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.