California 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AR4 Compare Versions

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11 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 4Introduced by Assembly Member EssayliDecember 02, 2024 Relative to the Standing Rules of the Assembly for the 202526 Regular Session. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTHR 4, as introduced, Essayli. Digest KeyBill TextResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the following Rules be, and the same are hereby, adopted as the Standing Rules of the Assembly for the 202526 Regular Session; and be it furtherResolved, That these rules shall govern the operations of the Assembly.STANDING RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY202526 REGULAR SESSIONI.LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATIONAssembly General Officers1.(a) The general officers of the Assembly are the following:(1) Speaker(2) Speaker pro TemporeAssistant Speaker pro TemporeMajority LeaderRepublican Leader(3) Chief ClerkSergeant at Arms(b) Except for the officers listed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), each officer listed in subdivision (a) shall be elected by a majority vote of the duly elected and qualified Members.(c) The Chief Clerk, subject to the approval of the Committee on Rules, shall determine the names and titles that shall appear on the front page of all publications.Hours of Meeting2.The Speaker, or, in the Speakers absence, the Speaker pro Tempore, shall determine the time for convening the session, unless otherwise ordered by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.Speaker to Call Assembly to Order3.The Speaker, or, in the Speakers absence, the Speaker pro Tempore, shall, at the hour appointed for meeting, call the Assembly to order.Rollcall and Quorum4.Before proceeding with the business of the Assembly, both of the following shall be completed:(1) The roll of the Members shall be called, and the names of those present shall be entered in the Journal. Forty-one Members constitute a quorum.(2) The presiding officer shall announce the names of all Members who will be absent from that days session and the reason for their absence.Organization of Assembly5.For the purposes of the organization of any regular session of the Assembly pursuant to Section 9023 of the Government Code, the person who was the Speaker when the previous regular session adjourned sine die, if that person is reelected to the Assembly, shall be deemed to be the senior member elect.II.RULESAdoption of Standing Rules6.The adoption of the Standing Rules requires an affirmative recorded vote of a majority of the duly elected and qualified Members. When once adopted, the Standing Rules shall remain in effect unless suspended or amended as provided in these rules.Suspension of Rules7.Unless specified otherwise in these rules, any Standing Rule of the Assembly not requiring more than a majority vote, except Rule 8, may be suspended temporarily by a vote of a majority of the Members of the Assembly. A rule requiring a two-thirds vote may be temporarily suspended by a two-thirds vote of the Members of the Assembly. A temporary suspension applies only to the matter under immediate consideration, and in no case may it extend beyond an adjournment.Amending Standing Rules8.A standing rule of the Assembly may not be amended except by a resolution adopted by an affirmative recorded vote of a majority of the duly elected and qualified Members.Masons Manual10.In all cases not provided for by the California Constitution, by the Assembly Rules, by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, or by statute, the authority is the latest edition of Masons Manual.III.ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEESStanding Committees11.Thirty-two standing committees of the Assembly are hereby created, upon the several subjects, and titled respectively, as follows:Aging and Long-Term CareAgricultureAppropriationsArts, Entertainment, Sports, and TourismBanking and FinanceBudgetBusiness and ProfessionsCommunications and ConveyanceEconomic Development, Growth, and Household ImpactEducationElectionsEmergency ManagementEnvironmental Safety and Toxic MaterialsGovernmental OrganizationHealthHigher EducationHousing and Community DevelopmentHuman ServicesInsuranceJudiciaryLabor and EmploymentLocal GovernmentMilitary and Veterans AffairsNatural ResourcesPrivacy and Consumer ProtectionPublic Employment and RetirementPublic SafetyRevenue and TaxationRulesTransportationUtilities and EnergyWater, Parks, and WildlifeOpen Meetings11.3.(a) Except as otherwise provided in this rule, all meetings of the Assembly or a committee thereof shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend the meetings. As used in this rule, meeting means a gathering of a quorum of the Members of the Assembly or a committee in one place for the purpose of discussing legislative or other official matters within the jurisdiction of the Assembly or committee. As used in this rule, committee includes a standing committee, joint committee, conference committee, subcommittee, select committee, special committee, research committee, or any similar body.(b) Any meeting that is required to be open and public pursuant to this rule, including any closed session held pursuant to subdivision (c), may be held only after full and timely notice to the public as provided by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly.(c) The Assembly or a committee thereof may hold a closed session solely for any of the following purposes:(1) To consider the appointment, employment, evaluation of performance, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, to consider or hear complaints or charges brought against a Member of the Legislature or other public officer or employee, or to establish the classification or compensation of an employee of the Assembly.(2) To consider matters affecting the safety and security of Members of the Legislature or its employees, or the safety and security of any buildings and grounds used by the Legislature.(3) To confer with, or receive advice from, its legal counsel regarding pending or reasonably anticipated litigation, or whether to initiate litigation, when discussion in open session would not protect the interests of the Assembly or committee regarding the litigation.(d) A caucus of the Members of the Assembly that is composed of members of the same political party may meet in closed session.(e) A closed session may be held pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) under any of the following circumstances:(1) An adjudicatory proceeding before a court, administrative body exercising its adjudicatory authority, hearing officer, or arbitrator, to which the Assembly or a committee, Member, or employee thereof is a party, has been initiated formally.(2) Based on existing facts and circumstances, a point has been reached where, in the opinion of the Assembly or a committee thereof, on the advice of its legal counsel, litigation against the Assembly or a committee, Member, or employee thereof is reasonably anticipated.(3) Based on existing facts and circumstances, the Assembly or a committee thereof has decided to initiate, or is deciding whether to initiate, litigation.(4) To confer with, or receive advice from, its legal counsel and negotiator prior to the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real property by or for the Assembly or a committee thereof regarding the price and terms of payment for the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease.(f) Prior to holding a closed session pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), the presiding officer of the Assembly or the chairperson of the committee, as appropriate, shall state publicly which paragraph of subdivision (e) is applicable. If the closed session is held pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), the presiding officer or chairperson shall state the title of or otherwise specifically identify the litigation to be discussed, unless the presiding officer or chairperson states that to do so would jeopardize the ability to effectuate service of process upon one or more unserved parties, or that to do so would jeopardize the ability of the Assembly or the committee to conclude existing settlement negotiations to its advantage. If the closed session is held pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (e), the notice of the closed session shall identify the real property that the negotiations may concern and the person with whom the negotiations may take place.(g) The legal counsel for the Assembly or the committee shall prepare and submit to the Assembly or the committee a memorandum stating the specific reasons and legal authority for the closed session. If the closed session is held pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), the memorandum shall include the title of or other identification of the litigation. If the closed session is held pursuant to paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (e), the memorandum shall set forth the existing facts and circumstances on which the closed session is based. The legal counsel shall submit the memorandum to the Assembly or the committee prior to the closed session, if feasible, or, in any case, not later than one week after the closed session. The memorandum is exempt from disclosure under the Legislative Open Records Act contained in Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 9070) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code.(h) For purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), litigation includes any adjudicatory proceeding, including eminent domain, before a court, administrative body exercising its adjudicatory authority, hearing officer, or arbitrator.(i) For purposes of this rule, all expressions of the lawyer-client privilege other than those provided in this rule are hereby abrogated. This rule is the exclusive expression of the lawyer-client privilege for the purposes of conducting closed-session meetings pursuant to this rule.(j) Disclosure of a memorandum required under this rule shall not be deemed a waiver of the lawyer-client privilege provided for under Article 3 (commencing with Section 950) of Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Evidence Code.Conference Committee Meetings11.4.A Member may not participate in a meeting of a conference committee considering any bill that is not open to the public.Assembly Investigating Committees11.5.(a) The standing committees of the Assembly created pursuant to Rule 11, with the exception of the Committee on Rules, are hereby constituted Assembly investigating committees and are authorized and directed to conduct oversight hearings and to ascertain, study, and analyze all facts relating to any subjects or matters which the Committee on Rules shall assign to them upon request of the Assembly or upon its own initiative.(b) Each of the Assembly investigating committees consists of the members of the standing committee on the same subject as most recently constituted. The chairperson and vice chairperson is the chairperson and vice chairperson of the standing committee. Vacancies occurring in the membership of the committee shall be filled by the appointing authority.(c) Each committee and any subcommittee, and its members, have and may exercise all the rights, duties, and powers conferred upon investigating committees and their members by law and by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly and the Standing Rules of the Assembly as they are adopted and amended from time to time, which rules are incorporated herein and made applicable to the committee or subcommittee and their members.(d) In order to prevent duplication and overlapping of studies between the various investigating committees herein created, a committee may not commence the study of any subject or matter not specifically authorized herein or assigned to it unless and until prior written approval thereof has been obtained from the Committee on Rules.(e) The Committee on Rules shall provide for the expenses of the above committees and their members and for any charges, expenses, or claims they may incur under this rule, to be paid from the Assembly Operating Fund and disbursed, after certification by the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules or the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules authorized representative, upon warrants drawn by the Controller upon the State Treasury.Membership of Standing Committees12.The Speaker shall determine the size, and appoint the membership and the chairperson and vice chairperson, of all standing committees and subcommittees. In appointing Members to serve on committees, the Speaker shall consider the preferences of the Members.Committee on Rules13.There is a Committee on Rules, which acts as the executive committee of the Assembly. No regular member of the Committee on Rules may simultaneously serve as a chairperson of any standing committee. All meetings of the Committee on Rules that are required to be open and public shall be held in a room of appropriate size, and audiovisual recordings of those meetings shall be created and maintained.Organization of Party Caucuses13.1.Subject to the discretion of the Speaker and the leader of the caucus of the political party having the second greatest number of Members, after the general election held in November of each even-numbered year, the respective caucuses each may meet for the purpose of selecting their officers for the next regular session. The date and time of the convening of the respective party caucus meetings shall be at the discretion of the Speaker and the leader of the caucus of the political party having the second greatest number of Members. The rules and procedures of each caucus shall be determined by that caucus, but may not be inconsistent with these rules.Powers of the Committee on Rules14.(a) The Committee on Rules has the following powers:(1) To refer each bill and resolution to a committee, as provided by these rules.(2) To appoint all employees of the Assembly not otherwise provided for by statute. It has authority to terminate, to discipline, to establish, and to modify the terms and conditions of employment of, or to suspend, with or without pay, any employee of the Assembly, the Chief Clerk, and the Sergeant at Arms.(3) To make studies and recommendations designed to promote, improve, and expedite the business and procedure of the Assembly and of the committees thereof, and to propose any amendments to the Rules deemed necessary to accomplish these purposes.(4) To adopt additional policies or requirements regarding the use of cameras and other recording equipment at committee hearings or Assembly Floor sessions.(5) To contract with other agencies, public or private, as it deems necessary for the rendition and affording of those services, facilities, studies, and reports to the committee that will best assist it to carry out the purposes for which it is created.(6) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of county, city, city and county, and other local law enforcement agencies in investigating any matter within the scope of these rules and to direct the sheriff of any county to serve subpoenas, orders, and other process issued by the committee.(7) To report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and to the people from time to time and at any time.(8) To do any and all other things necessary or convenient to enable it fully and adequately to exercise its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objects and purposes of these rules.(9) To make available to the Assembly, or to any Assembly or joint committee, or to any Member of the Assembly assistance in connection with the duties of the committee or other legislative matters as the personnel under direction of the committee or its other facilities permit.(10) To make available to and furnish to the Assembly, and to Assembly investigating committees created at this session and to each of the members thereof, clerical, secretarial, and stenographic help as may be reasonably necessary for the Assembly to carry out its work, and for the committees and each of the members thereof, to make and carry on the studies and investigations required by or of them by the resolutions creating the committees, and for these purposes to employ additional stenographic and secretarial assistants as may be necessary, assign, reassign, and discharge these assistants and prescribe amounts, times, and methods of payment of their compensation. The committee shall allocate annually an amount for the operation of each investigating committee, which shall constitute the annual budget of the committee.(b) During the times as the Assembly is not in session, the committee is authorized and directed to incur and pay expenses of the Assembly not otherwise provided for that the committee determines are reasonably necessary, including the repair, alteration, improvement, and equipping of the Assembly Chamber and the offices provided for the Assembly in the State Capitol, the Capitol Annex, and the State Office Building located at 1021 O Street, Sacramento, California.(c) The committee shall allocate sufficient moneys from the Assembly Operating Fund to support the Assemblys share of joint operations.(d) The Chairperson of the Committee on Rules shall appoint a Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly, subject to the ratification of the Committee on Rules, who has duties relating to the administrative, fiscal, and business affairs of the Assembly that the committee shall prescribe. The Chairperson of the Committee on Rules or a majority of the membership of the Committee on Rules may terminate the services of the Chief Administrative Officer at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Speaker may appoint a temporary Chief Administrative Officer for up to 90 days following the beginning of the session.(e) The Committee on Rules may delegate powers to the Speaker by a majority vote of the membership of the committee.(f) The Committee on Rules may adopt additional rules, procedures, policies, or guidelines by a majority vote of the membership of the committee to implement Sections 7 and 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution.Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response14.5.(a) The Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response is created as a subcommittee of the Committee on Rules. The subcommittee is composed of a total of six members, with the following four members appointed by the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules: two members of the Committee on Rules from the political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly and two members of the Committee on Rules from the political party having the second greatest number of Members. The two members from the political party having the second greatest number of Members shall be appointed from a list of nominees that the vice chairperson of the committee provides to the chairperson. The co-chairpersons of the Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee also shall be members of the subcommittee. The Chairperson of the Committee on Rules shall designate one of the members of the subcommittee to serve as chairperson of the subcommittee.(b) The subcommittee shall periodically review procedures for the handling of complaints of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lodged against a Member of the Assembly or an Assembly employee and submit any recommendations to the Committee on Rules for consideration.(c) Following the submission of the recommendations pursuant to subdivision (b), the chairperson of the subcommittee may cause the subcommittee to convene to review and recommend further changes in procedures as subsequent events may require.Committee on Rules15.The Committee on Rules shall continue in existence during any recess of the Legislature and after final adjournment and until the convening of the next regular session, and shall have the same powers and duties as while the Assembly is in session. In dealing with any matter within its jurisdiction, the committee and its members have and may exercise all of the rights, duties, and powers conferred upon investigating committees and their members by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly as they are adopted and amended from time to time, which rules are incorporated herein and made applicable to the Committee on Rules and its members.Operating Fund Report15.5.The Committee on Rules shall annually prepare a report to the public of expenditures as required by Section 9131 of the Government Code.Independent Audit of Operating Funds15.6.The Committee on Rules shall contract for an independent audit of the revenues and expenditures, for each fiscal year, from the Assembly Operating Fund. The organization performing the audit shall be selected by a majority of the membership of the Committee on Rules. The contract for the audit shall be awarded through a competitive bidding procedure. The audit shall be prepared in a manner and form to be determined by the organization performing the audit, and shall be consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.The audit shall be completed and made available to the public within 180 calendar days following the completion of the fiscal year for which the audit is performed.Performance Audit15.7.In addition to the annual financial audit required by Rule 15.6, the Committee on Rules shall contract for an audit of the administrative operations of the Assembly. The administrative departments to be audited shall be determined by the Committee on Rules. An organization performing an audit pursuant to this rule shall be selected by a majority of the membership of the Committee on Rules. A contract for an audit shall be awarded through a competitive bidding procedure. Audits shall be prepared in a manner and form to be determined by the organization performing the audit, and shall be consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.All findings and recommendations reported by an auditing firm shall be made available to Members and to the public.Rules Committee Resolutions16.The Committee on Rules, acting unanimously by appropriate resolution, on behalf of and in the name of the Assembly, may extend congratulations, commendations, sympathy, or regret to any person, group, or organization, and may authorize the presentation of suitably prepared copies of these resolutions to the persons concerned and to their relatives.Assembly Operating Fund17.The Committee on Rules is the committee identified in Section 9127 of the Government Code. The balance of all money in the Assembly Operating Fund, including money now or hereafter appropriated, except the sums that are made available specifically for the expense of designated committees or for other purposes, is hereby made available to the Committee on Rules for any charges or claims it may incur in carrying out the duties imposed upon it by these rules or by Assembly or concurrent resolution. The money made available by this rule includes the unencumbered balances of all sums heretofore made available to any Assembly or joint committee by the Assembly, upon the expiration of that committee, and shall be expended as provided in these rules.Expenditures18.A Member or committee may not incur any expense except as authorized pursuant to these rules or the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, or as authorized by the Assembly or the Committee on Rules.The Committee on Rules shall provide, by rules and regulations, for the manner of authorizing expenditures by Members, committees, officers, and employees of the Assembly that are not otherwise authorized by law, these rules, or the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly. These rules and regulations shall incorporate a provision whereby construction, alteration, improvement, repair, or maintenance of real or personal property, and the purchase of supplies and equipment, shall be governed by competitive bidding. Further, the rules and regulations shall provide for the payment of expenditures, as authorized by these rules and regulations, from the Assembly Operating Fund upon certification of claims therefor to the Controller by the Committee on Rules or its authorized representative.A Member may not be reimbursed for travel outside the State of California without prior approval of the Speaker or the Committee on Rules.Rules and Regulations Governing Committees20.All claims for expenses incurred by investigating committees of the Assembly shall be approved by the Committee on Rules, or its authorized representative, before the claims are presented to the Controller.All proposed expenditures, other than expenditures of the funds of an investigating committee, shall be approved by the Committee on Rules or its authorized representative before the expenses are incurred, unless the expenditure is specifically exempted from this requirement by the resolution authorizing it.No warrant may be drawn in payment of any claim for expenses until the approval of the Committee on Rules, or its authorized representative, has been obtained in accordance with this rule.The Committee on Rules shall adopt rules and regulations governing the awarding of any contract by an investigating committee, and rules and regulations limiting the amount, time, and place of expenses and allowances to be paid to employees of Assembly investigating committees or other Assembly committees.These rules may provide for allowances to committee employees in lieu of actual expenses.Mileage is an allowance to a committee employee in lieu of actual expenses of travel. When travel is by private conveyance, mileage may be allowed only to the operator of, and not to passengers in, a private vehicle. Claims for mileage by private conveyance must be accompanied by the license number of the vehicle and the names of state officers and employees riding as passengers.Copies of all rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this rule shall be distributed to the chairperson of every investigating committee and of any other Assembly committee that has employees.Fees for Witnesses21.Each witness summoned to appear before the Assembly or any of its committees shall be reimbursed at a rate set by the Committee on Rules.Assembly General Research Committee22.(a) The Assembly General Research Committee is hereby continued as a permanent factfinding committee pursuant to Section 11 of Article IV of the California Constitution. The committee is allocated all subjects within the scope of legislative regulation and control, but may not undertake any investigation that another committee has been specifically requested or directed to undertake. The Assembly General Research Committee may act through subcommittees appointed by the Speaker in consultation with the Committee on Rules, and each of these subcommittees may act only on the particular study or investigation assigned by the Speaker in consultation with the Committee on Rules to that subcommittee. Each subcommittee shall be known and designated as a select committee. The Speaker is the Chairperson of the Assembly General Research Committee and may be a voting member of any subcommittee. Each member of the Assembly General Research Committee is authorized and directed to receive and investigate requests for legislative action made by individuals or groups, and to report thereon to the full committee. The Committee on Rules is authorized to allocate to any subcommittee from the Assembly Operating Fund those sums that the Committee on Rules deems necessary to complete the investigation or study conferred upon that subcommittee. The Committee on Rules shall further allocate, from time to time, to the Assembly General Research Committee from the Assembly Operating Fund those sums that are necessary to permit the Assembly General Research Committee and the members thereof to carry out the duties imposed on them. The committee has continuous existence until the time that its existence is terminated by a resolution adopted by the Assembly, and the committee is authorized to act both during and between sessions of the Legislature, including any recess.(b) The committee and its members shall have and exercise all the rights, duties, and powers conferred upon investigating committees and their members by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly and the Standing Rules of the Assembly as they are adopted and amended from time to time at this session, which provisions are incorporated herein and made applicable to the committee and its members.(c) The committee has the following additional powers and duties:(1) To contract with other agencies, public or private, for the rendition and affording of services, facilities, studies, and reports to the committee as the committee deems necessary to assist it to carry out the purposes for which it is created.(2) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of county, city, city and county, and other local law enforcement agencies in investigating any matter within the scope of this rule and to direct the sheriff of any county to serve subpoenas, orders, and other process issued by the committee.(3) To report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the people from time to time.(4) To do any and all other things necessary or convenient to enable it fully and adequately to exercise its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objects and purposes of this rule.Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee22.5.(a) The Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee is hereby created. The committee shall consist of six Members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker. Notwithstanding any other rule of the Assembly, three members of the committee shall be from the political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly and three members shall be from the political party having the second greatest number of Members. Any temporary or permanent vacancy on the committee shall be filled within 10 days by a member from the same political party. All appointments, including appointments to fill permanent or temporary vacancies, of members from the political party having the second greatest number of Members in the Assembly shall be made from a list of nominees that the Republican Leader provides to the Speaker. The Speaker shall designate one member of the committee from the political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly and one member of the committee from the political party having the second greatest number of Members to serve as co-chairpersons of the committee. The Speaker shall designate one of the co-chairpersons to serve as the presiding officer at any meeting or hearing conducted by the committee.If a verified complaint is filed against a member of the committee, the Speaker shall temporarily replace the member with a Member from the same political party, who shall serve until the complaint is dismissed or the Assembly takes final action on the complaint, whichever occurs first.(b) The provisions of this rule, and of Rule 11.5 related to investigating committees, apply to the committee and govern its proceedings.Prior to the issuance of any subpoena by the committee with respect to any matter before the committee, it shall, by a resolution adopted by the committee pursuant to a vote in accordance with subdivision (n), define the nature and scope of its investigation in the matter before it.(c) Funds for the support of the committee shall be provided from the Assembly Operating Fund in the same manner that those funds are made available to other committees of the Assembly.(d) (1) The committee has the power, pursuant to this rule and Article 3 (commencing with Section 8940) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to investigate and make findings and recommendations concerning violations by Members of the Assembly of any provision of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code or of any other provision of law or legislative rule that governs the official conduct of Members of the Assembly, hereafter collectively referred to as standards of conduct.(2) The committee may, on its own action pursuant to a vote in accordance with subdivision (n), initiate an investigation of a Member of the Assembly.(e) Any person may file with the committee a verified complaint in writing, which shall state the name of the Member of the Assembly alleged to have violated any standard of conduct, and which shall set forth the particulars thereof with sufficient clarity and detail to enable the committee to make a determination. The person filing the complaint thereafter shall be designated the complainant.If a verified complaint is filed with the committee, the committee promptly shall send a copy of the complaint to the Member of the Assembly alleged to have committed the violation complained of, who thereafter shall be designated the respondent.A complaint may not be filed with the committee after the expiration of 12 months from the date the alleged violation is discovered or three years from the date of the alleged violation, whichever occurs first.(f) (1) Within 30 days of receipt of a verified complaint, the co-chairpersons of the committee shall make an initial determination as to whether the alleged conduct of the Member of the Assembly against whom the verified complaint has been filed falls within the jurisdiction of the committee. If the co-chairpersons agree that the alleged conduct does not fall within the jurisdiction of the committee, the committee shall notify the complainant and respondent of the determination and the complaint shall be dismissed. If one or both of the co-chairpersons determine that the alleged conduct falls within the jurisdiction of the committee, the complaint shall be deemed to fall within the committees jurisdiction and shall be subject to the applicable procedures set forth in paragraphs (2) to (6), inclusive.(2) If the verified complaint is deemed to fall within the jurisdiction of the committee pursuant to paragraph (1), the committee shall determine whether the verified complaint alleges facts, directly or upon information and belief, sufficient to constitute a violation of any standard of conduct.(3) (i) If the committee determines that the verified complaint does not allege facts, directly or upon information and belief, sufficient to constitute a violation of any standard of conduct, it shall dismiss the complaint and so notify the complainant and respondent.(ii) If the committee determines that the verified complaint does allege facts, directly or upon information and belief, sufficient to constitute a violation of any standard of conduct, the committee promptly shall investigate the alleged violation and if, after this preliminary investigation, the committee finds that reasonable cause exists for believing the allegations of the complaint, it shall fix a time for a hearing in the matter, which shall be not more than 30 days after that finding. The committee may, however, seek an extension of this period, not to exceed an additional 30 days, which may be granted by a majority vote of the Committee on Rules. If, after preliminary investigation, the committee does not find that reasonable cause exists for believing the allegations of the complaint, the committee shall dismiss the complaint. In either event, the committee shall notify the complainant and the respondent of its determination.(4) The committee shall make its determination under paragraph (2) or (3), pursuant to a vote in accordance with subdivision (n), not later than 120 days after first receiving a complaint that satisfies subdivision (e). The committee may, however, seek an extension, not to exceed 30 days, which may be granted by a majority vote of the membership of the Committee on Rules. If the committee has requested a law enforcement agency to investigate the complaint or if the committee knows the complaint is being investigated by a law enforcement agency, the time limits set forth in this subdivision shall be tolled until the investigation is completed.(5) The committees determination under paragraph (2) or (3) shall be stated in writing, with reasons given therefor, and shall be provided to the Assembly, and, in any case concerning an alleged violation of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, shall be provided to the appropriate law enforcement agency. This written determination is a public record and is open to public inspection.(6) Any deliberations of the committee from the time of receipt of a complaint until it decides to dismiss the complaint or to set a hearing shall not be open to the public unless the respondent requests a public meeting.(g) After the complaint has been filed, the respondent shall be entitled to examine and make copies of all evidence in the possession of the committee relating to the complaint.(h) If a hearing is held pursuant to subdivision (f), the committee, before the hearing has commenced, shall issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum at the request of any party in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 9400) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code. All of the provisions of that chapter, except Section 9410 of the Government Code, shall apply to the committee and the witnesses before it.(i) At any hearing held by the committee:(1) Oral evidence shall be taken on oath or affirmation.(2) Each party shall have these rights: to be represented by legal counsel; to call and examine witnesses; to introduce exhibits; and to cross-examine opposing witnesses.(3) The hearing shall be open to the public.(j) Any official or other person whose name is mentioned at any investigation or hearing of the committee, and who believes that testimony has been given that adversely affects the official or other person, shall have the right to testify or, at the discretion of the committee, to testify under oath relating solely to the material relevant to the testimony regarding which the official or other person complains.(k) The committee shall have 15 days following the hearing within which to deliberate and reach its final determination on the matter as follows:(1) If the committee finds that the respondent has not violated any standard of conduct, it shall order the action dismissed, shall notify the respondent and complainant thereof, and, in cases concerning an alleged violation of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, shall transmit a copy of the complaint and the fact of dismissal to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The complaint and the fact of dismissal transmitted pursuant to this paragraph are public records and open to public inspection.(2) If the committee finds that the respondent has violated any standard of conduct, it shall state its findings of fact and submit a report thereon to the Assembly. This report shall be accompanied by a house resolution, authored by the committee, which shall be introduced at the Chief Clerks desk and then referred by the Committee on Rules to the Ethics Committee. The house resolution shall include a statement of the committees findings and the committees recommendation for disciplinary action. Within seven days, the committee shall adopt the final form of the house resolution and report it to the Assembly for placement on the Daily File. The committee also shall send a copy of those findings and report to the complainant and respondent, and, in cases concerning an alleged violation of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, shall report thereon to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The report submitted pursuant to this paragraph is a public record and open to public inspection.After the receipt of a copy of the committees final report and house resolution, the Assembly expeditiously shall take appropriate action with respect to the respondent.(l) The filing of a complaint with the committee pursuant to this rule suspends the running of the statute of limitations applicable to any violation of any standard of conduct alleged in the substance of that complaint while the complaint is pending.(m) The committee shall maintain a record of its investigations, inquiries, and proceedings. All records, complaints, documents, and reports filed with or submitted to or made by the committee, and all records and transcripts of any investigations, inquiries, or hearings of the committee under this rule shall be deemed confidential and shall not be open to inspection, without the express permission of the committee, by any person other than a member of the committee, or an employee of the committee or other state employee designated to assist the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided in this rule. The committee may, by adoption of a resolution, authorize the release to the Attorney General or a district attorney of the appropriate county of any information, records, complaints, documents, reports, and transcripts in its possession that are material to any matter pending before the Attorney General or that district attorney. All matters presented at a public hearing of the committee and all reports of the committee stating a final finding of fact pursuant to subdivision (k) shall be public records and open to public inspection. Any employee of the committee who divulges any matter that is deemed to be confidential by this subdivision shall be subject to discipline by the Committee on Rules.(n) The committee may take any action authorized by this rule only upon the vote of not less than two members from the registered political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly and two members from the registered political party having the second greatest number of Members. Any vacancy on the committee does not reduce the votes required to take action.(o) The committee may render advisory opinions to Members of the Assembly with respect to the standards of conduct and their application and construction. The committee may secure an opinion from the Legislative Counsel for this purpose or issue its own opinion. Any committee advisory opinion shall be prepared by committee members or staff and shall be adopted by the committee pursuant to subdivision (n).(p) The committee shall conduct, at least semiannually, an orientation course on the relevant statutes and regulations governing official conduct. The curriculum and presentation of the course shall be established by the Committee on Rules. At least once each biennial session, each Member of the Assembly and each employee of the Assembly shall attend one of these courses.(q) Pursuant to Section 8956 of the Government Code, the committee shall do each of the following:(1) Conduct, at least semiannually, an orientation course on the relevant ethical issues and laws relating to lobbying.(2) Impose fees on lobbyists for attending the course specified in paragraph (1) at an amount that will permit the participation of lobbyists to the fullest extent possible.Printing of Committee Reports23.All requests for the printing of reports of Assembly committees shall be referred to the Committee on Rules. The Committee on Rules shall determine the number of copies needed, whether the report shall be printed in the Journal, and whether the report shall be distributed electronically. The Committee on Rules shall authorize the distribution of reports electronically whenever possible.Assembly Employees24.Every employee who works for a committee of the Assembly or a subcommittee of a committee, for a Member of the Assembly, for the Chief Clerks office, or for the Sergeant at Arms, is an employee of the Assembly. All employees of the Assembly serve at the pleasure of the Assembly and the terms and conditions of their employment may be modified, or their employment may be terminated at will, at any time and without notice, by the Committee on Rules.Every applicant for employment by the Assembly shall prepare a formal application for employment on forms prescribed by the Committee on Rules. The application shall include a statement of the applicants present employment, the applicants employment during the preceding two years, and other pertinent information that the Committee on Rules may require. The application shall be certified under penalty of perjury, and any willful false statement or omission of a material fact shall be punishable as perjury. If the application discloses any fact that indicates that the applicant has a personal interest that would conflict with the faithful performance of the applicants duties, the applicant shall not be employed. All applications shall be retained in the records of the committee.Every employee shall complete the Assembly ethics course in the first six months of the employees employment. Thereafter, every employee shall take the course in the first six months of every legislative session.Every employee shall, within the first six months of every legislative session, take a course on harassment, discrimination, and retaliation prevention. The content of the course shall be determined by the Committee on Rules and shall include the Legislatures Policy on Appropriate Workplace Conduct: Creating a Culture of Respect, Civility, and Diversity.An employee may not engage in any outside business activity or outside employment that is inconsistent, incompatible, or in conflict with the employees functions or responsibilities as an employee of the Assembly. Any employee who engages in any outside business activity or employment that is in any way related to the employees functions or responsibilities as an employee shall promptly notify the Committee on Rules of that business activity or employment.Public Legislative Meetings25.(a) Accredited press representatives and the public shall not be excluded from any public legislative meeting or hearing and shall not be prohibited from taking photographs of, televising, or recording the committee or house hearings.(b) The Committee on Rules shall adopt reasonable rules regarding access to public legislative meeting and hearing spaces, including the placement and use of equipment for recording or broadcasting, to minimize disruption of the proceedings. The rules shall grant priority to accredited press representatives in allocating access to public legislative meetings and hearings. Legislative meetings shall comply with the provisions related to the publics recording of legislative meetings set forth in Resolution Chapter 163 of the Statutes of 2018.IV.ASSEMBLY FUNCTIONSA.Duties of Assembly OfficersDuties of the Speaker26.(a) The Speaker possesses the powers and shall perform the duties prescribed as follows:(1) To preserve order and decorum; the Speaker may speak to points of order in preference to the other Members, rising from the Speakers chair for that purpose.(2) To decide all questions of order subject to appeal to the Assembly by any Member. On every appeal, the Speaker shall have the right to assign the reason for the Speakers decision.(3) To name any Member to perform the duties of the Speaker, except that any substitution may not extend beyond adjournment.(4) To have general direction over the Assembly Chamber and rooms set aside for the use of the Assembly, including the rooms for use by Members as private offices.(5) To allocate funds, staffing, and other resources for the effective operation of the Assembly.(6) To appoint the membership of all standing and special committees, including the Committee on Rules, and their respective chairpersons and vice chairpersons. The Speaker has approval power over the appointment of subcommittees of standing and special committees, except as otherwise provided in Rule 14.5. The Committee on Rules consists of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and other Members who shall be appointed by the Speaker in accordance with the process for appointing the membership of standing committees pursuant to this rule. Two alternate members of the Committee on Rules shall be appointed in accordance with the process for appointing members to the Committee on Rules. Members and alternates so appointed shall remain in office until their successors are selected as provided for in these rules. The Speaker may designate any member in lieu of or in addition to the alternate member to fill a temporary vacancy. An alternate member may serve when a committee member is absent.(7) To establish a schedule of meetings of standing committees or subcommittees and to approve special meetings at a time different from the scheduled time.(8) To have general control and direction over the Journals, papers, and bills of the Assembly and to establish a procedure in accordance with Rule 118 for admitting employees of the Legislature to the Assembly Chamber, including the Lobby in the rear of the Chamber and any hallway or area of the Floor that is adjacent to the desks occupied by the assistants to the Chief Clerk.(9) To act as Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole.(10) To order the Lobby and Gallery cleared whenever the Speaker deems it necessary.(11) To authenticate by the Speakers signature, when necessary or required by law, all bills, memorials, resolutions, orders, proceedings, writs, warrants, and subpoenas issued by order of the Assembly.(b) The Speaker is an ex officio member of all Assembly and joint committees with all of the rights and privileges of that membership, except the right to vote. In counting a quorum of any of those committees, the Speaker shall not be counted as a member.(c) The Speaker shall, at each regular session, appoint a Member of the Assembly to serve on the Judicial Council pursuant to Section 6 of Article VI of the California Constitution.(d) The Speaker shall, at each regular session, appoint a Chaplain to deliver prayers during Floor sessions pursuant to Rule 40.Funerals and Other Ceremonies and Events27.The Speaker may designate any one or more of the Members of the Assembly as the representatives of the Assembly to attend funerals and other ceremonies and events in appropriate circumstances. The Members so designated shall receive their expenses as provided in Joint Rule 35.Selection of Officers28.(a) The Speaker shall appoint all nonelected officers of the Assembly except the Republican Leader.(b) The Republican Leader shall be selected by the Assembly Republican Caucus.Duties of the Speaker pro Tempore29.The Speaker pro Tempore shall perform those duties assigned by the Speaker, including the responsibility of presiding over sessions of the Assembly and advising the Members on parliamentary procedures of the house.Duties of the Assistant Speaker pro Tempore29.5.The Assistant Speaker pro Tempore shall perform those duties assigned by the Speaker or Speaker pro Tempore, including the responsibility of presiding over sessions of the Assembly and advising the Members on parliamentary procedures of the house.Majority Leader30.It is the duty of the Majority Leader to make those appropriate motions, points of order, or other arrangements that may be necessary to expedite the proceedings of the Assembly, and the Majority Leader is responsible for the presentation of all matters that relate to the order of business, and to the promotion of harmony among the membership.Caucus Chairpersons31.The chairperson of the caucus of the political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly, and the chairperson of the caucus of the political party having the second greatest number of Members in the Assembly, shall perform those duties that are prescribed by their respective party caucuses.Chief Clerk32.The Chief Clerk of the Assembly has the following duties, powers, and responsibilities:(a) To keep the bills, papers, and records of the proceedings and actions of the Assembly and to have charge of the publication and distribution of those publications related thereto.(b) To supervise Assembly employees who are engaged in duties related to subdivision (a).(c) To act as Parliamentarian of the Assembly and to advise the officers of the Assembly and the Committee on Rules on parliamentary procedure and the Rules of the Assembly when called upon to do so.(d) To prepare all bills, resolutions, histories, journals, and related publications for printing.(e) To refuse to permit any bills, papers, or records to be removed from the Chief Clerks office or out of the Chief Clerks custody, except upon duly signed receipts from persons authorized.(f) To perform other duties that are prescribed by law or the Committee on Rules.(g) To make technical changes in measures and amendments pending before the Assembly. The Chief Clerk shall notify the Speaker and the author of the measure of any such change.(h) To compare all bills, ordered or considered engrossed by the Assembly, with the engrossed copies thereof; before they pass out of the possession of the Assembly, to see that each engrossed bill is a true copy of the original, with those amendments that may have been made thereto; and to see that all engrossed bills are reported back in the order in which they were ordered engrossed.(i) To assist the Committee on Rules, upon its request, in recommending the reference of bills to the appropriate standing committee.The Assistant Chief Clerk shall have the powers and perform the duties of the Chief Clerk during the Chief Clerks absence.Sergeant at Arms33.The Sergeant at Arms has the following duties, powers, and responsibilities:(a) To attend the Assembly during its session, preserve order, announce all official messengers, and serve all process issued by authority of the Assembly and directed by the Speaker; the Sergeant at Arms shall receive actual expenses for the Sergeant at Arms, or for an assistant, incurred in executing any process.(b) To see that no person is admitted to the Assembly Chamber except in accordance with these rules.(c) To have general supervision over the Assistant Sergeants at Arms and be responsible for their official acts and their performance of and regular attendance upon their duties.(d) To execute all commands of the Speaker.(e) To perform all other duties pertaining to the Sergeant at Arms office as prescribed by law or Assembly Rule.The Deputy Chief Sergeant at Arms shall have the powers and perform the duties of the Sergeant at Arms during the Sergeant at Arms absence.Filling Interim VacanciesAssembly Elected Officers34.In the event a vacancy in any office, except Speaker, elected by the membership of the Assembly occurs during joint recesses, the Committee on Rules shall fill the office until the session reconvenes. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Speaker during a joint recess, the Committee on Rules shall notify the membership within 15 days from the time the vacancy occurs and shall call a caucus of the membership of the Assembly for the purpose of filling the vacancy. This caucus shall be held at the State Capitol within 30 days from the time the vacancy occurs. Notice of the caucus shall be in writing and shall be mailed not less than 10 days prior to the meeting of the caucus. If the Committee on Rules fails to act within 15 days from the time the vacancy in the office of Speaker occurs, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall act in its place, following the procedure set forth in this rule. Any person selected to fill any vacancy pursuant to this rule holds the office until the session reconvenes.An affirmative recorded vote of a majority of the duly elected and qualified Members is required for the selection by the Assembly caucus of a person to fill a vacancy pursuant to this rule. The procedure for selecting the Speaker at the caucus is the same as the procedure required for the election of the Speaker at a session.B.PrintingAuthority for Printing35.The State Printer may not charge any printing or other work to the Assembly other than as provided by law or Assembly Rule, except upon a written order signed by the Chief Clerk of the Assembly or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly. All invoices for printing furnished to the Assembly shall be itemized and rendered by the State Printer within 30 days after completion of the printing. When necessary, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly may order certain printed matter completed in advance of its regular order by the issuance of a rush order.Ordering of Printing36.The Chief Clerk is authorized to order, and is responsible for ordering, the printing of bills, resolutions, journals, daily files, histories, and related documents.The Chief Clerk of the Assembly, or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly, shall order other printing as directed or authorized by the Committee on Rules, and the written order for that printing shall be countersigned by the Speaker or a person designated by the Speaker. The Chief Clerk of the Assembly or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly shall also order other printing as directed or authorized by resolution or motion of the Assembly.Printing Assembly History and Legislative Handbook37.During the session, the Chief Clerk shall cause to be published, prior to convening on Monday of each week, a complete history showing all actions taken upon each measure up to and including the legislative day preceding its issuance. For each legislative day intervening between the issuance of each Weekly History, there shall be published a Daily Supplemental History showing only actions taken upon any measure since the issuance of the preceding Weekly History.The Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall, as soon as practicable, in each even-numbered year, commence to compile a legislative manual or handbook, pursuant to Section 9740 of the Government Code.Transmittal of Assembly Joint Resolutions37.5.Whenever the Chief Clerk is directed to transmit copies of an Assembly Joint Resolution to Members of the Legislature or Members of Congress, the Chief Clerk may do one or both of the following:(a) Transmit the copies to the designated Members by electronic means.(b) Transmit one physical copy to the appropriate administrative or legislative officer of the designated body.V.LEGISLATIVE PROCEDUREOrder of Business40.(a) The order of business of the Assembly shall be as follows:1. Rollcall2. Prayer by the Chaplain3. Reading of the Previous Days Journal4. Presentation of Petitions5. Introduction and Reference of Bills6. Reports of Committees7. Messages From the Governor8. Messages From the Senate9. Motions and Resolutions10. Business on the Daily File11. Announcements12. Adjournment(b) With the exception of Special Orders of Business, the Speaker may determine that a different order of business will result in a more expeditious processing of the business of the Assembly pursuant to Assembly Rule 63, or by ordering resolutions honoring an individual or an organization, introductions, and adjournments in memory of individuals to be taken up in a different order than that listed in subdivision (a).Pledging of Allegiance to the Flag41.At each session, following the prayer by the Chaplain, the Members of the Assembly and its officers and employees present in the Assembly Chamber shall pledge their allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. The Speaker shall invite guests present in the Assembly Chamber to join in the pledge of allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.Reading and Correcting Journals42.(a) The reading of the Journal of the previous day may be dispensed with, on motion, by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.(b) All journals of the Assembly shall be corrected by the Minute Clerk and delivered to the Chief Clerk.(c) A motion to correct any days Journal or to print a letter in the Journal shall always be in order and shall require a majority vote of the Members present and voting.Presentation of Petitions43.Whenever petitions, memorials, or other papers are presented by a Member, a brief statement of the contents thereof may be made verbally by the introducer. Petitions are not debatable and shall be filed, or referred to a committee as the Speaker shall determine. Receipt of that presentation and its disposition shall be noted in the Journal.Upon receipt of a petition for the impeachment of any person subject to impeachment by the Legislature, the Speaker shall, without comment or debate, forthwith refer the petition to committee.Messages From the Governor44.Messages from the Governor shall be delivered to the Chief Clerk or an assistant, and shall be read and ordered printed in the Journal unless otherwise ordered by an affirmative recorded vote of 54 or more Members.Messages From the Senate45.(a) Messages from the Senate shall be delivered to the Chief Clerk or an assistant, and shall be read and ordered printed in the Journal. The Committee on Rules may refer each bill to a committee, unless upon a motion the Assembly, by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members, refers it to some other committee. The action to refer a bill is not debatable. The reference shall be entered in the Journal. Assembly bills that have been passed without amendment by the Senate shall be ordered to enrollment.An Assembly bill amended by the Senate shall be placed upon the unfinished business file but shall not be eligible to be acted upon until it is on the unfinished business file for one calendar day, except that when the Assembly bill is placed upon the unfinished business file during the last two legislative days preceding (1) the January 31 bill passage deadline specified by Section 10 of Article IV of the California Constitution, (2) the scheduled commencement of the interim study recess, or (3) the scheduled commencement of the final recess as specified by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, it may be acted upon immediately.(b) An Assembly bill amended by the Senate shall be considered and voted upon in accordance with Rule 77.Presentation of Guests or Memorials in the Assembly45.5.These rules do not prohibit the Speaker or Speaker pro Tempore from permitting the introduction of a special guest or guests. A request that a session of the Assembly adjourn in memory of a current or former California resident, or prominent national figure, who died within the previous 12 months shall be made in writing to the Speaker and Majority Leader on a form provided by the Chief Clerk. If approved, the memorial adjournment shall be printed in the Journal. A Member may not speak on an adjournment in memory unless this rule is suspended by a majority of the Members of the Assembly, in which case the Member may speak for a maximum of two minutes.A.Bills and ResolutionsBills Defined46.(a) The word bill, as used in these rules, includes a constitutional amendment, a concurrent resolution, and a joint resolution, except as otherwise specifically provided.(b) A concurrent resolution and a joint resolution, other than a resolution ratifying proposed amendments to the United States Constitution and a resolution calling for a constitutional convention, shall be treated in all respects as a bill except as follows:(1) It shall be given only one formal reading.(2) It shall not be deemed a bill within the meaning of subdivision (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution.(c) Final form, as used in these rules, means the following:(1) For an Assembly bill, the form of the bill presented on the Senate Floor for a vote upon final passage.(2) For a Senate bill, the form of the bill presented on the Assembly Floor for a vote upon final passage.Introduction and Reference of Bills47.(a) Each bill shall be signed by each Member who is an author or coauthor of the bill before it is introduced. If any bill is introduced that does not contain the signature of its author or coauthor, the bill, on motion of the Member whose name appears thereon without that signature, shall be stricken from the file by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.(b) For the purposes of this rule, a signature is defined as, and includes, a signature on the bill language provided by the Legislative Counsel or a letter to the Chief Clerk signed by the author submitted at the time of introduction. The letter may identify any Members to be added as joint authors, principal coauthors, or coauthors provided that the author maintain documentation that the Members intended to sign on to the bill.(c) When received at the Chief Clerks desk each bill shall, under the proper order of business, be numbered, read the first time, printed, and referred to a standing committee, and a copy thereof shall be placed upon the desk of each Member before final passage.All bills and constitutional amendments introduced before the standing committees of the Assembly are appointed shall be referred to committee, the references to take effect when the committees are appointed.(d) The Committee on Budget may introduce a bill germane to any subject within the jurisdiction of the committee in the same manner as any Member. Any other standing committee may introduce a total of five bills in each year of a biennial session that are germane to any subject within the proper consideration of the committee.(e) No committee, except the Committee on Budget, may introduce or author a house resolution, concurrent resolution, or joint resolution.(f) A committee bill may not be introduced unless it contains the signatures, as defined in subdivision (b), of a majority of all of the members, including the chairperson, of the committee. If all of the members of a committee sign the bill, at the option of the committee chairperson the committee members names need not appear as authors in the heading of the printed bill. The committee shall maintain documentation that committee members who are listed in the letter to the Chief Clerk or who have signed the bill language provided by the Legislative Counsel intended to appear as authors.(g) Subdivision (d) or (e) of this rule may be suspended with respect to a particular bill or resolution by approval of the Committee on Rules.Bills Authored by a Former Member47.1.Whenever the author of a bill in the Assembly is no longer a Member of the Legislature, upon a request of a committee or current Member of the house in which the bill was introduced, the Assembly Committee on Rules may authorize that committee or Member to be the author of that bill. Absent that authorization, an action may not be taken by a committee or the Assembly with respect to a bill authored by a former Member.Limitation on the Introduction of Bills49.(a) A Member may introduce not more than 35 bills in the regular session. As used in this rule, bill includes a constitutional amendment, but does not include a concurrent or joint resolution.(b) This rule may be suspended with respect to a particular bill by approval of the Committee on Rules.Reference of Bills to Committee51.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, the Committee on Rules may refer each bill to a committee by a majority vote of the membership of the committee, unless upon a motion the Assembly, by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members, refers it to some other committee. A motion to refer a bill is not debatable, except as to the propriety of the motion, and it may not open the main question to debate.The Committee on Rules may require that, if a bill is reported out of the committee to which it has been referred, it shall be re-referred to another committee that shares jurisdiction of the subject matter of the bill.When the Assembly is in recess during a state of emergency due to a pandemic, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules may refer bills and resolutions to a committee when requested by the Speaker. A referral made pursuant to the Speakers request shall be made in consultation with the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Rules; shall be transmitted to the Chief Clerk, the Speaker, the Republican Leader, and members of the Committee on Rules; and shall be printed in the Journal.Spot Bills51.5.A bill that upon introduction makes no substantive change in or addition to existing law, and would not otherwise affect the ongoing operations of state or local government, except a bill stating legislative intent to make necessary statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill, may not be referred to a committee by the Committee on Rules. If the author subsequently proposes to the Committee on Rules to make substantive changes in the bill as introduced, the Committee on Rules may refer the bill to a committee, together with the proposed changes for consideration as authors amendments. A vote on passage of the bill may not be taken, however, until the bill with its amendments, if adopted, has been in print for at least 15 days.Delivery of Bills to State Printer52.After introduction and first reading, all bills shall be delivered to the State Printer.Resolutions53.All resolutions shall be numbered and may be referred to the appropriate committee by the Committee on Rules.Each resolution shall be signed by each Member who is an author or coauthor of the resolution before it is introduced.Resolutions by Member54.A concurrent resolution or a house resolution may be introduced relating to a present or former state or federal elected official or a member of the officials immediate family. Other resolutions for the purpose of commendation or congratulation of any person, group, or organization, or for the purpose of expressing sympathy, regret, or sorrow on the death of any person, shall be prepared as a Committee on Rules Resolution and presented to the committee for appropriate action.The Committee on Rules may approve exceptions to this rule for house resolutions. The Chief Clerk may not accept for introduction any house resolution that is contrary to this rule unless it is accompanied by the approval of the Committee on Rules.B.Standing Committee FunctionsStanding Committee Rules55.Subject to the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, the Rules of the Assembly shall govern the conduct of all committee and subcommittee meetings.Meetings of Standing Committees and Subcommittees56.All standing committees and subcommittees shall meet at the hour and place provided by the schedule established by the Speaker, unless permission for a different hearing time is granted by the Speaker. A committee or subcommittee may not meet during any session of the Assembly, nor may any Member of the Assembly attend a conference committee meeting on any bill during any session of the Assembly without first obtaining permission from the Assembly. The Speaker may grant permission for a committee to meet for the purpose of holding an informational hearing, or to hear and report resolutions, at times when no committee may meet for any purpose.When an unscheduled meeting of a standing committee or subcommittee has been so ordered, the meeting shall convene in an area that is readily accessible to the public and the Assembly shall take care that every effort is made to inform the public that a meeting has been called. An unscheduled meeting of a committee or subcommittee may not be held in the Assembly Chamber during a Floor session.Unless authorized by the Speaker, no bill may be set for hearing, nor may any notice thereof be published by any Assembly committee or subcommittee, until the bill has been referred to the committee or subcommittee hearing the bill. If the Speaker authorizes a hearing on a bill pursuant to this rule, the authorization shall be printed in the Journal. Permission to set a bill for hearing pending referral may also be granted by a vote of a majority of the Members of the Assembly. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a committee or subcommittee from acting with regard to a bill referred to it where the only action taken is to cause the bill to be reported to the Assembly with the recommendation that amendments be adopted and the bill be reprinted as amended and re-referred to the committee or subcommittee.The Committee on Budget and its subcommittees may meet at any time, including during designated periods when no other committee may meet for any purpose, subject to approval by the Speaker, and in compliance with file notice requirements.The several standing committees and subcommittees and their chairpersons may adopt a procedure under which bills are scheduled for hearing on the basis of like subject matter groupings.Setting and Hearing Bills in Committee56.1.All bills referred to a standing committee pursuant to Rule 51 may be set and heard, if requested by the author, as specified by the Joint Rules. If the analysis of an authors amendment that is subsequently adopted pursuant to Rule 68 discloses that the amendment makes a substantial substantive change to the original bill as referred by the Committee on Rules, the bill as amended shall either be set and heard by the committee having jurisdiction of the bill as amended or re-referred to the Committee on Rules pursuant to the Assembly Rules.The file notice requirements for committees may be temporarily suspended for specified bills upon approval of the Speaker and the Republican Leader. A waiver of the file notice requirement made pursuant to this rule shall be printed in the Journal.Committee Analyses56.5.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, each standing committee and subcommittee shall prepare an analysis of every bill it has set for hearing, which shall be available to the public in the office of the committee or subcommittee one working day prior to the date on which the hearing is to be held. In the case of a special meeting, or a meeting of the Committee on Appropriations or the Committee on Budget, or their subcommittees, the analysis shall be available to the public at the beginning of the hearing. No question concerning a committees compliance with this rule with regard to any bill shall be in order following a vote on passage of the bill in that committee. As used in this rule, a working day is any day on which a house file is published.A copy of each committee analysis shall be transmitted by the committee secretary to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit at the same time it is made available to the public.Committee Consultants: Floor Analyses56.6.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, the consultants of a standing committee or subcommittee are responsible for monitoring bills assigned to their respective committee or subcommittee throughout the entire legislative process. Except for resolutions and bills on the Consent Calendar, a consultant of the appropriate standing committee shall prepare, in a timely fashion, an analysis of every bill on third reading or the unfinished business file, and of any amendment to a bill that is on the Assembly Floor, as directed by the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit.The committee consultant who prepares the analysis shall transmit a copy of the completed analysis to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit. The Assembly Floor Analysis Unit is responsible for final editing for grammar and format of all Floor analyses.Consent Calendar56.7.If the chairperson of a committee or subcommittee, in advance of a hearing, proposes to recommend any bills for consideration on the Consent Calendar without hearing testimony on those bills in committee, a list of those bills shall be made available to the public at the same time as the committee analysis required under Rule 56.5.Committee Quorum57.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, a majority of the membership of any standing committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of its business, including the decision to recommend the adoption of any amendments to any bill. A majority of the membership of the committee, or a subcommittee thereof, is required to report a bill out of the committee or subcommittee, respectively. Any vacancy on a standing committee shall not reduce the votes required to take action on a bill in that committee.Whenever a member is disqualified pursuant to Joint Rule 44 or the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code) from voting or taking any other action related to the passage, defeat, or amendment of a bill in committee, that disqualification shall be treated the same as a vacancy. The member shall advise the chairperson of a disqualification, and the chairperson shall announce which members are so disqualified at the commencement of the hearing on the bill.Reconsideration57.1.After a committee has voted on a bill, reconsideration may be granted only one time. Pursuant to subdivision (a) of Joint Rule 62, reconsideration may be granted within 15 legislative days or prior to the interim study joint recess, whichever occurs first. A vote on reconsideration may not be taken without the same notice required to set a bill for hearing unless that vote is taken at the same meeting at which the vote to be reconsidered was taken and the author is present. An action taken by a committee may not be reconsidered except by a majority vote of the membership of the committee.Bills Reported Back to Assembly58.All committees shall act upon bills referred to them as soon as practicable, and when acted upon each bill shall be reported back to the Assembly forthwith; the chairperson of each committee is charged with the observance of this rule. The chairperson of each committee shall, insofar as practicable, report back bills in the same order as they were acted upon by the committee.Suspense Files58.2.(a) The Committee on Appropriations may maintain a suspense file, to which bills may be referred by vote of a majority of the members of the committee present and voting, pending further consideration by the committee. A bill may be taken off the suspense file and heard, upon two days notice published in the file, by a vote of a majority of the members of the committee present and voting. A bill removed from the suspense file for the purpose of amendment only, pursuant to Rule 68, shall be re-referred to the committee and shall be placed on the suspense file pending further consideration by the committee.(b) Notwithstanding any other rule, procedure, or practice, a committee of the Assembly, other than the Committee on Appropriations or the Committee on Revenue and Taxation, shall not establish or maintain a suspense file.Voting in Committee58.5.When a standing committee or subcommittee takes action on a bill, including reconsideration, the vote may be by rollcall vote only. All rollcall votes taken in a standing committee or subcommittee shall be recorded by the committee secretary on forms provided by the Chief Clerk of the Assembly. The record of a rollcall vote shall show, for each proposal voted upon: all votes for and against, all members absent, and all members not voting. The chairperson of each standing committee or subcommittee shall promptly transmit a copy of the record of the rollcall votes to the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, who shall cause the votes to be published.The committee secretary of each standing committee or subcommittee shall promptly transmit a copy of the record of the rollcall votes to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit.A member may submit a written explanation of the members vote, absence, or failure to vote on any bill or resolution, and that explanation shall be printed in the appendix to the Journal in the appropriate place, provided that no explanation may exceed 50 words in length.At the request of the author or any member of the committee, the committee shall hold the roll open on any bill until the adjournment of the committee meeting. At no time may a bill be passed out by a committee without a quorum being present.This rule does not apply to any of the following:(a) Adoption of authors amendments to a bill.(b) Withdrawal of a bill from a committee calendar at the request of an author.(c) Return of bills to the house where the bills have not been voted on by the committee.(d) Votes of subcommittees of the Committee on Budget when considering the Budget Bill.(e) Votes of the Committee on Rules when referring bills to committees.Subject Matter of Bill Recommended for Interim Study59.Whenever it is the decision of a standing committee that a bill referred to that committee shall not be given a do-pass recommendation, but that the subject matter of the bill should be referred for study, that standing committee shall retain the bill in its possession and report its recommendation to the Assembly that the subject matter of the bill be referred to the Committee on Rules for that committees assignment of the subject matter to an appropriate committee.Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prohibit a committee from subsequently reporting the bill to the Assembly with a do-pass or do-pass as amended recommendation or from reporting it out of committee without further action on the final day of the session.Committee Chairperson as Author60.A chairperson of a standing committee may not preside at a committee hearing to consider a bill of which the chairperson is the sole author or the lead author, except that the Chairperson of the Committee on Budget may preside at the hearing of the Budget Bill by the Committee on Budget.Reports of Committees61.Specially prepared reports of standing and special committees shall be delivered to the Chief Clerk or an assistant, and shall be read and ordered printed in the Journal unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker or a majority vote of the Members present and voting.When a report of a joint legislative committee is delivered to the Chief Clerk, the Speaker shall refer it to a standing committee for review and appropriate action.Constitutional Amendments62.5.All constitutional amendments shall be referred to the policy standing committee having jurisdiction of that subject matter.C.Passage of BillsDaily File63.There shall be printed an Assembly Daily File for each legislative day. The following listing shall constitute the order of business on the Daily File:1. Special Orders of the Day2. Second Reading, Assembly Bills3. Second Reading, Senate Bills4. Unfinished Business5. Third Reading, Assembly Bills6. Third Reading, Senate BillsUnless the Speaker determines that a different order of business will result in a more expeditious processing of the business of the Assembly, all bills on the Daily File shall be called for consideration in file order, provided that Rule 58 has been complied with in the order of their listing. The house shall observe any Special Orders of the Day. All scheduled committee hearings, together with the list of bills to be heard, shall be published in the Daily File.Copies of Bills for Action on Floor64.A bill may not be considered or acted upon on the Floor of the Assembly unless and until a copy of the bill as introduced, and a copy of each amended form of the bill, has been distributed to the desk of each Member in hardcopy or in portable document format (PDF) via electronic device and, as applicable, the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution have been complied with.Second Reading of Bills66.All bills shall be read by title the second time in the order of their appearance upon the second reading file. Upon second reading, Assembly bills reported without amendments shall be ordered engrossed, and Senate bills reported without amendments shall be ordered to third reading. All bills reported out of committee shall be placed on the second reading file for the next legislative day, and may not be read a second time until the next legislative day under that order of business. As used in this rule, bill does not include a joint or concurrent resolution, but does include a constitutional amendment.Bills Requiring General Fund Appropriation66.6.Until the Budget Bill has been enacted, the Assembly may not send to the Governor for consideration any bill appropriating funds for expenditure during the fiscal year for which the Budget Bill is to be enacted, except emergency bills recommended by the Governor or appropriations for the salaries and expenses of the Legislature.Committee Amendments and Coauthors67.(a) Committee amendments reported with bills shall be considered upon their second reading, and the amendments may be adopted by majority vote of the Members present and voting. Assembly and Senate bills amended on second reading by committee amendment shall be ordered reprinted and returned to the second reading file. Assembly bills so amended shall be engrossed after printing.Committee amendments reported with bills shall be prepared, or approved as to form, by the Legislative Counsel. Committee reports and amendments shall be submitted to the Chief Clerks desk in a form and manner established by the Chief Clerk.The Chief Clerk shall cause to be transmitted to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit a copy of each committee report and committee amendment, unless the committee report or committee amendment is relative to a joint, concurrent, or house resolution.Adoption of amendments to any bill in the Assembly prior to third reading, other than by a rollcall, shall not preclude subsequent consideration in committee, or on the third reading by the Assembly, of the bill, those amendments, or any part thereof.(b) Notwithstanding any other rule, the revision of a bill only to add coauthors shall not be considered an amendment of the bill. A request to add coauthors may be submitted to the Assembly with the approval of the committee chairperson, the lead author of the bill, and each proposed coauthor on a form provided by the Chief Clerk. The form may be submitted to the Chief Clerk with the submission of the committee report. A coauthor revision form may be submitted for a bill only one time in each committee to which the bill has been re-referred, except that the limit of one coauthor revision form per bill shall not apply to fiscal committees. Upon submission of the form, the heading of the bill shall be revised to reflect the additional coauthor or coauthors. Any Member added as a coauthor to a bill may subsequently request in writing that the Members name be removed.Authors Amendments68.Upon request of the author of a bill, the chairperson of the committee to which the bill has been referred may, by the chairpersons individual action taken independently of any committee meeting, cause the bill to be reported to the Assembly with the recommendation that amendments submitted by the author be adopted and the bill be reprinted as amended and re-referred to the committee. When the Assembly is in recess, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules may authorize the adoption of authors amendments pursuant to this rule if requested by the chairperson of a standing committee in possession of the bill. Bills amended during recess shall be reprinted as amended, read a second time, and re-referred to the committee.Notwithstanding any other rule, a bill to be amended pursuant to this rule may not be placed on the second reading file for the adoption of those amendments.Rules Committee Authors Amendments68.1.(a) If a proposed amendment to a bill on the Floor is submitted pursuant to Rule 69, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules may, upon request of the author of the bill, re-refer the bill and proposed Floor amendments to the Committee on Rules for further action.(b) Upon re-referral, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules may cause the amendments submitted by the author to be adopted and the bill to be reprinted as amended and ordered returned to either the second or third reading file.Vote on Passage of Bill as Amended68.5.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, a vote on passage of any bill in a standing committee or subcommittee shall be taken only when the bill is in print, including any previously adopted amendments to the bill. A vote on passage of an amended bill, when the amended form of the bill is not in print, may be taken only if the sole effect of the amendment is to add coauthors to the bill or if the committee determines that the effect of the amendment upon the bill can be readily understood by all of the members and audience present at the hearing. In that circumstance, any member may require that the amendments be in writing at the time of their adoption.Bill Analysis Prior to Third Reading68.6.A bill, concurrent resolution, or joint resolution may not be considered on third reading unless and until an analysis of the measure has been distributed by the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit and placed upon the desks of the Members, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker.Analysis of Conference Committee Amendments68.7.A report of a conference committee on any bill, other than the Budget Bill, that recommends the substantive amendment of a bill may not be considered unless and until an analysis of the proposed amendment has been distributed by the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit and placed upon the desks of the Members, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker.Printing of Conference Committee Reports68.8.A conference report may not be heard by the Assembly until it has been in print for 72 hours prior to being taken up by the house.Conference Committee: Substantial Policy Change68.9.(a) A conference committee on any bill, other than the Budget Bill or a bill that is making statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill, may not approve any substantial policy change in any bill if that substantial policy change has been defeated in a policy committee of the Assembly within the current legislative session. For purposes of this rule, the most recent action of a policy committee with regard to a substantial policy change is deemed the only action taken when the policy committee has taken inconsistent actions with respect to a substantial policy change.(b) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Joint Rule 29.5, the term heard means that a printed bill with substantially similar language was before the appropriate committee and taken up at a regular or special hearing of the committee during the current legislative session; or that an amendment, which was drafted and given a request number or approved as to form by the Legislative Counsel, was before the committee and taken up at a regular or special hearing of the committee.Amendments From the Floor and Coauthors69.(a) Any Member may move to amend a bill during its second or third reading, and that motion to amend shall be adopted and the bill ordered returned to the second or third reading file if approved by the chairperson of the policy committee of first reference or the Chairperson of the Committee on Budget. Amendments not approved by the chairperson are subject to debate, a motion to lay on the table by a majority of those present and voting, or a motion to pass on file by a majority of those present and voting. A motion to lay on the table or pass on file shall not be debatable.Amendments to a bill offered from the Floor, except committee amendments reported with bills, amendments offered with a motion to amend and re-refer a bill to committee, amendments deleting any number of words, or amendments previously printed in the Journal, are not in order unless and until a copy of the proposed amendments has been placed upon the desks of the Members.Notwithstanding any other rule, a bill that has been revised on the Assembly Floor at the request of the lead author and on forms provided by the Chief Clerk only to add coauthors to the bill shall not be considered an amendment and a copy of the bill is not required to be placed upon the desks of the Members if both the Speaker and the Republican Leader, or a majority vote of the house, approve the request. The heading of the bill shall be revised to reflect the addition of the coauthor or coauthors.Amendments offered from the Floor during a bills second or third reading shall be prepared, or approved as to form, by the Legislative Counsel.Before consideration, adoption, or tabling, three copies of the proposed amendment to Assembly bills, and three copies of the proposed amendments to Senate bills, shall be delivered to the Chief Clerks desk. One copy of the proposed amendment shall be transmitted by the Chief Clerk to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit. Bills so amended upon second or third reading pursuant to this subdivision shall be reprinted and re-engrossed. The Chief Clerk shall order printed as many copies of all amended bills as the Chief Clerk may determine to be necessary.(b) (1) Amendments from the Floor during a bills second or third reading that would make a substantive change in the bill shall be submitted to the Chief Clerks desk by 5:00 p.m. or the time of adjournment, whichever is later, the business day before the start of session on the legislative day at which they are to be considered. Amendments received by the Chief Clerks desk on a nonlegislative day may be printed the day of receipt, and adopted on the next legislative day, if they comply with subdivision (a).(2) Upon receipt of the proposed amendments by the Chief Clerk, an analysis shall be prepared by the committee of origin in conjunction with the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit, and a copy of that analysis shall be distributed to each Members desk prior to the adoption of the proposed amendments, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker.(c) Paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) does not apply to (1) amendments to a bill taken up without reference to file, (2) amendments to a bill to add or delete an urgency clause, (3) amendments to a bill that are identical to other amendments submitted to the Chief Clerks desk in accordance with the requirements of this rule, (4) amendments to the Budget Bill, a bill that is making statutory changes necessary to implement the Budget Bill, or a bill authored by the Committee on Budget, or (5) amendments to a bill to make the bill contingent upon the enactment of another bill, or to incorporate one or more statutory amendments proposed in another bill to avoid superseding those amendments.(d) Any bill amended on the second or third reading file shall be ordered reprinted and returned to the third reading file, and may not be acted on by the Assembly until the bill, as amended, has been on the Daily File for one calendar day, and, with regard to an amended Senate bill, may not be voted upon for final passage until the bill complies with Rule 76. This subdivision does not apply to a bill that is amended to add or delete an urgency clause or to a bill that is amended to make statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill.(e) A motion to amend a bill on the second or third reading file, other than committee amendments reported pursuant to Rule 57, is not in order on (1) the last two legislative days preceding the January 31 bill passage deadline specified by Section 10 of Article IV of the California Constitution or (2) the last seven days preceding the scheduled commencement of the interim study recess or the scheduled commencement of the final recess as specified by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly. This subdivision may be suspended temporarily by two-thirds vote of the Members present and voting. This subdivision does not apply to amendments to a bill pursuant to Joint Rule 23.5, amendments to a bill to add or delete an urgency clause, amendments to a bill to incorporate one or more statutory amendments proposed in another bill to avoid superseding those amendments, or amendments to the Budget Bill, a bill that is making statutory changes necessary to implement the Budget Bill, or a bill authored by the Committee on Budget.Consideration of Political Reform Act Bills69.1.Pursuant to Section 81012 of the Government Code, any bill that would amend the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code) may not be passed until, 8 days before passage in each house, or at least 12 days before passage in each house if the previous form of the bill did not amend the Political Reform Act of 1974, the bill in its final form has been delivered by the Chief Clerk to the Fair Political Practices Commission for distribution to the news media and to every person who has requested the commission to send a copy of any such bill to the person.Consideration of Bills Amending the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act69.2.Pursuant to Section 8 of the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act (Proposition 71 of the November 2, 2004, statewide general election), the following requirements apply to a bill that would amend the provisions of that act:(a) The bill may not be passed until, 14 days prior to the date of passage, copies of the bill in its final form are made available by the Chief Clerk to the public and the news media.(b) Passage of the bill requires the affirmative votes of 56 Members.Electronic Distribution of Bills, Conference Reports, Amendments, and Analyses69.5.Any requirement that bills, conference reports, amendments, or an analysis be placed on the desks of the Members is satisfied by electronic distribution of the same information in portable document format (PDF) via computer to the desk of the Members through the Assembly Floor System, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker.Consideration of Bills Re-referred to Committee70.Whenever a bill that has been amended and re-referred to committee is reported out by that committee, it shall be placed on the second reading file and may not be transferred therefrom to the third reading file until the following day.Uncontested Bills71.A bill may not be placed on the Assembly Consent Calendar unless it has met the requirements of Joint Rule 22.1 with respect to each Assembly standing committee to which the bill has been referred. Any Member may remove a measure from the Consent Calendar. An author of an Assembly measure or a Floor Manager of a Senate measure on the Consent Calendar may request to remove their item from the Consent Calendar on any legislative day, and the measure shall cease to be a Consent Calendar measure and shall be returned to the third reading file. During a legislative day on which there is no Floor session, an author of an Assembly measure or the Floor Manager of a Senate measure shall submit the authors or the Floor Managers written request to remove the measure from the Consent Calendar to the Chief Clerk, who shall cause the measure to be removed from the Consent Calendar and return it to the third reading file. The Chief Clerk shall also transmit the written request to the Speaker and the Republican Leader. The request to remove the measure from the Consent Calendar shall be published in the Journal.Consideration of Concurrent and Joint Resolutions73.A concurrent or joint resolution may be amended by a majority vote of the Members present and voting. The ayes and noes may not be called upon the adoption of concurrent resolutions, except those authorizing expenditures of money, unless regularly demanded, or required by statute or the California Constitution.Adoption of Resolutions74.(a) Any resolution upon which a rollcall vote is demanded requires an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members for adoption.(b) The adoption of any resolution authorizing the expenditure of money requires an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.(c) The adoption of any joint resolution requires an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.(d) A resolution may not be adopted on the third reading file on the last seven days preceding the scheduled commencement of the interim study recess or the scheduled commencement of the final recess as specified by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly. This subdivision does not apply to the Consent Calendar and may be suspended temporarily by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.Printing of Resolutions75.When any previously printed house resolution is before the Assembly for adoption, it may be printed in the Journal only if amendments to it have been adopted, in which case it shall be printed as amended. In the absence of those amendments, house resolutions before the Assembly for adoption shall be referred to by day and page of the Journal as printed upon introduction. For the purposes of this rule, the adding of a coauthor shall not be deemed an amendment.Internet Publication Prior to Final Passage of Senate Bill76.(a) A Senate bill shall not be voted upon by the Assembly for final passage unless the bill has been published on the Internet in its final form for at least 72 hours prior to that vote.(b) The requirement of subdivision (a) may be waived for a bill if the Governor has submitted to the Legislature a written statement that dispensing with the notice period for that bill is necessary to address a state of emergency, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution.(c) As used in this rule, bill does not include a joint or concurrent resolution or a constitutional amendment.Concurrence in Senate Amendments77.(a) Concurrence in any Senate amendment to an Assembly bill requires the same affirmative recorded vote as the vote required by the California Constitution for the passage of the bill. The vote on concurrence shall be deemed the vote upon final passage of the bill.(b) Senate amendments to Assembly bills shall not be concurred in until both of the following have occurred:(1) An analysis of the bill has been distributed by the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit and a copy placed upon the desks of the Members, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker. As used in this paragraph, bill includes a constitutional amendment, but does not include a joint or concurrent resolution.(2) The bill has been published on the Internet in its final form for at least 72 hours prior to that vote. This requirement may be waived for a bill if the Governor has submitted to the Legislature a written statement that dispensing with this notice period for that bill is necessary to address a state of emergency, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution. As used in this paragraph, bill does not include a joint or concurrent resolution or a constitutional amendment.Digest of Bills Amended in Senate77.1.Whenever the Senate amends and passes an Assembly bill, the Legislative Counsel shall, within one day after the bill is passed by the Senate, prepare and transmit to the Chief Clerk and the Speaker a brief digest summarizing the effect of the Senate amendment. Upon receipt from the Legislative Counsel, the Chief Clerk shall cause the digest to be printed in the Daily File immediately following any reference in the file to the bill covered by the digest.Substantially Amended Bills77.2.If the analysis of an amendment submitted pursuant to Rule 69 or adopted on the Floor discloses that the amendment makes a substantial substantive change to a bill as passed by the last committee of reference, the bill, as amended or with proposed amendments, may be referred by the Speaker to the appropriate committee. Bills with proposed Floor amendments may only be re-referred under this rule when the proposed amendments have been submitted by the author or designated Floor Manager pursuant to Rule 69 and when a state of emergency exists due to a pandemic.A bill that was previously reported from a policy or fiscal committee of reference in compliance with Joint Rule 61 is not subject to the deadlines in Joint Rule 61 if the bill is subsequently referred to a policy or fiscal committee pursuant to this rule.If the digest to an Assembly bill that has been returned to the Assembly by the Senate for concurrence in Senate amendments discloses that the Senate has made a substantial substantive change in the bill as first passed by the Assembly, the bill may be referred by the Speaker to the appropriate committee.Inactive File78.Whenever a bill has been passed twice on the third reading file on two successive legislative days, it shall be placed forthwith upon a special file to be known as the inactive file. A bill also may be placed on the inactive file at the request of the author, or upon a motion adopted without debate by a majority of those Members present and voting. When a bill has been placed on the inactive file, it may be returned to the third reading file by request of the author on any legislative day. During a legislative day on which there is no Floor session, an author of an Assembly bill or the Floor Manager of a Senate bill shall submit the authors or the Floor Managers written intention to remove the measure from the inactive file to the Chief Clerk, who shall cause the notice to be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk shall also transmit the written intention to the Speaker and the Republican Leader. Notice of the request to return the bill to the third reading file shall be published one day in advance in the Daily File. The bill, when returned to the third reading file, shall then be placed at the foot of the third reading file. Notice of removal of resolutions and concurrence items from the inactive file on a legislative day on which there is no Floor session shall be published one day in advance in the Daily File.When a bill, placed on the inactive file from the second reading file or the unfinished business file, is removed from the inactive file, it shall be returned to the foot of the second reading file or the unfinished business file, respectively, in the next published Daily File.Engrossing and Enrolling Bills79.The Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk shall engross and enroll all bills that come to the Engrossing and Enrolling Clerks hands for that purpose, in compliance with the provisions of Section 9503 of the Government Code, and in the order of time in which the same shall be acted upon by the Assembly.After final passage by both houses, any Assembly bill not amended by the Senate shall be ordered by the Speaker forthwith to be enrolled, as provided in Sections 9508 and 9509 of the Government Code. The Chief Clerk shall report both the day and hour each enrolled bill is presented to the Governor, which report shall be entered in the Journal.VI.PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDUREA.Motions and QuestionsPrecedence of Motions During Debate80.When a question is under debate or before the Assembly, no motions shall be received but the following, which shall take precedence in the order named:FirstTo adjourn;SecondTo recess to a time certain;ThirdTo lay on the table;FourthFor the previous question;FifthTo set as a special order;SixthTo postpone indefinitely;SeventhTo refer to or to re-refer;EighthTo amend.Questions of Order Decided Without Debate81.All incidental questions of order, arising after a motion is made for any of the questions named in Rule 80 and pending that motion, shall be decided by the Speaker without debate, whether on appeal or otherwise.Appeal From Decision of the Speaker82.Any Member may appeal from a decision of the Speaker without waiting for recognition by the Speaker, even though another Member has the Floor. An appeal is not in order when another is pending, or when other business has been transacted by the Assembly prior to the appeal being taken. Upon the appeal being seconded, the Speaker may give the Speakers reasons for the decision, and the Member making the appeal may give the Members reasons for the appeal, and the Speaker forthwith shall put one of the following questions to the Assembly:(1) Shall the decision of the Speaker be sustained?(2) Shall the decision of the Speaker be overruled?An appeal may not be amended and yields only to a motion to recess or adjourn, or to lay on the table, or a question of personal privilege. If an appeal is laid on the table, that action shall have no effect on the pending question.An appeal may not be debated when relating to indecorum, the transgression of rules, or the priority of business. A majority vote of the Members present and voting decides any appeal. In the event of a tie vote, the appeal is lost.Speaker Explains Order of Business83.The Speaker may, on the Speakers own motion or the motion of any Member, explain the order of business when the motion pending before the Assembly is not debatable. That explanation may not consume more than two minutes.To Adjourn84.A motion to adjourn is not debatable and may not be amended, and is always in order, except: (a) when another Member has the Floor; (b) when the Assembly is voting; or (c) during a call of the Assembly. The name of any Member moving an adjournment, and the hour at which the motion was made and adjournment taken, shall be entered in the Journal. A motion to adjourn shall be adopted by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.When a motion to adjourn is made and seconded, it shall be in order for the Speaker, before putting the question, to permit any Member to state to the Assembly any fact relating to the condition of the business of the Assembly which would seem to render it improper or inadvisable to adjourn. That statement may not occupy more than two minutes and is not debatable.An affirmative recorded vote of a majority of the duly elected and qualified Members is required to adjourn any session of the Assembly sine die.To Recess to a Time Certain85.A motion to recess to a time certain is treated the same as a motion to adjourn, except that the motion is debatable when no business is before the Assembly, and can be amended as to the time and duration of the recess. It yields only to a motion to adjourn.To Lay on the Table86.A motion to lay on the table is not debatable and may not be amended.A motion to table a bill, constitutional amendment, or concurrent or joint resolution is adopted by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.Any motion to lay on the table, if carried by 41 or more votes, carries with it the main question and everything that adheres to it, except that a motion to lay an amendment on the table, if adopted, does not carry with it a bill, constitutional amendment, or concurrent, joint, or house resolution.A motion to lay an amendment on the table is adopted by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.A motion to lay on the table may not be applied with respect to reconsideration.The Previous Question87.The previous question shall be put only when demanded by five Members who have not previously spoken on the question, and its effect, when sustained by a majority vote of the Members present and voting, shall be to put an end to all debate and bring the Assembly to a vote only on the question then pending, except that the proponent of the matter pending shall be allowed not more than five minutes to close the debate.Motion to Set Special Order88.A motion to set any matter before the Assembly as a special order of business is adopted by an affirmative recorded vote of 54 or more Members. The motion is debatable only as to the propriety of setting the main question as a special order of business, and may be amended only as to the time.Motion to Postpone to a Time Certain89.A motion to postpone to a time certain is deemed and treated as a motion to set as a special order.Motion to Postpone Indefinitely90.The making of a motion to postpone indefinitely any bill, motion, or amendment opens the main question to debate. If the motion to postpone indefinitely prevails by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members, the main question may not be acted upon again during the session.Motion to Amend91.A motion to amend may itself be amended, but an amendment to an amendment may not be amended. A motion to substitute is deemed to be a motion to amend and is considered the same as an amendment.Only one substitute is in order when an amendment is pending. A motion to amend or to substitute is debatable, except where the main question to be amended is not debatable. Any motion to amend may be adopted by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.A motion to amend that is decided in the negative is not again in order on the same day, or at the same stage of proceeding. The fact that a motion to amend by striking out certain words is decided in the negative does not preclude a motion to amend by adding words, or a motion to amend by striking out and inserting words, except that in no case may a further amendment be substantially the same as the one rejected.Subject to the above provisions of this rule and Rule 69, a motion to amend is in order during the second or third reading of any bill.Amendment to be Germane92.An amendment to any bill, other than a bill stating legislative intent to make necessary statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill, whether reported by a committee or offered by a Member, is not in order when the amendment relates to a different subject than, is intended to accomplish a different purpose than, or requires a title essentially different than, the original bill.A motion or proposition on a subject different from that under consideration may not be admitted as an amendment.An amendment is not in order that changes the original number of any bill.A Member may not be added or deleted as an author or coauthor of a bill or resolution without the Members consent.Consideration of Motions93.A motion, whether oral or written, may not be adopted until it is seconded and distinctly stated to the Assembly by the Speaker.Motions in Writing94.Upon request of the Speaker, all motions shall be reduced to writing and shall be read to the Assembly by the Speaker before being acted upon.Withdrawal of Motions95.After a motion is stated by the Speaker, or a bill, resolution, or petition is read by the Chief Clerk, it is in the possession of the Assembly.Motion to Withdraw or Re-refer Bills96.(a) A motion to withdraw a bill or resolution from committee, or to re-refer a bill or resolution from one committee to another committee, may be made during the regular order of business. A motion to re-refer may be debated only as to the propriety of the reference, and shall require an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.(b) A bill or resolution may not be withdrawn from committee and placed upon the file, unless a motion to withdraw has been heard by, and has been approved by a majority vote of, the Committee on Rules. This subdivision does not apply to the Budget Bill, a bill that is making statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill, a bill that is authored by the Committee on Budget, or a bill in a fiscal committee that has been amended so as not to require its reference to a fiscal committee, as indicated by the Legislative Counsels Digest.(c) A motion to continue a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution from committee requires a majority of those Members present and voting. A motion to withdraw a motion to withdraw is not in order.(d) When the Assembly is in recess during a state of emergency due to a pandemic, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, in consultation with the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, may instruct the Chief Clerk to withdraw and re-refer bills and resolutions from one committee to another committee. Re-referral instructions made pursuant to this subdivision shall be printed in the Journal.Re-reference of Measures on File97.A motion to re-refer a bill or resolution that is on the Daily File to committee may be made during the regular order of business. The motion is debatable only as to the propriety of that reference and shall require an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.Bills Stricken From File98.A motion to strike from the file any bill or resolution requires an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members. That bill or resolution may not be acted upon again during the session.Motion to Rescind Action or Expunge Record99.Previous to the approval of the Journal by the Assembly, any action may be rescinded and its record ordered expunged by the affirmative recorded vote sufficient to take that action originally, except that an action may not be rescinded and the record expunged by a vote less than an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members. A motion to rescind the action and expunge the record may not be made twice on the same proposition.A motion to rescind is not in order on any matter upon which a vote to reconsider has previously been taken in the Assembly.Whenever any action of the Assembly is rescinded and its record ordered expunged, the record of the action expunged may not appear in any form whatsoever, except that the record of the proceedings on the motion to rescind and expunge shall appear in the Journal as and when printed.Reconsideration of Vote100.(a) A motion to reconsider a vote on the next legislative day shall be made on the same day the vote to be reconsidered was taken. A motion to reconsider may not be adopted unless it receives an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members. A motion to reconsider may be voted on without a second.A motion to reconsider a vote shall be made by a Member voting on the question, and takes precedence over all motions, except a motion to adjourn. Upon that motion being made, the matter to be reconsidered forthwith shall be placed upon the unfinished business file, and further action may not be taken prior to the next legislative day. When a motion to reconsider has once been made, the motion is the property of the Assembly. When reconsideration is granted, the matter to be reconsidered shall be before the Assembly in the same status it had prior to the vote being reconsidered.(b) (1) Interim Study Recess:No motion to reconsider the vote whereby amendments are concurred in on Assembly bills, the vote whereby a Senate bill is passed and returned to the Senate, or the vote whereby a conference committee report is adopted is in order on the last two legislative days preceding the interim study recess.A motion to reconsider the vote whereby amendments are refused concurrence on Assembly bills, the vote whereby Senate bills are refused passage, or the vote whereby a conference committee report is refused adoption is in order on the last legislative day preceding the interim study recess. The motion may be taken up before the end of that legislative day.As used in this paragraph, bill does not include a joint or concurrent resolution.(2) January 31Even-numbered Year:A motion to reconsider the vote whereby an Assembly bill is passed to the Senate is not in order on the last two legislative days preceding January 31 of the even-numbered year.A motion to reconsider the vote whereby an Assembly bill is refused passage on its third reading is in order on the last legislative day preceding January 31 of the even-numbered year. The motion must be taken up before the end of that legislative day.As used in this paragraph, bill does not include a Senate bill, a constitutional amendment, or a joint or concurrent resolution.(3) Spring or Summer Recess:A motion to reconsider the vote whereby a bill is passed is not in order on the last two legislative days preceding the Spring or Summer Recess as established by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly.(4) Deadline for Passage by House:A motion to reconsider the vote whereby an Assembly bill is passed to the Senate is not in order on the last two legislative days preceding the last day for the Assembly to pass a bill introduced in the Assembly, as set forth in the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly.As used in this paragraph, bill does not include a Senate bill, a constitutional amendment, or a joint or concurrent resolution.(5) Final Recess:A motion to reconsider the vote whereby a bill is passed is not in order on the last two legislative days preceding the final recess.A motion to reconsider the vote whereby a bill is defeated is in order on the day of the final recess. The motion must be taken up before the end of that legislative day.(c) Any Member voting on any matter may move to take up on the same day the motion, previously made by another Member, to reconsider the vote on that matter. A motion to take up on the same day a motion to reconsider the vote on a bill requires an affirmative recorded vote of at least 41 Members. A motion to take up on the same day a motion to reconsider the vote on any motion, amendment, Assembly resolution, or proposition other than a bill requires an affirmative vote of a majority vote of the Members present and voting. The motion to take up the reconsideration on the same day takes precedence over the motion to reconsider and, upon demand of any Member, the motion to take up the reconsideration on the same day shall be put to an immediate vote. If the motion to take up the reconsideration on the same day is adopted, the motion to reconsider is the next order of business before the Assembly.(d) A second motion to reconsider the same question is not in order, nor is a motion to reconsider reconsideration in order.(e) A motion to continue a motion to reconsider requires a majority vote of those Members present and voting.Call of Assembly101.After the roll has been called, and prior to the announcement of the vote, any Member may move a call of the Assembly. The Members present may order a call of the Assembly by a majority vote of the Members present and voting, and the Speaker shall immediately order the Sergeant at Arms to lock all doors and direct the Chief Clerk to prepare a list of absentees as disclosed by the last rollcall. The list of absentees shall be furnished to the Sergeant at Arms, whereupon no Members shall be permitted to leave the Assembly Chamber except by written permission of the Speaker, and a person may not be permitted to enter except Members, Senators, or officers, or employees of the Legislature in the official performance of their duties.Each Member who is found to be absent, and for whom a leave of absence has not been granted, shall be forthwith taken into custody wherever found by the Sergeant at Arms, the Sergeant at Arms assistants, or any person designated by the Sergeant at Arms, including members of the California Highway Patrol, and sheriffs or their deputies, and brought to the Assembly Chamber.A recess or adjournment may not be taken during a call of the Assembly. Additional business may be conducted and calls placed regardless of the number of calls in effect. A call of the Assembly may be dispensed with at any time upon a majority vote of the Members present, that action to become effective upon the completion of the rollcall and the announcement of the vote upon the matter for which the call was ordered, unless, prior to the announcement of the vote, the call is continued by a majority vote of the Members present.Division of Question102.Any Member may call for a division of the question, and the Speaker shall order the question divided if it comprehends propositions in substance so distinct that, one being taken away, a substantive proposition would remain for the decision of the Assembly. This rule does not apply to an individual bill or resolution.B.VotingMembers Voting104.Every Member in the Assembly Chamber when a rollcall is required shall record the Members vote openly and without debate, unless the Assembly excuses that Member by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.A Member may not operate the voting switch of any other Member, except that a Member presiding at the time of a rollcall, who is not the Speaker or the Speaker pro Tempore, may direct another Member on the Floor to operate the voting switch of the presiding Member, and any Member so presiding, including the Speaker and the Speaker pro Tempore, may also operate the voting switches at the rostrum of the Speaker and the Speaker pro Tempore, at their direction.The name of any Member who refuses to vote as required by this rule, after being requested by the Speaker to do so, shall be entered in the Journal, together with a statement that the Member was present and did so refuse to vote. Any Member who refuses so to vote may, if the Member so desires, and immediately after the announcement of the vote, submit a written explanation of the failure to vote and that explanation shall be printed in the Journal, provided that no explanation may exceed 50 words in length.In addition to the entry of the Members name in the Journal, any Member who refuses so to vote when required, and who has not been excused from doing so, may, immediately after the announcement of the vote, at the discretion of the Speaker or upon demand of any Member, be summoned to appear before the bar of the Assembly for public censure by the Speaker or by any Member designated by the Speaker. Censure of a Member as provided by this rule does not constitute a bar to proceedings for the Members expulsion from the Assembly pursuant to Section 5 of Article IV of the California Constitution.A Member may submit a written explanation of the Members vote on any bill or house resolution, and that explanation shall be printed in the Journal immediately following the vote, provided that no explanation may exceed 50 words in length.A Member, prior to adjournment on the same legislative day, in the absence of any objection, may instruct the Chief Clerk to add the Members vote to any previously announced vote that had been taken during the Members absence, so long as the outcome of the vote is not thereby changed. The Chief Clerk shall record any vote additions or vote changes in the order signed by the Members at the Chief Clerks desk.Ayes and Noes105.The ayes and noes shall be recorded by the electrical voting system on the final passage of all bills, when an affirmative recorded vote of 41 Members or any vote above that number is required, when demanded by three Members, or when ordered by the Speaker. The names of the Members so voting shall be entered in the Journal.Voting and Vote Changes106.When once begun, voting may not be interrupted, except that, before the vote is announced, any Member may have the total pending vote flashed on the visible vote recorder. Prior to the announcement of the vote, the presiding officer shall instruct the Chief Clerk to record verbal votes from Members not at their desks. Any Member may move a call of the Assembly after the completion of the roll. A Member, prior to adjournment on the same legislative day, and in the absence of any objection, may instruct the Chief Clerk to change the Members recorded vote after the vote is announced, so long as the outcome of the vote is not thereby changed. The Chief Clerk may record any vote change only after the Member making the change has announced it to the Assembly.Tie Vote107.In case of an equal division, or tie vote, the question shall be lost.VII.MEMBERS DECORUM AND PRIVILEGESOrder in Speaking to Questions108.When a Member desires to address the Assembly, the Member shall rise from the Members seat and respectfully address the presiding officer as Mr. Speaker or Madame Speaker. Upon being recognized, the Member may speak, confining the Members remarks to the question under consideration. When two or more Members rise at the same time, the Speaker shall designate the Member who is entitled to the Floor.A Member may not speak more than once during the consideration of any one question on the same day and at the same stage of proceeding, except that the author of a bill or resolution or the mover of a question has the right to open and close the debate thereon. A Member may not be allowed to speak more than five minutes to open and five minutes to close the debate on any question, including amendments, and no Member other than the author or the mover of the question may be allowed to speak more than five minutes thereon. A Member may not yield to any other Member the time for which the Member is entitled to speak on any matter.Rules of Decorum108.1.(a) In accordance with Rule 10, Members of the Assembly shall conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of decorum specified in Sections 120 to 126, inclusive, of Masons Manual of Legislative Procedure.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the Committee on Rules may adopt additional rules of decorum by majority vote of the membership of the committee.Motions109.When a Member desires to make a motion, the Member shall obtain recognition as provided in Rule 108. Upon being recognized, the Member shall open by stating the Members motion, except in the case of a nomination, and in any other case may not speak to the merits of the motion at that time, but shall confine the Members remarks to those necessary to explain the motion. If the motion is in order and is seconded, it shall be stated to the Assembly by the Speaker. If the motion is debated, the Member who made it shall then be entitled to recognition to open the debate on the motion.When a Member obtains the Floor during debate upon any question that is pending before the Assembly and addresses the Assembly regarding the merits of the pending question, the Member may not be permitted to conclude the Members debate by making any motion or by demanding the previous question.Leave of Absence110.A Member may not be absent from attendance at any session of the Assembly without leave of the Assembly. A Member may not obtain that leave of absence or be excused for nonattendance except by a vote of 54 or more Members or by unanimous consent. A Member who obtains a leave of absence for personal business, or is excused for nonattendance for personal business, thereby waives the Members per diem allowance for attendance upon any session of the Legislature for which the Member secures that leave of absence or excuse. A Member may not obtain a leave of absence for legislative business or be excused for nonattendance for legislative business unless the Member has filed with the Speaker a statement of the legislative business for which the Member seeks that leave of absence or excuse. That statement shall be printed in the Journal.If a Member is not recorded on the attendance roll within 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the session, the Member shall stand up before the Assembly and explain the reason the Member is late before the Member is recorded on the rollcall for any vote. If a Member does not explain the Members reason for being late, any other Member may raise a point of order under this rule, whereupon the tardy Members vote may not be recorded until an explanation is made.Personal Privilege111.Any Member may rise to explain a matter of personal privilege. A matter of personal privilege is a matter involving the Members integrity, dignity, or honor. Upon rising to explain such a matter, the Member forthwith shall be recognized by the Speaker, but may not discuss a question in that explanation. Matters of personal privilege yield only to a motion to recess or adjourn.Objection to Reading Paper or Use of Objects112.Any Member, upon recognition by the Speaker, may object to the reading of any paper or the use of any visual aid before the Assembly. When that objection is made, the question of reading or of the use of a visual aid shall be determined without debate by a majority vote of the Members present and voting, upon a brief statement by the Speaker of the substance of the objection.Framed resolutions and certificates are not permitted on the Assembly Floor during Floor session, unless approved by the Speaker, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, or upon a motion approved without debate by a majority of those present and voting.Members at Chief Clerks Desk113.A Member or other person may not be allowed at the Chief Clerks desk while the ayes and noes are being recorded or the votes counted.Members Called to Order for Transgressing Rules114.If any Member transgresses the Rules of the Assembly, the Speaker shall, or any Member may, call the offending Member to order. The Member so called to order immediately shall take the Members seat, until the Speaker, without debate, has determined whether the Member is in order. That decision by the Speaker shall be subject to an appeal to the Assembly.If any Member is called to order for offensive words spoken in debate, the person calling the Member to order shall state to the Assembly the words to which exception is taken. No Member may be held to answer, or be subject to censure by the Assembly, for language used in debate if other business has been transacted by the Assembly prior to exception being taken to the words spoken.VIII.MISCELLANEOUSCommittee of the Whole115.The Assembly may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at any time by a majority vote of the Members present and voting. While sitting as that committee, persons other than Members may address the committee. The Speaker of the Assembly, or any Member named by the Speaker, shall preside as Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole.A motion that the Committee of the Whole do now rise and report back to the Assembly, shall always be in order and shall be decided without debate. All actions of the Committee of the Whole shall be reported to the Assembly by the chairperson, but may not be entered in the Journal except upon motion and a majority vote of the Members present and voting.Use of Assembly Chamber116.The Assembly Chamber may not be used for any public or private business, other than legislative matters, except upon approval of the Speaker or the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules.Use of Assembly Facilities: Smoking117.The smoking of tobacco products is prohibited within any building, or portion of a building, occupied or used by Assembly Members or employees if the building or portion of the building is under the jurisdiction or control of the Assembly. This smoking prohibition shall apply to any outdoor area within five feet of an entrance or exit to any building or portion of a building subject to this rule. This smoking prohibition shall apply to the Assembly Chamber, Assembly hearing rooms, and Assembly offices, and to hallways, stairways, and bathrooms within any building or portion of a building subject to this rule.Telephones and Electronic Communications117.5.While on the Floor of the Assembly during any session of the Assembly, or while serving on a committee during any hearing of that committee, a Member may not do either of the following:(a) Use a cellular telephone to make or receive calls.(b) Send electronic communications to, or receive electronic communications from, any lobbyist.Meeting of the Assembly: Firearms117.7.A person, except a peace officer acting within the scope of the peace officers employment, may not carry or possess a firearm on the Floor of the Assembly during any session of the Assembly or in a committee hearing room during any meeting of a committee or subcommittee.Persons Admitted to Floor of the Assembly118.(a) A person other than Members of the Legislature, officers, employees of the Legislature, accredited members of the press, and guests may not be admitted to the Floor of the Assembly during any session of the Assembly. A guest of any Member may be admitted only upon presentation of a guest card of the Member countersigned by the Speaker. A guest card is valid only on the legislative day for which it is issued.Persons admitted to the Assembly Chamber, other than Members, may not be permitted to stand in the Lobby in the rear of the Assembly Chamber while the Assembly is in session, but shall be required to occupy the seats provided for them.Guests may be seated only in the chairs in the back of the rail in the rear of the Assembly Chamber, and may not be permitted to sit at the desks of the Members. No person other than an accredited newspaper representative may be permitted to sit at the press desks. A special section in the balcony may be reserved for those holding guest cards. Neither any person mentioned in this rule nor any other person, except a Member of the Legislature, may engage in influencing the passage or defeat of legislation in the Assembly Chamber.A person other than a Member of the Legislature, the Sergeant at Arms or the Sergeant at Arms assistants, the Chief Clerk or the Chief Clerks assistants, or the Legislative Counsel or the Legislative Counsels representatives may not be permitted in the area of the Floor of the chamber which is occupied by the desks of the Members.(b) A lobbyist, as defined by Section 82039 of the Government Code, may not, under any circumstances, be admitted to the Floor of the Assembly Chamber while the Assembly is in session.(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the Speaker, while presiding, may request advice from a designated staff person who may approach the rostrum area to confer with the presiding officer.Floor Attire118.1.(a) Members of the Legislature, officers and employees of the Legislature, and accredited members of the press shall wear professional business attire, inclusive of standards of culture, ethnicity, and gender expression and identity, while on the Floor of the Assembly during any session.(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules, Members of the Legislature, officers or employees of the Legislature, accredited members of the press, or any other persons may be restricted from admission to the Floor of the Assembly during any session if they are inappropriately attired in accordance with this rule. The Committee on Rules may, as necessary, adopt policies to implement this rule.Persons Admitted to the Gallery118.2.A person shall not be admitted to the Gallery in possession of a placard, display, banner, or sign.Qualifications and Elections of Members119.An affirmative vote of 41 or more Members shall be required to determine the qualifications and election of any Member pursuant to Section 5 of Article IV of the California Constitution. A motion to disqualify a Member is not in order at the convening of a legislative session until a Speaker has been elected in accordance with Section 9023 of the Government Code.Compensation and Expenses of Member Convicted of Felony120.If a Member of the Assembly is convicted of a felony by a superior court, the Members right to further compensation or expenses is thereupon suspended, and the Members membership on any committee is thereupon suspended. If the conviction becomes final, the right of the Member to further compensation or expenses shall terminate and any compensation or expenses withheld shall be forfeited to the state. If the conviction is reversed by an appellate court or a motion for a new trial is granted, and the Member is thereafter found not guilty or the charges against the Member are dismissed, the amounts of the withheld compensation or expenses shall be paid to the Member and the suspension of the Members committee membership shall terminate.Whenever a Member is convicted of a felony in the superior court, the Committee on Rules shall give written notice thereof to the Controller, directing the Controller to discontinue any further payments to the Member unless and until the Committee on Rules notifies the Controller that the Member has been found not guilty or that the charges against the Member are dismissed. The Controller may not draw any warrant payable to that Member except as provided in this rule.The Seal of the Assembly121.The Seal of the Assembly may be used only by or on behalf of a Member of the Assembly, or when specifically authorized by the Committee on Rules.Agency Reports: Electronic Copies122.Pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, any report required or requested by law to be submitted by a state or local agency to the Members, or to the Legislature generally, shall be submitted as an electronic copy to the Chief Clerk.IX.MINORITY PARTY BILL OF RIGHTSRight of the Minority Leader to Make Committee Appointments123.(a) The minority party leader shall have sole discretion over the selection, appointment, and removal of Members of the Assembly from the minority party to any standing, select, or special committee.(b) Changes to committee assignments of Members from the minority party shall not be subject to the approval of the majority party.Right to Bill Hearings124.Every bill introduced by a Member of the Assembly shall be granted an opportunity to be heard in committee to allow for full consideration, public testimony, and a vote.Right to Speech and Inquiry125.(a) Each Member of the Assembly shall have no less than five minutes for questions and comments during committee hearings during which the Member may speak, ask questions, and receive responses from witnesses and bill authors without interruption from the chairperson of the committee.(b) The chairperson of a committee shall enforce time limits uniformly and impartially for all members of the committee.Right to Fair Floor Proceedings126.(a) Floor session debate rules shall guarantee Members of the Assembly from the minority party the opportunity to be recognized by the presiding officer when they wish to speak, provided they adhere to the rules of decorum.(b) A Member shall not be skipped or ignored by the presiding officer when the Member indicates a desire to speak.(c) The presiding officer shall not prematurely close debate on a bill without providing reasonable opportunity for input from both the majority and minority parties.(d) A Member shall have the right to raise procedural questions or offer amendments without undue restriction by the presiding officer.Right to Represent Without Fear of Retaliation127.A Member of the Assembly, staff, or committee chairperson of the majority party shall not engage in or authorize any form of retaliation against a minority party member for their legislative actions, positions, or participation in debates, including, but not limited to, any of the following:(a) Withholding opportunities to speak during Floor session debates or committee hearings without just cause.(b) Placing onerous requirements on the introduction, amendment, or advancement of bills authored by the Member from the minority party.(c) Arbitrarily removing a bill from consideration or delaying its scheduling for a committee hearing or vote.(d) Restricting or delaying access to legislative resources, including staffing, research assistance, or facilities.
22
33 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 4Introduced by Assembly Member EssayliDecember 02, 2024 Relative to the Standing Rules of the Assembly for the 202526 Regular Session. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTHR 4, as introduced, Essayli. Digest Key
44
55
66
77
88
99 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
1010
1111 House Resolution
1212
1313 No. 4
1414
1515 Introduced by Assembly Member EssayliDecember 02, 2024
1616
1717 Introduced by Assembly Member Essayli
1818 December 02, 2024
1919
2020 Relative to the Standing Rules of the Assembly for the 202526 Regular Session.
2121
2222 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
2323
2424 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
2525
2626 HR 4, as introduced, Essayli.
2727
2828
2929
3030 ## Digest Key
3131
3232 ## Bill Text
3333
3434 Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the following Rules be, and the same are hereby, adopted as the Standing Rules of the Assembly for the 202526 Regular Session; and be it further
3535
3636 Resolved, That these rules shall govern the operations of the Assembly.
3737
3838 STANDING RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY202526 REGULAR SESSIONI.LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATIONAssembly General Officers
3939
4040 # STANDING RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY202526 REGULAR SESSIONI.LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATIONAssembly General Officers
4141
4242 1.(a) The general officers of the Assembly are the following:
4343
4444 (1) Speaker
4545
4646 (2) Speaker pro Tempore
4747
4848 Assistant Speaker pro Tempore
4949
5050 Majority Leader
5151
5252 Republican Leader
5353
5454 (3) Chief Clerk
5555
5656 Sergeant at Arms
5757
5858 (b) Except for the officers listed in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), each officer listed in subdivision (a) shall be elected by a majority vote of the duly elected and qualified Members.
5959
6060 (c) The Chief Clerk, subject to the approval of the Committee on Rules, shall determine the names and titles that shall appear on the front page of all publications.
6161
6262 Hours of Meeting
6363
6464 # Hours of Meeting
6565
6666 2.The Speaker, or, in the Speakers absence, the Speaker pro Tempore, shall determine the time for convening the session, unless otherwise ordered by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
6767
6868 Speaker to Call Assembly to Order
6969
7070 # Speaker to Call Assembly to Order
7171
7272 3.The Speaker, or, in the Speakers absence, the Speaker pro Tempore, shall, at the hour appointed for meeting, call the Assembly to order.
7373
7474 Rollcall and Quorum
7575
7676 # Rollcall and Quorum
7777
7878 4.Before proceeding with the business of the Assembly, both of the following shall be completed:
7979
8080 (1) The roll of the Members shall be called, and the names of those present shall be entered in the Journal. Forty-one Members constitute a quorum.
8181
8282 (2) The presiding officer shall announce the names of all Members who will be absent from that days session and the reason for their absence.
8383
8484 Organization of Assembly
8585
8686 # Organization of Assembly
8787
8888 5.For the purposes of the organization of any regular session of the Assembly pursuant to Section 9023 of the Government Code, the person who was the Speaker when the previous regular session adjourned sine die, if that person is reelected to the Assembly, shall be deemed to be the senior member elect.
8989
9090 II.RULESAdoption of Standing Rules
9191
9292 # II.RULESAdoption of Standing Rules
9393
9494 6.The adoption of the Standing Rules requires an affirmative recorded vote of a majority of the duly elected and qualified Members. When once adopted, the Standing Rules shall remain in effect unless suspended or amended as provided in these rules.
9595
9696 Suspension of Rules
9797
9898 # Suspension of Rules
9999
100100 7.Unless specified otherwise in these rules, any Standing Rule of the Assembly not requiring more than a majority vote, except Rule 8, may be suspended temporarily by a vote of a majority of the Members of the Assembly. A rule requiring a two-thirds vote may be temporarily suspended by a two-thirds vote of the Members of the Assembly. A temporary suspension applies only to the matter under immediate consideration, and in no case may it extend beyond an adjournment.
101101
102102 Amending Standing Rules
103103
104104 # Amending Standing Rules
105105
106106 8.A standing rule of the Assembly may not be amended except by a resolution adopted by an affirmative recorded vote of a majority of the duly elected and qualified Members.
107107
108108 Masons Manual
109109
110110 # Masons Manual
111111
112112 10.In all cases not provided for by the California Constitution, by the Assembly Rules, by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, or by statute, the authority is the latest edition of Masons Manual.
113113
114114 III.ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEESStanding Committees
115115
116116 # III.ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEESStanding Committees
117117
118118 11.Thirty-two standing committees of the Assembly are hereby created, upon the several subjects, and titled respectively, as follows:Aging and Long-Term CareAgricultureAppropriationsArts, Entertainment, Sports, and TourismBanking and FinanceBudgetBusiness and ProfessionsCommunications and ConveyanceEconomic Development, Growth, and Household ImpactEducationElectionsEmergency ManagementEnvironmental Safety and Toxic MaterialsGovernmental OrganizationHealthHigher EducationHousing and Community DevelopmentHuman ServicesInsuranceJudiciaryLabor and EmploymentLocal GovernmentMilitary and Veterans AffairsNatural ResourcesPrivacy and Consumer ProtectionPublic Employment and RetirementPublic SafetyRevenue and TaxationRulesTransportationUtilities and EnergyWater, Parks, and Wildlife
119119
120120 Open Meetings
121121
122122 # Open Meetings
123123
124124 11.3.(a) Except as otherwise provided in this rule, all meetings of the Assembly or a committee thereof shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend the meetings. As used in this rule, meeting means a gathering of a quorum of the Members of the Assembly or a committee in one place for the purpose of discussing legislative or other official matters within the jurisdiction of the Assembly or committee. As used in this rule, committee includes a standing committee, joint committee, conference committee, subcommittee, select committee, special committee, research committee, or any similar body.
125125
126126 (b) Any meeting that is required to be open and public pursuant to this rule, including any closed session held pursuant to subdivision (c), may be held only after full and timely notice to the public as provided by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly.
127127
128128 (c) The Assembly or a committee thereof may hold a closed session solely for any of the following purposes:
129129
130130 (1) To consider the appointment, employment, evaluation of performance, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, to consider or hear complaints or charges brought against a Member of the Legislature or other public officer or employee, or to establish the classification or compensation of an employee of the Assembly.
131131
132132 (2) To consider matters affecting the safety and security of Members of the Legislature or its employees, or the safety and security of any buildings and grounds used by the Legislature.
133133
134134 (3) To confer with, or receive advice from, its legal counsel regarding pending or reasonably anticipated litigation, or whether to initiate litigation, when discussion in open session would not protect the interests of the Assembly or committee regarding the litigation.
135135
136136 (d) A caucus of the Members of the Assembly that is composed of members of the same political party may meet in closed session.
137137
138138 (e) A closed session may be held pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) under any of the following circumstances:
139139
140140 (1) An adjudicatory proceeding before a court, administrative body exercising its adjudicatory authority, hearing officer, or arbitrator, to which the Assembly or a committee, Member, or employee thereof is a party, has been initiated formally.
141141
142142 (2) Based on existing facts and circumstances, a point has been reached where, in the opinion of the Assembly or a committee thereof, on the advice of its legal counsel, litigation against the Assembly or a committee, Member, or employee thereof is reasonably anticipated.
143143
144144 (3) Based on existing facts and circumstances, the Assembly or a committee thereof has decided to initiate, or is deciding whether to initiate, litigation.
145145
146146 (4) To confer with, or receive advice from, its legal counsel and negotiator prior to the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real property by or for the Assembly or a committee thereof regarding the price and terms of payment for the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease.
147147
148148 (f) Prior to holding a closed session pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), the presiding officer of the Assembly or the chairperson of the committee, as appropriate, shall state publicly which paragraph of subdivision (e) is applicable. If the closed session is held pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), the presiding officer or chairperson shall state the title of or otherwise specifically identify the litigation to be discussed, unless the presiding officer or chairperson states that to do so would jeopardize the ability to effectuate service of process upon one or more unserved parties, or that to do so would jeopardize the ability of the Assembly or the committee to conclude existing settlement negotiations to its advantage. If the closed session is held pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (e), the notice of the closed session shall identify the real property that the negotiations may concern and the person with whom the negotiations may take place.
149149
150150 (g) The legal counsel for the Assembly or the committee shall prepare and submit to the Assembly or the committee a memorandum stating the specific reasons and legal authority for the closed session. If the closed session is held pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), the memorandum shall include the title of or other identification of the litigation. If the closed session is held pursuant to paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (e), the memorandum shall set forth the existing facts and circumstances on which the closed session is based. The legal counsel shall submit the memorandum to the Assembly or the committee prior to the closed session, if feasible, or, in any case, not later than one week after the closed session. The memorandum is exempt from disclosure under the Legislative Open Records Act contained in Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 9070) of Chapter 1.5 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
151151
152152 (h) For purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), litigation includes any adjudicatory proceeding, including eminent domain, before a court, administrative body exercising its adjudicatory authority, hearing officer, or arbitrator.
153153
154154 (i) For purposes of this rule, all expressions of the lawyer-client privilege other than those provided in this rule are hereby abrogated. This rule is the exclusive expression of the lawyer-client privilege for the purposes of conducting closed-session meetings pursuant to this rule.
155155
156156 (j) Disclosure of a memorandum required under this rule shall not be deemed a waiver of the lawyer-client privilege provided for under Article 3 (commencing with Section 950) of Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Evidence Code.
157157
158158 Conference Committee Meetings
159159
160160 # Conference Committee Meetings
161161
162162 11.4.A Member may not participate in a meeting of a conference committee considering any bill that is not open to the public.
163163
164164 Assembly Investigating Committees
165165
166166 # Assembly Investigating Committees
167167
168168 11.5.(a) The standing committees of the Assembly created pursuant to Rule 11, with the exception of the Committee on Rules, are hereby constituted Assembly investigating committees and are authorized and directed to conduct oversight hearings and to ascertain, study, and analyze all facts relating to any subjects or matters which the Committee on Rules shall assign to them upon request of the Assembly or upon its own initiative.
169169
170170 (b) Each of the Assembly investigating committees consists of the members of the standing committee on the same subject as most recently constituted. The chairperson and vice chairperson is the chairperson and vice chairperson of the standing committee. Vacancies occurring in the membership of the committee shall be filled by the appointing authority.
171171
172172 (c) Each committee and any subcommittee, and its members, have and may exercise all the rights, duties, and powers conferred upon investigating committees and their members by law and by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly and the Standing Rules of the Assembly as they are adopted and amended from time to time, which rules are incorporated herein and made applicable to the committee or subcommittee and their members.
173173
174174 (d) In order to prevent duplication and overlapping of studies between the various investigating committees herein created, a committee may not commence the study of any subject or matter not specifically authorized herein or assigned to it unless and until prior written approval thereof has been obtained from the Committee on Rules.
175175
176176 (e) The Committee on Rules shall provide for the expenses of the above committees and their members and for any charges, expenses, or claims they may incur under this rule, to be paid from the Assembly Operating Fund and disbursed, after certification by the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules or the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules authorized representative, upon warrants drawn by the Controller upon the State Treasury.
177177
178178 Membership of Standing Committees
179179
180180 # Membership of Standing Committees
181181
182182 12.The Speaker shall determine the size, and appoint the membership and the chairperson and vice chairperson, of all standing committees and subcommittees. In appointing Members to serve on committees, the Speaker shall consider the preferences of the Members.
183183
184184 Committee on Rules
185185
186186 # Committee on Rules
187187
188188 13.There is a Committee on Rules, which acts as the executive committee of the Assembly. No regular member of the Committee on Rules may simultaneously serve as a chairperson of any standing committee. All meetings of the Committee on Rules that are required to be open and public shall be held in a room of appropriate size, and audiovisual recordings of those meetings shall be created and maintained.
189189
190190 Organization of Party Caucuses
191191
192192 # Organization of Party Caucuses
193193
194194 13.1.Subject to the discretion of the Speaker and the leader of the caucus of the political party having the second greatest number of Members, after the general election held in November of each even-numbered year, the respective caucuses each may meet for the purpose of selecting their officers for the next regular session. The date and time of the convening of the respective party caucus meetings shall be at the discretion of the Speaker and the leader of the caucus of the political party having the second greatest number of Members. The rules and procedures of each caucus shall be determined by that caucus, but may not be inconsistent with these rules.
195195
196196 Powers of the Committee on Rules
197197
198198 # Powers of the Committee on Rules
199199
200200 14.(a) The Committee on Rules has the following powers:
201201
202202 (1) To refer each bill and resolution to a committee, as provided by these rules.
203203
204204 (2) To appoint all employees of the Assembly not otherwise provided for by statute. It has authority to terminate, to discipline, to establish, and to modify the terms and conditions of employment of, or to suspend, with or without pay, any employee of the Assembly, the Chief Clerk, and the Sergeant at Arms.
205205
206206 (3) To make studies and recommendations designed to promote, improve, and expedite the business and procedure of the Assembly and of the committees thereof, and to propose any amendments to the Rules deemed necessary to accomplish these purposes.
207207
208208 (4) To adopt additional policies or requirements regarding the use of cameras and other recording equipment at committee hearings or Assembly Floor sessions.
209209
210210 (5) To contract with other agencies, public or private, as it deems necessary for the rendition and affording of those services, facilities, studies, and reports to the committee that will best assist it to carry out the purposes for which it is created.
211211
212212 (6) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of county, city, city and county, and other local law enforcement agencies in investigating any matter within the scope of these rules and to direct the sheriff of any county to serve subpoenas, orders, and other process issued by the committee.
213213
214214 (7) To report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and to the people from time to time and at any time.
215215
216216 (8) To do any and all other things necessary or convenient to enable it fully and adequately to exercise its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objects and purposes of these rules.
217217
218218 (9) To make available to the Assembly, or to any Assembly or joint committee, or to any Member of the Assembly assistance in connection with the duties of the committee or other legislative matters as the personnel under direction of the committee or its other facilities permit.
219219
220220 (10) To make available to and furnish to the Assembly, and to Assembly investigating committees created at this session and to each of the members thereof, clerical, secretarial, and stenographic help as may be reasonably necessary for the Assembly to carry out its work, and for the committees and each of the members thereof, to make and carry on the studies and investigations required by or of them by the resolutions creating the committees, and for these purposes to employ additional stenographic and secretarial assistants as may be necessary, assign, reassign, and discharge these assistants and prescribe amounts, times, and methods of payment of their compensation. The committee shall allocate annually an amount for the operation of each investigating committee, which shall constitute the annual budget of the committee.
221221
222222 (b) During the times as the Assembly is not in session, the committee is authorized and directed to incur and pay expenses of the Assembly not otherwise provided for that the committee determines are reasonably necessary, including the repair, alteration, improvement, and equipping of the Assembly Chamber and the offices provided for the Assembly in the State Capitol, the Capitol Annex, and the State Office Building located at 1021 O Street, Sacramento, California.
223223
224224 (c) The committee shall allocate sufficient moneys from the Assembly Operating Fund to support the Assemblys share of joint operations.
225225
226226 (d) The Chairperson of the Committee on Rules shall appoint a Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly, subject to the ratification of the Committee on Rules, who has duties relating to the administrative, fiscal, and business affairs of the Assembly that the committee shall prescribe. The Chairperson of the Committee on Rules or a majority of the membership of the Committee on Rules may terminate the services of the Chief Administrative Officer at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Speaker may appoint a temporary Chief Administrative Officer for up to 90 days following the beginning of the session.
227227
228228 (e) The Committee on Rules may delegate powers to the Speaker by a majority vote of the membership of the committee.
229229
230230 (f) The Committee on Rules may adopt additional rules, procedures, policies, or guidelines by a majority vote of the membership of the committee to implement Sections 7 and 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution.
231231
232232 Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response
233233
234234 # Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response
235235
236236 14.5.(a) The Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response is created as a subcommittee of the Committee on Rules. The subcommittee is composed of a total of six members, with the following four members appointed by the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules: two members of the Committee on Rules from the political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly and two members of the Committee on Rules from the political party having the second greatest number of Members. The two members from the political party having the second greatest number of Members shall be appointed from a list of nominees that the vice chairperson of the committee provides to the chairperson. The co-chairpersons of the Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee also shall be members of the subcommittee. The Chairperson of the Committee on Rules shall designate one of the members of the subcommittee to serve as chairperson of the subcommittee.
237237
238238 (b) The subcommittee shall periodically review procedures for the handling of complaints of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lodged against a Member of the Assembly or an Assembly employee and submit any recommendations to the Committee on Rules for consideration.
239239
240240 (c) Following the submission of the recommendations pursuant to subdivision (b), the chairperson of the subcommittee may cause the subcommittee to convene to review and recommend further changes in procedures as subsequent events may require.
241241
242242 Committee on Rules
243243
244244 # Committee on Rules
245245
246246 15.The Committee on Rules shall continue in existence during any recess of the Legislature and after final adjournment and until the convening of the next regular session, and shall have the same powers and duties as while the Assembly is in session. In dealing with any matter within its jurisdiction, the committee and its members have and may exercise all of the rights, duties, and powers conferred upon investigating committees and their members by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly as they are adopted and amended from time to time, which rules are incorporated herein and made applicable to the Committee on Rules and its members.
247247
248248 Operating Fund Report
249249
250250 # Operating Fund Report
251251
252252 15.5.The Committee on Rules shall annually prepare a report to the public of expenditures as required by Section 9131 of the Government Code.
253253
254254 Independent Audit of Operating Funds
255255
256256 # Independent Audit of Operating Funds
257257
258258 15.6.The Committee on Rules shall contract for an independent audit of the revenues and expenditures, for each fiscal year, from the Assembly Operating Fund. The organization performing the audit shall be selected by a majority of the membership of the Committee on Rules. The contract for the audit shall be awarded through a competitive bidding procedure. The audit shall be prepared in a manner and form to be determined by the organization performing the audit, and shall be consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.
259259
260260 The audit shall be completed and made available to the public within 180 calendar days following the completion of the fiscal year for which the audit is performed.
261261
262262 Performance Audit
263263
264264 # Performance Audit
265265
266266 15.7.In addition to the annual financial audit required by Rule 15.6, the Committee on Rules shall contract for an audit of the administrative operations of the Assembly. The administrative departments to be audited shall be determined by the Committee on Rules. An organization performing an audit pursuant to this rule shall be selected by a majority of the membership of the Committee on Rules. A contract for an audit shall be awarded through a competitive bidding procedure. Audits shall be prepared in a manner and form to be determined by the organization performing the audit, and shall be consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.
267267
268268 All findings and recommendations reported by an auditing firm shall be made available to Members and to the public.
269269
270270 Rules Committee Resolutions
271271
272272 # Rules Committee Resolutions
273273
274274 16.The Committee on Rules, acting unanimously by appropriate resolution, on behalf of and in the name of the Assembly, may extend congratulations, commendations, sympathy, or regret to any person, group, or organization, and may authorize the presentation of suitably prepared copies of these resolutions to the persons concerned and to their relatives.
275275
276276 Assembly Operating Fund
277277
278278 # Assembly Operating Fund
279279
280280 17.The Committee on Rules is the committee identified in Section 9127 of the Government Code. The balance of all money in the Assembly Operating Fund, including money now or hereafter appropriated, except the sums that are made available specifically for the expense of designated committees or for other purposes, is hereby made available to the Committee on Rules for any charges or claims it may incur in carrying out the duties imposed upon it by these rules or by Assembly or concurrent resolution. The money made available by this rule includes the unencumbered balances of all sums heretofore made available to any Assembly or joint committee by the Assembly, upon the expiration of that committee, and shall be expended as provided in these rules.
281281
282282 Expenditures
283283
284284 # Expenditures
285285
286286 18.A Member or committee may not incur any expense except as authorized pursuant to these rules or the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, or as authorized by the Assembly or the Committee on Rules.
287287
288288 The Committee on Rules shall provide, by rules and regulations, for the manner of authorizing expenditures by Members, committees, officers, and employees of the Assembly that are not otherwise authorized by law, these rules, or the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly. These rules and regulations shall incorporate a provision whereby construction, alteration, improvement, repair, or maintenance of real or personal property, and the purchase of supplies and equipment, shall be governed by competitive bidding. Further, the rules and regulations shall provide for the payment of expenditures, as authorized by these rules and regulations, from the Assembly Operating Fund upon certification of claims therefor to the Controller by the Committee on Rules or its authorized representative.
289289
290290 A Member may not be reimbursed for travel outside the State of California without prior approval of the Speaker or the Committee on Rules.
291291
292292 Rules and Regulations Governing Committees
293293
294294 # Rules and Regulations Governing Committees
295295
296296 20.All claims for expenses incurred by investigating committees of the Assembly shall be approved by the Committee on Rules, or its authorized representative, before the claims are presented to the Controller.
297297
298298 All proposed expenditures, other than expenditures of the funds of an investigating committee, shall be approved by the Committee on Rules or its authorized representative before the expenses are incurred, unless the expenditure is specifically exempted from this requirement by the resolution authorizing it.
299299
300300 No warrant may be drawn in payment of any claim for expenses until the approval of the Committee on Rules, or its authorized representative, has been obtained in accordance with this rule.
301301
302302 The Committee on Rules shall adopt rules and regulations governing the awarding of any contract by an investigating committee, and rules and regulations limiting the amount, time, and place of expenses and allowances to be paid to employees of Assembly investigating committees or other Assembly committees.
303303
304304 These rules may provide for allowances to committee employees in lieu of actual expenses.
305305
306306 Mileage is an allowance to a committee employee in lieu of actual expenses of travel. When travel is by private conveyance, mileage may be allowed only to the operator of, and not to passengers in, a private vehicle. Claims for mileage by private conveyance must be accompanied by the license number of the vehicle and the names of state officers and employees riding as passengers.
307307
308308 Copies of all rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this rule shall be distributed to the chairperson of every investigating committee and of any other Assembly committee that has employees.
309309
310310 Fees for Witnesses
311311
312312 # Fees for Witnesses
313313
314314 21.Each witness summoned to appear before the Assembly or any of its committees shall be reimbursed at a rate set by the Committee on Rules.
315315
316316 Assembly General Research Committee
317317
318318 # Assembly General Research Committee
319319
320320 22.(a) The Assembly General Research Committee is hereby continued as a permanent factfinding committee pursuant to Section 11 of Article IV of the California Constitution. The committee is allocated all subjects within the scope of legislative regulation and control, but may not undertake any investigation that another committee has been specifically requested or directed to undertake. The Assembly General Research Committee may act through subcommittees appointed by the Speaker in consultation with the Committee on Rules, and each of these subcommittees may act only on the particular study or investigation assigned by the Speaker in consultation with the Committee on Rules to that subcommittee. Each subcommittee shall be known and designated as a select committee. The Speaker is the Chairperson of the Assembly General Research Committee and may be a voting member of any subcommittee. Each member of the Assembly General Research Committee is authorized and directed to receive and investigate requests for legislative action made by individuals or groups, and to report thereon to the full committee. The Committee on Rules is authorized to allocate to any subcommittee from the Assembly Operating Fund those sums that the Committee on Rules deems necessary to complete the investigation or study conferred upon that subcommittee. The Committee on Rules shall further allocate, from time to time, to the Assembly General Research Committee from the Assembly Operating Fund those sums that are necessary to permit the Assembly General Research Committee and the members thereof to carry out the duties imposed on them. The committee has continuous existence until the time that its existence is terminated by a resolution adopted by the Assembly, and the committee is authorized to act both during and between sessions of the Legislature, including any recess.
321321
322322 (b) The committee and its members shall have and exercise all the rights, duties, and powers conferred upon investigating committees and their members by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly and the Standing Rules of the Assembly as they are adopted and amended from time to time at this session, which provisions are incorporated herein and made applicable to the committee and its members.
323323
324324 (c) The committee has the following additional powers and duties:
325325
326326 (1) To contract with other agencies, public or private, for the rendition and affording of services, facilities, studies, and reports to the committee as the committee deems necessary to assist it to carry out the purposes for which it is created.
327327
328328 (2) To cooperate with and secure the cooperation of county, city, city and county, and other local law enforcement agencies in investigating any matter within the scope of this rule and to direct the sheriff of any county to serve subpoenas, orders, and other process issued by the committee.
329329
330330 (3) To report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the people from time to time.
331331
332332 (4) To do any and all other things necessary or convenient to enable it fully and adequately to exercise its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objects and purposes of this rule.
333333
334334 Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee
335335
336336 # Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee
337337
338338 22.5.(a) The Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee is hereby created. The committee shall consist of six Members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker. Notwithstanding any other rule of the Assembly, three members of the committee shall be from the political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly and three members shall be from the political party having the second greatest number of Members. Any temporary or permanent vacancy on the committee shall be filled within 10 days by a member from the same political party. All appointments, including appointments to fill permanent or temporary vacancies, of members from the political party having the second greatest number of Members in the Assembly shall be made from a list of nominees that the Republican Leader provides to the Speaker. The Speaker shall designate one member of the committee from the political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly and one member of the committee from the political party having the second greatest number of Members to serve as co-chairpersons of the committee. The Speaker shall designate one of the co-chairpersons to serve as the presiding officer at any meeting or hearing conducted by the committee.
339339
340340 If a verified complaint is filed against a member of the committee, the Speaker shall temporarily replace the member with a Member from the same political party, who shall serve until the complaint is dismissed or the Assembly takes final action on the complaint, whichever occurs first.
341341
342342 (b) The provisions of this rule, and of Rule 11.5 related to investigating committees, apply to the committee and govern its proceedings.
343343
344344 Prior to the issuance of any subpoena by the committee with respect to any matter before the committee, it shall, by a resolution adopted by the committee pursuant to a vote in accordance with subdivision (n), define the nature and scope of its investigation in the matter before it.
345345
346346 (c) Funds for the support of the committee shall be provided from the Assembly Operating Fund in the same manner that those funds are made available to other committees of the Assembly.
347347
348348 (d) (1) The committee has the power, pursuant to this rule and Article 3 (commencing with Section 8940) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to investigate and make findings and recommendations concerning violations by Members of the Assembly of any provision of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code or of any other provision of law or legislative rule that governs the official conduct of Members of the Assembly, hereafter collectively referred to as standards of conduct.
349349
350350 (2) The committee may, on its own action pursuant to a vote in accordance with subdivision (n), initiate an investigation of a Member of the Assembly.
351351
352352 (e) Any person may file with the committee a verified complaint in writing, which shall state the name of the Member of the Assembly alleged to have violated any standard of conduct, and which shall set forth the particulars thereof with sufficient clarity and detail to enable the committee to make a determination. The person filing the complaint thereafter shall be designated the complainant.
353353
354354 If a verified complaint is filed with the committee, the committee promptly shall send a copy of the complaint to the Member of the Assembly alleged to have committed the violation complained of, who thereafter shall be designated the respondent.
355355
356356 A complaint may not be filed with the committee after the expiration of 12 months from the date the alleged violation is discovered or three years from the date of the alleged violation, whichever occurs first.
357357
358358 (f) (1) Within 30 days of receipt of a verified complaint, the co-chairpersons of the committee shall make an initial determination as to whether the alleged conduct of the Member of the Assembly against whom the verified complaint has been filed falls within the jurisdiction of the committee. If the co-chairpersons agree that the alleged conduct does not fall within the jurisdiction of the committee, the committee shall notify the complainant and respondent of the determination and the complaint shall be dismissed. If one or both of the co-chairpersons determine that the alleged conduct falls within the jurisdiction of the committee, the complaint shall be deemed to fall within the committees jurisdiction and shall be subject to the applicable procedures set forth in paragraphs (2) to (6), inclusive.
359359
360360 (2) If the verified complaint is deemed to fall within the jurisdiction of the committee pursuant to paragraph (1), the committee shall determine whether the verified complaint alleges facts, directly or upon information and belief, sufficient to constitute a violation of any standard of conduct.
361361
362362 (3) (i) If the committee determines that the verified complaint does not allege facts, directly or upon information and belief, sufficient to constitute a violation of any standard of conduct, it shall dismiss the complaint and so notify the complainant and respondent.
363363
364364 (ii) If the committee determines that the verified complaint does allege facts, directly or upon information and belief, sufficient to constitute a violation of any standard of conduct, the committee promptly shall investigate the alleged violation and if, after this preliminary investigation, the committee finds that reasonable cause exists for believing the allegations of the complaint, it shall fix a time for a hearing in the matter, which shall be not more than 30 days after that finding. The committee may, however, seek an extension of this period, not to exceed an additional 30 days, which may be granted by a majority vote of the Committee on Rules. If, after preliminary investigation, the committee does not find that reasonable cause exists for believing the allegations of the complaint, the committee shall dismiss the complaint. In either event, the committee shall notify the complainant and the respondent of its determination.
365365
366366 (4) The committee shall make its determination under paragraph (2) or (3), pursuant to a vote in accordance with subdivision (n), not later than 120 days after first receiving a complaint that satisfies subdivision (e). The committee may, however, seek an extension, not to exceed 30 days, which may be granted by a majority vote of the membership of the Committee on Rules. If the committee has requested a law enforcement agency to investigate the complaint or if the committee knows the complaint is being investigated by a law enforcement agency, the time limits set forth in this subdivision shall be tolled until the investigation is completed.
367367
368368 (5) The committees determination under paragraph (2) or (3) shall be stated in writing, with reasons given therefor, and shall be provided to the Assembly, and, in any case concerning an alleged violation of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, shall be provided to the appropriate law enforcement agency. This written determination is a public record and is open to public inspection.
369369
370370 (6) Any deliberations of the committee from the time of receipt of a complaint until it decides to dismiss the complaint or to set a hearing shall not be open to the public unless the respondent requests a public meeting.
371371
372372 (g) After the complaint has been filed, the respondent shall be entitled to examine and make copies of all evidence in the possession of the committee relating to the complaint.
373373
374374 (h) If a hearing is held pursuant to subdivision (f), the committee, before the hearing has commenced, shall issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum at the request of any party in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 9400) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code. All of the provisions of that chapter, except Section 9410 of the Government Code, shall apply to the committee and the witnesses before it.
375375
376376 (i) At any hearing held by the committee:
377377
378378 (1) Oral evidence shall be taken on oath or affirmation.
379379
380380 (2) Each party shall have these rights: to be represented by legal counsel; to call and examine witnesses; to introduce exhibits; and to cross-examine opposing witnesses.
381381
382382 (3) The hearing shall be open to the public.
383383
384384 (j) Any official or other person whose name is mentioned at any investigation or hearing of the committee, and who believes that testimony has been given that adversely affects the official or other person, shall have the right to testify or, at the discretion of the committee, to testify under oath relating solely to the material relevant to the testimony regarding which the official or other person complains.
385385
386386 (k) The committee shall have 15 days following the hearing within which to deliberate and reach its final determination on the matter as follows:
387387
388388 (1) If the committee finds that the respondent has not violated any standard of conduct, it shall order the action dismissed, shall notify the respondent and complainant thereof, and, in cases concerning an alleged violation of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, shall transmit a copy of the complaint and the fact of dismissal to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The complaint and the fact of dismissal transmitted pursuant to this paragraph are public records and open to public inspection.
389389
390390 (2) If the committee finds that the respondent has violated any standard of conduct, it shall state its findings of fact and submit a report thereon to the Assembly. This report shall be accompanied by a house resolution, authored by the committee, which shall be introduced at the Chief Clerks desk and then referred by the Committee on Rules to the Ethics Committee. The house resolution shall include a statement of the committees findings and the committees recommendation for disciplinary action. Within seven days, the committee shall adopt the final form of the house resolution and report it to the Assembly for placement on the Daily File. The committee also shall send a copy of those findings and report to the complainant and respondent, and, in cases concerning an alleged violation of Article 2 (commencing with Section 8920) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Government Code, shall report thereon to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The report submitted pursuant to this paragraph is a public record and open to public inspection.
391391
392392 After the receipt of a copy of the committees final report and house resolution, the Assembly expeditiously shall take appropriate action with respect to the respondent.
393393
394394 (l) The filing of a complaint with the committee pursuant to this rule suspends the running of the statute of limitations applicable to any violation of any standard of conduct alleged in the substance of that complaint while the complaint is pending.
395395
396396 (m) The committee shall maintain a record of its investigations, inquiries, and proceedings. All records, complaints, documents, and reports filed with or submitted to or made by the committee, and all records and transcripts of any investigations, inquiries, or hearings of the committee under this rule shall be deemed confidential and shall not be open to inspection, without the express permission of the committee, by any person other than a member of the committee, or an employee of the committee or other state employee designated to assist the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided in this rule. The committee may, by adoption of a resolution, authorize the release to the Attorney General or a district attorney of the appropriate county of any information, records, complaints, documents, reports, and transcripts in its possession that are material to any matter pending before the Attorney General or that district attorney. All matters presented at a public hearing of the committee and all reports of the committee stating a final finding of fact pursuant to subdivision (k) shall be public records and open to public inspection. Any employee of the committee who divulges any matter that is deemed to be confidential by this subdivision shall be subject to discipline by the Committee on Rules.
397397
398398 (n) The committee may take any action authorized by this rule only upon the vote of not less than two members from the registered political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly and two members from the registered political party having the second greatest number of Members. Any vacancy on the committee does not reduce the votes required to take action.
399399
400400 (o) The committee may render advisory opinions to Members of the Assembly with respect to the standards of conduct and their application and construction. The committee may secure an opinion from the Legislative Counsel for this purpose or issue its own opinion. Any committee advisory opinion shall be prepared by committee members or staff and shall be adopted by the committee pursuant to subdivision (n).
401401
402402 (p) The committee shall conduct, at least semiannually, an orientation course on the relevant statutes and regulations governing official conduct. The curriculum and presentation of the course shall be established by the Committee on Rules. At least once each biennial session, each Member of the Assembly and each employee of the Assembly shall attend one of these courses.
403403
404404 (q) Pursuant to Section 8956 of the Government Code, the committee shall do each of the following:
405405
406406 (1) Conduct, at least semiannually, an orientation course on the relevant ethical issues and laws relating to lobbying.
407407
408408 (2) Impose fees on lobbyists for attending the course specified in paragraph (1) at an amount that will permit the participation of lobbyists to the fullest extent possible.
409409
410410 Printing of Committee Reports
411411
412412 # Printing of Committee Reports
413413
414414 23.All requests for the printing of reports of Assembly committees shall be referred to the Committee on Rules. The Committee on Rules shall determine the number of copies needed, whether the report shall be printed in the Journal, and whether the report shall be distributed electronically. The Committee on Rules shall authorize the distribution of reports electronically whenever possible.
415415
416416 Assembly Employees
417417
418418 # Assembly Employees
419419
420420 24.Every employee who works for a committee of the Assembly or a subcommittee of a committee, for a Member of the Assembly, for the Chief Clerks office, or for the Sergeant at Arms, is an employee of the Assembly. All employees of the Assembly serve at the pleasure of the Assembly and the terms and conditions of their employment may be modified, or their employment may be terminated at will, at any time and without notice, by the Committee on Rules.
421421
422422 Every applicant for employment by the Assembly shall prepare a formal application for employment on forms prescribed by the Committee on Rules. The application shall include a statement of the applicants present employment, the applicants employment during the preceding two years, and other pertinent information that the Committee on Rules may require. The application shall be certified under penalty of perjury, and any willful false statement or omission of a material fact shall be punishable as perjury. If the application discloses any fact that indicates that the applicant has a personal interest that would conflict with the faithful performance of the applicants duties, the applicant shall not be employed. All applications shall be retained in the records of the committee.
423423
424424 Every employee shall complete the Assembly ethics course in the first six months of the employees employment. Thereafter, every employee shall take the course in the first six months of every legislative session.
425425
426426 Every employee shall, within the first six months of every legislative session, take a course on harassment, discrimination, and retaliation prevention. The content of the course shall be determined by the Committee on Rules and shall include the Legislatures Policy on Appropriate Workplace Conduct: Creating a Culture of Respect, Civility, and Diversity.
427427
428428 An employee may not engage in any outside business activity or outside employment that is inconsistent, incompatible, or in conflict with the employees functions or responsibilities as an employee of the Assembly. Any employee who engages in any outside business activity or employment that is in any way related to the employees functions or responsibilities as an employee shall promptly notify the Committee on Rules of that business activity or employment.
429429
430430 Public Legislative Meetings
431431
432432 # Public Legislative Meetings
433433
434434 25.(a) Accredited press representatives and the public shall not be excluded from any public legislative meeting or hearing and shall not be prohibited from taking photographs of, televising, or recording the committee or house hearings.
435435
436436 (b) The Committee on Rules shall adopt reasonable rules regarding access to public legislative meeting and hearing spaces, including the placement and use of equipment for recording or broadcasting, to minimize disruption of the proceedings. The rules shall grant priority to accredited press representatives in allocating access to public legislative meetings and hearings. Legislative meetings shall comply with the provisions related to the publics recording of legislative meetings set forth in Resolution Chapter 163 of the Statutes of 2018.
437437
438438 IV.ASSEMBLY FUNCTIONSA.Duties of Assembly OfficersDuties of the Speaker
439439
440440 # IV.ASSEMBLY FUNCTIONSA.Duties of Assembly OfficersDuties of the Speaker
441441
442442 26.(a) The Speaker possesses the powers and shall perform the duties prescribed as follows:
443443
444444 (1) To preserve order and decorum; the Speaker may speak to points of order in preference to the other Members, rising from the Speakers chair for that purpose.
445445
446446 (2) To decide all questions of order subject to appeal to the Assembly by any Member. On every appeal, the Speaker shall have the right to assign the reason for the Speakers decision.
447447
448448 (3) To name any Member to perform the duties of the Speaker, except that any substitution may not extend beyond adjournment.
449449
450450 (4) To have general direction over the Assembly Chamber and rooms set aside for the use of the Assembly, including the rooms for use by Members as private offices.
451451
452452 (5) To allocate funds, staffing, and other resources for the effective operation of the Assembly.
453453
454454 (6) To appoint the membership of all standing and special committees, including the Committee on Rules, and their respective chairpersons and vice chairpersons. The Speaker has approval power over the appointment of subcommittees of standing and special committees, except as otherwise provided in Rule 14.5. The Committee on Rules consists of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and other Members who shall be appointed by the Speaker in accordance with the process for appointing the membership of standing committees pursuant to this rule. Two alternate members of the Committee on Rules shall be appointed in accordance with the process for appointing members to the Committee on Rules. Members and alternates so appointed shall remain in office until their successors are selected as provided for in these rules. The Speaker may designate any member in lieu of or in addition to the alternate member to fill a temporary vacancy. An alternate member may serve when a committee member is absent.
455455
456456 (7) To establish a schedule of meetings of standing committees or subcommittees and to approve special meetings at a time different from the scheduled time.
457457
458458 (8) To have general control and direction over the Journals, papers, and bills of the Assembly and to establish a procedure in accordance with Rule 118 for admitting employees of the Legislature to the Assembly Chamber, including the Lobby in the rear of the Chamber and any hallway or area of the Floor that is adjacent to the desks occupied by the assistants to the Chief Clerk.
459459
460460 (9) To act as Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole.
461461
462462 (10) To order the Lobby and Gallery cleared whenever the Speaker deems it necessary.
463463
464464 (11) To authenticate by the Speakers signature, when necessary or required by law, all bills, memorials, resolutions, orders, proceedings, writs, warrants, and subpoenas issued by order of the Assembly.
465465
466466 (b) The Speaker is an ex officio member of all Assembly and joint committees with all of the rights and privileges of that membership, except the right to vote. In counting a quorum of any of those committees, the Speaker shall not be counted as a member.
467467
468468 (c) The Speaker shall, at each regular session, appoint a Member of the Assembly to serve on the Judicial Council pursuant to Section 6 of Article VI of the California Constitution.
469469
470470 (d) The Speaker shall, at each regular session, appoint a Chaplain to deliver prayers during Floor sessions pursuant to Rule 40.
471471
472472 Funerals and Other Ceremonies and Events
473473
474474 # Funerals and Other Ceremonies and Events
475475
476476 27.The Speaker may designate any one or more of the Members of the Assembly as the representatives of the Assembly to attend funerals and other ceremonies and events in appropriate circumstances. The Members so designated shall receive their expenses as provided in Joint Rule 35.
477477
478478 Selection of Officers
479479
480480 # Selection of Officers
481481
482482 28.(a) The Speaker shall appoint all nonelected officers of the Assembly except the Republican Leader.
483483
484484 (b) The Republican Leader shall be selected by the Assembly Republican Caucus.
485485
486486 Duties of the Speaker pro Tempore
487487
488488 # Duties of the Speaker pro Tempore
489489
490490 29.The Speaker pro Tempore shall perform those duties assigned by the Speaker, including the responsibility of presiding over sessions of the Assembly and advising the Members on parliamentary procedures of the house.
491491
492492 Duties of the Assistant Speaker pro Tempore
493493
494494 # Duties of the Assistant Speaker pro Tempore
495495
496496 29.5.The Assistant Speaker pro Tempore shall perform those duties assigned by the Speaker or Speaker pro Tempore, including the responsibility of presiding over sessions of the Assembly and advising the Members on parliamentary procedures of the house.
497497
498498 Majority Leader
499499
500500 # Majority Leader
501501
502502 30.It is the duty of the Majority Leader to make those appropriate motions, points of order, or other arrangements that may be necessary to expedite the proceedings of the Assembly, and the Majority Leader is responsible for the presentation of all matters that relate to the order of business, and to the promotion of harmony among the membership.
503503
504504 Caucus Chairpersons
505505
506506 # Caucus Chairpersons
507507
508508 31.The chairperson of the caucus of the political party having the greatest number of Members in the Assembly, and the chairperson of the caucus of the political party having the second greatest number of Members in the Assembly, shall perform those duties that are prescribed by their respective party caucuses.
509509
510510 Chief Clerk
511511
512512 # Chief Clerk
513513
514514 32.The Chief Clerk of the Assembly has the following duties, powers, and responsibilities:
515515
516516 (a) To keep the bills, papers, and records of the proceedings and actions of the Assembly and to have charge of the publication and distribution of those publications related thereto.
517517
518518 (b) To supervise Assembly employees who are engaged in duties related to subdivision (a).
519519
520520 (c) To act as Parliamentarian of the Assembly and to advise the officers of the Assembly and the Committee on Rules on parliamentary procedure and the Rules of the Assembly when called upon to do so.
521521
522522 (d) To prepare all bills, resolutions, histories, journals, and related publications for printing.
523523
524524 (e) To refuse to permit any bills, papers, or records to be removed from the Chief Clerks office or out of the Chief Clerks custody, except upon duly signed receipts from persons authorized.
525525
526526 (f) To perform other duties that are prescribed by law or the Committee on Rules.
527527
528528 (g) To make technical changes in measures and amendments pending before the Assembly. The Chief Clerk shall notify the Speaker and the author of the measure of any such change.
529529
530530 (h) To compare all bills, ordered or considered engrossed by the Assembly, with the engrossed copies thereof; before they pass out of the possession of the Assembly, to see that each engrossed bill is a true copy of the original, with those amendments that may have been made thereto; and to see that all engrossed bills are reported back in the order in which they were ordered engrossed.
531531
532532 (i) To assist the Committee on Rules, upon its request, in recommending the reference of bills to the appropriate standing committee.
533533
534534 The Assistant Chief Clerk shall have the powers and perform the duties of the Chief Clerk during the Chief Clerks absence.
535535
536536 Sergeant at Arms
537537
538538 # Sergeant at Arms
539539
540540 33.The Sergeant at Arms has the following duties, powers, and responsibilities:
541541
542542 (a) To attend the Assembly during its session, preserve order, announce all official messengers, and serve all process issued by authority of the Assembly and directed by the Speaker; the Sergeant at Arms shall receive actual expenses for the Sergeant at Arms, or for an assistant, incurred in executing any process.
543543
544544 (b) To see that no person is admitted to the Assembly Chamber except in accordance with these rules.
545545
546546 (c) To have general supervision over the Assistant Sergeants at Arms and be responsible for their official acts and their performance of and regular attendance upon their duties.
547547
548548 (d) To execute all commands of the Speaker.
549549
550550 (e) To perform all other duties pertaining to the Sergeant at Arms office as prescribed by law or Assembly Rule.
551551
552552 The Deputy Chief Sergeant at Arms shall have the powers and perform the duties of the Sergeant at Arms during the Sergeant at Arms absence.
553553
554554 Filling Interim VacanciesAssembly Elected Officers
555555
556556 # Filling Interim VacanciesAssembly Elected Officers
557557
558558 34.In the event a vacancy in any office, except Speaker, elected by the membership of the Assembly occurs during joint recesses, the Committee on Rules shall fill the office until the session reconvenes. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Speaker during a joint recess, the Committee on Rules shall notify the membership within 15 days from the time the vacancy occurs and shall call a caucus of the membership of the Assembly for the purpose of filling the vacancy. This caucus shall be held at the State Capitol within 30 days from the time the vacancy occurs. Notice of the caucus shall be in writing and shall be mailed not less than 10 days prior to the meeting of the caucus. If the Committee on Rules fails to act within 15 days from the time the vacancy in the office of Speaker occurs, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall act in its place, following the procedure set forth in this rule. Any person selected to fill any vacancy pursuant to this rule holds the office until the session reconvenes.
559559
560560 An affirmative recorded vote of a majority of the duly elected and qualified Members is required for the selection by the Assembly caucus of a person to fill a vacancy pursuant to this rule. The procedure for selecting the Speaker at the caucus is the same as the procedure required for the election of the Speaker at a session.
561561
562562 B.PrintingAuthority for Printing
563563
564564 # B.PrintingAuthority for Printing
565565
566566 35.The State Printer may not charge any printing or other work to the Assembly other than as provided by law or Assembly Rule, except upon a written order signed by the Chief Clerk of the Assembly or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly. All invoices for printing furnished to the Assembly shall be itemized and rendered by the State Printer within 30 days after completion of the printing. When necessary, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly may order certain printed matter completed in advance of its regular order by the issuance of a rush order.
567567
568568 Ordering of Printing
569569
570570 # Ordering of Printing
571571
572572 36.The Chief Clerk is authorized to order, and is responsible for ordering, the printing of bills, resolutions, journals, daily files, histories, and related documents.
573573
574574 The Chief Clerk of the Assembly, or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly, shall order other printing as directed or authorized by the Committee on Rules, and the written order for that printing shall be countersigned by the Speaker or a person designated by the Speaker. The Chief Clerk of the Assembly or the Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly shall also order other printing as directed or authorized by resolution or motion of the Assembly.
575575
576576 Printing Assembly History and Legislative Handbook
577577
578578 # Printing Assembly History and Legislative Handbook
579579
580580 37.During the session, the Chief Clerk shall cause to be published, prior to convening on Monday of each week, a complete history showing all actions taken upon each measure up to and including the legislative day preceding its issuance. For each legislative day intervening between the issuance of each Weekly History, there shall be published a Daily Supplemental History showing only actions taken upon any measure since the issuance of the preceding Weekly History.
581581
582582 The Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall, as soon as practicable, in each even-numbered year, commence to compile a legislative manual or handbook, pursuant to Section 9740 of the Government Code.
583583
584584 Transmittal of Assembly Joint Resolutions
585585
586586 # Transmittal of Assembly Joint Resolutions
587587
588588 37.5.Whenever the Chief Clerk is directed to transmit copies of an Assembly Joint Resolution to Members of the Legislature or Members of Congress, the Chief Clerk may do one or both of the following:
589589
590590 (a) Transmit the copies to the designated Members by electronic means.
591591
592592 (b) Transmit one physical copy to the appropriate administrative or legislative officer of the designated body.
593593
594594 V.LEGISLATIVE PROCEDUREOrder of Business
595595
596596 # V.LEGISLATIVE PROCEDUREOrder of Business
597597
598598 40.(a) The order of business of the Assembly shall be as follows:
599599
600600 1. Rollcall
601601
602602 2. Prayer by the Chaplain
603603
604604 3. Reading of the Previous Days Journal
605605
606606 4. Presentation of Petitions
607607
608608 5. Introduction and Reference of Bills
609609
610610 6. Reports of Committees
611611
612612 7. Messages From the Governor
613613
614614 8. Messages From the Senate
615615
616616 9. Motions and Resolutions
617617
618618 10. Business on the Daily File
619619
620620 11. Announcements
621621
622622 12. Adjournment
623623
624624 (b) With the exception of Special Orders of Business, the Speaker may determine that a different order of business will result in a more expeditious processing of the business of the Assembly pursuant to Assembly Rule 63, or by ordering resolutions honoring an individual or an organization, introductions, and adjournments in memory of individuals to be taken up in a different order than that listed in subdivision (a).
625625
626626 Pledging of Allegiance to the Flag
627627
628628 # Pledging of Allegiance to the Flag
629629
630630 41.At each session, following the prayer by the Chaplain, the Members of the Assembly and its officers and employees present in the Assembly Chamber shall pledge their allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. The Speaker shall invite guests present in the Assembly Chamber to join in the pledge of allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
631631
632632 Reading and Correcting Journals
633633
634634 # Reading and Correcting Journals
635635
636636 42.(a) The reading of the Journal of the previous day may be dispensed with, on motion, by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
637637
638638 (b) All journals of the Assembly shall be corrected by the Minute Clerk and delivered to the Chief Clerk.
639639
640640 (c) A motion to correct any days Journal or to print a letter in the Journal shall always be in order and shall require a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
641641
642642 Presentation of Petitions
643643
644644 # Presentation of Petitions
645645
646646 43.Whenever petitions, memorials, or other papers are presented by a Member, a brief statement of the contents thereof may be made verbally by the introducer. Petitions are not debatable and shall be filed, or referred to a committee as the Speaker shall determine. Receipt of that presentation and its disposition shall be noted in the Journal.
647647
648648 Upon receipt of a petition for the impeachment of any person subject to impeachment by the Legislature, the Speaker shall, without comment or debate, forthwith refer the petition to committee.
649649
650650 Messages From the Governor
651651
652652 # Messages From the Governor
653653
654654 44.Messages from the Governor shall be delivered to the Chief Clerk or an assistant, and shall be read and ordered printed in the Journal unless otherwise ordered by an affirmative recorded vote of 54 or more Members.
655655
656656 Messages From the Senate
657657
658658 # Messages From the Senate
659659
660660 45.(a) Messages from the Senate shall be delivered to the Chief Clerk or an assistant, and shall be read and ordered printed in the Journal. The Committee on Rules may refer each bill to a committee, unless upon a motion the Assembly, by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members, refers it to some other committee. The action to refer a bill is not debatable. The reference shall be entered in the Journal. Assembly bills that have been passed without amendment by the Senate shall be ordered to enrollment.
661661
662662 An Assembly bill amended by the Senate shall be placed upon the unfinished business file but shall not be eligible to be acted upon until it is on the unfinished business file for one calendar day, except that when the Assembly bill is placed upon the unfinished business file during the last two legislative days preceding (1) the January 31 bill passage deadline specified by Section 10 of Article IV of the California Constitution, (2) the scheduled commencement of the interim study recess, or (3) the scheduled commencement of the final recess as specified by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, it may be acted upon immediately.
663663
664664 (b) An Assembly bill amended by the Senate shall be considered and voted upon in accordance with Rule 77.
665665
666666 Presentation of Guests or Memorials in the Assembly
667667
668668 # Presentation of Guests or Memorials in the Assembly
669669
670670 45.5.These rules do not prohibit the Speaker or Speaker pro Tempore from permitting the introduction of a special guest or guests. A request that a session of the Assembly adjourn in memory of a current or former California resident, or prominent national figure, who died within the previous 12 months shall be made in writing to the Speaker and Majority Leader on a form provided by the Chief Clerk. If approved, the memorial adjournment shall be printed in the Journal. A Member may not speak on an adjournment in memory unless this rule is suspended by a majority of the Members of the Assembly, in which case the Member may speak for a maximum of two minutes.
671671
672672 A.Bills and ResolutionsBills Defined
673673
674674 # A.Bills and ResolutionsBills Defined
675675
676676 46.(a) The word bill, as used in these rules, includes a constitutional amendment, a concurrent resolution, and a joint resolution, except as otherwise specifically provided.
677677
678678 (b) A concurrent resolution and a joint resolution, other than a resolution ratifying proposed amendments to the United States Constitution and a resolution calling for a constitutional convention, shall be treated in all respects as a bill except as follows:
679679
680680 (1) It shall be given only one formal reading.
681681
682682 (2) It shall not be deemed a bill within the meaning of subdivision (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution.
683683
684684 (c) Final form, as used in these rules, means the following:
685685
686686 (1) For an Assembly bill, the form of the bill presented on the Senate Floor for a vote upon final passage.
687687
688688 (2) For a Senate bill, the form of the bill presented on the Assembly Floor for a vote upon final passage.
689689
690690 Introduction and Reference of Bills
691691
692692 # Introduction and Reference of Bills
693693
694694 47.(a) Each bill shall be signed by each Member who is an author or coauthor of the bill before it is introduced. If any bill is introduced that does not contain the signature of its author or coauthor, the bill, on motion of the Member whose name appears thereon without that signature, shall be stricken from the file by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.
695695
696696 (b) For the purposes of this rule, a signature is defined as, and includes, a signature on the bill language provided by the Legislative Counsel or a letter to the Chief Clerk signed by the author submitted at the time of introduction. The letter may identify any Members to be added as joint authors, principal coauthors, or coauthors provided that the author maintain documentation that the Members intended to sign on to the bill.
697697
698698 (c) When received at the Chief Clerks desk each bill shall, under the proper order of business, be numbered, read the first time, printed, and referred to a standing committee, and a copy thereof shall be placed upon the desk of each Member before final passage.
699699
700700 All bills and constitutional amendments introduced before the standing committees of the Assembly are appointed shall be referred to committee, the references to take effect when the committees are appointed.
701701
702702 (d) The Committee on Budget may introduce a bill germane to any subject within the jurisdiction of the committee in the same manner as any Member. Any other standing committee may introduce a total of five bills in each year of a biennial session that are germane to any subject within the proper consideration of the committee.
703703
704704 (e) No committee, except the Committee on Budget, may introduce or author a house resolution, concurrent resolution, or joint resolution.
705705
706706 (f) A committee bill may not be introduced unless it contains the signatures, as defined in subdivision (b), of a majority of all of the members, including the chairperson, of the committee. If all of the members of a committee sign the bill, at the option of the committee chairperson the committee members names need not appear as authors in the heading of the printed bill. The committee shall maintain documentation that committee members who are listed in the letter to the Chief Clerk or who have signed the bill language provided by the Legislative Counsel intended to appear as authors.
707707
708708 (g) Subdivision (d) or (e) of this rule may be suspended with respect to a particular bill or resolution by approval of the Committee on Rules.
709709
710710 Bills Authored by a Former Member
711711
712712 # Bills Authored by a Former Member
713713
714714 47.1.Whenever the author of a bill in the Assembly is no longer a Member of the Legislature, upon a request of a committee or current Member of the house in which the bill was introduced, the Assembly Committee on Rules may authorize that committee or Member to be the author of that bill. Absent that authorization, an action may not be taken by a committee or the Assembly with respect to a bill authored by a former Member.
715715
716716 Limitation on the Introduction of Bills
717717
718718 # Limitation on the Introduction of Bills
719719
720720 49.(a) A Member may introduce not more than 35 bills in the regular session. As used in this rule, bill includes a constitutional amendment, but does not include a concurrent or joint resolution.
721721
722722 (b) This rule may be suspended with respect to a particular bill by approval of the Committee on Rules.
723723
724724 Reference of Bills to Committee
725725
726726 # Reference of Bills to Committee
727727
728728 51.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, the Committee on Rules may refer each bill to a committee by a majority vote of the membership of the committee, unless upon a motion the Assembly, by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members, refers it to some other committee. A motion to refer a bill is not debatable, except as to the propriety of the motion, and it may not open the main question to debate.
729729
730730 The Committee on Rules may require that, if a bill is reported out of the committee to which it has been referred, it shall be re-referred to another committee that shares jurisdiction of the subject matter of the bill.
731731
732732 When the Assembly is in recess during a state of emergency due to a pandemic, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules may refer bills and resolutions to a committee when requested by the Speaker. A referral made pursuant to the Speakers request shall be made in consultation with the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Rules; shall be transmitted to the Chief Clerk, the Speaker, the Republican Leader, and members of the Committee on Rules; and shall be printed in the Journal.
733733
734734 Spot Bills
735735
736736 # Spot Bills
737737
738738 51.5.A bill that upon introduction makes no substantive change in or addition to existing law, and would not otherwise affect the ongoing operations of state or local government, except a bill stating legislative intent to make necessary statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill, may not be referred to a committee by the Committee on Rules. If the author subsequently proposes to the Committee on Rules to make substantive changes in the bill as introduced, the Committee on Rules may refer the bill to a committee, together with the proposed changes for consideration as authors amendments. A vote on passage of the bill may not be taken, however, until the bill with its amendments, if adopted, has been in print for at least 15 days.
739739
740740 Delivery of Bills to State Printer
741741
742742 # Delivery of Bills to State Printer
743743
744744 52.After introduction and first reading, all bills shall be delivered to the State Printer.
745745
746746 Resolutions
747747
748748 # Resolutions
749749
750750 53.All resolutions shall be numbered and may be referred to the appropriate committee by the Committee on Rules.
751751
752752 Each resolution shall be signed by each Member who is an author or coauthor of the resolution before it is introduced.
753753
754754 Resolutions by Member
755755
756756 # Resolutions by Member
757757
758758 54.A concurrent resolution or a house resolution may be introduced relating to a present or former state or federal elected official or a member of the officials immediate family. Other resolutions for the purpose of commendation or congratulation of any person, group, or organization, or for the purpose of expressing sympathy, regret, or sorrow on the death of any person, shall be prepared as a Committee on Rules Resolution and presented to the committee for appropriate action.
759759
760760 The Committee on Rules may approve exceptions to this rule for house resolutions. The Chief Clerk may not accept for introduction any house resolution that is contrary to this rule unless it is accompanied by the approval of the Committee on Rules.
761761
762762 B.Standing Committee FunctionsStanding Committee Rules
763763
764764 # B.Standing Committee FunctionsStanding Committee Rules
765765
766766 55.Subject to the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, the Rules of the Assembly shall govern the conduct of all committee and subcommittee meetings.
767767
768768 Meetings of Standing Committees and Subcommittees
769769
770770 # Meetings of Standing Committees and Subcommittees
771771
772772 56.All standing committees and subcommittees shall meet at the hour and place provided by the schedule established by the Speaker, unless permission for a different hearing time is granted by the Speaker. A committee or subcommittee may not meet during any session of the Assembly, nor may any Member of the Assembly attend a conference committee meeting on any bill during any session of the Assembly without first obtaining permission from the Assembly. The Speaker may grant permission for a committee to meet for the purpose of holding an informational hearing, or to hear and report resolutions, at times when no committee may meet for any purpose.
773773
774774 When an unscheduled meeting of a standing committee or subcommittee has been so ordered, the meeting shall convene in an area that is readily accessible to the public and the Assembly shall take care that every effort is made to inform the public that a meeting has been called. An unscheduled meeting of a committee or subcommittee may not be held in the Assembly Chamber during a Floor session.
775775
776776 Unless authorized by the Speaker, no bill may be set for hearing, nor may any notice thereof be published by any Assembly committee or subcommittee, until the bill has been referred to the committee or subcommittee hearing the bill. If the Speaker authorizes a hearing on a bill pursuant to this rule, the authorization shall be printed in the Journal. Permission to set a bill for hearing pending referral may also be granted by a vote of a majority of the Members of the Assembly. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a committee or subcommittee from acting with regard to a bill referred to it where the only action taken is to cause the bill to be reported to the Assembly with the recommendation that amendments be adopted and the bill be reprinted as amended and re-referred to the committee or subcommittee.
777777
778778 The Committee on Budget and its subcommittees may meet at any time, including during designated periods when no other committee may meet for any purpose, subject to approval by the Speaker, and in compliance with file notice requirements.
779779
780780 The several standing committees and subcommittees and their chairpersons may adopt a procedure under which bills are scheduled for hearing on the basis of like subject matter groupings.
781781
782782 Setting and Hearing Bills in Committee
783783
784784 # Setting and Hearing Bills in Committee
785785
786786 56.1.All bills referred to a standing committee pursuant to Rule 51 may be set and heard, if requested by the author, as specified by the Joint Rules. If the analysis of an authors amendment that is subsequently adopted pursuant to Rule 68 discloses that the amendment makes a substantial substantive change to the original bill as referred by the Committee on Rules, the bill as amended shall either be set and heard by the committee having jurisdiction of the bill as amended or re-referred to the Committee on Rules pursuant to the Assembly Rules.
787787
788788 The file notice requirements for committees may be temporarily suspended for specified bills upon approval of the Speaker and the Republican Leader. A waiver of the file notice requirement made pursuant to this rule shall be printed in the Journal.
789789
790790 Committee Analyses
791791
792792 # Committee Analyses
793793
794794 56.5.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, each standing committee and subcommittee shall prepare an analysis of every bill it has set for hearing, which shall be available to the public in the office of the committee or subcommittee one working day prior to the date on which the hearing is to be held. In the case of a special meeting, or a meeting of the Committee on Appropriations or the Committee on Budget, or their subcommittees, the analysis shall be available to the public at the beginning of the hearing. No question concerning a committees compliance with this rule with regard to any bill shall be in order following a vote on passage of the bill in that committee. As used in this rule, a working day is any day on which a house file is published.
795795
796796 A copy of each committee analysis shall be transmitted by the committee secretary to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit at the same time it is made available to the public.
797797
798798 Committee Consultants: Floor Analyses
799799
800800 # Committee Consultants: Floor Analyses
801801
802802 56.6.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, the consultants of a standing committee or subcommittee are responsible for monitoring bills assigned to their respective committee or subcommittee throughout the entire legislative process. Except for resolutions and bills on the Consent Calendar, a consultant of the appropriate standing committee shall prepare, in a timely fashion, an analysis of every bill on third reading or the unfinished business file, and of any amendment to a bill that is on the Assembly Floor, as directed by the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit.
803803
804804 The committee consultant who prepares the analysis shall transmit a copy of the completed analysis to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit. The Assembly Floor Analysis Unit is responsible for final editing for grammar and format of all Floor analyses.
805805
806806 Consent Calendar
807807
808808 # Consent Calendar
809809
810810 56.7.If the chairperson of a committee or subcommittee, in advance of a hearing, proposes to recommend any bills for consideration on the Consent Calendar without hearing testimony on those bills in committee, a list of those bills shall be made available to the public at the same time as the committee analysis required under Rule 56.5.
811811
812812 Committee Quorum
813813
814814 # Committee Quorum
815815
816816 57.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, a majority of the membership of any standing committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of its business, including the decision to recommend the adoption of any amendments to any bill. A majority of the membership of the committee, or a subcommittee thereof, is required to report a bill out of the committee or subcommittee, respectively. Any vacancy on a standing committee shall not reduce the votes required to take action on a bill in that committee.
817817
818818 Whenever a member is disqualified pursuant to Joint Rule 44 or the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code) from voting or taking any other action related to the passage, defeat, or amendment of a bill in committee, that disqualification shall be treated the same as a vacancy. The member shall advise the chairperson of a disqualification, and the chairperson shall announce which members are so disqualified at the commencement of the hearing on the bill.
819819
820820 Reconsideration
821821
822822 # Reconsideration
823823
824824 57.1.After a committee has voted on a bill, reconsideration may be granted only one time. Pursuant to subdivision (a) of Joint Rule 62, reconsideration may be granted within 15 legislative days or prior to the interim study joint recess, whichever occurs first. A vote on reconsideration may not be taken without the same notice required to set a bill for hearing unless that vote is taken at the same meeting at which the vote to be reconsidered was taken and the author is present. An action taken by a committee may not be reconsidered except by a majority vote of the membership of the committee.
825825
826826 Bills Reported Back to Assembly
827827
828828 # Bills Reported Back to Assembly
829829
830830 58.All committees shall act upon bills referred to them as soon as practicable, and when acted upon each bill shall be reported back to the Assembly forthwith; the chairperson of each committee is charged with the observance of this rule. The chairperson of each committee shall, insofar as practicable, report back bills in the same order as they were acted upon by the committee.
831831
832832 Suspense Files
833833
834834 # Suspense Files
835835
836836 58.2.(a) The Committee on Appropriations may maintain a suspense file, to which bills may be referred by vote of a majority of the members of the committee present and voting, pending further consideration by the committee. A bill may be taken off the suspense file and heard, upon two days notice published in the file, by a vote of a majority of the members of the committee present and voting. A bill removed from the suspense file for the purpose of amendment only, pursuant to Rule 68, shall be re-referred to the committee and shall be placed on the suspense file pending further consideration by the committee.
837837
838838 (b) Notwithstanding any other rule, procedure, or practice, a committee of the Assembly, other than the Committee on Appropriations or the Committee on Revenue and Taxation, shall not establish or maintain a suspense file.
839839
840840 Voting in Committee
841841
842842 # Voting in Committee
843843
844844 58.5.When a standing committee or subcommittee takes action on a bill, including reconsideration, the vote may be by rollcall vote only. All rollcall votes taken in a standing committee or subcommittee shall be recorded by the committee secretary on forms provided by the Chief Clerk of the Assembly. The record of a rollcall vote shall show, for each proposal voted upon: all votes for and against, all members absent, and all members not voting. The chairperson of each standing committee or subcommittee shall promptly transmit a copy of the record of the rollcall votes to the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, who shall cause the votes to be published.
845845
846846 The committee secretary of each standing committee or subcommittee shall promptly transmit a copy of the record of the rollcall votes to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit.
847847
848848 A member may submit a written explanation of the members vote, absence, or failure to vote on any bill or resolution, and that explanation shall be printed in the appendix to the Journal in the appropriate place, provided that no explanation may exceed 50 words in length.
849849
850850 At the request of the author or any member of the committee, the committee shall hold the roll open on any bill until the adjournment of the committee meeting. At no time may a bill be passed out by a committee without a quorum being present.
851851
852852 This rule does not apply to any of the following:
853853
854854 (a) Adoption of authors amendments to a bill.
855855
856856 (b) Withdrawal of a bill from a committee calendar at the request of an author.
857857
858858 (c) Return of bills to the house where the bills have not been voted on by the committee.
859859
860860 (d) Votes of subcommittees of the Committee on Budget when considering the Budget Bill.
861861
862862 (e) Votes of the Committee on Rules when referring bills to committees.
863863
864864 Subject Matter of Bill Recommended for Interim Study
865865
866866 # Subject Matter of Bill Recommended for Interim Study
867867
868868 59.Whenever it is the decision of a standing committee that a bill referred to that committee shall not be given a do-pass recommendation, but that the subject matter of the bill should be referred for study, that standing committee shall retain the bill in its possession and report its recommendation to the Assembly that the subject matter of the bill be referred to the Committee on Rules for that committees assignment of the subject matter to an appropriate committee.
869869
870870 Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prohibit a committee from subsequently reporting the bill to the Assembly with a do-pass or do-pass as amended recommendation or from reporting it out of committee without further action on the final day of the session.
871871
872872 Committee Chairperson as Author
873873
874874 # Committee Chairperson as Author
875875
876876 60.A chairperson of a standing committee may not preside at a committee hearing to consider a bill of which the chairperson is the sole author or the lead author, except that the Chairperson of the Committee on Budget may preside at the hearing of the Budget Bill by the Committee on Budget.
877877
878878 Reports of Committees
879879
880880 # Reports of Committees
881881
882882 61.Specially prepared reports of standing and special committees shall be delivered to the Chief Clerk or an assistant, and shall be read and ordered printed in the Journal unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker or a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
883883
884884 When a report of a joint legislative committee is delivered to the Chief Clerk, the Speaker shall refer it to a standing committee for review and appropriate action.
885885
886886 Constitutional Amendments
887887
888888 # Constitutional Amendments
889889
890890 62.5.All constitutional amendments shall be referred to the policy standing committee having jurisdiction of that subject matter.
891891
892892 C.Passage of BillsDaily File
893893
894894 # C.Passage of BillsDaily File
895895
896896 63.There shall be printed an Assembly Daily File for each legislative day. The following listing shall constitute the order of business on the Daily File:
897897
898898 1. Special Orders of the Day
899899
900900 2. Second Reading, Assembly Bills
901901
902902 3. Second Reading, Senate Bills
903903
904904 4. Unfinished Business
905905
906906 5. Third Reading, Assembly Bills
907907
908908 6. Third Reading, Senate Bills
909909
910910 Unless the Speaker determines that a different order of business will result in a more expeditious processing of the business of the Assembly, all bills on the Daily File shall be called for consideration in file order, provided that Rule 58 has been complied with in the order of their listing. The house shall observe any Special Orders of the Day. All scheduled committee hearings, together with the list of bills to be heard, shall be published in the Daily File.
911911
912912 Copies of Bills for Action on Floor
913913
914914 # Copies of Bills for Action on Floor
915915
916916 64.A bill may not be considered or acted upon on the Floor of the Assembly unless and until a copy of the bill as introduced, and a copy of each amended form of the bill, has been distributed to the desk of each Member in hardcopy or in portable document format (PDF) via electronic device and, as applicable, the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution have been complied with.
917917
918918 Second Reading of Bills
919919
920920 # Second Reading of Bills
921921
922922 66.All bills shall be read by title the second time in the order of their appearance upon the second reading file. Upon second reading, Assembly bills reported without amendments shall be ordered engrossed, and Senate bills reported without amendments shall be ordered to third reading. All bills reported out of committee shall be placed on the second reading file for the next legislative day, and may not be read a second time until the next legislative day under that order of business. As used in this rule, bill does not include a joint or concurrent resolution, but does include a constitutional amendment.
923923
924924 Bills Requiring General Fund Appropriation
925925
926926 # Bills Requiring General Fund Appropriation
927927
928928 66.6.Until the Budget Bill has been enacted, the Assembly may not send to the Governor for consideration any bill appropriating funds for expenditure during the fiscal year for which the Budget Bill is to be enacted, except emergency bills recommended by the Governor or appropriations for the salaries and expenses of the Legislature.
929929
930930 Committee Amendments and Coauthors
931931
932932 # Committee Amendments and Coauthors
933933
934934 67.(a) Committee amendments reported with bills shall be considered upon their second reading, and the amendments may be adopted by majority vote of the Members present and voting. Assembly and Senate bills amended on second reading by committee amendment shall be ordered reprinted and returned to the second reading file. Assembly bills so amended shall be engrossed after printing.
935935
936936 Committee amendments reported with bills shall be prepared, or approved as to form, by the Legislative Counsel. Committee reports and amendments shall be submitted to the Chief Clerks desk in a form and manner established by the Chief Clerk.
937937
938938 The Chief Clerk shall cause to be transmitted to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit a copy of each committee report and committee amendment, unless the committee report or committee amendment is relative to a joint, concurrent, or house resolution.
939939
940940 Adoption of amendments to any bill in the Assembly prior to third reading, other than by a rollcall, shall not preclude subsequent consideration in committee, or on the third reading by the Assembly, of the bill, those amendments, or any part thereof.
941941
942942 (b) Notwithstanding any other rule, the revision of a bill only to add coauthors shall not be considered an amendment of the bill. A request to add coauthors may be submitted to the Assembly with the approval of the committee chairperson, the lead author of the bill, and each proposed coauthor on a form provided by the Chief Clerk. The form may be submitted to the Chief Clerk with the submission of the committee report. A coauthor revision form may be submitted for a bill only one time in each committee to which the bill has been re-referred, except that the limit of one coauthor revision form per bill shall not apply to fiscal committees. Upon submission of the form, the heading of the bill shall be revised to reflect the additional coauthor or coauthors. Any Member added as a coauthor to a bill may subsequently request in writing that the Members name be removed.
943943
944944 Authors Amendments
945945
946946 # Authors Amendments
947947
948948 68.Upon request of the author of a bill, the chairperson of the committee to which the bill has been referred may, by the chairpersons individual action taken independently of any committee meeting, cause the bill to be reported to the Assembly with the recommendation that amendments submitted by the author be adopted and the bill be reprinted as amended and re-referred to the committee. When the Assembly is in recess, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules may authorize the adoption of authors amendments pursuant to this rule if requested by the chairperson of a standing committee in possession of the bill. Bills amended during recess shall be reprinted as amended, read a second time, and re-referred to the committee.
949949
950950 Notwithstanding any other rule, a bill to be amended pursuant to this rule may not be placed on the second reading file for the adoption of those amendments.
951951
952952 Rules Committee Authors Amendments
953953
954954 # Rules Committee Authors Amendments
955955
956956 68.1.(a) If a proposed amendment to a bill on the Floor is submitted pursuant to Rule 69, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules may, upon request of the author of the bill, re-refer the bill and proposed Floor amendments to the Committee on Rules for further action.
957957
958958 (b) Upon re-referral, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules may cause the amendments submitted by the author to be adopted and the bill to be reprinted as amended and ordered returned to either the second or third reading file.
959959
960960 Vote on Passage of Bill as Amended
961961
962962 # Vote on Passage of Bill as Amended
963963
964964 68.5.Except as otherwise provided in this rule, a vote on passage of any bill in a standing committee or subcommittee shall be taken only when the bill is in print, including any previously adopted amendments to the bill. A vote on passage of an amended bill, when the amended form of the bill is not in print, may be taken only if the sole effect of the amendment is to add coauthors to the bill or if the committee determines that the effect of the amendment upon the bill can be readily understood by all of the members and audience present at the hearing. In that circumstance, any member may require that the amendments be in writing at the time of their adoption.
965965
966966 Bill Analysis Prior to Third Reading
967967
968968 # Bill Analysis Prior to Third Reading
969969
970970 68.6.A bill, concurrent resolution, or joint resolution may not be considered on third reading unless and until an analysis of the measure has been distributed by the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit and placed upon the desks of the Members, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker.
971971
972972 Analysis of Conference Committee Amendments
973973
974974 # Analysis of Conference Committee Amendments
975975
976976 68.7.A report of a conference committee on any bill, other than the Budget Bill, that recommends the substantive amendment of a bill may not be considered unless and until an analysis of the proposed amendment has been distributed by the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit and placed upon the desks of the Members, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker.
977977
978978 Printing of Conference Committee Reports
979979
980980 # Printing of Conference Committee Reports
981981
982982 68.8.A conference report may not be heard by the Assembly until it has been in print for 72 hours prior to being taken up by the house.
983983
984984 Conference Committee: Substantial Policy Change
985985
986986 # Conference Committee: Substantial Policy Change
987987
988988 68.9.(a) A conference committee on any bill, other than the Budget Bill or a bill that is making statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill, may not approve any substantial policy change in any bill if that substantial policy change has been defeated in a policy committee of the Assembly within the current legislative session. For purposes of this rule, the most recent action of a policy committee with regard to a substantial policy change is deemed the only action taken when the policy committee has taken inconsistent actions with respect to a substantial policy change.
989989
990990 (b) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Joint Rule 29.5, the term heard means that a printed bill with substantially similar language was before the appropriate committee and taken up at a regular or special hearing of the committee during the current legislative session; or that an amendment, which was drafted and given a request number or approved as to form by the Legislative Counsel, was before the committee and taken up at a regular or special hearing of the committee.
991991
992992 Amendments From the Floor and Coauthors
993993
994994 # Amendments From the Floor and Coauthors
995995
996996 69.(a) Any Member may move to amend a bill during its second or third reading, and that motion to amend shall be adopted and the bill ordered returned to the second or third reading file if approved by the chairperson of the policy committee of first reference or the Chairperson of the Committee on Budget. Amendments not approved by the chairperson are subject to debate, a motion to lay on the table by a majority of those present and voting, or a motion to pass on file by a majority of those present and voting. A motion to lay on the table or pass on file shall not be debatable.
997997
998998 Amendments to a bill offered from the Floor, except committee amendments reported with bills, amendments offered with a motion to amend and re-refer a bill to committee, amendments deleting any number of words, or amendments previously printed in the Journal, are not in order unless and until a copy of the proposed amendments has been placed upon the desks of the Members.
999999
10001000 Notwithstanding any other rule, a bill that has been revised on the Assembly Floor at the request of the lead author and on forms provided by the Chief Clerk only to add coauthors to the bill shall not be considered an amendment and a copy of the bill is not required to be placed upon the desks of the Members if both the Speaker and the Republican Leader, or a majority vote of the house, approve the request. The heading of the bill shall be revised to reflect the addition of the coauthor or coauthors.
10011001
10021002 Amendments offered from the Floor during a bills second or third reading shall be prepared, or approved as to form, by the Legislative Counsel.
10031003
10041004 Before consideration, adoption, or tabling, three copies of the proposed amendment to Assembly bills, and three copies of the proposed amendments to Senate bills, shall be delivered to the Chief Clerks desk. One copy of the proposed amendment shall be transmitted by the Chief Clerk to the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit. Bills so amended upon second or third reading pursuant to this subdivision shall be reprinted and re-engrossed. The Chief Clerk shall order printed as many copies of all amended bills as the Chief Clerk may determine to be necessary.
10051005
10061006 (b) (1) Amendments from the Floor during a bills second or third reading that would make a substantive change in the bill shall be submitted to the Chief Clerks desk by 5:00 p.m. or the time of adjournment, whichever is later, the business day before the start of session on the legislative day at which they are to be considered. Amendments received by the Chief Clerks desk on a nonlegislative day may be printed the day of receipt, and adopted on the next legislative day, if they comply with subdivision (a).
10071007
10081008 (2) Upon receipt of the proposed amendments by the Chief Clerk, an analysis shall be prepared by the committee of origin in conjunction with the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit, and a copy of that analysis shall be distributed to each Members desk prior to the adoption of the proposed amendments, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker.
10091009
10101010 (c) Paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) does not apply to (1) amendments to a bill taken up without reference to file, (2) amendments to a bill to add or delete an urgency clause, (3) amendments to a bill that are identical to other amendments submitted to the Chief Clerks desk in accordance with the requirements of this rule, (4) amendments to the Budget Bill, a bill that is making statutory changes necessary to implement the Budget Bill, or a bill authored by the Committee on Budget, or (5) amendments to a bill to make the bill contingent upon the enactment of another bill, or to incorporate one or more statutory amendments proposed in another bill to avoid superseding those amendments.
10111011
10121012 (d) Any bill amended on the second or third reading file shall be ordered reprinted and returned to the third reading file, and may not be acted on by the Assembly until the bill, as amended, has been on the Daily File for one calendar day, and, with regard to an amended Senate bill, may not be voted upon for final passage until the bill complies with Rule 76. This subdivision does not apply to a bill that is amended to add or delete an urgency clause or to a bill that is amended to make statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill.
10131013
10141014 (e) A motion to amend a bill on the second or third reading file, other than committee amendments reported pursuant to Rule 57, is not in order on (1) the last two legislative days preceding the January 31 bill passage deadline specified by Section 10 of Article IV of the California Constitution or (2) the last seven days preceding the scheduled commencement of the interim study recess or the scheduled commencement of the final recess as specified by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly. This subdivision may be suspended temporarily by two-thirds vote of the Members present and voting. This subdivision does not apply to amendments to a bill pursuant to Joint Rule 23.5, amendments to a bill to add or delete an urgency clause, amendments to a bill to incorporate one or more statutory amendments proposed in another bill to avoid superseding those amendments, or amendments to the Budget Bill, a bill that is making statutory changes necessary to implement the Budget Bill, or a bill authored by the Committee on Budget.
10151015
10161016 Consideration of Political Reform Act Bills
10171017
10181018 # Consideration of Political Reform Act Bills
10191019
10201020 69.1.Pursuant to Section 81012 of the Government Code, any bill that would amend the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code) may not be passed until, 8 days before passage in each house, or at least 12 days before passage in each house if the previous form of the bill did not amend the Political Reform Act of 1974, the bill in its final form has been delivered by the Chief Clerk to the Fair Political Practices Commission for distribution to the news media and to every person who has requested the commission to send a copy of any such bill to the person.
10211021
10221022 Consideration of Bills Amending the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act
10231023
10241024 # Consideration of Bills Amending the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act
10251025
10261026 69.2.Pursuant to Section 8 of the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act (Proposition 71 of the November 2, 2004, statewide general election), the following requirements apply to a bill that would amend the provisions of that act:
10271027
10281028 (a) The bill may not be passed until, 14 days prior to the date of passage, copies of the bill in its final form are made available by the Chief Clerk to the public and the news media.
10291029
10301030 (b) Passage of the bill requires the affirmative votes of 56 Members.
10311031
10321032 Electronic Distribution of Bills, Conference Reports, Amendments, and Analyses
10331033
10341034 # Electronic Distribution of Bills, Conference Reports, Amendments, and Analyses
10351035
10361036 69.5.Any requirement that bills, conference reports, amendments, or an analysis be placed on the desks of the Members is satisfied by electronic distribution of the same information in portable document format (PDF) via computer to the desk of the Members through the Assembly Floor System, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker.
10371037
10381038 Consideration of Bills Re-referred to Committee
10391039
10401040 # Consideration of Bills Re-referred to Committee
10411041
10421042 70.Whenever a bill that has been amended and re-referred to committee is reported out by that committee, it shall be placed on the second reading file and may not be transferred therefrom to the third reading file until the following day.
10431043
10441044 Uncontested Bills
10451045
10461046 # Uncontested Bills
10471047
10481048 71.A bill may not be placed on the Assembly Consent Calendar unless it has met the requirements of Joint Rule 22.1 with respect to each Assembly standing committee to which the bill has been referred. Any Member may remove a measure from the Consent Calendar. An author of an Assembly measure or a Floor Manager of a Senate measure on the Consent Calendar may request to remove their item from the Consent Calendar on any legislative day, and the measure shall cease to be a Consent Calendar measure and shall be returned to the third reading file. During a legislative day on which there is no Floor session, an author of an Assembly measure or the Floor Manager of a Senate measure shall submit the authors or the Floor Managers written request to remove the measure from the Consent Calendar to the Chief Clerk, who shall cause the measure to be removed from the Consent Calendar and return it to the third reading file. The Chief Clerk shall also transmit the written request to the Speaker and the Republican Leader. The request to remove the measure from the Consent Calendar shall be published in the Journal.
10491049
10501050 Consideration of Concurrent and Joint Resolutions
10511051
10521052 # Consideration of Concurrent and Joint Resolutions
10531053
10541054 73.A concurrent or joint resolution may be amended by a majority vote of the Members present and voting. The ayes and noes may not be called upon the adoption of concurrent resolutions, except those authorizing expenditures of money, unless regularly demanded, or required by statute or the California Constitution.
10551055
10561056 Adoption of Resolutions
10571057
10581058 # Adoption of Resolutions
10591059
10601060 74.(a) Any resolution upon which a rollcall vote is demanded requires an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members for adoption.
10611061
10621062 (b) The adoption of any resolution authorizing the expenditure of money requires an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.
10631063
10641064 (c) The adoption of any joint resolution requires an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.
10651065
10661066 (d) A resolution may not be adopted on the third reading file on the last seven days preceding the scheduled commencement of the interim study recess or the scheduled commencement of the final recess as specified by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly. This subdivision does not apply to the Consent Calendar and may be suspended temporarily by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.
10671067
10681068 Printing of Resolutions
10691069
10701070 # Printing of Resolutions
10711071
10721072 75.When any previously printed house resolution is before the Assembly for adoption, it may be printed in the Journal only if amendments to it have been adopted, in which case it shall be printed as amended. In the absence of those amendments, house resolutions before the Assembly for adoption shall be referred to by day and page of the Journal as printed upon introduction. For the purposes of this rule, the adding of a coauthor shall not be deemed an amendment.
10731073
10741074 Internet Publication Prior to Final Passage of Senate Bill
10751075
10761076 # Internet Publication Prior to Final Passage of Senate Bill
10771077
10781078 76.(a) A Senate bill shall not be voted upon by the Assembly for final passage unless the bill has been published on the Internet in its final form for at least 72 hours prior to that vote.
10791079
10801080 (b) The requirement of subdivision (a) may be waived for a bill if the Governor has submitted to the Legislature a written statement that dispensing with the notice period for that bill is necessary to address a state of emergency, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution.
10811081
10821082 (c) As used in this rule, bill does not include a joint or concurrent resolution or a constitutional amendment.
10831083
10841084 Concurrence in Senate Amendments
10851085
10861086 # Concurrence in Senate Amendments
10871087
10881088 77.(a) Concurrence in any Senate amendment to an Assembly bill requires the same affirmative recorded vote as the vote required by the California Constitution for the passage of the bill. The vote on concurrence shall be deemed the vote upon final passage of the bill.
10891089
10901090 (b) Senate amendments to Assembly bills shall not be concurred in until both of the following have occurred:
10911091
10921092 (1) An analysis of the bill has been distributed by the Assembly Floor Analysis Unit and a copy placed upon the desks of the Members, unless otherwise ordered by the Speaker. As used in this paragraph, bill includes a constitutional amendment, but does not include a joint or concurrent resolution.
10931093
10941094 (2) The bill has been published on the Internet in its final form for at least 72 hours prior to that vote. This requirement may be waived for a bill if the Governor has submitted to the Legislature a written statement that dispensing with this notice period for that bill is necessary to address a state of emergency, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article IV of the California Constitution. As used in this paragraph, bill does not include a joint or concurrent resolution or a constitutional amendment.
10951095
10961096 Digest of Bills Amended in Senate
10971097
10981098 # Digest of Bills Amended in Senate
10991099
11001100 77.1.Whenever the Senate amends and passes an Assembly bill, the Legislative Counsel shall, within one day after the bill is passed by the Senate, prepare and transmit to the Chief Clerk and the Speaker a brief digest summarizing the effect of the Senate amendment. Upon receipt from the Legislative Counsel, the Chief Clerk shall cause the digest to be printed in the Daily File immediately following any reference in the file to the bill covered by the digest.
11011101
11021102 Substantially Amended Bills
11031103
11041104 # Substantially Amended Bills
11051105
11061106 77.2.If the analysis of an amendment submitted pursuant to Rule 69 or adopted on the Floor discloses that the amendment makes a substantial substantive change to a bill as passed by the last committee of reference, the bill, as amended or with proposed amendments, may be referred by the Speaker to the appropriate committee. Bills with proposed Floor amendments may only be re-referred under this rule when the proposed amendments have been submitted by the author or designated Floor Manager pursuant to Rule 69 and when a state of emergency exists due to a pandemic.
11071107
11081108 A bill that was previously reported from a policy or fiscal committee of reference in compliance with Joint Rule 61 is not subject to the deadlines in Joint Rule 61 if the bill is subsequently referred to a policy or fiscal committee pursuant to this rule.
11091109
11101110 If the digest to an Assembly bill that has been returned to the Assembly by the Senate for concurrence in Senate amendments discloses that the Senate has made a substantial substantive change in the bill as first passed by the Assembly, the bill may be referred by the Speaker to the appropriate committee.
11111111
11121112 Inactive File
11131113
11141114 # Inactive File
11151115
11161116 78.Whenever a bill has been passed twice on the third reading file on two successive legislative days, it shall be placed forthwith upon a special file to be known as the inactive file. A bill also may be placed on the inactive file at the request of the author, or upon a motion adopted without debate by a majority of those Members present and voting. When a bill has been placed on the inactive file, it may be returned to the third reading file by request of the author on any legislative day. During a legislative day on which there is no Floor session, an author of an Assembly bill or the Floor Manager of a Senate bill shall submit the authors or the Floor Managers written intention to remove the measure from the inactive file to the Chief Clerk, who shall cause the notice to be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk shall also transmit the written intention to the Speaker and the Republican Leader. Notice of the request to return the bill to the third reading file shall be published one day in advance in the Daily File. The bill, when returned to the third reading file, shall then be placed at the foot of the third reading file. Notice of removal of resolutions and concurrence items from the inactive file on a legislative day on which there is no Floor session shall be published one day in advance in the Daily File.
11171117
11181118 When a bill, placed on the inactive file from the second reading file or the unfinished business file, is removed from the inactive file, it shall be returned to the foot of the second reading file or the unfinished business file, respectively, in the next published Daily File.
11191119
11201120 Engrossing and Enrolling Bills
11211121
11221122 # Engrossing and Enrolling Bills
11231123
11241124 79.The Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk shall engross and enroll all bills that come to the Engrossing and Enrolling Clerks hands for that purpose, in compliance with the provisions of Section 9503 of the Government Code, and in the order of time in which the same shall be acted upon by the Assembly.
11251125
11261126 After final passage by both houses, any Assembly bill not amended by the Senate shall be ordered by the Speaker forthwith to be enrolled, as provided in Sections 9508 and 9509 of the Government Code. The Chief Clerk shall report both the day and hour each enrolled bill is presented to the Governor, which report shall be entered in the Journal.
11271127
11281128 VI.PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDUREA.Motions and QuestionsPrecedence of Motions During Debate
11291129
11301130 # VI.PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDUREA.Motions and QuestionsPrecedence of Motions During Debate
11311131
11321132 80.When a question is under debate or before the Assembly, no motions shall be received but the following, which shall take precedence in the order named:
11331133
11341134 FirstTo adjourn;
11351135
11361136 SecondTo recess to a time certain;
11371137
11381138 ThirdTo lay on the table;
11391139
11401140 FourthFor the previous question;
11411141
11421142 FifthTo set as a special order;
11431143
11441144 SixthTo postpone indefinitely;
11451145
11461146 SeventhTo refer to or to re-refer;
11471147
11481148 EighthTo amend.
11491149
11501150 Questions of Order Decided Without Debate
11511151
11521152 # Questions of Order Decided Without Debate
11531153
11541154 81.All incidental questions of order, arising after a motion is made for any of the questions named in Rule 80 and pending that motion, shall be decided by the Speaker without debate, whether on appeal or otherwise.
11551155
11561156 Appeal From Decision of the Speaker
11571157
11581158 # Appeal From Decision of the Speaker
11591159
11601160 82.Any Member may appeal from a decision of the Speaker without waiting for recognition by the Speaker, even though another Member has the Floor. An appeal is not in order when another is pending, or when other business has been transacted by the Assembly prior to the appeal being taken. Upon the appeal being seconded, the Speaker may give the Speakers reasons for the decision, and the Member making the appeal may give the Members reasons for the appeal, and the Speaker forthwith shall put one of the following questions to the Assembly:
11611161
11621162 (1) Shall the decision of the Speaker be sustained?
11631163
11641164 (2) Shall the decision of the Speaker be overruled?
11651165
11661166 An appeal may not be amended and yields only to a motion to recess or adjourn, or to lay on the table, or a question of personal privilege. If an appeal is laid on the table, that action shall have no effect on the pending question.
11671167
11681168 An appeal may not be debated when relating to indecorum, the transgression of rules, or the priority of business. A majority vote of the Members present and voting decides any appeal. In the event of a tie vote, the appeal is lost.
11691169
11701170 Speaker Explains Order of Business
11711171
11721172 # Speaker Explains Order of Business
11731173
11741174 83.The Speaker may, on the Speakers own motion or the motion of any Member, explain the order of business when the motion pending before the Assembly is not debatable. That explanation may not consume more than two minutes.
11751175
11761176 To Adjourn
11771177
11781178 # To Adjourn
11791179
11801180 84.A motion to adjourn is not debatable and may not be amended, and is always in order, except: (a) when another Member has the Floor; (b) when the Assembly is voting; or (c) during a call of the Assembly. The name of any Member moving an adjournment, and the hour at which the motion was made and adjournment taken, shall be entered in the Journal. A motion to adjourn shall be adopted by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
11811181
11821182 When a motion to adjourn is made and seconded, it shall be in order for the Speaker, before putting the question, to permit any Member to state to the Assembly any fact relating to the condition of the business of the Assembly which would seem to render it improper or inadvisable to adjourn. That statement may not occupy more than two minutes and is not debatable.
11831183
11841184 An affirmative recorded vote of a majority of the duly elected and qualified Members is required to adjourn any session of the Assembly sine die.
11851185
11861186 To Recess to a Time Certain
11871187
11881188 # To Recess to a Time Certain
11891189
11901190 85.A motion to recess to a time certain is treated the same as a motion to adjourn, except that the motion is debatable when no business is before the Assembly, and can be amended as to the time and duration of the recess. It yields only to a motion to adjourn.
11911191
11921192 To Lay on the Table
11931193
11941194 # To Lay on the Table
11951195
11961196 86.A motion to lay on the table is not debatable and may not be amended.
11971197
11981198 A motion to table a bill, constitutional amendment, or concurrent or joint resolution is adopted by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.
11991199
12001200 Any motion to lay on the table, if carried by 41 or more votes, carries with it the main question and everything that adheres to it, except that a motion to lay an amendment on the table, if adopted, does not carry with it a bill, constitutional amendment, or concurrent, joint, or house resolution.
12011201
12021202 A motion to lay an amendment on the table is adopted by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
12031203
12041204 A motion to lay on the table may not be applied with respect to reconsideration.
12051205
12061206 The Previous Question
12071207
12081208 # The Previous Question
12091209
12101210 87.The previous question shall be put only when demanded by five Members who have not previously spoken on the question, and its effect, when sustained by a majority vote of the Members present and voting, shall be to put an end to all debate and bring the Assembly to a vote only on the question then pending, except that the proponent of the matter pending shall be allowed not more than five minutes to close the debate.
12111211
12121212 Motion to Set Special Order
12131213
12141214 # Motion to Set Special Order
12151215
12161216 88.A motion to set any matter before the Assembly as a special order of business is adopted by an affirmative recorded vote of 54 or more Members. The motion is debatable only as to the propriety of setting the main question as a special order of business, and may be amended only as to the time.
12171217
12181218 Motion to Postpone to a Time Certain
12191219
12201220 # Motion to Postpone to a Time Certain
12211221
12221222 89.A motion to postpone to a time certain is deemed and treated as a motion to set as a special order.
12231223
12241224 Motion to Postpone Indefinitely
12251225
12261226 # Motion to Postpone Indefinitely
12271227
12281228 90.The making of a motion to postpone indefinitely any bill, motion, or amendment opens the main question to debate. If the motion to postpone indefinitely prevails by an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members, the main question may not be acted upon again during the session.
12291229
12301230 Motion to Amend
12311231
12321232 # Motion to Amend
12331233
12341234 91.A motion to amend may itself be amended, but an amendment to an amendment may not be amended. A motion to substitute is deemed to be a motion to amend and is considered the same as an amendment.
12351235
12361236 Only one substitute is in order when an amendment is pending. A motion to amend or to substitute is debatable, except where the main question to be amended is not debatable. Any motion to amend may be adopted by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
12371237
12381238 A motion to amend that is decided in the negative is not again in order on the same day, or at the same stage of proceeding. The fact that a motion to amend by striking out certain words is decided in the negative does not preclude a motion to amend by adding words, or a motion to amend by striking out and inserting words, except that in no case may a further amendment be substantially the same as the one rejected.
12391239
12401240 Subject to the above provisions of this rule and Rule 69, a motion to amend is in order during the second or third reading of any bill.
12411241
12421242 Amendment to be Germane
12431243
12441244 # Amendment to be Germane
12451245
12461246 92.An amendment to any bill, other than a bill stating legislative intent to make necessary statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill, whether reported by a committee or offered by a Member, is not in order when the amendment relates to a different subject than, is intended to accomplish a different purpose than, or requires a title essentially different than, the original bill.
12471247
12481248 A motion or proposition on a subject different from that under consideration may not be admitted as an amendment.
12491249
12501250 An amendment is not in order that changes the original number of any bill.
12511251
12521252 A Member may not be added or deleted as an author or coauthor of a bill or resolution without the Members consent.
12531253
12541254 Consideration of Motions
12551255
12561256 # Consideration of Motions
12571257
12581258 93.A motion, whether oral or written, may not be adopted until it is seconded and distinctly stated to the Assembly by the Speaker.
12591259
12601260 Motions in Writing
12611261
12621262 # Motions in Writing
12631263
12641264 94.Upon request of the Speaker, all motions shall be reduced to writing and shall be read to the Assembly by the Speaker before being acted upon.
12651265
12661266 Withdrawal of Motions
12671267
12681268 # Withdrawal of Motions
12691269
12701270 95.After a motion is stated by the Speaker, or a bill, resolution, or petition is read by the Chief Clerk, it is in the possession of the Assembly.
12711271
12721272 Motion to Withdraw or Re-refer Bills
12731273
12741274 # Motion to Withdraw or Re-refer Bills
12751275
12761276 96.(a) A motion to withdraw a bill or resolution from committee, or to re-refer a bill or resolution from one committee to another committee, may be made during the regular order of business. A motion to re-refer may be debated only as to the propriety of the reference, and shall require an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.
12771277
12781278 (b) A bill or resolution may not be withdrawn from committee and placed upon the file, unless a motion to withdraw has been heard by, and has been approved by a majority vote of, the Committee on Rules. This subdivision does not apply to the Budget Bill, a bill that is making statutory changes to implement the Budget Bill, a bill that is authored by the Committee on Budget, or a bill in a fiscal committee that has been amended so as not to require its reference to a fiscal committee, as indicated by the Legislative Counsels Digest.
12791279
12801280 (c) A motion to continue a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution from committee requires a majority of those Members present and voting. A motion to withdraw a motion to withdraw is not in order.
12811281
12821282 (d) When the Assembly is in recess during a state of emergency due to a pandemic, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, in consultation with the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, may instruct the Chief Clerk to withdraw and re-refer bills and resolutions from one committee to another committee. Re-referral instructions made pursuant to this subdivision shall be printed in the Journal.
12831283
12841284 Re-reference of Measures on File
12851285
12861286 # Re-reference of Measures on File
12871287
12881288 97.A motion to re-refer a bill or resolution that is on the Daily File to committee may be made during the regular order of business. The motion is debatable only as to the propriety of that reference and shall require an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members.
12891289
12901290 Bills Stricken From File
12911291
12921292 # Bills Stricken From File
12931293
12941294 98.A motion to strike from the file any bill or resolution requires an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members. That bill or resolution may not be acted upon again during the session.
12951295
12961296 Motion to Rescind Action or Expunge Record
12971297
12981298 # Motion to Rescind Action or Expunge Record
12991299
13001300 99.Previous to the approval of the Journal by the Assembly, any action may be rescinded and its record ordered expunged by the affirmative recorded vote sufficient to take that action originally, except that an action may not be rescinded and the record expunged by a vote less than an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members. A motion to rescind the action and expunge the record may not be made twice on the same proposition.
13011301
13021302 A motion to rescind is not in order on any matter upon which a vote to reconsider has previously been taken in the Assembly.
13031303
13041304 Whenever any action of the Assembly is rescinded and its record ordered expunged, the record of the action expunged may not appear in any form whatsoever, except that the record of the proceedings on the motion to rescind and expunge shall appear in the Journal as and when printed.
13051305
13061306 Reconsideration of Vote
13071307
13081308 # Reconsideration of Vote
13091309
13101310 100.(a) A motion to reconsider a vote on the next legislative day shall be made on the same day the vote to be reconsidered was taken. A motion to reconsider may not be adopted unless it receives an affirmative recorded vote of 41 or more Members. A motion to reconsider may be voted on without a second.
13111311
13121312 A motion to reconsider a vote shall be made by a Member voting on the question, and takes precedence over all motions, except a motion to adjourn. Upon that motion being made, the matter to be reconsidered forthwith shall be placed upon the unfinished business file, and further action may not be taken prior to the next legislative day. When a motion to reconsider has once been made, the motion is the property of the Assembly. When reconsideration is granted, the matter to be reconsidered shall be before the Assembly in the same status it had prior to the vote being reconsidered.
13131313
13141314 (b) (1) Interim Study Recess:
13151315
13161316 No motion to reconsider the vote whereby amendments are concurred in on Assembly bills, the vote whereby a Senate bill is passed and returned to the Senate, or the vote whereby a conference committee report is adopted is in order on the last two legislative days preceding the interim study recess.
13171317
13181318 A motion to reconsider the vote whereby amendments are refused concurrence on Assembly bills, the vote whereby Senate bills are refused passage, or the vote whereby a conference committee report is refused adoption is in order on the last legislative day preceding the interim study recess. The motion may be taken up before the end of that legislative day.
13191319
13201320 As used in this paragraph, bill does not include a joint or concurrent resolution.
13211321
13221322 (2) January 31Even-numbered Year:
13231323
13241324 A motion to reconsider the vote whereby an Assembly bill is passed to the Senate is not in order on the last two legislative days preceding January 31 of the even-numbered year.
13251325
13261326 A motion to reconsider the vote whereby an Assembly bill is refused passage on its third reading is in order on the last legislative day preceding January 31 of the even-numbered year. The motion must be taken up before the end of that legislative day.
13271327
13281328 As used in this paragraph, bill does not include a Senate bill, a constitutional amendment, or a joint or concurrent resolution.
13291329
13301330 (3) Spring or Summer Recess:
13311331
13321332 A motion to reconsider the vote whereby a bill is passed is not in order on the last two legislative days preceding the Spring or Summer Recess as established by the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly.
13331333
13341334 (4) Deadline for Passage by House:
13351335
13361336 A motion to reconsider the vote whereby an Assembly bill is passed to the Senate is not in order on the last two legislative days preceding the last day for the Assembly to pass a bill introduced in the Assembly, as set forth in the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly.
13371337
13381338 As used in this paragraph, bill does not include a Senate bill, a constitutional amendment, or a joint or concurrent resolution.
13391339
13401340 (5) Final Recess:
13411341
13421342 A motion to reconsider the vote whereby a bill is passed is not in order on the last two legislative days preceding the final recess.
13431343
13441344 A motion to reconsider the vote whereby a bill is defeated is in order on the day of the final recess. The motion must be taken up before the end of that legislative day.
13451345
13461346 (c) Any Member voting on any matter may move to take up on the same day the motion, previously made by another Member, to reconsider the vote on that matter. A motion to take up on the same day a motion to reconsider the vote on a bill requires an affirmative recorded vote of at least 41 Members. A motion to take up on the same day a motion to reconsider the vote on any motion, amendment, Assembly resolution, or proposition other than a bill requires an affirmative vote of a majority vote of the Members present and voting. The motion to take up the reconsideration on the same day takes precedence over the motion to reconsider and, upon demand of any Member, the motion to take up the reconsideration on the same day shall be put to an immediate vote. If the motion to take up the reconsideration on the same day is adopted, the motion to reconsider is the next order of business before the Assembly.
13471347
13481348 (d) A second motion to reconsider the same question is not in order, nor is a motion to reconsider reconsideration in order.
13491349
13501350 (e) A motion to continue a motion to reconsider requires a majority vote of those Members present and voting.
13511351
13521352 Call of Assembly
13531353
13541354 # Call of Assembly
13551355
13561356 101.After the roll has been called, and prior to the announcement of the vote, any Member may move a call of the Assembly. The Members present may order a call of the Assembly by a majority vote of the Members present and voting, and the Speaker shall immediately order the Sergeant at Arms to lock all doors and direct the Chief Clerk to prepare a list of absentees as disclosed by the last rollcall. The list of absentees shall be furnished to the Sergeant at Arms, whereupon no Members shall be permitted to leave the Assembly Chamber except by written permission of the Speaker, and a person may not be permitted to enter except Members, Senators, or officers, or employees of the Legislature in the official performance of their duties.
13571357
13581358 Each Member who is found to be absent, and for whom a leave of absence has not been granted, shall be forthwith taken into custody wherever found by the Sergeant at Arms, the Sergeant at Arms assistants, or any person designated by the Sergeant at Arms, including members of the California Highway Patrol, and sheriffs or their deputies, and brought to the Assembly Chamber.
13591359
13601360 A recess or adjournment may not be taken during a call of the Assembly. Additional business may be conducted and calls placed regardless of the number of calls in effect. A call of the Assembly may be dispensed with at any time upon a majority vote of the Members present, that action to become effective upon the completion of the rollcall and the announcement of the vote upon the matter for which the call was ordered, unless, prior to the announcement of the vote, the call is continued by a majority vote of the Members present.
13611361
13621362 Division of Question
13631363
13641364 # Division of Question
13651365
13661366 102.Any Member may call for a division of the question, and the Speaker shall order the question divided if it comprehends propositions in substance so distinct that, one being taken away, a substantive proposition would remain for the decision of the Assembly. This rule does not apply to an individual bill or resolution.
13671367
13681368 B.VotingMembers Voting
13691369
13701370 # B.VotingMembers Voting
13711371
13721372 104.Every Member in the Assembly Chamber when a rollcall is required shall record the Members vote openly and without debate, unless the Assembly excuses that Member by a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
13731373
13741374 A Member may not operate the voting switch of any other Member, except that a Member presiding at the time of a rollcall, who is not the Speaker or the Speaker pro Tempore, may direct another Member on the Floor to operate the voting switch of the presiding Member, and any Member so presiding, including the Speaker and the Speaker pro Tempore, may also operate the voting switches at the rostrum of the Speaker and the Speaker pro Tempore, at their direction.
13751375
13761376 The name of any Member who refuses to vote as required by this rule, after being requested by the Speaker to do so, shall be entered in the Journal, together with a statement that the Member was present and did so refuse to vote. Any Member who refuses so to vote may, if the Member so desires, and immediately after the announcement of the vote, submit a written explanation of the failure to vote and that explanation shall be printed in the Journal, provided that no explanation may exceed 50 words in length.
13771377
13781378 In addition to the entry of the Members name in the Journal, any Member who refuses so to vote when required, and who has not been excused from doing so, may, immediately after the announcement of the vote, at the discretion of the Speaker or upon demand of any Member, be summoned to appear before the bar of the Assembly for public censure by the Speaker or by any Member designated by the Speaker. Censure of a Member as provided by this rule does not constitute a bar to proceedings for the Members expulsion from the Assembly pursuant to Section 5 of Article IV of the California Constitution.
13791379
13801380 A Member may submit a written explanation of the Members vote on any bill or house resolution, and that explanation shall be printed in the Journal immediately following the vote, provided that no explanation may exceed 50 words in length.
13811381
13821382 A Member, prior to adjournment on the same legislative day, in the absence of any objection, may instruct the Chief Clerk to add the Members vote to any previously announced vote that had been taken during the Members absence, so long as the outcome of the vote is not thereby changed. The Chief Clerk shall record any vote additions or vote changes in the order signed by the Members at the Chief Clerks desk.
13831383
13841384 Ayes and Noes
13851385
13861386 # Ayes and Noes
13871387
13881388 105.The ayes and noes shall be recorded by the electrical voting system on the final passage of all bills, when an affirmative recorded vote of 41 Members or any vote above that number is required, when demanded by three Members, or when ordered by the Speaker. The names of the Members so voting shall be entered in the Journal.
13891389
13901390 Voting and Vote Changes
13911391
13921392 # Voting and Vote Changes
13931393
13941394 106.When once begun, voting may not be interrupted, except that, before the vote is announced, any Member may have the total pending vote flashed on the visible vote recorder. Prior to the announcement of the vote, the presiding officer shall instruct the Chief Clerk to record verbal votes from Members not at their desks. Any Member may move a call of the Assembly after the completion of the roll. A Member, prior to adjournment on the same legislative day, and in the absence of any objection, may instruct the Chief Clerk to change the Members recorded vote after the vote is announced, so long as the outcome of the vote is not thereby changed. The Chief Clerk may record any vote change only after the Member making the change has announced it to the Assembly.
13951395
13961396 Tie Vote
13971397
13981398 # Tie Vote
13991399
14001400 107.In case of an equal division, or tie vote, the question shall be lost.
14011401
14021402 VII.MEMBERS DECORUM AND PRIVILEGESOrder in Speaking to Questions
14031403
14041404 # VII.MEMBERS DECORUM AND PRIVILEGESOrder in Speaking to Questions
14051405
14061406 108.When a Member desires to address the Assembly, the Member shall rise from the Members seat and respectfully address the presiding officer as Mr. Speaker or Madame Speaker. Upon being recognized, the Member may speak, confining the Members remarks to the question under consideration. When two or more Members rise at the same time, the Speaker shall designate the Member who is entitled to the Floor.
14071407
14081408 A Member may not speak more than once during the consideration of any one question on the same day and at the same stage of proceeding, except that the author of a bill or resolution or the mover of a question has the right to open and close the debate thereon. A Member may not be allowed to speak more than five minutes to open and five minutes to close the debate on any question, including amendments, and no Member other than the author or the mover of the question may be allowed to speak more than five minutes thereon. A Member may not yield to any other Member the time for which the Member is entitled to speak on any matter.
14091409
14101410 Rules of Decorum
14111411
14121412 # Rules of Decorum
14131413
14141414 108.1.(a) In accordance with Rule 10, Members of the Assembly shall conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of decorum specified in Sections 120 to 126, inclusive, of Masons Manual of Legislative Procedure.
14151415
14161416 (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the Committee on Rules may adopt additional rules of decorum by majority vote of the membership of the committee.
14171417
14181418 Motions
14191419
14201420 # Motions
14211421
14221422 109.When a Member desires to make a motion, the Member shall obtain recognition as provided in Rule 108. Upon being recognized, the Member shall open by stating the Members motion, except in the case of a nomination, and in any other case may not speak to the merits of the motion at that time, but shall confine the Members remarks to those necessary to explain the motion. If the motion is in order and is seconded, it shall be stated to the Assembly by the Speaker. If the motion is debated, the Member who made it shall then be entitled to recognition to open the debate on the motion.
14231423
14241424 When a Member obtains the Floor during debate upon any question that is pending before the Assembly and addresses the Assembly regarding the merits of the pending question, the Member may not be permitted to conclude the Members debate by making any motion or by demanding the previous question.
14251425
14261426 Leave of Absence
14271427
14281428 # Leave of Absence
14291429
14301430 110.A Member may not be absent from attendance at any session of the Assembly without leave of the Assembly. A Member may not obtain that leave of absence or be excused for nonattendance except by a vote of 54 or more Members or by unanimous consent. A Member who obtains a leave of absence for personal business, or is excused for nonattendance for personal business, thereby waives the Members per diem allowance for attendance upon any session of the Legislature for which the Member secures that leave of absence or excuse. A Member may not obtain a leave of absence for legislative business or be excused for nonattendance for legislative business unless the Member has filed with the Speaker a statement of the legislative business for which the Member seeks that leave of absence or excuse. That statement shall be printed in the Journal.
14311431
14321432 If a Member is not recorded on the attendance roll within 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the session, the Member shall stand up before the Assembly and explain the reason the Member is late before the Member is recorded on the rollcall for any vote. If a Member does not explain the Members reason for being late, any other Member may raise a point of order under this rule, whereupon the tardy Members vote may not be recorded until an explanation is made.
14331433
14341434 Personal Privilege
14351435
14361436 # Personal Privilege
14371437
14381438 111.Any Member may rise to explain a matter of personal privilege. A matter of personal privilege is a matter involving the Members integrity, dignity, or honor. Upon rising to explain such a matter, the Member forthwith shall be recognized by the Speaker, but may not discuss a question in that explanation. Matters of personal privilege yield only to a motion to recess or adjourn.
14391439
14401440 Objection to Reading Paper or Use of Objects
14411441
14421442 # Objection to Reading Paper or Use of Objects
14431443
14441444 112.Any Member, upon recognition by the Speaker, may object to the reading of any paper or the use of any visual aid before the Assembly. When that objection is made, the question of reading or of the use of a visual aid shall be determined without debate by a majority vote of the Members present and voting, upon a brief statement by the Speaker of the substance of the objection.
14451445
14461446 Framed resolutions and certificates are not permitted on the Assembly Floor during Floor session, unless approved by the Speaker, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, or upon a motion approved without debate by a majority of those present and voting.
14471447
14481448 Members at Chief Clerks Desk
14491449
14501450 # Members at Chief Clerks Desk
14511451
14521452 113.A Member or other person may not be allowed at the Chief Clerks desk while the ayes and noes are being recorded or the votes counted.
14531453
14541454 Members Called to Order for Transgressing Rules
14551455
14561456 # Members Called to Order for Transgressing Rules
14571457
14581458 114.If any Member transgresses the Rules of the Assembly, the Speaker shall, or any Member may, call the offending Member to order. The Member so called to order immediately shall take the Members seat, until the Speaker, without debate, has determined whether the Member is in order. That decision by the Speaker shall be subject to an appeal to the Assembly.
14591459
14601460 If any Member is called to order for offensive words spoken in debate, the person calling the Member to order shall state to the Assembly the words to which exception is taken. No Member may be held to answer, or be subject to censure by the Assembly, for language used in debate if other business has been transacted by the Assembly prior to exception being taken to the words spoken.
14611461
14621462 VIII.MISCELLANEOUSCommittee of the Whole
14631463
14641464 # VIII.MISCELLANEOUSCommittee of the Whole
14651465
14661466 115.The Assembly may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at any time by a majority vote of the Members present and voting. While sitting as that committee, persons other than Members may address the committee. The Speaker of the Assembly, or any Member named by the Speaker, shall preside as Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole.
14671467
14681468 A motion that the Committee of the Whole do now rise and report back to the Assembly, shall always be in order and shall be decided without debate. All actions of the Committee of the Whole shall be reported to the Assembly by the chairperson, but may not be entered in the Journal except upon motion and a majority vote of the Members present and voting.
14691469
14701470 Use of Assembly Chamber
14711471
14721472 # Use of Assembly Chamber
14731473
14741474 116.The Assembly Chamber may not be used for any public or private business, other than legislative matters, except upon approval of the Speaker or the Chairperson of the Committee on Rules.
14751475
14761476 Use of Assembly Facilities: Smoking
14771477
14781478 # Use of Assembly Facilities: Smoking
14791479
14801480 117.The smoking of tobacco products is prohibited within any building, or portion of a building, occupied or used by Assembly Members or employees if the building or portion of the building is under the jurisdiction or control of the Assembly. This smoking prohibition shall apply to any outdoor area within five feet of an entrance or exit to any building or portion of a building subject to this rule. This smoking prohibition shall apply to the Assembly Chamber, Assembly hearing rooms, and Assembly offices, and to hallways, stairways, and bathrooms within any building or portion of a building subject to this rule.
14811481
14821482 Telephones and Electronic Communications
14831483
14841484 # Telephones and Electronic Communications
14851485
14861486 117.5.While on the Floor of the Assembly during any session of the Assembly, or while serving on a committee during any hearing of that committee, a Member may not do either of the following:
14871487
14881488 (a) Use a cellular telephone to make or receive calls.
14891489
14901490 (b) Send electronic communications to, or receive electronic communications from, any lobbyist.
14911491
14921492 Meeting of the Assembly: Firearms
14931493
14941494 # Meeting of the Assembly: Firearms
14951495
14961496 117.7.A person, except a peace officer acting within the scope of the peace officers employment, may not carry or possess a firearm on the Floor of the Assembly during any session of the Assembly or in a committee hearing room during any meeting of a committee or subcommittee.
14971497
14981498 Persons Admitted to Floor of the Assembly
14991499
15001500 # Persons Admitted to Floor of the Assembly
15011501
15021502 118.(a) A person other than Members of the Legislature, officers, employees of the Legislature, accredited members of the press, and guests may not be admitted to the Floor of the Assembly during any session of the Assembly. A guest of any Member may be admitted only upon presentation of a guest card of the Member countersigned by the Speaker. A guest card is valid only on the legislative day for which it is issued.
15031503
15041504 Persons admitted to the Assembly Chamber, other than Members, may not be permitted to stand in the Lobby in the rear of the Assembly Chamber while the Assembly is in session, but shall be required to occupy the seats provided for them.
15051505
15061506 Guests may be seated only in the chairs in the back of the rail in the rear of the Assembly Chamber, and may not be permitted to sit at the desks of the Members. No person other than an accredited newspaper representative may be permitted to sit at the press desks. A special section in the balcony may be reserved for those holding guest cards. Neither any person mentioned in this rule nor any other person, except a Member of the Legislature, may engage in influencing the passage or defeat of legislation in the Assembly Chamber.
15071507
15081508 A person other than a Member of the Legislature, the Sergeant at Arms or the Sergeant at Arms assistants, the Chief Clerk or the Chief Clerks assistants, or the Legislative Counsel or the Legislative Counsels representatives may not be permitted in the area of the Floor of the chamber which is occupied by the desks of the Members.
15091509
15101510 (b) A lobbyist, as defined by Section 82039 of the Government Code, may not, under any circumstances, be admitted to the Floor of the Assembly Chamber while the Assembly is in session.
15111511
15121512 (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the Speaker, while presiding, may request advice from a designated staff person who may approach the rostrum area to confer with the presiding officer.
15131513
15141514 Floor Attire
15151515
15161516 # Floor Attire
15171517
15181518 118.1.(a) Members of the Legislature, officers and employees of the Legislature, and accredited members of the press shall wear professional business attire, inclusive of standards of culture, ethnicity, and gender expression and identity, while on the Floor of the Assembly during any session.
15191519
15201520 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules, Members of the Legislature, officers or employees of the Legislature, accredited members of the press, or any other persons may be restricted from admission to the Floor of the Assembly during any session if they are inappropriately attired in accordance with this rule. The Committee on Rules may, as necessary, adopt policies to implement this rule.
15211521
15221522 Persons Admitted to the Gallery
15231523
15241524 # Persons Admitted to the Gallery
15251525
15261526 118.2.A person shall not be admitted to the Gallery in possession of a placard, display, banner, or sign.
15271527
15281528 Qualifications and Elections of Members
15291529
15301530 # Qualifications and Elections of Members
15311531
15321532 119.An affirmative vote of 41 or more Members shall be required to determine the qualifications and election of any Member pursuant to Section 5 of Article IV of the California Constitution. A motion to disqualify a Member is not in order at the convening of a legislative session until a Speaker has been elected in accordance with Section 9023 of the Government Code.
15331533
15341534 Compensation and Expenses of Member Convicted of Felony
15351535
15361536 # Compensation and Expenses of Member Convicted of Felony
15371537
15381538 120.If a Member of the Assembly is convicted of a felony by a superior court, the Members right to further compensation or expenses is thereupon suspended, and the Members membership on any committee is thereupon suspended. If the conviction becomes final, the right of the Member to further compensation or expenses shall terminate and any compensation or expenses withheld shall be forfeited to the state. If the conviction is reversed by an appellate court or a motion for a new trial is granted, and the Member is thereafter found not guilty or the charges against the Member are dismissed, the amounts of the withheld compensation or expenses shall be paid to the Member and the suspension of the Members committee membership shall terminate.
15391539
15401540 Whenever a Member is convicted of a felony in the superior court, the Committee on Rules shall give written notice thereof to the Controller, directing the Controller to discontinue any further payments to the Member unless and until the Committee on Rules notifies the Controller that the Member has been found not guilty or that the charges against the Member are dismissed. The Controller may not draw any warrant payable to that Member except as provided in this rule.
15411541
15421542 The Seal of the Assembly
15431543
15441544 # The Seal of the Assembly
15451545
15461546 121.The Seal of the Assembly may be used only by or on behalf of a Member of the Assembly, or when specifically authorized by the Committee on Rules.
15471547
15481548 Agency Reports: Electronic Copies
15491549
15501550 # Agency Reports: Electronic Copies
15511551
15521552 122.Pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, any report required or requested by law to be submitted by a state or local agency to the Members, or to the Legislature generally, shall be submitted as an electronic copy to the Chief Clerk.
15531553
15541554 IX.MINORITY PARTY BILL OF RIGHTSRight of the Minority Leader to Make Committee Appointments
15551555
15561556 # IX.MINORITY PARTY BILL OF RIGHTSRight of the Minority Leader to Make Committee Appointments
15571557
15581558 123.(a) The minority party leader shall have sole discretion over the selection, appointment, and removal of Members of the Assembly from the minority party to any standing, select, or special committee.
15591559
15601560 (b) Changes to committee assignments of Members from the minority party shall not be subject to the approval of the majority party.
15611561
15621562 Right to Bill Hearings
15631563
15641564 # Right to Bill Hearings
15651565
15661566 124.Every bill introduced by a Member of the Assembly shall be granted an opportunity to be heard in committee to allow for full consideration, public testimony, and a vote.
15671567
15681568 Right to Speech and Inquiry
15691569
15701570 # Right to Speech and Inquiry
15711571
15721572 125.(a) Each Member of the Assembly shall have no less than five minutes for questions and comments during committee hearings during which the Member may speak, ask questions, and receive responses from witnesses and bill authors without interruption from the chairperson of the committee.
15731573
15741574 (b) The chairperson of a committee shall enforce time limits uniformly and impartially for all members of the committee.
15751575
15761576 Right to Fair Floor Proceedings
15771577
15781578 # Right to Fair Floor Proceedings
15791579
15801580 126.(a) Floor session debate rules shall guarantee Members of the Assembly from the minority party the opportunity to be recognized by the presiding officer when they wish to speak, provided they adhere to the rules of decorum.
15811581
15821582 (b) A Member shall not be skipped or ignored by the presiding officer when the Member indicates a desire to speak.
15831583
15841584 (c) The presiding officer shall not prematurely close debate on a bill without providing reasonable opportunity for input from both the majority and minority parties.
15851585
15861586 (d) A Member shall have the right to raise procedural questions or offer amendments without undue restriction by the presiding officer.
15871587
15881588 Right to Represent Without Fear of Retaliation
15891589
15901590 # Right to Represent Without Fear of Retaliation
15911591
15921592 127.A Member of the Assembly, staff, or committee chairperson of the majority party shall not engage in or authorize any form of retaliation against a minority party member for their legislative actions, positions, or participation in debates, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
15931593
15941594 (a) Withholding opportunities to speak during Floor session debates or committee hearings without just cause.
15951595
15961596 (b) Placing onerous requirements on the introduction, amendment, or advancement of bills authored by the Member from the minority party.
15971597
15981598 (c) Arbitrarily removing a bill from consideration or delaying its scheduling for a committee hearing or vote.
15991599
16001600 (d) Restricting or delaying access to legislative resources, including staffing, research assistance, or facilities.