Bill Text: NJ SR110 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends Senate Rules 7:7, 9:1 and 17:3.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-01-13 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR110 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SR110-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Senator THOMAS H. KEAN, JR.
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Amends Senate Rules 7:7, 9:1 and 17:3.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution amending Rules 7:7, 9:1 and 17:3 of the Rules of the Senate.
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. Rule 7:7 is amended to read as follows:
7:7. Speaking on a Bill, Time.
No Senator shall speak on any bill or resolution more than three times, or longer than [30] 15 minutes the first time, [15] ten minutes the second time, and five minutes the third time without the permission of the President.
2. Rule 9:1 is amended to read as follows:
9:1. Presence Required; No Explanation.
a. No Senator's vote shall be recorded unless the Senator is personally present [in the Chamber].
b. Once a vote begins, no Senators are permitted to explain their votes.
3. Rule 17:3 is amended to read as follows:
17:3. Substitution; Identical Bill Rule.
a. Whenever, a General Assembly bill or resolution is passed by the General Assembly, delivered to the Senate, and an identical Senate bill or resolution has received second reading, is in the possession of the Senate, and at least one full calendar day has intervened since either or both of the identical bills or resolutions received second reading, the General Assembly bill or resolution may be substituted for the Senate bill or resolution and immediately moved to third reading. [Sponsors] Prime sponsors of the Senate bill or resolution shall be added as prime sponsors of the substituted bill or resolution. Co-sponsors of the Senate bill or resolution [may, by motion,] shall be added as co‑sponsors of the substituted bill or resolution.
b. Two bills or resolutions shall be deemed identical despite having technical differences with respect to legal reference, text, punctuation, spelling, grammar or form, so long as these differences may be corrected by Legislative Counsel pursuant to Rule 16:12.
4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution amends Rules 7:7, 9:1 and 17:3 of the Rules of the Senate.
Rule 7:7 is amended to provide that no Senator shall speak on any bill or resolution more than three times, or longer than 15 minutes the first time (instead of the current limit of 30 minutes), ten minutes the second time (instead of the current limit of 15 minutes), and five minutes the third time (no change to the current limit) without the permission of the President.
Rule 9:1(a) is amended to provide that no Senator's vote shall be recorded unless the Senator is "personally present." With this change, the Rule includes the phrase "personally present," as found in Article IV, Section IV, paragraph 6 of the New Jersey State Constitution.
Rule 17:3 is amended to provide that the prime sponsors of a Senate bill or resolution shall be added as prime sponsors of a substituted General Assembly bill or resolution. This amendment reflects the manner in which prime sponsorship is handled in the General Assembly under Rule 15:20 of the Rules of the General Assembly. In addition, the provision of Senate Rule 17:3 which currently specifies that co-sponsors of a Senate bill or resolution "may, by motion, be added as co-sponsors" of the substituted bill or resolution is amended so that they "shall be added as co-sponsors" of the substituted bill or resolution.
