HR0846 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0846 LRB101 21501 JWD 72203 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Rules of the House of Representatives of the 101st General Assembly are amended by changing Rules 26 and 30 and by adding Rule 51.5 as follows:

(House Rule 26)

26. Rights of the Public.

(a) If a legislative measure or subject matter has been properly set for hearing and witnesses are present and wish to testify, the committee shall hear the witnesses at the scheduled time and place, subject to Rule 10(c).

(b) Any person wishing to offer testimony to a committee hearing of a legislative measure or subject matter shall be given a reasonable opportunity to do so, orally or in writing. The Chairperson may set time limits for presentation of oral testimony. No testimony in writing is required of any witness, but any witness may submit a statement in writing for the committee record. All persons offering testimony shall complete a "Record of Committee Witness" form and submit it to the committee clerk before testifying. In the case of standing or special committees with Co-Chairpersons from different political parties, the "Chairperson" means the Co-Chairperson from the majority caucus.

(c) A motion to foreclose further oral testimony by witnesses on a matter before a committee may be adopted only by a three-fifths majority of those voting on the motion. No such motion is in order until both proponents and opponents requesting to be heard have been given a fair and substantial opportunity to express their positions. No one shall be prohibited from filing for the record "Record of Committee Witness" forms or written statements while the matter is before the committee.

(d) Meetings of committees and subcommittees shall be open to the public. Committee meetings of the House may be closed to the public if two-thirds of the members elected to the House determine, by a record vote, that the public interest so requires.

(d-5) For meetings of committees during a disaster proclaimed by the Governor due to the COVID-19 virus, access to the room in which the committee is held shall be limited to members and officers of the General Assembly, majority and minority staff, and no more than 5 members of the public who are representatives of the press, except as otherwise authorized by the Speaker. The Speaker shall designate one or more locations outside of the committee room for the public to safely watch and listen to the proceedings of the House and its committees via a live audio/video broadcast. Access to such locations may be limited as necessary to maintain safety, including, but not limited to, requiring that persons at such locations follow the decorum requirements of Rule 51.5(a). Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules, testimony at a committee hearing during a disaster proclaimed by the Governor due to COVID-19 virus may be limited to written testimony at the discretion of the Chairperson. This subsection may not be suspended.

(e) This Rule cannot be suspended retroactively.

(Source: H.R. 59, 101st G.A.)

(House Rule 30)

30. Access to the House Floor and Chamber.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, only the following persons shall be admitted to the House while it is in session: members and officers of the General Assembly; elected officers of the executive branch; justices of the Supreme Court; the designated aide to an executive or judicial branch constitutional officer, except as limited by the Speaker; the parliamentarian; majority staff members and minority staff members, except as limited by the Speaker or Presiding Officer; former members, except as limited by the Speaker or prohibited under subsection (d); and employees of the Legislative Reference Bureau, except as limited by the Speaker. Representatives of the press, while the House is in session, may have access to the galleries and places allotted to them by the Speaker or his or her designee. No person is entitled to the floor unless appropriately attired. Only members of the General Assembly may use telephones at the members' desks. Smoking is prohibited on the floor of the House and in the House galleries.

(a-5) On any day in which the House is in session during a disaster proclaimed by the Governor due to the COVID-19 virus, access to the House Chamber and adjoining hallways and passages shall be limited to members and officers of the General Assembly, majority and minority staff as authorized by the Speaker or Presiding Officer, and no more than 5 members of the public who are representatives of the press, except as otherwise authorized by the Speaker. Representatives of the press shall be limited to the gallery space allotted to them by the Speaker or the Speaker's designee. The Speaker shall designate one or more locations outside of the House Chamber for the public to safely watch and listen to the proceedings of the House and its committees via a live audio/video broadcast. Access to such locations may be limited as necessary to maintain safety, including, but not limited to, requiring that persons at such locations follow the decorum requirements of Rule 51.5(a). This subsection may not be suspended.

(b) On days during which the House is in session, the Doorkeeper shall clear the floor of all persons not entitled to access to the floor 15 minutes before the convening time, and the Doorkeeper shall enforce all other provisions of this Rule.

(c) The Speaker may authorize the admission to the floor of any other person, except as prohibited under subsection (d).

(d) No person who is directly or indirectly interested in defeating or promoting any pending legislative measure, if required to be registered as a lobbyist or compensated by an entity required to register as a lobbyist, shall be allowed access to the floor of the House at any time during the session. The Speaker, or his or her designee, shall have the authority to determine whether a person may be granted or denied access in accordance with this subsection.

(e) When he or she deems it necessary for the preservation of order, the Presiding Officer may by order remove any person from the floor of the House. A Representative may be removed from the floor only under Rule 51.5 or Article XI or XII of these Rules.

(Source: H.R. 59, 101st G.A.)

(House Rule 51.5 new)

51.5 Decorum during the COVID-19 Disaster.

(a) On any day in which the House is in session during a disaster proclaimed by the Governor due to the COVID-19 virus, all members and officers of the General Assembly, majority and minority staff, and other persons when entitled to the House floor, galleries, and adjoining hallways and passages shall:

(1) to the extent medically able and except as reasonably necessary for eating or drinking, wear a face-covering that covers the nose and mouth;

(2) to the extent possible, maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person except as permitted by the other person;

(3) have submitted to and passed a temperature check prior to entry; and

(4) have passed through a metal detector prior to entry.

(b) In a committee hearing during a disaster proclaimed by the Governor due to the COVID-19 virus, members and officers of the General Assembly, staff, witnesses, and members of the public in the room in which the committee is held shall follow the requirements of subsection (a) of this Rule.

(c) A violation of this Rule shall be considered a breach of decorum and disorderly behavior. The Presiding Officer may by order remove any person, other than a Representative, from the House floor, galleries, and adjoining hallways and passages for violation of this Rule. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules, including Rule 30(e) and Articles XI and XII, a Representative in violation of this Rule may be disciplined and subject to reprimand, censure, removal from the House chamber, or other disciplinary measure, except expulsion and imprisonment, upon a motion approved by a majority of those elected. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit discipline pursuant to Article XI or XII of these Rules.

(d) This Rule may not be suspended.