(a) Each house of the General Assembly shall have the power to adopt rules for the orderly conduct of its affairs and to preserve and protect the health, safety and welfare of its members, officers and employees in the performance of their official duties, as well as that of the general public in connection therewith, and to preserve and protect property and records under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly, consistent with public convenience and the public's rights of freedom of expression, to peaceably assemble and petition government.

(b) In lieu of or in addition to the adoption of such rules each house may authorize its presiding officer to promulgate regulations for any or all such purposes.

(c) Rules or regulations may be adopted with respect to the following matters, among others, without limitation by reason of such specification: (1) Regulating admission to the legislative chambers, galleries, lobbies, offices and other areas of the buildings wherein they are located which provide access thereto; (2) limiting the size of groups of persons permitted within such areas, for reasons of health and safety and in case of fire or other emergency; (3) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of signs, banners, placards or other display materials into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without proper authorization; (4) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of radio or television equipment, recording equipment, sound-making or amplifying equipment and photographic equipment into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without proper authorization; (5) prohibiting or restricting the bringing of packages, bags, baggage or briefcases into any such areas, or possessing them therein, without proper authorization; (6) establishing rules of conduct for visitors to the galleries; (7) authorizing the clearing of the public from the chambers, lobbies and galleries, or from any room in which a public legislative hearing or meeting is being conducted, in the event of any disturbance therein which disrupts legislative proceedings or endangers any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly or the general public, except that duly accredited representatives of the news media not participating in any such disturbance shall be permitted to remain therein. The closing of such areas to the public shall continue only as long as necessary to avoid disruption of the legislative proceedings or to preserve and protect the safety of the members, officers or employees of the General Assembly or the general public; (8) authorizing the construction of safety barriers and other protective measures for the galleries and other areas under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly and the acquisition of security equipment, all from the funds made available therefor; (9) protecting the records and property of the General Assembly from unlawful damage or destruction; and (10) any and all other matters which may be necessary or appropriate to the orderly conduct of the affairs of the General Assembly and the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the members, officers and employees of the General Assembly and the general public in connection therewith.

(d) In lieu of or in addition to the adoption of separate rules each house may adopt joint rules applicable to both houses.

(e) In lieu of or in addition to the promulgation of separate regulations the presiding officers of each house may promulgate joint regulations applicable to both houses.

(f) All such rules of the General Assembly or either house and regulations of the presiding officer of each house shall be filed in the offices of the clerks thereof and a copy of such rules and regulations shall be made available to any person upon request, without charge.

(g) Such rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of law and the violation of any such rule or regulation shall constitute an offense punishable by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or both.

(P.A. 73-516, S. 5; P.A. 06-196, S. 20.)

History: P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (c), effective June 7, 2006.

Cited. 232 C. 345.

Cited. 11 CA 342.