Chapter 9:
SESSION SCHEDULE
jr81
J
oint Rule 81.
Scheduled floorperiods and committee work. jr81(1)(1) Each biennial session begins and ends on the first Monday in January of the odd‐numbered year, as follows:
jr81(1)(a)
(a) The incoming legislature shall convene in the capitol at 2 p.m. to take the oath of office, select officers, and do all other things necessary to organize itself for the conduct of its business, but if the first Monday in January falls on January 1 or 2, the organizational meeting is held on January 3.
jr81(1)(b)
(b) Each biennial session shall be structured into floorperiods, committee work periods, and an interim committee work period, and shall include at least one meeting of the legislature in January of each year.
jr81(1)(c)
(c) Early in each biennial session, the joint committee on legislative organization shall introduce a joint resolution setting forth the session schedule for that biennial session. The joint resolution is amendable and shall, when approved by both houses, constitute the session schedule for that biennial session unless later changed by action of the 2 houses.
jr81(2)
(2) Each scheduled floorperiod shall be held as set forth in the session schedule. Any floorperiod may be extended or convened or recessed on a date earlier than the date specified in the session schedule, as follows:
jr81(2)(a)
(a) The extension of a floorperiod through earlier convening or later adjournment, or the convening of an extraordinary session, may be authorized at the direction of a majority of the members of the committee on organization in each house or by the adoption of and concurrence in a joint resolution on the approval by a majority of the members elected to each house, or by the joint petition of a majority of the members elected to each house submitted to, and using a form approved by, the senate chief clerk and the assembly chief clerk.
jr81(2)(b)
(b) Any extended floorperiod or extraordinary session is limited to the business specified in the action by which it is authorized and to advice and consent on nominations for appointment.
jr81(2)(c)
(c) Following the official call of any special or extraordinary session, the joint committee on employment relations or on legislative organization, the committees on organization in each house, and any committee of either house so authorized under the rules thereof, may introduce or offer proposals germane to the call, and such proposals may be numbered, referred to committee, and reproduced in advance of the special or extraordinary session under the customary procedures of each house.
jr81(3)
(3) Any day of the biennial session that is not reserved by the session schedule to conduct an organizational meeting or to be part of a scheduled floorperiod of the legislature is available for committee work, but:
jr81(3)(a)
(a) Any such day may be assigned to an extended floorperiod or extraordinary session as authorized under sub.
(2).
jr81(3)(b)
(b) The committee on senate organization may designate a committee work day for senate advice and consent on nominations for appointment and the committee on assembly organization may designate a committee work day for assembly advice and consent on nominations for appointment, whether or not that day was already assigned under par.
(a).
jr81(4)
(4) The biennial session schedule shall specify the dates on which the chief clerks of the 2 houses shall present to the governor all bills approved by the 2 houses.
jr81m
Joint Rule 81m.
Limited-business floorperiod. jr81m(1)(1) The biennial session schedule shall provide for a floorperiod after the last general-business floorperiod scheduled by the session schedule for the spring of the even-numbered year and before the veto review session in that year.
jr81m(2)
(2) The limited-business floorperiod is a floorperiod limited to action on:
jr81m(2)(a)
(a) Revisor's correction or revisor's revision bills.
jr81m(2)(b)
(b) Reconciliation bills introduced by the committee on organization of either house that resolve conflicts between mutually inconsistent acts of the biennial session and proposals recalled for further legislative action under joint rule
60 (2).
jr81m(2)(c)
(c) Bills introduced by the joint committee on employment relations for the ratification of state employee collective bargaining contracts under section
111.92 (1) of the statutes.
jr81m(2)(d)(d) Matters the purposes of which are allowed under joint rule
7.
jr81r
Joint Rule 81r.
Limited-business floorperiod; bills introduced by the joint committee for review of administrative rules. In addition to the floorperiod required under joint rule
81m, the biennial session schedule may provide for a floorperiod after the last general-business floorperiod scheduled by the session schedule for the spring of the even-numbered year that is limited to action on bills introduced by the joint committee for review of administrative rules under section
227.19 (5) (e) of the statutes.
jr82
J
oint Rule 82.
Veto review session, even-numbered year. jr82(1)(1) The biennial session schedule shall provide for a veto review session no earlier than April 1 of the even-numbered year and no later than June 30 of the even-numbered year.
jr82(1m)
(1m) The veto review session is a floorperiod limited to action on:
jr82(1m)(a)
(a) Gubernatorial vetoes or partial vetoes.
jr82(1m)(b)
(b) Pending nominations for appointments requiring senate or assembly confirmation.
jr82(1m)(c)
(c) Revisor's correction or revisor's revision bills.
jr82(1m)(d)
(d) Reconciliation bills introduced by the committee on organization of either house that resolve conflicts between mutually inconsistent acts of the biennial session and proposals recalled for further legislative action under joint rule
60 (2).
jr82(1m)(e)
(e) Bills introduced by the joint committee on employment relations for the ratification of state employee collective bargaining contracts under section
111.92 (1) of the statutes.
jr82(1m)(f)
(f) Resolutions or joint resolutions introduced by the committee on organization of either house.
jr82(1m)(g)
(g) Resolutions or joint resolutions offering recognition or condolences introduced by any member of the legislature.
jr82(2)(a)(a) Unless otherwise provided by the committee on senate organization or the assembly committee on rules, any vetoes of regular or special session bills not previously on a calendar in the house of origin shall be shown as pending business on the calendar for the veto review session's first day.
jr82(2)(b)
(b) Any pending veto that does not receive final action during the veto review session is sustained. The disposition shall be recorded as “failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the governor."
jr82(3)
(3) Any veto received from the other house for concurrence notwithstanding the objections of the governor may be taken up immediately.
jr82(4)
(4) The action of either house on the motion to pass a bill, or part thereof, notwithstanding the objections of the governor is not subject to a motion for reconsideration.
jr83
J
oint Rule 83.
Introduction and disposition of proposals. jr83(1)(1) During any scheduled floorperiod the introduction, or offering, and disposition of proposals and the offering and disposition of amendments, and citations, shall, in each house, be governed by the rules thereof.
jr83(3)
(3) Any proposal on which final action has not been taken at the adjournment of the last general-business floorperiod in the odd-numbered year is carried forward to the even-numbered year.
jr83(4)(a)(a) Except as provided in par.
(b), at the adjournment of the last general-business floorperiod scheduled by the session schedule for the spring of the even-numbered year, any bill or joint resolution not yet agreed to by both houses, and any resolution not yet passed by the house of origin, is adversely disposed of for the biennial session and recorded as “failed to pass," “failed to adopt," or “failed to concur."
jr83(4)(b)
(b) If the biennial session schedule provides for a limited-business floorperiod under joint rule
81r, any bills introduced by the joint committee for review of administrative rules that are not yet agreed to by both houses are adversely disposed of for the biennial session at the conclusion of the limited-business floorperiod under joint rule
81r and are recorded as “failed to pass."
jr83(5)
(5) Following the adjournment of the last general-business floorperiod scheduled by the session schedule for the spring of the even-numbered year, no further regular session proposals may be introduced or offered for the balance of the biennial session, except proposals under joint rule
81 (2) (c) or
82 (1m); or required for the conduct of any special session called by the governor, of any extraordinary session called by the legislature, of the veto review session, or of any extended floorperiod.
jr84
J
oint Rule 84.
Committees continue throughout biennial session. Every standing committee and, unless otherwise ordered, every special committee of one or both houses, continues throughout the entire biennial session of the legislature creating the committee. Any such committee may:
jr84(1)
(1)
Meetings. Meet, on call of the chairperson, in the capitol. As authorized by section
13.123 (3) (a) of the statutes, any committee may, with the prior consent of the committee on senate organization in the case of senate committees or of all of the officers required by assembly rule in the case of assembly committees, meet at such other locations throughout this state as the chairperson announces. Each committee meeting shall be given due public notice. No such committee may schedule an executive session outside the capitol unless the executive session is held in conjunction with a public meeting of the committee.
jr84(2)
(2)
Public notice. In compliance with the appropriate senate and assembly rules, hold public hearings and executive sessions and conduct any other committee business on the proposals that have been referred to the committee.
jr84(3)
(3)
Studies, investigations,
and reviews. Conduct, on instruction by the appropriate house or on the motion of the chairperson with majority vote approval by the committee, studies, investigations, and reviews, within the subject matter area customarily within the purview of the respective committee, regarding any matter that may then be appropriate to legislative inquiry. In case of duplication or of overlapping areas of original inquiry the committee on senate organization in the case of senate committees, the speaker in the case of assembly committees, or the joint committee on legislative organization in the case of joint committees, shall define and delimit the subject matter area assigned to each committee and determine the scope of the inquiry conducted by each committee.
jr84(4)
(4)
Technical assistance. Request the legislative council staff, legislative reference bureau, legislative technology services bureau, and legislative fiscal bureau for the necessary technical assistance appropriate to the completion of the committee's tasks. The joint committee on legislative organization shall coordinate the assignment of staff under this subsection. Any chairperson who determines that the attendance of staff is necessary to the proper conduct of any meeting scheduled at a location other than the capitol may, with the prior authorization of the committee on senate organization in the case of a senate committee chairperson or the speaker in the case of an assembly committee chairperson, authorize the reimbursement of such staff for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending the meeting, from the general program operations appropriation to the senate or assembly under section
20.765 (1) (a) or
(b) of the statutes.
jr85
Joint Rule 85.
Reimbursement for expenses. For any day on which a member of the legislature is in Madison on legislative business pursuant to section
13.123 (1) of the statutes or attends a legislative committee meeting in Madison, the member shall be reimbursed the per diem provided in section
13.123 (1) (a) of the statutes. Any legislator who attends a committee meeting outside Madison authorized under joint rule
84 (1) shall be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending the committee meeting as provided by section
13.123 (3) of the statutes, or for the round-trip cost of traveling to the meeting from Madison.
jr86
Joint Rule 86.
Continuation of employees during periods of committee work. During any period of committee work, the chief clerks and sergeants at arms of the 2 houses shall retain on their staffs only the employees necessary for the conduct of legislative business during that period before the commencement of the next succeeding legislative session biennium, the chief clerk and the sergeant at arms of each house shall consult with the committee on organization of that house to determine the number of employees required for the commencement of that session. Employees who were laid off following the final (veto review) scheduled floorperiod of the current session shall be given preference in the filling of vacancies in anticipation of the commencement of the next succeeding session.
jr87
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oint Rule 87.
Duties of the chief clerk after floorperiods and sessions. Following the adjournment of any scheduled floorperiod or any special or extraordinary session, the chief clerk of each house shall:
jr87(1)
(1)
Message final actions. Message to the other house all proposals originating in the other house and on which the chief clerk's house has taken final action. The chief clerk shall similarly message to the other house all proposals originating in the chief clerk's house and requiring the consent of the other house and on which the chief clerk's house has taken final action. Any motion under joint rule
7 for a joint certificate of commendation, congratulation, or condolence, adopted by one house and already signed by the cosponsor from the other house, shall be treated as though it had been adopted by both houses, but any such motion adopted by one house only and lacking the signature of the cosponsor from the other house shall be treated as though it had been offered as a motion for a certificate by one house only.
jr87(2)
(2)
Maintain records. Enter on the records of the chief clerk's house all messages received and customarily entered on the records, whether the messages emanate from the other house, the office of the governor, or from any other source.
jr87(3)
(3)
Journals and bulletins. Compile and publish:
jr87(3)(b)
(b) Such journals as are necessary, showing the chief clerk's entries for all business received by the chief clerk's office after the floorperiod or special or extraordinary session.
jr87(3)(c)
(c) In cooperation with the legislative reference bureau, the bulletin of proceedings shall be published in accordance with joint rules
76 and
77.
Chapter 10:
LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES
jr91
Joint Rule 91.
Compensation and classification plan. Unless otherwise specifically provided, all legislative employees shall be paid in accordance with the compensation and classification plan adopted by the joint committee on legislative organization. If the joint committee does not adopt a compensation and classification plan, the committee on organization of either house may adopt a plan for the employees of that house. Appointments shall be for the legislative session, unless earlier terminated by the appointing officer.
jr92
Joint Rule 92.
Retirement system agents for legislative employees. The chief clerks of the senate and of the assembly are designated to act in matters pertaining to the retirement system for the members and employees of their respective houses as required by section
40.02 (36) of the statutes. In matters relating to the chief clerks, the president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly shall act.
Chapter 11:
JOINT RULES
jr96
J
oint Rule 96.
Changing or suspending rules. jr96(1)(1) The joint rules of the legislature may be changed only with the approval of a majority of the current membership of each house. The vote is taken by ayes and noes.
jr96(2)
(2) Any proposal to change a joint rule shall be offered as a joint resolution stating the proposed change. Except as authorized by unanimous consent or by vote of two‐thirds of the members present, the joint resolution may not be acted upon in either house until the joint resolution has been made available to the members for 24 hours.
jr96(3)
(3) Any joint rule may be suspended in either house by vote of two‐thirds of the members present. The vote is determined by ayes and noes unless unanimous consent is given.
jr97
Joint Rule 97.
Continuity of joint rules. The joint rules remain in effect until amended or superseded, and continue in effect at the beginning of any succeeding regular session of the legislature until superseded by the joint rules adopted by that legislature.
jr98
J
oint Rule 98.
Publishing of joint rules. jr98(1)(1) Within one week after the adoption and concurrence of any joint resolution significantly changing the joint rules, the chief clerk of the house of origin shall direct the reproduction of a new pamphlet incorporating the entire text of the joint rules as affected by that joint resolution unless, in the judgment of the president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, additional rule changes may soon be agreed to by the 2 houses.
jr98(2)(a)(a) The chief clerk shall make the spelling and other minor corrections authorized by joint rule
56 and shall consult with the legislative reference bureau to make any references to provisions of the constitution, statutes, joint rules, senate rules, or assembly rules conform to the numbers then assigned to the provisions.
jr98(2)(b)
(b) Each pamphlet edition shall contain a revised table of contents and index prepared by the legislative reference bureau.
jr98(2)(c)
(c) Each pamphlet edition shall also contain the biennial session schedule adopted under section
13.02 (3) of the statutes.
