The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Rules of Order presented its Report #3 on Resolution D022 (Create a Task Force on the Legislative Process) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D022)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st General Convention authorize a Task Force on the General Convention Legislative Process to assess the Rules of Order, and whose mandate includes but is not limited to (1) assessing the changes to the legislative process first introduced at the 80th General Convention, particularly the process of pre-Convention online legislative committee meetings and hearings; (2) review the technology used for legislative committees, determining the best technology for maximum participation by all members of both Houses; (3) making recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Planning and Arrangements and the General Convention Office for the legislative process for the 82nd General Convention; (4) proposing amendments to the Rules of Order for the House of Bishops and / or the House of Deputies, and / or the Joint Rules for the House of Bishops and House of Deputies to further refine the legislative process in light of the findings of the Task Force; (5) develop a plan for continual review of the Rules of Order for the House of Bishops and / or the House of Deputies, and / or the Joint Rules for the House of Bishops and House of Deputies by a diverse committee; and (6) developing a plan for training deputies on the Rules of Order; and be it further

Resolved, That the membership of this Task Force include up to four bishops, four clergy, and four lay persons, each of whom shall have served as bishop or deputy at least one prior General Convention; at least nine members shall have served at least three prior General Conventions; at least six members shall have served on a legislative committee at the 80th and/or 81st General Conventions, and at least six members shall have served on a legislative committee prior to the 80th General Convention; at least three members shall have chaired a legislative committee; and at least one member shall have served on the Dispatch of Business Committee; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Officer of the General Convention appoint a member of the staff of the General Convention Office to serve as consultant to the task force; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force begin its work no later than December 1, 2024, and submit a report to the 82nd General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force consult widely with bishops and deputies, including former deputies; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request $40,000 be allocated for the implementation of this resolution.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,

That the 81st General Convention authorize a Task Force on the General Convention Legislative Process to assess the Rules of Order, and whose mandate includes but is not limited direct the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons to 

(1) assessing assess the changes to the legislative process first introduced at the 80th General Convention, particularly the process of pre-Convention online legislative committee meetings and hearings; 

(2) review the technology used for legislative committees, determining the best technology for maximum participation by all members of both Houses; 

(3) making make recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Planning and Arrangements and the General Convention Office for the legislative process for the 82nd General Convention; 

(4) assess the pros and cons of the current number of legislative days of General Convention;

(4) (5) proposing propose amendments to the Rules of Order for the House of Bishops and / or the House of Deputies, and / or the Joint Rules for the House of Bishops and House of Deputies to further refine the legislative process in light of the their findings of the Task Force; 

(5) (6) develop a plan for continual on-going review of the Rules of Order for the House of Bishops and / or , the House of Deputies, and / or the Joint Rules for the House of Bishops and House of Deputies by a diverse committee interim body; and 

(6) (7) developing develop a plan for training deputies on the Rules of Order , the Joint Rules, and the General Convention Legislative process; and be it further

Resolved, That the membership of this Task Force include up to four bishops, four clergy, and four lay persons, each of whom shall have served as bishop or deputy at least one prior General Convention; at least nine members shall have served at least three prior General Conventions; at least six members shall have served on a legislative committee at the 80th and/or 81st General Conventions, and at least six members shall have served on a legislative committee prior to the 80th General Convention; at least three members shall have chaired a legislative committee; and at least one member shall have served on the Dispatch of Business Committee; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Officer of the General Convention appoint a member of the staff of the General Convention Office to serve as consultant to the task force; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force begin its work no later than December 1, 2024, and submit a report to the 82nd General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force Commission hold hearing open to the Church, consult widely with bishops and deputies, Bishops, Deputies, and others with extensive General Convention experience, and publish its Minutes in a timely matter. including former deputies; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request $40,000 be allocated for the implementation of this resolution.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #151)