2015 Indiana Code TITLE 2. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARTICLE 2.1. LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AND PROCEDURES CHAPTER 1. LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AND PROCEDURES LAW OF 1971
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IC 2-2.1
ARTICLE 2.1. LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AND
PROCEDURES
IC 2-2.1-1
Chapter 1. Legislative Sessions and Procedures Law of 1971
IC 2-2.1-1-1
Definitions
Sec. 1. The following definitions apply throughout this chapter:
(1) "Bill" includes a bill and a joint resolution.
(2) "Term of the general assembly" means that two (2) year
period of time extending from the first Wednesday after the first
Monday in November of any even-numbered year until, but not
including, the first Wednesday after the first Monday in
November of the next even-numbered year.
(3) "Session" refers to a regular session, regular technical
session, or special session of the general assembly.
(4) "Special session" means that period of time during which the
general assembly is convened in session upon the proclamation
and call of the governor under Article 4, Section 9 of the
Constitution of the State of Indiana.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2.) As amended by P.L.4-1995,
SEC.3.
IC 2-2.1-1-2
First regular session
Sec. 2. (a) The first regular session of each term of the general
assembly shall convene on the third Tuesday after the first Monday
of November of each even-numbered year to do the following:
(1) Organize itself.
(2) Elect its officers.
(3) Receive the oath of office.
(b) If a special session is called before the date set in subsection
(a), then the organization, election, and receiving the oath of office
shall be held on the first day of the special session.
(c) The general assembly shall then adjourn until a day:
(1) certain fixed by a concurrent resolution; or
(2) when the gavel of each house falls in the presence of a
quorum whether or not a day certain to reconvene in session has
been fixed.
(d) The general assembly shall reconvene in session no later than
the second Monday in January of the following year.
(e) The first regular session of each term of the general assembly
shall adjourn sine die not later than April 29 in any odd-numbered
year.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2; Acts 1973, P.L.1, SEC.1.) As
amended by P.L.4-1995, SEC.4.
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IC 2-2.1-1-2.5
First regular technical session
Sec. 2.5. (a) Before the first regular session adjourns sine die, the
general assembly may adopt a concurrent resolution to fix a day to
convene the first regular technical session of the general assembly.
The day fixed under this subsection may not be earlier than thirty
(30) days after the first regular session adjourns sine die.
(b) Only the following may be considered and acted upon during
a first regular technical session:
(1) Bills enacted during the first regular session vetoed by the
governor.
(2) Bills to correct conflicts among bills enacted during the first
regular session.
(3) Bills to correct technical errors in bills enacted during the
first regular session.
(c) The first regular technical session must adjourn sine die before
midnight after it convenes.
(d) The concurrent resolution adopted under subsection (a) may
provide that the first regular technical session is not required to
convene if the speaker of the house of representatives and the
president pro tempore of the senate jointly issue an order finding that
the purposes for which a regular technical session may meet under
subsection (b) do not justify the cost and inconvenience of meeting
in a regular technical session.
(e) If the general assembly does not meet in a regular technical
session under this section, the general assembly shall consider and act
upon vetoes of bills enacted during the first regular session at the next
second regular session.
(f) For purposes of Article 5, Section 14 of the Constitution of the
State of Indiana, the first regular technical session is not considered
a regular session if the general assembly does not consider or act
upon vetoes of bills enacted during the first regular session under this
section.
As added by P.L.4-1995, SEC.5.
IC 2-2.1-1-3
Second regular session
Sec. 3. (a) The second regular session of each term of the general
assembly shall convene on the third Tuesday after the first Monday
of November of each odd-numbered year. The general assembly shall
then adjourn until a day:
(1) certain fixed by a concurrent resolution; or
(2) when the gavel of each house falls in the presence of a
quorum whether or not a day certain to reconvene in session has
been fixed.
(b) The general assembly shall reconvene in session no later than
the second Monday in January of the following year. The second
regular session of each term of the general assembly shall adjourn
sine die not later than March 14 in any even-numbered year.
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(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2; Acts 1973, P.L.1, SEC.2.) As
amended by P.L.4-1995, SEC.6.
IC 2-2.1-1-3.5
Second regular technical session
Sec. 3.5. (a) Before the second regular session adjourns sine die,
the general assembly may adopt a concurrent resolution to fix a day
to convene the second regular technical session of the general
assembly. The day fixed under this subsection may not be earlier than
thirty (30) days after the second regular session adjourns sine die.
(b) Only the following may be considered and acted upon during
a second regular technical session:
(1) Bills enacted during the second regular session vetoed by the
governor.
(2) Bills to correct conflicts among bills enacted during the
second regular session.
(3) Bills to correct technical errors in bills enacted during the
second regular session.
(c) The second regular technical session must adjourn sine die
before midnight after it convenes.
(d) The concurrent resolution adopted under subsection (a) may
provide that the second regular technical session is not required to
convene if the speaker of the house of representatives and the
president pro tempore of the senate jointly issue an order finding that
the purposes for which a regular technical session may meet under
subsection (b) do not justify the cost and inconvenience of meeting
in a regular technical session.
(e) If the general assembly does not meet in a regular technical
session under this section, the general assembly may consider and act
upon vetoes of bills enacted during the second regular session at the
next first regular session.
(f) For purposes of Article 5, Section 14 of the Constitution of the
State of Indiana, the second regular technical session is not
considered a regular session if the general assembly does not consider
or act upon vetoes of bills enacted during the second regular session
under this section.
As added by P.L.4-1995, SEC.7.
IC 2-2.1-1-4
Special sessions
Sec. 4. Length and Frequency of Sessions: Special Session. A
special session of the General Assembly, called by the Governor as
provided in Article 4, section 9 of the Constitution of the State of
Indiana, shall continue for not more than thirty (30) session days nor
more than forty (40) calendar days following the day upon which it
is commenced.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2.)
IC 2-2.1-1-5
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Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.4-1995, SEC.16.)
IC 2-2.1-1-6
Organization of senate
Sec. 6. Procedures: Organization of the Senate. (a) The President
of the Senate shall preside at the organizational meeting during the
election of the President Pro Tempore and other officers of the
Senate.
(b) The oath of office shall be administered to senators-elect by
the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indiana, or an associate
justice designated by the Chief Justice.
(c) The President Pro Tempore and such other officers as may be
determined by the standing rules and orders of the Senate shall be
elected. The oath of office shall be administered to the President Pro
Tempore by the Chief Justice, and to the other officers by the
President of the Senate.
(d) In the event there is no President or he is absent or unable to
serve, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or an associate justice
designated by the Chief Justice shall preside during the election of
the President Pro Tempore and, upon being elected and sworn, the
President Pro Tempore shall take the chair and conduct the further
business of the Senate until the vacancy in the office of President is
filled, if there is no President, or until the President is able to serve,
if he is absent or unable to serve.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2.) As amended by P.L.2-1998,
SEC.1.
IC 2-2.1-1-7
Organization of house of representatives
Sec. 7. (a) The Secretary of State shall preside at the
organizational meeting during the election of the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(b) The oath of office shall be administered to
representatives-elect by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Indiana, or an associate justice designated by the Chief Justice.
(c) Subject to section 7.5 of this chapter, the Speaker shall be
elected. The oath of office shall be administered to the Speaker of the
House by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or an associate
justice designated by the Chief Justice.
(d) Upon being elected and taking the oath of office, the Speaker
shall take the chair and conduct the further business of the House,
including the election and swearing in of such other officers as may
be determined by the standing rules and orders of the House of
Representatives.
(e) In the event there is no Secretary of State or he is absent or
unable to serve, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or an
associate justice designated by the Chief Justice shall preside during
the election of the Speaker.
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(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2.) As amended by P.L.9-1995,
SEC.2.
IC 2-2.1-1-7.5
Equal political party affiliation by house members; election of
speaker and principal clerk; rules
Sec. 7.5. (a) This section applies only if the number of members
of the house of representatives affiliated with one (1) political party
equals the number of members of the house of representatives
affiliated with a different political party.
(b) For purposes of this section, an individual is considered to be
affiliated with a political party if the individual was:
(1) the nominee (as defined in IC 3-5-2-33) of that political
party for election to the office to which the individual was
elected at the previous general election; or
(2) selected by that political party to fill a candidate vacancy or
a vacancy in the office under IC 3-13 for the office the
individual currently holds.
(c) The speaker of the house of representatives and the principal
clerk of the house of representatives shall be elected by the members
of the house of representatives affiliated with the political party
whose:
(1) candidate was elected governor at the previous general
election; or
(2) candidate was elected secretary of state at the previous
general election, if the governor was not elected at the previous
general election.
(d) The rules that governed the house of representatives before the
previous general election shall govern the house of representatives
after the general election until those rules are amended as provided
in those rules.
As added by P.L.9-1995, SEC.3.
IC 2-2.1-1-8
Procedure for each house at organizational meeting
Sec. 8. Procedures for Each House at the Organizational Meeting.
(a) Upon the election of the officers in each house, the membership
of each house shall adopt standing rules and orders for their
respective houses, and joint rules for conducting the business in the
two houses.
(b) Each house, by rule, shall determine such other business as the
respective houses may perform at the organizational meeting.
(c) The rules, as adopted, shall govern the respective houses for
that term of the General Assembly, unless amended or suspended.
(d) The officers elected at the organizational meeting shall serve
for that entire term of the General Assembly, unless removed,
suspended or unable to serve.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2.)
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IC 2-2.1-1-9
Standing committee appointments
Sec. 9. Procedures: Standing Committee Appointments. (a) By not
later than ten (10) days after the election of officers as provided in
sections 6 and 7 of this chapter the appointments to the standing
committees of the two houses of the General Assembly shall be made
and announced by the Speaker and the President Pro Tempore,
respectively.
(b) At the reconvening in January of the first session of the term,
the lists of appointments to the standing committees shall be read in
their respective houses and recorded in the journals thereof.
(c) The members of the standing committees shall serve for the
term of the General Assembly in which they are appointed, unless
removed, suspended or unable to serve.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2.)
IC 2-2.1-1-10
Filing of bills and resolutions
Sec. 10. Procedures: Filing of Bills and Resolutions. Bills and
resolutions may be filed and assigned to committees at any time after
the convening of a session according to the rules of each house.
During any session the standing committees of the House and Senate
may announce and hold public hearings on any bill or resolution
assigned to them upon the authorization of the Speaker of the House
or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, respectively, but may
take no action with regard to its disposition until it is introduced
according to the rules of the house of origin.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2.)
IC 2-2.1-1-11
Preparation of calendar
Sec. 11. Procedures: Preparation of a Calendar. The Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the
Senate shall prepare a calendar in accordance with the joint rules of
the House and Senate.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.6, SEC.2.)
IC 2-2.1-1-12
Bills or resolutions; signatures; time for presentation to governor
Sec. 12. (a) This section applies only to those bills or joint
resolutions which pass during the two days before the sine die
adjournment of a regular or special session of the general assembly.
This section does not apply to bills passed during a regular technical
session.
(b) The presiding officers of the house of representatives and the
senate shall sign each bill or joint resolution passed under Article 4,
Section 25 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana as soon as
practicable, but not later than seven (7) calendar days after sine die
adjournment of the session of the general assembly at which the bill
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was passed.
(c) A bill that has been signed under subsection (b) must be
presented to the governor as soon as practicable, but not later than
seven (7) calendar days after sine die adjournment of the session of
the general assembly at which the bill was passed.
As added by P.L.3-1991, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.4-1995, SEC.8.
IC 2-2.1-1-13
Bills passed during regular technical session; signatures; time for
presentation to governor
Sec. 13. (a) This section applies only to bills passed during a
regular technical session.
(b) The presiding officers of the house and senate shall sign each
bill passed under Article 4, Section 25 of the Constitution of the State
of Indiana as soon as practicable, but not later than the next business
day after sine die adjournment of the regular technical session at
which the bill was passed.
(c) A bill that has been signed under subsection (b) must be
presented to the governor as soon as practicable, but not later than the
second business day after sine die adjournment of the regular
technical session at which the bill was passed.
As added by P.L.4-1995, SEC.9.
Indiana Code 2015
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