House grants unanimous consent for resolution letting commission screen public service candidates

COLUMBIA — Representative Herb Kurzman asked the House for unanimous consent on a joint resolution to allow a screening panel to vet candidates for open seats at the state public service commission, and the chamber granted the request with no objections.

Kortman told members the resolution would let “the PERC to screen the candidates this fall for the remaining seats that have been open for years at the, public service commission and allow us to hold the elections when we reconvened back in January.” The House agreed by unanimous consent and the measure was ordered printed on the calendar.

Why it matters: Allowing a screening process while the Legislature is out of session can speed selection for commission vacancies that have been pending, ensuring vacancies do not remain unfilled until the next legislative day.

What was said and done: Kurzman introduced the request without reference to committee and described it as a joint resolution to permit an off-session screening of candidates for the public service commission. The presiding officer asked if there were objections; none were raised and the request was approved.

What this does not decide: The unanimous consent granted permission for the screening process; it does not itself elect or appoint any individual to the public service commission. Any formal election or appointment would follow the screening and convening of the Legislature as required.

Procedural note: The transcript identifies the body to be screened as the “public service commission” and uses the acronym “PERC” in the member’s explanation. The House ordered the resolution printed on the calendar for further processing.