SENATE RESOLUTION 1

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

William H. Payne

A RESOLUTION

AMENDING THE SENATE RULES REGARDING THE PRESERVATION OF THE DECORUM OF THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, Senate Rule 24-1 provides that the rules of the senate may be amended by a two-thirds' vote of all the members of the senate or by a majority vote of the members of the senate upon the recommendation of the senate rules committee;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Senate Rule 7-12 be amended to read:

"7-12     While the senate is in session, a senator shall not speak to another senator in a disruptive manner, otherwise interrupt the business of the senate, detract from the decorum of the senate, communicate with a person outside the chamber concerning the substance of the question before the body while debating the question without disclosing that fact or read any newspaper. [while the journals or public papers are being read. No] A senator shall not walk out of the chamber or across the chamber when the president is putting a question. [No] A senator shall not walk between a senator who is speaking and the chair."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Senate Rule 9-5-6 be amended to read:

"9-5-6    Committee meetings shall be governed by the following:

                (a) All meetings of a quorum of members of any committee or policymaking body of the senate held for the purpose of discussing public business or for the purpose of taking any action within the authority of or the delegated authority of such committee are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times except for initial probable cause deliberations and hearings relating to allegations of unethical conduct brought before the senate ethics committee, unless it is requested by the senator against whom the allegation is made.

                (b) The provisions of Subsection (a) of this rule shall not apply to matters relating to personnel, or matters adjudicatory in nature, or to any bill, resolution or other legislative matter not yet presented to either house of the legislature.

                (c) Meetings of a committee on general appropriations bills may be closed by a majority vote of the committee.

                (d) For the purposes of Rule 9-5-6, "meeting" means a gathering of the members called by the presiding officer of a standing committee.

                (e) A person presenting information to a committee or a senator debating the question before the committee shall not communicate with another person outside the meeting concerning the substance of the question before the body without disclosing that fact.".

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