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Session Rules, Journals & Archive

STANDING RULES AND ORDERS OF THE SENATE

112th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The Senate shall be convened every legislative day at 1:30 P.M. unless the Senate by

motion adopted by a majority vote shall have agreed to convene at some other hour.

2. (a) Except as specified in subsection (b), a quorum consisting of two-thirds of the

Senators elected must be present to do business.

(b) Twenty-five Senators with the President, or Twenty-six Senators in the absence of the

President with the President Pro Tempore presiding or having chosen a Senator to preside if the

President Pro Tempore is absent shall be authorized to do the following:

Call a Senator.

Compel the attendance of absent Senators.

Make an order for censure.

Adjourn.

3. Every Senator shall be present at all meetings of the Senate unless excused by the

President Pro Tempore.

4. (a) Every Senator shall vote on each question put except as provided by this Rule.

(b) A Senator may be excused from voting on a question because of a direct personal or

pecuniary interest in the event of such question. Whether a Senator has a direct personal or

pecuniary interest so as to be excused from voting on a question shall be decided without debate.

designated to preside shall not be required to vote unless necessary to break a tie or to provide a

constitutional majority.

(d) This Rule shall not be construed as denying or abridging the right of a Senator to vote

on any question.

5. (a) The regular order of transacting business shall be as follows:

(1) The President takes the chair.

(2) Senate called to order.

(3) Prayer.

(4) Pledge of Allegiance.

(5) Roll call.

(6) Introduction of bills.

(7) Reports of standing committees.

(8) Introduction of petitions, memorials and remonstrances.

(9) Reports of select committees.

(10) Senate Resolutions.

(11) Concurrent Resolutions.

(12) Joint Resolutions.

(13) Messages from the House.

(14) Senate bills on second reading.

(15) Senate bills on third reading.

(16) House bills on first reading.

(17) House bills on second reading.

(18) House bills on third reading.

(19) Senate bills from conference committees.

(20) House bills from conference committees.

(b) The regular order of business may be suspended upon a majority vote of the Senators

present and voting.

upon reassembling or upon completion of the business which caused the suspension, the business

of the Senate shall be resumed at the place where the regular order of business was suspended.

(d) The Journal of the previous days shall not be read to the Senate except upon a motion

signed by five (5) Senators, concurred in by a constitutional majority of the Senate.

6. Every bill, resolution or other matter before the Senate on the Calendar or otherwise

capable of being acted upon by the Senate shall at the adjournment sine die of any session of the

General Assembly be deemed to have failed.

7. The standing rules and orders of the Senate shall be an item of business in the first

regular session of a term of the General Assembly. The Committee on Rules and Legislative

Procedure shall develop the standing rules and orders to be presented to the Senate for adoption.

The standing rules and orders, upon adoption, shall govern the Senate for the term of the General

Assembly, unless amended or suspended.

8. Mason's Manual and Jefferson's Manual shall apply to all points not covered by these

Rules and, whenever there is a conflict between said Manuals, Mason's Manual shall govern. The

Principal Secretary shall at all times maintain a copy of said Manuals in the Office of the

Principal Secretary, the Office of the Majority Attorney, and the Office of the Minority Attorney.

II. DECORUM, DEBATE AND MOTIONS

A. Decorum and Debate

9. The President Pro Tempore shall preside over the Senate when the President is absent

or steps down from the Chair. Whenever presiding over the Senate, the President Pro Tempore

shall at any time have the right to designate a member of the Senate to preside in place of the

President Pro Tempore. In the absence of the President and the President Pro Tempore, the

Majority Leader shall preside over the Senate.

10. The President or Chair shall preserve order and decorum; may speak to points of

order in preference to Senators rising for that purpose; and shall decide questions of order.

11. (a) Decisions of the President or Chair are subject to an appeal to the Senate by any

two Senators. Senator.

(b) No Senator shall speak more than once on an appeal, unless the Senate grants a

Senator leave to speak twice.

Senate on the appeal, including putting the question and announcing the vote.

(d) The question on any appeal from a decision of the President or Chair shall be stated as

follows:

"Shall the ruling of the Chair be sustained?"

(e) Upon any appeal from a decision of the President or Chair, a record vote shall be

taken upon the question.

12. (a) When any Senator desires to speak or deliver any matter to the Senate, the Senator

shall rise and respectfully address the President or Chair.

(b) When two or more Senators rise at once, the President or Chair shall name the Senator

who is to speak first.

during debate shall confine comments to the question under debate, and shall not make any

motion at the close of the Senator's own speech or prefacing remarks.

(d) No Senator shall speak more than once to the same question without leave of the

Senate, unless the Senator moved, proposed, or introduced the matter pending and is speaking in

reply to a question or after every Senator has had an opportunity to speak on the matter pending.

(e) A Senator shall not occupy more than one-half hour to speak on any question in the

Senate or in committee; provided, however, that the Senate at any time, by motion adopted by a

majority of the Senators present and voting, may further limit the time for speaking.

(f) A Senator may have one minute to explain the Senator's vote on a bill or joint

resolution if the Senator did not speak during debate on such bill or joint resolution.

(g) No Senator shall impugn the motives of any other Senator.

(h) A Senator may request the President or Chair to place the Senate in recess to allow a

person who is not a member of the Senate to address the Senate only if the request has been

approved by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure.

13. (a) Any Senator shall have the right to speak on a point of personal privilege, when

recognized by the President or Chair.

(b) No Senator shall request a point of personal privilege during discussion of a bill.

other Senator.

(d) No Senator shall have the right to propound any question to a Senator exercising a

point of personal privilege.

14. (a) If any Senator in speaking, or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the Senate, the

President or Chair shall, or any Senator may, call the Senator to order.

(b) The Senator called to order shall immediately be seated, unless another Senator moves

that the Senator called to order be allowed to explain the challenged remarks and the motion is

adopted by a majority of the Senators present and voting.

(d) The Senate shall vote on the appeal of the call to order without debate.

(e) If the decision on the appeal is in favor of the Senator called to order, the Senator shall

be at liberty to proceed, but not otherwise; and if the decision on the appeal is against the Senator

called to order, the Senator shall be liable as to censure or such punishment as the Senate may

deem proper.

(f) If a Senator is called to order for words spoken in debate, the Senator calling a Senator

to order shall indicate the words to which there is an objection, but the Senator called to order

shall not be censured for those words if further debate or other business has intervened.

B. Priority of Motions and Debate

15. (a) Each motion shall be in writing, signed by the maker, and, if demand is made,

seconded, except the following motions:

Motion to adjourn.

Motion to fix the time which to adjourn.

Motion to lay on the table.

Motion for the previous question.

Motion to postpone indefinitely.

Motion to commit.

Motion to call the absentees.

Motion to excuse the absentees.

(b) Each written motion shall be handed to the Reading Clerk and read aloud before

debate.

possession of the Senate, but by consent of the Senate may be withdrawn at any time before

being decided upon or amended.

(d) A motion to adjourn may be made only by the President Pro Tempore or Senator

designated by the President Pro Tempore.

16. (a) When a question is under debate, no motion shall be in order except the following

motions which take precedence in the order listed:

1st. To adjourn.

2nd. To lay on the table.

3rd. For the previous question.

4th. To postpone to a certain time or day.

5th. To commit.

6th. To amend.

7th. To postpone indefinitely.

(b) A motion to adjourn shall always be in order, except when the previous question or a

motion to take up or receive the report of the Committee on Legislative Apportionment and

Elections concerning right of membership is pending. The motion to adjourn shall be decided

without debate.

Senate, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate.

17. (a) When moved, the previous question shall be put in this form: "Shall the question

be now put?"

(b) Until it is decided, the previous question shall preclude all debate and the introduction

of all further amendments.

debate and bring the Senate to a direct vote on the question then pending.

(d) When operating under the previous question, there shall be no debate or explanation

of votes; provided, however, that the author or sponsor of the question then pending will have

two (2) minutes to speak prior to the vote.

18. All questions relating to the priority of business and motions to table or take from the

table shall be decided without debate.

III. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

A. Selection and Appointment

19. The first item of business at the first regular session of a term of the General

Assembly shall be the election of the following:

The President Pro Tempore

The Principal Secretary

20. Each officer of the Senate shall take an oath for the true and faithful discharge of the

duties of the office and shall be deemed to continue in office for the term of the General

Assembly unless the officer resigns, is removed, suspended, or unable to serve, or until a

successor is chosen.

21. The President Pro Tempore shall appoint the following:

(a) Assistant President Pro Tempore.

(b) Majority Floor Leader.

(d) Majority Whip.

(e) Assistant Majority Whip.

(f) Assistant Majority Caucus Chairman.

(g) Assistant Majority Secretary of the Senate.

(h) Deputy Minority Secretary of the Senate.

(i) Postmaster of the Senate.

(j) Principal Doorkeeper of the Senate.

(k) Majority Attorney of the Senate.

(l) Acting Principal Secretary of the Senate, if the Principal Secretary is

removed, suspended, or unable to serve or resigns.

22. The officers and employees of the Senate shall be responsible to and under the

direction of the President Pro Tempore or President Pro Tempore-elect.

B. Duties of Officers and Employees

23. (a) The Principal Secretary shall keep the Journal of the Senate in due form and by

signature shall attest the same.

(b) The Principal Secretary shall each day the Senate convenes prepare a calendar, listing

by number and author or sponsor, each bill and joint resolution eligible for call on second reading

and each bill and joint resolution eligible for call on third reading on that day, together with any

special order of business.

the Principal Secretary shall transmit to the Legislative Services Agency all official receipt books

and official records from each session during the Principal Secretary's term of office.

24. The Legislative Services Agency shall preserve all official records and books received

from the Principal Secretary for future use.

25. (a) The Doorkeeper shall attend the Senate at all times during a session unless

directed otherwise by the President Pro Tempore and execute all commands duly given.

(b) When requested to call a Senator, the Doorkeeper shall do so by name.

Chamber all persons except the President, Senators, officers and employees of the Senate, the

Parliamentarian, members of the House, representatives of the press assigned to places on the

floor of the Senate, employees of the Legislative Services Agency, persons holding official

passes authorized by the President Pro Tempore, former Senators, and former members of the

House; provided, however, that any person, including former Senators and former members of

the House, who is registered as a lobbyist shall not have access to the Senate Chamber.

C. Duties of Officers and Employees Pertaining to Bills

26. (a) The Principal Secretary, or designee, shall number consecutively the bills, the joint

resolutions, and the concurrent resolutions received.

(b) Upon receiving a bill or joint resolution from a Senator, the Principal Secretary, or

designee, shall prepare a receipt showing the number of the bill or joint resolution and the date

when received.

the Senate, a list of all bills and joint resolutions to be introduced each day the Senate is

convened, commencing with the first day of each regular or special session.

(d) The Principal Secretary shall keep all bills and joint resolutions on file in regular

order.

27. When a bill has passed, it shall be certified by the Principal Secretary, noting at the

foot thereof the day of its passage.

28. When an enrolled act or bill is transferred from one party to another within or without

the Senate Chambers, a receipt shall be generated to record that transaction.

IV. STANDING COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEES

A. Committees of the Senate and Committee Appointments

29. (a) The following shall comprise the standing Senate committees and subcommittees

thereto:

(1) Agriculture and Small Business.

Ten (10) Members.

(2) Appointments and Claims.

Eight (8) Members.

(3) Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Eleven (11) Members.

(4) Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Procedures.

Eleven (11) Members.

(5) Education.

Eleven (11) Members.

(6) Legislative Apportionment and Elections.

Eleven (11) Members.

a. Apportionment/Redistricting Subcommittee

b. Elections Subcommittee

(7) Environmental Affairs.

Eleven (11) Members.

(8) Ethics.

Six (6) Members.

(9) Finance.

Fifteen (15) Members.

a. Budget Subcommittee.

b. Taxation Subcommittee.

c. Local Government Financing Subcommittee.

(10) Governmental and Regulatory Affairs.

Eleven (11) Members.

a. Local Government Subcommittee.

b. Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee.

(11) Health and Provider Services.

Eleven (11) Members.

a. Public Health Subcommittee.

b. Provider Services Subcommittee.

(12) Insurance and Financial Institutions.

Ten (10) Eleven (11) Members.

a. Insurance Subcommittee.

b. Financial Institutions Subcommittee.

(13) Judiciary.

Eleven (11) Members.

a. Courts and Juvenile Justice Subcommittee.

b. Probate Code and Trusts Subcommittee.

(14) Natural Resources.

Ten (10) Members.

(15) Pensions and Labor.

Eleven (11) Members.

(16) Planning Energy and Economic Development.

Eleven (11) Members.

a. Energy Subcommittee

b. Economic Development Subcommittee

(17) Public Policy.

Eleven (11) Members.

a. Public Affairs Subcommittee.

b. Public Safety Subcommittee.

(18) Transportation and Interstate Cooperation.

Ten (10) Members.

(19) Rules and Legislative Procedure.

Eight (8) Members.

(b) Additional subcommittees may be created with the approval of the Committee on

Rules and Legislative Procedure.

30. (a) The President Pro Tempore or President Pro Tempore-elect shall appoint the

chairperson and members of each of the standing committees and subcommittees thereto. The

appointments to standing committees and subcommittees shall be reported to the Senate by the

President Pro Tempore and recorded in the Journal.

(b) The chairpersons and members of the standing committees and subcommittees thereof

shall continue for the term of the General Assembly unless removed by the President Pro

Tempore or unable to serve.

President Pro Tempore or President Pro Tempore-elect of the Senate.

31. The standing committees and subcommittees thereof shall be the only committees or

subcommittees authorized to represent the Senate during the interim periods of the General

Assembly.

B. Specific Committees: Rights, Duties and Procedures

32. The Committee on Legislative Apportionment and Elections shall have leave to report

at any time on the right of a Senator to a seat by presenting its report to the Senate or by filing its

report with the Principal Secretary. A report concerning right of membership shall be a question

of the highest privilege and may be called up at any time by the Chairperson of the Committee on

Legislative Apportionment and Elections or by any member of the Senate.

33. (a) A report of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure shall be in order at

any time when no question is before the Senate.

(b) All proposed amendments to or motions to suspend the Rules shall be referred to the

Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure without debate. The Committee shall have the

right to report at any time on any proposed change in the Rules or the order of business. A report

on a proposed change in the Rules or order of business shall be immediately disposed of by a

majority vote of the Senators present and voting.

numbering, lettering, or technical errors in a bill or resolution when it is in the possession of the

Senate. The Committee shall report to the Senate the number of each bill corrected and the

correction which was made under its direction. The report of a correction shall be maintained

under the supervision of the Principal Secretary and be available for inspection by a legislator

upon request and entered in the Journal of the Senate.

V. VOTING PROCEDURES

34. (a) The President or Chair may state a question while sitting but shall rise to put the

question as follows:

"As many as are in favor (as the question may be) vote yea"; (and, except in case of a

record vote, after the affirmative vote is expressed) "As many as are opposed vote nay."

(b) In any case in which a voice vote is taken and there is a reasonable doubt as to the

result thereof, a division on the question shall be granted upon demand of any Senator, if the

demand is made prior to a ruling by the Chair upon the vote by voice.

divide and those Senators voting in the affirmative of the question shall first rise from their seats

and be counted, and afterward those Senators voting in the negative of the question shall rise

from their seats and be counted.

(d) Upon a division and count of the Senate, on any question, a Senator who is not in the

Chamber shall not be counted.

35. (a) A record vote is a vote taken and recorded through the use of electronic

equipment.

(b) In all cases in which the vote of the members of the Senate is taken and recorded

through the use of electronic equipment, a period of time immediately following the putting of

the question shall be allowed for the casting of the vote. At the discretion of the President or

Chair, the voting period shall be declared closed and the result of the vote shall be recorded and

announced as recorded, and the official voting roll call sheet shall never in any way be altered or

the vote recorded changed thereon.

a calling of the roll and a recording of the yeas and nays.

36. The President shall, when the Senate is equally divided, give the deciding vote.

37. (a) No member shall vote for another member, nor shall any person not a member cast

a vote for a member; provided, however, that the President Pro Tempore or other Senator may,

when presiding, designate another Senator to cast a vote for the chair as directed.

(b) In addition to such penalties as may be prescribed by law, any member who shall vote

or attempt to vote for another member may be punished in such manner as the Senate may

determine.

shall be barred from the floor of the Senate for the remainder of the session and may be further

punished in such manner as the Senate may deem proper, in addition to such punishment as may

be prescribed by law.

VI. LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE

A. Form of Bills

38. To be filed, a bill must have been reviewed by the Legislative Services Agency as to

technical correctness, have attached a fiscal note prepared by the Legislative Service Agency,

include a brief digest of the bill, and be accompanied by a card addressed to the President Pro

Tempore of the Senate, stating the subject matter of the bill and the committee assignment

requested.

39. (a) Every bill and resolution filed shall be in a typewritten or printed form having no

hand written interlining or defacements of any kind and drafted in a form prescribed by the

Legislative Council.

(b) There shall be sufficient copies of the bill prepared for filing or pre-filing, one (1) of

which shall be backed. The backed copy shall be the original bill.

of the bill, but be in sufficient detail to acquaint the Senators with the general subject matter

under consideration in the bill.

(d) Every amendatory bill shall cite the original act or code as last amended, and the

sections of an act or code being amended shall be set forth and published in full length. The

identification required by this Rule shall be made by citation reference.

(e) Every bill and resolution shall have one Senator designated as author or sponsor and

may have one Senator designated as second author or sponsor. Any number of Senators may be

designated as coauthors or cosponsors.

(f) Every bill and resolution shall be endorsed on the backing thereof with the names of

the Senators offering the same.

40. (a) Petitions, memorials and other papers, including congratulatory and other

resolutions, addressed to the Senate may be presented by the President or any Senator.

(b) Resolutions expressing congratulations, sympathy, or thanks, and similar resolutions

shall, for printing and transmitting purposes, be limited to one page, unless prior to presentation,

the Senator offering the resolution has obtained permission from the President Pro Tempore.

to which it is assigned before it may be called for action, unless the President Pro Tempore

designates it as eligible for immediate action.

41. Neither the printing contractor nor any subcontractor shall release information

concerning bills or resolutions, their progress or work thereon, to any person not authorized by

the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to receive such information.

B. Pre-Filing, Filing, Introduction, First Reading and Committee Assignment

42. Any member or member-elect of the Senate may on or after thirty (30) days prior to

the convening of any regular or special session pre-file a bill, joint resolution, or concurrent

resolution with the Principal Secretary for introduction.

43. A Senator must sign and deliver in person to the Principal Secretary's Office every bill

or resolution to be filed or pre-filed by that Senator.

44. (a) Any bill or resolution pre-filed may be withdrawn, prior to its first reading, by the

author upon written request to the Principal Secretary and the records shall show such bill or

resolution as having been withdrawn.

(b) In the event that the office of any member or member-elect who has pre-filed a bill or

resolution shall become vacant for any reason prior to the first reading thereof, the bill or

resolution shall be introduced in the names of the remaining second author and/or coauthors, if

any. If a bill or resolution was pre-filed only by the member or member-elect whose office is

vacant, the bill or resolution shall be withheld from introduction and the records shall show the

same as withdrawn prior to introduction.

45. (a) First regular session. There shall be no limitation on the number of bills filed by

each Senator before January 7; 8; provided, however, that no Senator shall file more than two (2)

bills per business day after January 6 7 until NOON on January 21 22 which shall be the deadline

for filing bills.

(b) Second regular session. There shall be no limitation on the number of bills filed by

each Senator before January 6; 7; provided, however, that no Senator shall file more than one (1)

bill per business day after January 5 6 until NOON on January 7, 10, which shall be the deadline

for filing bills.

Senator.

46. (a) Whenever the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall assign a filed Senate bill

or joint resolution to a standing committee, the assignment shall be made within seven (7)

calendar days following the last day for filing Senate bills and joint resolutions and shall cause

the bill or joint resolution with the committee assignment to be set forth on a bill filing list.

(b) The following shall be referred to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure:

(1) All vehicle bills.

(2) All bills or resolutions requesting the establishment of interim study

committees or statutory committees or commissions.

47. (a) Bills and joint resolutions will be introduced after assignment to a committee.

(b) Bills and resolutions are introduced when read for the first time.

committee by the President Pro Tempore.

48. Bills and joint resolutions pre-filed prior to a session or a recess after organization day

may be assigned and released by the President Pro Tempore or President Pro Tempore-elect of

the Senate to a standing committee for consideration and will be introduced the first or a

subsequent day on which the Senate is convened.

49. Upon the assignment of a bill or resolution for committee consideration or the day of

first reading, whichever occurs first, the filed unbacked copies of a bill or resolution shall be

distributed by the Principal Secretary as follows: one to the printer for bill reading room copies;

one to the Majority Attorney; one to the Head Senate Proofreader; one to the author; one to the

committee chairperson of the committee to which the bill is assigned; and one to the Minority

Attorney.

C. Subject Matter

50. No motion to amend, committee action, concurrence or conference committee action

which seeks under color of amendment to substitute or insert subject matter not germane to that

of the bill or resolution under consideration shall be in order.

51. Any conference committee report not in accordance with Article 4, Section 19 of the

Constitution shall not be in order.

D. Committee Meetings, Considerations and Reports

52. The committees of the Senate shall perform such services and take into consideration

all subjects and matters required of them by the Senate.

53. (a) No committee or subcommittee, except the Committee on Rules and Legislative

Procedure and the Committee on Ethics, shall meet, hear evidence, or take a vote on a bill or

resolution assigned to the committee or subcommittee without at least forty-eight (48) hours

notice to the public. The notice shall include the following:

(1) Committee or subcommittee name.

(2) Chairperson.

(3) Time, day, date and place of meeting.

(4) Number and subject matter of all bills and resolutions to be considered.

(b) The Chairperson or Subcommittee Chairperson, with the approval of the Committee

Chairperson, is responsible for informing the Principal Secretary of the intent to hold a hearing

including all information required in the notice by Rule 53(a).

information center for the Senate Committee hearings and on the Senate bulletin boards outside

the Senate and House Chambers for no less than forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting or

hearing; provided, however, that the forty-eight (48) hour posting requirement shall not apply to

the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure and the Committee on Ethics. Senate

committee or subcommittee meetings to be scheduled for a Monday or Tuesday shall be posted

before noon or prior to adjournment, whichever is later, on the preceding Friday; provided,

however, that this posting requirement shall not apply to the Committee on Rules and Legislative

Procedure and the Committee on Ethics.

54. (a) Except as provided in Rule 54(b), all standing committee and subcommittee

meetings shall be open to the public. The Senate's intent with this Rule is to provide public

access to the legislative process without hindering, intimidating, or disrupting that process.

(b) The Committee on Ethics may meet in executive session:

(1) as provided in IC 2-2.1-3-7; or

(2) under Rule 92 or 93 to consider the request of a Senator made under Rule

90.

55. No action shall be taken without a quorum of the committee. A quorum shall consist

of a majority of the appointed members. Provided, however, that the Chairperson of the

Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure may offer a committee report on behalf of said

committee on only his signature.

56. When reporting on vehicle bills, the Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee shall

not reassign a vehicle bill to another committee until the substance of the bill which is to be

heard by a standing committee is amended into such vehicle bill.

57. When a bill or resolution is assigned to a standing committee the Senator introducing

the same shall be a member of the standing committee during such committee's deliberations

thereon, but shall have no power to act or vote on the bill or resolution unless the Senator is an

appointed member of the standing committee.

58. All bills and resolutions, with or without amendments, must receive consideration by

the whole committee before being reported to the body of the Senate by the committee

chairperson, except bills and resolutions in possession of the Committee on Rules and

Legislative Procedure.

59. (a) When a final vote is taken on any bill or resolution under consideration by a

standing committee or subcommittee, the vote of each member of said standing committee or

subcommittee shall be recorded and retained as a part of the record of the meeting.

(b) Records of committee votes shall be made available for the purpose of examination by

other legislators, the news media, and the public in general as prescribed by the Rules and

Legislative Procedure Committee.

(d) The vote record shall be signed by the committee chairperson or ranking member if

the ranking member presides.

60. (a) Each member of the committee including the chairperson shall cast a vote.

(b) No member of the committee shall cast a vote for another member; nor shall any

person not a member of the committee cast a vote for a member.

61. In the event of a tie vote on a vote for final committee recommendation, the

chairperson may call for a vote at a later time.

62. After a committee, other than the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure, has

had a bill under consideration for six (6) days (Sunday and the day of its introduction not

included) the author of such bill or any member of the Senate shall have the right to call the

attention of the Senate to such fact. A bill or resolution shall remain in the possession of the

committee to which it was assigned unless two-thirds of the Senators elected shall vote to bring

the bill or resolution to the floor. A bill or resolution brought to the floor by a vote under this

Rule shall be considered by the Senate as if such bill or resolution had been reported without

recommendation.

63. (a) The committee to which a bill shall have been assigned may report thereon with or

without amendments, or may report a substitute therefor, subject to the provisions of Rule 50.

(b) The committee to which a concurrent resolution shall have been assigned may report

thereon only without amendment.

prescribed forms and shall be signed by the committee chairperson, or in the chairperson's

absence the ranking member, filed with the Principal Secretary not less than one (1) hour prior to

the convening of the session day on which it is to be offered, and reproduced, with copies

furnished to the President Pro Tempore, the Minority Leader, and the Chairperson and Ranking

Minority Member of the committee which reported the bill; provided, however, that this

subsection shall not apply to reports of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure.

64. (a) A minority report may be filed on a bill or resolution if the committee to which the

bill or resolution was assigned adopted a majority report on said bill or resolution.

(b) To be eligible for consideration, a minority report must be on prescribed forms and

shall be signed by a member of the committee who voted against the majority report, filed with

the Secretary not less than one (1) hour prior to the convening of the session day on which it is to

be offered, and reproduced with copies furnished to the President Pro Tempore, the Minority

Leader, and the Chairperson and Ranking Minority Member of the committee which reported the

bill.

is before the Senate.

(d) If a minority report be made, the question shall be upon concurring in the minority

report, and if not concurred in, the question shall then recur upon the majority report.

65. (a) After the assignment of, but prior to the filing of a committee report on, a bill or

resolution, a committee which has the bill or resolution under consideration may include in the

report a recommendation for reassignment of the bill or resolution to another committee.

(b) A bill or resolution may be reassigned at any time upon a motion of the President Pro

Tempore approved by a majority vote of the Senators elected.

66. The Chairperson of a committee reporting on a bill or resolution may open and close

the general debate thereon, if any, except when operating under the previous question.

67. (a) Every bill or joint resolution which a committee shall report with a

recommendation for passage or shall report without recommendation, shall be printed at once

unless already printed. Every bill or joint resolution upon which a divided committee report is

made and the report recommending passage is adopted, shall likewise be printed at once unless

already printed.

(b) The bill or joint resolution shall be printed in accordance with the style specified in

Rule 39 and shall implement the committee report. The committee report shall be appended,

except for bills in which the committee report substitutes entirely new language as allowed by

Rules 50, 51, or 79(e), in which case reference may be made to the printing.

bill or joint resolution, the number of copies to be printed will be determined by the President Pro

Tempore and no more than have been so directed shall be printed at once. One (1) copy of each

bill or joint resolution so printed shall be distributed to each Senator and sufficient copies shall

be deposited with the Legislative Services Agency for distribution to the public. No more than

one (1) copy of any such bill or joint resolution shall be delivered to any one person. Any

remaining copies shall be deposited with the Office of the Principal Secretary for the use of the

Senate.

E. Second and Third Reading of Bills

68. The calendar prepared by the Office of the Principal Secretary in accordance with

Rule 23(b) shall be laid upon the desk of each Senator at the beginning of each day on which the

Senate convenes and be made available to the public.

69. (a) Whenever a printed copy of a bill or joint resolution is laid on the desks of the

Senators, said bill or joint resolution shall be deemed distributed. The date of such distribution

shall be printed on the bill or joint resolution.

(b) No bill shall be read a second time until two (2) calendar days after such distribution.

70. (a) A motion to amend a bill or joint resolution on second reading is in order only if

the motion is reduced to writing, contains the original signature of the author of the motion, is

filed with the office of the Principal Secretary not less than two and one-half (2 ½) hours before

the convening time of the session on the day on which the bill or joint resolution is called for

second reading.

(b) If a motion to amend has been timely filed for a bill or joint resolution eligible for call

on a day the Senate is convened, but not distributed prior to convening that day, then the bill or

joint resolution may not be called that day.

form and distributed. When a duplicating error in a motion to amend is discovered after the bill is

called, action on the bill may be suspended for not more than two (2) hours to allow for

correction of the error and for distribution of corrected copies.

71. (a) If no amendments are made to a bill or joint resolution on second reading, the

printed bill or joint resolution shall be used for the engrossed bill or joint resolution after each

page thereof is duly authenticated by the engrossing clerk as to the correctness and genuineness

of such page, and such printing so authenticated shall be the engrossed bill or joint resolution.

(b) If a bill or joint resolution is amended on second reading, the President Pro Tempore

may order the entire bill or joint resolution to be reprinted as amended. If a bill or joint resolution

is reprinted, such reprinted bill or joint resolution shall be used for the engrossed bill or joint

resolution after each page thereof is duly authenticated by the engrossing clerk as to the

correctness and genuineness of such page, and such reprinting so authenticated shall be the

engrossed bill or joint resolution.

the printed bill or joint resolution shall be used for the engrossed bill or joint resolution after each

page thereof and each page of all amendments made thereto on second reading is duly

authenticated by the engrossing clerk as to the correctness and genuineness of such page, and

such printing and amendments thereto so authenticated shall be the engrossed bill or joint

resolution.

72. (a) On the call of bills on second and third reading, no name of any Senator shall be

called a second time until the entire roll has been called.

(b) A Senator may yield the right to call a bill on second or third reading when the

Senator's name is called by stating the name of the Senator to whom the yield is given.

been first obtained for each additional bill called.

(d) Upon request of the President Pro Tempore and with the consent of the body, bills on

second and third reading may be called by numerical order.

73. Bills and resolutions shall be called for action only by Senators whose names appear

first and second respectively on the backed original bill or resolution. If the first author or

sponsor of a bill or resolution is absent from the floor, the second author may make the call if

permission of the first author has been granted, either in writing or by oral communication

verified by the President Pro Tempore.

74. When any bill has been ordered reprinted under Rule 71(b), such bill shall not be

eligible for call on third reading until such reprinted copies shall have been distributed to the

Senators.

75. Unless the constitutional rule be suspended, no bill shall be called for third reading on

the same day it shall have passed to engrossment.

76. (a) No Senate bill or joint resolution amending the Constitution shall be called for

third reading after March 8 in the first session or February 7 in the second session.

(b) No House bill or joint resolution amending the Constitution shall be called for third

reading in the Senate after April 14 16 in the first session or March 2 4 in the second session.

Senate after March 8 in the first session or February 7 in the second session.

(d) The limitations set forth in this Rule shall not apply to bills concerning

reapportionment and redistricting only.

77. (a) No motion shall be received to amend a bill on its third reading, unless it is signed

by two-thirds of the Senators elected.

(b) This Rule shall not apply to any motion to amend which corrects technical or printing

errors. A motion to amend a bill or joint resolution on third reading shall be specifically

designated "Technical Amendments". All technical amendments shall be referred to the

Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure without debate and said Committee shall have

the right to report thereon at any time, and any such report shall be immediately disposed of by a

majority vote of the Senators present and voting.

consisting of the first or second author or sponsor, with specific directions to amend. A motion

to commit to a committee of one must be made at the time a bill or joint resolution is called on

third reading but prior to being placed on its passage. A motion to commit to a committee of one

shall be referred to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure without debate, which

may report on the motion at any time, and any such report shall be immediately disposed of by a

majority vote of the Senators present and voting. If the Rules and Legislative Procedure

Committee Report is adopted, then the committee of one shall report that it has amended the bill

as directed and such report shall be disposed of by a majority vote of the Senators present and

voting. The bill or joint resolution shall then be open for debate and placed upon its passage.

78. (a) When a bill or joint resolution shall have failed for want of a constitutional

majority, but shall have received the affirmative vote of a majority of the Senators present (more

yeas than nays, but less than 26 yeas), such bill or joint resolution may be called down by the

author or sponsor for a second and final vote, without debate, during the call of bills on third

reading on a subsequent day but within three (3) days that the Senate is convened following the

initial vote. The call down of such a bill or joint resolution shall not be counted as a third

reading call of the author or sponsor. The daily calendar shall list such bill or joint resolution in

its regular order, but shall note the session days remaining for action.

(b) When a bill or joint resolution shall have failed for want of a constitutional majority,

but shall have received an equal number of affirmative votes and negative votes of the Senators

present (the same number but less than 25 of each the yeas and nays), such bill or joint resolution

may be called down by the author or sponsor for a second and final vote, without debate, during

the call of bills on third reading on a subsequent day but within three (3)days that the Senate is

convened following the initial vote. The call down of such a bill or joint resolution shall not be

counted as a third reading call of the author or sponsor. The daily calendar shall list such bill or

joint resolution in its regular order, but shall note the days remaining for action.

but has received 25 affirmative votes and 25 negative votes of the Senators present, and the

President of the Senate is not present to give the casting vote, such bill or joint resolution may be

called down by the author or sponsor for a second and final vote during the call of bills on third

reading on a subsequent day that the Senate is convened when the President of the Senate is

present. The call down of such a bill or joint resolution shall not be counted as a third reading

call of the author or sponsor. The daily calendar shall list such bill or joint resolution in its

regular order.

majority, but shall have received the negative vote of a majority of the Senators present (more

nays than yeas but less than 26 nays), such bill or joint resolution shall be in order for

reconsideration on motion by any Senator of the prevailing (nays) side made during the call of

bills on third reading on a subsequent day but within three (3) days that the Senate is convened

following the initial vote; provided, however, that only one motion to reconsider a bill or joint

resolution shall be in order during the session and the vote on such motion shall be without

debate. If the motion to reconsider passes, the bill or joint resolution may be called down by the

author or sponsor for a second and final vote, without debate, during the call of bills on third

reading on a subsequent day but within three (3) days that the Senate is convened following the

initial vote on the bill or joint resolution. The call down of such a bill or joint resolution shall not

be counted as a third reading call of the author or sponsor. The daily calendar shall list such bill

or joint resolution separately under the heading "Rule 78(c) 78(d) Bills and Joint Resolutions,"

following the third reading bills, and shall note the days remaining for action.

(d) (e) Notwithstanding subsection (c), (d), whenever a particular bill or joint resolution

receives a constitutional majority of votes against its passage (26 or more nays), that bill or joint

resolution shall be considered decisively defeated and shall not be considered again during the

session; provided, however, that this provision on decisive defeat does not apply to the operating

or construction budgets or to state revenue raising measures which may be brought before the

Senate in the same or different bills until adopted.

F. Concurrences, Dissents, and Conference Committees

79. (a) In every case in which a Senate bill or joint resolution is returned from the House

with House amendments, a motion to concur or dissent may be filed by the first author or by the

second author with the first author's approval by written or oral communication and verified by

the President Pro Tempore or member designated by the President Pro Tempore.

(b) A motion to concur or dissent shall be prepared by the Senate Attorneys' Offices, filed

with the Office of the Principal Secretary, reproduced and distributed to the Senators.

Secretary of the Senate and distributed to the Senators at least four (4) hours before action is

taken thereon.

(d) A motion to dissent is eligible for action immediately after being filed. A motion to

dissent may be filed by the second author with the first author's approval by written or oral

communication and verified by the President Pro Tempore or member designated by the

President Pro Tempore.

(e) No Senate bill or joint resolution returned from the House with an amendment

substituting therein new subject matter shall be acted upon by the Senate unless a written

consent, describing the change in the subject matter, is signed by the first and second authors and

is attached to the bill or joint resolution upon its return. A bill or joint resolution containing a

new subject matter and accompanied by the written consent of the first and second authors shall

be referred to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure and, if approved, placed on a

separate calendar. Such approved bill or joint resolution is subject to the procedures in Rule

79(c).

80. Motions to concur in House amendments shall be rejected unless approved by a

majority of the members elected and such majority shall be established by a roll call vote.

81. (a) If the Senate dissents in House amendments, the first or second author may request

that the President Pro Tempore appoint a conference committee, and if the House dissents in

Senate amendments, the Speaker may request by the appointment of House conferees, that the

President Pro Tempore appoint a conference committee.

(b) The Senate conference committee consisting of two Senators, with the first listed

Senator being the Senate Chairperson, and advisors may be appointed at any time by the

President Pro Tempore.

Tempore.

(d) The appointment of a conference committee and any change of conferees shall be

reported by the President Pro Tempore to the Senate and posted in the information center for the

Senate Committee meetings and on the Senate bulletin boards.

82. (a) The Senate Conference Committee shall meet with a like committee of the House

of Representatives to adjust the differences.

(b) Conference committee meetings shall be open to the public, shall be held in the State

House, and shall convene only after one (1) hour public notice which shall include:

(1) Members of the conference committee

(2) Chairperson of the conference committee

(3) Time, day, date and place of meeting

(4) Number and subject matter of the bills or joint resolutions to be

considered.

Senate bill or joint resolution to advise the Office of the Principal Secretary of the intent to hold a

conference committee meeting and to provide said office with the information set forth in Rule

82(b).

(d) Notice of a conference committee meeting including all the information set forth in

Rule 82(b) shall be posted prominently in the information center for the Senate Committee

meetings and on the bulletin boards outside the Senate and House Chambers for no less than one

(1) hour prior to said meeting.

83. (a) Each report of a conference committee for the adjustment of differences between

the Senate and House, together with a digest of the bill and the changes made, shall be reduced to

writing, signed by the appointed conferees, reviewed by the Majority Attorney and Minority

Attorney, filed with the Office of the Principal Secretary, and distributed to the Senators at least

four (4) hours before action is taken thereon.

(b) The four (4) appointed conferees must sign the Conference Committee Report before

said Report will be accepted for filing.

Amendment."

(d) No conference committee report shall be referred to the Senate until such time as it

has been drawn or approved as to form by both the Majority Attorney and the Minority Attorney.

(e) Any conference committee report which contains subject matter not previously passed

by at least one House shall be referred to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure;

provided, however, this Rule does not apply to conference committee reports on the

appropriation bills. If a conference committee report containing a subject matter not previously

passed by at least one House is approved by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure,

such report shall be placed on a separate calendar with the heading "Rule 83(e) Conference

Committee Reports".

(f) No more than one (1) conference committee report on a bill or joint resolution shall be

eligible for consideration by the Senate.

(g) A conference committee report which is eligible for consideration may be withdrawn

only with the approval of the Senate upon a written motion made by the Senate chairperson of

the conference committee.

(h) Notwithstanding Rule 78, a conference committee report shall be rejected unless

approved by a majority of the members elected. Such majority shall be established by roll call

vote.

(i) In the first regular session, no conference committee report is eligible for consideration

after April 14, 16, unless approved by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure.

(j) In the second regular session, no conference committee report is eligible for

consideration after March 2, 4, unless approved by the Committee on Rules and Legislative

Procedure.

(k) Upon recommendation of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure

subsections (i) and (j) of this rule may be suspended as to a specific bill by the approval of a

constitutional majority.

G. Enrollments

84. All bills passed by both Houses shall be printed in enrolled form, and shall be

certified as accurate by the first author of the bill, the President of the Senate, the President Pro

Tempore, and the Principal Secretary. One copy of each enrollment shall be furnished to the

author at the time of that certification.

H. Definitions

85. (a) In computing any period of time under these Rules, the day of the act or event

from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the

period so computed shall be included.

(b) Whenever a deadline date is specified in these rules, and that date falls on a Saturday,

Sunday, or legal holiday, that deadline is extended to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday,

or legal holiday.

deadline is specified in these rules to require filing by a certain business day, the deadline shall

be 5:00 P.M. on the business day unless otherwise specified by these rules.

(d) Whenever a deadline date is specified in these rules requiring action by the Senate on

or before a certain date or prohibiting action after a certain date, the action shall be completed

before midnight on the date specified.

(e) Whenever a document is required by these rules to be filed with the Principal

Secretary, the document, to be timely filed, must be presented to and scanned or file stamped by

the Principal Secretary before the deadline established by these rules.

VII. ETHICS

86. It is declared that high moral and ethical standards among State Senators are essential

to the conduct of free government; that the Senate believes that a code of ethics for the guidance

of State Senators will help them avoid conflicts of interest in public office, will improve

standards of public service, and will promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of the

people of Indiana. The code is intended to protect the individual Senators while providing

guidelines for all members of the Senate.

Recognizing that service in the Indiana General Assembly is a part-time endeavor and

that members of the General Assembly are individuals who are active in the affairs of their

localities and elsewhere and that it is necessary that they maintain a livelihood and source of

income apart from their legislative compensation, the following guidelines are adopted to assist

the members in the conduct of their legislative duties.

87. A Senator who is offered:

(a) an economic or investment opportunity; or

(b) a loan, gratuity, discount, favor, hospitality, or other goods or services; by a person,

shall consider, in determining whether or not to accept the offer, whether the Senator's

acceptance of the offer may affect the Senator's independent legislative judgment. In so

considering, the Senator shall take into account the following:

(1) whether the opportunity is being offered with the intent to influence the Senator's

conduct in the performance of legislative duties; or

(2) whether acceptance of the offer would have a unique, direct, and material effect on the

nonlegislative income of the Senator, a member of the Senator's immediate family or those of a

partnership, corporation or business in which the Senator holds a legal or equitable interest.

Should the Senator determine that, by acceptance of the offer, the Senator's independent

legislative judgment may be affected, the Senator shall refuse the offer.

88. A Senator who has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in a piece of legislation

which is so substantial as to affect the Senator's independent legislative judgment is not

precluded from participating in committee and floor debate on the legislation, if the Senator

publicly proclaims that interest.

89. During the course of a legislative session, a Senator may be placed in a position where

the Senator has the obligation to vote on legislation in which the Senator has a direct personal or

pecuniary interest. In making this decision pursuant to Rule 4 of the Standing Rules of the Senate

and Orders for Government relative to the Senator's activity on the legislation, the Senator shall

consider the following:

(a) Whether the Senator's interest in the legislation is so substantial as to affect the

Senator's independence of judgment with respect to the legislation.

(b) To what extent the Senator's interest in the legislation mirrors the interest of the

citizenry to which the Senator is directly responsible.

confidence in the integrity of the legislature.

(d) The need of the Senator's particular contribution, such as special knowledge of the

subject matter, to the effective functioning of the legislature.

(e) Whether the legislation would have a unique, direct, and material effect on the

nonlegislative income of the Senator, a member of the Senator's immediate family or those of a

partnership, corporation, or business in which the Senator holds a legal or equitable interest.

90. A Senator may request the assistance of the Senate legislative ethics committee

(established pursuant to IC 2-2.1-3-5) in determining the propriety of the Senator's:

(a) proposed acceptance of an offer;

(b) participation in upcoming debate; or

91. Under Rule 90, the Senator shall:

(a) Prepare a written statement describing the matter requiring action or decision by the

Senator and the nature of the Senator's potential conflict of interest; and

(b) Deliver a copy of the statement to the Chairman of the Senate legislative ethics

committee. If the Chairman is unavailable, a copy of the statement may be delivered to the

President Pro Tempore.

92. The legislative ethics committee shall meet as soon as possible and render an advisory

opinion on the question raised. Should the committee vote result in a tie, the effect will be to

make no recommendation.

93. If a Senator requests the assistance of the Senate legislative ethics committee under

Rule 90, and there is insufficient time to comply with Rule 91, the Senator shall orally inform the

Chairman of the Senate legislative ethics committee of the potential conflict. The matter shall

then be immediately referred to the legislative ethics committee for its recommendation.

94. The written report of the legislative ethics committee shall be forwarded to the

President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader. The committee's written

report and the written statement of the Senator making the request under Rule 91 shall remain

confidential unless the Senator making the request consents to their disclosure.

95. In addition to any meetings held under Rule 90, the Senate Legislative Ethics

Committee shall meet and may recommend amendments to the code of ethics for the Senate not

later than thirty (30) days after the first session day of each legislative session, pursuant to IC

2-2.1-3-6.

The House of Representatives and The Senate have adjourn Sine Die.