Sec. 2-1a. Adoption of rules and regulations.
Sec. 2-1a. Adoption of rules and regulations. (a) Each house of the General Assembly shall have the power to adopt rules for the orderly conduct of its affairs and to
preserve and protect the health, safety and welfare of its members, officers and employees in the performance of their official duties, as well as that of the general public
in connection therewith, and to preserve and protect property and records under the
jurisdiction of the General Assembly, consistent with public convenience and the public's rights of freedom of expression, to peaceably assemble and petition government.
(b) In lieu of or in addition to the adoption of such rules each house may authorize
its presiding officer to promulgate regulations for any or all such purposes.
(c) Rules or regulations may be adopted with respect to the following matters,
among others, without limitation by reason of such specification: (1) Regulating admission to the legislative chambers, galleries, lobbies, offices and other areas of the buildings wherein they are located which provide access thereto; (2) limiting the size of
groups of persons permitted within such areas, for reasons of health and safety and in
case of fire or other emergency; (3) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of signs,
banners, placards or other display materials into any such areas, or possessing them
therein, without proper authorization; (4) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of radio
or television equipment, recording equipment, sound-making or amplifying equipment
and photographic equipment into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without
proper authorization; (5) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of packages, bags, baggage or briefcases into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without proper authorization; (6) establishing rules of conduct for visitors to the galleries; (7) authorizing
the clearing of the public from the chambers, lobbies and galleries, or from any room
in which a public legislative hearing or meeting is being conducted, in the event of any
disturbance therein which disrupts legislative proceedings or endangers any member,
officer or employee of the General Assembly or the general public, except that duly
accredited representatives of the news media not participating in any such disturbance
shall be permitted to remain therein. The closing of such areas to the public shall continue
only as long as necessary to avoid disruption of the legislative proceedings or to preserve
and protect the safety of the members, officers or employees of the General Assembly or
the general public; (8) authorizing the construction of safety barriers and other protective
measures for the galleries and other areas under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly
and the acquisition of security equipment, all from the funds made available therefor;
(9) protecting the records and property of the General Assembly from unlawful damage
or destruction; and (10) any and all other matters which may be necessary or appropriate
to the orderly conduct of the affairs of the General Assembly and the protection of
the health, safety and welfare of the members, officers and employees of the General
Assembly and the general public in connection therewith.
(d) In lieu of or in addition to the adoption of separate rules each house may adopt
joint rules applicable to both houses.
(e) In lieu of or in addition to the promulgation of separate regulations the presiding
officers of each house may promulgate joint regulations applicable to both houses.
(f) All such rules of the General Assembly or either house and regulations of the
presiding officer of each house shall be filed in the offices of the clerks thereof and a
copy of such rules and regulations shall be made available to any person upon request,
without charge.
(g) Such rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of law and the violation
of any such rule or regulation shall constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment
for not more than thirty days, a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or both.
(P.A. 73-516, S. 5; P.A. 06-196, S. 20.)
History: P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (c), effective June 7, 2006.
Cited. 11 CA 342.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 232 C. 345.