Referred to: The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman

Richard Parete and Legislators Donaldson, Greene, Roberts, and Ronk)

Legislator Peter Loughran offers the following:

WHEREAS, most committees have an odd number of members; and

WHEREAS, all efforts should be made to adhere to a committee’s decision

making process; and

WHEREAS, allowing ex-officio members to vote in committee can create a

tie; and

WHEREAS, creating a tie vote in a committee can prevent an issue from

passing in the committee; and

WHEREAS, failing to pass the committee can give the impression that most

committee members voted against the issue; and

WHEREAS, this type of vote is contrary to the committee’s best interest; now

therefore be it

RESOLVED, that RULE 6. CHAIRPERSON EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF

ALL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES; is hereby amended as follows:

The Chairperson shall be a member ex-officio of all legislative committees with a

vote thereon. The Chairperson’s presence at a meeting shall be counted in

determining whether a quorum is present; however, the presence of the Chairperson

at such meeting will not increase the number of votes necessary to pass a particular

matter unless all sitting members are present. The Chairperson shall not have the

ability to vote on an issue before a committee in order to create a tie. However,

the Chairperson may vote to break an existing tie before a committee.; and be it

further

RESOLVED, that this Rule change shall take effect upon an affirmative vote

of this body subsequent to two consecutive readings,

and moves its adoption.

FIRST READING:

SECOND READING:

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: NOES:

Defeated in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on March 16, 2015

No Petition to Discharge filed

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE