SR0003 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0003 SS1 LRB101 21493 JWD 72247 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On March 9, 2020, acting under Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the Governor found that a disaster existed within the State of Illinois due to the public health emergency caused by the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and specifically declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area; and

WHEREAS, The Statewide public health emergency caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to this day, and the ongoing danger presented by the virus requires the use of extraordinary precautions to reduce the risk of infection while allowing the Senate to complete the business of the People of the State of Illinois in its spring legislative session; and

WHEREAS, The public may view Senate sessions and committees through electronic means, such as www.ilga.gov, and may submit written testimony through www.ilga.gov; and

WHEREAS, While necessary, extraordinary precautions taken to reduce the risk of infection must be done with regard for the rights and requirements set forth in the United States and Illinois Constitutions, together with the need for the orderly conduct of the business of the People of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the following Rules are adopted for the conduct of this Special Session:

ARTICLE XIII

SPECIAL SESSION

(Senate Rule 13-1 new)

13-1. Applicability and construction. The meetings and actions of the Senate, including all of its committees, in this special session shall be governed by the Senate Rules adopted by the regular session of the Senate of the 101st General Assembly, together with the provisions contained in this Article. Where there is a conflict between the Senate Rules adopted by the regular session of the Senate of the 101st General Assembly and the provisions contained in this Article, the provisions contained in this Article shall be controlling.

(Senate Rule 13-2 new)

13-2. Public access to proceedings.

(a) The Presiding Officer shall designate a process for the public to observe the meetings and actions of the Senate, including all of its committees, via video or other electronic means.

(b) The Presiding Officer shall designate a process for the committees of the Senate to receive testimony from members of the public via electronic means.

(Senate Rule 13-3 new)

13-3. Floor debate and personal privilege.

(a) Prior to floor debate, the President, in consultation with the Minority Leader, may establish the total number of speakers and number of speakers for each caucus who shall be recognized for debate for any legislative measure. If such a debate protocol is established, then the Presiding Officer shall announce prior to debate: (1) the total number of speakers; (2) number of speakers for each caucus; and (3) the member designated as floor manager by the respective caucus leader to manage the number of speakers for that caucus.

(b) Members may not introduce guests or make points of personal privilege during the special session, these shall be reserved for regular session.

(Senate Rule 13-4 new)

13-4. Verification of attendance.

(a) At the beginning of each day of the special session, the President, or his or her designee, and the Minority Leader, or his or her designee, shall provide to the Secretary the names of those members of his or her respective caucus who are excused from attendance for that day. All members not so excused shall be counted as present for the purposes of determining a quorum or voting in the Senate or its committees.

(b) The name of any member not already excused from attendance for a day of the special session who leaves the State Capitol prior to adjournment of the special session for that day shall be added to names of those members of that caucus who are excused from attendance for that day, and his or her name shall be provided by the President, or his or her designee, or the Minority Leader, or his or her designee, as the case may be, to the Secretary. Once a member's name has been provided to the Secretary under this paragraph, that member shall not be counted as present for the purposes of determining a quorum or voting in the Senate or its committees for the remainder of that day or until that member's presence is reestablished under subsection (c).

(c) If a member who has left the State Capitol as described in paragraph (b) returns prior to adjournment of the special session for that day, his or her name shall be provided by the President, or his or her designee, or the Minority Leader, or his or her designee, as the case may be, to the Secretary who shall remove it from the names of those members of that caucus who are excused from attendance for that day. Once a member's name has been provided to the Secretary under this paragraph, that member shall be counted as present for the purposes of determining a quorum or voting in the Senate or its committees.

(d) If a member who was excused from attendance as described in paragraph (a) thereafter arrives at the State Capitol prior to adjournment of the special session for that day, his or her name shall be provided by the President, or his or her designee, or the Minority Leader, or his or her designee, as the case may be, to the Secretary who shall remove it from the names of those members of that caucus who are excused from attendance for that day. Once a member's name has been provided to the Secretary under this paragraph, that member shall be counted as present for the purposes of determining a quorum or voting in the Senate or its committees.

(e) No Senator may request verification of the results of any roll call in the Senate or its committees during the special session.