DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Lopinto HR No. 113
Abstract: Allows a committee member to abstain from voting if, in the discretion of the
member with the concurrence of the chairman, the member would be unable to make an
informed vote because the member was absent from all or a significant part of the
committee discussion on the matter.
Present House Rules authorize each standing committee adopt rules to govern its procedure not
inconsistent with Rules of Order of the House of Representatives.
Present House Rules provide that every member who is in the House when the question is put
shall give his vote, except the Speaker shall not be required to vote unless the House is equally
divided.
Present House Rules require the approval of a majority of the quorum present for a committee to
decide a question or to take official action on any matter. Provides that a member recused or
disqualified from voting on a question for reasons provided in the Rules shall not be counted for
the purpose of determining the number necessary for or for establishing a quorum to act on that
question. Specifies that members appointed to the committee during the interim for matters
under study or investigation may vote only on questions relating to the subject matter which they
were appointed to study. Present House Rules further provides that no committee member shall
be allowed to vote by proxy under any circumstances, and no member shall be permitted to vote
on a matter before a committee if he was not in the committee room before the vote is announced
by the chairman. Present House Rules provide that the chairman of a committee may vote, but
he shall be required to vote only when the committee is equally divided.
Proposed House Rule provide that except as otherwise provided in the Rules, each committee
member present shall give his vote on a question pending before the committee when his named
is called. Proposed House Rule authorizes a committee member to abstain from voting if, in the
discretion of the member with the concurrence of the chairman, the member would be unable to
make an informed vote because the member was absent from all or a significant part of the
committee discussion on the matter.
(Amends House Rule 14.42)