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A RESOLUTION adopting the Rules of Procedure for the 2023 Regular Session of 1
the Senate. 2
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 3
Kentucky: 4
Section 1. The following Rules of Procedure are adopted to govern the 2023 5
Regular Session of the Senate. 6
Rule 1. Hours of Meeting. The Senate shall meet at the call of the members. 7
The official time shall be governed by the clock over the main entrance to the Senate 8
Chamber. 9
Rule 2. Quorum. A majority of the Senators elected to the Senate shall 10
constitute a quorum. If a quorum is not present at the time fixed for a meeting of the 11
Senate, four Senators may adjourn or recess from day to day or from time to time and 12
eight Senators may order a call of the Senate and send for absent Senators. 13
Rule 3. Call of the Senate. Upon a call of the Senate, the Clerk shall call the 14
roll, then call the absentees again. The doors of the Senate Chamber shall then be closed 15
and the absentees not excused by the Senate may be sent for and arrested by the Sergeant 16
at Arms. 17
The Senate shall determine upon what conditions they shall be discharged from 18
arrest. Senators who voluntarily appear shall be immediately admitted to the floor of the 19
Senate and their names entered upon the Journal as present, unless the Senate otherwise 20
directs. 21
ORDER OF BUSINESS 22
Rule 4. Order of Business. The order of business shall be as follows: 23
1. Invocation 24
2. Pledge of Allegiance 25
3. Roll Call 26
4. Approval of the Journal 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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5. Second Reading of Bills 1
6. Report of Committees 2
7. First Reading of Bills 3
8. Introduction of Guests, Memorial Resolutions, Motions, and Citations 4
9. Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 5
10. Orders of the Day 6
11. Meetings of the Committee on Committees and Rules Committee 7
12. Report of Committees 8
13. Motions, Petitions, Communications, and Announcements 9
14. Introduction of Floor Amendments 10
15. Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 11
16. Adjournment 12
No more than thirty minutes shall be allotted to Introduction of Guests, Memorial 13
Resolutions, Motions, and Citations. During this order of business, priority shall be given 14
to memorial resolutions with family in attendance to be honored with their adoption, 15
resolutions and citations recognizing an individual or group present in the Senate 16
Chamber, and motions necessary for the proper operation of the Senate. During this order 17
of business, the Senate President may, should there be sufficient time, permit Senators to 18
communicate with other members. All other resolutions shall be in order during the order 19
of business Motions, Petitions, Communications, and Announcements. 20
Rule 5. Unfinished Business. Unfinished business which was being considered 21
upon adjournment shall have precedence in the class of business to which it properly 22
belongs upon the next succeeding legislative day. 23
MOTIONS 24
Rule 6. Reading of Motions. When a motion has been made and seconded, it 25
shall be stated by the President, or, being in written form, it shall be read by the Clerk 26
before debate, amendment or motion concerning it shall be in order. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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Rule 7. Withdrawal of Motions. Every oral motion after it has been stated by 1
the President, and every written motion, bill, resolution or other paper, after it has been 2
read by the Clerk, shall be the property and in the possession of the Senate and shall not 3
be withdrawn without consent of the Senate. Every written motion, report or measure 4
may be committed or recommitted at the pleasure of the Senate. 5
Rule 8. Order of Questions. All questions, whether in Committee of the Whole 6
or in the Senate, when not a privileged question, shall be propounded in the order in 7
which they were moved, except that in filling blanks the smallest sum and the most 8
remote date shall be put first. 9
Rule 9. Precedence of Motions. When a question is under consideration, no 10
motion shall be in order except: 11
1. To call the Senate when there is no quorum present. 12
2. To fix the time to which the Senate shall adjourn. 13
3. To adjourn. 14
4. To take recess. 15
5. To lay on the table. 16
6. For the previous question. 17
7. To limit or extend limits of debate. 18
8. To postpone to a fixed time. 19
9. To lay on the Clerk’s desk. 20
10. To refer or commit. 21
11. To amend. 22
12. To postpone indefinitely. 23
The above several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are 24
arranged and the first seven of them shall not be debatable. 25
A second motion to adjourn, to take a recess, to lay on the table, for the previous 26
question, to limit or extend limits of debate, to postpone to a time certain, to lay on the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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Clerk’s desk, to refer or commit or to postpone indefinitely shall not be in order on the 1
same day, upon the same question, and at the same status unless other business 2
intervenes; provided, however, that amendments may be made to the time to which it is 3
proposed to adjourn, to take a recess or to postpone to a fixed time. 4
Rule 10. Motion to Adjourn. A motion to adjourn, to take a recess, or a motion 5
to adjourn to a time certain, shall always be in order, except when a Senator is speaking, 6
while a vote is being taken, or when the Committee on Committees is reporting; subject, 7
however, to the limitations set out in Rule 9. 8
Rule 11. Motion to Table. The adoption of the motion to table, under these rules, 9
defeats the subject matter under consideration. The reconsideration of the motion to table 10
shall require approval of a majority of the members elected. 11
Rule 12. Previous Question. When the previous question has been ordered, a 12
vote shall be taken immediately upon the pending measure and any pending amendments 13
as are in order. The effect of the previous question shall be to put an end to all debate, to 14
prevent the offering of additional amendments and to bring the Senate to an immediate 15
vote upon the measure and amendments aforesaid. The previous question may be ordered 16
by a majority of the Senators elected. On the call of the roll, no Senator shall be allowed 17
to speak more than three minutes to explain a vote and shall not speak at all if the 18
question is not a debatable question. After the previous question has been ordered, and 19
before the vote upon the main question, the opponents of the measure shall have ten 20
minutes, and proponents of the measure shall have ten minutes. 21
Rule 13. Motion to Set the Limits of Debate. A motion to extend a time limit 22
for debate on a measure beyond that permitted under Rule 12 shall be in order unless the 23
previous question shall have been ordered on the measure. The time limit set for debate 24
under this rule shall be allotted by the President evenly between the opponents of the 25
measure and the proponents of the measure. Adoption of a motion under this rule does 26
not prevent the offering of additional amendments. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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Rule 14. Motion to Reconsider. A motion to reconsider a vote shall not be in 1
order unless made by a Senator who voted upon the prevailing side of the question; nor 2
shall that motion be in order unless made within two legislative days in which the Senate 3
is in session next after the day the vote was taken; however, the motion to reconsider 4
when coupled with the additional motion to lay that motion upon the table may be made 5
by any Senator. A motion to reconsider a vote on a bill or resolution not in the possession 6
of the Senate shall not be in order. 7
Rule 15. Motion to Lay on Clerk’s Desk. The effect of the adoption of a motion 8
to lay on the Clerk’s desk under these rules is to place in charge of the Clerk the pending 9
question and everything adhering to it. A motion laid on the Clerk’s desk may be taken 10
from the desk and proceeded with at any time in the same order as when laid on the 11
Clerk’s desk. 12
Rule 16. Motion to Strike Out Enacting Clause. A motion to amend by striking 13
out the enacting words of a bill or resolution shall have precedence over a motion to 14
amend, and, if adopted, shall have the same effect as though the bill or resolution were 15
regularly voted upon and rejected. 16
Rule 17. Motion to Separate Part of a Measure. A motion to commit, 17
recommit, or postpone a part of a measure so as to separate that part of the measure from 18
the remainder shall not be in order. 19
Rule 18. Postponement of Measures. When a measure shall have been 20
postponed indefinitely it shall not be in order again during the session. 21
Rule 19. Reading of Pending Papers. Any pending bill, resolution, motion or 22
report shall be read by the Clerk upon the demand of any Senator, but it shall not again be 23
read on the same day unless so ordered by the Senate. 24
Rule 20. Nominations. In all elections a previous nomination shall be made. 25
MEMBERS 26
Rule 21. Attendance of Members. No Senator shall be absent from a session of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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the Senate without leave from the Senate. 1
Rule 22. Decorum of Members. No Senator shall designate another Senator by 2
name. Members shall wear appropriate professional business attire while on the floor 3
of the Senate. 4
Rule 23. Call to Order. If any Senator, in speech or otherwise, transgresses the 5
rules of order or decorum, the Senator shall immediately be called to order by the chair 6
and shall be seated. The Clerk shall reduce the objectionable words to writing and read 7
them to the Senate. After hearing a short explanation from the Senator called to order, or 8
upon the withdrawal of the objectionable language, the President may permit the Senator 9
to proceed, or may require the Senator’s silence until the matter is disposed of. The ruling 10
of the chair shall be subject to an appeal to the Senate. A Senator offending the Senate 11
shall be liable to censure. 12
Rule 24. Debate. No Senator may speak more than once to the same subject until 13
all Senators desiring to be heard have spoken, but nothing in this rule shall do away with 14
the previous question if then in effect, nor permit debate on an undebatable motion. 15
No Senator shall speak more than fifteen minutes in the aggregate on any question 16
or measure, including debate on amendments and explanation of the member's vote. No 17
Senator shall be allowed to speak more than three minutes to explain a vote. At the end 18
of a member's allotted time[at the end of which period], or any portion thereof, the floor 19
shall be returned to the President. 20
Rule 25. Members Shall Vote at Seats. A Senator shall vote only when at the 21
Senator’s seat or visibly approaching it. 22
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 23
Rule 26. President. On the first day of the Regular Session in an odd-numbered 24
year, or at any time there is a vacancy in the office of President, immediately following 25
the adoption of the Rules, the President of the Senate shall take the chair to receive 26
nominations from the floor and to preside over the election of the President. The member 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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who receives the votes of a majority of the members elected shall be the President. If 1
there is more than one nominee, the election of each nominee shall be treated as an 2
alternative proposition, with each name being put to the Senate in the order in which 3
nominated. The first nominee receiving the votes of a majority of those elected to the 4
Senate shall be declared elected. If no member receives the votes of a majority of the 5
members elected, the election is of no effect. 6
The President shall take the chair every day precisely at the hour fixed for the 7
meeting of the Senate and shall call the Senate to order and direct the Clerk to call the 8
roll, whereupon, if there is a quorum present, the Order of Business shall be followed. 9
The President shall preserve decorum and order and, in the event of any disorder in 10
the gallery or in the Senate Chamber, may cause the same to be cleared of any persons 11
creating disturbances or disorders. 12
All writs, warrants, subpoenas or other processes shall be signed by the officer who 13
may be presiding over the Senate when the paper is issued; and the officer’s signature 14
shall be attested by the Clerk, when ordered by a majority of the Senators. 15
The President may designate any Senator to preside in the absence of both the 16
President and President Pro Tem and to perform all duties of the President, including 17
duties as a member of the Committee on Committees. This designation by the President 18
may be made from time to time or for any period of time as the President may designate. 19
Rule 27. Appeal from Decision of Chair. The President while presiding may 20
speak to points of order in preference to Senators. The President shall decide points of 21
order and manner of procedure. If two or more Senators arise from their respective seats 22
and address the chair, the President shall determine who was first and recognize that 23
Senator. 24
Any decision made by the President shall be subject to appeal to the Senate. During 25
the pendency of any appeal to the Senate from a decision of the chair, the President shall 26
vacate the chair and call the President Pro Tem to preside. When the President Pro Tem is 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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presiding on an appeal to the Senate from a decision of the President, no motion or 1
business shall be in order except the motion on appeal from the decision of the President, 2
and that motion shall not be debatable. Upon an appeal, the question put to the Senate 3
shall be stated as follows: "Shall the decision of the President stand as the judgment of 4
the Senate? An ‘Aye’ vote shall support the President’s ruling, and a ‘Nay’ vote shall 5
oppose the President’s ruling." The ruling of the President shall be sustained unless a 6
majority of the members elected to the Senate oppose the ruling. 7
Rule 28. President Pro Tempore. The Senate shall elect a President Pro Tem, 8
who shall perform the duties of the President when the President is absent from the 9
Senate, or when empowered by the President to perform the duties of the chair. 10
Rule 29. Duties of Clerk. The Clerk shall have charge and supervision of all the 11
clerical business of the Senate. The Clerk shall have charge of the Clerk’s section of the 12
Senate Chamber and shall see that no one is permitted therein except the Clerk and those 13
assisting the Clerk. 14
The Clerk shall read to the Senate papers ordered to be read; call the roll and note 15
and report the absentees when a call of the Senate is ordered; call the roll and note the 16
answers of members when a question is taken by yeas and nays; assist the President in 17
taking the count when any vote of the Senate is taken; notify committees of their 18
appointment and business referred to them; attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued 19
by order of the Senate; keep a calendar indicating bills entitled to their second reading 20
each day, distinguishing between House and Senate bills; superintend the engrossing and 21
enrolling of bills; certify to the passage of all bills and to the adoption of all joint and 22
concurrent resolutions by the General Assembly; and make all reports to the House, 23
unless otherwise ordered. 24
Rule 30. Journal of Proceedings. The Clerk shall cause to be kept the Journal of 25
the proceedings of the Senate. The Clerk shall note upon the Journal all questions of 26
order, together with the disposition of same, and the dates upon which all bills and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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resolutions were sent to committee and returned to the Senate. The Senate may correct 1
errors in the Journal the day the Journal containing errors is presented to the Senate. No 2
record which is in the hands of the Clerk and is required by law to be entered upon the 3
Journal of the Senate shall be copied by any person until same shall have been entered 4
upon the Journal and said Journal shall have been approved. Half an hour before the time 5
fixed for the meeting of the Senate each day, the Clerk or an assistant shall be present at 6
the Clerk’s desk with the journal of the preceding session for the inspection of any 7
member of the Senate. 8
The Clerk shall transmit the Journal for each day as soon as it has been approved by 9
the Senate to the Legislative Research Commission, which shall deliver it to the public 10
printer. The Commission staff shall proofread and index the Journal upon return from the 11
printer and make necessary typographical corrections. 12
Rule 31. Custody of Papers. The Clerk shall have custody of all records, papers 13
and bills of the Senate and shall not allow them to be taken out of the Clerk’s possession 14
without the leave of the Senate, unless to be delivered to the chairman of a committee to 15
which they have been referred or to the Legislative Research Commission, as specified in 16
these rules, and then the Clerk shall take a proper receipt therefor. The Clerk shall 17
endorse on bills and papers brief notes of proceedings had thereon by the Senate and 18
preserve the same in convenient files for reference. The Director of the Legislative 19
Research Commission shall implement a policy to provide for the maintenance and 20
distribution of the records, papers, and bills of the legislative branch. 21
Rule 32. Accounts of Expenditures. The Legislative Research Commission shall 22
keep the accounts for pay and mileage of members, officers and attaches, and for printing 23
and other contingent expenses of the House and Senate. 24
Rule 33. Printing of Senate Papers. The Legislative Research Commission shall 25
have supervision and charge of all printing done for the Senate as certified by the Clerk, 26
and the public printer shall print only those documents and other matters as the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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Legislative Research Commission authorizes. The Clerk shall report to the President, to 1
be submitted to the Senate, every failure of the printer to execute work correctly and 2
promptly. 3
Rule 34. Duties of the Sergeant-at-Arms. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-4
Arms and Doorkeeper to exclude or remove all persons not entitled to the floor of the 5
Senate. One hour before convening of the Senate each day the Sergeant-at-Arms shall 6
announce in a loud distinct voice: "All persons not entitled to the floor of the Senate 7
under the rules thereof will now vacate the Senate Chamber." The Sergeant-at-Arms shall 8
then compel all persons who are not entitled to remain therein to leave the Senate 9
Chamber and shall prohibit their entry until thirty minutes after the Senate has adjourned. 10
The Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, before any joint session is to be held, shall 11
request the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House to arrange for the seating of the members of 12
the Senate in a body. The Senators will assemble in the Senate Chamber five minutes 13
before the meeting of any joint session and go to the House in a body. 14
Rule 35. Appointment and Conduct of Constitutional Employees. The 15
constitutional employees of the Senate shall be appointed by election during the regular 16
sessions of the General Assembly and shall serve one year terms or until the election of 17
their successors. 18
All the constitutional employees of the Senate shall, one hour before the meeting of 19
the Senate each day, report to the Clerk, who shall report to the Committee on 20
Committees whether all of said employees are on duty. The Committee on Committees, 21
whenever it deems it necessary, shall report to the Senate any dereliction of duty. 22
Rule 36. Other Employees. All other professional, clerical and other employees 23
required by the Senate or any of its committees shall, as authorized by the Committee on 24
Committees, be provided by the Legislative Research Commission. Employees 25
performing those services shall be under the supervision of the Committee on 26
Committees. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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No officer or employee of the Senate shall receive any fee, tip or compensation 1
from any Senator and violation of this rule shall be ground for dismissal. 2
COMMITTEES 3
Rule 37. Committee on Committees. There shall be a Committee on 4
Committees composed of the President, the President Pro Tem, the Majority Floor 5
Leader, the Majority Caucus Chairman, the Majority Whip, the Minority Floor Leader, 6
the Minority Caucus Chairman, and the Minority Whip of the Senate. 7
The majority of this committee shall have full power to act on all matters referred to 8
the committee either by these rules or by action of the Senate. A meeting of the 9
Committee on Committees may be called by the President, the Majority Floor Leader, or 10
a majority of the committee members. 11
The President shall be Chairman of the Committee on Committees, and in the 12
President’s absence, the Majority Floor Leader shall serve as Chairman. 13
All bills and resolutions bearing the force and effect of law shall, upon their 14
introduction, be automatically referred to the Committee on Committees which shall refer 15
same to the proper committee not later than the fifth day in which the Senate is in session 16
after the date of introduction. 17
The Committee on Committees shall have supervision and control over all 18
employees of the Senate whether elected by the Senate or appointed by the Committee on 19
Committees or provided by the Legislative Research Commission, and the Committee on 20
Committees shall see that they perform all of their duties to the Senate and the members 21
thereof. The Committee on Committees is empowered to discharge any or all of said 22
employees and officers except the constitutional officers of the Senate. The Committee 23
on Committees shall appoint the members of all standing and special committees and 24
shall fill any vacancies thereon. 25
Rule 38. Standing Committees. The following shall be the standing committees 26
of the Senate: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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1. Agriculture 1
2. Appropriations and Revenue 2
3. Banking and Insurance 3
4. Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor 4
5. Education 5
6. Families and Children 6
7. Health Services[and Welfare] 7
8[7]. Judiciary 8
9[8]. Licensing and Occupations 9
10[9]. Natural Resources and Energy 10
11[10]. State and Local Government 11
12[11]. Transportation 12
13[12]. Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection 13
The standing committees of the Senate shall operate for the duration of a regular 14
session and throughout any special session. On sine die adjournment of the General 15
Assembly, the standing committees of the Senate shall be constituted subcommittees of 16
the Legislative Research Commission pursuant to KRS Chapter 7. 17
Rule 39. Appointment of Committees. The Committee on Committees shall 18
appoint the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the members of all standing and special 19
committees and shall fill any vacancies thereon. A member of the Committee on 20
Committees shall not serve as chairman of a standing committee. The Committee on 21
Committees shall select members of committees and standing subcommittees in 22
proportion to the representation of each political party in the Senate. The Vice Chairman 23
shall act in the absence of the Chairman. The Chairman of any committee may appoint 24
subcommittees and the chairmen thereof to conduct hearings or study any matters which 25
have been referred to the committee. 26
Before the Committee on Committees shall appoint the members of committees and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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standing subcommittees, the number of members on the committee to be appointed shall 1
be established by the Committee on Committees. At the same time, the Committee on 2
Committees shall establish the number of members of the committee to be appointed 3
from the majority party and the number of members to be appointed from the minority 4
party. 5
The Committee on Committees shall not appoint more than twelve members to any 6
one standing committee, except the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue, the 7
Committee on Education, the Committee on Transportation, and the Committee on 8
Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection. 9
In appointing the membership of standing committees, the Committee on 10
Committees shall consider the predominant business interests or occupation of each 11
member so that the private interests of a majority of a committee’s members do not 12
correspond to the jurisdiction of the standing committee. 13
Rule 40. Jurisdiction of Standing Committees. The Committee on Committees 14
shall refer each bill to the Committee with control over the subject matter. All bills and 15
resolutions on the same subject matter shall be referred to the same committee. The 16
general jurisdiction of the several standing committees shall be: 17
1. Agriculture: matters pertaining to crop, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and 18
their marketing, disease control and warehousing; tobacco; stockyards; agricultural 19
cooperatives and marketing associations; regulation of amusement rides; pesticide 20
application and regulation; agriculture and commercial weights and measures; national 21
food distribution programs; motor fuel quality; grain regulation and the trade of grains 22
and commodities; ethanol and cellulosic fuels; veterinarians; the State Fair; county fairs; 23
agriculture loan and grant programs; agritourism; farm safety and education; the Tobacco 24
Master Settlement Agreement; the Department of Agriculture; and the Governor's Office 25
of Agriculture Policy. 26
2. Appropriations and Revenue: matters pertaining to the executive budget 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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and other appropriations of state monies; the levying of state and local taxes, including 1
school taxes; property tax rates and assessments; the state debt; revenue bond projects; 2
claims upon the treasury; accounting of state funds by local officers; audits for state 3
purposes; budget and financial administration; payment, collection and refund of taxes. 4
3. Banking and Insurance: matters pertaining to banking; banks and trust 5
companies; building and loan associations; credit unions; investment companies; 6
industrial loan corporations; securities; the Blue Sky Law; mortgage guaranty insurance; 7
assessment and cooperative insurance; fraternal benefit societies; hospital service 8
corporations; burial associations; medical and dental service corporations; life, accident, 9
indemnity and other forms of insurance; stock and mutual insurance companies; banking 10
and insurance aspects of the Uniform Commercial Code; interest and usury; 11
pawnbrokers; private credit; consumer credit; sale of checks; installment sales contracts; 12
legal investments; principal and income. 13
4. Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor: matters pertaining to 14
commerce, industry, economic and industrial development, the workforce and the 15
workplace, and tourism not specifically assigned to another committee; economic 16
development planning, international trade and investment; investment companies and 17
industrial loan corporations as they relate to economic and industrial development; 18
recruitment of business and industry; small business matters relative to economic and 19
industrial development; financing of business and industrial development; business 20
regulatory matters, including the Uniform Commercial Code, relative to economic and 21
industrial development; worker training; technology development and application; 22
chambers of commerce; convention centers and publicly owned exhibition and parking 23
facilities; arts and arts exhibition facilities; state, interstate, and national parks and 24
historic sites; travel promotion and advertising; labor unions; collective bargaining; 25
liquefied petroleum gas and other flammable liquids; hotels, electricians; plumbers and 26
plumbing; wages and hours; garnishments; safety and health of employees; child labor; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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employment agencies; apprenticeship; unemployment compensation; workers’ 1
compensation; consumer protection; industrial weights and measures. 2
5. Education: matters pertaining to public primary, secondary and higher 3
education; the State Board of Education; the State Department of Education; the powers 4
and duties of local boards of education; conduct of schools; attendance; state support of 5
education; the operation of school districts, teachers’ qualifications and tenure; school 6
curriculum; teachers’ retirement; school employees; pupil transportation; school property 7
and buildings; vocational education and rehabilitation; state universities and colleges; 8
community colleges; regional education; educational television. 9
6. Families and Children: matters pertaining to child welfare; adoptions; 10
assistance to children; children's homes; commitment and care of children and 11
families; child protective services; adult protective services; state guardianship; 12
caregiver support services; child support programs; support of dependents; family 13
preservation programs; social service programs; child care; senior citizens and aging; 14
disabilities; rape crisis centers; domestic violence shelters; sexual assault programs; 15
public assistance programs such as TANF, CCAP, SNAP, LIHEAP, and WIC. 16
7. Health Services: matters pertaining to health care and health care delivery; 17
human development; health outcomes; disabled persons; mental health; health, 18
medical, and dental scholarships; public health; local health departments; vital 19
statistics; communicable diseases; epidemiology; certificate of need; hospitals, health 20
clinics and long-term care facilities; substance abuse; maternal and child health; 21
foods, drugs and poisons; hotel, restaurants, and trailer park regulations; sanitation 22
plants; sanitation districts; suicide prevention; physicians, osteopaths, and podiatrists; 23
chiropractors; dentist and dental specialists; nurses; pharmacists; embalmers and 24
funeral directors; clinical psychologists; optometrists; ophthalmic dispensers; physical 25
therapists; Medicaid[Health and Welfare: matters pertaining to human development, 26
health, and welfare; fire prevention and protection; support of dependents; garbage and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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refuse disposal; public assistance; child welfare; adoptions; assistance to children; 1
children’s homes; disabled persons; aid to the blind; commitment and care of children 2
and families; mental health; health, medical and dental scholarships; local health units 3
and officers; vital statistics; communicable diseases; hospitals, clinics and long-term care 4
facilities; foods, drugs and poisons; hotel, restaurants and trailer park regulations; 5
sanitation plants; sanitation districts; alcoholism; physicians, osteopaths and podiatrists; 6
chiropractors; dentist and dental specialists; nurses; pharmacists; embalmers and funeral 7
directors; clinical psychologists; optometrists, ophthalmic dispensers; physical 8
therapists]. 9
8[7]. Judiciary: matters pertaining to contracts; the Uniform Commercial Code; 10
debtor-creditor relations; ownership and conveyance of property; private corporations 11
and associations; competency proceedings; administration of trusts and estates of persons 12
under disability; descent, wills and administration of decedents’ estates; domestic 13
relations; support of dependents; statutory actions and limitations; eminent domain; 14
arbitration; declaratory judgments; witnesses; evidence; legal notices; construction of 15
statutes; civil procedure; the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, circuit courts and 16
district courts; family courts; jurisdiction, rules, terms, judges, commissioners, selections, 17
districts, qualifications, compensation and retirement; clerks of courts; juries; attorneys; 18
receivers; court reporters; habeas corpus; crimes and punishments; criminal procedure; 19
probation and parole; correctional facilities; civil rights; and juvenile matters. 20
9[8]. Licensing and Occupations: matters pertaining to professional licensing not 21
assigned specifically to another committee; racing; prizefighting and wrestling; places of 22
entertainment; alcoholic beverage control; private corporations; cooperative corporations 23
and marketing associations; religious, charitable and educational societies; nonprofit 24
corporations; professional service corporations; cemeteries; barbers and cosmetologists; 25
professional engineers and land surveyors; architects; real estate brokers and agents; 26
public accountants; detection of deception examiners; auctioneers; business schools; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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warehouses and warehousemen; partnerships; trade practices. 1
10[9]. Natural Resources and Energy: matters pertaining to forestry; mining; 2
fish and wildlife resources; soil and water conservation; flood control and water usage, 3
drainage, and irrigation; geology and water resources; waterways and dams; oil, gas, and 4
salt water wells; water pollution; noise pollution; air pollution; protection of the 5
environment; management of waste; the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection 6
Cabinet; privately owned public utilities; rates, permits, and certifications of convenience 7
and necessity; water district rates; utilities in cities; public utility cooperatives; electric 8
and gas utilities and cooperatives; oil and gas transmission companies; telephone 9
companies and cooperatives; municipal utilities and water works; energy and fuel 10
development; energy waste disposal; the Public Service Commission; solar and other 11
renewable energy; hydroelectric and thermonuclear energy; and gasohol and other 12
alternative fuels. 13
11[10]. State and Local Government: matters pertaining to the sovereignty and 14
jurisdiction of the Commonwealth; the General Assembly, its committees, officers and 15
service agencies; redistricting; the Governor; the Lieutenant Governor; intergovernmental 16
cooperation; relations with the federal government; administrative organization; 17
administrative regulations; administrative agencies; Department of Law; constitutional 18
offices; state personnel; state retirement systems; public property and public printing; 19
public officers, their terms, appointments, fees, compensation, removal, oaths and bonds; 20
public information; state and regional planning; libraries, including library districts, city 21
and county libraries, and county law libraries; archives and records; public corporations; 22
Commonwealth’s attorneys; circuit clerks; the proposing of constitutional amendments 23
and the calling of a constitutional convention; ratification of amendments to the United 24
States Constitution; the election of officers to state, local and school board positions; 25
election commissioners, officers and precincts; qualifications, registration and purgation 26
of voters; conduct of regular and primary elections; presidential and congressional 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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elections; special elections to fill vacancies; contest of elections; corrupt practices and 1
election financing; election offenses and prosecutions; voting machines; absent ballots; 2
the officers, organization, government, and financing of county and city governments; 3
urban-county governments generally; county and city imposed taxes and licenses; special 4
purpose assessment and taxing districts within a city; financing of local government 5
improvements; issuance of bonds for county, city, and special district projects; local 6
government indebtedness generally; compensation of county and city officers and 7
employees; the imposition of duties and costs on local governments; interlocal 8
government cooperation and consolidation of services; local government employees civil 9
service and retirement; powers, duties, and composition of fiscal courts and municipal 10
legislative bodies; the offices of county judge/executive, magistrate, county attorney, 11
sheriff, constable, jailer, coroner, surveyor, and county clerk; forms of local government; 12
incorporation and classification of cities; housing projects; urban renewal and 13
redevelopment; planning and zoning; annexation of territory; public works; parks and 14
playgrounds; police and fire departments and their retirement systems; county roads; city 15
streets and sidewalks; local government utilities and waterworks; acquisition of 16
waterworks and water districts by local governments; sewers; metropolitan sewer and 17
sanitation districts; public road districts; water districts; fire protection districts; drainage 18
districts and local flood control and water usage; local air pollution control districts; 19
urban service districts; and special districts not assigned to another committee. 20
12[11]. Transportation: matters relating to airports and aviation; boats and 21
boating; licensing of motor vehicles; operators and trailers; financial responsibility law; 22
nonresident motorists; motor vehicle sales; railroad rates, service and operating 23
regulations; motor carriers; matters pertaining to the construction and maintenance of the 24
state highway system; the Transportation Cabinet; state aid for local roads and streets; the 25
state police; the Federal Highway Safety Law; turnpike authority; state and federal 26
highways; limited access facilities; use of road bond monies; bill boards; automobile 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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recyclers; highway beautification; bridges, tunnels and ferries; traffic regulations; vehicle 1
equipment and storage; driver training schools. 2
13[12]. Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection: matters relating to 3
veterans, including veterans’ rights, benefits and education; veterans’ nursing homes; 4
military affairs and civil defense; national guard; retention of military bases; safety of 5
citizens and security of public buildings and property; military memorials and cemeteries. 6
Rule 41. Rules Committee. There shall be a Rules Committee composed of the 7
same membership as the Committee on Committees. 8
All bills and resolutions having been reported out of the committee to which 9
referred and having received their second reading shall be referred to the Rules 10
Committee. The Rules Committee may refer any bill or resolution before it back to the 11
committee which has reported out the bill or resolution, to another committee of 12
jurisdiction, or to the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue in those instances in 13
which the fiscal implications of the measure may require additional consideration. 14
No bill or resolution may be considered by the Rules Committee except on call of 15
the Chairman or by a vote of a majority of the members of the committee. No bill or 16
resolution shall be referred back by the Rules Committee on more than one occasion. No 17
bill or resolution may be retained by the Rules Committee for more than five successive 18
legislative days in which the Senate is in session, except those referred to the Rules 19
Committee with associated amendments, reports, or messages pursuant to Senate Rule 20
59. No measure shall be posted in the Orders of the Day for final passage except by order 21
of the Rules Committee, unless otherwise ordered posted for the next succeeding 22
legislative day by a majority of the Senators voting. 23
The Rules Committee shall arrange the Orders of the Day so that all measures for 24
the consideration of the Senate shall appear thereon, but the Rules Committee may not 25
place in the Orders of the Day any bill or other measure in the possession of a standing or 26
special committee of the Senate. The Rules Committee shall post a notice in a regular 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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place in the Senate Chamber listing the bills to be considered in the Orders of the Day. 1
Should the Senate not complete a day’s Orders of the Day, the bills and resolutions 2
remaining unconsidered shall go to the top of the Orders of the Day on the next day that 3
Orders of the Day are considered. 4
The President of the Senate shall be the Chairman of the Rules Committee. The 5
Majority Floor Leader of the Senate shall act for the Rules Committee in calling any bills 6
or resolutions from the Orders of the Day and shall be recognized by the President for 7
that purpose during all times that the Rules Committee is in charge of posting the Orders 8
of the Day. The President Pro Tem shall act as chairman in the absence of the President. 9
Meetings of the Rules Committee shall be open to members of the Senate, members 10
of the media, and others the committee may invite; except no cameras or other recording 11
devices shall be used while the committee is in session. No one other than a member of 12
the Rules Committee shall address the committee except upon invitation of the Chairman 13
or a majority of the members of the committee. 14
Rule 42. Standing Subcommittees. The Committee on Appropriations and 15
Revenue shall be divided into the following five standing subcommittees of at least three 16
members each: 17
1. Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism, Natural Resources 18
and Environmental Protection; 19
2. Subcommittee on Education; 20
3. Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, and Public Protection; 21
4. Subcommittee on Health and Family Services[Human Resources]; 22
5. Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary. 23
The Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism, Natural Resources and 24
Environmental Protection shall be authorized to review all personal service contracts and 25
memoranda of agreement other than those issued by the Transportation Cabinet. The 26
Subcommittee on General Government, Finance, and Public Protection shall be 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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authorized to review capital projects and capital planning. 1
Of the members of each subcommittee, one shall be a member of the Committee on 2
Appropriations and Revenue designated by the chairman of that committee. The other 3
subcommittee members shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees. Any 4
member of the Senate may be appointed a member of a subcommittee. If a subcommittee 5
member is not a member of the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue, the member 6
shall be deemed a liaison of the standing committee from which the member was 7
appointed. 8
The liaison subcommittee members of a standing subcommittee shall have full 9
voting authority in all matters before the standing subcommittee. 10
The chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue shall appoint co-11
chairs of each standing subcommittee. A liaison member may be appointed as a co-chair. 12
The chairman and vice chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and Revenue shall 13
serve as ex officio members of each standing subcommittee. 14
Rule 43. Enrollment Committee. The Committee on Committees shall appoint 15
an Enrollment Committee of not more than five members. The Enrollment Committee 16
shall be responsible for the engrossment and enrollment of bills and resolutions. 17
Rule 44. Committee on Conference; Committee on Free Conference. When a 18
Senate bill has been amended in the House and the Senate refuses to concur in that 19
amendment, or when a House bill has been amended in the Senate and the House refuses 20
to concur in that amendment, and when neither will recede from such action, the 21
Committee on Committees shall appoint a Committee on Conference, of three members, 22
to meet a like Committee from the House. The Committee on Conference shall confer 23
with the House Committee and report back to the Senate within a reasonable time, in the 24
same manner as reports are made for Senate bills. The conference report shall make no 25
recommendation other than agreement upon or rejection of the matter or matters in 26
controversy and shall be voted upon, and, if adopted, the bill shall immediately be put 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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upon its final passage. Second and subsequent conference committees may be appointed. 1
Should a Committee on Conference report its inability to submit a report, or if 2
either house refuses to adopt its report, each house may appoint a Committee on Free 3
Conference, consisting of three or more members. The Senate Committee on Free 4
Conference shall meet with a like committee from the House, and may propose any 5
amendment to the bill at issue, except the report of a Committee on Free Conference shall 6
not be in order if it proposes to make a part of the measure at issue the substantial 7
insertion of the text of any other bill which has not passed both the House and the Senate, 8
or if it proposes the enactment of subject matter not previously considered at the session. 9
The President, when the question is raised, shall rule as to the admissibility of the report 10
of the Committee on Free Conference, subject to appeal to the Senate. The free 11
conference report shall be voted upon; if adopted, the bill shall immediately be put upon 12
its final passage, provided, however, that if a motion to reconsider coupled with a motion 13
to lay on the table has been adopted by the Senate, the vote of a constitutional majority of 14
the Senate shall be required to adopt the report of the free conference. Second and 15
subsequent free conference committees may be appointed. 16
Except for report of disagreement, the consideration of the report of a Committee 17
on Conference or a Committee on Free Conference, and final passage of the bill to which 18
the report is attached shall not be in order on the same legislative day as the bill and 19
report are received by the Senate. 20
Rule 44A. Majority and Minority Caucuses. [The Majority Caucus of the Senate 21
shall consist of all Senate members of majority party affiliation. The Minority Caucus of 22
the Senate shall consist of all Senate members of minority party affiliation. ]The majority 23
and minority caucuses of the Senate shall be committees, other than standing committees, 24
of the Senate and General Assembly. Each member of the Senate shall be a presumptive 25
member of the caucus of his or her party affiliation. Notwithstanding the above 26
provisions, by a two-thirds vote of the respective caucus, an individual member may be 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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removed from or added to that caucus. 1
Rule 44B. Open Meetings of Committees. The meetings of the committees of the 2
Senate, other than the majority and minority caucuses, shall be open to the public. 3
Rule 45. Meetings of Committees. No committee except the Committee on 4
Committees, the Committee on Enrollment, and a Committee on Conference between the 5
House and Senate shall sit while the Senate is in session, unless by consent of the Senate. 6
The Committee on Committees and Committee on Enrollment may report at any time 7
except during a roll call or while a vote is being taken. 8
The Committee on Committees, in conference with committee chairmen, shall 9
schedule a definite time and place for the meetings of each committee, and that schedule 10
shall be posted in the Senate Chamber and published in the Legislative Record. A 11
committee shall meet at the scheduled time and place, so long as business is pending 12
before the committee. A committee chairman may recess a committee meeting on the 13
chairman’s own motion for a definite period of time, not to exceed fifteen minutes. Any 14
member of a committee who is physically present in his or her Capitol Annex office may 15
remotely participate in a committee meeting and vote on any measure pending before the 16
committee by utilizing previously approved videoconference technology. 17
The Chairman shall keep a record of the attendance of members at meetings, which 18
record shall be filed with the Clerk. 19
The Director of the Legislative Research Commission, under the direction of the 20
Committee on Committees, shall assign a secretary to each committee and provide any 21
professional, clerical or other employees required by any committee. 22
Rule 46. Committee Reports. Every Committee should report the disposition of 23
every bill and resolution referred to it as promptly as possible. A standing committee may 24
report a bill or resolution in the following manner: 25
"With the expression of opinion that the same should pass," or, 26
"With the expression of opinion that the same should pass, with the committee 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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amendment attached thereto," or, 1
"With the expression of opinion that the same should pass, with the committee 2
substitute attached thereto," or, 3
"Without expression of opinion." 4
Rule 47. Majority and Minority Reports. It shall require a majority of the 5
committee membership to report a bill or resolution. The chairman shall keep a record of 6
the vote of each member on the disposition of each bill which shall be filed with the 7
Clerk. The chairman may sign reports on behalf of a majority of the committee members. 8
The chairman’s signature shall attest to the action of a majority, but shall not be 9
construed as the chairman’s personal approval or disapproval of the bill. 10
A committee report may be accompanied by a minority report, signed by those 11
members who have dissented from the committee’s report; it shall be in order to move 12
the adoption of the minority report as a substitute for the committee’s report when the 13
committee offers its report. It shall require a majority of the members elected to adopt the 14
minority report. The committee’s report shall always be read before the minority report is 15
read. 16
Rule 48. Failure to Report. Whenever a committee fails or refuses to report a 17
bill submitted to it, any member may, upon filing with the Clerk a written petition to 18
determine if the committee has held the bill for an unreasonable time, call the petition for 19
consideration on the next succeeding legislative day after its filing. If a majority of the 20
members elected to the Senate concur that the bill has been held an unreasonable time by 21
voting to approve the petition, the bill shall be considered as though it had been regularly 22
reported and shall be given its first reading and thereafter treated as any other bill which 23
had been reported from a committee. 24
Rule 49. Procedure in Committee. The rules of procedure in the Senate shall be 25
observed in committee insofar as the same are applicable. 26
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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Rule 50. Form of Bills. All bills introduced shall be printed on the computerized 1
bill preparation system of the Legislative Research Commission, and none otherwise 2
prepared shall be accepted for introduction. Bills shall be offered as one original and 3
three distinctly legible copies. The original shall be the official bill, and shall be retained 4
by the Clerk for the use of the Senate until engrossed and sent to the House. A 5
replacement original of a bill, generated pursuant to these Rules, shall thereafter be 6
considered the original and official bill. One copy shall be used for committees. One copy 7
shall be retained for the use of legislative staff. One copy shall be provided to the 8
Legislative Research Commission. All copies shall be backed with a protective cover as 9
provided for this purpose by the Legislative Research Commission. The title of the bill, 10
or a portion thereof, and the signature of the Senator introducing the bill shall be placed 11
on each cover. 12
In all bills, as introduced and as printed, which seek to amend existing sections of 13
the Kentucky Revised Statutes, any new matter contained therein shall be underscored; 14
when an amendment proposes the elimination of matter in an existing law, the 15
elimination shall be indicated on the bill by placing the material proposed to be 16
eliminated in brackets, and by striking through the material with slash marks so as not to 17
render the words illegible. Any section of a bill seeking to repeal a section or sections of 18
the Kentucky Revised Statutes shall set forth in addition to the statute section number the 19
statute section headnote as it appears in the Kentucky Revised Statutes. The Clerk shall 20
refer to the Legislative Research Commission any bills offered for introduction not 21
conforming with the computerized bill preparation system of the Legislative Research 22
Commission. 23
Rule 51. Introduction of Bills. Bills and resolutions may be filed with the Clerk 24
any time the Clerk’s office is open. Bills and resolutions that have been filed with the 25
Clerk shall be introduced in the regular Order of Business. The Clerk or an assistant 26
Clerk shall be present at the Clerk’s desk in the Senate Chamber one hour prior to the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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time fixed for convening each day to receive bills and resolutions. Bills and resolutions 1
filed after the Senate has concluded Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions in the 2
Order of Business shall be introduced on the next legislative day. The Clerk shall number 3
bills in the order received, record their introduction, and transmit a copy immediately to 4
the Committee on Committees for reference to committee. In a regular session in an 5
even-numbered year, no bill or resolution having the force of law shall be introduced 6
after the 40th legislative day of the session. In a regular session in an odd-numbered year, 7
no bill or resolution having the force of law shall be introduced after the 13th legislative 8
day of the session. The two legislative days immediately prior to the veto recess shall be 9
reserved by the Senate exclusively for the business of concurring in amended Senate 10
bills. Any legislative day falling after the veto recess shall be reserved by the Senate 11
exclusively for the purpose of considering vetoed bills. 12
Rule 52. Statutory Fiscal Impact Statements. The staff of the Legislative 13
Research Commission shall analyze and prepare a fiscal statement for any bill which, if 14
enacted, would fiscally affect local governments in a significant manner through the 15
imposition of a local mandate; constitute a mandated health benefit; change the financial 16
liability of any public retirement system administered by an agency of state government; 17
or fiscally affect state or local corrections services in a significant manner, including any 18
bill which would modify or create a criminal penalty or otherwise affect the population of 19
a correctional system or facility. No measure for which the preparation of a fiscal 20
statement is required pursuant to this rule shall be placed in the Orders of the Day until 21
the fiscal statement is attached, unless the requirement is waived by a vote of a majority 22
of the members elected to the Senate. 23
Rule 52A. Member Requested Fiscal Notes. A sponsor of a bill which, if enacted, 24
would affect the revenues or expenditures of the Commonwealth generally, may at any 25
time by request cause the staff of the Legislative Research Commission to analyze and 26
prepare a fiscal note for the measure describing such impacts on revenues or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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expenditures. The fiscal note, if requested, shall be delivered to the sponsor. 1
The chairman or a majority of the committee to which a bill has been referred may 2
require that a fiscal note be attached to the bill prior to final committee action. Members 3
may require, by majority vote, that a fiscal note be prepared for any bill on the Orders of 4
the Day. In that instance, the fiscal note shall be attached to the bill prior to final 5
consideration on the floor of the Senate. 6
Rule 53. Member Requested Fiscal Notes and Statutory Fiscal Impact 7
Statements for Amendments. Any member proposing an amendment from the floor for 8
a measure to which a fiscal note or fiscal statement has been attached shall cause an 9
amended fiscal note or fiscal statement, as appropriate, to be prepared and attached to the 10
amendment. 11
Rule 54. Reference of Bills. The Committee on Committees shall refer all bills to 12
the proper standing committee not later than the fifth day in which the Senate is in 13
session after the date of introduction. When a Senate bill has been amended in the House 14
and has been returned to the Senate for concurrence in the amendment, it shall be referred 15
to the Rules Committee, which may refer the bill to a standing committee or post the bill 16
in the Orders of the Day. Bills originating in and passed by the House when reported to 17
the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Committees and shall take the same 18
course as other bills. 19
Rule 55. Printing of Bills. Upon receipt of a bill, the Legislative Research 20
Commission shall examine the form of the bill, to ensure that it is free from errors of 21
form or typography and has been assigned the proper KRS section or chapter numbers. If 22
a formal change is necessary, the Commission shall request the sponsor of the bill to sign 23
a form approving the specified changes. If a bill is found to be correct, or corrections 24
have been approved, the Commission shall authorize its printing. 25
The Legislative Research Commission shall have printed at least two hundred 26
copies of each bill or resolution carrying the force and effect of law introduced in the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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Senate and of each bill or resolution carrying the force and effect of law acted on by the 1
House and reported to the Senate. Bills shall be printed in the order in which they are 2
introduced and distributed to members immediately upon being printed. 3
Rule 56. Readings of Bills. If a bill is reported without expression of opinion, a 4
vote may then be taken on whether it shall be read at length and be placed on the 5
Calendar, if a majority of the members elected to the Senate shall concur therein. When 6
reported favorably by the committee, the bill shall then be given its first reading at length 7
and shall be placed by the Clerk upon the Calendar, and shall then be entitled to its 8
second reading the next succeeding legislative day. 9
Every bill shall be read at length on three different days; but the second and third 10
readings may be dispensed with by a majority of all the members elected to the Senate 11
and the bill read by its title. 12
Rule 57. Calendar; Consent Calendar. (1) In order to reduce the time required 13
for final passage of bills posted in the Orders of the Day, a consent procedure for the 14
consideration of uncontested bills shall be established and designated as follows: 15
(a) The Clerk shall keep a Regular Calendar and a Consent Calendar for each 16
legislative day, showing the bills receiving their second reading. 17
(b) The Clerk shall also keep a Regular Orders and a Consent Orders, showing 18
bills posted for final passage by the Rules Committee. 19
(2) Bills reported by a Standing Committee with a regular "should pass" or 20
"should pass with committee amendment/substitute attached" recommendation shall be 21
shown in the Regular Calendar on the day on which they are entitled to a second reading. 22
(3) A Standing Committee may, at the time of favorably reporting any Senate or 23
House Bill, recommend that it be placed in the Consent Calendar, provided: 24
(a) The primary sponsor has so requested, when it is a Senate Bill, and 25
(b) The bill receives a "should pass" or "should pass with committee 26
amendment/substitute attached" recommendation from the committee by a unanimous 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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vote of the members present. 1
Any Senate or House Bill thus reported shall be first placed in the Consent Calendar 2
on the day on which it is entitled to a second reading and shall continue to be shown in 3
the Calendar until taken therefrom by the Rules Committee and posted in the Consent 4
Orders. Bills receiving a second reading should be so designated to distinguish them from 5
bills which have already received their second reading. 6
(4) A certificate shall be attached to each bill recommended for the Consent 7
Calendar, showing the request of the sponsor of any Senate Bill, and the unanimous 8
recommendation of the members present, signed by the Chairman. 9
(5) After a sufficient number of bills have accumulated in the Consent Calendar, 10
the Rules Committee may post any or all of the bills to the Consent Orders for a day 11
certain. On that day certain the Consent Orders shall be called before the Regular Orders. 12
(6) Upon the call of the Consent Orders, each bill in those Orders shall be given a 13
third reading by title only. The President shall then allow a reasonable time for questions 14
from the floor and any explanation necessary by the sponsor or committee chairman. 15
Consent Order bills may not be amended from the floor. 16
(7) The Clerk shall attach a roll call to each bill in the Consent Calendar and any 17
member may at any time prior to passage of the Consent Orders record with the Clerk a 18
"nay" or "pass" vote on any bill within the Consent Calendar or Consent Orders. 19
(8) Upon the call for the question on the Consent Orders, the President shall 20
instruct the Clerk to announce the "nay" and "pass" votes previously filed on each bill in 21
the Consent Orders. All other members present in the chamber on the day and at the time 22
the Consent Orders are called shall be considered as having voted "aye" and the roll call 23
attached to each bill shall so reflect as the final vote. 24
(9) Upon the written petition of any five members objecting to the placement or 25
retention of any bill in the Consent Calendar or Consent Orders, that bill shall cease to be 26
so considered and shall be placed in the Regular Calendar or Regular Orders, as provided 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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in these rules. 1
Rule 58. Orders of the Day. When a bill has had its second reading it shall be 2
referred to the Rules Committee to be placed in the Orders of the Day, or be recommitted, 3
and when next reached in the Senate it shall be ready for recommitment, or to be read a 4
third time and placed upon its passage, and the President shall so announce to the Senate. 5
Except as provided in Rule 41, a bill may be recommitted or amended at any time 6
before its passage. Bills shall be placed in the Orders of the Day and shall be taken 7
therefrom in accordance with Rule 41. When a Senate bill is in the Orders of the Day, it 8
shall be in order on motion of the author to substitute for it an identical House bill which 9
is in the Calendar of the Senate. 10
No bill shall be taken from the Orders of the Day unless it shall have been 11
previously distributed to the members. No bill, amendment, or committee substitute 12
relating to congressional or legislative redistricting shall be taken from the Orders of the 13
Day unless it shall have been verified by Legislative Research Commission staff using 14
the Commission’s redistricting software, as evidenced by the Legislative Record 15
summary notation "PLAN INTEGRITY VERIFIED" and the "Geographic Integrity 16
Verified" notation on amendments. 17
Rule 59. Concurrence in Amendments and Reports of Conference 18
Committees; Receding from Amendments; Final Passage. When a Senate bill and 19
message have been received from the House requesting concurrence in an amendment or 20
amendments adopted thereby, or when a report of a conference committee or a veto 21
message is received, the bill and message or report so received shall be referred to the 22
Rules Committee for posting to the Orders of the Day or referral of a bill for concurrence 23
to a standing committee as provided in Rule 54. The Clerk shall distribute appropriate 24
copies of the bill and its proposed amendment, report, or message to each member of the 25
appropriate committee. The Rules Committee may post those bills to Orders of the Day 26
for consideration of the amendment, report, or message, and final passage, giving 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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precedence to those over all other matters posted. 1
When bills with amendments for concurrence or with conference committee reports 2
are reached in Orders of the Day, the President shall first put the question of concurrence 3
in the amendment or report, and if the vote on that question is favorable, the bill shall be 4
put immediately upon its final passage. 5
Rule 60. Amendments to Bills. All amendments offered by a committee or by an 6
individual Senator shall be typewritten on forms with a proper heading, furnished by the 7
Legislative Research Commission. Each amendment shall bear in addition to the 8
signature of the Senators offering it, an indication of review by the staff of the Legislative 9
Research Commission. All amendments shall refer to the proper page and line of the 10
printed bill. An original and two copies of each amendment shall be filed. The Clerk shall 11
not accept for filing any amendment not conforming with this Rule as to form. 12
Amendments filed with the Clerk shall be introduced in the regular Order of Business. 13
Amendments may be filed with the Clerk any time the Clerk’s office is open, and at the 14
Clerk’s desk in the Senate Chamber while the Senate is in session. The Clerk shall 15
forward two copies to the Legislative Research Commission. No amendment shall be in 16
order that is not germane to the matter under consideration and that has not been filed 17
prior to adjournment at least one legislative day prior to consideration of the bill or 18
resolution. The President, when the question is raised, shall rule as to the admissibility of 19
the proposed amendment, subject to appeal to the Senate. 20
No amendment to a bill under consideration shall be in order if it contains the 21
substantial text of the language of any other bill introduced during the session which has 22
not passed the Senate. When an amendment is drafted which contains the substantial text 23
of any bill introduced during the session, the staff of the Legislative Research 24
Commission shall identify the amendment. When a question is raised as to the identity of 25
a proposed amendment containing the substantial text of any other bill introduced during 26
the session which has not passed the Senate, the President shall rule thereon, subject to 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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appeal to the Senate. 1
If a proposed floor amendment to a branch budget bill will result, if adopted, in a 2
loss of revenues or an increase in expenditures for a budget unit, the amendment shall 3
specify by budget unit the source of funds that will offset the loss of revenues or specify 4
the budget unit or other source of funds that will support the increased expenditures. If a 5
budget unit or other source of funds is specified, the amendment shall include all 6
necessary language to effect the changes. 7
A committee substitute, upon its adoption, shall be considered as the original bill 8
for purposes relating to the permissible degree of further amendment of the bill. Any 9
proposal to amend the title of a bill shall be by separate title amendment. The question of 10
adoption of an offered title amendment for a bill shall be presented to the body 11
immediately after adoption of the bill. 12
Rule 61. Engrossment of Bills. Every Senate bill and joint resolution, together 13
with the amendments thereto, which has been passed by the Senate and not subject to 14
further amendment or motion, shall be engrossed by the Clerk. The Clerk shall endorse 15
thereon the day of passage or adoption. The bill shall be delivered to the House in open 16
session by the Clerk or someone designated by the Clerk, and the House concurrence 17
asked therein. A like procedure shall be observed toward House bills. 18
When engrossing a bill, the Clerk may incorporate amendments by means of typing 19
or by generating a replacement original of the bill through computerized process. 20
Rule 62. Enrollment of Bills. All Senate bills and resolutions which have passed 21
both the Senate and the House shall be delivered by the Senate Clerk to the Enrolling 22
Clerk, taking a receipt therefor. The Senate Clerk shall keep the number and title of all 23
bills and joint and concurrent resolutions carrying the force and effect of law, passed by 24
the House of Representatives and the Senate, in a suitable record book attesting the fact 25
and date of passage. 26
If a bill which originates in the Senate is amended by the House and the Senate 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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concurs in the amendments proposed and adopted by the House, the Clerk of the Senate 1
shall engross said amendments in the original copy of the bill by typing or may generate a 2
replacement original copy of the Senate bill through computerized process. The Clerk 3
shall deliver a printed copy of the original bill or replacement therefor, if applicable, to 4
the Legislative Research Commission, taking a receipt therefor. The Commission then 5
shall prepare the amended enrolled copy, and return the copy to the Enrolling Clerk of the 6
Senate. 7
The original bill or resolution or replacement therefor, if applicable, and the 8
enrolled copy prepared by the Legislative Research Commission shall be delivered to the 9
Committee on Enrollment. The Enrolling Clerk shall certify that each is in the exact form 10
as finally passed prior to delivery. The Committee on Enrollment and the Enrolling Clerk 11
shall jointly compare the original bill with the enrollment copy, and if the enrollment is 12
ascertained to be correctly done, the Committee shall report the same to the Senate. If any 13
bill or resolution is found not correctly enrolled, it shall be returned to the Enrolling Clerk 14
to be properly enrolled and delivered to the Committee on Enrollment as is first provided 15
herein. 16
Rule 63. Signing of Bills. The Enrolling Clerk of the Senate shall deliver the 17
original and enrolled copies of Senate bills and resolutions signed by the President or the 18
President Pro Tem to the Chairman of the Enrollment Committee of the House for 19
presentation to the Speaker of the House for the Speaker’s signature. When signed by the 20
Speaker of the House, the enrolled bill or resolution and the original copy thereof shall be 21
returned by the Enrolling Clerk to the Clerk of the Senate, who shall present the enrolled 22
bill or resolution to the Governor for approval and take the Governor’s receipt for same. 23
Rule 64. Resolutions. Resolutions having the force and effect of law shall be 24
treated and considered as bills in all respects under these rules. A simple or concurrent 25
resolution expressing the will of the Senate shall, upon its introduction, be referred to the 26
Committee on Committees, which may refer it to the floor if it is honorary, benevolent, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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and does not direct further action; otherwise, it shall be referred to a standing committee. 1
Resolutions referred to a standing committee may be considered for adoption only after 2
receiving a recommendation from a standing committee and being posted for passage by 3
the Rules Committee. All resolutions recommending a study by an interim committee, 4
task force, or special committee of the Legislative Research Commission shall include 5
the following language: "Provisions of this resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, the 6
Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the 7
issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or subcommittee thereof, and to 8
designate a study completion date." All resolutions recommending a study, or which 9
recommend creation of a task force or special committee of the Legislative Research 10
Commission shall be concurrent or joint resolutions. 11
Rule 65. Legislative Citations. For the purpose of extending the commendations, 12
condolences or congratulations of the General Assembly to a particular person, or to 13
recognize a particular event or occasion, there may be issued a "Legislative Citation." 14
Citations may not be used for procedural matters, matters of a controversial or partisan 15
political nature, nor in place of resolutions memorializing the U.S. Congress, but only 16
when appropriate to express the feeling of the Senate or of the General Assembly with 17
reference to a person or event. 18
Each citation shall be prepared in single copy on an artistically designed form, 19
suitable for framing, shall bear the signature of the sponsor and the name of the person or 20
event cited, and upon adoption shall be spread at length upon the Journal. Citations shall 21
be considered in the order of business "Motions, Petitions, and Communications," and 22
without objection shall be adopted upon motion of the sponsor. Citations shall be offered 23
for consideration through presentation to the Clerk. 24
VOTING 25
Rule 66. Roll Call. Any member, with a second, may demand a roll call on any 26
matter pending before the Senate. The names of Senators shall be arranged alphabetically 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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when taking a yea and nay vote. 1
Rule 67. Pairing. All pairs announced in the Senate shall be entered on the 2
Journal. 3
Rule 67A. Participation in committee by videoconferencing. A member of the 4
Senate shall be allowed to participate and vote via videoconferencing in all matters 5
before a Senate committee if the following conditions are met: 6
1. The member is experiencing a short-term physical condition, because of which a 7
physician states the member shall not travel from home or hospital. The member shall file 8
with the Rules Committee the physician’s written statement verifying the member’s 9
inability to travel; and 10
2. The member’s illness or incapacity does not permit travel for at least one week 11
but not more than four weeks; and 12
3. The member pays all expenses related to implementing the videoconferencing 13
connection between the committee meeting rooms and the member’s remote location; 14
and 15
4. The Rules Committee approves the member’s request for implementation of a 16
videoconferencing connection. 17
If the Rules Committee approves the member’s request to participate via 18
videoconferencing, the Committee on Committees shall arrange for committees to which 19
the member belongs to meet in rooms equipped with videoconferencing capability. If the 20
only meeting room available is scheduled to be occupied by a committee of the House of 21
Representatives, the Committee on Committees shall make a written request to the Clerk 22
of the House, asking that arrangements be made to exchange meeting rooms with the 23
Senate committee which seeks to use the videoconferencing room. 24
Rule 68. Division of the Senate. If the President is in doubt as to the result of a 25
viva voce, or a division is demanded, the Senate shall divide. Those voting in the 26
affirmative shall first rise and be counted, and the President shall announce the number of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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those so voting. Those voting in the negative shall then rise and be counted and the 1
President shall announce the number so voting. The President may appoint tellers to 2
count those voting. 3
Rule 69. Adjournment Extended During Roll Call. When the roll is being 4
called in taking a yea and nay vote, and the hour of adjournment arrives, the same shall 5
stand extended until after the yea and nay vote has been completed and the result 6
announced. 7
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR 8
Rule 70. Persons Entitled to the Floor. When the Senate is in session, including 9
any time that the Senate has resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and one hour 10
before and one-half hour after no person shall be permitted upon the floor, except the 11
present members of the General Assembly and all officers and employees of the Senate 12
and members of the immediate family of Senators. Bona fide news media correspondents 13
shall be admitted to the floor when recommended by the Committee on Committees and 14
shall be governed by the rules of the Senate and assigned by the Committee on 15
Committees to a press section specifically set aside for them. The clerk of the Senate 16
shall provide proper identification for families of Senators. The doorkeepers shall not 17
admit these persons without proper identification. 18
Any person may be extended the privilege of the floor by invitation previously 19
extended by a majority vote of members of the Senate, but that privilege shall be 20
extended only for a specified time and purpose. No person who shall have been extended 21
the privilege of the floor for a specified time shall engage in any activities for or against 22
any bill, motion or other proceeding upon the floor of the Senate while in session. No 23
privilege of the floor shall be granted to any registered or unregistered lobbyist or 24
legislative agent if the same be known by the Senate, and it shall be the duty of any 25
Senator having this knowledge to bring it to the attention of the Senate, and lobbying 26
shall be grounds for revocation of this privilege. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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A special section of the gallery shall be reserved for the guests of members, who 1
shall be admitted upon presentation of an identification card. Senators may submit the 2
names of guests to the Clerk, who shall read the names to the Senate. 3
Rule 71. Restriction of lobbying and access to the Senate Chambers and 4
office areas. No person shall engage in lobbying for or against any measure while the 5
Senate is in session, or in recess, in any of the corridors or passages or in any of the 6
rooms in that part of the Capitol assigned to the use of the Senate, and no registered 7
lobbyist shall enter that part of the Capitol while the Senate is in session, including any 8
time the Senate has resolved itself into a committee of the whole. This rule shall not be 9
construed to prohibit the use of the corridors or passages in going to and from the Senate 10
galleries by any person. 11
Only authorized persons shall be allowed access to the office areas assigned for use 12
of the members and staff of the Senate. For the purposes of this paragraph, "authorized 13
person" means a member of the General Assembly, an employee of the General 14
Assembly or Legislative Research Commission, or a person having obtained specific 15
access authorization from a member or employee. For the purposes of this paragraph, 16
"office areas" means the fourth floor of the Capitol. 17
Rule 72. Restrictions. No article, booklet, pamphlet or any other printed matter, 18
other than documents sent by a member identified on the face of the document or its 19
attachments to any other member, shall be placed upon the Chamber desk of any member 20
unless the article, booklet, pamphlet or other printed matter is authorized by the Senate 21
President’s office and contains the signature of the author, or the party interested in the 22
distribution thereof is clearly identified. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be charged with the 23
duty of enforcing this rule and seeing that no individual other than Senate members or 24
employees of the Senate under the direction of the Clerk shall cause materials of any 25
nature to be distributed in the Chamber. Questions as to the propriety of materials shall be 26
referred to the Committee on Committees for resolution. Any unauthorized material shall 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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be collected from members’ desks by the Janitor and treated as litter. No material may be 1
displayed upon the screen at the front of the Chamber without authorization of the 2
President. Any member or guest requesting to display props, charts, or other visual aids 3
in the Chamber during the debate of a bill, resolution, or amendment shall, one legislative 4
day preceding the deliberation of the matter under consideration, deliver to the Senate 5
Clerk a petition of the material intended for display. The petition shall be referred to the 6
Rules Committee. No props, charts, or other visual aids shall be displayed in the Senate 7
Chamber during the debate of a bill, resolution, or amendment without prior consent of 8
the Rules Committee. 9
SENATE CONFIRMATION 10
Rule 73. Requests for Confirmation of Executive Appointments. When a 11
communication is received by the Senate requesting its confirmation of an appointment 12
of an officer or officers to membership on an executive agency body the question of the 13
confirmation shall be referred to the Committee on Committees for its consideration and 14
action. The Committee on Committees shall refer the matter to a standing committee, to 15
the Senate sitting as a committee of the whole, or directly to the Rules Committee. Any 16
question of confirmation of an appointment reported to the floor by a standing committee 17
or the Senate sitting as a committee of the whole shall then be referred to the Rules 18
Committee. Any person whose confirmation of appointment is under consideration by a 19
standing committee or the Senate sitting as a committee of the whole shall appear for the 20
purpose of offering testimony before the committee at its direction prior to final 21
committee action on the matter, unless the appearance is waived by vote of the 22
committee. 23
RULES 24
Rule 74. Mason’s Manual. In the absence of a specific rule of the Senate, the 25
most recent edition of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure adopted by the National 26
Conference of State Legislatures shall govern the proceedings, except that in all cases 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 800
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where general parliamentary law provides for a rule of two thirds, it shall mean in this 1
Senate a majority of all the members elected to the Senate. Any issue not addressed by 2
the Rules of the Senate or Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure shall be decided by 3
the normal rules of statutory construction. 4
Rule 75. Change of Rules. The Rules of the Senate, after their adoption, shall not 5
be altered, changed, amended, suspended or interrupted, unless the same be done by a 6
majority of the members elected to the Senate; notwithstanding any other rule of the 7
Senate to the contrary, a constitutional majority of the Senate may suspend the rules at 8
any time for any purpose. Whenever a rule is suspended, no measure shall be considered 9
under suspension except the measure or measures in whose favor the suspension was 10
invoked, and only for that day. 11