Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Consent Agenda Practices topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill introduced to clarify use of consent calendars, require unanimous approval for multi-action items
Summary
Representative Elaine Price introduced RS 32077 to clarify how consent calendars should be used and to require unanimous approval when a consent packet contains more than one action item; the committee voted to introduce the RS.
Representative Elaine Price introduced RS 32077, a draft intended to clarify statutory or procedural expectations for consent calendars (also called consent agendas) used by municipal and local boards.
Price told the committee the bill would specify that items placed on a consent calendar should be routine, noncontroversial matters and that, under the proposed language, if an item package contains more than one action, unanimous consent would be required to approve the package in one vote. If items are removed from the consent calendar they would be voted on separately, Price said.
Members asked clarifying questions about removal procedures and practical impacts. Representative Alfieri asked whether the draft addresses the ability of an individual council member to remove an item from the consent calendar; Price said that removal procedure is not specifically changed by this RS and could be addressed in future legislation. Representative Church asked the sponsor to solicit testimony from current board members about the time and feasibility implications if routine items required separate votes when unanimity cannot be reached.
A motion to introduce RS 32077 passed by voice vote; the measure will be scheduled for a later hearing where committee members asked the sponsor to provide examples of items that have been placed on consent calendars but were controversial.
