HOUSE RESOLUTION 4

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Keith J. Gardner

A RESOLUTION

PROPOSING A HOUSE RULE TO LIMIT STATE AGENCY TESTIMONY BEFORE A STANDING COMMITTEE TO TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     WHEREAS, the rules of the house of representatives 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 9-10 be amended to read:

"9-10           The principal duties of the [chairman] chair of                 a committee are:

(a) to call the committee together at such reasonable times and places as to enable the committee to properly perform its functions. All committee members will be notified of committee meetings;

(b) to preside over meetings of the committee, maintain order and decide all questions of order subject to appeal to a majority of the appointed committee;

(c) to allow expert testimony from state agency staff; provided, however, that the chair shall not allow testimony from state agency staff that urges or opposes legislation;

[(c)] (d) to supervise and direct the clerical and other employees of the committee helping with the preparation of reports to submit to the committee and to require the committee to keep a record of the attendance of committee members at all committee meetings and to file such attendance record with the chief clerk on Friday of each week. Such record shall be a public record;

[(d)] (e) to have custody of all papers referred to the committee and to transmit them to the chief clerk when the committee is through with them and endorse on each document what action has been taken on it, if any;

[(e)] (f) to see that bills are discussed in order as they are referred to the committee, except when another order of business is agreed upon by a majority of the appointed committee;

[(f)] (g) to arrange in cooperation with the coordinator for joint hearings with a similar committee of the senate upon arrival of the committee members and the proper senate committee; and

[(g)] (h) in the absence of the sponsor of a measure, be prepared, or designate a committee member to be prepared, to explain the bill to the house.".

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