The Rules with Joint Rules and Florida Constitution Florida House of Representatives 2002-2004 As Adopted November 19, 2002 The Rules with Joint Rules and Florida Constitution Florida House of Representatives 2002-2004 Edition 2 As Adopted November 19, 2002 ii Contents Table of Contents for Rules and Joint Rules . v The Rules . 1 Joint Rules . 91 Index to the Rules . 121 The Constitution of Florida . 143 Index to the Constitution . 203 Votes Required . 223 iii iv The Rules THE RULES Table of Contents for Rules and Joint Rules RULE ONE—LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATION Page 1.1 Officers of the House . 1 1.2 Political Party Conferences . 1 1.3 Standing Committees and Subcommittees . 1 1.4 Qualifications and Elections of Members . 4 RULE TWO—DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE SPEAKER 2.1 Speaker to Enforce Rules; Questions of Order . 5 2.2 Speaker to Bring Business Before the House . 5 2.3 Preservation of Order and Decorum; Control Over Chamber and Other Rooms Assigned to the House . 5 2.4 Appointment of Temporary Presiding Officer . 5 2.5 Appointment of Liaisons . 6 2.6 House Employees Serve at the Pleasure of the Speaker . 6 2.7 Speaker to Sign Papers and Authorize Counsel in Suits Affecting the House . 6 RULE THREE—MEMBERS 3.1 Disclosures of Interest and Disqualification from Voting . 7 3.2 Attendance Upon Meetings Required . 7 3.3 Attendance at Sessions . 7 3.4 Members Presumed Present Unless Excused or Necessarily Prevented; Failure to Answer Roll Call . 8 3.5 Possession of Bills . 8 3.6 Open Meetings . 8 RULE FOUR—DUTIES OF THE CLERK AND EMPLOYEES 4.1 Clerk . 11 4.2 Employees Forbidden to Lobby; Restriction on Employee Campaign Activities . 12 v The Rules Page RULE FIVE—FORM AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLS 5.1 “Bill” Stands for All Legislation . 13 5.2 Filing Deadlines . 13 5.3 Limitation on Member Bills Filed . 13 5.4 Forms of Measures . 14 5.5 Local Bills . 14 5.6 Claim Bills . 15 5.7 Reviser’s Bills . 15 5.8 Memorials . 16 5.9 House Resolutions and Concurrent Resolutions and Tributes . 16 5.10 Prefiled Bills . 16 5.11 Requirements for Introduction . 17 5.12 Identification . 17 5.13 Companion Measures . 17 RULE SIX—REFERENCE 6.1 Speaker to Refer Legislation . 19 6.2 Reference: Generally . 19 6.3 Reference: Exception; Additional or New References . 19 6.4 Reference of Resolutions, Concurrent Resolutions: Exception . 19 6.5 Reference of Appropriations or Tax Measures . 20 6.6 Reference of Veto Messages . 20 RULE SEVEN—COMMITTEES—ORGANIZATION, MEETINGS, AND OVERSIGHT Part One—Organization 7.1 Standing Committee Appointments . 21 7.2 Appointment of Select Committees . 21 7.3 Ex Officio Members . 21 Part Two—Meetings; Powers, Duties, and Procedure 7.4 Powers of the Chair . 22 7.5 Absence of the Chair . 23 7.6 Meetings of Committees and Subcommittees . 23 vi The Rules Page 7.7 Time for Meetings . 23 7.8 Committees and Subcommittees Meeting During House Session . 23 7.9 Consideration of Bills, Including Proposed Committee Bills . 24 7.10 Meetings of Committees and Subcommittees: Time Required for Advance Notice . 24 7.11 Nature and Distribution of Notice . 24 7.12 Notices of Meetings Between Sessions . 25 7.13 Reconsideration in Committee or Subcommittee . 25 7.14 Open Meetings; Decorum . 26 7.15 Unfavorable Reports . 26 7.16 Voting in Committee . 27 7.17 Proxy Voting Prohibited; Votes Recorded After Roll Call . 27 7.18 Quorum Required . 27 7.19 Nature and Contents of Committee and Subcommittee Reports . 27 7.20 Minority Reports . 28 7.21 Fiscal Analysis . 28 7.22 Committee and Subcommittee Amendments . 29 7.23 Committee Bills; Designation of Cosponsors . 29 Part Three—Conference Committees 7.24 Conference Committee Meetings; Procedures . 30 7.25 Composition of Conference Committee . 30 7.26 Presentation of Conference Committee Report . 30 7.27 Form of Conference Committee Report . 31 7.28 Time Restraints on Conference Committees . 31 7.29 When Managers Are Unable to Agree . 31 Part Four—Oversight Responsibilities and Powers 7.30 Oversight Powers and Responsibilities of Committees and Subcommittees . 31 vii The Rules Page RULE EIGHT—CHAMBER PROTOCOL Part One—Privilege of the Floor 8.1 Privilege of the Floor . 33 Part Two—Speaking 8.2 Addressing the House; Requirements to Spread Remarks Upon the Journal . 33 8.3 When Two Members Rise at Once . 34 8.4 Recognition of Members . 34 8.5 Recognition of Gallery Visitors and Physician of the Day . 34 Part Three—Debate 8.6 Decorum . 34 8.7 Speaking and Debate . 34 8.8 Right to Open and Close Debate . 35 Part Four—Materials and Meals in Chamber 8.9 Distribution of Materials in Chamber; Meals in Chamber . 35 Part Five—Miscellaneous Papers 8.10 Miscellaneous Papers . 35 RULE NINE—VOTING 9.1 Members Shall Vote . 37 9.2 Taking the Yeas and Nays . 37 9.3 Vote of the Speaker or Temporary Presiding Officer . 37 9.4 Votes After Roll Call . 37 9.5 No Member to Vote for Another Except by Request . 38 9.6 Explanation of Vote . 38 RULE TEN—ORDER OF BUSINESS AND CALENDARS Part One—Order of Business 10.1 Daily Sessions . 39 10.2 Daily Order of Business . 39 viii The Rules Page 10.3 Chaplain to Offer Prayer . 40 10.4 Quorum . 40 10.5 Consideration of Senate Messages; Generally . 40 Part Two—Readings 10.6 “Reading” Defined . 40 10.7 Reading of Bills and Joint Resolutions . 40 10.8 Reading of Concurrent Resolutions and Memorials . 40 10.9 Reading of House Resolutions . 41 10.10 Measures on Third Reading . 41 10.11 Waiting Period Prior to Vote on Final Passage . 41 Part Three—Bills Subject to Special Rule 10.12 Bills Subject to Special Rule . 41 Part Four—Calendars 10.13 Special Order Calendar . 42 10.14 Consideration of Bills Not on Special Order . 43 10.15 Consent Calendar . 43 10.16 Requirements for Placement on a Calendar . 43 10.17 Informal Deferral of Bills . 43 Part Five—Ceremonial Resolutions 10.18 Ceremonial Resolutions Published in Journal . 43 RULE ELEVEN—MOTIONS 11.1 Motions; How Made . 45 11.2 Precedence of Motions During Debate . 45 11.3 Questions of Order Decided Without Debate . 45 11.4 Division of Question . 46 11.5 Motion to Recess to a Time Certain . 46 11.6 Motion to Lay on the Table . 46 11.7 Motion to Reconsider . 46 11.8 Motion for the Previous Question . 47 11.9 Motion to Limit Debate . 48 11.10 Motion to Temporarily Postpone . 48 11.11 Motions to Withdraw or Refer Bills . 48 ix The Rules Page 11.12 Motion to Recommit . 49 11.13 Dilatory Motions . ..