Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0001
House Amendment HA_B_H2 (House)

HOUSE AMENDMENT 
.. B.. to S . P . 1, 
Joint Rules" 
"Joint Order to Adopt the 
Amend the Joint Order by striking out all of the first 
paragraph and inserting in its place the following: 
'ORDERED, the House concurring, that the Joint Rules of the 
l20th Maine Legislature shall be adopted as the Joint Rules of 
the l2lst Maine Legislature, except for the following change. 
Joint Rule 308 is amended by striking out all of Joint Rule 
and inserting in its place the following: 
'Rule 308. 
Reference of Bills to Committee. 
All bills and resolves must be referred to committee, except 
that this provision may be suspended by a majority vote in each 
chamber. 
1. 
Legislature in Session. 
When the Legislature is in 
session, the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House 
shall jointly suggest an appropriate 
committee 
reference for 
every 
bill, 
resolve 
and 
petition 
offered. 
The 
suggested 
reference must be placed upon the Advance Journal and Calendar of 
each chamber. 
If they are unable to agree, 
the question of 
reference must be referred to a conference of the President of 
the Senate and the Speaker of the House. 
Upon their agreement, 
the suggested reference must be placed upon the Advance Journal 
and Calendar of each chamber. 
If they are unable to agree, the 
question 
of 
suggested 
reference 
must 
be 
referred 
to 
the 
Page l-LR0236(5) 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
~.,. 
HOUSE AMENDMENT ,,!!)" to S. P. 1 
Legislative Council for resolution. 
Upon the decision of the 
Legislative Council, the suggested reference must be placed upon 
the Advance Journal and Calendar of each chamber. 
Each suggested reference appearing upon the Advance Journal 
and Calendar of each chamber must contain a recommendation for 
the printing of the document being referred and may contain a 
recommendation on the number of copies of that document to be 
printed. 
Any 
member 
may 
move 
reference 
on 
the 
floor. 
majority vote is necessary 
reference. 
for 
reconsideration of 
a 
committee 
Notwithstanding Joint 
Rule 
103, 
a 
to overturn the original committee of 
2. 
Legislature Rot in Session. 
When the Legislature is not 
in session or is in recess for more than 4 days, the Secretary of 
the Senate and Clerk of the House may refer the bills to the 
appropriate joint standing committee for public hearing and order 
printing, subject to the approval of the President of the Senate 
and the Speaker of the House. 
3. 
Reference to More Than One Conmittee. 
When a bill or 
resolve has a subject matter that falls within the jurisdiction 
of more than one committee, suggested references may be made and 
the full Legislature may vote to refer a bill or resolve to more 
than one committee. 
When references are made to more than one 
committee, 
the first named committee is responsible for 
the 
scheduling 
and 
conduct 
of all 
public 
hearings, 
subject 
to 
approval of the chairs of the other committee or committees. 
Committees to whom a bill or resolve is referred pursuant to this 
rule shall participate equally in all public hearings and work 
sessions and shall make a joint report or joint reports. 
The 
public hearing or hearings and work session or work sessions must 
be conducted jointly by both committees. 
The chairs of the 
committees involved shall establish the process for conduct of 
the work session or work sessions on the bill. 
If the chairs are 
unable to agree, 
the presiding officers shall establish the 
process. 
The work session process must provide for balanced 
representation for each committee. 
The report or reports on a 
jointly referred bill is as voted by the full membership of each 
committee, 
except that if a 
member serves on more than one 
committee to whom a bill or resolve is referred, that member may 
cast only one vote.' , 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
'f 
HOUSE AMENDMENT .;3" to s. P. 1 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
requires 
when 
committees 
are 
jointly 
referred a bill, those 2 committees are required to meet in joint 
work sessions. 
SPONSORED BY: 
(Representative O'NEIL) 
TOWN: 
Saco 
HOUSE AMENDMENT