Assembly

ar9(1)(p) (p) Mental health, committee on.

ar9(1)(q) (q) Public benefit reform, committee on.

ar9(1)(r) (r) Regulatory licensing reform, committee on.

ar9(1)(rm) (rm) Rural development, committee on.

ar9(1)(s) (s) Science and technology, committee on.

ar9(1)(t) (t) Small business development, committee on.

ar9(1)(tg) (tg) Sporting heritage, committee on.

ar9(1)(u) (u) State affairs, committee on.

ar9(1)(uh) (uh) Substance abuse and prevention, committee on.

ar9(1)(v) (v) Tourism, committee on.

ar9(1)(w) (w) Transportation, committee on.

ar9(1)(x) (x) Veterans and military affairs, committee on.

ar9(1)(y) (y) Ways and means, committee on.

ar9(1)(z) (z) Workforce development, committee on.

ar9(2) (2) Unless otherwise designated:

ar9(2)(a) (a) The speaker shall determine the total number of members on each committee, unless specified by joint rule or assembly rule, and the allocation of the number between members of the majority and minority party.

ar9(2)(b) (b) The speaker shall make all committee appointments of members of the majority party.

ar9(2)(bm) (bm) The first-named person of each standing committee is the chairperson and the second-named person is the vice chairperson.

ar9(2)(c) (c) The speaker shall make all committee appointments of members of the minority party as nominated by the minority leader, except that the speaker may appoint any member of the minority party as chairperson of a committee.

ar9(2)(cd) (cd) If an assembly member of an assembly committee or a joint committee is unable to serve, the speaker may select a temporary replacement for a member of the majority party who is unable to serve from among those members of the same party and may select a temporary replacement for a member of the minority party, upon recommendation of the minority leader, who is unable to serve from among those members of the same party. The replacement takes effect when the member who is a temporary replacement answers the roll call of the assembly committee or joint committee and terminates upon the adjournment of the assembly committee or joint committee meeting or the return of the member who was unable to serve, whichever occurs first.

ar9(2)(cm) (cm) Unless the member is the chairperson, the first-nominated minority member of each standing committee who is first nominated by the minority leader is the ranking minority member of that committee unless the speaker and minority leader agree that the first-nominated member is the vice chairperson of the committee.

ar9(3) (3) There shall also be a committee on assembly organization consisting of the speaker, majority leader, assistant majority leader, speaker pro tempore, majority caucus chairperson, minority leader, assistant minority leader, and minority caucus chairperson.

ar9(4) (4) There shall also be an assembly committee on finance consisting of the assembly members of the joint committee on finance. The assembly cochairperson of the joint committee is the chairperson of the assembly committee.

ar9(5) (5) There shall also be an assembly committee on audit consisting of the assembly members of the joint legislative audit committee. The assembly cochairperson of the joint committee is the chairperson of the assembly committee. Proposals may be referred to, and reported by, the joint committee in the same manner as other standing committees.

ar9(6) (6) There shall also be an assembly committee for review of administrative rules consisting of the assembly members of the joint committee for review of administrative rules. The assembly cochairperson of the joint committee is the chairperson of the assembly committee. Proposals may be referred to, and reported by, the joint committee in the same manner as other standing committees.

ar9(7) (7) There shall also be an assembly committee on employment relations consisting of the assembly members of the joint committee on employment relations. The assembly cochairperson of the joint committee is the chairperson of the assembly committee. Proposals may be referred to, and reported by, the joint committee in the same manner as other standing committees.

ar9(8) (8) In addition to the committees of which the speaker is a regular member, the speaker is a nonvoting member of any other standing committee, but is not be counted in determining a quorum thereof.

ar9(9) (9) The schedule of committee room assignments and meeting days shall follow the schedule of the previous session unless changed by order of the speaker.

[(1) am. 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 A.Res. 2]
[(1) am. 1993 A.Res. 14 and 24]
[(2)(a) am. 1989 A.Res. 11]
[(1) cr. 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(2)(b), (bm), (c) and (cm) am. 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(4), (5), (6) and (7) am. 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(1) and (7) am. 1997 A.Res. 2]
[(1) am. 1999 A.Res. 2]
[(1), (2)(a), (bm) and (cm) and (3) to (8) am. 2001 A.Res. 2]
[(1) am. 2003 A.Res. 2]
[(2)(a) am. 2003 A.Res. 3]
[(1) am. 2005 A.Res. 2]
[(1) am. 2007 A.Res. 2]
[(1) am. 2009 A.Res. 2]
[(1) r.cr. 2011 A.Res. 2]
[(1) r.cr. 2013 A.Res. 2; (2) (cd) cr. 2013 A.Res 3]
[(1) r.cr. 2015 A.Res. 2]
[(1) r.cr. 2017 A.Res. 2]
[(1) r.cr. 2019 A.Res. 2]

ar10 Assembly Rule 10. Special committees.

ar10(1) (1) A special committee may be created only as provided in this rule.

ar10(1m) (1m) A special committee may be created by the speaker by written order or may be created by resolution. Any such committee ceases to exist:

ar10(1m)(a) (a) When its final report has been made to the assembly;

ar10(1m)(b) (b) When the objective for which the committee was established has been accomplished; or

ar10(1m)(c) (c) When the termination date established by the action creating the committee arrives.

ar10(2) (2) The speaker may create a temporary special committee by written order.

ar10(3) (3) A special committee or temporary special committee may not be created by written order unless an additional legislative employee will not be hired to staff the special committee.

[(1m)(intro.) rn.am.; (1) cr. 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(1m)(a) to (c) rn. from (2) (a) to (c) 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(2) cr. 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(1m)(intro.) am.; (3) cr. 1995 A.Res. 31]
[(2) am. 1997 A.Res. 2]

ar11 Assembly Rule 11. Committee procedures. Insofar as applicable, the rules of the assembly apply to the procedures of standing committees and special committees.

ar11(1) (1) A majority of a committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

ar11(2) (2) Committee chairpersons may appoint subcommittees to consider specified subjects and report to the parent committee. Committee chairpersons may appoint subcommittee chairpersons, who may be members of any political party.

ar11(3) (3) A committee shall meet upon the call of its chairperson within the times and places assigned by the speaker. If anticipated public attendance so warrants, arrangements may be made through the sergeant at arms to hold a committee meeting in quarters larger than the regularly assigned committee room.

ar11(4) (4) Except as provided in 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.

ar11(5) (5)

ar11(5)(a) (a) A vote shall be held open after the adjournment of the committee session to permit an absent member to vote until 5:00 p.m. on the day on which the committee session is adjourned or 30 minutes after the adjournment, whichever is earlier. The absent member shall cast his or her vote in the committee room where the meeting is held.

ar11(5)(b) (b) If an absent member makes a timely request, a committee report may indicate how the member would have voted had he or she been present.

ar11(6) (6) Members of a committee shall vote in the order in which named to the committee.

ar11(7) (7) In the temporary absence of the chairperson and the vice chairperson, committee members succeed to the chair in the order in which named to the committee.

ar11(8) (8) Before a proposal is reported to the assembly, a committee may reconsider any action taken on the proposal.

ar11(9) (9) The chairperson shall determine when proposals or other business are scheduled for public hearing or, subject to rule 17d, executive action, and, subject to rule 17m, when committee actions are reported to the assembly.

ar11(10) (10) The chairperson shall notify committee members of all committee meetings. If an unintroduced proposal will be considered at the meeting, the chairperson shall provide a copy of the unintroduced proposal with the notice.

ar11(11) (11)

ar11(11)(a) (a) A committee may not meet outside the city of Madison without prior authorization under section 13.123 (3) (a) of the statutes.

ar11(11)(b) (b) Beginning on July 1 of each even-numbered year and ending on the date of the general election of that year, a committee may not meet in this state outside the city of Madison without the prior joint authorization by the speaker and the minority leader.

ar11(11)(c) (c) Beginning on the day on which a special election to the legislature is called, and ending on the day on which the special election is held, a committee may not meet within the legislative district in which the special election is called, except in the city of Madison, without the prior joint authorization by the speaker and the minority leader.

ar11(12) (12) During a biennial session, the chairperson of a standing committee shall 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:

ar11(12)(a) (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.

ar11(12)(b) (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.

ar11(12)(c) (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.

ar11(12)(d) (d) The member has made a request to the chairperson and sergeant at arms at least 30 minutes before the meeting to participate in the meeting by telephone or by other means of telecommunication or electronic communication.

[(2) and (9) am.; (11) cr. 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(11) am. 1997 A.Res. 2]
[(1) am.; (3m) cr. 1999 A.Res. 3]
[(4) and (7) am. 2001 A.Res. 3]
[(4) and (9) am. 2003 A.Res. 3]
[(4), (5) (a) and (10) am. 2013 A.Res. 3]
[(3m) rp. 2017 A.Res. 3]
[(4) am.; (12) cr. 2019 A.Res. 12]

ar12 Assembly Rule 12. Committees not to meet during daily session. Except for conference committees and the committee on rules, a committee may not meet while the assembly is in session.

[am. 2003 A.Res. 3]

ar13 Assembly Rule 13. Business referred to committee.

ar13(1) (1) Any business to be decided by the assembly may be referred to a committee:

ar13(1)(a) (a) Upon introduction or offering [see rule 42].

ar13(1)(am) (am) By the speaker, after a committee reports it, as provided in rule 45.

ar13(1)(b) (b) While under debate by the assembly [see rule 65 (2) (d) and (e)].

ar13(1)(c) (c) By a motion, offered under the 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.

ar13(2) (2)

ar13(2)(a) (a) Each notice and report by an administrative agency concerning an administrative rule for review by a standing committee shall be referred by the speaker to the appropriate standing committee within 10 working days following receipt. The speaker shall notify that committee whenever he or she is informed that a proposed rule or portion thereof is withdrawn by the administrative agency.

ar13(2)(b) (b) Within 5 working days after initial referral by the speaker under rule 3 (1) (r), the speaker, with the consent of the chairperson, may withdraw a proposed rule from the standing committee to which it is referred and rerefer it to another standing committee. The rereferral does not extend the standing committee review period.

[(1)(c) am. 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(2)(a) rn. from (2), (2)(b) 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(1)(c) am.; (1)(am) cr. 1997 A.Res. 2]
[(1)(a) and (c) am. 2001 A.Res. 3]
[(2)(b) am. 2003 A.Res. 3]
[(2)(a) am. 2007 A.Res. 4]
[(1) (c) am. 2019 A.Res. 12]

ar14 Assembly Rule 14. Public hearings.

ar14(1) (1) Any proposal referred to a committee, and any other business relevant to its title, may at the discretion of the chairperson be scheduled for public hearing.

ar14(2) (2) The chief clerk shall publish, on a daily basis on the legislature's website, a committee schedule containing the name of each committee, its chairperson, the room number or place, and the time and date of each meeting scheduled; and, if applicable, shall designate each proposal, appointment, or administrative rule to be heard by number or name, author, and topic.

ar14(3) (3) A hearing may not be held until copies of any of the legislation scheduled for hearing are available to the public.

[(2) am. 1995 A.Res. 2]
[(2) r.cr. 2017 A.Res. 3]

ar15 Assembly Rule 15. Withdrawing a proposal from committee.

ar15(1) (1) A proposal may not be withdrawn from any committee until 21 calendar days have expired since the proposal was referred to the committee. After the 21-day period, a proposal may be withdrawn either by motion or by petition, but:

ar15(1)(a) (a) A bill may not be withdrawn from a joint survey committee.

ar15(1)(b) (b) A bill requiring, but not having, an emergency statement for passage may not be withdrawn from the joint committee on finance or from the committee on rules.

ar15(2) (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 during the 12th order of business on the first day in any week on which the call of the roll is taken.

ar15(3) (3) Once a motion to withdraw a proposal from a committee which requires a vote of a majority of the members present and voting fails, all subsequent motions to withdraw that proposal from the same committee require a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting for adoption and must be decided without debate.

ar15(4) (4) A petition to withdraw a proposal from committee requires the personal signatures of a majority of the assembly's current membership.

ar15(4)(a) (a) All such petitions shall be prepared upon request by the chief clerk's office. The chief clerk shall submit a copy to the chairperson of the committee and another to the speaker.

ar15(4)(b) (b) Each withdrawal petition signature shall be dated by the signer. Withdrawal petitions may not be circulated before the expiration of the 21-day period.

ar15(4)(c) (c) Any withdrawal petition shall be filed with the chief clerk, who shall immediately examine it for compliance with this rule. All questions concerning the adequacy of a withdrawal petition shall be decided by the speaker.