Vermont HR 14: House resolution relating to House ethics

Bill Text

State of Vermont
House of Representatives
Montpelier, Vermont
House Resolution
H.R. 14
Offered by Representative Kleppner of Burlington
House resolution relating to amending the House Rules to allow municipal
charter and merger bills to be read three times without referral to a committee
of jurisdiction
Whereas, the General Assembly ordinarily considers between 20 and 30
charter bills during a given biennium, and
Whereas, the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs
has primary jurisdiction over municipal charters and mergers, but also has
jurisdiction over many other subjects of great importance to the State, and
Whereas, providing for an efficient and timely process for the House to
consider and debate charter proposals would provide the Committee on
Government Operations and Military Affairs the opportunity to invest time in
its other areas of jurisdiction, and
Whereas, allowing municipal charters and mergers to be read three times
without referral to committee would establish a level of deference to
municipalities over matters of local concern, now therefore be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives:
That this legislative body amend the Rules and Orders of the House of
Representatives to add Rule 45a to read:
45a. (a) Notwithstanding Rule 45(a), a bill that adopts, amends, or repeals
a municipal charter; approves a municipal merger; or dissolves a municipal
corporation shall not be referred to committee and shall be placed on the
Calendar for Notice for five legislative days before being placed in the Orders
of the Day, after which it shall proceed in the regular course as other bills but
without the need for a committee report. However, a bill that is subject to this
rule 45a may be referred to a committee at the discretion of the Speaker or
upon the motion of a member. For each bill that is subject to this rule 45a, the
Office of Legislative Counsel shall prepare a memorandum that summarizes
the proposals within the bill, identifies any manifest errors or necessary
technical corrections, and analyzes any constitutional or legal issues presented
by the bill contents.