Massachusetts H 4910: Order Suspending Joint Rule 12A

Bill Text

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .No. 4910 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
______________________ 
 
   HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 29, 2020. 
 
 
 The committee on Rules, reports, under the provisions of House Rules 7C, that the 
accompanying order relative to suspending Joint Rule 12A (House, No. 4910) ought to be adopted. 
 
     For the committee, 
       
     _________________ 
          William C. Galvin

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5212        FILED ON: 7/29/2020 
HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4910 
 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
 
 
 
 
House of Representatives, July 29, 2020. 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court 
(2019-2020) 
_______________
 
 
 
1 Ordered, Whereas, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization designated the 
2Coronavirus Disease 2019, hereinafter COVID-19, outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of 
3International Concern; and  
4Whereas, COVID-19 is a highly contagious, and at times fatal, respiratory disease;  
5Whereas, on March 10, 2020, pursuant to Executive Order No. 591, the Governor declared a 
6state of emergency in the Commonwealth to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak; and  
7Whereas, on March 11, 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the 
8World Health Organization; and  
9Whereas, on March 27, 2020 the President of the United States declared that beginning on 
10January 20, 2020 and continuing a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

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11and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth, tribal, and local recovery efforts 
12in areas of the Commonwealth affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; and  
13Whereas, the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 and the effects of its extreme risk of person-to-
14person transmission significantly affect the health, security, safety, economic well-being and 
15convenience of the public; and  
16Whereas, the House of Representatives and the Senate concur with the Governor’s declaration of 
17a state of emergency and a public health emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and  
18Whereas, pursuant to Article VII of Section II of Chapter I of Part the Second of the Constitution 
19of the Commonwealth, the Senate has the exclusive constitutional authority to determine its own 
20rules of proceedings in the Senate; and 
21Whereas, pursuant to Article X of Section III of Chapter 1 of Part the Second of the Constitution 
22of the Commonwealth, the House of Representatives has the exclusive constitutional authority to 
23settle the rules and orders of proceeding in the House of Representatives; and  
24Whereas, the House of Representatives and the Senate exercised their exclusive constitutional 
25authority to settle the joint rules and orders of proceeding for the 191st General Court on March 
267, 2019;  
27Whereas, Joint Rule 12A requires that all formal business of the second annual session be 
28concluded no later than the last day of July 2020; 
29Whereas, Article X of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth requires that 
30the General Court assemble for the political year on the first Wednesday in January and also 
31authorizes the General Court to assemble “at such other times as they shall judge necessary”; and  

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32Whereas, Article XXII of Part the First of the Constitution of the Commonwealth, advises that 
33the General Court “ought frequently to assemble for the redress of grievances, for correcting, 
34strengthening and confirming the laws, and for making new laws, as the common good may 
35require”; and  
36Whereas, pursuant to Article X of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, 
37the General Court assembled for the 2020 political year on January 1, 2020; and  
38Whereas, it is critical for the House of Representatives and the Senate to continue to convene in 
39formal sessions to take additional steps to respond to, and mitigate the spread of, COVID-19 to 
40protect the health, security, safety, economic well-being and convenience of the people of the 
41Commonwealth; now therefore be it 
42Ordered, That, the House of Representatives and the Senate hereby declares that a state of 
43emergency exists within the General Court; and be it further  
44Ordered, That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 12A the House and Senate may meet in formal 
45sessions and conduct formal business subsequent to the last day of July 2020.