Committee reconsiders and passes House Joint Resolution 68 after amendment

Representative Nicole moved to reconsider prior committee action regarding House Joint Resolution 68, saying opponents’ concerns had been addressed by an amendment and that some relevant data could be obtained from the DOJ and the state auditor but that prior informal requests had been denied or produced incomplete results. Nicole told members that she and other legislators had tried to obtain detailed data and that an official study would request and consolidate public data so it is accessible to the Legislature.

Representative Bochy questioned why the committee should study the subject if the Department of Justice and the state auditor already hold the data; Nicole replied that some requests had been denied as confidential and that Legislative Audit had previously turned back a request, so formal study and request through the Legislature would be a clearer path to gather the information.

The committee took a roll-call vote on the motion to reconsider; the chair announced the motion passed, 11 in favor and 9 opposed. Following reconsideration, an unidentified member moved HJ 68 do pass and also moved amendment 68.1.2. The committee adopted amendment 68.1.2 by voice vote. On a subsequent roll-call vote the committee approved House Joint Resolution 68 as amended; the clerk recorded the final tally announced as '11 4 and 9 against,' and the chair said Joint Resolution 68 will move to the floor.

Members discussed procedure and proxy voting during the reconsideration and voting process; committee counsel confirmed reconsideration was debatable and allowed proxy votes on the motion.