Resolution To Amend The Joint Rules Of The Senate And The House Of Representatives.
Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 33 amends the Joint Rules governing the Connecticut Senate and House of Representatives, specifically the membership and referral procedures for the Committee on Executive and Legislative Nominations. The resolution increases the Senate membership on that committee from eight to nine members, changes the distribution of appointments among the Senate leadership, and clarifies the role of ex-officio, non-voting chairpersons and ranking members from relevant committees when a nominee’s duties fall within their subject matter jurisdiction.
The resolution also restates which nominations must be referred to the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee for action by one or both chambers. It excludes judicial nominations, administrative law judges for the workers’ compensation system, members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and Claims Commissioners from that referral requirement, preserving separate treatment for those categories of nominees.
Impact
This resolution affects legislative procedure rather than substantive state law. It changes the internal rules of the General Assembly by revising committee composition, appointment authority, and nomination referral rules, which in turn can affect how executive and legislative nominees are reviewed and advanced. The practical impact is on the organization and operation of the legislature’s confirmation process, especially for department head nominations and other appointments requiring legislative action.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad bipartisan support and little controversy: the House passed the measure 143-0 under emergency certification. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous vote indicates the resolution was viewed as a routine or administrative adjustment to legislative rules rather than a politically divisive measure.
Contention
There is no recorded substantive opposition in the provided materials. The only potentially notable issue is the rebalancing of Senate appointments on the nominations committee, including increasing the number of members appointed by the President Pro Tempore and reducing the number appointed by the minority leader. That kind of procedural change could matter to legislative leadership and committee representation, but the unanimous vote suggests it was not a point of active contention in this instance.