Delegation Resource Manual: Rules and Procedures
Page 113
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
Each bill assigned to the committee will be scheduled in a specific session of the committee and at a
specific time. The committee chairperson shall turn in a written calendar to the Bill Coordinator by
no later than noon of the first day of the Model Legislature.
The Bill Coordinator will post all committee calendars in a central location. Sponsors of bills shall
be responsible for reviewing calendars to determine the time and location at which the committee
will be considering the sponsor’s bill. In the case of a subcommittee assignment, the calendar will so
note the necessary information for the bill sponsor. All bill sponsors will be expected to follow the
bill calendar and appear at the committee location promptly for consideration of the sponsor’s bill.
Committee Procedures
Because of the limited amount of time in the committee and the tasks that must be completed by
the committee, the procedure to be used in committee during consideration of a bill is to be strictly
followed. A “Motion to Suspend of the Rules” set forth herein are not permitted, and a member
who proposes such a motion is not only out of order, but is acting in a dilatory fashion, and may
lose the right to participate in the committee session and vote on the bill under consideration. A
final decision on such a sanction rests with the committee chairperson.
At the appointed time for meeting, the committee chairperson shall call the committee to order and
at the first meeting of the committee, shall appoint a member of the committee to serve as the
committee’s secretary. The committee secretary shall then call the roll of the committee; which shall
determine if a quorum is present. The committee attendance record will be forwarded to the Bill
Coordinator following the beginning of each committee meeting. All absences are to be noted.
Following the roll call, the committee chairperson shall review with the committee the calendar;
which has been established and has been posted as required. The committee chairperson shall then
review with the committee the debate procedures on the bills to be considered. If the committee
chairperson has determined that the use of a subcommittee would be helpful and is warranted by the
bills assigned to the committee, the chairperson shall then announce the designated subcommittee(s)
and instruct the subcommittee chairperson(s) of their duties.
The following procedures shall be used in the committee:
1.
Committee secretary will read the title of the bill to be considered when called up by the
chairperson. After the secretary reads the title, the secretary shall inquire if the bill sponsor has
any amendments to make to the bill before the committee begins consideration of the bill. All
amendments offered by the bill sponsor at this time will be considered as friendly amendments
and will not require any motion or vote by the committee. The amendments will be added as if
the bill were submitted in this manner.
2.
The sponsor of the bill will then be recognized by the chairperson for presentation of the bill,
not to exceed 2 minutes. Any time remaining will be considered reserved for the sponsor’s
summary. While the sponsor is presenting the bill, it is out of order to interrupt the sponsor for
questions, or to call a point of order/information/privilege, such points may be considered
following the sponsor’s presentation.
