CHAPTER 13. COMMITTEES

A. There shall be seventeen standing committees of the Senate. The duty of each committee shall be to take into consideration all such subjects as properly pertain to the subjects and purposes assigned to each and which may be referred to it by the Senate. Committee members shall be appointed and may be removed by the President. The seventeen standing committees of the Senate shall be listed as below, and the membership of each committee shall be in the number set forth after the name of the committee:

(1) Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development, seven members

(2) Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs Committee, nine members

(3) Education, seven members

(4) Environmental Quality, seven members

(5) Finance, eleven members

(6) Health and Welfare, nine members

(7) Insurance, nine members

(8) Judiciary A, seven members

(9) Judiciary B, seven members

(10) Judiciary C, seven members

(11) Labor and Industrial Relations, seven members

(12) Local and Municipal Affairs, seven members

(13) Natural Resources, seven members

(14) Retirement, seven members

(15) Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, eleven members

(16) Senate and Governmental Affairs, nine members

(17) Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, seven members

B. The President shall appoint the members of the Finance Committee such that a member resides in each congressional district.

C. In addition to the membership of each committee provided in Paragraphs A and B above, the President may appoint senators to any standing committee to serve only during the interim between sessions for which the appointment is made except when serving on a statutory committee by virtue of appointment to interim membership of a standing committee and may remove any member so appointed. Such an appointment may be made for all interim activity of the committee, or for one or more interim studies of the committee, or to a particular subcommittee or subcommittees. A member so appointed shall have all of the powers and duties of other members of the committee or subcommittee. However, a member appointed only for one or more studies shall have such powers and duties only for such meetings and hearings as are related to the study or studies for which the member is appointed. A member appointed as provided in this Paragraph shall be considered for quorum and voting requirement purposes for meetings and motions related to any study for which he is appointed and for meetings of any committee or subcommittee to which he is appointed. A member who serves on any statutory committee by virtue of appointment to interim membership of a standing committee shall be considered for quorum and voting requirement purposes for meetings and motions related to all activity of the statutory committee.

D. The President, the President Pro Tempore, and the Parliamentarian shall be ex officio members of all standing committees. They shall have the powers and authorities of other committee members; however, they shall not vote except when serving on any statutory committee of which they are members by virtue of membership on a standing committee. They shall not be counted in determining the number of members necessary to constitute a quorum, but, if present, shall be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum at any meeting. However, they shall be counted for all quorum and voting requirements of any statutory committee of which they are members by virtue of membership on a standing committee.

E. The chairman of the Finance Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee. The chairman of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Finance Committee. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, such an ex officio member shall have all authority and duties of other members of the committee, but shall have no authority to vote except when serving on a statutory committee of which he is a member by virtue of such ex officio membership on a standing committee.

F. The chairman of the Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Insurance Committee. The chairman of the Insurance Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs Committee. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, such an ex officio member shall have all authority and duties of other members of the committee, except such member shall have no authority to vote.

G. The chairman of the Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Environmental Quality Committee. The chairman of the Environmental Quality Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development Committee. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, such an ex officio member shall have all authority and duties of other members of the committee, except such member shall have no authority to vote.

H. The chairman of the Natural Resources Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee. The chairman of the Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee shall be an ex officio member of the Natural Resources Committee. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, such an ex officio member shall have all authority and duties of other members of the committee, except such member shall have no authority to vote.

SR 53 of 1990 RS; SR 6 of 1992 RS; SR 8 of 1996 1^st Ex; SR 13 of 2000 1^st Ex; SR 6 of 2002 RS; SR 9 of 2003 RS; SR 3 of 2004, 1^st Ex; SR 3 of 2008 1^st Ex; SR 6 of 2010 RS; SR 16 of 2013 RS.

The President shall appoint one member of each standing committee as chairman and one member as vice chairman. He may remove any member so appointed from such office.

Rule 13.3.  Absences from committee meetings; removal

Each committee chairman shall notify the President of the unexcused absence of any member from three committee meetings during a session and shall notify the President of excessive absences in the interim. Any member who fails to attend three committee meetings during a session without being excused by the chairman may be removed as a member of the committee by the President. The chairman also is authorized to request the President to remove any member for excessive absences in the interim, and the President may remove such members.

Rule 13.4. Referral to standing committees; jurisdiction

Each legislative instrument or other matter to be referred to committee shall be referred, on the basis of the subject matter contained therein, to the committee having jurisdiction thereof as provided in the following enumeration of subject matter jurisdiction for the committees of the Senate:

(1) Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Agribusiness programs at penal and correctional institutions

(b) Agricultural and industrial chemistry

(c) Agricultural economics and research

(d) Agricultural production, promotion, and marketing

(e) Agricultural services

(f) Agriculture and agribusiness generally

(g) Animal industry and diseases of animals

(h) Aquacultural economics and research

(i) Aquacultural production, promotion, and marketing

(j) Dairy industry

(k) Forestry in general

(l) Human nutrition, plant quarantine, and home living economics

(m) Inspection of livestock and meat products

(n) Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering

(o) Rural development

(p) Soil conservation

(2) Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Banking and the regulation thereof

(b) Commerce and industry generally

(c) Communication by telephone, telegraph, radio, television, or other media

(d) Consumer Protection

(e) Corporations

(f) Credit unions

(g) Interest rates

(h) International Affairs

(i) Merchandising

(j) Navigation

(k) Protection of trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies

(l) Registration and licensing of vessels and small boats

(m) Regulation, licensing, and standards of professions, businesses, and occupations

(n) Regulation of common carriers by water

(o) Savings and loan and homestead associations

(p) Small loan companies

(q) Tourism

(3) Education Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Adult education

(b) College or university agricultural extension service

(c) Colleges and universities

(d) Cultural affairs

(e) Education generally

(f) Educational television

(g) Employees of colleges and universities, including pay, except where an appropriation of state funds is required

(h) Employees of vocational-technical education schools, including pay, except where an appropriation of state funds is required

(i) Museums

(j) Preservation of historic landmarks and objects

(k) School employees, administrators, teachers, bus drivers, and others

(l) School employees' and teachers' pay, except where an appropriation of state funds is required

(m) School lunch program

(n) Schools and secondary education

(o) Special Schools

(p) State and public libraries

(q) Vocational-technical education

(r) Repealed by SR 168 of 2014 RS

(4) Environmental Quality Committee, all matters related to:

(a) Air quality

(b) Environmental control and regulation generally

(c) Hazardous waste regulation

(d) Land pollution

(e) Radiation regulation and control

(f) Solid waste regulation

(g) Water resources

(5) Finance Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Appropriation of state funds, including the cash portion of the comprehensive state capital budget

(b) Budgetary requirements and procedures

(c) Central purchasing

(d) Economy and efficiency of government operations

(e) Expenditure of funds

(f) Fiscal controls

(g) General appropriation bill

(h) Revenue sharing

(i) Each legislative instrument with an estimated fiscal cost, as reflected in the fiscal note prepared in accordance with Joint Rule No. 4, of one hundred thousand dollars or more annually in any one of the three ensuing fiscal years or with a fiscal cost which, although unspecified in the fiscal note, is indicated in the fiscal note to likely exceed one hundred thousand dollars annually in any of the three ensuing fiscal years, after initial consideration in committee of subject matter, if different from Finance.

(j) Court costs or fees imposed by courts.

(6) Health and Welfare Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Alcoholic rehabilitation

(b) Child care facilities

(c) Elderly affairs

(d) Facilities for children with physical disabilities

(e) Health and welfare generally

(f) Health offices and their administration

(g) Hospitals, public or private

(h) Mental health, including institutions and facilities

(i) Institutions and services for persons with intellectual disabilities

(j) Nurses' training program

(k) Nursing homes

(l) Public welfare, including private and local institutions

(m) Public welfare research training and rehabilitation

(n) Veterans affairs

(o) Vocational rehabilitation

(7) Insurance committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Casualty insurance

(b) Health insurance

(c) Insurance generally, except insurance matters placed under the jurisdiction of another committee.

(d) Life insurance

(e) Property insurance

(f) Surplus line insurance

(8) Judiciary A Committee, or

(9) Judiciary B Committee, or

(10) Judiciary C Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Administration of criminal justice generally

(b) Attorney General, District Attorneys, and prosecutors in general, including compensation, expenses, personnel, facilities, and the like, except retirement matters

(c) Civil Code and Civil Code Ancillaries generally, including, without limitation, matters affecting persons generally, marriage, divorce, and matters of family law, tutorship, and curatorship, things generally, use and usufruct, servitudes, successions, donations, obligations generally, extinction of obligations, delicts and quasi delicts, matrimonial agreements, sales and leases, and prescriptions

(d) Civil defense and disaster protection

(e) Clerks of court and records of the courts

(f) Code of Civil Procedure, and civil procedure generally

(g) Code of Criminal Procedure and criminal procedure generally

(h) Controlled dangerous substance law and procedure

(i) Criminal law

(j) Department of Corrections

(k) Holidays and celebrations

(l) Juvenile Code

(m) Law enforcement generally, including the Department of Public Safety and state police

(n) Miscellaneous matters not covered by other standing committees

(o) Municipal and Parish Courts, Mayor's Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts

(p) National Guard, Military affairs generally, Code of Military Justice, and the Adjutant General

(q) Notaries public and their records

(r) Penal and correctional institutions, except for agribusiness programs, and juvenile and adult rehabilitation

(s) Proposed amendments to the state constitution not specifically vested, as to subject matter, in another committee

(t) Questions of constitutional rights

(u) Regulations and sale of intoxicating liquors

(v) Rules of civil law evidence

(w) Rules of criminal evidence

(x) Sheriffs generally, except matters affecting sheriffs as ex officio tax collectors

(y) State boundary lines

(z) Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, Family Courts, and Juvenile Courts, jurisdiction of said courts, and judges generally, including compensation, expenses, personnel, facilities, and the like, except retirement matters

(aa) Traffic offenses and procedure

(bb) Trust Code

(cc) Weapons and explosives

(11) Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Child labor

(b) Collective bargaining and other labor laws affecting public employees

(c) Employment insurance

(d) Health and safety of laborers

(e) Labor and industrial relations generally

(f) Labor disputes

(g) Labor retirement laws, except those related to public employees

(h) Labor standards

(i) Unemployment compensation

(j) Wages and hours of labor

(k) Women in the labor market

(l) Workmen's compensation

(12) Local and Municipal Affairs Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Assessors, their offices, salaries, expenses, compensation, etc.

(b) Assistance to municipal and other local governments

(c) City of New Orleans affairs

(d) Department of Urban and Community Affairs

(e) Drainage and sewerage and water districts

(f) Economic development districts

(g) Employees of local governments, except retirement

(h) Expenditures by local governments

(i) Forms of local government

(j) Intergovernmental relations between local governments and state and local governments

(k) Local boundary lines

(l) Local ordinances

(m) Local, parochial, and municipal affairs generally, except matters specifically placed under the jurisdiction of other committees

(n) Municipalities and municipal governing authorities

(o) Parish tax collectors

(p) Parishes and parish governing authorities

(q) Political subdivision industrial inducement

(r) Revenue of and taxation levied by local governments

(s) Technical assistance to local governments

(t) Urban, parochial, and regional planning

(13) Natural Resources Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Accretion, alluvion, and dereliction of public and private lands

(b) Coastal protection and restoration, including matters relating to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

(c) Conservation

(d) Military parks and battlefields

(e) Mineral lands and matters relating thereto

(f) Mineral resources of public lands

(g) Mines and minerals and mineral code

(h) Natural resources generally

(i) Ownership of minerals and mineral lands

(j) Parks and recreation

(k) Pipelines

(l) Public and geological surveys

(m) Public lands

(n) State boundary lines

(o) Tidelands

(p) Wildlife and fisheries

(14) Retirement Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) College and university retirement

(b) Judges' retirement

(c) Retirement, including retirement systems supported in whole or in part by funds of the state or any of its political subdivisions, but excluding retirement matters concerning labor retirement laws related to nonpublic employees

(d) Retirement of state officials and employees

(e) School employees', teachers', and other education personnel retirement

(15) Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Bond issuance, payment, and retirement

(b) Bond portion of the comprehensive state capital budget

(c) Bonds and debt

(d) Department of Revenue and Taxation, Tax Commission, and the Board of Tax Appeals

(e) Deposit and investment of public monies

(f) Economy and efficiency of government operations

(g) Revenue collection

(h) Revenue measures generally

(i) Taxes and raising of revenue

(j) Each legislative instrument which produces a net decrease in taxes or fees or produces an increase in taxes or fees, as reflected in the fiscal note prepared in accordance with Joint Rule No. 4, of five hundred thousand dollars or more annually in any one of the three ensuing fiscal years or produces an increase which, although unspecified in the fiscal note, is indicated in the fiscal note to likely exceed five hundred thousand dollars annually in any of the three ensuing fiscal years after initial consideration in the committee of subject matter, if different from Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.

(16) Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Affairs of the Senate

(b) Appointments which require confirmation by the Senate

(c) Apportionment for public officials and governing authorities

(d) Assignment of space in state buildings, including space for Senate and legislative needs

(e) Capitol building and all other buildings for state government services in the state capital, including capitol parking

(f) Classified and unclassified service for public employees

(g) Creation of all legislative committees and proposals for interim studies by committees

(h) Elections, state political parties and their committees, and officers, procedure, and other matters relating to elections

(i) Employees of the Senate

(j) Expenditures of funds by the Legislature

(k) Governmental ethics

(l) Intergovernmental relations between the state and the United States or other states

(m) Legislative Auditor

(n) Legislative Fiscal Officer

(o) Lobbying and lobbyists

(p) Maintenance and care of capitol complex buildings

(q) Rules and procedures of the Senate and the Legislature

(r) Rules or laws enacted to reorganize the legislative or executive branches of government

(s) Services of or for the Senate and/or its committees and members

(t) State buildings generally, including naming of state buildings

(17) Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee, all matters relating to:

(a) Air, bus, and vehicular transportation

(b) Common carriers, except by water

(c) Construction, improvement, and maintenance of waterways, lakes, and streams

(d) Facilities in connection with lakes, waterways, and streams

(e) Flood and drainage projects

(f) Highways, roads, and bridges

(g) Levee districts

(h) Motor vehicle regulation

(i) Ports

(j) Public works

(k) Railroads

(l) Rules and Regulations for highway, railroad, and air use

(m) Transportation, highways, and public works in general

(n) Water conservation districts

SR 53 of 1990 RS; SR 47 of 1995 RS; SR 13 of 1996 1^st EX; SR 30 of 1997 RS; SR 17 of 2001 RS; SR 6 of 2002 RS; SR 9 of 2003 RS; SR 3 of 2008 1^st EX; SR 168 of 2014 RS.

A legislative instrument which proposes that a committee of the Senate or a joint committee of the Senate and House perform a study of any subject matter during the interim shall be referred to a standing committee in accordance with Rule 13.4 and may be reported favorably, unfavorably, with amendments, without action, or by substitute.

Rule 13.5.1.  Legislative instruments with significant fiscal cost; dual committee referral

Each legislative instrument with an estimated fiscal cost, as reflected in the fiscal note prepared in accordance with Joint Rule No. 4, of one hundred thousand dollars or more annually in any one of the three ensuing fiscal years or with a fiscal cost which, although unspecified in the fiscal note, is indicated in the fiscal note to likely exceed one hundred thousand dollars annually in any of the three ensuing fiscal years shall be referred to a standing committee under the provisions of Rule 13.4, and, if reported, shall be reported in accordance with the requirements of Rule 13.9. However, after such report, any such Senate instrument ordered engrossed, immediately following the engrossment order, and any such House instrument reported favorably or with amendments, immediately following the reading of such report and action on any amendments reported, shall be recommitted by the president to the Committee on Finance.

SR 47 of 1995 RS; SR 13 of 1996 1^st EX; SR 30 of 2010 RS.

Rule 13.5.2.  Legislative instruments which produce increases or decreases in taxes or fees; dual committee referral

Each legislative instrument which produces a net decrease in taxes or fees or produces an increase in taxes or fees, as reflected in the fiscal note prepared in accordance with Joint Rule No. 4, of five hundred thousand dollars or more annually in any one of the three ensuing fiscal years or produces an increase which, although unspecified in the fiscal note, is indicated in the fiscal note to likely exceed five hundred thousand dollars annually in any of the three ensuing fiscal years shall be referred to a standing committee under the provisions of Rule 13.4, and, if reported, shall be reported in accordance with the requirements of Rule 13.9. However, after such report, any such Senate instrument ordered engrossed, immediately following the engrossment order, and any such House instrument reported favorably or with amendments, immediately following the reading of such report and action on any amendments reported, shall be recommitted by the president to the Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.

Rule 13.6.  Meeting while Senate is in session

No committee of the Senate shall meet during the time the Senate is in session, unless the Senate has granted leave for the committee to do so.

Meetings of committees shall be open to the public; however, any committee may hold closed meetings and meet in executive session whenever it deems necessary or appropriate, except as otherwise provided in Senate Rule 16.4. However, no final vote shall be taken except in open session.

Rule 13.8.  Committee hearing

No legislative instrument shall be reported by a committee unless an open, public hearing on the instrument first has been held by the committee, with due notice given and opportunity provided for interested persons to appear to testify for or against the proposal. A majority of the quorum present must vote to report the measure at a meeting of the committee. No committee shall report a measure to the Senate pursuant to a procedure, referred to as a "round robin," under which a legislative instrument is reported by a committee after a majority of the members of the committee sign a petition to report it to the Senate or pursuant to any similar procedure. The Senate shall not receive a committee report on any measure which is made pursuant to such a procedure.

Rule 13.9.  Committee report

A. Each standing committee shall submit a written report to the Secretary no later than the time at which the Senate next convenes after a committee meeting at which a report was made on any bill or resolution. The report of the standing committee for each meeting shall be in a form which lists in numerical order the number and title of each legislative instrument upon which the committee made a report at the meeting. Below the designation and title of each legislative instrument the report of the committee shall contain the actual report of the committee on that legislative instrument, and the report may be one but only one of the following:

(1) Reported favorably

(2) Reported unfavorably

(3) Reported with amendments

(4) Reported without action

(5) Reported by substitute

B. The chairman of each Senate standing committee shall incorporate into the body of each report of his committee, under the title of each instrument reported with amendments, all amendments proposed by the committee to that instrument.

C. The report of the committee shall be signed by the committee chairman, and he shall be responsible for the accuracy of the report and for the conformity of each such report to the requirements of this rule. Under no circumstances shall words or sentences be interlined on the body of the legislative instrument, nor shall the cover thereof be marked except by the Secretary.

Rule 13.10. Report by substitute

A. A committee may report a substitute for any Senate bill or for a joint resolution originating in the Senate or for several Senate bills on the same subject or for several joint resolutions on the same subject which originated in the Senate. No House instrument may be reported by substitute. The substitute, if adopted by the Senate, shall be numbered and read on three separate days, as in the case of original bills, but need not again be referred to a Senate committee. A committee also may report a substitute for a Senate resolution or for several Senate resolutions on the same subject, or for a Senate concurrent resolution or several Senate concurrent resolutions on the same subject, and the substitute, if adopted by the Senate, shall be numbered and shall be considered in the manner of the Senate resolutions or Senate concurrent resolutions reported by committee. A substitute bill shall be germane to the original bill. Any report by a committee of a Senate bill which would have the effect of striking all material following the enacting clause shall be reported by substitute rather than with amendments.

B. When an instrument is reported by substitute, the substitute shall reflect the same authors in the same order as those of the instrument being reported by substitute, if such author or authors consent thereto. If more than one instrument is reported by the same substitute, the author(s) present and consenting shall be listed as they appear on the instruments, in the order in which the instruments were introduced. Additional co- authors may be added thereafter.

C. Each substitute bill shall recite, after its number, the number of the bill it substitutes, as follows: "(Substitute of Senate Bill No. by Senator )."

Amended by SR 112 of 2004 RS.

Rule 13.11. Directing committee to report

No legislative instrument which has been referred to a committee shall be acted upon or considered by the Senate until the committee has reported it; however, a majority of the elected members of the Senate, by motion or resolution, may direct a committee to hold a public hearing on and report a legislative instrument and may direct the time of such hearing or report, or both. In such case, the committee shall hold the hearing and shall report the instrument as directed. In addition, a majority of the elected members of the Senate, by motion or resolution, may recall a legislative instrument from a committee and discharge the committee from further consideration of the bill, in which case the instrument shall be recommitted to another committee.

A. Each standing committee, with approval of the President, is authorized to:

(1) Study and hold hearings between sessions of the Legislature on matters, subjects, or problems assigned to it by the Senate, or by the two houses if acting as a joint committee, and to report thereon to the Senate or to the legislature.

(2) Study and hold hearings between sessions on matters, subjects, or problems within its subject matter jurisdiction, as provided in Rule 13.4, upon approval of a majority of the members of the committee of such study and hearings, and to report thereon to the Senate.

(3) Hold joint meetings and hearings, or to establish and function as a joint committee with a House committee, for the purpose of study and investigation of matters within the subject matter jurisdiction of the two committees, either upon direction of the two houses by resolution or upon approval of a majority of the members of the two standing committees, and to report thereon to the Legislature.

(4) Study and hold hearings in the interim between sessions on any prefiled legislative instrument referred to it by the President between sessions and, at its discretion, to determine the report it will make on such instrument in accordance with rules of the Senate, but any such report shall be provisional and subject to change. Nothing in this Paragraph shall in any way preclude further or additional hearings or a different report during the session.

(5) Hold joint meetings and hearings, or establish and functions as a joint committee with a house committee of similar subject matter jurisdiction, either during sessions or in the interim between sessions, for the purpose of considering and holding hearings on any prefiled legislative instrument which has been referred to either of the two committees, and to report thereon to the Legislature. However, the report on any legislative instrument to the Senate shall be the report of the Senate standing committee to which such instrument was referred, and such report shall be made pursuant to the rules of the Senate, particularly Senate Rules 13.9 and 13.10. In addition, any report determined prior to a session shall be provisional and shall be subject to change.

(6) Meet and hold hearings during sessions of the Legislature, whether on a legislative day or on a calendar day.

B. the authority of the standing committees of the Senate to meet in the interim between sessions upon approval of a majority of the members thereof shall be contingent upon compliance with the provisions herein set forth and approval of the President. Upon approval of a majority of the members of the standing committee for interim meetings or hearings, either as a Senate committee or as a joint committee, the chairman of the committee to any member thereof shall submit to the President, in writing, the recommendation and request of the committee for such interim meetings. The written recommendation and request shall set forth the scope of the study proposed to be made by the committee, the number of meetings anticipated, and the estimated cost. The President shall determine if funds for such meetings are available. If funds are available, the standing committee, with approval of the President, may proceed with the meetings. If a question is raised as to the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee proposing to make the study, the jurisdictional question shall be resolved by the President in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13.4.

Rule 13.13. Notice of commencement of interim study

A notice shall be sent to all members of the Legislature of the commencement of an interim study by a Senate committee or by a joint committee, pursuant to Paragraphs A(2) and A(3) of Rule 13.12.

Rule 13.14. Subcommittees; establishment; authority

A. Each standing committee established in Rule 13.1 and each joint committee established as provided in Rule 13.12, with the approval of the President, may appoint subcommittees and authorize them to meet and to take action, subject to approval of the full committee.

B. The chairman and vice chairman and the members of each subcommittee shall be appointed by the chairman of the full committee.

C. A subcommittee is authorized to undertake studies on matters within the scope of its jurisdiction only when directed to do so by the full committee.

D. Subcommittee reports shall be submitted to the full committee for approval, rather than to the Senate directly. No report or recommendation of a subcommittee shall be binding on the full committee.

E. A subcommittee shall have no authority to establish subcommittees.

Each standing committee established by Rule 13.1 and each joint committee established pursuant to the authority granted in Rule 13.12, and any subcommittee of either, is hereby specifically and expressly granted the power and authority, with the written approval of the President, to hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, require the production of books and records, and to do all other things necessary to accomplish the purposes of the study, hearing, or investigation assigned to it by the Senate or by the Legislature or by a majority of the members of the committee. However, if a study or investigation is undertaken during the interim between sessions, a subpoena or a subpoena duces tecum shall issue only upon the approval of a majority of all the members of the standing committee and of the President and upon the rendition of a special order of the Nineteenth Judicial District Court or of any other judicial district court, subject to general rules of venue, authorizing the committee to issue the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, in which order the court may prescribe such requirements and conditions as it may consider just and reasonable. In the event a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum is not honored, the standing committee or joint committee also shall have the power to punish for contempt and to provide for the prosecution of any individual for refusal to testify, false swearing, or perjury before the committee or subcommittee in accordance with law.

A. The members of each standing committee of the Senate shall receive the same per diem and travel allowance as are provided for members of the Legislature in session for attendance during the interim between sessions at meetings of the committee or meetings of any subcommittee thereof or of any joint committee established by combining such committee with a house committee of similar subject matter jurisdiction as provided in Subparagraph A(3) of Senate Rule 13.12.

B. The President may authorize the payment of per diem and travel allowance to members for performance of duties related to the work of committees other than attendance at committee meetings.

C. The per diem and travel allowance herein authorized and all other expenses incurred by Senate committees shall be paid for out of the funds available to the President for the expenses of the Legislature and committees. The expenses of joint committees, other than per diem and travel allowances, shall be paid out of funds available to the President and funds available to the Speaker of the House, respectively.

D. When the expenses incurred in the interim between sessions by any standing committee, including in the aggregate the expenses of the committee and subcommittees thereof for per diem, travel, and other incidental expenses, exceed the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars, no further expenses of said standing committee or its subcommittees shall be incurred without the approval of the President.

Rule 13.17. Committees; authority with respect to funds from other than state sources

Each standing committee and each joint committee established pursuant to Rule 13.12 and any subcommittee of any such standing committee or joint committee is authorized, with approval of the President, to contract for, receive, accept, and expend any funds made available from sources outside of state government.

Rule 13.18. Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee; advisor to President

A. The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee shall act as an advisory committee to the President. The President and the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee shall work in concert to implement the policies and decisions of the Senate.

B. The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee shall report from time to time to the members of the Senate on the fiscal affairs of the Senate.

If a majority of the members of a committee or the President determines that a need no longer exists for study of a subject then before the committee or a subcommittee thereof, either may direct a letter to the chairman of the committee informing him of the determination and directing that no further consideration be given to the matter. Thereafter, no further meetings shall be held on the subject.

Rule 13.20. Select committees

A. The President may establish select committees for specific studies or purposes. He shall appoint the members thereof and designate the chairman. A select committee shall have the same powers, duties, and authorities and shall be subject to the same rules as standing committees.

B. The President also may from time to time call meetings of all members of the Senate as a select committee for the purposes of discussion or study of any administrative matters or for other business he deems advisable to bring before the members. At meetings of such select committee, rules relating to scheduling of meetings, quorum, reports, and minutes and records shall be inapplicable.

SR 110 of 2004 RS

The Senate membership of each Conference Committee shall be three senators appointed by President.

A. There shall be a special committee to be called the Senate Executive Committee which shall be composed of nine members as follows: ex officio, the President and the President Pro Tempore; the chairs of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs; and five members of the Senate appointed by the President. The president, or one of the members of the committee designated by him, shall chair the committee.

B. The committee shall have advisory authority to make recommendations to the President, other officers, and the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs concerning matters internal to the Senate including, without limitation, matters affecting Senate space and facilities, officers and employees, rules, administration, and budgetary and financial questions.

C.(1) The committee shall have the authority to establish an annual vouchered allotment for members of the Senate to be drawn by each member in monthly payments. This vouchered allotment shall be used exclusively for expenses incurred in the course and scope of duties as a member of the Senate such as rent for office space; electricity; water; gas; telephone; communication services; stationery; supplies; mileage or expense reimbursement for official travel in or out of state; and other expenses related to the holding or conduct of office. The committee may authorize an unexpended allotment amount to be carried forward from one fiscal year into the next fiscal year.

(2) The allotment shall be established no later than May fifteenth of the first calendar year of each term of office to be effective for the succeeding four-year term, until changed by the Executive Committee pursuant to the adoption of a resolution as provided in this Paragraph. This allotment shall be set or changed by the adoption of a resolution of the Executive Committee in an open public hearing.

SR 177 of the 2004 RS; SR 3 of 2008, 2nd EX; SR 43 of 2012 RS; SR 3 of the 2016, 1st EX; SR 9 of 2020.

           A. When a committee holds a public hearing on an instrument or other matter, opportunity to appear before the committee shall be provided to a representative number of proponents and opponents on each issue which the instrument or matter presents. The author of an instrument on which a hearing is held, or his designee, or, if the hearing is not on an instrument, the member offering the motion under discussion shall be entitled to make opening and closing remarks.           

B.(1) Persons desiring to appear before a committee shall notify the committee chairman or the committee secretary no later than the beginning of the meeting. However, to assure that an opportunity is afforded all persons who desire to be heard, the chairman shall inquire at the beginning of the hearing on each matter if there are additional persons who wish to be heard. The chairman shall allot the time available for the hearing in an equitable manner among those persons who are to be heard.           

(2)(a) Each person appearing before a committee shall identify himself and the group, organization, or company he represents, if any. Before being allowed to testify before the committee, he shall also be required to file with the committee chairman or the committee secretary a sworn written statement in the form of a signed witness card swearing or affirming that his testimony is true and correct. He shall then be considered to be under oath while providing such testimony before the committee.           

(b) A public employee who is a designee of an elected official appearing before a committee shall identify himself and the elected official for whom he is the designee. Before being allowed to present testimony on behalf of an elected official, the designee shall be required to file with the committee chairman a written statement from the elected official evidencing the designation and a written certification from the designee that he is acting in the performance of his official public duties. The written statement and certification shall be made on forms promulgated by the Secretary of the Senate.

C. Whenever a committee or the president finds it necessary or desirable to invite or request the appearance before a committee of any person to present testimony, the president shall have authority to invite or request such appearance and to determine and approve the expenditure of funds available to the Senate to pay reasonable compensation and expenses of such witnesses.

Amended by SR 78 of 2010 RS; SR 87 of 2016 RS.

A. The permanent records of the committee shall include the minutes of each meeting and a file on each instrument received by the committee. The file on each instrument shall include a copy of the original instrument; a copy of committee amendments proposed by any member, whether or not adopted, and the disposition thereof; a copy of any fiscal note, actuarial note, or notice attached to an instrument at the time of committee consideration; all prepared statements filed with the committee chairman by members or interested parties; the minutes of the public hearing held on the instrument and of the meeting at which the committee report thereon was decided; and a copy of the committee report thereon.

B. The minutes, as approved by the committee, and other permanent records of the committee shall be retained by the Senate staff and shall be public records; however the Secretary of the Senate shall be the official custodian of such records.

SR 34 of 1993 RS; SR 168 of 2014 RS; SR 168of 2014 RS.