TO AMEND RULE 1.9 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES AND THE ELECTION OF COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CANDIDATES FOR CHAIRMAN OF A COMMITTEE MAY NOT SEEK COMMITMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE UNTIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE SPEAKER AND PUBLISHED TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That Rule 1.9 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

"1.9    All committees shall be appointed by the Speaker, unless otherwise provided for by rule or by law, except Senatorial and Gubernatorial appointees and ex officio members of the House. The Speaker shall name the members constituting each committee in alphabetical order. The Chairman shall be elected by the respective committees during the organizational session. A candidate for chairman of a committee may not seek commitments from members of the respective committee until committee assignments have been made by the Speaker of the House and published to the membership of the House. If any subsequent vacancy shall occur in a committee's chairmanship, the election of a new committee chairman shall take place at the time and date to be set by the presiding officer of the respective committee. The committees may at their discretion elect a Vice-Chairman and such other officers as they may choose.

Provided, when appointing members to a Committee on Conference or Free Conference, the Speaker shall consult with the majority and minority political party leaders and appoint at least one member of the minority political party represented in the House."