Senate Resolution No. 1–Senators Raggio and Titus
FILE
NUMBER....
Senate RESOLUTION—Adopting the Standing Rules of the
Senate for the 71st session of the Legislature.
1-1 Resolved
by the Senate of the State of Nevada, That the Senate
1-2 Standing Rules
as amended by the 70th session are adopted, with the
1-3 following
changes, as the Standing Rules of the Senate for the 71st session
1-4 of the
Legislature:
1-5 I. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
1-6 Duties of Officers
1-7 Rule No. 1. President.
1-8 The President
shall take the chair and call the Senate to order precisely
1-9 at the hour
appointed for meeting, and if a quorum is present shall cause
1-10 the Journal
of the preceding day to be read. He shall preserve order and
1-11 decorum, and
in case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct within the
1-12 Senate
Chamber, shall order the Sergeant at Arms to suppress it, and may
1-13 order the
arrest of any person creating any disturbance within the Senate
1-14 Chamber. He
may speak to points of order in preference to members,
1-15 rising from
his seat for that purpose, and shall decide questions of order
1-16 without
debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate by two members, on
1-17 which appeal
no member may speak more than once without leave of the
1-18 Senate. He
shall sign all acts, addresses and joint resolutions, and all writs,
1-19 warrants and
subpoenas issued by order of the Senate; all of which must
1-20 be attested
by the Secretary. He has general direction of the Senate
1-21 Chamber.
1-22 Rule No. 2. President pro Tem.
1-23 The President
pro Tem has all the power and shall discharge all the
1-24 duties of
the President during his absence or inability to discharge the
1-25 duties of
his office. In the absence or inability of the President pro Tem to
1-26 discharge
the duties of the President’s office, the Chairman of the
1-27 Committee on
Legislative Affairs and Operations shall preside. In the
1-28 absence of
the Chairman, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on
1-29 Legislative
Affairs and Operations shall preside. In the absence of the
1-30 Vice
Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations,
1-31 the Senate
shall elect one of its members as the presiding officer for that
1-32 occasion.
1-33 Rule No. 3. Secretary.
1-34 1. The Secretary of the Senate is elected by the
Senate, and shall:
1-35 (a) Interview
and recommend to the Committee on Legislative Affairs
1-36 and
Operations persons to be considered for employment to assist the
1-37 Secretary.
1-38 (b) See that
these employees perform their respective duties.
1-39 (c) Administer
the daily business of the Senate, including the provision
1-40 of
secretaries to its committees.
2-1 (d) Unless
otherwise ordered by the Senate, transmit at the end of each
2-2 working day those bills and resolutions upon which
the next action is to be
2-3 taken by the
Assembly.
2-4 2. The Secretary is responsible to the Majority
Leader.
2-5 Rule No. 4. Sergeant at Arms.
2-6 1. The Sergeant at Arms shall attend the Senate
during its sittings, and
2-7 execute its
commands and all process issued by its authority. He must be
2-8 sworn to
keep the secrets of the Senate.
2-9 2. The Sergeant at Arms shall:
2-10 (a) Superintend
the upkeep of the Senate’s Chamber, private lounge,
2-11 and meeting
rooms for committees.
2-12 (b) Interview
and recommend to the Committee on Legislative Affairs
2-13 and
Operations persons to be considered for employment to assist the
2-14
Sergeant at Arms.
2-15 3. The Sergeant at Arms is responsible to the
Majority Leader.
2-16 Rule No. 5. Assistant Sergeant at Arms.
2-17 The Assistant
Sergeant at Arms shall be doorkeeper and shall preserve
2-18 order in the
Senate Chamber and shall assist the Sergeant at Arms. He
2-19 shall be
sworn to keep the secrets of the Senate.
2-20 Rule No. 6. Reserved.
2-21 The next rule is 10.
2-22 II. SESSIONS AND MEETINGS
2-23 Rule No. 10. Time of Meeting.
2-24 The President
shall call the Senate to order each day of sitting at 11:00
2-25 o’clock
a.m., unless the Senate has adjourned to some other hour.
2-26 Rule No. 11. Call of Senate—Moved by
Three Members.
2-27 A Call of the
Senate may be moved by three Senators, and if carried by a
2-28 majority of
all present, the Secretary shall call the roll and note the
2-29 absentees,
after which the names of the absentees shall again be called
2-30 over. The
doors shall then be closed and the Sergeant at Arms directed to
2-31 take into
custody all who may be absent without leave, and all Senators so
2-32 taken into
custody shall be presented at the bar of the Senate for such
2-33 action as to
the Senate may seem proper.
2-34 Rule No. 12. Absence—Leave Required.
2-35 No Senator
shall absent himself from the service of the Senate without
2-36 leave,
except in case of accident or sickness, and if any Senator or officer
2-37 shall so
absent himself his per diem shall not be allowed him.
2-38 Rule No. 13. Open Meetings.
2-39 1. Except as provided in the Constitution of the
State of Nevada and in
2-40 subsection 2
of this rule, all meetings of the Senate and its committees
2-41 must be open
to the public.
2-42 2. A Senate committee meeting may be closed to
consider the
2-43 character,
alleged misconduct, professional competence, or physical or
2-44 mental
health of a person.
2-45 The next rule is 20.
3-1 III. DECORUM AND DEBATE
3-2 Rule No. 20. Points of Order.
3-3 1. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise,
transgresses the rules of
3-4 the Senate,
the President shall, or any Senator may, call him to order. If a
3-5 Senator is
so called to order, he shall not proceed without leave of the
3-6 Senate. If
such leave is granted, it must be upon the motion, “That he be
3-7 allowed to
proceed in order,” and the Senator shall confine himself to the
3-8 question
under consideration and avoid personality.
3-9 2. Every decision of points of order made by the
President is subject to
3-10 appeal, and
a discussion of a question of order may be allowed only upon
3-11 the appeal
of two Senators. In all cases of appeal, the question must be,
3-12 “Shall the
decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the Senate?”
3-13 Rule No. 21. Breaches of Decorum.
3-14 1. In cases of breaches of decorum or propriety,
any Senator, officer or
3-15 other person
is liable to such censure or punishment as the Senate may
3-16 deem proper.
3-17 2. If any Senator is called to order for offensive
or indecorous
3-18 language or
conduct, the person calling him to order shall report the
3-19 offensive or
indecorous language or conduct to the presiding officer. No
3-20 member may
be held to answer for any language used on the floor of the
3-21 Senate if
business has intervened before exception to the language was
3-22 taken.
3-23 3. Indecorous conduct or boisterous or
unbecoming language is not
3-24 permitted in
the Senate Chamber.
3-25 The next rule is 30.
3-26 IV. QUORUM, VOTING, ELECTIONS
3-27 Rule No. 30. Recorded Vote—Three Required
to Call For.
3-28 1. A recorded vote must be taken upon final
passage of a bill or joint
3-29 resolution,
and in any other case when called for by three members. Every
3-30 Senator
within the bar of the Senate shall vote “aye” or “no” or record
3-31 himself as
“not voting,” unless excused by unanimous vote of the Senate.
3-32 2. The votes and names of those absent or
recorded as “not voting” and
3-33 the names of
Senators demanding the recorded vote must be entered [on]
3-34 in the Journal.
3-35 Rule No. 31. President to Decide—Tie
Vote.
3-36 A question is
lost by a tie vote, but when the Senate is equally divided
3-37 on any
question except the passage of a bill or joint resolution, the
3-38 President
may give the deciding vote.
3-39 Rule No. 32. Manner of Election—Voting.
3-40 1. In all cases of election by the Senate, the
vote must be taken viva
3-41 voce. In
other cases, if a vote is to be recorded, it may be taken by oral
3-42 roll-call or
by electronic recording.
3-43 2. When a recorded vote is taken, no Senator
may:
3-44 (a) Vote
except when at his seat;
3-45 (b) Vote upon
any question in which he is in any way personally or
3-46 directly
interested;
3-47 (c) Explain
his vote or discuss the question while the voting is in
3-48 progress; or
4-1 (d) Change
his vote after the result is announced.
4-2 3. The announcement of the result of any vote
must not be postponed.
4-3 The next rule is 40.
4-4 V. LEGISLATIVE BODIES
4-5 Rule No. 40. Standing Committees.
4-6 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2,
the standing
4-7 committees
of the Senate and their respective jurisdiction for the reference
4-8 of bills and
resolutions are as follows:
4-9 (a) Commerce
and Labor, seven members, with jurisdiction over
4-10 measures
affecting primarily Titles 52-57, and chapters 118B, 461, 461A,
4-11 489,
703-704A and 707-712 of NRS, except measures affecting primarily
4-12 state and
local revenue.
4-13 (b) Finance,
seven members, with jurisdiction over measures primarily
4-14 affecting
chapters 286 and 387 of NRS, appropriations, operating and
4-15 capital
budgets, state and federal budget issues and bonding, except
4-16 measures
affecting primarily state and local revenue, and over any
4-17 measures
carrying or requiring appropriations and favorably reported by
4-18 any other
committee unless such reference is dispensed with by a two
4-19 -thirds vote of the Senate.
4-20 (c) Government
Affairs, seven members, with jurisdiction over
4-21 measures
affecting primarily the districts from which members of the
4-22 Legislature
are elected, and Titles 18-22, 24, 25, 27-31 and 36 and
4-23 chapters
281-285, 287-289 , [and]
407 and 720 of NRS,
except measures
4-24 affecting
primarily state and local revenue, state and federal budget issues,
4-25 the Tahoe
Regional Planning Compact and the Nevada Tahoe regional
4-26 planning
agency.
4-27 (d) Human
Resources and Facilities, seven members, with jurisdiction
4-28 over
measures primarily affecting Titles 33, 37-39 and 42 and chapters
4-29 385, 386,
388-399, 439-444, 446-458, 459A, 460 and 583-585 of NRS,
4-30 except
measures affecting primarily state and local revenue.
4-31 (e) Judiciary,
seven members, with jurisdiction over measures affecting
4-32 primarily
Titles [1-16] 1-9,
11-16, and 41 and
chapters 111-118A and
4-33 119-120A of NRS, except measures
affecting primarily state and local
4-34 revenue.
4-35 (f) Legislative
Affairs and Operations, seven members, with jurisdiction
4-36 over
measures affecting primarily Title 17 of NRS, except the districts
4-37 from which
members of the Legislature are elected, and the operation of
4-38 the
legislative session, except measures affecting primarily state and local
4-39 revenue.
4-40 (g) Natural
Resources, seven members, with jurisdiction over measures
4-41 primarily
affecting Titles 26 and 45-50 and chapters 444A-445C, 459,
4-42 488, 581,
582 and 586-590 of NRS, the Colorado River Commission, the
4-43 Tahoe
Regional Planning Compact and the Nevada Tahoe regional
4-44 planning
agency, except measures affecting primarily state and local
4-45 revenue.
4-46 (h) Taxation,
seven members, with jurisdiction over measures affecting
4-47 primarily
Title 32 of NRS and state and local revenue.
5-1 (i) Transportation,
seven members, with jurisdiction over measures
5-2 affecting primarily Title 44 and chapters 403-405,
408, 410, 481-487, 705
5-3 and 706 of
NRS, except measures affecting primarily state and local
5-4 revenue.
5-5 2. The chairman of the Standing Committee on
Finance may assign
5-6 any portion
of a proposed executive budget to any of the other standing
5-7 committees
of the Senate for review. Upon receiving such an assignment
5-8 the standing
committee shall complete its review expeditiously and report
5-9 its findings
and any recommendations to the Standing Committee on
5-10 Finance for
its independent evaluation.
5-11 Rule No. 41. Reserved.
5-12 Rule No. 42. Committee Expenses.
5-13 No committee
shall employ assistance or incur any expense, except by
5-14 permission
of the Senate previously obtained.
5-15 Rule No. 43. Duties of Committees.
5-16 The several
committees shall fully consider all measures referred to
5-17 them and
report thereon. They shall acquaint themselves with the interests
5-18 of the State
specially represented by the committee, and from time to time
5-19 present such
bills and reports as in their judgment will advance the
5-20 interests
and promote the welfare of the people of the State, and shall fully
5-21 consider and
report their opinion upon any matter committed or referred to
5-22 them by the
Senate.
5-23 Rule No. 44. Committee on Legislative
Affairs and Operations.
5-24 The Committee
on Legislative Affairs and Operations shall recommend
5-25 by
resolution the appointment of all attachés and employees of the Senate
5-26 not
otherwise provided for by law. It may suspend any attaché or
5-27 employee for
incompetency or dereliction of duty, pending final action by
5-28 the Senate.
It shall hear complaints on alleged breaches of ethics and
5-29 conflicts of
interest, brought by Legislators and others, and it may advise
5-30 Legislators
on questions of breaches of ethics and conflicts of interests.
5-31 All
proceedings by the committee on matters of ethics or conflicts of
5-32 interest are
open to the public unless otherwise authorized to be closed to
5-33 the public
by section 15 of article 4 of the Constitution of the State of
5-34 Nevada.
5-35 Rule No. 45. Reserved.
5-36 Rule No. 46. Forming Committee of the
Whole.
5-37 In forming
the Committee of the Whole, the Senator who has so moved
5-38 shall name a
chairman to preside, and all bills considered shall be read by
5-39 sections,
and the chairman shall call for amendments at the conclusion of
5-40 the reading
of each section. All amendments proposed by the committee
5-41 shall be reported
by the chairman to the Senate.
5-42 Rule No. 47. Rules Applicable to
Committee of the Whole.
5-43 The Rules of
the Senate shall apply to proceedings in Committee of the
5-44 Whole,
except that the previous question shall not be ordered, nor the ayes
5-45 and noes
demanded, but the committee may limit the number of times that
5-46 any member
may speak, at any stage of proceedings, during its sitting.
5-47 Messages may
be received by the President while the committee is sitting;
5-48 in which
case the President will resume the chair, receive the message, and
5-49 vacate the
chair in favor of the chairman of the committee.
5-50 Rule No. 48. Motion to Rise Committee of
the Whole.
5-51 A motion that
the committee rise shall always be in order, and shall be
5-52 decided
without debate.
6-1 Rule No. 49. Reference to Committee.
6-2 When a motion
is made to refer any subject, and different committees
6-3 are
proposed, the [question must be taken in
the following order:
6-4 1. The
Committee of the Whole Senate.
6-5 2. A
Standing Committee.] subject may be referred to the committee
6-6 with jurisdiction over the subject as set
forth in Senate Standing Rule
6-7 No. 40, or to a different committee, upon a
majority vote of the Senate.
6-8 Rule No. 50. Return From Committee.
6-9 1. Any bill or other matter referred to a
committee of the Senate must
6-10 not be
withdrawn or ordered taken from the committee for consideration
6-11 by the
Senate, recommitment, or for any other reason without a two-thirds
6-12 vote of the
Senate, and at least one day’s notice of the motion therefor.
6-13 2. No such motion is in order:
6-14 (a) If the
bill to be withdrawn or ordered taken from the committee may
6-15 no longer be
considered by the Senate; or
6-16 (b) On the
last day of the session, or on the day preceding the last day of
6-17 the session.
6-18 3. This rule does not take from any committee
the rights and duties of
6-19 committees
provided for in Senate Standing Rule No. 43.
6-20 Rule No. 51. Reserved.
6-21 Rule No. 52. Reserved.
6-22 Rule No. 53. Committee Rules.
6-23 1. The rules of the Senate, as far as
applicable, are the rules of
6-24 committees
of the Senate. Procedure in committees, where not otherwise
6-25 provided in
this rule, must follow the procedure of the Senate. For matters
6-26 not included
in the rules of the Senate or these rules, Mason’s Manual
6-27 must be
followed.
6-28 2. A majority of any committee constitutes a
quorum for the
6-29 transaction
of business.
6-30 3. A meeting of a committee may not be opened
without a quorum
6-31 present.
6-32 4. In addition to regularly scheduled meetings
or those called by the
6-33 chairman,
meetings may be set by a written petition of a majority of a
6-34 committee
and filed with the chairman of a committee.
6-35 5. A bill may be passed from a committee only by
a majority of the
6-36 committee
membership. A simple majority of those present and voting is
6-37 sufficient
to adopt committee amendments.
6-38 6. Subcommittees may be appointed by committee
chairmen to
6-39 consider
subjects specified by the committee and shall report back to the
6-40 committee.
6-41 7. A committee shall act only when together, and
all votes must be
6-42 taken in the
presence of the committee. A member shall not be recorded as
6-43 voting
unless he was actually present in the committee at the time of the
6-44 vote. The
chairman shall vote on all final actions on bills or resolutions.
6-45 The
provisions of this subsection do not prohibit the prefiling of legislative
6-46 bills and
resolutions on behalf of a committee in the manner prescribed by
6-47 the
legislative commission.
6-48 8. All committee and subcommittee meetings are
open to the public,
6-49 except as
otherwise provided in Senate Standing Rule No. 13.
6-50 9. Before reporting a bill or resolution to the
Senate, a committee may
6-51 reconsider
its action. A motion to reconsider must be made by a member
6-52 who voted
with the prevailing side.
7-1 10. Committee chairmen shall determine the agenda
of each meeting
7-2 except that committee members may request an item
for the agenda by
7-3 communicating with the chairman at least 4 days before the
meeting. A
7-4 majority of
a committee may, by vote, add an item to the agenda of the
7-5 next
regularly scheduled meeting.
7-6 11. Secretaries to committees shall give notices
of hearings on bills to
7-7 anyone
requesting notices of particular bills.
7-8 12. All committees shall keep minutes of
meetings. The minutes must
7-9 cover
members present and absent, subjects under discussion, witnesses
7-10 who appear,
committee members’ statements concerning legislative intent,
7-11 action taken
by the committee, as well as the vote of individual members
7-12 on all
matters on which a vote is taken. Any member may submit to the
7-13 secretary
additional remarks to be included in the minutes and records of
7-14 committee
meetings. At the conclusion of the legislative session, the
7-15 Secretary of
the Senate shall deliver all minutes and records of committee
7-16 meetings in
her possession to the Director of the Legislative Counsel
7-17 Bureau.
7-18 13. In addition to the minutes, the committee
secretary shall maintain a
7-19 record of
all bills, including:
7-20 (a) Date bill
referred;
7-21 (b) Date bill
received;
7-22 (c) Date set
for hearing the bill;
7-23 (d) Date or
dates bill heard and voted upon; and
7-24 (e) Date
report prepared.
7-25 14. Each committee secretary shall file the
minutes of each meeting
7-26 with the
Secretary of the Senate as soon as practicable after the meeting.
7-27 15. All committee minutes are open to public
inspection upon request
7-28 and during
normal business hours.
7-29 Rule No. 54. Review of State Agency
Programs.
7-30 In addition
to or concurrent with committee action taken on specific bills
7-31 and
resolutions during a regular session of the Legislature, each standing
7-32 committee of
the Senate is encouraged to plan and conduct a general
7-33 review of
selected programs of state agencies or other areas of public
7-34 interest
within the committee’s jurisdiction.
7-35 The next rule is 60.
7-36 VI. RULES GOVERNING MOTIONS
7-37 A. Motions Generally
7-38 Rule No. 60. Entertaining.
7-39 1. No motion may be debated until it is
announced by the President.
7-40 2. By consent of the Senate, a motion may be
withdrawn before
7-41 amendment or
decision.
7-42 Rule No. 61. Precedence of Motions.
7-43 When a
question is under debate no motion shall be received but the
7-44 following,
which shall have precedence in the order named:
7-45 1. To adjourn.
7-46 2. For a call of the Senate.
7-47 3. To lay on the table.
7-48 4. For the previous question.
8-1 5. To postpone to a day certain.
8-2 6. To commit.
8-3 7. To amend.
8-4 8. To postpone indefinitely.
8-5 The first
four shall be decided without debate.
8-6 Rule No. 62. When Not Entertained.
8-7 1. When a motion to commit, to postpone to a day
certain, or to
8-8 postpone
indefinitely has been decided, it must not be again entertained on
8-9 the same
day.
8-10 2. When a question has been postponed indefinitely,
it must not again
8-11 be
introduced during the session unless this rule is suspended by a two
8-12 -thirds vote.
8-13 3. There must be no reconsideration of a vote on
a motion to postpone
8-14 indefinitely.
8-15 B. Particular Motions
8-16 Rule No. 63. To Adjourn.
8-17 A motion to
adjourn shall always be in order. The name of the Senator
8-18 moving to
adjourn, and the time when the motion was made, shall be
8-19 entered [on] in the Journal.
8-20 Rule No. 64. Lay on the Table.
8-21 A motion to
lay on or take from the table shall be carried by a majority
8-22 vote.
8-23 Rule No. 65. Reserved.
8-24 Rule No. 66. To Strike Enacting Clause.
8-25 A motion to
strike out the enacting clause of a bill or resolution has
8-26 precedence
over a motion to commit or amend. If a motion to strike out
8-27 the enacting
clause of a bill or resolution is carried, the bill or resolution is
8-28 rejected.
8-29 Rule No. 67. Division of Question.
8-30 1. Any Senator may call for a division of a
question.
8-31 2. A question must be divided if it embraces
subjects so distinct that if
8-32 one subject
is taken away, a substantive proposition remains for the
8-33 decision of
the Senate.
8-34 3. A motion to strike out and insert must not be
divided.
8-35 Rule No. 68. To Reconsider—Precedence of.
8-36 1. A motion to reconsider has precedence over
every other motion,
8-37 except a
motion to adjourn. When the Senate adjourns while a motion to
8-38 reconsider
is pending, or before passing the order of Motions and
8-39 Resolutions,
the right to move for reconsideration continues to the next
8-40 day of
sitting.
8-41 2. No notice of reconsideration of any final
vote is in order on the day
8-42 preceding
the last day of the session.
8-43 Rule No. 69. Explanation of Motion.
8-44 Whenever a Senator movesGreen numbers along left margin indicate location on
the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5,
line 15). to
change the usual disposition of a bill or
8-45 resolution,
he shall describe the subject of the bill or resolution and state
8-46 the reasons
for his requesting the change in the processing of the bill or
8-47 resolution.
8-48 The next rule is 80.
9-1 VII. DEBATE
9-2 Rule No. 80. Speaking on Question.
9-3 1. Every Senator who speaks shall, standing in
his place, address “Mr.
9-4 or Madam
President,” in a courteous manner, and shall confine himself to
9-5 the question
before the Senate. When he has finished, he shall sit down.
9-6 2. No Senator may speak:
9-7 (a) More than
twice during the consideration of any one question on the
9-8 same day,
except for explanation.
9-9 (b) A second
time without leave when others who have not spoken
9-10 desire the
floor.
9-11 3. Incidental and subsidiary questions arising
during debate shall not
9-12 be
considered the same question.
9-13 Rule No. 81. Previous Question.
9-14 The previous
question shall not be put unless demanded by three
9-15 Senators,
and it shall be in this form: “Shall the main question be now
9-16 put?” When
sustained by a majority of Senators present it shall put an end
9-17 to all
debate and bring the Senate to a vote on the question or questions
9-18 before it,
and all incidental questions arising after the motion was made
9-19 shall be
decided without debate. A person who is speaking on a question
9-20 shall not
while he has the floor move to put that question.
9-21 The next rule is 90.
9-22 VIII. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
9-23 A. Generally
9-24 Rule No. 90. Mason’s Manual.
9-25 The rules of
parliamentary practice contained in Mason’s Manual of
9-26 Legislative
Procedure shall govern the Senate in all cases in which they
9-27 are
applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the standing
9-28 rules and
orders of the Senate, and the joint rules of the Senate and
9-29 Assembly.
9-30 Rule No. 91. Suspension of Rule.
9-31 No standing
rule or order of the Senate shall be rescinded or changed
9-32 without a
vote of two-thirds of the Senate and one day’s notice of the
9-33 motion
therefor; but a rule or order may be temporarily suspended for a
9-34 special
purpose by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. When the
9-35 suspension
of a rule is called for, and after due notice from the President
9-36 no objection
is offered, he can announce the rule suspended and the Senate
9-37 may proceed
accordingly; but this shall not apply to that portion of Senate
9-38 Standing
Rule No. 109 relating to the third reading of bills, which cannot
9-39 be
suspended; and further, this rule shall not apply to the suspension of
9-40 Senate
Standing Rule No. 50.
9-41 Rule No. 92. Notices of Bills, Topics and Public Hearings.
9-42 Adequate
notice shall be provided to the Legislators and the public by
9-43 posting
information relative to the bills, topics and public hearings which
9-44 are to come
before committees. Notices shall include the date, time, place
9-45 and agenda, and
shall be posted conspicuously in the legislative building,
9-46 shall appear
in the daily history, and shall be made available to the news
9-47 media.
10-1 This
requirement of notice may be suspended for an emergency by the
10-2 affirmative vote of two-thirds of the committee
members appointed.
10-3 Rule No. 93. Protest.
10-4 Any Senator,
or Senators, may protest against the action of the Senate
10-5 upon any
question, and have such protest entered [upon]
in the Journal.
10-6 Rule No. 94. Privilege of the Floor.
10-7 1. To preserve decorum and facilitate the
business of the Senate, only
10-8 the
following persons may be present on the floor of the Senate during
10-9 formal
sessions:
10-10 (a) State
officers;
10-11 (b) Officers
and members of the Senate;
10-12 (c) Employees
of the Legislative Counsel Bureau;
10-13 (d) Attachés
and employees of the Senate; and
10-14 (e) Members of
the Assembly whose presence is required for the
10-15 transaction
of business.
10-16 2. Guests of Senators must be seated in a
section of the upper or lower
10-17 gallery of
the Senate Chamber to be specially designated by the Sergeant
10-18 at Arms. The
Majority Leader may specify special occasions when guests
10-19 may be
seated on the floor of the Senate with a Senator.
10-20 3. A majority of Senators may authorize the
President to have the
10-21 Senate
Chamber cleared of all persons except Senators and officers of the
10-22 Senate.
10-23 4. The Senate Chamber may not be used for any
business other than
10-24 legislative
business during a legislative session.
10-25 Rule No. 95. Material Placed on
Legislators’ Desks.
10-26 1. Only the Sergeant at Arms and officers and
employees of the Senate
10-27 may place
papers, letters, notes, pamphlets and other written material upon
10-28 a Senator’s
desk. Such material must contain the name of the Legislator
10-29 requesting
the placement of the material on the desk or a designation of
10-30 the origin
of the material.
10-31 2. This rule does not apply to books containing
the legislative bills and
10-32 resolutions,
the daily histories and daily journals of the Senate or
10-33 Assembly, or
Legislative Counsel Bureau material.
10-34 Rule No. 96. Reserved.
10-35 Rule No. 97. Petitions and Memorials.
10-36 The contents
of any petition or memorial shall be briefly stated by the
10-37 President or
any Senator presenting it. It shall then lie on the table or be
10-38 referred, as
the President or Senate may direct.
10-39 Rule No. 98. Reserved.
10-40 Rule No. 99. Reserved.
10-41 Rule No. 100. Reserved.
10-42 Rule No. 101. Reserved.
10-43 Rule No. 102. Objection to Reading of
Paper.
10-44 Where the
reading of any paper is called for, and is objected to by any
10-45 Senator, it
shall be determined by a vote of the Senate, and without debate.
10-46 Rule No. 103. Questions Relating to
Priority of Business.
10-47 All questions
relating to the priority of business shall be decided without
10-48 debate.
10-49 B. Bills
10-50 Rule No. 104. Reserved.
10-51 Rule No. 105. Reserved.
11-1 Rule No. 106. Skeleton Bills.
11-2 Skeleton
bills may be introduced after the beginning of a session when,
11-3 in the
opinion of the sponsor and the Legislative Counsel, the full drafting
11-4 of the bill
would entail extensive research or be of considerable length. A
11-5 skeleton
bill will be a presentation of ideas or statements of purpose,
11-6 sufficient
in style and expression to enable the Legislature and the
11-7 committee to
which the bill may be referred to consider the substantive
11-8 merits of
the legislation proposed.
11-9 Rule No. 107. Information Concerning
Bills.
11-10 1. Bills introduced may be accompanied by
information relative to
11-11 witnesses
and selected persons of departments and agencies who should be
11-12 considered
for committee hearings on the proposed legislation. At the time
11-13 of
introduction of a bill, a list may be given to the Secretary of witnesses
11-14 who are
proponents of the measure together with their addresses and
11-15 telephone
numbers. This information may be provided by:
11-16 (a) The
Senator introducing the bill;
11-17 (b) The person
requesting a committee introduction of the bill; or
11-18 (c) The
chairman of a committee introducing the bill.
11-19 2. The Secretary shall deliver this information
to the chairman of the
11-20 committee to
which the bill is referred. Members of the committee may
11-21 suggest
additional names for witnesses.
11-22 3. The Legislator may provide an analysis which
may describe the
11-23 intent,
purpose, justification and effects of the bill, or any of them.
11-24 Rule No. 108. Reserved.
11-25 Rule No. 109. Reading of Bills.
11-26 1. Every bill must receive three readings before
its passage, unless, in
11-27 case of
emergency, this rule is suspended by a two-thirds vote.
11-28 2. The first reading of a bill is for
information, and if there is
11-29 opposition
to the bill, the question must be, “Shall this bill be rejected?” If
11-30 there is no
opposition to the bill, or if the question to reject is defeated, the
11-31 bill must
then take the usual course.
11-32 3. No bill may be committed until once read, nor
amended until twice
11-33 read.
11-34 4. The third reading of every bill must be by
sections.
11-35 Rule No. 110. Second Reading File—Consent
Calendar.
11-36 1. All bills or joint resolutions reported by committee must
be placed
11-37 on a second
reading file unless recommended for placement on the consent
11-38 calendar.
11-39 2. A committee shall not recommend a bill or joint resolution for
11-40 placement on
the consent calendar if:
11-41 (a) An
amendment of the bill or joint resolution
is recommended;
11-42 (b) It
contains an appropriation; [or]
11-43 (c) It requires a two-thirds vote of the
Senate; or
11-44 (d) It is controversial in nature.
11-45 3. A bill or joint resolution recommended for placement on
the consent
11-46 calendar
must be included in the daily file listed in the daily history of the
11-47 Senate at
least 1 calendar day before it may be considered.
11-48 4. A bill or joint resolution must be removed from the
consent
11-49 calendar at
the request of any Senator. A bill or joint resolution so
11-50 removed must
be immediately placed on the second reading file for
11-51 consideration in the usual order of business.
12-1 5. When the consent calendar is called, the
bills remaining on the
12-2 consent calendar must be read by number and summary,
and the vote must
12-3 be taken on
their final passage as a group.
12-4 Rule No. 111. Printing.
12-5 Eleven
hundred copies of all bills and resolutions of general interest
12-6 must be
printed for the use of the Senate and Assembly. Such other matter
12-7 must be
printed as may be ordered by the Senate.
12-8 Rule No. 112. Reserved.
12-9 Rule No. 113. Reading of Bills—General
File.
12-10 1. Upon reading of bills on the second reading
file, Senate and
12-11 Assembly
bills reported without amendments must be placed on the
12-12 general
file. Committee amendments reported with bills must be
12-13 considered
upon their second reading and such amendments may be
12-14 adopted by a
majority vote of the members present. Bills so amended must
12-15 be
reprinted, engrossed or reengrossed, and placed on the general file. The
12-16 file must be
posted in the Senate Chamber and made available to members
12-17 of the
public each day by the Secretary.
12-18 2. Any member may move to amend a bill during
its reading on the
12-19 second
reading file or during its third reading and the motion to amend
12-20 may be
adopted by a majority vote of the members present. Bills so
12-21 amended on
second reading must be treated the same as bills with
12-22 committee
amendments. Any bill so amended upon the general file must
12-23 be reprinted
and engrossed or reengrossed.
12-24 3. Unless otherwise ordered by the Senate,
eleven hundred copies of
12-25 all amended
bills must be printed.
12-26 Rule No. 114. Commitment of Bill With
Special Instructions.
12-27 A bill may be
committed with special instructions to amend at any time
12-28 before
taking the final vote.
12-29 Rule No. 115. Reconsideration of Vote on
Bill.
12-30 1. On the day after the final vote on any bill,
the vote may be
12-31 reconsidered
on motion of any member if notice of intention to move for
12-32 reconsideration was given on the day the final vote was taken by a
Senator
12-33 who voted on
the prevailing side. No motion to reconsider is in order on
12-34 the day the
final vote was taken, except by unanimous consent.
12-35 2. Motions to reconsider a vote upon amendments
to any pending
12-36 question may
be made and decided at once.
12-37 Rule No. 116. Reserved.
12-38 Rule No. 117. Different Subject Not
Admitted as Amendment.
12-39 No subject
different from that under consideration shall be admitted as
12-40 an
amendment; and no bill or resolution shall be amended by
12-41 incorporating any irrelevant subject matter or by association or
annexing
12-42 any other
bill or resolution pending in the Senate, but a substitute may be
12-43 offered at
any time so long as the original is open to amendment.
12-44 C. Resolutions
12-45 Rule No. 118. Treated as Bills.
12-46 Resolutions
addressed to Congress, or to either House thereof, or to the
12-47 President of
the United States, or the heads of any of the national
12-48 departments,
or proposing amendments to the State Constitution are
12-49 subject, in
all respects, to the foregoing rules governing the course of bills.
13-1 A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the
constitution shall be
13-2 entered in the journal in its entirety.
13-3 Rule No. 119. Treated as Motions.
13-4 Resolutions,
other than those referred to in Senate Standing Rule No.
13-5 118, shall
be treated as motions in all proceedings of the Senate.
13-6 Rule No. 120. Order of Business.
13-7 1. Roll Call.
13-8 2. Prayer [by the Chaplain.
13-9 3.] and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
13-10 [4.] 3. Reading and Approval of the Journal.
13-11 [5.] 4. Reports of [Standing Committees.
13-12 6.] Committees.
13-13 5. Messages
from the Governor.
13-14 [7.] 6. Messages from the Assembly.
13-15 [8. Communications
from State Officers.]
13-16 7. Communications.
13-17 8. Waivers
and Exemptions.
13-18 9. Motions, Resolutions and Notices.
13-19 10. Introduction, First Reading and Reference.
13-20 11. Consent Calendar.
13-21 12. Second Reading and Amendment.
13-22 13. [Business on] General File and Third
Reading.
13-23 14. Unfinished Business.
13-24 15. Special Orders of the Day.
13-25 16. Remarks from the Floor; Introduction of
Guests.
13-26 Rule No. 121. Privilege.
13-27 Any Senator
may rise and explain a matter personal to himself by leave
13-28 of the
President, but he shall not discuss any pending question in such
13-29 explanation.
13-30 Rule No. 122. Reserved.
13-31 Rule No. 123. Reserved.
13-32 Rule No. 124. Preference to Speak.
13-33 When two or
more Senators rise at the same time the President shall
13-34 name the one
who may first speak—giving preference, when practicable,
13-35 to the mover
or introducer of the subject under consideration.
13-36 Rule No. 125. Special Order.
13-37 The President
shall call the Senate to order on the arrival of the time
13-38 fixed for
the consideration of a special order, and announce that the special
13-39 order is
before the Senate, which shall be considered, unless it be
13-40 postponed by
a two-thirds vote, and any business before the Senate at the
13-41 time of the
announcement of the special order shall go to Unfinished
13-42 Business.
13-43 Rule No. 126. Reserved.
13-44 Rule No. 127. Reserved.
13-45 Rule No. 128. Reserved.
13-46 Rule No. 129. Reserved.
13-47 D. Contests of Elections
13-48 Rule No. 130. Procedure.
13-49 1. The Senate shall not dismiss a statement of
contest for want of form
13-50 if any
ground of contest is alleged with sufficient certainty to inform the
14-1 defendant of the charges he is required to meet. The
following grounds are
14-2 sufficient, but are not exclusive:
14-3 (a) That the
election board or any member thereof was guilty of
14-4 malfeasance.
14-5 (b) That a
person who has been declared elected to an office was not at
14-6 the time of
election eligible to that office.
14-7 (c) That
illegal votes were cast and counted for the defendant, which, if
14-8 taken from
him, will reduce the number of his legal votes below the
14-9 number
necessary to elect him.
14-10 (d) That the
election board, in conducting the election or in canvassing
14-11 the returns,
made errors sufficient to change the result of the election as to
14-12 any person
who has been declared elected.
14-13 (e) That the
defendant has given, or offered to give, to any person a
14-14 bribe for
the purpose of procuring his election.
14-15 (f) That there
was a possible malfunction of any voting or counting
14-16 device.
14-17 2. The contest must be submitted so far as may
be possible upon
14-18 depositions
or by written or oral arguments as the Senate may order. Any
14-19 party to a
contest may take the deposition of any witness at any time after
14-20 the
statement of contest is filed with the Secretary of State and before the
14-21 contest is
finally decided. At least 5 days’ notice must be given to the
14-22 prospective
deponent and to the other party. If oral statements are made at
14-23 any hearing
before the Senate or a committee thereof which purport to
14-24 establish
matters of fact, they must be made under oath. Strict rules of
14-25 evidence do
not apply.
14-26 3. The contestant has the burden of proving that
any irregularities
14-27 shown were
of such nature as to establish the probability that the result of
14-28 the election
was changed thereby. After consideration of all the evidence,
14-29 the Senate
shall declare the defendant elected unless the Senate finds from
14-30 the evidence
that a person other than the defendant received the greatest
14-31 number of
legal votes, in which case the Senate shall declare that person
14-32 elected.
14-33 The next rule is 140.
14-34 IX. LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATIONS
14-35 Rule No. 140. Compensation of Witnesses.
14-36 Witnesses
summoned to appear before the Senate, or any of its
14-37 committees,
shall be compensated as provided by law for witnesses
14-38 required to
attend in the courts of the State of Nevada.
~