03/11/1993 08:00 AM House STA

  HCR 1:  PRESIDING OFFICER PRO TEMPORE                                        
                                                                               
  Number 251                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY read the title of HCR 1 and invited its                       
  sponsor, Representative Bettye Davis, to give her statement.                 
                                                                               
  Number 256                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BETTYE DAVIS, PRIME SPONSOR OF HCR 1, noted                   
  the resolution did not affect any private citizens, only                     
  members of the legislature.  She explained HCR 1 was                         
  designed to increase the number of leadership positions in                   
  the house for two reasons:  To aid in training new members                   
  of the legislature who might fill leadership positions; and,                 
  to help women gain needed experience.  She noted 37 other                    
  states have Speaker Pro Tems within the structure of their                   
  legislatures.                                                                
                                                                               
  Number 287                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked why Representative B. Davis wanted to                   
  change the current system.                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 306                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE B. DAVIS explained HCR 1 would aid in the                     
  efficiency in the House of Representatives, especially when                  
  the Speaker was unavailable, and it would also aid in                        
  training house leaders.                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 323                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE OLBERG asked who would preside when the                       
  Speaker was absent.                                                          
                                                                               
  Number 325                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE B. DAVIS explained that would be one of the                   
  duties the Speaker Pro Tem would undertake, as well as other                 
  duties the Speaker specified.  She explained that under the                  
  current system, the Majority Leader usually took over the                    
  chair, which left a hole in the house leadership.                            
                                                                               
  Number 345                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked if the Majority Whip might take                    
  over for the Majority Leader in that situation.                              
                                                                               
  Number 350                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE B. DAVIS explained that usually happened, but                 
  it was not effective.                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 362                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY noted the Speaker Pro Tem in other states                     
  usually took over ceremonial duties from the Speaker, which                  
  could lighten the load on the leadership.                                    
                                                                               
  Number 372                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE B. DAVIS stated she did not create HCR 1 with                 
  ceremonial duties in mind, but the Speaker would have it at                  
  his or her discretion to assign them.                                        
                                                                               
  Number 389                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE ULMER MOVED passage of HCR 1.  Without                        
  objections, HCR 1 was MOVED from committee by a unanimous                    
  vote.