A house RESOLUTION

TO AMEND RULE 6.3 OF THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RELATING TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SO AS TO ADD THE OFFICIAL PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE DAILY ORDER OF BUSINESS.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That Rule 6.3 of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to read:

   6.3 The following order of business shall be enforced every day by the Speaker, except that Special Orders as defined in subsection 14a of this rule shall be considered at the time and place set:

    1.   a.   prayer;

      b.   Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America;

      c.   Official pledge to the flag of the State of South Carolina;

    2.   corrections to the Journal;

    3.   receipt of communications including messages from the Senate;

    4.   reports of committees including Conference and Free Conference;

    5.   first reading of House resolutions, concurrent resolutions, committee reports on resolutions, joint resolutions, and bills upon the desk;

    6.   call of the roll of the House;

    7.   a.   consideration of local uncontested bills and joint resolutions on third reading;

      b.   consideration of local uncontested bills and joint resolutions on second reading;

    8.   Special introductions, recognitions, and announcements, the sum total of which may not exceed fifteen minutes with no more than eight special introductions, recognitions, or announcements, each one not exceeding ninety seconds. However, nothing contained herein limits the discretion of the Speaker to allow such special introductions, recognitions, and announcements during roll call voting as he deems appropriate.;

    9.   a.   consideration of statewide uncontested bills and joint resolutions on third reading;

      b.   consideration of statewide uncontested bills and joint resolutions on second reading;

   10.    withdrawal of objections and requests for debate;

   11.   consideration of pending motions to reconsider;

   12.   a.   consideration of unanimous consent requests;

      b.   consideration of vetoes;

      c.   consideration of Senate amendments;

      d.   consideration of local contested bills and joint resolutions on third reading;

   13.   consideration of statewide contested bills and joint resolutions on third reading in the order in which they appear on the Calendar;

   14.   a.   motion period;

      b.   consideration of local contested bills and joint resolutions on second reading;

   15.   consideration of statewide contested bills and joint resolutions on second reading in the order in which they appear on the Calendar;

      a.   Notwithstanding the order of business set forth in Rule 6.3 a matter may be set for Special Order for consideration on a particular day at a particular hour or at a particular place on the Calendar.

      b.   Special orders may be set for appropriations bills and local bills by majority vote of the House. Special orders on all other bills on the Calendar shall be set only by written resolution, which has been referred to the Rules Committee or originates therein, and agreed to by two-thirds of the members of that committee and agreed to by majority of the members of the House present after the committee has made its report; provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 9 governing the amendability of bills and resolutions, no amendments may be offered to any Special Order resolution, which amendments do not pertain to the bill which is the subject of the Special Order resolution, except as to the time and date called for in such resolution.

   Provided, that for the purpose of explaining any Special Order resolution the time limit for opponents shall not exceed five minutes and the time limit for proponents shall not exceed five minutes.

      c.   A Special Order set for a certain day and hour, not being considered by the House at the hour named, shall be transferred by the Clerk of the House to the Special Orders of the following day until disposed of, in the chronological order of original appointment.

   Any member may insist upon a Special Order of the Day, or other Special Orders, until it be discharged.

      d.   The motion period provided for the daily order of business under Rule 6.3 shall be limited to ten minutes only.

   Provided, however, that time consumed by roll call votes shall not be construed as part of time allotted to said motions period.

      e.   Consideration of uncontested local bills and joint resolutions on third and second readings as provided in subsection 7a and b of this rule shall be limited to a total of ten minutes only. Consideration of contested local bills and joint resolutions on second and third readings as provided in subsections 11b and 13b of this rule is limited to a total of ten minutes for second reading bills and joint resolutions and ten minutes for third reading bills and joint resolutions.

      f.   Consideration of uncontested statewide bills and joint resolutions on third and second readings as provided in subsection 8a and b of this rule shall be limited to a total of thirty minutes only.

      g.   No debate shall be allowed in the uncontested period, provided, however, the Speaker may recognize a proponent and opponent of any uncontested bill or joint resolution for a brief explanation of their position.

      h.   Consideration of unanimous consent requests as provided for in subsection 11 of this rule shall be limited to five minutes only. No unanimous consent requests except those unanimous consent requests dealing with the pending matter may be considered at any time other than during the time provided for in subsection 11 of this rule.

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