Tighten Bill Reading Rules

Assembly Resolution No. 53 BY: M. of A. Kolb AMENDING section 7 of Rule III of the Assembly rules, in relation to the reading of bills RESOLVED, That section 7 of Rule III of the Assembly rules is amended to read as follows: § 7. Reading of bills. a. Every bill shall receive three separate readings, and on three different days, previous to its passage, except when ordered to a third reading pursuant to paragraph two of subdivision f of section two of this Rule, by unanimous consent or when made a special order, or when accompanied by a message of necessity pursuant to section [14] fourteen of Article III of the Constitution. No message of necessity shall be accepted from the Governor unless at least two-thirds of the members of the House have approved the message. b. Bills placed on the order of second reading, as provided for in subdivision g of section six of Rule IV, shall be subject to debate before the motion to order them to a third reading is entertained. One-half hour shall be allowed for such debate, but no person shall speak more than fifteen minutes, except by consent of the House. The main question, however, if ordered, shall be on the advancement of the bill; but when amendments are pending the question shall first be taken upon such amendments in their inverse order. c. All bills on the order of second reading shall be ordered to third reading unless otherwise ordered pursuant to subdivision b of this section or pursuant to paragraph one of subdivision b of section ten of Rule IV. d. No bill shall be considered for third reading until it shall have been on the printed Calendar of the House on two legislative days on that order, except where made a special order by report of the Committee on Rules, in which case it may be considered on second and third reading on the same day. e. In all cases where unanimous consent is asked for advancing a bill or entertaining a motion or resolution out of its order, it shall be the duty of the Speaker to proclaim such request and determine if such consent will be granted. f. A bill appearing on the Calendar may be "starred" by or at the request of the introducer, whereupon all further action on such bill shall be suspended, although it retains its place on the Calendar. Other than for the purpose of amendment or recommittal, a star may not be removed from a bill until one day after the request therefor. A bill on any order of third reading which has been laid aside by or at the request of the introducer on three separate days shall be automatically starred. g. Substitution of Bills. Where there is a Senate bill in a standing committee and the identical Assembly bill is on the order of second or any order of third reading, the Senate bill may be substituted for the Assembly bill upon a motion by, or on behalf of, the introducer and a vote of a majority of the members present and voting. The motion to substitute may also be made on an identical Assembly bill which has been passed, recalled, vote reconsidered and restored to third reading.