Delaware 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware Senate Bill SR22 Draft / Bill

                    SPONSOR:      Sen. Buckson           DELAWARE STATE SENATE   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 22       REQUESTING SENATE LEADERSHIP CONSIDER NONPARTISAN SEATING ARRANGEMENTS IN THE SENATE CHAMBER FOR FUTURE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Sen. Buckson     

SPONSOR: Sen. Buckson

 SPONSOR:  

 Sen. Buckson 

   

 DELAWARE STATE SENATE 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 22 

   

 REQUESTING SENATE LEADERSHIP CONSIDER NONPARTISAN SEATING ARRANGEMENTS IN THE SENATE CHAMBER FOR FUTURE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES. 

   

   WHEREAS, current Delaware General Assembly Senate chamber seating is defined in Senate Rules, Rule 14, Assignment and Control of Legislative Space and is designated by Senate leadership; and    WHEREAS, Oregons Senate, Iowas House of Representatives, and Nebraskas unicameral legislature designate chamber seating based on seniority; and    WHEREAS, the New Hampshire and Vermont Senate chambers assign seats by district number; and    WHEREAS, the Arizona House Chamber allows members to pick any seats they choose; and    WHEREAS, many state chambers prioritize legislators who may have physical impairment that requires an accommodation to choose a seat first; and    WHEREAS, many state chambers allow members of either chamber who once served in the opposite chamber to pick seating first; and   WHEREAS, in Idaho, once leadership, physically impaired members, and members who previously served in the opposite chamber pick their seating, the Chief Clerk randomly draws the remaining names out of hat; each member then picks a seat in the order their name is drawn; and   WHEREAS, chambers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Maine have (or at one point in the last few years) bipartisan seating; and   WHEREAS, guidelines established by the Delaware Senate Leadership could promote bipartisan collaboration instead of separation; and   WHEREAS, our Senate floor, which can be seen by every guest who enters the chamber and watches proceedings via livestream, should reflect a bipartisan view with the carpet moved to the middle of the aisle.   NOW, THEREFORE:    BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152  nd   General Assembly of the State of Delaware that Senate leadership is encouraged to consider a nonpartisan seating arrangement in the Senate Chamber for future General Assemblies.      

  WHEREAS, current Delaware General Assembly Senate chamber seating is defined in Senate Rules, Rule 14, Assignment and Control of Legislative Space and is designated by Senate leadership; and 

  WHEREAS, Oregons Senate, Iowas House of Representatives, and Nebraskas unicameral legislature designate chamber seating based on seniority; and 

  WHEREAS, the New Hampshire and Vermont Senate chambers assign seats by district number; and 

  WHEREAS, the Arizona House Chamber allows members to pick any seats they choose; and 

  WHEREAS, many state chambers prioritize legislators who may have physical impairment that requires an accommodation to choose a seat first; and 

  WHEREAS, many state chambers allow members of either chamber who once served in the opposite chamber to pick seating first; and 

 WHEREAS, in Idaho, once leadership, physically impaired members, and members who previously served in the opposite chamber pick their seating, the Chief Clerk randomly draws the remaining names out of hat; each member then picks a seat in the order their name is drawn; and 

 WHEREAS, chambers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Maine have (or at one point in the last few years) bipartisan seating; and 

 WHEREAS, guidelines established by the Delaware Senate Leadership could promote bipartisan collaboration instead of separation; and 

 WHEREAS, our Senate floor, which can be seen by every guest who enters the chamber and watches proceedings via livestream, should reflect a bipartisan view with the carpet moved to the middle of the aisle. 

 NOW, THEREFORE:  

 BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152  nd   General Assembly of the State of Delaware that Senate leadership is encouraged to consider a nonpartisan seating arrangement in the Senate Chamber for future General Assemblies. 

   

  SYNOPSIS   This Senate Resolution encourages Senate leadership to consider a nonpartisan seating arrangement in the Senate Chamber for future General Assemblies.   Author: Senator Buckson  

 SYNOPSIS 

 This Senate Resolution encourages Senate leadership to consider a nonpartisan seating arrangement in the Senate Chamber for future General Assemblies. 

 Author: Senator Buckson