For your information and use in the 2005 session, we enclose summaries of the Senate Rulings for the 2004 regular and special sessions. These summaries will be included in the Senate Precedents section of the 2005 edition of Rules and Precedents of the General Assembly. They will also be searchable online from the General Assembly’s “Legislative Documents” link.

As always, our goal is to make these summaries as complete, accurate, and useful as possible. If you or your staff has any comments or suggestions, I hope you will let us know.

APPROPRIATIONS REFERRAL NOT REQUIRED

The bill authorized two optional municipal property tax relief programs. The fiscal note indicated that implementing the programs could result in a cost to certain municipalities. The bill’s proponent raised a point of order that under the rules, a bill that carries a cost to municipalities must be referred to the Appropriations Committee.

The president ruled the point not well taken because participation in the program would be permissive and the fiscal note does not note a specific impact on either the state or municipalities.

(Rell, May 4, 2004)

AMENDMENT GERMANE - REFERRAL TO LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS’ OFFICE PURSUANT TO SENATE RULE 30 NOT REQUIRED

The bill added confidentiality protections to the Attorney Assistance Program. Senate “A” provided confidentiality protections for egg donors when embryos or egg cells are transferred from fertility clinics to research institutions. A member raised a point of order that the amendment was not germane to the underlying bill.

The president ruled the point not well taken. The amendment is required to only be related to the same subject; in this case both the amendment and underlying bill related to confidentiality.

Senate “A” was adopted. A member raised a point of order that due to the substantive non-technical nature of the amendment, it should be referred to the Legislative Commissioners’ Office for reexamination pursuant to the Senate Rule 30.

The president ruled the point not well taken. The rule on referring bills to the Legislative Commissioners’ Office is permissive and is therefore left to the body to decide.

(Rell, April 29, 2004)

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