SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE RESOLUTION 1
54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2020
A RESOLUTION
ENACTING AND SUSPENDING CERTAIN SENATE RULES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FIFTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW REMOTE PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS AND PROVIDE PROCEDURES TO CONDUCT PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, Senate Rule 24-1 provides that the rules of the senate may be amended by a two-thirds' majority vote of the members of the senate or by a majority vote of the members of the senate upon the recommendation of the rules committee;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the following new senate rules, effective for the remainder of the fifty-fourth legislature, be adopted to read:
"4-1-1 The president shall ensure that all members, staff and employees who are physically present in the senate, galleries, lobby, senate committee rooms and rooms connected therewith follow proper social distancing, including by limiting the number of persons physically present, and are provided with appropriate personal protection equipment during a declared public health emergency. The presiding officer shall ensure that each member wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose while on the floor or in committee."; and
"7-1-1 A senator shall be considered to be present and in attendance for the purposes of establishing a quorum if the member is physically present or in the senator's capitol office as confirmed by the presiding officer of the senate, or chair in the case of a standing committee. For purposes of a call, members who are present must vote on the legislation that is the subject of the call. Senators are strongly encouraged to remain in their respective offices when not on the floor, in committee or in caucus and to remain in the capitol or advise their respective whip if they must leave for any reason."; and
"7-1-2 A senator who has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or has been in personal contact with a person who has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 shall inform the senator's respective floor leader or whip. The senator may be excused or shall self-isolate in the senator's capitol office. A senator participating from the senator's capitol office pursuant to this rule shall be provided with the opportunity to debate and vote by electronic means from that senator's office and shall be considered present for the purposes of a quorum or a call of the senate."; and
"7-5-1 A senator who is present from the senator's capitol office may vote by entering the senate chamber and casting the senator's vote from the well of the senate in front of the chief clerk."; and
"7-8-1 A senator who is present from the senator's capitol office during a session and wishes to be recognized shall contact the senator's respective floor leader or whip, who shall then request the president to add that member's name to the list of senators desiring to be recognized. A senator who is present on the senate floor from the senator's capitol office may debate by entering the senate chamber and debating from the well of the senate."; and
"11-9-2 Electronic signatures may be used by sponsors to sign bills, resolutions or memorials or amendments thereto."; and
"11-21-1 Committee reports on a bill, resolution or memorial may be digitally signed and electronically transmitted from the committee to the chief clerk."; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Senate Rules 23-3 and 23-4-1 be suspended, effective for the remainder of the fifty-fourth legislature.
- 4 -