THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PILEGGI AND COSTA, JUNE 6, 2011

REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JUNE 6, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Providing for the Rules of the Senate for the 195th and 196th

Regular Session.

RESOLVED, That Senate Resolution No. 1, Printer's No. 1

(2011), Senate Resolution No. 4, Printer's No. 4 (2011) and

Senate Resolution No. 45, Printer's No. 658 (2011) be repealed

effective September 1, 2011.

RESOLVED, That the following be adopted as the Rules of the

Senate for the governing of the 195th and 196th Regular Session

effective September 1, 2011.

(2011-2012)

RULES OF THE SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA

I SESSIONS

Regular and Special

1.  The General Assembly shall be a continuing body during

the term for which its Representatives are elected. It shall

meet at twelve o'clock noon on the first Tuesday of January each

year. Special sessions shall be called by the Governor on

petition of a majority of the Members elected to each House or

may be called by the Governor whenever in his opinion the public

interest requires. (Const. Art. 2, Sec. 4)

Weekly

2.  The Senate shall convene its weekly sessions on Monday,

unless the Senate shall otherwise direct.

II PRESIDENT

The Lieutenant Governor shall be President of the Senate.

(Const. Art. 4, Sec. 4)

III DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

1.  The President shall:

(a)  Take the chair on every legislative day at the hour to

which the Senate stands recessed, immediately call the Senators

to order, and proceed with the Order of Business of the Senate.

(b)  While in session have general direction of the Senate

Chamber. It shall be the President's duty to preserve order and

decorum, and, in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in

the Chamber or galleries, may cause the same to be cleared. When

in the President's opinion there arises a case of extreme

disturbance or emergency the President shall, with the

concurrence of the President Pro Tempore, the Majority and

Minority Leaders, recess the Senate. Such recess shall not

extend beyond the limitation imposed by Article 2, Section 14 of

the Constitution.

(c)  During debate, prevent personal references or questions

as to motive, and confine Senators, in debate, to the question.

(d)  Decide, when two or more Senators arise, who shall be

first to speak.

(e)  In the presence of the Senate, within one legislative

day after receipt or adoption, sign all bills and joint

resolutions which have passed both Houses after their titles

have been read.

(f)  Sign resolutions, orders, writs, warrants and subpoenas

issued by order of the Senate. The signature shall be attested

by the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate, or, if absent,

by the Chief Clerk; and the fact of signing shall be entered in

the Journal.

(g)  Decide all points of order, subject to appeal, giving,

however, any Member called to order the right to extenuate or

justify. Debate shall not be permitted unless there be an appeal

from a decision of the President in which event the President

shall submit the question to the whole Senate for decision. The

President shall submit points of order involving the

constitutionality of any matter to the Senate for decision.

Questions of order submitted to the Senate may be debated.

IV PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

1.  (a)  The Senate shall, at the beginning and close of each

regular session and at such other times as may be necessary,

elect one of its Members President Pro Tempore, who shall

perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor in any case of

absence or disability of that officer, and whenever the office

of Lieutenant Governor shall be vacant. (Const. Art. 2, Sec. 9)

(b)  The vote of a majority of the Members voting shall be

required to elect a President Pro Tempore. Except at the

beginning and close of each regular session, the Senate shall

only elect a President Pro Tempore when the office has become

vacant and the vote of the majority of the Members elected shall

be required to vacate the office of a seated President Pro

Tempore.

V DUTIES OF PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

1.  The President Pro Tempore shall:

(a)  Appoint the Chair, Vice-Chair and members of the

Standing Committees of the Senate as soon after the election of

the President Pro Tempore as possible.

(b)  Appoint members to special committees whenever

authorized.

(c)  Fill all vacancies occurring in standing and special

committees.

(d)  Refer to the appropriate standing committee, every bill

and joint resolution which may be introduced in the Senate or

received from the House of Representatives.

(e)  Appoint and have under the President Pro Tempore's

direction such Senate employees as are authorized by law.

(f)  Vote last on all questions when occupying the Chair.

2.  The President Pro Tempore may:

(a)  Name any Senator to preside in the absence of the

President, or if both the President and President Pro Tempore

are absent the Majority Leader, or the Majority Leader's

designee, shall preside. The Majority Leader, during such time,

shall be vested with all powers of the President. This authority

shall not extend beyond a day's recess.

VI DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY-PARLIAMENTARIAN

1.  At the beginning of each regular session convening in an

odd-numbered year and at other times as may be necessary, the

Senate shall elect a Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate.

2.  The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall:

(a)  Assist the presiding officer in conducting the business

of the session.

(b)  Act in the capacity of Parliamentarian.

3.  The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall,

subject to the direction of the President Pro Tempore:

(a)  Direct the following functions: (1) amending bills in

the Senate; (2) preparing and publishing the Senate Calendar;

(3) publication of the Senate History. (4) numbering Senate

bills as they are introduced and causing them to be distributed

to the chair of the committee to which they are referred and

receiving a receipt for same; (5) printing of bills.

(b)  Keep a record of the Senate action on a bill on a

special record sheet attached to the bill after it has been

reported from committee.

(c)  Keep a record of all leaves granted by the Senate by

compiling the leave requests submitted by a member and

transmitted to the Secretary-Parliamentarian by the respective

floor leaders. These records shall be retained only for the

duration of the two-year legislative session. Further, these

records shall be available for public inspection upon request.

(d)  Transmit all bills, joint resolutions, concurrent

resolutions and other communications to the House of

Representatives within one legislative day of final passage or

adoption, and each shall be accompanied by a message stating the

title to the measure being transmitted and requesting

concurrence of the House, as required.

(e)  Attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order

of the Senate; certify as to the passage of Senate Bills and the

approval of executive nominations.

(f)  Supervise the Senate Library, assist Senators by making

reference material available to them and perform any duties

assigned to the Senate Librarian by any statute.

(g)  Supervise the Chief Sergeant-at-Arms, the Senate Bill

Room, the Senate Print Shop, the Official Reporter's Office and

the Senate Page Service.

4.  The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall post

each roll call vote taken in the Senate on the Internet website

maintained by the Senate immediately, but in no case later than

24 hours after the vote. Each roll call vote shall be posted in

a manner which clearly identifies the bill, resolution or other

subject of the vote.

5.  The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall post

the Legislative Journal of the Senate on the Internet website

maintained by the Senate upon approval of the Journal or within

45 calendar days of each session day, whichever is earlier. If

the Secretary-Parliamentarian posts the Legislative Journal on

the Internet website prior to Senate approval, the copy shall be

marked "Official Reporter's Document."

VII DUTIES OF THE CHIEF CLERK

1.  At the beginning of each regular session convening in an

odd-numbered year and whenever necessary, the Senate shall elect

a Chief Clerk of the Senate.

2.  The Chief Clerk shall be the chief fiscal officer of the

Senate and shall perform those duties prescribed in section 2.4

of the act of January 10, 1968 (1967 P.L.925, No.417), referred

to as the Legislative Officers and Employes Law. In addition,

the Chief Clerk, subject to the direction of the President Pro

Tempore, shall perform those powers and duties prescribed in the

Financial Operating Rules of the Senate. In the absence of the

Secretary-Parliamentarian, the Chief Clerk shall, subject to the

direction of the President Pro Tempore, attest all writs,

warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the Senate and shall

certify as to the passage of Senate Bills and the approval of

executive nominations.

VIII DUTIES OF THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

1.  The Chief Sergeant-at-Arms shall:

(a)  Be constantly in attendance during the sessions of the

Senate except when absent in discharging other duties.

(b)  Have charge of and direct the work of the Assistant

Sergeants-at-Arms.

(c)  Serve all subpoenas and warrants issued by the Senate or

any duly authorized officer or committee.

(d)  Maintain order, at the direction of the presiding

officer, in the Senate Chamber and adjoining rooms.

(e)  See that no person, except those authorized to do so,

disturbs or interferes with the desk or its contents of any

Senator or officer.

(f)  Exclude from the floor all persons not entitled to the

privilege of the same.

(g)  Have charge of all entrances to the Chamber during the

sessions of the Senate and shall see that the doors are properly

attended.

(h)  Announce, upon recognition by the presiding officer, all

important communications and committees.

(i)  Escort the Senate to all Joint meetings with the mace.

(j)  Escort the Senate to attend funeral services of members,

former members of the Senate or other dignitaries with the mace.

IX ORDER OF BUSINESS

1.  The Order of Business to be observed in taking up

business shall be as follows:

Special Order of Business

2.  Any subject may, by a vote of a majority of the Members

present, be made a special order; and when the time so fixed for

its consideration arrives, the presiding officer shall lay it

before the Senate.

X ORDER AND DECORUM

Recognition

1.  Any Senator who desires to speak or deliver any matter to

the Senate shall rise and respectfully address the presiding

officer as "Mr. President" or "Madam President," and on being

recognized, may address the Senate at a microphone located on

the floor of the chamber.

Avoiding Personal References

2.  Any Senator addressing the Senate shall confine remarks

to the question under debate, avoiding personal references or

questions as to motive.

Speaking Out of Order

3.  If any Senator transgresses the Rules of the Senate, in

speaking or otherwise, the presiding officer may, or any Senator

may through the presiding officer, call that Senator to order.

Speaking More than Twice

4.  No Senator shall speak more than twice on one question

without leave of the Senate.

Decorum

5.  When a Senator is speaking, no other person shall pass

between the Senator and the presiding officer.

Order and Privilege

6.  No Senator speaking shall be interrupted except by a call

to order, a question of privilege, or a call for the previous

question, without the consent of the Senator speaking, and no

Senator shall speak on a question after it is put to a vote.

Questions of Order

7.  The presiding officer shall decide all questions of

order, subject to appeal by any member. No debate shall be

allowed on questions of order, unless there is an appeal. A

second point of order on the same general subject, but not the

same point, is not in order while an appeal is pending, but when

the first appeal is decided, laid on the table or otherwise

disposed of, the second point of order is in order and is

subject to appeal. While an appeal is pending, no other business

is in order. It is within the discretion of the presiding

officer as to whether to vacate the chair on an appeal.

Question When Interrupted

8.  A question regularly before the Senate can be interrupted

only by a call for the previous question, for amendment,

postponement, to lay on the table, commitment, recess or

adjournment sine die.

Use of Tobacco Products

9.  No tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes

and chewing tobacco shall be used in the Senate Chamber or in

Senate Committee Rooms.

Cell Phones

10.  In the Senate Chamber, cell phones and similar portable

communication devices shall be set to silent mode.

XI MOTIONS

Putting a Motion

1.  When a motion is made, it shall, before debate, be stated

by the presiding officer. Every motion made to the Senate and

entertained by the presiding officer shall be entered in the

Journal with the name of the Senator making it. A motion may be

withdrawn by the Senator making it before amendment,

postponement, an order to lay on the table, or decision.

Precedence of Motions

2.  Motions shall take precedence in the following order:

1.  Adjourn sine die.

2.  Recess.

3.  Previous question.

4.  Recess temporarily within the same session day.

5.  Questions of privilege of the Senate.

6.  Orders of the day.

7.  Lay on the table.

8.  Limit, close or extend limit on debate.

9.  Postpone.

10.  Commit or recommit.

11.  Amend.

12.  Main motion.

Non-Debatable Motions

3.  Non-debatable motions are:

1.  Adjourn sine die.

2.  Recess.

3.  Recess temporarily within the same session day.

4.  Previous question.

5.  Lay on table.

6.  Orders of the day.

7.  Limit, close or extend limit on debate.

Motions Which Permit Limited Debate

4.  On the motion to postpone, the question of postponement

is open to debate, but the main question is not.

5.  The motion to commit or recommit to committee is

debatable as to the propriety of the reference, but the main

question is not open to debate.

6.  The motion to amend is debatable on the amendments only

and does not open the main question to debate.

Seconding Motions

7.  All motions except for the previous questions (which

shall be moved by not less than four Senators) may be made

without a second.

Recessing and Convening

8.  (a)  A motion to recess shall always be in order, except

when on the call for the previous question, the main question

shall have been ordered to be now put, or when a Member has the

floor and shall be decided without debate.

(b)  A motion to recess, adopted and not having a reconvening

time, the Senate will meet the following day at 10:00 a.m.

(c)  The Senate shall not convene earlier than 8:00 a.m.

unless the Senate adopts a motion that sets forth the need to

convene earlier than 8:00 a.m.

(d)  The Senate shall not recess later than 11:00 p.m. each

session day unless the Senate adopts a motion that sets forth

the need to recess later than 11:00 p.m.

Motion for Previous Question

9.  Pending the consideration of any question before the

Senate, a Senator may call for the previous question, and if

seconded by four Senators, the President shall submit the

question: "Shall the main question now be put?" If a majority

vote is in favor of it, the main question shall be ordered, the

effect of which shall cut off all further amendments and debate,

and bring the Senate to a direct vote first upon the pending

amendments and motions, if there be any, then upon the main

proposition. The previous question may be ordered on any pending

amendment or motion before the Senate.

Motion to Lay on Table

10.  The motion to lay on the table is not debatable and the

effect of the adoption of this motion is to place on the table

the pending question and everything adhering to it. Questions

laid on the table remain there for the entire session unless

taken up before the session closes.

Motion to Take from Table

11.  A motion to take from the table, a bill or other

subject, is in order under the same order of business in which

the matter was tabled. It shall be decided without debate or

amendment.

Reconsideration

12.  When a question has once been made and carried in the

affirmative or negative, it shall be in order to move the

reconsideration thereof. When the Senate has been equally

divided on a question, or a bill shall have failed to pass, by

reason of not having received the number of votes required by

the Constitution, it shall be in order to move the

reconsideration thereof.

Provided, however, that no motion for the reconsideration of

any vote shall be in order after a bill, resolution, report,

amendment or motion upon which the vote was taken shall have

gone out of the possession of the Senate.

Provided, further, that no motion for reconsideration shall

be in order unless made on the same day on which the vote was

taken, or within the next five days of voting session of the

Senate thereafter.

A motion to reconsider the same question a third time is not

in order.

When a bill, resolution, report, amendment, order, or

communication, upon which a vote has been taken, shall have gone

out of the possession of the Senate and been sent to the House

of Representatives or to the Governor, the motion to reconsider

shall not be in order until a resolution has been passed to

request the House or Governor to return the same and the same

shall have been returned to the possession of the Senate.

XII BILLS

Passage of Bills

1.  (a)  No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill

shall be so altered or amended, on its passage through either

House, as to change its original purpose. (Const. Art. 3, Sec.

1)

(b)  No alteration or amendment shall be considered which is

not appropriate and closely allied to the original purpose of

the bill. If a bill has been amended after being reported by the

Appropriations Committee and if the amendment may require the

expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds of a political

subdivision or cause a loss of revenue to the Commonwealth or a

political subdivision, the Appropriations Committee shall make a

fiscal note reflecting the impact of the amendment available to

the Senators.

Reference and Printing

2.  No bill shall be considered unless referred to a

committee, printed for the use of the members and returned

therefrom. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 2)

Form of Bills

3.  No bill shall be passed containing more than one subject,

which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except a general

appropriation bill or a bill codifying or compiling the law or a

part thereof. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 3)

Consideration of Bills

4.  Every bill shall be considered on three different days in

each House. All amendments made thereto shall be printed for the

use of the members before the final vote is taken on the bill

and before the final vote is taken, upon written request

addressed to the presiding officer of either House by at least

twenty-five per cent of the Members elected to that House, any

bill shall be read at length in that House. No bill shall become

a law, unless on its final passage the vote is taken by yeas and

nays, the names of the persons voting for and against it are

entered on the Journal, and a majority of the Members elected to

each House is recorded thereon as voting in its favor. (Const.

Art. 3, Sec. 4)

Local and Special Bills

5.  No local or special bill shall be passed unless notice of

the intention to apply therefor shall have been published in the

locality where the matter or the thing to be effected may be

situated, which notice shall be at least thirty days prior to

the introduction into the General Assembly of such bill and in

the manner to be provided by law; the evidence of such notice

having been published, shall be exhibited in the General

Assembly, before such act shall be passed. (Const. Art. 3, Sec.

7)

Revenue Bills

6.  All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the

House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose amendments

as in other bills. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 10)

Appropriation Bills

7.  (a)  The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing

but appropriations for the executive, legislative and judicial

departments of the Commonwealth, for the public debt and for

public schools. All other appropriations shall be made by

separate bills, each embracing but one subject. (Const. Art. 3,

Sec. 11)

(b)  No appropriation shall be made for charitable,

educational or benevolent purposes to any person or community

nor to any denomination and sectarian institution, corporation

or association: Provided, That appropriations may be made for

pensions or gratuities for military service and to blind persons

twenty-one years of age and upwards and for assistance to

mothers having dependent children and to aged persons without

adequate means of support and in the form of scholarship grants

or loans for higher educational purposes to residents of the

Commonwealth enrolled in institutions of higher learning except

that no scholarship, grants or loans for higher educational

purposes shall be given to persons enrolled in a theological

seminary or school of theology. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 29)

Charitable and Educational Appropriations

8.  No appropriation shall be made to any charitable or

educational institution not under the absolute control of the

Commonwealth, other than normal schools established by law for

the professional training of teachers for the public schools of

the State, except by a vote of two-thirds of all the members

elected to each House. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 30)

Land Transfer Legislation

8.1.  No bills granting or conveying Commonwealth land or

taking title thereto shall be reported by any committee of the

Senate unless there has been filed with the Secretary-

Parliamentarian and the Chair of the Reporting Committee, a

memorandum from the Department of General Services indicating

the use to which the property is presently employed, the full

consideration for the transfer, if any, a departmental appraisal

of the property, including its valuation and a list of recorded

liens and encumbrances, if any, the use to which the property

will be employed upon its transfer, the date by which the land

is needed for its new use, and the senatorial district or

districts in which the land is located. The memorandum shall be

filed within 60 days after a request is made for same and

contain a statement by a responsible person in the Department of

General Services indicating whether or not the departments

involved favor the transfer which is the subject of the bill

under consideration.

8.2.  No amendment granting or conveying Commonwealth land or

taking title thereto shall be considered by the Senate unless

there has been filed with the Secretary-Parliamentarian and the

Chair of the committee reporting the bill, a memorandum from the

Department of General Services indicating the use to which the

property is presently employed, the full consideration for the

transfer, if any, a departmental appraisal of the property,

including its valuation and a list of recorded liens and

encumbrances, if any, the use to which the property will be

employed upon its transfer, the date by which the land is needed

for its new use, the senatorial district or districts in which

the land is located and a statement by a responsible person in

the Department of General Services indicating whether or not the

departments involved favor the transfer which is the subject of

the amendment under consideration. The sponsor of the amendment

may request the memorandum from the Department of General

Services.

Consideration - Second Regular Session

9.  All bills, joint resolutions, resolutions, concurrent

resolutions, or other matters pending before the Senate upon the

recess of a first regular session convening in an odd-numbered

year shall maintain their status and be pending before a second

regular session convening in an even-numbered year but not

beyond adjournment sine die or November 30th of such year,

whichever first occurs.

Introduction

10.  All bills shall be introduced in quadruplicate. A

sponsor may be added after a bill has been printed but the

addition of sponsors shall not require that the bill be

reprinted. All bills shall be examined by the Legislative

Reference Bureau for correctness as to form and shall be

imprinted with the stamp of the Bureau before being filed with

the Secretary-Parliamentarian for introduction.

Character of Bills to be Introduced

11.  No Member shall introduce, nor shall any committee

report any bill for the action of the Senate, proposing to

legislate upon any of the subjects prohibited by Article III,

section 32 of the Constitution.

Printing of Amended Bills

12.  All bills reported or re-reported from committee, if

amended by the committee, and all bills on the Calendar, if

amended by the Senate, shall be reprinted and a new printer's

number assigned thereto before any action is taken thereon.

No bill or joint resolution re-reported from committee as

amended shall be voted on final passage until at least six hours

have elapsed from the time of the committee report.

First Consideration

13.  Bills on first consideration shall not be subject to

amendment, debate or a vote thereon.

Second Consideration

14.  Bills on second consideration may be subject to

amendment, debate and a vote thereon.

Third Consideration and Final Passage

15.  (a)  Bills on third consideration may be amended and are

subject to debate. Bills on final passage may not be amended but

are open to debate. The vote on final passage shall be taken by

a roll call. The names of the Senators voting for and against

shall be recorded, entered in the Journal and posted on the

Internet website maintained by the Senate. No bill shall be

declared passed unless a majority of all Senators elected to the

Senate shall be recorded as voting for the same.

(b)  No bill which may require an expenditure of Commonwealth

funds or funds of any political subdivision or cause a loss of

revenue to the Commonwealth or any political subdivision shall

be given third consideration on the Calendar until it has been

referred to the Appropriations Committee and a fiscal note

attached thereto.

(b.1)  In obtaining the information required by these Rules,

the Appropriations Committee may utilize the services of the

Budget Office and any other State agency as may be necessary.

(b.2)  No bills appropriating money for charitable or

benevolent purposes shall be considered finally until after the

general appropriation bill shall have been reported from

committee.

16.  (a)  It shall not be in order, by suspension of this

Rule or otherwise, to consider a bill on final passage unless it

is printed, together with amendments, if any, and made available

to the Senators.

(b)  No bill or joint resolution amended on third

consideration shall be voted on final passage until at least six

hours have elapsed from the time of adoption of the amendment.

Pre-Filing of Bills, Joint Resolutions

and Resolutions

17.  Any Senator or Senator-elect may file bills, joint

resolutions and resolutions with the Secretary-Parliamentarian

of the Senate commencing on December 15 of each even-numbered

year. The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall number

the bills, joint resolutions and resolutions and shall have them

available for distribution. Upon the naming of the committees of

the Senate at the convening of a First Regular Session, the

President Pro Tempore shall refer all prefiled measures to the

proper committee within 14 calendar days.

Normal Filing of Bills, Joint Resolutions

and Resolutions

18.  Senators may introduce bills, joint resolutions and

resolutions by filing the same with the Secretary-

Parliamentarian of the Senate. The Secretary-Parliamentarian of

the Senate shall number the bills, joint resolutions and

resolutions and shall notify the President Pro Tempore of the

fact of such filing.

Referral to Committee by President Pro Tempore

19.  Every bill, joint resolution and resolution introduced

by a Senator or received from the House of Representatives shall

be referred by the President Pro Tempore to the appropriate

committee within 14 calendar days. Upon referral, the Secretary-

Parliamentarian of the Senate shall deliver the bills, joint

resolutions and resolutions to the committees to which they have

been referred. The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall

have the bills, joint resolutions and resolutions available for

distribution.

XIII AMENDMENTS

When in Order

1.  Amendments shall be in order when a bill is reported or

re-reported from committee, on second consideration and on third

consideration. No amendments shall be received by the presiding

officer or considered by the Senate which destroys the general

sense of the original bill, or is not appropriate and closely

allied to the original purpose of the bill. Any Member, upon

request, must be furnished a copy of a proposed amendment and be

given a reasonable opportunity to consider same before being

required to vote thereon.

2.  Amendments offered on the floor shall be read by the

clerk and stated by the presiding officer to the Senate before

being acted upon. Amendments shall be presented with at least

four typewritten copies obtained through the Legislative

Reference Bureau, which shall have the Sponsor identified. No

amendment may be considered by the Senate until the Secretary-

Parliamentarian of the Senate has posted the amendment on the

Internet website maintained by the Senate.

3.  Amendments to bills or other main motions or questions

before the Senate may be tabled. When an amendment proposed to

any bill or other main motion or question before the Senate is

laid on the table, it shall not carry with it or prejudice the

bill, main motion or question. A motion to take an amendment

from the table shall only be in order if the bill or other main

motion or question remains before the Senate for decision. The

motion to take an amendment from the table is not debatable and

shall have the same precedence as the motion to amend.

Amendments Reconsidering-Revert to Prior Print

4.  Amendments adopted or defeated may not be again

considered without reconsidering the vote by which said

amendments were adopted or defeated, unless a majority vote of

the Senators present shall decide to revert to a prior printer's

number. If such a motion is made to a bill on third

consideration and carried it shall not be in order to vote on

the final passage of said bill until a copy of the reverted

printer's number is made available to the Senators.

Concurrence in House Amendments

5.  (a)  No amendments to bills by the House shall be

concurred in by the Senate, except by the vote of a majority of

the Members elected to the Senate, taken by yeas and nays.

(Const. Art. 3, Sec. 5)

(b)  If a bill on concurrence contains an amendment which may

require the expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds of a

political subdivision or cause a loss of revenue to the

Commonwealth or a political subdivision, the bill may not be

voted finally until a fiscal note reflecting the impact of the

amendment is made available to the Senators.

6.  (a)  Any bill or resolution containing House amendments

which is returned to the Senate shall be referred to the

Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations immediately upon

the reading of the communication by the clerk. The consideration

of any bill or resolution containing House amendments may

include the amendment of House amendments by the Committee on

Rules and Executive Nominations. The vote on concurring in

amendments by the House to bills or resolutions amended by the

House shall not be taken until said bills or resolutions have

been favorably reported, as committed or as amended, by the

Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations and have been

placed on the desks of the Senators and particularly referred to

on their calendars.

(b)  Unless the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader shall

agree otherwise, the offering of an amendment to House

amendments in the Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations

shall not be in order until at least one hour after the filing

of a copy of the amendment as prepared by the Legislative

Reference Bureau with the office of the Secretary-

Parliamentarian. Upon the filing of such an amendment, the

Secretary-Parliamentarian shall immediately time stamp the

amendment and forward a time-stamped copy of the amendment to

the offices of the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader.

Except as provided in this subsection, it shall not be in order

to suspend or otherwise waive the requirements of this

subsection.

XIV COMMITTEES

Standing Committees

1.  There shall be the following permanent Standing

Committees, the Chair, the Vice-Chair and members thereof to be

appointed by the President Pro Tempore as soon as possible after

the election of the President Pro Tempore in sessions convening

in odd-numbered years or such other times as may be necessary.

The composition of each Standing Committee shall reasonably

reflect the caucus composition of the Senate membership.

Aging and Youth -- 10 members

Agriculture and Rural Affairs -- 10 members

Appropriations -- 23 members

Banking and Insurance -- 13 members

Communications and Technology -- 10 members

Community, Economic and Recreational Development -- 13

members

Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure -- 13 members

Education -- 10 members

Environmental Resources and Energy -- 10 members

Finance -- 10 members

Game and Fisheries -- 10 members

Intergovernmental Operations -- 10 members

Judiciary -- 13 members

Labor and Industry -- 10 members

Law and Justice -- 10 members

Local Government -- 10 members

Public Health and Welfare -- 10 members

Rules and Executive Nominations -- 16 members

State Government -- 10 members

Transportation -- 13 members

Urban Affairs and Housing -- 10 members

Veterans' Affairs and Emergency Preparedness -- 10 members

Subcommittees

2.  Each standing committee or the chair thereof may appoint,

from time to time, a subcommittee to study or investigate a

matter falling within the jurisdiction of the standing committee

or to consider a bill or resolution referred to it. A

Subcommittee may hold public hearings only with the prior

permission of its standing committee. Subcommittees shall be

regulated by the Senate Rules of Procedure and shall be in

existence for only that time necessary to complete their

assignments and report to their standing committees.

Members-ex-officio

3.  (a)  The President Pro Tempore shall be an ex-officio

voting Member of all standing committees and any subcommittees

that may be established and shall not be included in the number

of committee members herein provided. However, the President Pro

Tempore shall not be an ex-officio Member of the Committee on

Ethics and Official Conduct.

(b)  The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader shall each

be an ex-officio member of the Committee on Appropriations and

shall not be included in the number of members of the committee

provided herein.

(c)  The Majority Leader shall serve as Chair of the

Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations and the Minority

Leader shall serve as the Minority Chair.

Committees' Function Between Sessions

4.  Standing committees shall exist and function both during

and between sessions. Such power shall not extend beyond

November 30th of any even-numbered year.

Powers and Responsibilities

5.  Standing committees are authorized:

(a)  To maintain a continuous review of the work of the

Commonwealth agencies concerned with their subject areas and the

performance of the functions of government within each such

subject area, and for this purpose to request reports from time

to time, in such form as the standing committee shall designate,

concerning the operation of any Commonwealth agency and

presenting any proposal or recommendation such agency may have

with regard to existing laws or proposed legislation in its

subject area. The standing committee is authorized to require

public officials and employees and private individuals to appear

before the standing committee for the purpose of submitting

information to it.

(b)  In order to carry out its duties, each standing

committee is empowered with the right and authority to inspect

and investigate the books, records, papers, documents, data,

operation, and physical plant of any public agency in this

Commonwealth.

(c)  In order to carry out its duties, each standing

committee may issue subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum and other

necessary process to compel the attendance of witnesses and the

production of any books, letters or other documentary evidence

desired by the committee. The chair may administer oaths and

affirmations in the manner prescribed by law to witnesses who

shall appear before the committee to testify.

Notice of Meetings

6.  (a)  The chair of a committee, or, in the absence of the

chair, the vice-chair, with the approval of the chair, shall

provide each member of the committee with written notice of

committee meetings, which shall include the date, time and

location of the meeting and the number of each bill, resolution

or other matter which may be considered. During session, notice

of meetings of standing committees shall be published daily.

Notice shall be delivered by the chair to the Secretary-

Parliamentarian's office in writing by the end of the session on

the day preceding its intended publication.

(b)  Whenever the chair of any standing committee shall

refuse to call a regular meeting, then a majority plus one of

the members of the standing committee may vote to call a meeting

by giving two days' written notice to the Secretary-

Parliamentarian of the Senate, setting the time and place for

such meeting. Such notice shall be read in the Senate and the

same posted by the Secretary-Parliamentarian in the Senate.

Thereafter, the meeting shall be held at the time and place

specified in the notice. In addition, any such meeting shall

comply with all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open

meetings) relative to notice of meetings.

(c)  When the majority plus one of the members of a standing

committee believe that a certain bill or resolution in the

possession of the standing committee should be considered and

acted upon by such committee, they may request the chair to

include the same as part of the business of a committee meeting.

Should the chair refuse such request, the membership may require

that such bill be considered by written motion made and approved

by a majority plus one vote of the entire membership to which

the committee is entitled.

7.  A committee meeting, or hearing for which notice has not

been published as provided in section 6(a), may be held during a

session only if approval is granted by the Majority and Minority

Leaders and if notice of the bills to be considered is given

during session.

Bills Recommitted

8.  Any bill or resolution reported by any standing committee

without prior notice having been given as required by these

Rules shall be recommitted to the committee reporting the same.

Public Meetings or Hearings

9.  (a)  The chair of a standing committee may hold hearings

open to the public and in doing so shall make a public

announcement in writing prior to the date of the hearing of the

date and time, the location and the subject matter of the

hearing.

(b)  The chair of a standing committee shall have the power

to designate whether or not a meeting of the committee for the

purpose of transacting committee business shall be open to the

public or shall be held in executive session and therefore

closed to the public, but no matters may be considered in

executive session for which an open meeting is required under 65

Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).

10.  All standing committees may have their hearings reported

and transcribed if payment for such service is being made from

committee funds. If payment is expected to be made from a source

other than committee funds, approval must be first obtained from

the President Pro Tempore.

Quorum of Committee

11.  A committee is actually assembled only when a quorum

constituting a majority of the members of that committee is

present in person. A majority of the quorum of the whole

committee shall be required to report any bill, resolution or

other matter to the floor for action by the whole Senate.

Quorum of Subcommittee

12.  A subcommittee is actually assembled only when a quorum

constituting a majority of the members of that subcommittee is

present in person. A majority of the quorum of the whole

subcommittee shall be required to report any bill, resolution or

other matter to the committee.

Discharging Committees

13.  (a)  No standing committee shall be discharged from

consideration of any bill, resolution or other matter within ten

legislative days of its reference to committee without the

unanimous consent of the Senate or after such ten-day period

except by majority vote of all members elected to the Senate.

(b)  Such discharge shall be by resolution which shall lie

over one day for consideration upon introduction and which may

be considered under the Order of Business of Resolutions on the

Calendar.

XV COMMITTEE OFFICERS

Chair - Ex-officio

1.  The Chair of each standing committee shall be ex-officio

a member of each subcommittee that may be established as part of

the standing committee, with the right to attend meetings of the

subcommittee and vote on any matter before the subcommittee.

Calling Committee to Order

2.  The Chair, or, if authorized by the Chair, the Vice-Chair

shall call the committee to order at the hour provided by these

Rules. Upon the appearance of a quorum, the committee shall

proceed with the order of business. Any member of the committee

may question the existence of a quorum.

Chair Control of the Committee Room

3.  The Chair, or, if authorized by the Chair, the Vice-Chair

shall preserve order and decorum and shall have general control

of the committee room. In case of a disturbance or disorderly

conduct in the committee room, the Chair, or, if authorized by

the Chair, the Vice-Chair may cause the same to be cleared. The

use of cell phones and similar portable communication devices

within any Senate committee room by other than members of the

Senate or their staffs is strictly prohibited.

Chair's Authority to Sign Notices, etc.

Decide Questions of Order

4.  The Chair shall sign all notices, vouchers, subpoenas or

reports required or permitted by these Rules. The Chair shall

decide all questions of order relative to parliamentary

procedure, subject to an appeal by any member of the committee.

Vote of Chair, Vice-Chair

5.  The Chair and Vice-Chair shall vote on all matters before

such committee provided that the name of the Chair shall be

called last.

Performance of Duties by Vice-Chair

6.  Upon the death of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall perform

the duties of the office until and unless the President Pro

Tempore shall appoint a successor. Upon and during disability,

or incapacity of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall perform the

Chair's duties.

Chair's Duty to Report

7.  The Chair shall report any bill to the floor of the

Senate not later than the second legislative day after the

committee's vote to report it.

XVI COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Members, Attendance, Voting

1.  Every member of a committee shall be in attendance during

each of its meetings, unless excused or necessarily prevented,

and shall vote on each question, except that no member of a

committee shall be required or permitted to vote on any

questions immediately concerning that member's direct personal,

private or pecuniary interest.

2.  The Chair may excuse any Senator for just cause from

attendance during the meetings of the committee for any stated

period.

3.  Any member of a committee who is otherwise engaged in

legislative duties may have the member's vote recorded on bills,

resolutions or other matters pending before the committee by

communicating in writing to the Chair the inability to attend

and the manner in which the member desires to be voted on bills,

resolutions or other matters pending before the committee.

XVII COMMITTEE VOTING

Taking the Vote

1.  The Chair shall announce the results of all votes to

report a bill or resolution or a vote regarding an executive

nomination. All votes shall be open to the public and shall be

posted on the Internet website maintained by the Senate within

24 hours.

2.  In all cases where the committee vote shall be equally

divided, the question falls.

XVIII MOTIONS IN COMMITTEES

1.  All motions made in committee shall be governed and take

the same precedence as those set forth in these Rules.

XIX CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

1.  The President Pro Tempore shall appoint three Senators to

comprise a Committee of Conference. Two shall be from the

majority party and one from the minority party.

2.  The deliberations of the committee shall be confined to

the subject of difference between the two Houses, unless both

Houses shall direct a free conference.

Report of Conference Committee

3.  (a)  The report of a Committee of Conference shall be

prepared in triplicate by the Legislative Reference Bureau and

shall be signed by the members or a majority of the members of

each committee comprising the Committee of Conference. Every

report of a Committee of Conference shall be printed together

with the bill as amended by the committee, made available to the

Senators and shall be particularly referred to on their

calendars before action shall be taken on such report. No report

of a Committee of Conference may be adopted by the Senate until

at least six hours have elapsed from the time of adoption of the

report by the Committee of Conference.

(b)  A report of a Committee of Conference which requires the

expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds of a political

subdivision or causes a loss of revenue to the Commonwealth or a

political subdivision shall have a fiscal note attached before

the report is finally adopted by the Senate.

Report of Conference Committee - Adoption

4.  Reports of committees of conference shall be adopted only

by the vote of a majority of the members elected to the Senate,

taken by yeas and nays. (Const. Art. 3, Sec. 5)

XX VOTING

Senators Must be Present

1.  Every Senator shall be present within the Senate Chamber

during the sessions of the Senate, and shall be recorded as

voting on each question stated from the Chair which requires a

roll call vote unless the Senator is on leave, is duly excused

or is unavoidably prevented from attending session. The refusal

of any Senator to vote as provided by this Rule shall be deemed

a contempt of the Senate.

Voting Required

2.  Except as may be otherwise provided by this Rule, no

Senator shall be permitted to vote on any question unless the

Senator is present in the Senate Chamber at the time the roll is

being called, or prior to the announcement of the vote.

Capitol Leave

(a)  A Senator who is performing a legislative duty in the

Harrisburg area, which is defined in the Financial Operating

Rules of the Senate as within Dauphin County or otherwise within

a 10-mile radius of the Capitol, may, upon request during

session, be granted a Capitol Leave by the Senate and may be

voted by the Senator's respective floor leader. A specific

reason for the Capitol Leave must be given in writing by the

Senator. The Capital Leave request shall be communicated to the

Senator's  respective floor whip for transmission to the

respective floor leader prior to the beginning of a roll call

vote. All written Capitol Leave requests shall be transmitted by

the respective floor leaders to the Secretary-Parliamentarian of

the Senate for retention in accordance with Rule VI 3.(c) within

24 hours of the conclusion of the legislative day in which leave

was requested.

Legislative Leave

(b)  A Senator who is performing a legislative duty outside

of the Harrisburg area may, upon request during session, be

granted a Legislative Leave by the Senate and may be voted by

the Senator's respective floor leader. A specific reason for the

Legislative Leave must be given in writing by the Senator. The

Legislative Leave request shall be communicated to the Senator's

respective floor whip for transmission to the respective floor

leader prior to the beginning of a roll call vote. All written

Legislative Leave requests shall be transmitted by the

respective floor leaders to the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the

Senate for retention in accordance with Rule VI 3.(c) within 24

hours of the conclusion of the legislative day in which leave

was requested.

Military Leave

(c)  A Senator who is on active duty or in training with a

reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or

the Pennsylvania National Guard or Air National Guard may be

granted a military leave. A Senator requesting military leave

shall submit a leave request to the Senator's respective floor

leader who shall transmit the request to the Secretary-

Parliamentarian of the Senate on behalf of the Senator

requesting leave within 24 hours of the conclusion of the

legislative day in which leave was requested.

Personal Leave

(d)  A Senator who is absent for any purpose other than those

set forth in these Rules may be granted a personal leave. A

Senator on personal leave shall not be voted on any question

before the Senate or on any question before any committee of the

Senate. A Senator requesting personal leave shall submit a leave

request to the Senator's respective floor leader who shall

transmit the request to the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the

Senate on behalf of the Senator requesting leave within 24 hours

of the conclusion of the legislative day in which leave was

requested.

Excused from Voting

3.  (a)  A Senator desiring to be excused from voting due to

a direct, personal, private or pecuniary interest in any

question or bill proposed or pending before the Senate, shall

seek a ruling from the presiding officer.

(b)  Senators who seek a ruling on whether they have a

direct, personal, private or pecuniary interest in any question

or bill proposed or pending before the Senate shall, after the

Senator is recognized by the presiding officer, make a brief

statement of the reasons for making the request and ask the

presiding officer to decide whether or not the Senator must

vote. The question shall be decided by the presiding officer

without debate.

Changing Vote

4.  No Senator may vote or change a vote after the result is

announced by the Chair. Before the announcement of the final

result, however, a Senator may change a vote, or may vote, if

previously absent from the Chamber. Should a Senator be

erroneously recorded on any vote, the Senator may at any time,

with the permission of the Senate, make a statement to that

effect which shall be entered in the Journal. Similarly, should

the Senator be absent when a vote is taken on any question, the

Senator may later, with the permission of the Senate, make a

statement for entry upon the Journal, indicating how the Senator

would have voted had the Senator been present when the roll was

taken and the reasons therefor shall be submitted in writing or

delivered orally not to exceed five minutes.

Persons Allowed at Desk During Roll Call

5.  No Senator or other person, except the Majority or

Minority Leader or other persons designated by them, shall be

permitted at the Reading Clerk's desk during the recording,

counting or verification of a roll call vote.

Two-Thirds Vote

6.  When bills or other matters which require a two-thirds

vote are under consideration, the concurrence of two-thirds of

all the Senators elected shall not be requisite to decide any

question or amendment short of the final question and on any

question short of the final one, a majority of Senators voting

shall be sufficient to pass the same.

Majority Vote Defined

7.  A majority of the Senators elected shall mean a majority

of the Senators elected, living, sworn and seated.

Majority Vote

8.  When bills or other matters which require a vote of the

majority of Senators elected are under consideration, the

concurrence of a majority of all the Senators elected shall not

be requisite to decide any question or amendment short of the

final question; and, on any question short of a final one, a

majority of Senators voting shall be sufficient to pass the

same.

Announcement of Vote

9.  Upon completion of a roll call vote or a voice vote the

result shall be announced immediately unless the Majority or

Minority Leader requests a delay.

Explanation of Vote

10.  Any Senator may, with the consent of the Senate, make an

explanation of a vote on any question and have the explanation

printed in the Journal.

Tie Vote

11.  In the case of a tie vote, the President of the Senate

may cast a vote to break the tie so long as by doing so it does

not violate any provisions of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.

In the event there is a tie vote on a question requiring a

constitutional majority, the question falls.

Verifying Vote

12.  Any Senator may demand a verification of a vote

immediately upon the completion of a roll call or after the

announcement of the vote by the presiding officer. In verifying

a vote, the Clerk shall first read the affirmative roll at which

time any additions or corrections shall be made. Upon the

completion and verification of the affirmative roll call, the

Clerk shall proceed with the reading of the negative roll at

which time any additions or corrections shall be made. Upon the

completion and verification of the negative roll call, the roll

call shall be declared verified. It shall not be in order for a

Senator to change a vote after the verified roll call is

announced. A demand for a verification shall not be in order

when all Senators vote one way. The demand for a verification of

a vote is not debatable.

Voice Vote

13.  Unless otherwise ordered or demanded, a voice vote may

be taken. Any Senator who doubts the accuracy of a voice vote

may demand a roll call vote. Such request must be made

immediately upon the announcement of the vote by the presiding

officer and shall not be in order after other business has

intervened. The demand for a verification of a voice vote shall

not be in order.

XXI CORRESPONDENTS

Admission to Senate Press Gallery

1.  Admission to the Senate Press Gallery shall be limited to

members in good standing of the Pennsylvania Legislative

Correspondents' Association and to other members of the press as

determined by the President Pro Tempore. Seating shall be

available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Photographs in Senate Chamber

2.  Photographers may be authorized by the President Pro

Tempore to take still photographs in the Senate.

3.  No still photographs shall be taken in the Senate during

sessions without prior notice to the Senators. When possible,

such notice shall be given at the beginning of the session

during which the still photographs are scheduled to be taken.

Order and Decorum of Press

4.  Persons seated in the Senate Press Gallery shall be

dressed appropriately and shall, at all times, refrain from loud

talking or causing any disturbance which tends to interrupt the

proceedings of the Senate.

5.  Persons seated in the Senate Press Gallery shall not walk

onto the floor of the Senate nor approach the rostrum or the

clerk's desk during session or while being at ease.

XXII RADIO AND TELEVISION

1.  Filming, videotaping, televising or broadcasting of

Senate sessions shall be permitted as provided in these Rules.

2.  Nothing in this Rule shall be construed to prohibit any

licensed radio station or television station from broadcasting a

session from the Senate or any part thereof provided that the

signal originates from the Senate-operated audio-visual system

which transmits Senate session activity to the offices in the

Main Capitol and environs.

XXIII VIDEO FEED AND AUDIO FEED

Responsibilities of the Chief Clerk

1.  The Chief Clerk of the Senate, in consultation with the

Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate, shall provide a video

feed and an audio feed of Senate floor activity.

2.  The Chief Clerk of the Senate shall be responsible for

the acquisition, installation and maintenance of equipment

required to provide the video feed and the audio feed, and for

the continued development and operation of the feeds, including

the hiring of the necessary personnel.

3.  All equipment required to produce the video feed and

audio feed shall be operated by Senate personnel. Nothing in any

contract entered into by the Office of the Chief Clerk regarding

installation or maintenance of equipment shall permit any

control over the video cameras and microphones in the Senate

Chamber to be exercised by anyone but the appropriate Senate

officers and employees.

Sessions Provided Free of Charge

4.  Continuous broadcast of Senate sessions shall be provided

free of charge to any licensed television station, radio station

or cable television outlet and shall further be available

through the Senate's website.

5.  The Senate Committee on Management Operations may

authorize providing the video feed and audio feed free of charge

to other entities.

Funding

6.  Funding for the implementation and operation of the

broadcasting system shall be provided through Senate

appropriations as designated by the President Pro Tempore.

Scope of Video and Audio Feeds

7.  The video feed and audio feed shall provide a complete,

unedited record of what is said on the floor of the Senate and

shall be free from commentary.

8.  To the extent possible, only the presiding officer and

the persons actually speaking shall be covered by the video

cameras and microphones.

9.  During roll call votes and other votes, the video cameras

shall be focused on the presiding officer or the appropriate

clerks until the announcement of the vote tabulation by the

presiding officer.

10.  During recesses of the Senate or when the Senate is at

ease, the video feed and audio feed shall be turned off.

Restrictions on Video and Audio Feeds

11.  The video feed and audio feed, and any television or

radio coverage thereof, shall not be made available or used for

political or campaign purposes, whether in paid political

advertisements or otherwise. Use of the video feed and audio

feed shall be subject to all Federal and State laws relating to

elections and campaign practices.

12.  The video feed and audio feed, and any television or

radio coverage thereof, shall not be used in any commercial

advertisement.

13.  Any live coverage of the Senate shall be without and

presented without any commercial sponsorship, except when it is

part of a bona fide news program or public affairs program.

14.  The President Pro Tempore or any other presiding officer

shall be prohibited from ordering, without consent of the

Senate, that any segment of a floor session not be broadcast or

recorded.

15.  Except as provided in this paragraph, the President Pro

Tempore, any other presiding officer and any Senator, officer or

employee of the Senate shall be prohibited from editing any

portion of the video feed and audio feed described in this Rule.

A Senator may post a video clip or audio clip of Senate session

on an Internet website or provide a video clip or audio clip of

Senate session for any television broadcast as long as the clip

exclusively features the Senator who is posting or providing the

clip.

Other Recording Prohibited

16.  Except as provided in this Rule, any recording, filming,

videotaping, broadcasting or distribution of any session of the

Senate, or any part thereof, in any form whatsoever is

prohibited.

17.  Nothing in this Rule shall be construed to prohibit any

licensed radio station from broadcasting a session from the

Senate or any part thereof provided that the signal originates

from the Senate-operated sound system which transmits Senate

session activity to the offices in the Main Capitol and

environs.

Violations

18.  Any violation of this Rule shall be dealt with as

directed by the Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations.

Official Record

19.  The video feed and audio feed provided by the Senate

shall not constitute an official record of Senate actions. The

official record of Senate actions shall be contained in the

Journals prepared by the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate

and approved by the Senate.

XXIV WHO PRIVILEGED TO THE

FLOOR OF THE SENATE

1.  With the exception of the Senate Gallery and the Senate

Press Gallery, no person shall be admitted within the Senate

Chamber during Senate sessions, unless invited by the President

Pro Tempore or the Majority or Minority Leaders. During session,

authorized staff with access to the Senate Chamber shall be

limited and shall be restricted to the area immediately adjacent

to the Majority and Minority Leaders' desks. Advice to Senators

during debate shall be allowed only when the Senator is using

the microphones at the leaders' desks.

Rear Entrance Closed During Session

2.  No person or persons shall, during a session, be