HOUSE RESOLUTION 1

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Dennis J. Kintigh

A RESOLUTION

AMENDING THE HOUSE RULES TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND VICE CHAIRS BY A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF EACH COMMITTEE.

     WHEREAS, House Rule 24-1 provides that the rules of the house may be amended by a two-thirds' vote of the members of the house or by a majority vote of the members of the house upon the recommendation of the rules and order of business committee;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that House Rule 9-1-2 be repealed and a new House Rule 9-1-2 be adopted to read:

"9-1-2    The chair and vice chair of each committee shall be elected by a majority of the committee at the initial meeting of the committee and subsequently announced in open session and made a matter of record in the journal. The senior member of the committee, as determined by continuous service in the house, shall preside until a chair is elected; provided that if two or more members are most senior, the acting chair shall be decided by lot."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that House Rule 9-3 be amended to read:

"9-3      No member shall be appointed to more than two substantive committees. No member appointed to the appropriations and finance committee shall [also be appointed as chairman] be eligible to be elected chair of any other substantive committee. No member [appointed to the chairmanship or vice chairmanship] elected chair or vice chair of any substantive committee shall also be [appointed as chairman or vice chairman] elected chair or vice chair of any other substantive committee. This rule shall not be construed to prohibit temporary designations by a [chairman] chair of members of [his] a committee to preside in [his stead] the chair's absence."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that House Rule 9-7 be amended to read:

"9-7      If the [chairman] chair is absent [at] from any meeting, the [second member named in such committee] vice chair shall act as [chairman] chair at the meeting.".

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