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Vermont House Elects Clerk, Adopts Organizing Resolutions and Administers Oaths
Summary
The House elected Betsy Ann Rask as Clerk by voice vote, appointed assistant clerks, adopted prior rules and organizational resolutions (HR1–HR3 and JRS1–JRS4), and administered oaths to members and clerks during the first day of the 78th biennium.
The Vermont House elected Betsy Ann Rask of Barrie Town as Clerk of the House by voice vote during the organizational session. Nominations were made from the floor and a second was recorded; the voice vote resulted in the ayes prevailing and Rask was escorted to receive the oath of office.
The House also adopted three organizing House resolutions (HR 1–HR 3) preserving the previous biennium’s House rules until the House adopts new rules, and instructing the clerk to inform the Senate and governor that the House has organized and is ready to proceed. The House took those votes by voice and the ayes were recorded as prevailing.
Nut graf: adopting the prior rules and electing House officers are routine organizational steps that enable committees, staff and members to proceed with legislative business. The Clerk and assistant clerks were sworn in, and members-elect received the oath of office, with instructions to return signed forms to the clerk’s office.
The House also received four joint Senate resolutions (JRS 1–JRS 4) and adopted them in concurrence. One of those resolutions provided for a joint assembly to receive the canvass of votes for state officers and another provided for the scheduling of town meeting adjournment dates. The clerk announced appointments for first and second assistant clerks, a journal clerk and clerk associates; those appointees were sworn in on the floor.
The transcript records that members were reminded to complete ethics disclosure forms and return them by the 10th legislative day, and that a House Rules meeting was scheduled for later that day to continue organization. With those organizational items completed, the House recessed to reconvene for the seating ceremony and further business.
