Joint Rules Committee
October 15, 2002
November 12, 2002
Richmond
On October 15, 2002, the Joint
Rules Committee adopted new legislative guidelines that provide models
for the drafting of legislation affecting legislative commissions, non-legislative
collegial bodies, studies, and other resolutions. These guidelines have
been incorporated into the templates for the bill drafting system for
the 2003 Session. Drafting variations in legislation affected by the guidelines
must be approved by the House and Senate Rules Committees as the legislation
works its way through the General Assembly. A copy of the legislative
guidelines adopted on October 15, 2002, and amended on November 12, 2002,
will be mailed to all members of the General Assembly and to executive,
judicial, legislative, and independent agencies.
At the November 12 meeting,
the committee adopted a procedural resolution and session calendar for
the 2003 Regular Session. The proposed procedural resolution generally
follows the schedule of the last short session and includes prefiling
deadlines adopted last year. The resolution contains the following changes
to deadlines and procedures affecting studies and judicial elections:
1. An earlier request deadline
and introduction deadline for studies.
The resolution moves the request
deadline for studies created or continued in bills and joint resolutions
from Monday, January 7, to Friday, January 3, and the introduction deadline
for such studies from Friday, January 10, to Wednesday, January 8 (the
first day of session). Adding studies to the list of legislation required
to be introduced by the first day of session may reduce the confusion
that arises from having multiple introduction deadlines. An earlier determination
on the status of proposed studies will also benefit members who have companion
bills pending before other committees.
2. Requirement of a two-thirds
vote of the members voting in each house to agree to a joint resolution
creating or continuing a study and a two-thirds vote of the members voting
in the respective house to agree to a resolution creating or continuing
a study.
In light of the budgetary constraints
and the economic downturn faced by the Commonwealth, the Joint Rules Committee
agreed that greater support of the need for a study should be shown through
a supermajority vote.
3. An earlier deadline for
the election of incumbent judges, gubernatorial and circuit court appointed
judges, and a justice to the Virginia Supreme Court.
The resolution moves the deadline
for the election of incumbent judges and gubernatorial and circuit court
appointed judges up to January 14. During the last short session, the
election was held one week later. An earlier deadline is feasible and
desirable because judicial interviews are conducted in December and the
floor and committee activity is relatively light during the second week
of the session. The resolution also sets January 21 as the deadline for
the election to fill a vacancy on the Virginia Supreme Court due to the
retirement of a justice. Normally, elections to fill vacancies are scheduled
later in the session. However, filling a seat on the Virginia Supreme
Court creates a domino effect because judges from lower courts are often
raised to fill seats on higher courts. Additional time is necessary to
hold these elections.
Chairman:
The Hon. Lacey
E. Putney
For information,
contact:
Ginny Edwards
Division of Legislative Services
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