A house RESOLUTION

TO AMEND RULE 9 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY ADDING RULE 9.7 SO AS TO limit the number of amendments a member of the House may file as the primary sponsor on second reading, and to require primary sponsors to be in assigned seats for the entirety of the amendment's discussion and debate.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That Rule 9 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended by adding:

            9.7       Each member of the House is limited to five amendments that member may file as the primary sponsor on second reading of any local or statewide bill, joint resolution, House resolution, or concurrent resolution.  The five amendment limit does not affect the process by which amendments may be substituted by the desk according to another House Rule or precedent of the House, technical amendments offered by committee chairmen on third reading under their own limited circumstances pursuant to Rule 9.2, or the number of cosponsors wishing to sign on to any amendment. 

When an amendment is being debated on second reading, the primary sponsor of the amendment must remain in the member's assigned seat for the entirety of the amendment's discussion and debate.  If a primary sponsor has been granted leave of the House and is absent when such amendment comes up for debate, the primary sponsor may designate another member of the House to stand in his stead or the amendment may be withdrawn by the Speaker in his discretion.

----XX----