SENATE RESOLUTION 1

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

 

 

 

 

 

A RESOLUTION

ENACTING AND SUSPENDING CERTAIN SENATE RULES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FIFTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW REMOTE PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS AND PROVIDE PROCEDURES TO CONDUCT PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

 

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

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the following new senate rules, effective for the remainder of the fifty-fourth legislature, be adopted to read:

"4-1-1    The president shall ensure that all members, staff and employees who are physically present in the senate, galleries, lobby, senate committee rooms and rooms connected therewith follow proper social distancing, including by limiting the number of persons physically present, and are provided with appropriate personal protection equipment during a declared public health emergency. The presiding officer shall ensure that each member wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose while on the floor or in committee."; and

"7-1-1    A senator shall be considered to be present and in attendance for the purposes of establishing a quorum if the member is physically present or in the senator's capitol office as confirmed by the presiding officer of the senate, or chair in the case of a standing committee. Senators are strongly encouraged to remain in their respective offices when not on the floor, in committee or in caucus and to remain in the capitol or advise their respective whip if they must leave for any reason."; and

"7-1-2    A senator who has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or who has actual knowledge of a person who has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 with whom the senator has been in personal contact shall inform the senator's respective floor leader or whip. The senator may be excused or shall self-isolate in the senator's capitol office. The senator participating from the senator's capitol office due to a positive test for coronavirus disease 2019 or exposure to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 shall be provided with the opportunity to debate and vote by electronic means from that senator's office and shall be considered present for the purposes of a quorum or a call of the senate. A senator who is self-isolating in the senator's office shall continue in self-isolation until advised by a medical professional that self-isolation is no longer necessary."; and

"7-5-1    A senator who is present from the senator's capitol office may vote by entering the senate chamber and casting the senator's vote from the well of the senate in front of the chief clerk or entering the doorway of the senate chamber and casting the senator's vote for the chief clerk to hear and record."; and

"7-8-1    A senator who is present from the senator's capitol office during a session and wishes to be recognized shall contact the senator's respective floor leader or whip, who shall then request the president to add that member's name to the list of senators desiring to be recognized. A senator who is present on the senate floor from the senator's capitol office may debate by entering the senate chamber and debating from the well of the senate or entering the doorway of the senate chamber and debating with a microphone from the doorway."; and

"11-9-2   Electronic signatures may be used by sponsors to sign bills, resolutions or memorials or amendments thereto."; and

"11-21-1  Committee reports on a bill, resolution or memorial may be digitally signed and electronically transmitted from the committee to the chief clerk."; and

"23-4-2   The sergeant-at-arms shall, at the direction of the president, mark off and reserve sufficient seating in the gallery for the families of members of the senate. Admission to this reserved area shall be by passes issued by the chief clerk and signed by a member. Family members shall observe social distancing guidelines."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Senate Rules 23-3 and 23-4-1 be suspended, effective for the remainder of the fifty-fourth legislature.

- 4 -