HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	20
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

amending the rules of the house of representatives for the election of an interim speaker of the house at least forty-five days prior to the opening day of the legislative session When the leadership of the house of representatives is not organized by that date.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, to ensure the orderly business of the House of Representatives, it is essential that its leadership be in place in a timely matter after the election of a new legislature; and

 

     WHEREAS, as of the opening day of the Twenty-sixth legislature, the leadership of the House of Representatives had yet to be organized, impeding the ability of the House of Representatives to conduct the business of the public; and

 

     WHEREAS, with no organization, committees have not been formed and unable to conduct important business to prepare for the critical matters the legislature will need to address during the session; and

 

     WHEREAS, the absence of formed committees means the members will not able to form important working relationships with fellow members and the committee chair to prepare legislation to  address critical issues; and

 

     WHEREAS, the lack of organization has meant the House of Representatives does not have a budget, harming its members and support staff's ability to plan and hire for the session; and

 

     WHEREAS, delayed organization negatively impacted freshman legislators as, for some time, they were unable to settle into an office, harming their ability to meet with advocates, and their ability to communicate with their constituents; and

 

     WHEREAS, other important House functions, such as additional phone lines for staff, and the use of the print shop for constituent mail, are just few examples of the many functions that have slowed or been placed on hold when the organization of the House of Representatives is delayed; and

 

     WHEREAS, these deficiencies and others that come with delayed organization add up to become a major impediment to the Legislature's ability to conduct business; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Rules for the House of Representatives provides that the Speaker of the House is elected by resolution on the opening day of the legislative session; and

 

     WHEREAS, to ensure the work of the House of Representatives continues without impediment, its rules should be amended to address internal disputes that prevent the House from organizing in a timely manner after the election of a new legislature; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the rules for the House of Representatives be amended to provide that if the leadership of the House is not decided forty-five days before the beginning of the legislative session, that an interim Speaker be appointed by members of the House of Representatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the duties of the interim Speaker of the House of Representatives shall include but not be limited to forming committees, the placement of newly elected members into an office, and development of a budget for the House of Representatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the rules reflect that the interim Speaker of the House be the representative with the most support, and in the situation where no representative has the support of the majority of the House members, the representative with the greatest plurality of votes shall be appointed the interim Speaker of the House; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader, the Majority Floor Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Minority Floor Leader.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________
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Report Title: 

House rules; amendment; interim Speaker of the House