ar21
Assembly Rule 21. Ethics and standards of conduct, special committee on. ar21(1)(1)
Any resolution to reprimand, censure, or expel an officer or member of the assembly shall be referred to a special committee on ethics and standards of conduct, convened for the purpose of holding one or more public hearings on the resolution and submitting the committee's recommendation to the assembly. The special committee shall consist of 3 members of the majority party and 3 members of the minority party, appointed as are the members of standing committees.
ar21(2)
(2) The hearing shall be scheduled as soon as possible, allowing reasonable time to ascertain the facts of the controversy, to furnish a copy of the detailed written charges to the officer or member cited, and to permit that person to prepare a proper defense.
ar21(3)
(3) At the hearing, the officer or member cited may have the advice of counsel, may offer testimony to mitigate or refute the charges, and may cross-examine any witness testifying in support of the charges.
ar21(4)
(4) With the consent of the officer or member cited, the committee may vote to close parts of the hearing to the public.
ar21(5)
(5) Promptly after the conclusion of the hearing, the committee shall return the resolution to the assembly together with a written report containing the committee's recommendation for action on the resolution.
ar21(6)
(6) Following assembly action on the committee's report, by adoption or rejection of the resolution, referral of the resolution to a standing committee, or return of the resolution to its primary author, the special committee on ethics and standards of conduct is discharged.
ar23
Assembly Rule 23. Committee on assembly organization. ar23(1m)(1m) The committee on assembly organization may conduct any business by ballot. If the committee elects to vote by ballot, public notice shall be given at least 24 hours before the ballot is circulated.
ar23(2)
(2)
Corrections before third reading. Any proposal ordered to a 3rd reading shall be examined by the chief clerk for the purpose of correcting grammatical, structural, or other errors in the proposal. The clerk shall call any proposal found to contain errors that alter its real intent to the attention of the committee on assembly organization and the committee shall report any required corrections to the assembly in the form of amendments. When corrective amendments are reported by the committee, the affected proposal automatically and temporarily reverts to the engrossing stage for the limited purpose of considering the corrective amendment.
ar23(3)
(3) Corrections in enrolling. Whenever in the process of enrolling the chief clerk or the legislative reference bureau discovers an error in a proposal that alters its real intent, the error shall be reported to the committee on assembly organization. If the committee concurs with the judgment of the clerk or bureau, the committee shall offer a joint resolution to recall the proposal for further legislative action.
ar23(4)
(4) Enrolled bill to governor. On motion of the assembly or by directive of the speaker, any assembly bill that has been correctly enrolled may be immediately messaged to the office of the governor.
ar24
Assembly Rule 24. Committee on rules. ar24(1)(1)
The committee on rules consists of the speaker, speaker pro tempore, majority leader, assistant majority leader, majority caucus chairperson, minority leader, assistant minority leader, minority caucus chairperson, and 4 members from the majority party and 3 members from the minority party appointed by the speaker.
ar24(2)
(2) The committee shall function both as a standing committee and as a calendar scheduling committee.
ar24(2)(a)
(a) For all proposals previously reported to the assembly by any standing committee, action of the committee on rules is governed by those requirements and limitations provided in the assembly rules which pertain to establishing calendars and special orders of business.
ar24(2)(b)
(b) For all other proposals, action of the committee on rules is governed either by the rules for establishing calendars and special orders or by the rules that apply to the consideration of proposals by standing committees.
ar24(3)
(3) Whenever a proposal has been referred to the committee on rules, after having been reported to the assembly by another standing committee, the committee may:
ar24(3)(a)
(a) If the proposal should have been referred to a joint survey committee or the joint committee on finance, but was not so referred, or is a senate proposal that, if it were an assembly proposal, should have been so referred, return the proposal to the speaker for referral.
ar24(3)(b)
(b) If the proposal is not referred under par. (a), refer the proposal to an appropriate order on a calendar dated at least 2 days after the referral.
ar24(4)
(4) Notwithstanding sub. (3) (b), any proposal in the committee on rules in the final week of the last general-business floorperiod in the even-numbered year may be placed on any calendar for that floorperiod.
ar24(5)
(5) Any veto referred to committee may be referred by the committee on rules to a calendar of a regularly scheduled floorperiod or veto review session.
Chapter 3:
DAILY SESSIONS
ar25
Assembly Rule 25. Admission to the floor of the assembly. Members of the legislature, elected state officers, and only the following other persons, shall be admitted to the assembly floor within guidelines determined by the speaker during any session or for one-quarter hour before and one-quarter hour after any session. However, none of the following listed persons has the privilege of the floor if registered as a lobbyist or directly or indirectly engaged in defeating or promoting any legislation before the assembly:
ar25(1)
(1) The members of Congress, justices of the supreme court, and former members of the legislature.
ar25(2)
(2) The elected officers of the assembly and those delegated by them to perform functions in or about the chambers.
ar25(3)
(3) Representatives of news media that regularly publish or broadcast reports available to the general public who are actively engaged in reporting the proceedings of the assembly, except that during the sessions of the assembly the privilege extends only to the designated press area.
ar25(4)
(4) Any person invited onto the floor by the presiding officer or by action of the assembly.
ar25(5)
(5) Contestants for disputed assembly seats have the privilege of the assembly floor, but only when the question before the assembly involves the disputed election.
ar26
Assembly Rule 26. Conduct in the chamber. ar26(1)(1)
The presiding officer shall preserve order, decorum, and quiet on and about the assembly floor during sessions.
ar26(2)
(2) While the presiding officer is addressing the assembly or submitting a question, a member may not cross or leave the floor. While a member is speaking, a member may not walk between the speaking member and the presiding officer.
ar26(3)
(3) A person may not read any printed newspaper on the assembly floor or in the visitor galleries while the assembly is in session.
ar26(4)
(4) A person may not consume food on the assembly floor or in the visitor galleries.
ar26(5)
(5) A person may not smoke on the assembly floor or in the visitor galleries.
ar26(6)(a)(a)
Except as provided in par. (b), a person may not use a 2-way mobile radio service, such as a personal communications service, or a 2-way mobile radio device, such as a cellular telephone, in the assembly chamber, other than in the offices of the speaker, majority leader, and minority leader, and in hallways.
ar26(6)(b)
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to:
1. A member of the capitol police or a law enforcement officer.
2. The assembly sergeant at arms or a person acting at his or her direction.
3. A person authorized by motion of the speaker adopted by majority vote of the members present and voting.
4. The assembly chief clerk or a person acting at his or her direction.
5. A member in the parlor or lobbies.
ar26(7)
(7) A person, other than a person specified in rule 25 (3), may not possess or use in the assembly chamber a microphone designed to pick up conversation more than 10 feet away from the microphone.
ar26(8)(a) (a) For the purpose of keeping the doors of the assembly open, as provided in
section 10 of
article IV of the constitution, individuals may be admitted to the visitor galleries for the sole purpose of observing the proceedings of the assembly. Individuals admitted to the visitor galleries shall at all times remain quiet, act in an orderly manner, and respect the decorum of the chamber. Individuals in the visitors galleries may not engage in any conduct that expresses or that may be considered to express support for or opposition to any matter before the assembly or that may come before the assembly and may not use any audio or video device to record, photograph, film, videotape, or in any way depict the proceedings on or about the assembly floor.
ar26(8)(b)
(b) An individual may not engage in any behavior in the visitor galleries that the presiding officer determines does not respect the decorum of the chamber or that hinders the right of representatives to the assembly to participate in proceedings in the chamber. In addition, without limitation because of enumeration, no individual may do any of the following in the visitor galleries:
1. Lean over or put any object over the balcony.
2. Use a laptop or other computer device.
3. Stand except for prayer or pledge of allegiance or as otherwise permitted by the presiding officer.
4. Use recording devices of any kind.
5. Use cell phones or pagers.
6. Read newspapers or other printed materials.
7. Eat any food or drink any beverages.
8. Exhibit public displays or demonstrations.
9. Display signs or placards.
10. Possess bags or briefcases.
11. Wear hats.
ar26(8)(c)(c) 1. Any individual who violates par.
(a) or
(b) may be removed from the visitor galleries and not be allowed admittance to the visitor galleries for a period of 24 hours.
2. Any individual who violates par. (a) or (b) a 2nd time during a biennial legislative session may be removed from the visitor galleries and not be allowed admittance to the visitor galleries until the first roll call day of the next regularly scheduled floorperiod.
3. Any individual who violates par. (a) or (b) a 3rd time during a biennial legislative session may be removed from the visitor galleries and not be allowed admittance to the visitor galleries for the remainder of the biennial legislative session.
ar26(9)
(9) While the assembly is in session, on the assembly floor in the rectangular area bounded on 4 corners by the pillars in the front and back of the chamber, members and other individuals should dress appropriately, which has traditionally been considered to include a coat and tie for men and appropriate attire for women. In this area, no member or other individual may wear an overcoat or hat. The presiding officer may exempt individuals, other than members, from the requirements of this subsection when appropriate.
ar27
Assembly Rule 27. Absences and leaves. A member may not be absent from any daily session without a leave of absence. One member may request a leave for another.
ar28
Assembly Rule 28. Hour for convening. Unless a different hour is prescribed by law, resolution, or motion, the assembly, upon a simple motion to adjourn, shall convene at 9 a.m. on the next legislative day; except that if the day is the first legislative day of any week, the hour of convening is 10 a.m.
ar29
Assembly Rule 29. Assembly calendar. The assembly's calendars shall be prepared by the chief clerk under the supervision of the committee on rules.
ar29(1)
(1) Each calendar shall be dated, shall list all regular orders of business specified in rule 31, and shall list under the proper order of business the proposals referred to such calendar by the presiding officer or speaker, by the committee on rules, or by action of the assembly, and any other business placed on the calendar under the assembly rules in the sequence in which referred to the calendar.
ar29(1)(a)
(a) For each proposal, the calendar shall show the name of the author and of any coauthors or cosponsors, and the full text of the proposal's relating clause.
ar29(1)(b)
(b) For each motion for reconsideration, the calendar shall show the name of the maker of the motion.
ar29(1)(c)
(c) For every proposal before the assembly for 2nd reading, the calendar shall set forth all pending committee reports in chronological order.
ar29(1)(d)
(d) Following the regular orders of business, each calendar shall list all special orders of business that, at the time the calendar is compiled, have been scheduled by the assembly.
ar29(2)
(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the committee on rules, calendars shall be prepared for every day of each regularly scheduled floorperiod excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
ar29(3)
(3) A calendar, except a calendar for a Saturday, Sunday, or state holiday specified in section 230.35 (4) (a) of the statutes, shall be provided to each member at least 12 hours before the calendar is to be acted upon during the last week of the last general-business floorperiod preceding the veto review session and 24 hours before the calendar is to be acted upon at other times.
ar29(4)
(4) Unless otherwise ordered, after completion of the 4th order of business on the calendar for the current date, and before consideration of the 5th and succeeding orders on that calendar, unfinished matters entered under orders of business on previous calendars shall be taken up and completed in order by order of business and calendar date.
ar29(5)
(5) Notwithstanding sub. (3), any proposal in the committee on rules that can be considered during a limited-business floorperiod under joint rule 81m or 81r may be placed on any day's calendar during the limited-business floorperiod and taken up immediately. A calendar need not be provided.
ar30
Assembly Rule 30. Call of the roll; quorum. ar30(1)(1)
The call of the roll to record attendance shall be taken in the same manner as a roll call vote. All members whose attendance is recorded as present shall be in their chairs for the call of the roll. A list of those present and absent shall be entered in the journal. A member who arrives late may, with the approval of the assembly, be recorded as present.
ar30(2)
(2) Unless otherwise required by the state constitution, a majority of the current membership constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
ar30(3)
(3) A number smaller than a majority of the current membership may, however, adjourn the assembly or compel the attendance of absent members.
ar31
Assembly Rule 31. Regular orders of business. Following any opening prayer and salute to the flag, the regular orders of business are as follows:
