HOUSE RESOLUTION 1

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Janice E. Arnold-Jones

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE AND PROCESS TASK FORCE

A RESOLUTION

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE REFORM; AMENDING THE HOUSE RULES TO PROHIBIT COMMITTEES FROM REPORTING LEGISLATION "WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION", TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO COSPONSOR LEGISLATION BY FILING A WRITTEN NOTICE, TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF BILLS AND MEMORIALS THAT MAY BE INTRODUCED, TO LIMIT THE TIME TO INTRODUCE MEMORIALS, TO EXPAND LEGISLATION THAT MAY BE PREFILED AND TO AND ALLOW GUESTS ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

     WHEREAS, the rules of the house of representatives may be amended by a two-thirds' vote of all the members of the house or by a majority vote of the members of the house upon the recommendation of the committee on rules and order of business;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that House Rule 9-12 be amended to read:

"9-12     The report on the final vote of the committee on           each bill, resolution or memorial shall be reported           to the house no later than the second calendar day           in which the house is in session after the day on           which the final vote was taken by the committee. A           committee shall not report a bill, resolution or           memorial "without recommendation"."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the existing House Rule 11-9-1 be recompiled as House Rule 11-9-2 and the following new House Rule 11-9-1 be adopted to read:

"11-9-1   Every bill, resolution or memorial introduced in the house by a representative shall be endorsed by the representative sponsoring the bill, resolution or memorial and by each representative cosponsoring the bill, resolution or memorial. A representative may also cosponsor a bill, resolution or memorial by filing a written notice in open session with the clerk of the house prior to third reading in the house."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a new House Rule 11-9-3 be adopted to read:

"11-9-3   Each member may introduce no more than five bills and two memorials during a session convened in an even-numbered year and no more than ten bills and two memorials during a session convened in an odd-numbered year; provided that this limitation shall not apply to bills that are prefiled; or bills or memorials that are endorsed by a legislative interim committee."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a new House Rule 11-9-4 be adopted to read:

"11-9-4   No house memorial shall be introduced subsequent to the twenty-second day in a session convened in an even-numbered year or subsequent to the thirty-second day in a session convened in an odd-numbered year."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that House Rules 11-12-1, 11-12-2, 11-12-3 and 11-12-4 be repealed and a new House Rule 11-12-1 be adopted to read:

"11-12-1  A member may prefile legislation by depositing it with the chief clerk during regular business hours between December 15 and the Friday before a regular session begins. The chief clerk shall number prefiled legislation in the order in which it is received; provided that the first prefiled bill shall be numbered as House Bill 10 or a higher number as the speaker of the house may determine, reserving the initial bill numbers for the bill authorizing current expenses of the legislature, the general appropriation bill and such other bills as the speaker determines is appropriate. Prefiled legislation shall be publicly available. Prefiled legislation shall be introduced and referred to committee on the first day of the regular session."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that House Rule 23-2 be amended to read:

"23-2     Only persons who are members of the legislature or officers and employees of the legislature having official duties directly connected with the business of the house shall be admitted to the floor, rostrum, lounges and hallways. Exceptions to this rule shall be:

                (a) the governor and representatives of [his]           the governor's office on official business and             carrying written accreditation from the governor;           [and]

                (b) former members of the legislature,              provided they carry written accreditation of status           from the chief clerk, and special guests of the            house; [and] provided that such former members and           guests are seated, with the speaker's consent, only           on the speaker's rostrum; and

                (c) special guests of the house who may be          invited to perform for the house prior to the final          fourteen days of a session."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that House Rule 23-5 be amended to read:

"23-5     No member shall make any introductions of persons seated in the gallery. The names of guests or organizations welcomed by the house may be posted in an appropriate manner on an electronic display in the chamber."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the amendments to the house rules proposed by this resolution take effect immediately prior to adjournment of the second session of the forty-eighth legislature.

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