Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect HR0001S01.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.R. 1

Representative Ron Bigelow proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
HOUSE RULES RESOLUTION - ACCESS TO

             2     
HOUSE FLOOR

             3     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Ron Bigelow

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This resolution amends House rules governing admittance to the House Floor.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This resolution:
             12          .    allows only House members, the governor, the lieutenant governor, legislative staff,
             13      and interns access to the House floor while the House is in session; and
             14          .    requires news media representatives to remain in news media area when the House
             15      is convened in session.
             16      Special Clauses:
             17          This resolution takes effect immediately.
             18      Legislative Rules Affected:
             19      AMENDS:
             20          HR-33.01
             21          HR-33.06
             22     
             23      Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
             24          Section 1. HR-33.01 is amended to read:
             25           HR-33.01. Admittance to House Chamber.



             26          (1) As used in this rule:
             27          (a) "Former legislator" means a person who is not a current member of the Legislature,
             28      but who served in the Utah House or Senate at one time.
             29          (b) "Governor's staff" means:
             30          (i) a person employed directly by the Office of the Governor or the Office of the
             31      Lieutenant Governor; and
             32          (ii) the director of the Office of Planning and Budget.
             33          (c) "Guest" means a person who is not a legislator, legislative employee, a member of
             34      professional legislative staff, an intern, [a former legislator,] a lobbyist, the governor, or the
             35      lieutenant governor[, or a member of the governor's staff].
             36          (d) "House halls" means the passageways that allow access to the House chamber,
             37      House lounge, House offices, and other areas behind and adjoining the House chamber.
             38          (e) (i) "House offices" means the offices behind and adjacent to the House chamber
             39      and the reception areas connected to them.
             40          (ii) "House offices" includes the rules committee conference room.
             41          (f) (i) "House space" means the House chamber, House lounge, House offices, the
             42      House halls, and the other areas behind and adjoining the House chamber.
             43          (ii) "House space" does not mean the common public space outside the front of the
             44      House chamber.
             45          (g) "Immediate family" means any parent, spouse, child, grandparent, grandchild,
             46      great-grandparent, great-grandchild, or sibling of a member of the House who is not a lobbyist.
             47          (h) "Intern" means a person who is an official participant in the intern program
             48      sponsored by the Utah Legislature.
             49          (i) (i) "Lobbyist" means either:
             50          (A) a person required to register as a lobbyist by Section 36-11-103 ; or
             51          (B) a person who is seeking to influence any legislator to vote for or vote against any
             52      legislation.
             53          (ii) "Lobbyist" does not mean the governor[,] or lieutenant governor[, or the governor's
             54      staff].
             55          (2) (a) While the House is convened in annual general session or special session and
             56      except as provided in Subsections (2)(b), (c), (d), and (e):



             57          (i) only legislators, legislative employees, professional legislative staff, interns, [former
             58      legislators who are not lobbyists, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the governor's
             59      staff,] the governor, and the lieutenant are allowed in the House chamber; and
             60          (ii) a Representative may have no more than one guest in the House chamber at any
             61      one time.
             62          (b) A Representative may invite only one of the following to sit next to the
             63      Representative in the House chamber:
             64          (i) a member of the Representative's immediate family;
             65          (ii) another legislator;
             66          (iii) a legislative employee;
             67          (iv) a member of professional legislative staff; or
             68          (v) an intern.
             69          (c) The Speaker may authorize special guests to be present in the chamber or to sit with
             70      a legislator.
             71          (d) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(d)(ii), lobbyists do not have access to the
             72      floor of the House.
             73          (ii) (A) [Notwithstanding Subsection (d)(i), the] The Representative sponsoring a bill
             74      being debated by the House may invite one lobbyist with expertise on the bill being considered
             75      to be present in the chamber.
             76          (B) The Representative shall inform the Sergeant-at-Arms that the lobbyist is present.
             77          (C) The Representative shall ensure that the lobbyist is seated on a bench in the rear of
             78      the chamber during the presentation and debate on the bill.
             79          (D) If, during the course of debate on the bill, the Representative needs the assistance
             80      of the lobbyist, the Representative may request the permission of the Speaker to have the
             81      lobbyist approach the Representative sponsoring the bill to provide the needed information.
             82          (E) When the House moves to another item of business, the lobbyist shall leave the
             83      House floor.
             84          (e) Representatives who invite guests who are not lobbyists into the chamber shall:
             85          (i) unless the guest is authorized by this rule to sit next to the Representative, ensure
             86      that the guest sits on a bench in the rear of the chamber; and
             87          (ii) inform the guest that they may only stay for a short visit not to exceed one hour.


             88          (f) Representatives who are visited by groups shall arrange with the Sergeant-at-Arms
             89      for them to be seated in the gallery.
             90          (3) (a) While the House is convened in annual general session or special session and
             91      except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), only legislators, legislative employees, professional
             92      legislative staff, immediate family, interns, former legislators who are not lobbyists, the
             93      governor, the lieutenant governor, and the governor's staff are allowed in the House lounge.
             94          (b) (i) A Representative may invite a small number of lobbyists or guests to meet with
             95      the Representative in the House lounge to educate them about the legislative process or to
             96      discuss specific legislative issues.
             97          (ii) The Representative shall ensure that the lobbyists and guests leave the House space
             98      when the meeting is over.
             99          (4) (a) While the House is convened in annual general session or special session and
             100      except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), only legislators, legislative employees, professional
             101      legislative staff, immediate family, interns, and former legislators who are not lobbyists are
             102      allowed in the House offices.
             103          (b) (i) A Representative may invite a small number of lobbyists or guests to meet with
             104      the Representative in the Representative's House office or the rules committee conference room
             105      to discuss specific legislative issues.
             106          (ii) The Representative shall ensure that the lobbyists and guests leave the House space
             107      when the meeting is over.
             108          (5) (a) While the House is convened as a body in House chambers and except as
             109      provided in Subsection (5)(b), only the following persons are allowed in the House halls:
             110          (i) legislators;
             111          (ii) legislative employees;
             112          (iii) professional legislative staff;
             113          (iv) interns;
             114          (v) former legislators who are not lobbyists;
             115          (vi) the governor; and
             116          (vii) the lieutenant governor[; and].
             117          [(viii) the governor's staff.]
             118          (b) Immediate family, lobbyists, and guests in transit to the House chamber, House


             119      lounge, or House offices may pass through the House halls.
             120          (6) The Sergeant-at-Arms, under the direction of the Speaker, shall enforce the
             121      requirements of this rule.
             122          Section 2. HR-33.06 is amended to read:
             123           HR-33.06. News Media.
             124          (1) (a) News media representatives with House press credentials shall be admitted to
             125      the House chamber, halls, lounge, and committee rooms.
             126          (b) While the House is convened as a body in House chambers, news media
             127      representatives shall remain in the area designated for the news media and may not enter the
             128      floor of the House, the circle, or the Speaker's dais.
             129          (2) With permission of the Speaker or the Speaker's designee, the news media may
             130      conduct and record interviews in the House lounge, halls, available committee rooms, or in the
             131      House chamber or gallery.
             132          (3) The news media shall also comply with the other provisions in HR-33.02 and
             133      HR-33.03.
             134          (4) The Sergeant-at-Arms, under the direction of the Speaker, shall enforce the
             135      requirements of this rule.
             136          Section 3. Effective date.
             137          This resolution takes effect upon approval by a constitutional majority vote of all
             138      members of the House of Representatives.


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]