Delegation Resource Manual: Rules and Procedures
Page 114
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
3.
The chairperson shall extend a 2 minutes open period to the committee members to ask any
technical and non-debatable questions of the sponsor. The chairperson shall direct the
committee members in the manner in which such questions may be presented.
4.
Following the period for technical and non-debatable questions, the chairperson shall then
recognize a designated member of the administration to testify as to the administration’s
position on the proposed bill. This shall be limited to no more than 2 minutes.
Such questioning shall be monitored and directed by the committee chairperson to assure that all
committee members have an opportunity to ask any questions which they may have. This
questioning period of the speaker shall be limited to no more than 2 minutes. Additional
discussion and questioning may occur outside the committee, if a member requests permission
of the chairperson to be excused, and if the designated member of the administration is
agreeable to further discussion and questioning.
5.
Upon completion of the testimony of the administration, the committee chairperson shall
recognize one lobbyist who may wish to testify on the proposed bill. The lobbyist must,
however, comply with certain conditions in order to be eligible to testify. First, the lobbyist
must have registered with the committee chairperson prior to the commencement of the
committee session, indicating that the wish to testify. Second, prior to the commencement of
the committee’s session, the lobbyist must have notified the sponsor of the bill of their interest
in testifying and must have either presented the bill sponsor with a written summary of the
testimony or have given the bill sponsor a verbal summary adequate to apprise the bill sponsor
of the chief points which the lobbyist will cover in their testimony.
The committee chairperson may refuse to recognize a lobbyist to speak before the committee if
these conditions are not fully met. This rule, however, may be suspended by a majority of the
committee should some extenuating circumstance make it impracticable to meet. The testimony
of a lobbyist will be subjected to the same rules on time limitation and questioning as for a
designated member of the administration.
6.
Following the testimony of the administration and the lobbyist, the chairperson shall then
recognize members of the committee to speak either for or against the bill rotating the debate
beginning with a member opposed to the bill. The chairperson at the beginning of the
discussion shall announce the amount of time allotted to the bill and shall be consistent with
that set forth in the posted calendar. The chairperson shall give reminders of the amount of
time remaining for discussion periodically.
7.
During the period allotted for discussion of the bill, members of the committee may offer
amendments to the bill. Such amendments must be written out on an amendment form, and
given to the chairperson for review as to germaneness.
If the chairperson determines that the amendment is not germane, he/she shall so state the
reasons to the committee. An appeal of the chairperson’s decision may be taken by a committee
member to the committee, but with no debate afforded to the committee. The sponsor of the
amendment may be afforded no more than one minute to explain why he/she believes the
amendment to be germane prior to the committee’s voting.
