11 LC 14 0374
House Resolution 16
By: Representative O`Neal of the 146th

A RESOLUTION


Relative to officials, employees, and committees in the House of Representatives; and for other purposes.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the following provisions shall be in effect during the 2011 regular session of the General Assembly of Georgia and for the duration of this General Assembly and until otherwise provided for by resolution of the House:

PART 1.
SECTION 1-1.

(a) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated or otherwise available for the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House is authorized to employ on behalf of the House of Representatives: a sergeant-at-arms, a postmaster or postmistress, assistant postmasters or assistant postmistresses, assistant doorkeepers, pages, aides, secretaries, stenographers, typists, clerks, porters, court reporters, consultants, and other necessary personnel; and the Speaker is authorized to provide offices for staff services for the House of Representatives and to employ personnel for said offices. The numbers and compensation of personnel so employed pursuant to this section shall be fixed by the Speaker within the limitations of funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the House of Representatives. Personnel employed pursuant to this section may be employed on a permanent or temporary basis and on a part-time or full-time basis, as may be determined by the Speaker. The assignment and duties of personnel employed pursuant to this section shall be as determined by the Speaker; and any such personnel may be assigned to House officers, committees, committee officers, caucuses, and caucus officers as deemed appropriate by the Speaker, including without limitation assignment of aides to the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, and the Minority Leader.
(b) By agreement with the appropriate officer or officers of the Senate, the Speaker of the House may authorize the employment of joint staff and the establishment of joint offices of the General Assembly.

SECTION 1-2.
The Speaker is also authorized to secure the services of chaplains and interns and provide expense reimbursement allowances for them within the limitations of funds appropriated or otherwise available.

SECTION 1-3.
The Doorkeeper of the House and the Messenger of the House, who are elected by the House, shall be compensated in an amount to be fixed by the Speaker of the House.

PART 2.
SECTION 2-1.

Subject to the availability of funds appropriated or otherwise available for the Clerk of the House's office, the Clerk of the House is authorized to employ for the Clerk's office: assistant clerks, reading clerks, calendar clerks, journal clerks, secretaries, copy readers, typists, Multilith operators, Xerox operators, collator operators, porter-machinists, roll-call operators, clerical assistants, terminal operators, camera operators, supply and mail clerks, document distributors, audio operators, porters, personnel to distribute bills and other materials for members, and other necessary personnel. The numbers and compensation of personnel employed pursuant to this section shall be fixed by the Clerk within the limitations of funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the Clerk of the House's office. Personnel employed pursuant to this section may be employed on a permanent or temporary basis and on a part-time or full-time basis, as may be determined by the Clerk. The assignment and duties of personnel employed pursuant to this section shall be as determined by the Clerk.

SECTION 2-2.
Pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 28-3-23 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the salary of the Clerk of the House shall be the same amount the Clerk was receiving at the time of adoption of this resolution by the House. In addition to that amount, the Clerk shall also receive the same percentage salary increase provided in the General Appropriations Act when granted to other employees of the legislative branch of state government. During the Clerk's tenure of office, he or she shall also receive the same expense allowance and the same mileage allowance or travel allowance as received by members of the General Assembly for each day of service rendered by the Clerk.

PART 3.
SECTION 3-1.

Subject to the availability of funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the Speaker of the House's Office, the Speaker of the House is authorized to employ interns, aides, secretaries, stenographers, typists, consultants, and other necessary personnel. The numbers and compensation of personnel employed pursuant to this section shall be fixed by the Speaker within the limitations of funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the Speaker of the House's Office. Personnel employed pursuant to this section may be employed on a permanent or temporary basis and on a part-time or full-time basis as may be determined by the Speaker. The assignment and duties of personnel employed pursuant to this section shall be as determined by the Speaker.

PART 4.
SECTION 4-1.

During any day or period of time during which the General Assembly is not in session, including without limitation any day or period of adjournment during a regular or special session, each of the following officers shall be a committee of one for each day spent on official business: The Speaker of the House, the Speaker Pro Tempore, the Majority Leader, the Majority Whip, the Minority Leader, the Minority Whip, and the Administration Floor Leaders. For each such day spent on official business each of such officers shall receive the expense, mileage, and travel allowances authorized by law for members of interim committees.

SECTION 4-2.
(a) During any day or period of time during which the General Assembly is not in session, including without limitation any day or period of adjournment during a regular or special session, each member of the House of Representatives is designated as a committee of one for the purpose of carrying out legislative duties only within the State of Georgia. For each such day of service, each member shall receive the expense, mileage, and travel allowances authorized by law for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall not receive the same for more than seven days each year.
(b) In addition to the days provided for in subsection (a) of this section and without counting towards the limit specified in said subsection (a), each member of the House is designated as a committee of one for the purpose of carrying out legislative duties on any weekday which: (1) is a one day recess or adjournment during a regular session; and (2) occurs after Monday and prior to Friday. For each such day of service, each member shall receive the expense and travel allowances (not including mileage which shall be covered by the weekly round trip) for legislative members of interim legislative committees, if such member has engaged in legislative business on that day, but not otherwise.

SECTION 4-3.
Pursuant to the provisions of law, in addition to any other compensation they receive as members of the General Assembly, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Administration Floor Leaders each shall receive an amount of $1,200.00 per annum, as salary, to be paid in equal monthly or semimonthly installments. Prior to serving as an Administration Floor Leader, a Representative must be certified as such by the Governor in writing to the Speaker of the House and the Clerk of the House.

PART 5.
SECTION 5-1.

During any period or day of adjournment during a regular or special session, the Speaker is empowered to give authorization for standing committees of the House and such other committees as the Speaker might create to remain at the Capitol during any such period of time for the purpose of considering and studying proposed legislation and other matters. Members of such committees as shall be designated by the Speaker to remain at the Capitol shall receive the expense, mileage, and travel allowances authorized by law for members of interim committees.

SECTION 5-2.
The Speaker is authorized to appoint committees from the members of the House to serve as interim legislative study committees and for the purpose of performing such duties as the Speaker shall deem necessary. Such committees are authorized to serve during the interim and the members thereof shall receive the expense, mileage, and travel allowances authorized by law for legislative members of interim legislative committees. The Speaker shall designate the chairperson of any such committee and shall prescribe the time for which any such committee is authorized to function. The Speaker is authorized to extend the time allowed for any committee, whether the committee is created by resolution or by the Speaker. The Speaker is authorized to designate standing committees or any subcommittee thereof to function during the interim for the purpose of performing such duties as the Speaker shall deem necessary. The members of any such committee or subcommittee shall receive the expense, mileage, and travel allowances authorized by law for legislative members of interim legislative committees.

PART 6.
SECTION 6-1.

The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of Parts 1, 4, and 5 of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the House of Representatives except that funds for any joint staff or joint offices under subsection 1-1(b) shall come from ancillary funds of the General Assembly. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of Part 2 of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the Clerk of the House's office. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of Part 3 of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the Speaker of the House's Office.

SECTION 6-2.
Any personnel employed pursuant to this resolution shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority; and any such personnel may be discharged by the appointing authority
with or without cause.

SECTION 6-3.
This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the House of Representatives.