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Committee amends Legislative Manual to address leadership in 10-10-1 split and succession during chair absence
Summary
With a 10-10-1 party split in the Legislature, the committee amended Article II (F) and (H) of the Legislative Manual to define leader compensation in the absence of a clear majority and to clarify succession during the chair’s absence; Legislative Counsel explained compensation and procedural implications.
The Rules Committee voted Jan. 22 to amend two sections of the Legislative Manual to address the Legislature’s current composition of 10 Democrats, 10 Republicans and one independent.
An amendment to Article II (F) sets that if Majority and Minority Leaders cannot be determined, only the two parties with the highest member counts will be entitled to leader compensation as provided by local law. Legislative Counsel Betsy N. Abraham explained that the manual’s existing language presumes a distinct majority and minority, which the current composition does not provide.
The committee also amended Article II (H) to clarify procedures during the absence of the Legislature Chair or a vacancy; Abraham read the proposed language and the committee discussed whether compensation scales would be prorated or handled by the Personnel and Compensation Committee depending on circumstance. Both amendments were approved unanimously.
The transcript shows the committee discussed procedural continuity and compensation implications but did not set a formal timetable for further personnel actions.
