A house RESOLUTION

to amend rule 4.4 of the rules of the house of representatives, relating to committees and their procedures, so as to require the live-streaming of all committee meetings, including subcommittee meetings.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That Rule 4.4 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

            4.4       Committees shall meet regularly to consider pending legislation in the room assigned for their use by the Speaker or as otherwise authorized by this rule.  Notice of date, time, and place of such meetings shall be posted on the legislative website and displayed in the lobby on each floor of the Solomon Blatt Building.  A committee should give a minimum of twenty-four hour advance notice for all committee meetings.  Provided, however, in case of necessity due to exigent circumstances, the Speaker, in his sole discretion, may waive the twenty-four hour advance notice requirements herein.  Committee chairmen must notify the committee members of all meetings.  Failure of notice of any meeting shall not invalidate committee action unless bad faith is shown.  No committee shall meet while the House is in session without special leave by the Speaker.  Provided, however, that the Committee on Rules and any committee of conference or free conference, may sit at any time and may report its message to the House at any time. All committee meetings, including subcommittee meetings, must be live-streamed for public viewing on the legislative website.  Both a video and audio component that is publicly accessible must be provided.

            A Committee may provide, pursuant to its own rules, for the Chairmen to designate alternative meeting arrangements and procedures. Provided, however, the Chairman may only implement  alternative meeting arrangements and procedures in the event that extraordinary circumstances including, but not limited to, natural disasters, severe weather, and Acts of God, render them necessary.  The alternative meeting arrangements and procedures must:

            (1)        provide for public observation or participation as required by House Rules and the provisions of Title 30, Chapter 4 of the 1976 Code of Laws of South Carolina, as amended;

            (2)        provide both a video and audio component that is publicly accessible; and

            (3)        record the meeting, in its entirety, and make the recording available on the General Assembly website, as soon as practicable following the meeting. 

            No committee shall sit unless a quorum be present and all bills introduced by committees must carry the statement of the Chairman that the bill has the approval of two-thirds of the membership of the committee, except that the State Appropriations Bill, the Supplemental Appropriations Bill, a Rescission Bill, and the Deficiency Appropriations Bill may be introduced by a majority vote of the Ways and Means Committee.

            No committee shall introduce a bill pertaining to subject matter over which it has no jurisdiction.

            Notice in writing of all committee action taken on a bill or resolution shall be given to the principal author thereof.

            No statewide bill directly appropriating money shall be considered by the House until after such bill has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee, provided, however, a statewide bill which directly or by implication provides for per diem, subsistence or mileage in connection with the subject matter of the bill, but does not otherwise directly appropriate money, shall not be required to be referred to the Ways and Means Committee.

            After the House sets a bill for Special Order pursuant to Rule 6.3, no point of order may be raised regarding its reference to committee, however, the House by majority vote may commit or recommit a bill or other matter under debate.

            No committee action shall be taken on a bill or resolution except at a regular or called meeting, but this shall not apply to resolutions referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

            When any standing committee or subcommittee schedules a public hearing on a bill or resolution, the principal sponsor of such bill or resolution shall be notified of the time and place of such hearing not less than five calendar days prior to the hearing date.

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