Representative Klusman rose to the point of order that Assembly amendment 25 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 768 was not properly before the Assembly under s. 13.50(6) of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese took the point of order under advisement.
Assembly Journal of May 6, 1998 .......... Page: 877
Ruling on the point of order:
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese ruled well taken the point of order raised by Representative Klusman that Assembly amendment 25 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 768 was not properly before the Assembly under s. 13.50(6) of the Wisconsin Statutes:
"I have reviewed Section 13.50(6)(b) which reads "No bill or amendment thereto creating or modifying any system for the retirement of public employes shall be considered by either house until the written report required by par. (a) has been submitted to the chief clerk. Each such bill shall then be referred to a standing committee in the house in which introduced. The report of the joint survey committee shall be printed as an appendix to the bill and attached thereto as are amendments."
In addition, I have reviewed the decision in State ex rel. Lafollette v. Stitt, 114 W (2d) 358, 338 NW (2d) 684 (1983), the previous rulings of the chair, Masons manual, and assembly rule books dating as far back as 1943. I also looked at the relevant Wisconsin Statutes, when they were created and their correlation to the rules of the Legislature. It appears to me, as it did in my previous ruling on Assembly bill 421 in January of this year, that the legislative intent behind the statues was to create a process that had to be followed and was not to be circumvented.
This ruling presents this institution with the same dilemma as the ruling on Assembly Bill 421. If these statues are merely rules that we can easily disregard, then long standing traditions and requirements that this institution has followed will no longer exist.
I believe, as I did earlier this year, that the previous legislatures first created statutes then 14 years later created the same as a rule because they wanted a process that would not allow for certain procedures to be bypassed. The Stitt decision merely supports the notion that it is for the Legislature to decide and enforce its own rules. We clearly have the authority to suspend our own rules with a 2/3 vote or by unanimous consent. It continues to be this chair's ruling that we do not have the authority to suspend the statutes when points of order are made. I believe the precedent that has been established by Speakers Jackamonis and Loftus, the current Chair and President Risser which occurred before and after the Stitt decision still stands.
I find the point of order well taken. We can circumvent our own rules but we cannot ignore the statutes. This decision was based on previous rulings and the precedent that was established by placing both legislative statutes and rules as an order of process for legislation to pass."
Representative Schneider appealed the ruling of the Chair.
The question was: Shall the ruling of the Chair stand as the ruling of the Assembly?
The roll was taken. The vote was: Ayes-52, Noes-45. Motion carried.
[Note:] 13.50(6)(b) No bill or amendment thereto creating or modifying any system for the retirement of public employees shall be considered by either house until the written report required by par. (a) and the actuarial opinion ordered under par. (am), if any, have been submitted to the chief clerk. Each such bill or amendment shall then be referred to a standing committee of the house in which introduced. The report of the joint survey committee and actuarial opinion, if any, shall be printed as an appendix to the bill and attached thereto as are amendments.
Assembly Journal of May 6, 1998 .......... Page: 878
Representative Travis asked unanimous consent that Assembly Bill 768 be referred to the joint survey committee on Retirement Systems.
Representative Klusman objected.
Representative Travis asked unanimous consent that Assembly Bill 768 be referred to the joint survey committee on Retirement Systems.
Representative Klusman objected.
Point of order:
Representative Travis rose to the point of order that Assembly Bill 768 was not properly before the Assembly under s. 13.50(6)(a) of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Representative Travis withdrew his point of order.
Representative Travis asked unanimous consent that Assembly Bill 768 be referred to the joint survey committee on Retirement Systems. Granted.
Representative Travis asked unanimous consent that the rules be suspended and that Assembly Bill 768 be withdrawn from the joint survey committee on Retirement Systems and taken up at this time. Granted.
[Note:] 13.50(6)(b) No bill or amendment thereto creating or modifying any system for the retirement of public employees shall be considered by either house until the written report required by par. (a) and the actuarial opinion ordered under par. (am), if any, have been submitted to the chief clerk. Each such bill or amendment shall then be referred to a standing committee of the house in which introduced. The report of the joint survey committee and actuarial opinion, if any, shall be printed as an appendix to the bill and attached thereto as are amendments.
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Senate Journal of November 19, 1997 .......... Page: 358
Point of order:
Senator Chvala raised the point of order that Senate amendment 2 to Senate Bill 362 was not germane.
Ruling on the point of order:
The Chair ruled the point well taken.
Senator George appealed the ruling of the Chair.
The question was: Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgement of the Senate?
The roll was taken. The vote was: Ayes-22, Noes-8. The decision of the Chair stands as the judgement of the Senate.
[Note:] The bill related to: the application of the business combination and the control share voting restriction provisions of the business corporation law; dry cleaning fees; nontarget population members; the date by which certain school board resolutions pertaining to the open enrollment programs must be adopted; loans made to school districts by the technology for educational achievement in Wisconsin board; the method for calculating contributions to the universal service fund; use of the universal service fund to make grants to certain school districts for telecommunications access; financial assistance for local recycling programs; funding for a boat landing located on the Wisconsin River in the town of Buena Vista; reports concerning the environmental cooperation pilot program; funding for air and solid and hazardous waste programs; studies of fish in the Great Lakes; eligibility for child care subsidies under the Wisconsin works program; increased funding for the benefit specialist program for older individuals; the amount that a county having a population of 500,000 or more must contribute for the provision of child welfare services in that county by the department of health and family services; the photographing of a person applying for or receiving kinship care payments, of employes and prospective employes of a person applying for or receiving kinship care payments and of adult residents and prospective adult residents of the home of a person applying for or receiving kinship care payments; eliminating cross-references to the Wisconsin works health plan; computing the aviation fuel tax; a sales tax and use tax exemption for samples of medicine and registration for use tax purposes; the international fuel tax agreement; the department of revenue's expenses to administer the fee on vehicle rentals; directing the department of revenue to not adjust individual income tax withholding tables and making a technical adjustment in the calculation of income tax liability by individual nonresidents and part-year residents of this state; the sales of food by institutions of higher learning; salary-setting authority of certain state bodies; reserve "Class B" intoxicating liquor licenses; the abolishment of the emergency response board; revocation of probation for failure to pay supervision fees owed to the department of corrections; and making an appropriation.
The amendment related to the delegation of authority over pension plans by local governments.
SENATE RULE 50. Amendments must be germane, general statement. (1) No standing committee shall report any substitute or amendment for any proposal originating in either house referred to such committee nor shall the senate consider any substitute or amendment which relates to a different subject, is intended to accomplish a different purpose or would totally alter the nature of the original proposal.
(7) A substitute or amendment relating to a specific subject or to a general class is not germane to a bill relating to a different specific subject, but an amendment limiting the scope of the proposal is germane.
Senate Journal of May 7, 1998 .......... Page: 681
Point of order:
Senator Wineke raised the point of order that Assembly Bill 768 is not properly before the Senate.
Ruling on the point of order:
The Chair ruled the point not well taken.
[Note:] Sec. 13.52 (6), stats., requires the referral to the joint survey committee on tax exemptions, at the time of introduction, of any "proposal which affects any existing statute or creates any new statute relating to the exemption of any property or person from any state or local taxes or special assessments."
Under s. 13.52 (6), stats., when a proposal must be referred to the joint survey committee and has been so referred, "such proposal shall not be considered further by either house until the joint survey committee on tax exemptions has submitted a report, in writing, setting forth an opinion on the legality of the proposal, the fiscal effect upon the state and its subdivisions and its desirability as a matter of public policy."
Senate Journal of May 7, 1998 .......... Page: 681
Point of order:
Senator Wineke raised the point of order Assembly Bill 768 must be referred to the Joint Survey committee on Tax Exemptions.
Ruling on the point of order:
The Chair ruled the point not well taken.
[Note:] Sec. 13.52 (6), stats., requires the referral to the joint survey committee on tax exemptions, at the time of introduction, of any "proposal which affects any existing statute or creates any new statute relating to the exemption of any property or person from any state or local taxes or special assessments."
Under s. 13.52 (6), stats., when a proposal must be referred to the joint survey committee and has been so referred, "such proposal shall not be considered further by either house until the joint survey committee on tax exemptions has submitted a report, in writing, setting forth an opinion on the legality of the proposal, the fiscal effect upon the state and its subdivisions and its desirability as a matter of public policy."
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Assembly Journal of October 5, 1995 .......... Page: 555
Point of order:
Representative Bock rose to the point of order that Assembly amendment 22 to Assembly substitute amendment 1 to Assembly Bill 557 was not germane under Assembly Rule 54(3)(f).
Ruling on the point of order:
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese ruled the point of order not well taken.
[Note:] The bill was a budget adjustment bill. The amendment related to the transportation facilities economic assistance and development aid.
Assembly Rule 54 (3) Assembly amendments that are not germane.
(f) An amendment that substantially expands the scope of the proposal.
Assembly Journal of March 27, 1996 .......... Page: 1044
Point of order:
Representative Brancel rose to the point of order that Assembly amendment 2 to Senate Bill 565 was not germane under Assembly Rule 54 (3) (f).
Ruling on the point of order:
Speaker pro tempore Freese ruled the point of order well taken.
[Note:] The bill related to: recovery of enforcement costs by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection in drainage district cases; transferring responsibility for administration of the Wisconsin consumer act; transferring responsibility for supporting the uniform commercial code statewide lien system; correcting references in certain appropriations of the department of financial institutions; the number of unclassified division administrator positions in the gaming board; reversion of transferred funds to the Wisconsin development fund; minority business early planning projects; renumbering the appropriation for administrative services for regulation of industry, safety and buildings; the Milwaukee parental choice program; collection of certain fees by the employment relations commission; payment of principal and interest on bonds issued for the clean water fund program; establishing a Mendota juvenile treatment center; a plan to assure continued funding for the mental health institutes; expanding the county department operating deficit reduction program; changing funding requirements for integrated community services; expanding types of recipients of funds distributed for consumer and family self-help and peer-support programs; transferring an appropriation for principal repayment and interest from the department of industry, labor and job development to the department of health and family services; changing references to low-income and at-risk child care funding; the use of relief block grant funds by tribal governing bodies; administration of Wisconsin works in counties having a population of 500,000 or more; state involvement with certain municipal boundary changes; refunding of municipal bonds; a performance evaluation audit of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; the lease agreement and affiliation agreement between the University of Wisconsin System and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; the contractual services agreement between the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Board and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; accumulated sick leave credits for the purchase of health insurance under the Wisconsin retirement system; making certain employes at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority eligible for health insurance coverage under a plan offered by the group insurance board and requiring the group insurance board to consult with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority in the establishment of this plan; issuance of bonds by the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; membership of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Board and of the board of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; storage and management of records of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; applicability of municipal ordinances and regulations to certain buildings, structures and facilities constructed for the benefit or use of local professional baseball park districts; newly incorporated municipalities' populations for shared revenue distributions; local transportation aids for newly incorporated cities and villages; taxes levied by newly incorporated cities and villages; changing the name of the Kickapoo valley governing board; the effective date and initial applicability of adjustments in certain lobbying regulation fees; railroad stockholder reports; bonding authorizations for the department of health and social services; funding and authorized full-time equivalent positions for the land information board; funding, powers and duties of the Wisconsin sesquicentennial commission; prevailing hours of labor for workers employed on state or local public works projects; granting bonding authority; granting rule making authority; and making and decreasing appropriations
The amendment required prison impact assessments for bills creating a felony.
Assembly Rule 54 (3) Assembly amendments that are not germane include:
(f) An amendment that substantially expands the scope of the proposal.
Chamber: conduct in chamber during session
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Assembly Journal of February 13, 2001 .......... Page: 81
Point of order:
Representative Carpenter rose to the point of order that Assembly Joint Resolution 12 was not properly before the Assembly under Assembly Rule 26.
Assembly Journal of February 13, 2001 .......... Page: 82
Ruling on the point of order:
Speaker pro tempore Freese ruled the point of order not well taken.
[Note:] The joint resolution commended the Boy Scouts, which generated strong debate.
Assembly Rule 26 (1) The presiding officer shall preserve order, decorum, and quiet on and about the assembly floor during sessions.
Concurrence in amendment by other house: permitted procedures
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Assembly Journal of November 14, 1995 .......... Page: 655
Point of order:
Representative Travis rose to the point of order that Assembly Bill 69 was not properly before the Assembly under Assembly Rules 32(1)(a), 35(1), 42(1)(a) & (3), and 52(2)(b).
Ruling on the point of order:
Speaker Pro Tempore Freese ruled the point of order not well taken. Under Assembly Rule 95(60) Senate amendment 3 to Assembly Bill 69 is not considered a proposal, making the point of order raised under Assembly Rule 32(1)(2) not well taken. The Senate adopted Senate amendment 3 to Assembly Bill 69 last week, making the point of order raised under Assembly Rule 35(1) not well taken. Senate amendment 3 to Assembly Bill 69 does not require a second reading reading, making the point of order raised under Assembly Rule 42(1)(a) not well taken. Senate amendment 3 to Assembly Bill 69 is only considered a proposal for the purpose of amending, making the point of order raised under Assembly Rule 52(2)(b) not well taken.
[Note:] Assembly Rule 32 (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, messages from the senate or from the governor may be received and read, and any proposal referenced in the messages that is a senate proposal initially received for consideration of the assembly shall be referred and any other proposals referenced in the messages shall be taken up immediately unless referred by the presiding officer to a standing committee or to the calendar. Any messages from the senate referring to a senate joint resolution memorializing Congress or any branch or officer of the federal government that is received for consideration of the assembly may be read but the senate joint resolution may not be received for consideration. The senate joint resolution shall be transmitted to the senate immediately after the message is read;
Assembly Rule 35 (1) A proposal, conference committee report, or veto, except a resolution under rule 33 or 43, may not be considered until it has been made available to the members for at least 24 hours excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. If the rules are suspended for the consideration of any proposal before it is available, the proposal shall be read at length at least once before its final passage or final adoption and concurrence.
Assembly Rule 42 (1) (a) Any proposal that requires 2 or more readings shall be referred by the presiding officer or speaker to committee, or to the calendar for the 2nd legislative day following the referral, or to the committee on rules.
Assembly Rule 42 (3) (a) Beginning on inauguration day and on any day of the regular biennial session period, proposals may be introduced or offered and referred by the speaker or presiding officer if the action is not in conflict with any limitations imposed by the session schedule or otherwise agreed to by both houses.
Assembly Rule 52 (2) (b) Solely for the purpose of amending, senate amendments presented to the assembly for concurrence are treated like proposals; therefore, an amendment to a simple amendment to a senate amendment is in order.
Assembly Rule 95 (60) Proposal: A resolution, joint resolution, or bill put before the assembly for consideration.
Conference committee: procedures relating to
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Senate Journal of July 3, 2002 .......... Page: 767
Point of order:
Report of committee of conference on 2002 January Special Session Assembly Bill 1.
Motion to refer report to the Committee of Conference offered Senator Shibilski.
Ruling on the point of order:
Chair ruled the motion not in order.
Point of order:
Senator Shibilski raised the point of order that the motion to refer the report to the Committee of Conference is in order.
Ruling on the point of order:
Chair ruled the point of order not well taken.
