Senator Teresa Moody submitted the following report regarding Government Bill 16, "Expanding Closed Rule", on Saturday, November 11, 2000, on behalf of the Government Operations Committee, and pursuent to its November 6, 2000 recommendations, with 5 members voting in the affirmative and 0 in the negative:

As provided by Senate Rule 12(b), the committee requests that the Senate President place GB 16 on the calendar for second reading.

Attendance:

There were six (6) Senators (Burgess-Ford, Carlson, Engler, Mangum, Moody, Shah.) present;

There were two (2) Senators (Brown, Davis.) absent;

A quorum was present.

Purpose of the Legislation:

The purpose of this legislation is to expand the purpose of the closed rule by giving the author of the bill the right to invoke the closed rule on legislation after it has been read for first reading.

Debate:

Once introduced does the piece of legislation belong to the body or to the author?

Recommendations:

The Committee recommeds that this bill be reported favorably to the Senate.

Committee Amendments:

Amend GB 16 to say:

BE IT ENACTED by the NC State University Student Senate that:

Section 1. Student Body Statutes Chapter 2, Rule 0 shall be amended by adding and subsequent sections re-numbered accordingly:

(4) Any Bill or Resolution may be designated as "closed," wherein no amendment of any kind shall be permitted except by unanimous consent of the body considering the Bill or Resolution. Any process "closing" a Bill or Resolution shall be termed "invoking the closed rule on amendments."

Section 2. Student Body Statutes Chapter 2, Rule 17(d) and (e) shall be amended to read as follows, with subsequent sections re-lettered accordingly:

Rule 17. Second Reading of Legislation and Senate Consideration.

(d) Invocation of the closed rule by the sponsor(s). The primary sponsor(s) of any given item of legislation may invoke the closed rule on that legislation at any time after first reading. The legislation shall be "closed" in the most current form at the time of invocation, including all amendments made by committee or any other body. Once the closed rule is invoked by the sponsor(s), neither the sponsor(s) nor the Senate may retract its invocation until the final passage or defeat of the legislation. The sponsor(s) may not invoke the closed rule while the piece of legislation is under consideration by any body capable of amending the piece of legislation.

(e) Invocation of the closed rule by the Senate. Any Senator may invoke the closed rule on amendments provided that he or she has submitted his or her intent to make such a motion to the Senate via electronic mail at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting at which the legislation is to receive its second reading. After the President has stated the question on the adoption of legislation, but before debate begins, the President shall recognize the Senator for the purpose of moving to invoke the closed rule. The motion to invoke the closed rule shall be debatable for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes, and shall require the consent of a two-thirds majority of the Senate.

Section 3. This act shall become effective upon