Committee Guidelines — Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming, and Trade Committee, 2023 Session

Summary

Guidelines of the Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming, and Trade Committee for the 2023 Legislative Session. They state that the committee will meet in hybrid mode, with the Chair required by Senate rules to participate in person and other members allowed to participate remotely, and that the "5-day" Notice Rule requires five days' notice for hearings on a bill. The guidelines cover public testimony through the "Committee Sign-In" (CSI) system, public hearings and work sessions, executive sessions and amendment procedures, and expected conduct toward members, staff and the public.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Full text

            Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming, and Trade Committee Guidelines
                                       2023 Legislative Session

Public Hearings & Work Sessions

The committee will be meeting in hybrid mode. Per Senate rules, the Chair is required to participate in-
person. Other committee members may participate in committee meeting remotely.

Requests for hearings on bills or work sessions should be made to the Chair and committee coordinator
in electronic form as early as possible for the purposes of tracking requests.

The “5-day” Notice Rule requires the Committee to provide five days’ notice for hearings on a bill. The
rule may be waived in limited cases, such as approaching cutoff dates, by a majority of the members
present.

Agendas will be adhered to except in extenuating circumstances.

Testimony. Members of the public (remote or in-person) wishing to testify may sign up remotely
through the "Committee Sign-In" (CSI) system up to one hour before the Committee is scheduled to
meet. The deadline for the public to sign up for providing testimony will be as follows:

    •   7 AM for Tuesday hearings
    •   9:30 AM for Thursday hearings

Work Sessions are conducted to learn about a subject area from invited guests. The Chair will attempt
to maintain an environment where a free flow of ideas can occur.

Public Hearings are used to gather testimony from the public on a bill, resolution, or memorial. This is
not the appropriate time for member comments and statements regarding a measure.

Adjournment. Committee hearings shall adjourn as close to on-time as possible so that SCS staff and
LEG-TECH have enough time to setup for the next meeting in the hearing room. It takes 30 minutes to
setup the logistics for each committee hearing.

Executive Session

Executive Sessions are held for members to vote on a bill, resolution, memorial, or appointment. This is
the appropriate time for member comments and statements regarding a measure or appointment. As a
general practice, executive action will not be taken on bills at the first hearing. Per Senate Rule,
executive sessions will be posted by 4 PM two days preceding executive session (unless waived by the
Chair & Ranking Member "in extraordinary circumstances").

Bill amendments must be in writing and standard form. Amendments must be sponsored by a
Committee member. Amendment requests shall be submitted to Committee staff by noon the day
before an executive session. Amendments will be placed in the books by 4:00pm the day before the
executive session (unless waived by the Chair & Ranking Member "in extraordinary circumstances").
Committee staff shall only draft amendments upon the request of a member.

Per Senate rules, committee voting will be done “subject to signatures”. If, after executive session on a
measure, the signatures of all members are not included on either a majority or minority report, the
committee coordinator shall hold the signature sheets for 24 hours. This 24-hour hold applies even if a
majority of the members of the committee has signed the majority report. Members shall make an
appointment within that 24 hour period with the committee coordinator if they want to sign the boards.

Rulings on parliamentary procedure will be made by the Chair.

Staff Workload Management

The primary responsibility of Committee staff is the Committee business under the direction of the
Chair.

The second responsibility of Committee staff is to meet the needs of Committee members.

The third responsibility of Committee staff is to meet the needs of other members.

The committee coordinator is responsible for staff assignments when not specifically made under
direction of the Chair.

Confidentiality issues are governed by Senate Committee Services procedures.

Respect of members, staff, guests, & public

Respect for all who are participating in committee business should be evident at all times. Staff
members are an important and valued part of state government and the legislative process. Non-
employees appear often at great sacrifice to themselves.

A time for questions, not statements: During work sessions and public hearings, long statements of
one’s personal position on an issue should not be allowed. Most often it is difficult to allow adequate
time for testimony by those who wish to be heard. Members should be prepared to ask questions to
learn more about the subject. This is not the appropriate time for statements from members.
Statements by individual Committee members do not represent the policies or positions of the
Committee or the Legislature.

Debate: Debate on policy issues between members shall occur during executive session, not while
people are attempting to provide testimony.

Problems: Personal problems with individuals should be solved one-on-one outside of committee
hearings with other members of the Committee and those who appear before the Committee.

The Committee will abide by the Senate's Policy on Appropriate Workplace Conduct.


File and source

File

2023-01-10_a30308_d247107_bfgt-committee-guidelines.pdf

Size

132,582 bytes

SHA-256

975d1e4ea96a6ce3ae417363f55e290951bfe02047920d5e53569128e590c024

Our copy

2023-01-10_a30308_d247107_bfgt-committee-guidelines.pdf

Original

No public link identified.