Rule 13.78. Hearings; persons to be heard; sworn statement; designees of elected officials; authority to compensate

           A. When a committee holds a public hearing on an instrument or other matter, opportunity to appear before the committee shall be provided to a representative number of proponents and opponents on each issue which the instrument or matter presents. The author of an instrument on which a hearing is held, or his designee, or, if the hearing is not on an instrument, the member offering the motion under discussion shall be entitled to make opening and closing remarks.

           B.(1) Persons desiring to appear before a committee shall notify the committee chairman or the committee secretary no later than the beginning of the meeting. However, to assure that an opportunity is afforded all persons who desire to be heard, the chairman shall inquire at the beginning of the hearing on each matter if there are additional persons who wish to be heard. The chairman shall allot the time available for the hearing in an equitable manner among those persons who are to be heard.

           (2)(a) Each person appearing before a committee shall identify himself and the group, organization, or company he represents, if any. Before being allowed to testify before the committee, he shall also be required to file with the committee chairman or the committee secretary a sworn written statement in the form of a signed witness card swearing or affirming that his testimony is true and correct. He shall then be considered to be under oath while providing such testimony before the committee.

           (b) A public employee who is a designee of an elected official appearing before a committee shall identify himself and the elected official for whom he is the designee. Before being allowed to present testimony on behalf of an elected official, the designee shall be required to file with the committee chairman a written statement from the elected official evidencing the designation and a written certification from the designee that he is acting in the performance of his official public duties. The written statement and certification shall be made on forms promulgated by the Secretary of the Senate.

           C. Whenever a committee or the President finds it necessary or desirable to invite or request the appearance before a committee of any person to present testimony, the President shall have authority to invite or request such appearance and to determine and approve the expenditure of funds available to the Senate to pay reasonable compensation and expenses of such witnesses.

           Amended by SR 78 of 2010 RS; SR 87 of 2016 RS.