Sen. Moore Announces Senate Passage of Rules Proposals

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

GoLocalWorcester PoliticalTeam

Senator Michael Moore

Senator Michael Moore announced that the Senate passed two reported updating the Senate and Joint Rules related to harassment, diversity, and transparency.

“These rules govern the Senate, the flow of legislation and the working relationship between both Chambers of the bicameral legislative body. The rules approved by the Senate reflect a continued effort to create a positive work culture for Senate members, staff, interns, and visitors,” said Moore.

Senate Rules

Key highlights to the Senate rules proposal include tightening up existing protocol by creating a new rule that explicitly prohibits harassment, requiring timely training of all members and staff, and including interns in Senate policies.

The proposal also requires all rule violations, including harassment, to be referred to the Committee on Ethics.

The Senate rules proposal also includes the creation of the position of an Officer of Diversity and Inclusion, who will be part of the Senate’s human resources department and who will focus on the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce.

The Joint Rules package:

Requires both Senate and House chairs to agree to the schedule of committee hearings and executive sessions to avoid conflict with other committees or sessions;
Directs the clerk of the House and Senate to establish temporary rules for joint committees unable to come to an agreement on rules;
Requires joint committees to provide text or summaries of legislation to members prior to consideration at the executive session;
Requires all recorded votes of joint committees to be posted on the General Court website;
Increases the notification requirement for joint committee hearings and executive sessions from 48 to 72 hours;
Increases the notice requirement of special commissions and task forces from 48 to 72 hours.