AR12: Resolution Text

LRB-3969/1

RAC:cjs&ahe

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly RESOLUTION 12

October 8, 2019 - Introduced by Committee on Rules. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AR12,1,9 To renumber and amend assembly rule 31 (8), assembly rule 31 (9), assembly rule 31 (10), assembly rule 31 (11), assembly rule 31 (12) and assembly rule 31 (13); to amend assembly rule 11 (4), assembly rule 13 (1) (c), assembly rule 15 (2), assembly rule 42 (3) (c), assembly rule 43 (2), assembly rule 55m (1), assembly rule 67, assembly rule 69 (1), assembly rule 73 (1) (a), assembly rule 73 (1) (b), assembly rule 90 (4), assembly rule 95 (6) and assembly rule 96; and to create assembly rule 11 (12), assembly rule 32 (3m), assembly rule 65 (2) (i), assembly rule 73 (3m), assembly rule 73m and assembly rule 83 (2m); relating to: the assembly rules.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This resolution makes the following changes to the assembly rules:

Appearance at committee meetings by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication

The resolution amends the assembly rules to allow a standing committee chairperson during any biennial session to permit a member to participate in committee meetings by telephone or by other means of telecommunication or electronic communication, and be considered present for all purposes, including voting, if several things occur. First, the member must have contacted the legislature's human resources office in that biennial session and presented to the office written documentation that demonstrates the member has a permanent disability and is unable to attend committee meetings on a regular basis. Second, the human resources office certifies in writing that the member has a permanent disability and is unable to attend committee meetings on a regular basis and provides a written copy of the certification to the speaker and minority leader. Third, the speaker and minority leader authorize the member to participate in committee meetings during the biennial session by telephone or by other means of telecommunication or electronic communication, and be considered present for all purposes, including voting. Fourth, the member must have made a request to the chairperson at least two hours before the committee meeting.

Establishing time limits for debate

Current assembly rules require the majority leader and the minority leader to meet to adopt reasonable recommendations for time limits and schedules for floor debate. If the majority leader and the minority leader reach agreement, the Committee on Rules must include the time limits and schedules for floor debate in the recommendations on the calendar for that day.

The resolution amends the assembly rules to require the majority leader and the minority leader to meet to adopt reasonable recommendations for time limits and schedules for floor debate for each proposal on the daily calendar. If the majority leader and the minority leader reach agreement, the Committee on Rules must include the time limits and schedules for floor debate for each proposal in the recommendations on the calendar for that day.

The resolution further provides that if the majority leader and the minority leader do not reach agreement, the Committee on Rules must establish time limits and schedules for floor debate for each proposal in the recommendations on the calendar for that day.

Dilatory motions

Current assembly rules provide that when it appears to the presiding officer that any motion or procedure is being used for the purpose of delay, the presiding officer must declare it dilatory and out of order. The resolution amends the rules to include specifically a motion to recess for purposes of a partisan caucus as one of the covered motions or procedures.

Call of the assembly

Current assembly rules permit any member who obtains the floor to request a call of the assembly to require absent members to return to the assembly chamber. Any such request requires 15 members to second the call. The resolution permits the presiding officer to order a call of the assembly, without any seconds.

Orders of business

The resolution amends the assembly rules to renumber and move the 8th Order of Business after the13th Order of Business on the daily calendar. The 8th Order of Business deals with consideration of resolutions. The resolution further provides that any resolution that would otherwise be considered under the renumbered 8th Order of Business, which is the new 13th Order of Business, may be taken up at any time during the floor day by motion. Any such motion is nondebatable.

Withdrawing proposals from committee

Current assembly rules provide that a motion to withdraw a proposal from committee is in order only on the first day in any week on which the call of the roll is taken under the 1st Order of Business. Also, currently, motions to suspend the rules to withdraw a proposal from committee and take it up on the floor may be made during the current 13th Order of Business.

The resolution provides that motions to withdraw a proposal from committee, including unanimous consent requests or motions to suspend the rules to withdraw a proposal from committee, are in order only during the new 12th Order of Business.

Motion to return a proposal to second reading stage

The resolution amends the assembly rules to provide that a motion may be made while a proposal is under consideration to return the proposal to the second reading stage. Any such motion is nondebatable and must be decided by a vote of a majority of members present and voting.

Determination of legislative day for purposes of referral of proposals to calendar

Currently, the speaker may withdraw a proposal from a standing committee and rerefer it to another standing committee or to a special committee or refer it to the calendar for the second legislative day thereafter. To do this, the speaker must have the approval of the committee chairperson.

The resolution amends the assembly rules to provide that for purposes of determining “the second legislative day thereafter,” the Monday before a scheduled floorperiod shall be counted as the first legislative day.

Reconsideration of assembly decisions on vetoes

Currently, assembly decisions on vetoes are not subject to reconsideration. The resolution amends the assembly rules to provide that assembly decisions on vetoes of proposals that failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the governor are subject to reconsideration at any time and any number of times during the legislative biennium.

Definition of assembly chamber

The resolution amends the assembly rules to exclude the offices of the majority leader from the definition of assembly chamber.

AR12,3,1 Resolved by the assembly, That:

AR12,1 Section 1 . Assembly rule 11 (4) is amended to read:

AR12,4,2 Assembly Rule 11 (4) Except as provided in sub. subs. (5) (a) and (12), all committee votes shall be taken in the presence of the committee. A member may not be recorded as voting unless the member is present at the committee session when the vote is taken. This subsection shall not apply to the committee on assembly organization when the committee is voting by ballot.

AR12,2 Section 2 . Assembly rule 11 (12) is created to read:

AR12,4,8 Assembly Rule 11 (12) During a biennial session, the chairperson of a standing committee may allow a member of the committee to participate in a committee meeting by telephone or by other means of telecommunication or electronic communication, and be considered present for all purposes, including voting, if all of the following have occurred:

AR12,4,12 (a) The member has contacted the legislature's human resources office in that biennial session and presented to the office written documentation that the member has a permanent disability and is unable to attend committee meetings on a regular basis.

AR12,4,15 (b) The human resources office certifies in writing that the member has a permanent disability and is unable to attend committee meetings on a regular basis and provides a copy of the certification to the speaker and minority leader.

AR12,4,19 (c) The speaker and minority leader authorize the member to participate in committee meetings during the biennial session by telephone or by other means of telecommunication or electronic communication, and be considered present for all purposes, including voting.

AR12,4,22 (d) The member has made a request to the chairperson at least 2 hours before the meeting to participate in the meeting by telephone or by other means of telecommunication or electronic communication.

AR12,3 Section 3 . Assembly rule 13 (1) (c) is amended to read:

AR12,5,2 Assembly Rule 13 (1) (c) By a motion, offered under the 13th 12th order of business, while the business is pending on any reproduced calendar awaiting assembly action. The motion requires a vote of a majority of the members present and voting for adoption.

AR12,4 Section 4 . Assembly rule 15 (2) is amended to read:

AR12,5,8 Assembly Rule 15 (2) The motion to withdraw a proposal from committee, including a unanimous consent request or motion to suspend the rules to withdraw a proposal from committee, is in order only on the first day in any week on which the call of the roll is taken under the first during the 12th order of business. The motions shall be decided by vote of a majority of the members present and voting.

AR12,5 Section 5. Assembly rule 31 (8) is renumbered assembly rule 31 (13), and assembly rule 31 (13) (title), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AR12,5,11 Assembly Rule 31 (13) (title) Eighth Thirteenth order.

AR12,6 Section 6. Assembly rule 31 (9) is renumbered assembly rule 31 (8), and assembly rule 31 (8) (title), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AR12,5,14 Assembly Rule 31 (8) (title) Ninth Eighth order.