HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

NOTICE TO CONFEREES

It is the policy of the House Health and Services Committee to ensure and promote free and open discussion of matters coming before the Committee. Because of the importance of issues that are to be discussed, certain rules are necessary. Just as there are rules relating to the conduct of committee business when matters are debated among committee members, the following rules apply to the hearing process itself. Any questions about these rules should be directed to the committee chairman.

By appearing before the Committee each conferee is presumed to have read the rules and therefore has agreed to be bound by these rules.

We thank you for your understanding of and compliance with these rules.

1. The Chair shall determine the committee agenda, including scheduling and the order of business.

2. Individuals wishing to appear and provide verbal testimony before the committee MUST notify the committee secretary 24 hours in advance of the hearing, unless a hearing is scheduled with less than 48 hours notice. In case of the latter, 6 hours prior notice MUST be given.

3. Testimony MUST be in written form and 40 copies made available to staff prior to testifying. If lengthy, a summary sheet must be included.

4. Conferees SHALL NOT read their testimony. Testimony should be presented from the summary. Conferees shall introduce themselves, identify on whose behalf they are appearing, identify whether they are a proponent, opponent or neutral on the bill and as briefly as possible, state the reasons for their position.

5. If suggested amendment(s) are to be offered, a proposed draft of the amendment(s) must be provided to staff. (30 copies)

6. Conferees shall address their remarks during testimony to committee members and staff only.

7. Where the number of hearings and/or conferees scheduled warrant time limitation, the Chairman may limit testimony to a specific number of minutes. The Chairman reserves the right to limit testimony that is cumulative in nature or testimony that is, in the judgement of the Chairman, not relevant to the matter under consideration.

8. Testimony shall relate to the subject matter of the measure under consideration. Conferees testifying on unrelated subjects will be admonished and if unrelated testimony continues, the Chairman will terminate that conferee’s testimony.

9. While the taking of testimony is not preceded with the formality of an oath, by appearing before the committee every conferee hereby certifies that his or her testimony is truthful, based upon facts that are capable of verification and offered in good faith. Conferees shall promptly bring to the committee’s attention any qualifications or corrections in their testimony.

10. The Chairman reserves the right to take such action as may be necessary to prevent disruptive behavior in the committee room during hearings and deliberations.

11. The Chairman reserves the right to take such action as may be necessary when a violation of these rules is suspected.

12. Bill introductions must be cleared by the Chair 24 hours in advance. 

13. Cellular phones and pagers with audible tones must be turned off or disabled while in the committee room.

14. Committee members shall not be approached during committee hearings or deliberation by anyone other than fellow legislative members or legislative staff.

15. There shall be no recording, audibly, photographically or otherwise, of committee voting except by the committee secretary.

16. No food or drink permitted in the committee room.