Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/22/1996 03:32 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SSTA - 2/22/96
SCR 22 UNIFORM RULES/HOURS OF DAILY SESSION
SENATOR SHARP brought up SCR 22 as the next order of business
before the Senate State Affairs Committee and called Senator Donley
to testify.
Number 360
SENATOR DONLEY, prime sponsor of SCR 22, relayed information
contained in the sponsor's statement. SCR 22 specifies that the
legislature will not conduct business on the floor past 9:00 p.m.,
nor would it do so before 8:00 a.m. Senator Donley does not feel
it is in the public's interest for the legislature to work into the
wee hours. The only concern he's heard raised regarding SCR 22 is
that it may be necessary to close off the session at some time. He
acknowledges that, and wouldn't mind a conceptual amendment
exempting the last several days of session. He would like feedback
from committee members regarding what an appropriate time span
would be. He is open to suggestions.
SENATOR LEMAN commented he especially likes the morning limitation.
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked if this wouldn't require a 2/3 vote.
SENATOR DONLEY responded that a concurrent resolution that amends
the uniform rules requires 2/3 of each body.
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS added that if both houses meet as a joint
body, then it is a simple majority: 31 votes.
SENATOR DONLEY doesn't know if that's ever been done.
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS replied that was done in 1981. He stated he
would be interested in removing the time limitations during the
last five days of session. He thinks that would be a reasonable
amount of time.
Number 390
CHAIRMAN SHARP asked how that would be addressed in the resolution.
SENATOR DONLEY replied that the language could simply specify,
"prior to the 115th day of the session...".
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked other committee members if they think
five days is a workable amount of time not to have the rule.
SENATOR LEMAN replied he is not sure it would even be needed then,
other than perhaps the last day of session.
CHAIRMAN SHARP commented that sometimes the delay action works
pretty good on caucuses and so forth. You can waste a lot of time
up to 9:00 p.m. when the last days' crunch comes. He thinks there
needs to be more leeway than one or two days.
SENATOR DONLEY stated he would like to see a consensus, because he
would like to see SCR 22 pass. He thinks any limitation is a good
step forward. Five days is a good step forward from where we are
now. Sometimes we go into two or three weeks of late-night
meetings. Frankly, it's debilitating on your health.
CHAIRMAN SHARP noted that last year, we got into some late-night
floor sessions only halfway through.
SENATOR DONLEY thinks there is very little you could do at 9:00
p.m. that you couldn't come back and do at 8:00 a.m. the next day.
Number 415
CHAIRMAN SHARP stated the committee is looking at a conceptual
amendment on line 13. "Prior to the 115th day of a regular session
a house shall adjourn."
SENATOR LEMAN stated that "prior to the 115th day" would give them
six days. If you want five days, it would be "prior to the 116th
day".
CHAIRMAN SHARP replied, ok, 116th day. [There being no further
comment on the amendment, it seems to be general consensus that it
was adopted, though there was no motion.] [The actual language in
the Senate State Affairs committee substitute is, "This subsection
does not apply during a regular session after the one hundred and
fifteenth day of that session." So the last six days of a regular
session are exempt from that subsection.]
SENATOR LEMAN asked if they wanted any limitation put on the final
days.
CHAIRMAN SHARP said, "Just let 'er roll."
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked what do you do during daylight savings
time.
SENATOR DONLEY replied that happens at 2:00 a.m. in the morning, so
it won't affect SCR 22.
SENATOR LEMAN asked if five minutes is enough of a warning.
SENATOR DONLEY thinks that's enough time.
Number 435
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS suggested giving a ten-minute warning, since
that's the same amount of warning we have before session.
SENATOR DONLEY replied that's fine with him.
CHAIRMAN SHARP noted there was a conceptual amendment on line 15 to
change 8:55 p.m. to 8:50 p.m.
[There is no comment on the amendment. There seems to be general
consensus that it was adopted, though there was no motion.]
CHAIRMAN SHARP asked if there were any other comments or proposed
amendments.
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asked if State Affairs was the only
committee of referral.
SENATOR DONLEY thinks so. He thinks having the last five days
unrestricted should alleviate a lot of concerns regarding
flexibility at the end of session.
CHAIRMAN SHARP asked the pleasure of the committee.
Number 450
SENATOR DONLEY made a motion to discharge SCR 22 from committee
with individual recommendations.
CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, stated SCR 22 was released
from the Senate State Affairs Committee with individual
recommendations.
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