House Resolution 5

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND HOUSE RULE 18C, 2012-2016 RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR A MEMBER TO SPEAK AT THE PODIUM WHEN THE HOUSE IS NOT CONVENED AND FOR THE MEMBER'S SPEECH TO BE TELECASTED.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That Rule 18C of the 2012-2016 Rules of the House of Representatives is amended as follows:

18C. * * *~~Beginning with the 2008 Regular Session~~ (1) The Committee on Rules shall contract with the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television, or another appropriate service, to telecast the regular floor proceedings of the House by high-speed wireless Internet transmission. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this rule, cameras used in making such telecasts may be allowed only to show a House member speaking at the podium and the Speaker or other officer presiding over the House while the House is convened. Reporters and technicians necessary to effectuate the telecasts may be admitted to the House chamber for this limited purpose; however, no camera, apparatus or procedure that would interfere with the proceedings of the House shall be used, and all telecasting shall be done from areas reserved or set aside for such activities by the Committee on Rules. No such telecast shall be archived or recorded for future use by the House or its contractee.

(2) When the House is not convened, a House member may speak at the podium and his or her speech may be telecasted in the same manner as provided in subsection (1), subject to the following requirements:

(a) The House is not convened for business, and the Committee on Rules is not hosting a commending presentation at its scheduled time.

(b) The telecast may not occur after 5:00 p.m. or the time that the journal is closed each day, whichever is later.

(c) The member who is being telecasted shall conduct himself or herself according to the rules of decorum prescribed by the House Rules.

(d) No later than the time that the journal is closed on the day before the date on which the member wishes to be telecasted, the member must submit a written request for same to the Clerk of the House. The request must specify the date and length of time that the House member intends to be speaking at the podium. The clerk shall maintain a schedule of requests for such telecasts, and he shall authorize the requests in the chronological order in which the requests are made. The schedule of requests for such telecasts shall be open to the public. If a member is absent and fails to use his or her time as scheduled with the clerk, or if a member exceeds his or her allotted time as scheduled, then the member may not request a subsequent appointment to speak under the provisions of this subsection (2) until three (3) legislative days have elapsed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the amendment to House Rule 18C contained in this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption of this resolution by the House of Representatives.