SR1

Senate Resolution No. 1–Senators Raggio and Titus

FILE NUMBER..........

Senate RESOLUTION—Adopting the Standing Rules of the Senate for the 72nd Session of the Legislature.

1-1 Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, That the

1-2 Senate Standing Rules as amended by the 71st Session are adopted,

1-3 with the following changes, as the Standing Rules of the Senate for

1-4 the 72nd Session 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

1-9 precisely at the hour appointed for meeting, and if a quorum is

1-10 present shall cause the Journal of the preceding day to be read. He

1-11 shall preserve order and decorum, and in case of any disturbance or

1-12 disorderly conduct within the Senate Chamber, shall order the

1-13 Sergeant at Arms to suppress it, and may order the arrest of any

1-14 person creating any disturbance within the Senate Chamber. He

1-15 may speak to points of order in preference to members, rising from

1-16 his seat for that purpose, and shall decide questions of order without

1-17 debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate by two members, on

1-18 which appeal no member may speak more than once without leave

1-19 of the Senate. He shall sign all acts, addresses and joint resolutions,

1-20 and all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the Senate;

1-21 all of which must be attested by the Secretary. He has general

1-22 direction of the Senate Chamber.

1-23 Rule No. 2. President pro Tem.

1-24 The President pro Tem has all the power and shall discharge all

1-25 the duties of the President during his absence or inability to

1-26 discharge the duties of his office. In the absence or inability of the

1-27 President pro Tem to discharge the duties of the President’s office,

1-28 the Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Affairs and

1-29 Operations shall preside. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice

1-30 Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations

1-31 shall preside. In the absence of the Vice Chairman of the

1-32 Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations, the Senate shall

1-33 elect one of its members as the presiding officer for that occasion.

1-34 Rule No. 3. Secretary.

1-35 1. The Secretary of the Senate is elected by the Senate, and

1-36 shall:

2-1 (a) Interview and recommend to the Committee on Legislative

2-2 Affairs and Operations persons to be considered for employment to

2-3 assist the Secretary.

2-4 (b) See that these employees perform their respective duties.

2-5 (c) Administer the daily business of the Senate, including the

2-6 provision of secretaries to its committees.

2-7 (d) Unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, transmit at the end

2-8 of each working day those bills and resolutions upon which the next

2-9 action is to be taken by the Assembly.

2-10 2. The Secretary is responsible to the Majority Leader.

2-11 Rule No. 4. Sergeant at Arms.

2-12 1. The Sergeant at Arms shall attend the Senate during its

2-13 sittings, and execute its commands and all process issued by its

2-14 authority. He must be sworn to keep the secrets of the Senate.

2-15 2. The Sergeant at Arms shall:

2-16 (a) Superintend the upkeep of the Senate’s Chamber, private

2-17 lounge, and meeting rooms for committees.

2-18 (b) Interview and recommend to the Committee on Legislative

2-19 Affairs and Operations persons to be considered for employment to

2-20 assist the Sergeant at Arms.

2-21 3. The Sergeant at Arms is responsible to the Majority Leader.

2-22 Rule No. 5. Assistant Sergeant at Arms.

2-23 The Assistant Sergeant at Arms shall be doorkeeper and shall

2-24 preserve order in the Senate Chamber and shall assist the Sergeant

2-25 at Arms. He shall be sworn to keep the secrets of the Senate.

2-26 Rule No. 6. Reserved.

2-27 The next rule is 10.

2-28 II. SESSIONS AND MEETINGS

2-29 Rule No. 10. Time of Meeting.

2-30 The President shall call the Senate to order each day of sitting at

2-31 11:00 o’clock a.m., unless the Senate has adjourned to some other

2-32 hour.

2-33 Rule No. 11. Call of Senate—Moved by Three Members.

2-34 A Call of the Senate may be moved by three Senators, and if

2-35 carried by a majority of all present, the Secretary shall call the roll

2-36 and note the absentees, after which the names of the absentees shall

2-37 again be called over. The doors shall then be closed and the

2-38 Sergeant at Arms directed to take into custody all who may be

2-39 absent without leave, and all Senators so taken into custody shall be

2-40 presented at the bar of the Senate for such action as to the Senate

2-41 may seem proper.

3-1 Rule No. 12. Absence—Leave Required.

3-2 No Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate

3-3 without leave, except in case of accident or sickness, and if any

3-4 Senator or officer shall so absent himself his per diem shall not be

3-5 allowed him.

3-6 Rule No. 13. Open Meetings.

3-7 1. Except as provided in the Constitution of the State of

3-8 Nevada and in subsection 2 of this rule, all meetings of the Senate

3-9 and its committees must be open to the public.

3-10 2. A Senate committee meeting may be closed to consider the

3-11 character, alleged misconduct, professional competence, or physical

3-12 or mental health of a person.

3-13 The next rule is 20.

3-14 III. DECORUM AND DEBATE

3-15 Rule No. 20. Points of Order.

3-16 1. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the

3-17 rules of the Senate, the President shall, or any Senator may, call

3-18 him to order. If a Senator is so called to order, he shall not proceed

3-19 without leave of the Senate. If such leave is granted, it must be

3-20 upon the motion, “That he be allowed to proceed in order,” and the

3-21 Senator shall confine himself to the question under consideration

3-22 and avoid personality.

3-23 2. Every decision of points of order made by the President is

3-24 subject to appeal, and a discussion of a question of order may be

3-25 allowed only upon the appeal of two Senators. In all cases of

3-26 appeal, the question must be, “Shall the decision of the Chair stand

3-27 as the judgment of the Senate?”

3-28 Rule No. 21. Breaches of Decorum.

3-29 1. In cases of breaches of decorum or propriety, any Senator,

3-30 officer or other person is liable to such censure or punishment as

3-31 the Senate may deem proper.

3-32 2. If any Senator is called to order for offensive or indecorous

3-33 language or conduct, the person calling him to order shall report the

3-34 offensive or indecorous language or conduct to the presiding

3-35 officer. No member may be held to answer for any language used

3-36 on the floor of the Senate if business has intervened before

3-37 exception to the language was taken.

3-38 3. Indecorous conduct or boisterous or unbecoming language is

3-39 not permitted in the Senate Chamber.

3-40 The next rule is 30.

4-1 IV. QUORUM, VOTING, ELECTIONS

4-2 Rule No. 30. Recorded Vote—Three Required to Call For.

4-3 1. A recorded vote must be taken upon final passage of a bill or

4-4 joint resolution, and in any other case when called for by three

4-5 members. Every Senator within the bar of the Senate shall vote

4-6 “aye” or “no” or record himself as “not voting,” unless excused by

4-7 unanimous vote of the Senate.

4-8 2. The votes and names of those absent or recorded as “not

4-9 voting” and the names of Senators demanding the recorded vote

4-10 must be entered in the Journal.

4-11 Rule No. 31. President to Decide—Tie Vote.

4-12 A question is lost by a tie vote, but when the Senate is equally

4-13 divided on any question except the passage of a bill or joint

4-14 resolution, the President may give the deciding vote.

4-15 Rule No. 32. Manner of Election—Voting.

4-16 1. In all cases of election by the Senate, the vote must be taken

4-17 viva voce. In other cases, if a vote is to be recorded, it may be taken

4-18 by oral roll-call or by electronic recording.

4-19 2. When a recorded vote is taken, no Senator may:

4-20 (a) Vote except when at his seat;

4-21 (b) Vote upon any question in which he is in any way personally

4-22 or directly interested;

4-23 (c) Explain his vote or discuss the question while the voting is in

4-24 progress; or

4-25 (d) Change his vote after the result is announced.

4-26 3. The announcement of the result of any vote must not be

4-27 postponed.

4-28 The next rule is 40.

4-29 V. LEGISLATIVE BODIES

4-30 Rule No. 40. Standing Committees.

4-31 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the standing

4-32 committees of the Senate and their respective jurisdiction for the

4-33 reference of bills and resolutions are as follows:

4-34 (a) Commerce and Labor, seven members, with jurisdiction over

4-35 measures affecting primarily titles 52-57, and chapters 118B, 461,

4-36 461A, 489, [703-704A] 701-704B and 707-712 of NRS, except

4-37 measures affecting primarily state and local revenue.

4-38 (b) Finance, seven members, with jurisdiction over measures

4-39 primarily affecting chapters 286 and 387 of NRS, appropriations,

4-40 operating and capital budgets, state and federal budget issues and

4-41 bonding, except measures affecting primarily state and local

4-42 revenue, and over any measures carrying or requiring

4-43 appropriations

5-1 and favorably reported by any other committee unless such

5-2 reference is dispensed with by a two-thirds vote of the Senate.

5-3 (c) Government Affairs, seven members, with jurisdiction over

5-4 measures affecting primarily the districts from which members of

5-5 the Legislature are elected, and titles 18-22, 24, 25, 27-31 and 36

5-6 and chapters 281-285, 287-289, 407 and 720 of NRS, except

5-7 measures affecting primarily state and local revenue, state and

5-8 federal budget issues, the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact and

5-9 the Nevada Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

5-10 (d) Human Resources and Facilities, seven members, with

5-11 jurisdiction over measures primarily affecting titles 33, 37-39 and

5-12 42 and chapters 385, 386, 388-399, 439-444, 446-458, 459A, 460

5-13 and 583-585 of NRS, except measures affecting primarily state and

5-14 local revenue.

5-15 (e) Judiciary, seven members, with jurisdiction over measures

5-16 affecting primarily titles 1-9, 11-16, and 41 and chapters 111-118A

5-17 , [and] 119-120A and 719 of NRS, except measures affecting

5-18 primarily state and local revenue.

5-19 (f) Legislative Affairs and Operations, seven members, with

5-20 jurisdiction over measures affecting primarily title 17 of NRS,

5-21 except the districts from which members of the Legislature are

5-22 elected, and the operation of the legislative session, except

5-23 measures affecting primarily state and local revenue.

5-24 (g) Natural Resources, seven members, with jurisdiction over

5-25 measures primarily affecting titles 26 and 45-50 and chapters

5-26 444A-445C, 459, 488, 581, 582 and 586-590 of NRS, the Colorado

5-27 River Commission[,] of Nevada, the Tahoe Regional Planning

5-28 Compact and the Nevada Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, except

5-29 measures affecting primarily state and local revenue.

5-30 (h) Taxation, seven members, with jurisdiction over measures

5-31 affecting primarily title 32 of NRS and state and local revenue.

5-32 (i) Transportation, seven members, with jurisdiction over

5-33 measures affecting primarily title 44 and chapters 403-405, 408,

5-34 410, [481] 480-487, 705 and 706 of NRS, except measures

5-35 affecting primarily state and local revenue.

5-36 2. The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Finance may

5-37 assign any portion of a proposed executive budget to any of the

5-38 other standing committees of the Senate for review. Upon receiving

5-39 such an assignment the standing committee shall complete its

5-40 review expeditiously and report its findings and any

5-41 recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance for its

5-42 independent evaluation.

5-43 Rule No. 41. Reserved.

5-44 Rule No. 42. Committee Expenses.

5-45 No committee shall employ assistance or incur any expense,

5-46 except by permission of the Senate previously obtained.

6-1 Rule No. 43. Duties of Committees.

6-2 The several committees shall fully consider all measures referred

6-3 to them and report thereon. They shall acquaint themselves with the

6-4 interests of the State specially represented by the committee, and

6-5 from time to time present such bills and reports as in their judgment

6-6 will advance the interests and promote the welfare of the people of

6-7 the State, and shall fully consider and report their opinion upon any

6-8 matter committed or referred to them by the Senate.

6-9 Rule No. 44. Committee on Legislative Affairs and

6-10 Operations.

6-11 The Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations shall

6-12 recommend by resolution the appointment of all attachés and

6-13 employees of the Senate not otherwise provided for by law. It may

6-14 suspend any attaché or employee for incompetency or dereliction of

6-15 duty, pending final action by the Senate. It shall hear complaints on

6-16 alleged breaches of ethics and conflicts of interest, brought by

6-17 Legislators and others, and it may advise Legislators on questions

6-18 of breaches of ethics and conflicts of interests. All proceedings by

6-19 the Committee on matters of ethics or conflicts of interest are open

6-20 to the public unless otherwise authorized to be closed to the public

6-21 by Section 15 of Article 4 of the Constitution of the State of

6-22 Nevada.

6-23 Rule No. 45. Reserved.

6-24 Rule No. 46. Forming Committee of the Whole.

6-25 In forming the Committee of the Whole, the Senator who has so

6-26 moved shall name a Chairman to preside, and all bills considered

6-27 shall be read by sections, and the Chairman shall call for

6-28 amendments at the conclusion of the reading of each section. All

6-29 amendments proposed by the Committee shall be reported by the

6-30 Chairman to the Senate.

6-31 Rule No. 47. Rules Applicable to Committee of the Whole.

6-32 The Rules of the Senate shall apply to proceedings in Committee

6-33 of the Whole, except that the previous question shall not be

6-34 ordered, nor the ayes and noes demanded, but the Committee may

6-35 limit the number of times that any member may speak, at any stage

6-36 of proceedings, during its sitting. Messages may be received by the

6-37 President while the Committee is sitting; in which case the

6-38 President will resume the chair, receive the message, and vacate the

6-39 chair in favor of the Chairman of the Committee.

6-40 Rule No. 48. Motion to Rise Committee of the Whole.

6-41 A motion that the Committee rise shall always be in order, and

6-42 shall be decided without debate.

6-43 Rule No. 49. Reference to Committee.

6-44 When a motion is made to refer any subject, and different

6-45 committees are proposed, the subject may be referred to the

6-46 committee with jurisdiction over the subject as set forth in Senate

7-1 Standing Rule No. 40, or to a different committee, upon a majority

7-2 vote of the Senate.

7-3 Rule No. 50. Return From Committee.

7-4 1. Any bill or other matter referred to a committee of the

7-5 Senate must not be withdrawn or ordered taken from the committee

7-6 for consideration by the Senate, recommitment, or for any other

7-7 reason without a two-thirds vote of the Senate, and at least one

7-8 day’s notice of the motion therefor.

7-9 2. No such motion is in order:

7-10 (a) If the bill to be withdrawn or ordered taken from the

7-11 committee may no longer be considered by the Senate; or

7-12 (b) On the last day of the session, or on the day preceding the

7-13 last day of the session.

7-14 3. This rule does not take from any committee the rights and

7-15 duties of committees provided for in Senate Standing Rule No. 43.

7-16 Rule No. 51. Reserved.

7-17 Rule No. 52. Reserved.

7-18 Rule No. 53. Committee Rules.

7-19 1. The rules of the Senate, as far as applicable, are the rules of

7-20 committees of the Senate. Procedure in committees, where not

7-21 otherwise provided in this rule, must follow the procedure of the

7-22 Senate. For matters not included in the rules of the Senate or these

7-23 rules, Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure must be followed.

7-24 2. A majority of any committee constitutes a quorum for the

7-25 transaction of business.

7-26 3. A meeting of a committee may not be opened without a

7-27 quorum present.

7-28 4. In addition to regularly scheduled meetings or those called

7-29 by the chairman, meetings may be set by a written petition of a

7-30 majority of a committee and filed with the chairman of a

7-31 committee.

7-32 5. A bill may be passed from a committee only by a majority of

7-33 the committee membership. A simple majority of those present and

7-34 voting is sufficient to adopt committee amendments.

7-35 6. Subcommittees may be appointed by committee chairmen to

7-36 consider subjects specified by the committee and shall report back

7-37 to the committee.

7-38 7. A committee shall act only when together, and all votes

7-39 must be taken in the presence of the committee. A member shall not

7-40 be recorded as voting unless he was actually present in the

7-41 committee at the time of the vote. The chairman shall vote on all

7-42 final actions on bills or resolutions. The provisions of this

7-43 subsection do not prohibit the prefiling of legislative bills and

7-44 resolutions on behalf of a committee in the manner prescribed by

7-45 the Legislative Commission.

8-1 8. All committee and subcommittee meetings are open to the

8-2 public, except as otherwise provided in Senate Standing Rule

8-3 No. 13.

8-4 9. Before reporting a bill or resolution to the Senate, a

8-5 committee may reconsider its action. A motion to reconsider must

8-6 be made by a member who voted with the prevailing side.

8-7 10. Committee chairmen shall determine the agenda of each

8-8 meeting except that committee members may request an item for

8-9 the agenda by communicating with the chairman at least 4 days

8-10 before the meeting. A majority of a committee may, by vote, add an

8-11 item to the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting.

8-12 11. Secretaries to committees shall give notices of hearings on

8-13 bills to anyone requesting notices of particular bills.

8-14 12. All committees shall keep minutes of meetings. The

8-15 minutes must cover members present and absent, subjects under

8-16 discussion, witnesses who appear, committee members’ statements

8-17 concerning legislative intent, action taken by the committee, as well

8-18 as the vote of individual members on all matters on which a vote is

8-19 taken. Any member may submit to the secretary additional remarks

8-20 to be included in the minutes and records of committee meetings.

8-21 At the conclusion of the legislative session, the Secretary of the

8-22 Senate shall deliver all minutes and records of committee meetings

8-23 in her possession to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

8-24 13. In addition to the minutes, the committee secretary shall

8-25 maintain a record of all bills, including:

8-26 (a) Date bill referred;

8-27 (b) Date bill received;

8-28 (c) Date set for hearing the bill;

8-29 (d) Date or dates bill heard and voted upon; and

8-30 (e) Date report prepared.

8-31 14. Each committee secretary shall file the minutes of each

8-32 meeting with the Secretary of the Senate as soon as practicable after

8-33 the meeting.

8-34 15. All committee minutes are open to public inspection upon

8-35 request and during normal business hours.

8-36 Rule No. 54. Review of State Agency Programs.

8-37 In addition to or concurrent with committee action taken on

8-38 specific bills and resolutions during a regular session of the

8-39 Legislature, each standing committee of the Senate is encouraged to

8-40 plan and conduct a general review of selected programs of state

8-41 agencies or other areas of public interest within the committee’s

8-42 jurisdiction.

8-43 The next rule is 60.

9-1 VI. RULES GOVERNING MOTIONS

9-2 A. Motions Generally

9-3 Rule No. 60. Entertaining.

9-4 1. No motion may be debated until it is announced by the

9-5 President.

9-6 2. By consent of the Senate, a motion may be withdrawn

9-7 before amendment or decision.

9-8 Rule No. 61. Precedence of Motions.

9-9 When a question is under debate no motion shall be received but

9-10 the following, which shall have precedence in the order named:

9-11 1. To adjourn.

9-12 2. For a call of the Senate.

9-13 3. To lay on the table.

9-14 4. For the previous question.

9-15 5. To postpone to a day certain.

9-16 6. To commit.

9-17 7. To amend.

9-18 8. To postpone indefinitely.

9-19 The first four shall be decided without debate.

9-20 Rule No. 62. When Not Entertained.

9-21 1. When a motion to commit, to postpone to a day certain, or to

9-22 postpone indefinitely has been decided, it must not be again

9-23 entertained on the same day.

9-24 2. When a question has been postponed indefinitely, it must not

9-25 again be introduced during the session unless this rule is suspended

9-26 by a two-thirds vote.

9-27 3. There must be no reconsideration of a vote on a motion to

9-28 postpone indefinitely.

9-29 B. Particular Motions

9-30 Rule No. 63. To Adjourn.

9-31 A motion to adjourn shall always be in order. The name of the

9-32 Senator moving to adjourn, and the time when the motion was

9-33 made, shall be entered in the Journal.

9-34 Rule No. 64. Lay on the Table.

9-35 A motion to lay on or take from the table shall be carried by a

9-36 majority vote.

9-37 Rule No. 65. Reserved.

9-38 Rule No. 66. To Strike Enacting Clause.

9-39 A motion to strike out the enacting clause of a bill or resolution

9-40 has precedence over a motion to commit or amend. If a motion to

9-41 strike out the enacting clause of a bill or resolution is carried, the

9-42 bill or resolution is rejected.

10-1 Rule No. 67. Division of Question.

10-2 1. Any Senator may call for a division of a question.

10-3 2. A question must be divided if it embraces subjects so

10-4 distinct that if one subject is taken away, a substantive proposition

10-5 remains for the decision of the Senate.

10-6 3. A motion to strike out and insert must not be divided.

10-7 Rule No. 68. To Reconsider—Precedence of.

10-8 1. A motion to reconsider has precedence over every other

10-9 motion, except a motion to adjourn. When the Senate adjourns

10-10 while a motion to reconsider is pending, or before passing the order

10-11 of Motions and Resolutions, the right to move for reconsideration

10-12 continues to the next day of sitting.

10-13 2. No notice of reconsideration of any final vote is in order on

10-14 the day preceding the last day of the session.

10-15 Rule No. 69. Explanation of Motion.

10-16 Whenever a Senator moveGreen numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).s to change the usual disposition of a

10-17 bill or resolution, he shall describe the subject of the bill or

10-18 resolution and state the reasons for his requesting the change in the

10-19 processing of the bill or resolution.

10-20 The next rule is 80.

10-21 VII. DEBATE

10-22 Rule No. 80. Speaking on Question.

10-23 1. Every Senator who speaks shall, standing in his place,

10-24 address “Mr. or Madam President,” in a courteous manner, and

10-25 shall confine himself to the question before the Senate. When he

10-26 has finished, he shall sit down.

10-27 2. No Senator may speak:

10-28 (a) More than twice during the consideration of any one

10-29 question on the same day, except for explanation.

10-30 (b) A second time without leave when others who have not

10-31 spoken desire the floor.

10-32 3. Incidental and subsidiary questions arising during debate

10-33 shall not be considered the same question.

10-34 Rule No. 81. Previous Question.

10-35 The previous question shall not be put unless demanded by three

10-36 Senators, and it shall be in this form: “Shall the main question be

10-37 now put?” When sustained by a majority of Senators present it shall

10-38 put an end to all debate and bring the Senate to a vote on the

10-39 question or questions before it, and all incidental questions arising

10-40 after the motion was made shall be decided without debate. A

10-41 person who is speaking on a question shall not while he has the

10-42 floor move to put that question.

11-1 The next rule is 90.

11-2 VIII. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

11-3 A. Generally

11-4 Rule No. 90. Mason’s Manual.

11-5 The rules of parliamentary practice contained in Mason’s Manual

11-6 of Legislative Procedure shall govern the Senate in all cases in

11-7 which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent

11-8 with the standing rules and orders of the Senate, and the joint rules

11-9 of the Senate and Assembly.

11-10 Rule No. 91. Suspension of Rule.

11-11 No standing rule or order of the Senate shall be rescinded or

11-12 changed without a vote of two-thirds of the Senate and one day’s

11-13 notice of the motion therefor; but a rule or order may be

11-14 temporarily suspended for a special purpose by a vote of two-thirds

11-15 of the members present. When the suspension of a rule is called for,

11-16 and after due notice from the President no objection is offered, he

11-17 can announce the rule suspended and the Senate may proceed

11-18 accordingly; but this shall not apply to that portion of Senate

11-19 Standing Rule No. 109 relating to the third reading of bills, which

11-20 cannot be suspended; and further, this rule shall not apply to the

11-21 suspension of Senate Standing Rule No. 50.

11-22 Rule No. 92. Notices of Bills, Topics and Public Hearings.

11-23 Adequate notice shall be provided to the Legislators and the

11-24 public by posting information relative to the bills, topics and public

11-25 hearings which are to come before committees. Notices shall

11-26 include the date, time, place and agenda, and shall be posted

11-27 conspicuously in the legislative building, shall appear in the daily

11-28 history, and shall be made available to the news media.

11-29 This requirement of notice may be suspended for an emergency

11-30 by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the committee members

11-31 appointed.

11-32 Rule No. 93. Protest.

11-33 Any Senator, or Senators, may protest against the action of the

11-34 Senate upon any question, and have such protest entered in the

11-35 Journal.

11-36 Rule No. 94. Privilege of the Floor.

11-37 1. To preserve decorum and facilitate the business of the

11-38 Senate, only the following persons may be present on the floor of

11-39 the Senate during formal sessions:

11-40 (a) State officers;

11-41 (b) Officers and members of the Senate;

11-42 (c) Employees of the Legislative Counsel Bureau;

11-43 (d) Attachés and employees of the Senate; and

12-1 (e) Members of the Assembly whose presence is required for the

12-2 transaction of business.

12-3 2. Guests of Senators must be seated in a section of the upper

12-4 or lower gallery of the Senate Chamber to be specially designated

12-5 by the Sergeant at Arms. The Majority Leader may specify special

12-6 occasions when guests may be seated on the floor of the Senate

12-7 with a Senator.

12-8 3. A majority of Senators may authorize the President to have

12-9 the Senate Chamber cleared of all persons except Senators and

12-10 officers of the Senate.

12-11 4. The Senate Chamber may not be used for any business other

12-12 than legislative business during a legislative session.

12-13 Rule No. 95. Material Placed on Legislators’ Desks.

12-14 1. Only the Sergeant at Arms and officers and employees of the

12-15 Senate may place papers, letters, notes, pamphlets and other written

12-16 material upon a Senator’s desk. Such material must contain the

12-17 name of the Legislator requesting the placement of the material on

12-18 the desk or a designation of the origin of the material.

12-19 2. This rule does not apply to books containing the legislative

12-20 bills and resolutions, the daily histories and daily journals of the

12-21 Senate or Assembly, or Legislative Counsel Bureau material.

12-22 Rule No. 96. Reserved.

12-23 Rule No. 97. Petitions and Memorials.

12-24 The contents of any petition or memorial shall be briefly stated

12-25 by the President or any Senator presenting it. It shall then lie on the

12-26 table or be referred, as the President or Senate may direct.

12-27 Rule No. 98. Reserved.

12-28 Rule No. 99. Reserved.

12-29 Rule No. 100. Reserved.

12-30 Rule No. 101. Reserved.

12-31 Rule No. 102. Objection to Reading of Paper.

12-32 Where the reading of any paper is called for, and is objected to

12-33 by any Senator, it shall be determined by a vote of the Senate, and

12-34 without debate.

12-35 Rule No. 103. Questions Relating to Priority of Business.

12-36 All questions relating to the priority of business shall be decided

12-37 without debate.

12-38 B. Bills

12-39 Rule No. 104. Reserved.

12-40 Rule No. 105. Reserved.

12-41 Rule No. 106. Skeleton Bills.

12-42 Skeleton bills may be introduced after the beginning of a session

12-43 when, in the opinion of the sponsor and the Legislative Counsel, the

12-44 full drafting of the bill would entail extensive research or be of

13-1 considerable length. A skeleton bill will be a presentation of ideas or

13-2 statements of purpose, sufficient in style and expression to enable

13-3 the Legislature and the committee to which the bill may be referred

13-4 to consider the substantive merits of the legislation proposed.

13-5 Rule No. 107. Information Concerning Bills.

13-6 1. Bills introduced may be accompanied by information

13-7 relative to witnesses and selected persons of departments and

13-8 agencies who should be considered for committee hearings on the

13-9 proposed legislation. At the time of introduction of a bill, a list may

13-10 be given to the Secretary of witnesses who are proponents of the

13-11 measure together with their addresses and telephone numbers. This

13-12 information may be provided by:

13-13 (a) The Senator introducing the bill;

13-14 (b) The person requesting a committee introduction of the bill;

13-15 or

13-16 (c) The chairman of a committee introducing the bill.

13-17 2. The Secretary shall deliver this information to the chairman

13-18 of the committee to which the bill is referred. Members of the

13-19 committee may suggest additional names for witnesses.

13-20 3. The Legislator may provide an analysis which may describe

13-21 the intent, purpose, justification and effects of the bill, or any of

13-22 them.

13-23 Rule No. 108. Reserved.

13-24 Rule No. 109. Reading of Bills.

13-25 1. Every bill must receive three readings before its passage,

13-26 unless, in case of emergency, this rule is suspended by a two-thirds

13-27 vote.

13-28 2. The first reading of a bill is for information, and if there is

13-29 opposition to the bill, the question must be, “Shall this bill be

13-30 rejected?” If there is no opposition to the bill, or if the question to

13-31 reject is defeated, the bill must then take the usual course.

13-32 3. No bill may be committed until once read, nor amended

13-33 until twice read.

13-34 4. The third reading of every bill must be by sections.

13-35 Rule No. 110. Second Reading File—Consent Calendar.

13-36 1. All bills or joint resolutions reported by committee must be

13-37 placed on a Second Reading File unless recommended for

13-38 placement on the Consent Calendar.

13-39 2. A committee shall not recommend a bill or joint resolution

13-40 for placement on the Consent Calendar if:

13-41 (a) An amendment of the bill or joint resolution is

13-42 recommended;

13-43 (b) It contains an appropriation;

13-44 (c) It requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate; or

13-45 (d) It is controversial in nature.

14-1 3. A bill or joint resolution recommended for placement on the

14-2 Consent Calendar must be included in the Daily File listed in the

14-3 Daily History of the Senate at least 1 calendar day before it may be

14-4 considered.

14-5 4. A bill or joint resolution must be removed from the Consent

14-6 Calendar at the request of any Senator. A bill or joint resolution so

14-7 removed must be immediately placed on the Second Reading File

14-8 for consideration in the usual order of business.

14-9 5. When the Consent Calendar is called, the bills remaining on

14-10 the Consent Calendar must be read by number and summary, and

14-11 the vote must be taken on their final passage as a group.

14-12 Rule No. 111. Printing.

14-13 [Eleven hundred] An appropriate number of copies of all bills

14-14 and resolutions of general interest must be printed for the use of the

14-15 Senate and Assembly. Such other matter must be printed as may be

14-16 ordered by the Senate.

14-17 Rule No. 112. Reserved.

14-18 Rule No. 113. Reading of Bills—General File.

14-19 1. Upon reading of bills on the Second Reading File, Senate

14-20 and Assembly bills reported without amendments must be [placed

14-21 on] ordered to the General File. Committee amendments reported

14-22 with bills must be considered upon their second reading and such

14-23 amendments may be adopted by a majority vote of the members

14-24 present. Bills so amended must be reprinted, engrossed or

14-25 reengrossed, and [placed on] ordered to the General File. The File

14-26 must be posted in the Senate Chamber and made available to

14-27 members of the public each day by the Secretary.

14-28 2. Any member may move to amend a bill during its reading

14-29 on the Second Reading File or during its third reading and the

14-30 motion to amend may be adopted by a majority vote of the

14-31 members present. Bills so amended on second reading must be

14-32 treated the same as bills with committee amendments. Any bill so

14-33 amended upon the General File must be reprinted and engrossed or

14-34 reengrossed.

14-35 3. [Unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, eleven hundred]

14-36 An appropriate number of copies of all amended bills must be

14-37 printed.

14-38 Rule No. 114. Commitment of Bill With Special Instructions.

14-39 A bill may be committed with special instructions to amend at

14-40 any time before taking the final vote.

14-41 Rule No. 115. Reconsideration of Vote on Bill.

14-42 1. On the day after the final vote on any bill, the vote may be

14-43 reconsidered on motion of any member if notice of intention to

14-44 move for reconsideration was given on the day the final vote was

14-45 taken by a Senator who voted on the prevailing side. No motion to

15-1 reconsider is in order on the day the final vote was taken, except by

15-2 unanimous consent.

15-3 2. Motions to reconsider a vote upon amendments to any

15-4 pending question may be made and decided at once.

15-5 Rule No. 116. Reserved.

15-6 Rule No. 117. Different Subject Not Admitted as Amendment.

15-7 No subject different from that under consideration shall be

15-8 admitted as an amendment; and no bill or resolution shall be

15-9 amended by incorporating any irrelevant subject matter or by

15-10 association or annexing any other bill or resolution pending in the

15-11 Senate, but a substitute may be offered at any time so long as the

15-12 original is open to amendment.

15-13 C. Resolutions

15-14 Rule No. 118. Treated as Bills.

15-15 Resolutions addressed to Congress, or to either House thereof, or

15-16 to the President of the United States, or the heads of any of the

15-17 national departments, or proposing amendments to the State

15-18 Constitution are subject, in all respects, to the foregoing rules

15-19 governing the course of bills. A joint resolution proposing an

15-20 amendment to the Constitution shall be entered in the Journal in its

15-21 entirety.

15-22 Rule No. 119. Treated as Motions.

15-23 Resolutions, other than those referred to in Senate Standing Rule

15-24 No. 118, shall be treated as motions in all proceedings of the

15-25 Senate.

15-26 Rule No. 120. Order of Business.

15-27 1. Roll Call.

15-28 2. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

15-29 3. Reading and Approval of the Journal.

15-30 4. Reports of Committees.

15-31 5. Messages from the Governor.

15-32 6. Messages from the Assembly.

15-33 7. Communications.

15-34 8. Waivers and Exemptions.

15-35 9. Motions, Resolutions and Notices.

15-36 10. Introduction, First Reading and Reference.

15-37 11. Consent Calendar.

15-38 12. Second Reading and Amendment.

15-39 13. General File and Third Reading.

15-40 14. Unfinished Business.

15-41 15. Special Orders of the Day.

15-42 16. Remarks from the Floor; Introduction of Guests. A Senator

15-43 may speak under this order of business for a period of not more

15-44 than 10 minutes.

16-1 Rule No. 121. Privilege.

16-2 Any Senator may rise and explain a matter personal to himself

16-3 by leave of the President, but he shall not discuss any pending

16-4 question in such explanation.

16-5 Rule No. 122. Reserved.

16-6 Rule No. 123. Reserved.

16-7 Rule No. 124. Preference to Speak.

16-8 When two or more Senators rise at the same time the President

16-9 shall name the one who may first speak—giving preference, when

16-10 practicable, to the mover or introducer of the subject under

16-11 consideration.

16-12 Rule No. 125. Special Order.

16-13 The President shall call the Senate to order on the arrival of the

16-14 time fixed for the consideration of a special order, and announce

16-15 that the special order is before the Senate, which shall be

16-16 considered, unless it be postponed by a two-thirds vote, and any

16-17 business before the Senate at the time of the announcement of the

16-18 special order shall go to Unfinished Business.

16-19 Rule No. 126. Reserved.

16-20 Rule No. 127. Reserved.

16-21 Rule No. 128. Reserved.

16-22 Rule No. 129. Reserved.

16-23 D. Contests of Elections

16-24 Rule No. 130. Procedure.

16-25 1. The Senate shall not dismiss a statement of contest for want

16-26 of form if any ground of contest is alleged with sufficient certainty

16-27 to inform the defendant of the charges he is required to meet. The

16-28 following grounds are sufficient, but are not exclusive:

16-29 (a) That the election board or any member thereof was guilty of

16-30 malfeasance.

16-31 (b) That a person who has been declared elected to an office was

16-32 not at the time of election eligible to that office.

16-33 (c) That illegal votes were cast and counted for the defendant,

16-34 which, if taken from him, will reduce the number of his legal votes

16-35 below the number necessary to elect him.

16-36 (d) That the election board, in conducting the election or in

16-37 canvassing the returns, made errors sufficient to change the result

16-38 of the election as to any person who has been declared elected.

16-39 (e) That the defendant has given, or offered to give, to any

16-40 person a bribe for the purpose of procuring his election.

16-41 (f) That there was a possible malfunction of any voting or

16-42 counting device.

16-43 2. The contest must be submitted so far as may be possible

16-44 upon depositions or by written or oral arguments as the Senate may

17-1 order. Any party to a contest may take the deposition of any witness

17-2 at any time after the statement of contest is filed with the Secretary

17-3 of State and before the contest is finally decided. At least 5 days’

17-4 notice must be given to the prospective deponent and to the other

17-5 party. If oral statements are made at any hearing before the Senate

17-6 or a committee thereof which purport to establish matters of fact,

17-7 they must be made under oath. Strict rules of evidence do not apply.

17-8 3. The contestant has the burden of proving that any

17-9 irregularities shown were of such nature as to establish the

17-10 probability that the result of the election was changed thereby.

17-11 After consideration of all the evidence, the Senate shall declare the

17-12 defendant elected unless the Senate finds from the evidence that a

17-13 person other than the defendant received the greatest number of

17-14 legal votes, in which case the Senate shall declare that person

17-15 elected.

17-16 The next rule is 140.

17-17 IX. LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATIONS

17-18 Rule No. 140. Compensation of Witnesses.

17-19 Witnesses summoned to appear before the Senate, or any of its

17-20 committees, shall be compensated as provided by law for witnesses

17-21 required to attend in the courts of the State of Nevada.

17-22 ²⁰~~~~~⁰³