SENATE RESOLUTION providing for the continuation of the Temporary
Committee on Rules and Administration Reform and directing it to develop
and submit to the Senate a proposal for consolidation of Standing
Committees and guidelines for committee reports no later than December
1, 2009

WHEREAS, The Senate restates its commitment to the continued improve-
ment of the rules of the Senate and to creating a more participatory,
effective and transparent legislative process; and
WHEREAS, The effort to reform the legislative process is intended to
result in more deliberative committees, which would serve as the locus
of legislative activity; and
WHEREAS, The Senate finds there is a need to reform the outdated
structure and procedures of its standing committees, as recommended by
the report of the Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration Reform
on April 21, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The Senate is committed to reducing the total number of
standing committees, creating subcommittees in areas of relatively
narrow jurisdiction, limiting the number of standing committees on which
members serve, and requiring members to be physically present to vote in
committee; and
WHEREAS, The public should have access to budgets of committee staffs;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Temporary Senate Committee on Rules and Adminis-
tration Reform, as established in Senate Resolution 8 of 2009 is hereby
continued; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Temporary Committee is hereby directed to make
specific recommendations for revising the Senate Rules and the Legisla-
tive Law with respect to the consolidation of Senate Standing commit-
tees, including reducing committee assignments to enable Senators to
participate fully in the legislative process, no later than December 1,
2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Temporary Committee is also directed to make
specific recommendations to create an amendment process in committee, no
later than December 1, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Temporary Committee is also directed to make
specific recommendations for guidelines for committee reports under
Section 5 (a) of Rule VII of the Senate Rules, no later than December 1,
2009.