ASSEMBLY POLICY AND REGULATORY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 129

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 10, 1997

      The Assembly Policy and Regulatory Oversight Committee reports favorably an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Resolution No. 129.

      This resolution amends the General Assembly Rules in order to clarify and simplify them, thereby assisting the General Assembly in its efficient and orderly consideration of business. Plain language and gender-neutral language have been used throughout the Rules. The resolution maintains the customs and traditions of the General Assembly, to the extent they are set forth in the Rules, while reflecting the evolution of these customs and traditions. Rules that are antiquated or obsolete have been updated or deleted as appropriate. However, it is not the committee's intent to make substantive changes to the Rules.

       The following is a summary of significant changes contained in the substitute resolution. Section numbers refer to the section of the resolution. The Rule being affected is in parentheses, according to its new Rule number, as renumbered by this resolution:

       Section 4. (Rule 3) Adds the oath of allegiance to the oath of office to conform to the oath actually used, and to comply with R.S. 41:1-2.

       Section 5. (Rule 4) In the event of a vacancy in the office of Speaker, Speaker Pro Tempore or Clerk, the current rule requires the vacancy to be filled at the next meeting of the General Assembly, but in no event later than 14 days after the vacancy occurs. Because the General Assembly may not fill the vacancy within 14 days, the rule is amended to simply call for the filling of the vacancy at the next meeting.

       Section 7. (Rule 6) The officers' oath is amended to include the oath of allegiance as required by R.S.41:1-2.

       Section 23. (Rule 19) New language in subsection c. reflects current practice and is included for purposes of compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

       Section 26. (Rule 22) New language in this section recognizes the Speaker's discretionary authority to order a roll call vote at the request of a member. The right of one-fifth of the members present to demand a roll call vote is taken from current Rule 91 and reflects Art. IV, Sec. IV, par. 4 of the New Jersey Constitution.

       Section 48. (Rule 56) New language at the end of the rule reflects current practice.

       Section 61. (Rule 58) Changes reflect the authority of the Speaker, as currently practiced, to alter the order of business. "Other business" is added as a catchall at the end.

       Section 67. (Rule 73) Gives the chairs of administrative committees the ability to appoint subcommittees with the consent of the Speaker. Currently there is one administrative committee.

       Section 71. (Rule 77) Requires administrative committees to file reports with the Clerk like those filed by standing reference committees.

       Section 175. (Rule 24:1) The following words and terms are added to the existing definitions because they are used in the resolution: "bills and resolutions," "absolute veto," "conditional veto," "line-item veto," "quorum," "roll call vote" and "veto override." The former definition of "resolution" is now "Assembly resolution." "Majority of all the members" is deleted because that term is no longer used.