SENATE RESOLUTION 4

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Mark Boitano

A RESOLUTION

AMENDING THE SENATE RULES TO AUTHORIZE LIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMING OF SENATE PROCEEDINGS.

     WHEREAS, 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 rules committee;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that a new Senate Rule 9-2-1 be adopted to read:

"9-2-1    The "senate streaming oversight committee", consisting of four members appointed by the committees' committee, is created. The two political parties having the greatest membership in the senate shall be equally represented on the committee. The committee shall monitor and review aspects of the production of the live audio and video streams of the senate floor and committee proceedings to ensure that the streams are produced and operated in an apolitical manner befitting the senate."; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Senate Rule 9-3 be amended to read:

"9-3      All members shall serve on two standing committees, except that members of the finance committee shall not serve on any other committee and provided service on the committees' committee, [or] the senate ethics committee or the senate streaming oversight committee shall not be counted as service on a standing committee; provided, a member may be temporarily assigned or reassigned by the committees' committee to serve on a third committee as a replacement for any member on that third committee who will be, or has been, excused by the senate from attending sessions for any period in excess of ten days."; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a new Senate Rule 23-8-1 be adopted to read:

"23-8-1   A live audio and video stream of the senate floor proceedings shall be accessible through the legislature's web site in a manner befitting the senate, including an appropriate user interface, subject to the following:

(a) the live stream shall begin as soon as practicable after the president has announced that a quorum is present and shall terminate as soon as practicable after a motion to recess or adjourn has carried, or upon the order of the presiding officer;

(b) the live video stream shall be from a single camera installed at the rear of the chamber, positioned and focused so as to capture an image of the chamber that as nearly as possible replicates the view of a member of the public seated in the gallery in such a way that no material on members' desks, computer monitors or similar devices can be read or viewed;

(c) the live stream shall not be archived;

(d) the provisions of this rule shall apply when the senate is meeting in the committee of the whole and when any standing committee of the senate is meeting in the chamber, at the request of the chair; and

(e) the stream shall carry a notice to the effect that the stream is being produced for the benefit of the public and any political use is prohibited and that the stream is not an official record of the senate's proceedings.".

- 4 -