Delegation Resource Manual: Rules and Procedures
Page 123
YMCA PA Youth & Government Program
not pertain to the business of the chamber. No radio, tape player or any other similar device
may be operated by a member during the session. Members may not record a session
without the consent of the chamber.
8.
All members are required to attend all committee meetings and legislative sessions, unless
excused by the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer shall notify the chairperson of the
committee as to his excusing a member from a committee meeting and shall state the reason
for the absence. The clerk of the chamber shall advise the Bill Coordinator of any excused
absence from committee or from a legislative session.
9.
The actions of each chamber on any bill are to be based solely on the deliberation of that
chamber. Consequently, the opinion or decision (vote) of the other chamber on a bill or the
similar subject of a bill is not appropriate for discussion purposes when a bill is being
debated. It is also out of order to raise any inquiry or point of order with regard to any
procedural issues concerning the action of another chamber on a bill. Discussion or debate
on a bill is to be limited to the remarks make either in committee or in the chamber on a bill.
10. Discussion or debate on a bill is to be limited strictly to the bill that is before the chamber.
Discussion or debate of any other bill or the subject matter of another bill of a similar nature
as the bill that is before the chamber is not permitted and is out of order. Only the merits of
the bill under consideration by the chamber are to be discussed or debated. Inflammatory or
derogatory remarks concerning the bill or any member are also not appropriate, and a
member may be sanctioned pursuant to these rules by the Presiding Officer for such
remarks.
11. No food or drinks may be brought into the chambers. Gum chewing or the use of any
tobacco product is also prohibited in the chambers. Personal items or possessions, which
are brought into the chambers by members, are not to be placed on any desk or any other
furniture in the chambers. Only writing material and material distributed by the program
may be placed on the desks. All other items must be placed on the member to sanctioning
by the Presiding Officer pursuant to these rules.
12. All individuals granted access to the chamber who are not members of the chamber, i.e.
lobbyist, news media and legislative liaisons, are required to respect the dignity of the
proceedings of the chamber. As such, they are not to carry on any conversation with any
member of the chamber unless that member has requested permission of the Presiding
Officer to leave the chamber area to speak with an individual in the area behind the railing.
Such individuals may make use of pages to contact members of the chambers, if such
contact is not disruptive to the proceedings of the chamber.
13. All Pages assigned to chambers shall be designated and identified as Legislative Pages. Only
Legislative Pages may be on the floor of the chamber during a Legislative Session.
Legislative Pages may only be utilized by members of the chamber and only for matters
relating to the business of the chamber and/or the Conference. Legislative Pages shall be
privy to all information in any communication, which the Page has been requested to
transmit. In each chamber two Pages shall be designated as Charge Page and shall be
responsible for overseeing the utilization of Pages in that chamber. Such Pages shall not be
utilized for communication or other business.
