2007 Rules of Order

Section 3.00: Committees

3.01 RULES SHALL APPLY TO COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

The Rules of the Legislature, except Section 2.09, shall apply to all committee meetings.

3.02 STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

There shall be the following standing committees which shall consist of four members each, except the Finance & Management/Budget Committee which shall consist of seven members for the purpose of considering and acting upon the County Executive's Annual Budget, and all matters relating thereto.

The members of each committee shall be appointed by the Chair within twenty (20) days, or as soon as possible, after his or her election or appointment and the list of the committees shall be filed with the Clerk of the Legislature and printed in the minutes of the Legislature.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Capital Improvements
Community Enrichment
Economic Development
Energy & Environment
Finance & Management
Government Affairs
Health, Human Services
Public Safety

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

The Chair of the Legislature in his or her discretion may appoint such Special Committees, the number of members of which shall be as the Chair may determine.

3.03 CHAIRPERSON EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF ALL COMMITTEES:

The Chair shall be a member Ex-officio of all committees with a vote thereon. The Chair's presence at a meeting shall be counted in determining whether a quorum is present. Any vacancies occurring during the year on any Standing or Special Committee shall be filled by the Chair at his or her discretion.

3.04 RECORDING PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

The Chair of every Standing and Special Committee shall record and certify on a form provided by the Clerk of the Legislature the names of all members present and absent from all regularly called committee meetings. Said certificate shall be filed with the Clerk and shall be the official record of committee attendance.

3.05(1) CONDUCT OF COMMITTEES:

All committees appointed by the Chair shall act promptly on all matters referred to them. It shall be the duty of the members of said committees to familiarize themselves with the departments of county government and the work entrusted to each of such committees.

3.05(2) MATTERS REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT HEADS:

Any matter referred by a committee to a department head for report or study shall be laid on the committee table for one week unless a longer period is specified by the committee.

3.05(3) REPORT ON ANY FINAL ACTION OF COMMITTEE:

Any final action taken by a majority of the members of the committee shall be included in the committee's report of its meeting and the committee's action shall be subject to approval of the Legislature by a majority vote of its total membership.

3.05(4) COMMITTEE AGENDA:

An agenda of all matters before a committee shall be prepared by the Clerk of the Legislature.

3.05(5) OPEN ITEMS IN COMMITTEE

At the discretion of the Committee Chair, an item or items may be allowed to remain on the agenda indefinitely in that particular Committee to allow for consideration of that item and to serve as a vehicle for the committee to amend and send to the full Legislature, within the committee report, for consideration.

3.06 COMMITTEE REPORT MADE BY MAJORITY OF COMMITTEE:

No report shall be made by any committee on any subject referred to it except by a majority vote of the total membership of the committee unless the Legislature otherwise directs. All reports of committees shall be in writing and presented to the full Legislature for consideration at the next succeeding regular session of the Legislature, except the report of the Budget, Finance and Management Committee on the County Executive's Tentative Annual Budget, as provided in Section 4.01.

3.07 COMMITTEE REPORT BY STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

All reports of Standing and Special Committees, all motions except subsidiary motions under Sections 2.08, 2.27, 2.28, 2.29 and 2.30 and all resolutions shall lie upon the table one day before action thereon or adoption by the Legislature (unless immediate consideration is given by a majority vote of the Legislature). This rule shall not apply to reports of Standing and Special Committees on the last regular session before summer adjournment nor on the last regularly adjourned session at the close of the year.