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)]
HR 228 Original 2015 Regular Session Arnold
Abstract: Provides for the nomination of a member for each of the offices of Speaker and Speaker
Pro Tempore by secret ballot prior to election and provides relative to the order of business
at the organizational meeting of the House.
Present House Rule provides for the election of the following officers for the House of
Representatives: Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore, and Clerk.
Proposed House Rule retains present House Rule and provides for the nomination by secret ballot
of a member for the Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore. Provides that any member-elect may submit
the name of any member-elect to the Clerk for inclusion on the secret ballot for nomination for
offices of Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore during the time period between the certification of
election of such member-elect to the House following the general election for members of the
legislature and 9:00 a.m. on the day of the convening of the organizational session of the legislature.
Provides that the nominee for each office shall be selected from the names submitted to the Clerk
by the members-elect for inclusion on the secret ballot.
Proposed House Rule provides that if no member is nominated by a majority of the elected members
of the House, another secret ballot shall be cast to nominate one member from among the members
who received the two highest numbers of nominations. Provides that if two or more members
receive the highest number of nominations, only those members shall be included in the subsequent
secret ballot, and if two or more members receive the second highest number of nominations, those
members shall be included in the subsequent secret ballot along with the member who received the
highest number of nominations. Provides that the secret balloting shall continue in this manner until
one member is nominated by a majority of the elected members of the House. Provides that upon
the nomination of one member for each office, the nominee shall stand for election as provided in
present House Rule (Rules 2.3 and 2.7). Provides that the Clerk conducts the nomination process.
Proposed House Rule specifies that it does not apply to filling vacancies.
Present House Rule provides for the organizational meeting of the House. Provides that the House
meets in the House Chamber every four years at 10:00 a.m. on the second Mon. in Jan. after their
election. Provides that the senior of those members-elect with most years of service as a member
of the House who served in the House in the preceding term shall preside, or in his absence or
inability or due to his candidacy to be elected as an officer of the House, the next most senior
member shall preside.
Present House Rule provides for the following order of business: (1)Calling of the roll of the members-elect of the House.
(2)Offering of a prayer.
(3)Recitation of the pledge of allegiance.
(4)Judging of the qualifications and elections of the members.
(5)Taking of the oath or affirmation of office by the members.
(6)Election of the Clerk of the House and the Clerk's taking of the oath or affirmation of office.
(7)Election of the Speaker of the House and the Speaker's taking of the oath or affirmation of
office.
(8)The eighth order of business shall be the election of the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House
and the Speaker Pro Tempore's taking of the oath or affirmation of office.
Proposed House Rule includes the nomination of the Speaker in the seventh order of business and
includes the nomination of Speaker Pro Tempore in the eighth order of business and otherwise
retains present House Rule.
(Amends House Rule 2.2(B); Adds House Rule 2.2.1)