HR0763 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0763 LRB100 17490 JWD 32659 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Rules of the House of Representatives of the 100th General Assembly are amended by changing Rules 32 and 49 and by adding Rule 21.5 as follows:

(House Rule 21.5 new)

21.5 Committee and Task Force Hearing Accessibility.

(a) The regular meeting location for committee and task force hearings shall be the seat of government in Springfield. Committee and task force hearings may also be held at the Michael A. Bilandic Building, located at 160 North LaSalle Street in Chicago, and at other locations authorized by the Speaker that are suitable for interactive video conference participation.

(b) Whenever the location for a committee or task force hearing is not in Springfield, the Clerk shall provide for a secondary location in Springfield where members and the public may participate in the hearing through an interactive video conference.

Notwithstanding any other rule to the contrary, committee or task force members with voting rights participating in a hearing through the interactive video conference shall be included in the quorum roll call for the hearing and shall be allowed to participate in the hearing, including speaking in debate, making motions, and casting votes, in the same manner as members who are physically present at the hearing location.

Any person wishing to offer testimony at a committee hearing, pursuant to Rule 26, or a task force hearing may do so at the secondary location in the same manner as a person who is physically present at the hearing location.

All votes shall be by roll call whenever one or more committee or task force members with voting rights are participating in the hearing through an interactive video conference. Participation in a hearing at the secondary location shall not be allowed during any time periods of interruption in interactive video conference service. No action of the committee or task force shall be invalidated on the grounds that the loss of, or poor quality of, the interactive video conference service prevented a committee or task force member, or a person wishing to offer testimony, from participating in the hearing.

The Clerk shall (i) include in the committee or task force hearing notice the secondary location for the hearing, and (ii) ensure that a committee clerk is present at the secondary location to operate necessary equipment, to record committee or task force member participation in quorum and vote roll calls, and to record requests to provide testimony.

(c) The Speaker may suspend the requirements of subsection (b) for interactive video conference participation when (i) the Clerk has determined that the condition of equipment or communication services at the hearing location will not allow for interactive video conference participation, and (ii) such conditions are first identified or arise after the hearing was scheduled. A detailed explanation of the conditions and their discovery that led to such determination shall be provided by the Clerk and included in the Journal.

(Source: H.R. 46, 100th G.A.)

(House Rule 32)

32. Quorum.

(a) A majority of those elected constitutes a quorum of the House, and a majority of those appointed constitutes a quorum of a committee, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, or recess for less than one day, and compel the attendance of absent members. Members of a committee with voting rights who are attending a hearing through an interactive video conference pursuant to Rule 21.5 shall count towards determining a quorum. When a quorum is not present for a hearing of a committee, a smaller number may conduct a hearing on a subject matter as authorized by Rule 21 or Rule 25. The attendance of absent members may also be compelled by order of the Speaker. This subsection may not be suspended.

(b) The question of the presence of a quorum in any committee may not be raised on consideration of a legislative measure by the House unless the same question was previously raised before the committee with respect to that legislative measure.

(c) Any member not answering the quorum roll call of the House on any session day who is in attendance and wishes to be added to that quorum roll call must file a request to be shown present on the quorum roll call with the Clerk. The request must be in writing and filed in person by the member on the same calendar day the quorum roll call was taken.

(Source: H.R. 46, 100th G.A.)

(House Rule 49)

49. Voting. The Presiding Officer shall put all questions distinctly, as follows: "All those in favor vote AYE, and those opposed vote NAY." No member may vote on any question before the House unless on the floor before the vote is announced. No member of a committee may vote except in person or through interactive video conference participation pursuant to Rule 21.5 at the time of the committee vote, provided the member is on the committee roll before the vote is announced. Any vote of the House shall be by record vote whenever 5 Representatives shall so request or whenever the Presiding Officer shall so order.

(Source: H.R. 46, 100th G.A.)