Organization
of Standing Committees and
Subcommittees
The membership of
each standing committee shall first meet upon the call of its chair and perfect
its organization. A majority of the members to which each standing committee is
entitled shall constitute a quorum for it to proceed to business. Each standing
committee shall have the power to promulgate rules not inconsistent with these
rules which may be necessary for the orderly conduct of its business.
Where a standing
committee has standing subcommittees as prescribed by Rule 43, the membership
on such standing subcommittees shall be appointed by the Committee on
Committees after consultation with each chair of a standing committee of which
the standing subcommittee is a part. Each standing subcommittee shall consist
of the chair of its parent standing committee, as an ex-officio member, the
chair of the standing subcommittee, and five other members from the parent
standing committee to be appointed by the Committee on Committees, three from among
the majority party after consultation with the Majority Leader and two from
among the minority party after consultation with the Minority Leader. Where it
is deemed advisable that the membership of any standing subcommittee be of
greater number than that prescribed herein, the Committee on Committees may
appoint additional members of the standing committee from the majority or
minority party to serve on such standing subcommittee. The number of additional
members selected should be such as to maintain, as far as is practicable, a
ratio in majority and minority party membership which affords a fair and
reasonable representation to the minority party on the standing subcommittee.
The chair and the
minority chair of each standing committee shall be ex-officio members of each
standing subcommittee which is part of the parent standing committee, with the
right to attend standing subcommittee meetings and vote on any matter before
such standing subcommittee.
A majority of the
members of each standing subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the proper
conduct of its business. Each standing subcommittee may promulgate such rules
necessary for the conduct of its business which are not inconsistent with the
rules of its parent standing committee or the Rules of the House.
When the chair of a
standing committee has referred a bill, resolution or other matter to a
standing subcommittee, the power and control over such bill, resolution or
other matter shall then reside in such subcommittee for a reasonable period of
time thereafter in order that such subcommittee may consider the bill,
resolution or other matter and return the same to its standing committee with
its recommendations as to the action which ought to be taken on such bill,
resolution or other matter.
Each standing
subcommittee, within a reasonable time after it has received a bill, resolution
or other matter, shall meet as a committee for the purpose of considering the
same and returning the bill, resolution or other matter back to its parent
standing committee with a subcommittee report as to what action it recommends.
The report of the subcommittee on a bill, resolution or other matter being
returned to the standing committee shall contain one of the following
recommendations:
(1) that the bill,
resolution or other matter in its present form be reported to the House,
(2) that the bill, resolution,
or other matter not be reported to the House,
(3) that the bill, resolution or
other matter be reported to the House, with recommendations for amendments,
(4) that the bill, resolution or
other matter is returned without recommendations.
When a standing
committee receives reports from its subcommittees, it shall consider the same
and by majority vote of the members of the standing committee either approve or
disapprove such report. If disapproved, the standing committee may then
determine by a majority vote of its members what further action, if any, should
be taken on such bill, resolution or other matter.
Where no action has
been taken by a standing subcommittee on a bill, resolution or other matter
referred to it, and the chair of the standing committee considers that such
subcommittee has had reasonable time to consider the bill, resolution or other
matter and return the same to its parent standing committee, the subcommittee
chair shall then forthwith surrender and forward the same, together with all
documents or papers pertaining thereto, to the standing committee.
In the event that a
chair of a standing committee is absent, the following rules shall apply:
(1) If such standing committee
has no subcommittee prescribed by this rule, the vice-chair of the standing
committee shall act as chair of the committee meetings.
(2) If such standing committee
has only one subcommittee, the subcommittee chair shall act as chair of the
standing committee.
(3) If the standing committee
has more than one subcommittee, the subcommittee chair with the longest
consecutive legislative service shall act as chair of the standing committee,
except where the subcommittee chairs have equal legislative service, in which
case the Speaker of the House shall designate one of the subcommittee chairs to
act as chair of the standing committee.
In case of absence
of a subcommittee chair, the chair of the appropriate standing committee shall
designate one member from either the standing committee or subcommittee to act
as chair of the subcommittee.
