Senate Resolution 4

A RESOLUTION TO AMEND SENATE RULE 65 TO PROVIDE FOR THE REMOVAL OF MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That Senate Rule 65 is amended to read as follows:

RULES COMMITTEE

65. (1) (a) There shall be a standing Committee on Rules which shall consist of the President (who shall be a nonvoting member), the President Pro Tempore, and four (4) Senators, each having served at least four (4) years in the Senate, one (1) from each congressional district of the state as constituted on January 1, 2004, to be selected by the Senators from their respective congressional districts by caucus. Each congressional district caucus shall hold an organizational meeting and shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman of the caucus. Meetings of the caucus may be called at any time by the chairman or if requested by a majority of the caucus. The voting precinct of the Senator * * * ~~representing such district~~ shall determine the congressional district caucus in which the Senator shall participate and for which the Senator may hold membership on the Rules Committee. A Senator representing a congressional district on the Rules Committee may be removed at any time by a caucus vote of at least three-fourths (3/4) of the Senators from his respective congressional district.

(b) The President Pro Tempore shall serve as chairman of the Rules Committee; the vice chairman shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore from among the Senators on the committee.

(2) The Rules Committee shall, in addition to the functions of a standing committee and any other responsibilities assigned by the Senate, perform the following duties:

(a) Conduct the business affairs of the Senate;

(b) Pursuant to authority granted in Section 29-5-2, Mississippi Code of 1972, assign such space in the Capitol or in such other buildings or parts thereof as may be reserved for the Senate and have complete control, authority and jurisdiction over such rooms, chambers, offices and other areas. Any assignment of space shall be subject to change by the Rules Committee. No other branch of the government, or a department or agency thereof, shall use any such room, chamber, office or other area without specific written authorization from the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee may delegate its powers with regard to any such room, chamber, office or other area in connection with the use, maintenance, repairing, construction, reconstruction and refurbishing thereof in such a manner as it deems advisable;

(d) Assign staff for standing committees;

(e) Continually assess ways and means to improve the organization, procedures, facilities and working conditions of the Senate;

(f) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) for the staffing of the office of the President and the office of the President Pro Tempore, the Rules Committee shall have the authority to employ all personnel necessary to execute the duties and responsibilities of the Senate. Unless otherwise specifically provided, the Rules Committee shall have full and exclusive authority over the employees of the Senate. All such employees shall serve at the pleasure of the Rules Committee. Complaints with respect to any misconduct, inefficiency or omission by the Secretary, the Sergeant-at-Arms or employees of the Senate shall be heard by the Rules Committee, which may discharge the employees therefor and may recommend to the full Senate the discharge of the Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms;

(g) Fix the salaries of the Senate officials and employees;

(h) Assign news, radio and television reporters wishing to take down or broadcast the debates and proceedings of the Senate, places in the Senate so as not to interfere with the convenience of the Senate;

(i) Authorize the reimbursement of Senators and Senate officials and employees who are required to travel in the performance of their official duties. The Rules Committee may establish regulations governing such travel which include the prior approval of such travel by the Rules Committee. Senators attending out-of-state conventions or conferences at state expense shall make a report to the Senate, including the purpose, work and recommendations resulting from the out-of-state meeting attended. If more than one (1) Senator attends such convention or conference, one (1) report may be made as the report of the delegation; and

(j) Upon request of the chairman of any standing or select committee of the Senate, authorize expenses, to include per diem, mileage, meals and lodging, to be paid for members attending the meeting of any such committee or subcommittee thereof during the period in which the Legislature is not in session. The Rules Committee may adopt rules and regulations concerning time, places and number of meetings that may be held for which members will be compensated, such rules and regulations to require prior approval of meetings in order for members to be compensated.

(3) The committee may designate the Secretary of the Senate to be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the duties assigned to the committee and for implementing the policies of the committee adopted pursuant to this rule.

(4) The committee shall function on a year-round basis; and, when the Legislature is not in session, members of the committee shall be compensated as provided in Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, for each day spent in actual discharge of their duties and shall receive the expense allowance and mileage reimbursement provided in Section 5-1-47, Mississippi Code of 1972. No committee member may incur per diem, travel or expense allowance unless authorized by vote at a meeting of the committee, which action shall be recorded in the official minutes of the committee. The Rules Committee shall meet at such times as are necessary for the proper exercise of its functions and may adopt rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the rules of the Senate, as it deems necessary for the efficient operation of the committee. Action by a majority vote of the Rules Committee shall be conclusive on any matter properly within the jurisdiction of the committee.

(5) (a) In providing for the staffing of the President's office, the Rules Committee shall fill up to eight (8) positions when requested by the President, and the persons employed for such positions shall be hired with the approval of the President. The President shall recommend the compensation to be paid to the President's staff, and the Rules Committee may pay the compensation so established.

(b) In providing for the staffing of the President Pro Tempore's office, the Rules Committee shall fill one (1) staff position as requested by the President Pro Tempore, and the person employed for such position shall be hired with the approval of the President Pro Tempore. The President Pro Tempore shall recommend the compensation to be paid to the person so employed, and the Rules Committee may pay the compensation so established.

(c) Persons employed under this subsection to staff the President's office shall serve at the will and pleasure of the President; persons employed to staff the President Pro Tempore's office shall serve at the will and pleasure of the President Pro Tempore.

(6) In providing for the staffing of committees, the Rules Committee shall have the responsibility for determining the necessity of any staff positions requested by the chairman of a committee.

(7) The Rules Committee shall cooperate with the House Management Committee in maintaining a Joint Legislative Printing Office and a Reference Library which shall contain, but shall not be limited to, study reports and information gathered by the departments and the various committees of the Legislature so as to provide a continuity of information from year to year.

(8) The Rules Committee shall have the responsibility for the proper operation of the Senate Legislative Services Office.

(9) The Rules Committee shall have jurisdiction over any questions concerning improper or unethical conduct by members of the Senate.

(10) The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this rule shall be paid from the Senate Contingent Fund.

(11) The Rules Committee may meet jointly with the House Management Committee when necessary to more effectively carry out the provisions of this rule.