
7. JOURNAL ENTRIES
7-1 Journal entries shall show:
(a) Each successive step relative to every bill, shown by number and title only, from introduction into the house up to and including all proposed amendments and action on them. Substitute bills when offered as amendments shall be referenced in the journal by title only;
(b) The full bill title shall be shown in the journal at time of bill introduction and when the bill is next shown in the journal after the title has been amended. All other reference to the bill shall be shown by number and catch line title only;
(c) Messages from the governor and the other house.
[Ref: Mason's §§ 694 to 703]
7-2 At the conclusion of each legislative work day the chief clerk of each house shall have prepared a journal of actions as required by the Constitution, statutory laws and these rules.
8. STATUS SHEETS AND CALENDAR
8-1 The Legislative Service Office shall distribute, each evening, lists showing all action on bills during that day and showing on the next day's calendar the position of each bill in the possession of the appropriate house.
9. JOINT SPONSORSHIP OF BILLS
9-1 Bills may be cosponsored‑sponsored by members of both houses. [Ref: Mason's § 618]
9-2 Any standing committee of the Senate and corresponding committee of the House may, by vote of the majority in each house, act together as a joint committee for the preparation and introduction of bills or for the consideration of bills assigned to the committees.
10. PROCEDURAL AUTHORITY
10-1 The "Wyoming Manual of Legislative Procedures" shall govern procedural matters for the Legislature not shown elsewhere in these rules and not inconsistent with those found in the Wyoming Constitution. Changes to this manual shall be made only with the consent of the rules committees of the Senate and House. [Ref: Mason's § 2]
10-2 All relations between the houses which are not covered by these rules, the Wyoming Statutes and Constitution or the above Manual shall be governed by Mason's "Manual of Legislative Procedure For Legislative and other Governmental Bodies". [Ref: Mason's §§ 30 to 32]
11. ADOPTION OF RULES
11-1 Adoption of separate Senate and House rules shall be accomplished independently by the affirmative vote of the majority of those elected to each body. The joint rules governing relations between the houses shall be adopted by a similar majority as the bodies vote separately on the same question. [Ref: Mason's §§ 19 to 21]
11-2 As early as possible, each house of each new legislature shall adopt by a majority of those elected, the rules of the previous legislature as the temporary rules of the new legislature. [Ref: Mason's § 21]
11-3 By the close of business on the 5th day of each new legislature, the separate rules committees shall submit their recommendation of permanent rules for consideration and adoption in each house by a majority of those elected. A joint meeting of Senate and House rules committees shall make recommendations on the joint rules for each new legislature before adoption of permanent rules. These permanent rules shall govern all sessions of a legislature unless changes are properly adopted.
SUSPENSION OR CHANGE OF RULES
11-4 No joint rule shall be changed, suspended or rescinded except by a vote of at least two‑thirds of the elected members of the House and Senate. [Ref: Mason's §§ 279 to 287, 408]
11-5 All amendments, failed or adopted, shall be retained in the bill jacket after action has been taken on the proposed amendments, to be preserved in the Secretary of State's office as a permanent record.
12. ADMINISTRATIVE RULE ORDERS
12-1 On or before the final day for bill introduction each house shall schedule Committee of the Whole action on administrative rule reports and proposed legislative orders disapproving specified administrative rules, together with expressions of legislative intent, received from the Legislative Management Council as required by W.S. 28‑9‑107. Members of the Management Council in each house shall present the recommendations contained in the reports. The proposed orders are subject to debate, amendment, three readings and roll call votes in each house and conference committees in the same manner as bills except that it shall be referred directly to the Committee of the Whole and that there shall be no requirement for a two‑thirds affirmative vote for introduction during the Budget Session. Recommendations receiving the approval of each house shall be denoted Legislative Orders, signed by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, entered in the Journal and presented to the Governor as prescribed by Article 3, Section 41, Wyoming Constitution.
13-1 When a standing committee has adopted a recommendation of Do Pass on a bill or resolution, the committee report shall be presented to the Presiding Officer for placement on General File within two (2) working days of the standing committee vote unless given leave otherwise by the Presiding Officer.
14. BUDGET BILLS
14-1 (a) Except for emergency appropriations which may be contained in a separate bill, an identical bill for the entire state budget shall be introduced in both the Senate and the House as identical or “mirror” budget bills. Only one (1) of the introduced mirror bills shall be enacted into law. This rule applies to the supplemental budget bill in the same manner as the bill for the entire state budget.
(b) (1) During committee of the whole, second reading or third reading of a mirror budget bill, each section of the bill or portion of a section, including any amendments to that section or portion of a section, shall be considered only once during that reading even though that reading may be extended beyond one (1) day. For the purpose of this subsection, a section of the bill means a separately numbered section dealing with an agency’s budget or a complete, separate numbered section, such as a “Section 200”. A portion of a section means a separately listed line item within that section. The sequence in which the sections of the budget bills are considered shall be the same for both houses.
(2) Following introduction in the first house, the mirror budget bill shall be referred to the committee of the whole.
(3) Notwithstanding Senate Rule 13-1 and House Rule 12-1, third reading of a mirror budget bill in the first house shall be conducted on the second legislative working day following the day second reading is completed.
(c) An amendment may refer to or affect a section or portion of a section of the bill previously considered on the same reading when it is necessary for conformance or when it is essential to the intent of the amendment to the section under consideration. Any amendment which deals with a section that was previously considered on the same reading is not divisible as to that previously considered section.
(d) Notwithstanding House Rule 12‑3 or Joint Rule 4‑ 1, upon passage by the house of origin, a mirror budget bill shall be delivered directly to the second house for action without engrossing, but shall be accompanied by amendments adopted by the first house. A bill so delivered to, and in the possession of, the second house shall not be recalled for further action by the first house without the consent of the second house.
(e) (1) When a mirror budget bill has passed the house of origin, the bill shall be referred to the standing appropriations committee of the second house. The standing committee shall identify amendments from the house of origin which are identical to amendments adopted by the second house with respect to its own mirror budget bill. The standing committee shall submit a list of those amendments so identified to the second house. No action shall be taken regarding this list.
(2) As to all other amendments from the house of origin, the committee shall provide a list of them in the committee’s report, but shall not recommend adoption or rejection and shall not propose any modifications to those amendments. It shall be out of order for the standing appropriations committee to propose any other amendment to the mirror budget bill.
(f) (1) Notwithstanding Senate Rules 8‑4 and 11‑1, House Rules 7‑1 and 10‑1, and any other rule to the contrary, the mirror budget bill passed by the house of origin shall, after the standing appropriations committee of the second house has reported the bill back to the second house, be placed and considered by the second house on third reading. Each amendment on the list specified in paragraph (e)(2) of this rule in the standing committee report from the house of origin shall be explained on the floor by a member of the appropriations committee designated by the chairman.
Consideration on third reading in the second house of the mirror budget bill passing the house of origin shall be limited to an explanation of, or, at the direction of the presiding officer, a non‑binding (“straw poll”) vote regarding each of the amendments adopted by the house of origin which are not identical to amendments adopted by the second house on its own mirror budget bill. Any other amendment shall be out of order. If a "straw poll" vote is taken, Senate Rule 15‑1 and House Rule 14‑1 do not apply to debate on amendments to the mirror budget bill being considered on third reading in the second house to the extent those rules limit members to speaking no more than twice on the same issue. Third reading may be extended beyond one (1) day to consecutive days to permit explanation of, or "straw poll votes" on amendments. Non-binding (“straw poll”) votes shall be taken by roll call only at the direction of the presiding officer. The purpose of these "straw poll" votes are solely to provide non-binding guidance to members of the conference committee from the house in its deliberations on developing a conference committee report.
(g) After all third reading amendments have been considered, no third reading vote will be taken, and the bill shall not be sent back to the house of origin for concurrence. Rather, both mirror budget bills will be immediately referred to the same joint conference committee appointed by the presiding officers of both houses.
(h) Notwithstanding Senate Rule 7‑6, House Rule 4‑6 or Joint Rules 2‑1 through 2‑3, the following rules shall govern joint conference committee action on mirror budget bills:
(1) Both mirror budget bills shall be referred to a single joint conference committee on the budget as soon as third reading in the second house is completed;
(2) The presiding officers of each house shall, in accordance with these rules and “Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure,” appoint a conference committee of five (5) to confer on the two mirror budget bills. A majority of each conference committee shall be appointed from the prevailing side on the vote for third reading and final passage of the mirror budget bill originating in that house. During the Budget Session, the chairmanship of any joint conference committee on the mirror budget bills shall alternate between the house and Senate for each day the joint conference committee meets with the Senate having the chairmanship on the first meeting day;
(3) The first joint conference committee appointed is not a free committee, but each successive committee appointed thereafter shall be a free conference committee as defined in Section 773 of “Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure”;
(4) The joint conference committee shall consider and dispose of each adopted Senate amendment to the Senate mirror budget bill and each adopted House amendment to the House mirror budget bill. Only one (1) report shall be submitted for both mirror budget bills and only one (1) of the two (2) mirror budget bills referred to the committee shall be reported back to both houses. The mirror budget bill not reported back to both houses shall be regarded as automatically tabled;
(5) The signed joint conference committee report shall be simultaneously referred to both houses for concurrence.
(j) Notwithstanding Senate Rule 18-8, House Rule 24-12 or Part II (3) of the Wyoming Manual of Legislative Procedures, a motion for reconsideration of a vote on a mirror budget bill shall be in order only on the same day that the original vote was taken and only if the bill is still in the possession of that house. The vote on the motion to reconsider shall be taken no later than the last item of business on the day of the original vote. If a vote to reconsider has passed or failed on a motion under this subsection, it shall not be in order to move to rescind the vote on that motion.
(3) Notwithstanding Senate Rule 7‑6, House Rule 4‑6 or Joint Rules 2‑1 through 2‑3, the following rules shall govern joint conference committee action on the state budget bill:
(b) The first joint conference committee appointed is not a free committee, but each successive committee appointed thereafter shall be a free conference committee as defined in Section 773 of “Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure”;
(c) The signed joint conference committee report shall be simultaneously referred to both houses for concurrence.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in Joint Rule 14‑1(k)(2), the provisions of Joint Rule 14‑1(a) through (j) shall not apply to the state budget bill.
(m) Amendments to Mirror Budget Bills.
(1) It shall be out of order to propose an amendment to a mirror budget bill during committee of the whole consideration in the first house.
(2) Except as provided in Joint Rule 14-1(m)(3), no amendment shall be considered on second or third reading of a mirror budget bill in the first house unless the amendment has been submitted to the legislative staff for preparation not later than 5:00 p.m. on the legislative working day preceding the day of the reading.
(3) Only the following amendments shall be submitted to the legislative staff for preparation on the day third reading of a mirror budget bill is to begin in the first house:
(A) Amendments to correct errors in previously adopted amendments; and
(B) Amendments sponsored by the chairman of the standing appropriations committee or his designee.
15. ELECTION CONTESTS
15-1(a) Upon receipt of notice of election contest and supporting documents from the secretary of state pursuant to W.S. 22‑17‑112, the presiding officer of the Senate if the contest is for the office of state Senator, or the presiding officer of the house if the contest is for the office of state representative, shall, as soon as possible, appoint a special committee to hear the contest. A special committee in the Senate shall consist of five (5) members and a special committee in the house shall consist of nine (9) members. Committee appointments shall be apportioned as nearly as possible to reflect the percentage of the elected members of the majority and minority parties of the appropriate house. The presiding officer of the appropriate house shall also appoint a chairman of the committee.
(b) (1) The appointed committee shall hear the election contest as expeditiously as possible.
(2) Each party to the proceedings may be represented by counsel and shall be afforded reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present oral argument. In accordance with W.S. 22‑17‑111, any party may, under procedures applicable to a civil action, take the deposition of any witness at any time after service of notice of intent to contest pursuant to W.S. 22‑17‑110. For purposes of this rule, "party" means any contestant and any person who is certified as elected by the state canvassing board whose election is being contested.
(3) The burden of proof is on the contestant to prove at least one (1) of the grounds specified under W.S. 22‑17‑101(a) by a preponderance of the evidence. If the contest is based upon grounds specified under W.S. 22‑17‑101(a)(iv) or (v), the contestant also has the burden of proving that any irregularities shown were of such a nature that, if not for the irregularities or for any illegal votes counted for the person declared elected, that person would not have been elected.
(4) In proceedings before the committee, irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded and no recommendation shall be made unless supported by the type of evidence commonly relied upon by reasonably prudent men in the conduct of their serious affairs. Documentary evidence may be received in the form of copies or excerpts, if the original is not readily available. A party may conduct cross‑examinations required for a full and true disclosure of the facts and a party is entitled to confront all opposing witnesses.
(c) (1) All proceedings of the committee concerning election contests shall be electronically recorded. The committee shall provide all parties advance notice of each meeting, hearing or other proceeding of the committee concerning the election contest.
(2) The chairman of the committee shall have the power to administer oaths and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents relevant to the contest, as authorized by W.S. 28‑1‑107 through 28‑1‑112. Any testimony made at any committee hearing or before the appropriate house which purports to establish matters of fact shall be made under oath.
(d) Not later than the fourth legislative day following the date the committee was appointed, the committee shall report its findings and final recommendation to the appropriate house. The final recommendation of the committee shall be to either sustain or reject the election contest.
(e) (1) As soon as practicable but not later than the second legislative day following receipt of the committee report pursuant to subsection (d) of this rule, the appropriate house shall consider the committee findings and final recommendation. Only a motion to sustain or reject the election contest shall be in order. The motion is debatable.
(2) Debate on the motion to sustain or reject the election contest shall be limited as follows:
(A) No member may speak more than twice on the motion; and
(B) No member shall occupy the floor more than five (5) minutes each time that he speaks; and
(C) There shall be no extensions of time under this rule.
(3) Once deliberations begin on a motion to sustain or reject the election contest, the house or Senate, as applicable, shall not adjourn until the contest is decided.
(4) If a quorum to transact business is present, a majority of the members of the appropriate house who are present may sustain or reject the election contest.
(f) Following a determination under subsection (e) of this rule, the presiding officer of the house or of the Senate, as applicable, shall inform the governor and the secretary of state of the decision.
(g) A decision of either house under this rule is final and shall not be subject to appeal.
(h) If the election contest is rejected by the applicable house, the individual whose election was contested shall, for purposes of salary, per diem and mileage, be treated as if the contest had not been initiated.
16. STANDING COMMITTEE RECORDS
16-1(a) Except for the following designated records, no written document in the possession of a standing committee and no minutes or other record purporting to reflect an action or recommendation of a standing committee shall be deemed to be an official record of the Wyoming Legislature:
(1) Standing committee reports;
(2) Record of votes reported pursuant to Senate Rule 7‑3;
(3) Rulings by the Senate Rules and Procedure committee under Senate Rule 23‑1;
(4) Reports of recommendations on confirmation of appointments required by Senate Rule 25‑3;
(5) Other written records reflecting formal committee action or recommendation which are approved and signed by the committee chairman and which are reported to the full body of the House or Senate and are made a part of the journal.
(b) Except as provided by subsection (a) of this section, all other documents and records developed by, presented to, or in the possession of, a standing committee during a Legislative session are deemed to be unofficial temporary working papers of the standing committee and shall not be preserved as an official record of the Wyoming Legislature following adjournment of the session.
17. JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE RULES
17-1 (a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the standard rules for joint interim committees, attached as Appendix "A" to the Joint Rules of the House and Senate, shall be the rules of each joint interim committee of the Legislature.
(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a joint interim committee which adopts alternative rules at its first regularly scheduled meeting following adjournment of the general session.
18-1 (a) The legislature may call itself into special session if a majority of the membership elected to both houses responds in the affirmative to a written poll of the membership conducted by the Legislative Service Office at the joint direction of the presiding officers of each house.
19-1 Upon a motion to return a bill from one house to the other for corrective action, or for the purpose of reconsideration, which is adopted by two-thirds (2/3) of the members elected to the requesting house, the presiding officer shall direct the chief clerk to send a message to the presiding officer of the house currently in possession of the bill requesting that the bill be returned for necessary action. Upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the elected members of the house having possession of the bill, the bill shall be returned to the requesting house. [Mason's Sec. 762]
20. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CONTEST
20-1(a) Upon receipt of a notice of an election contest pursuant to W.S. 22-17-114, the Legislative Service Office shall forward a copy of the notice to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to each member of the Legislature.
(b) (1) The President and Speaker shall as expeditiously as possible investigate the allegations contained in the notice to determine whether there appears to be a substantial factual basis for the allegations and whether, if proven, the alleged irregularities or illegal votes complained of would likely have affected the final outcome of the contested election. In carrying out this investigation the President and Speaker may direct the Management Council or a subcommittee of the Council to meet, take evidence and testimony, and provide a recommendation to the President and Speaker on the question of calling a special session of the Legislature pursuant to Wyoming Constitution, Article 3, Section 7(a)(ii).
(2) If, following investigation, the President and Speaker determine that it would be appropriate, they shall jointly issue a proclamation calling and establishing a date for the convening of a special session to resolve the election contest.
(c) (1) On the date set for convening a special session under this rule, the Senate and House of Representatives shall meet in joint session in the House Chamber at which time the members will be advised of the nature of the election contest and shall be provided with any information and supporting documentation presented to the President and Speaker during the course of their preliminary investigation. The President of the Senate shall preside at the Joint Session.
(2) At the conclusion of the joint session, the Senate shall withdraw and the two houses shall separately deliberate on the issues presented.
(d) (1) At the direction of the presiding officer, the House or Senate may conduct its investigation sitting as the entire body or may appoint a select committee to hear the election contest and present a recommendation. If a select committee is appointed, its membership shall be apportioned as nearly as possible to reflect the percentage of the elected members of the majority and minority parties of that house.
(2) The party initiating the election contest shall be provided with advance notice of each meeting, hearing or other proceeding of the House, Senate or any select committee concerning the election contest. The party may be represented by counsel and shall be afforded reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present oral argument.
(3) In conducting its investigation, each house shall determine whether the allegations giving rise to the election contest are supported by substantial evidence and whether any irregularities shown were of such a nature that, if not for the irregularities or for any illegal votes counted the final results of the election which is the subject of the election contest would have been different.
(4) In proceedings before the House or Senate, or their select committees, irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded and no recommendation shall be made unless supported by the type of evidence commonly relied upon by reasonably prudent men in the conduct of their serious affairs. Documentary evidence may be received in the form of copies or excerpts, if the original is not readily available.
(e) (1) All proceedings of each house and any select committee concerning election contests shall be electronically recorded.
(2) The Presiding officer or the chairman of the select committee shall have the power to administer oaths and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents relevant to the election contest. Any testimony made at any committee hearing or before the appropriate house which purports to establish matters of fact shall be made under oath.
(f) (1) Upon conclusion of its investigation, each house shall separately consider a motion to sustain or reject the election contest. No other motion shall be in order. The motion is debatable.
(A) No member may speak more than twice on the motion;
(3) Once deliberations begin on a motion to sustain or reject the election contest, the House or Senate, as applicable, shall not adjourn until the election contest is decided.
(g) (1) Upon conclusion of their deliberations, the House and Senate shall again meet in Joint Session in the House Chamber at which time the presiding officer of each house shall announce the results of the final vote taken by their body on the question of sustaining or rejecting the election contest.
(2) An election contest shall be deemed to be sustained by the Legislature only if a motion to sustain the election contest has been adopted by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(h) Following a determination under this rule, the presiding officers of the House and Senate shall jointly certify the decision of the Legislature to the governor and the secretary of state.
(j) A determination of the election contest by the Legislature under this rule is final and conclusive and is not subject to judicial review.
SAMPLE INTERIM COMMITTEE RULES
I. OFFICERS.
A. Chairman. The chairman shall:
1. Call the committee together at the times and places necessary to enable the committee to properly perform its duties.
2. Preside over meetings of the committee and put all questions.
3. Maintain order and decide all questions of order subject to appeal to the committee present.
4. Prepare, or supervise the preparation of, reports of the committee and submit the reports to the legislature.
5. Authorize and approve or disapprove all committee expenditures and sign all vouchers for committee expenses to be presented to the Management Council.
B. Vice Chairman. The vice chairman shall:
Perform all duties of the chairman in the absence of the chairman.
A. Call.
The chairman, the vice chairman in the absence or incapacity of the chairman, or a majority of the members of the joint interim committee, may call a meeting of the committee by sending by regular mail to each member of the committee written notice fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting. Written notice may be waived by unanimous consent of the entire committee. Attendance at any meeting constitutes waiver of written notice. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, less than a quorum of the joint interim committee may meet and transact business provided the absent members are subsequently polled and asked to vote by written ballot on any action taken and further provided the action taken at the meeting is thereby approved by a majority of the members of the full committee.
B. Time and Place.
The time and place of meeting of the joint interim committee shall be designated by the chairman or by the vice chairman or members calling the meeting.
C. Agenda.
Notice of meetings of the joint interim committee shall contain an agenda of business to be considered, or state the purpose of the meeting. Reasonable efforts shall be made to give prior notice of all subjects to be acted upon.
D. Quorum.
The quorum necessary for the joint interim committee to transact business shall be a majority of the members. A majority of the quorum may act on any matter.
E. Minutes.
Minutes of any meeting of the joint interim committee shall be approved and signed by the secretary before distribution to and approval by the members of the full committee.
III. ORDER OF BUSINESS.
A. Standard Order of Business.
2. Reading and approval of minutes.
3. Motion to reconsider.
5. Subcommittee reports.
B. Motion to Reconsider.
A motion to reconsider or to rescind actions of the committee, unless made at the same meeting at which the action was taken, may only be made upon fifteen (15) days prior written notice to each member of the committee, stating what action is to be reconsidered or rescinded.
IV. SUBCOMMITTEES.
1. Membership on subcommittees shall be distributed among House and Senate members to ensure nearly proportional representation. Further, membership on each subcommittee shall be apportioned to reflect as nearly as possible the same percentage of the majority and minority political parties as on the joint interim committee.
2. Subcommittees shall have a number of members as designated by the full committee, but no subcommittee shall have less than three (3) appointed members.
B. Quorum.
A quorum of a subcommittee with an even number of members shall be one‑half (1/2) of the members, who may act on any question. A quorum of a subcommittee with an odd number of members shall be a simple majority of the membership, who may act on any question.
Subcommittees shall perform the duties assigned to them and shall report on all matters referred to them. Actions of a subcommittee shall be reported in the form of proposals or recommendations to the full committee only, and shall have no force or binding effect except by action of the full committee.
1. Rules relating to the full interim committee shall be followed by subcommittees, except with regard to a quorum.
2. Subcommittees shall not call public hearings without the prior approval of the interim committee or the interim committee chairman.
1. The chairman of a subcommittee shall schedule meetings only with the prior approval of the interim committee chairman.
2. The chairman of a subcommittee shall authorize and approve or disapprove all subcommittee expenditures and sign all vouchers for subcommittee expenses.
3. A member of the joint interim committee may attend a meeting of any subcommittee of the joint interim committee whether or not he is a member of the subcommittee, but the person shall not have a vote in any action of the subcommittee. The chairman of the joint interim committee may authorize payment of expenses to the person.
V. ATTENDANCE AT OTHER MEETINGS.
The chairman of the joint interim committee may attend or designate a member of the joint interim committee to attend meetings of interest or concern to committee activities.
VI. PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES.
Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall govern procedural matters for the joint interim committee and its subcommittees not covered elsewhere in these rules.