June 18, 2015, Introduced by Reps. McBroom, Aaron Miller, Glenn, Lyons, Theis, LaFontaine, Franz and Hooker and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
A bill to amend 1893 PA 58, entitled
"An act to provide for selecting seats for members in the hall of
the house of representatives,"
by amending section 1 (MCL 4.61).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. As a part of the organization of the house of
representatives upon the first day of the first regular session of
each legislature, the clerk of the house shall assign members seats
in
the hall of the house. shall be selected by the members in a
manner
as follows: The clerk shall call the names of the members
having
the greatest total length of service in the house who shall
select
a seat. In like manner, the clerk shall call the names of
members
in the order of their total length of service in the house,
who
shall select seats of their choice not already selected, down
to
and including those members commencing their second terms. If
there
are 2 or more members who have an equal length of service the
clerk
shall prepare a list of their names and place opposite each
name
a number, which shall be drawn by lottery as prescribed in
this
section for members entering their first terms. The clerk
shall
then prepare a list of members entering upon their first
terms,
listing the names of such members alphabetically and placing
opposite
each name numbers in consecutive order from 1, using as
many
numbers as are necessary. A box shall be provided in which
shall
be deposited numbered white balls, which shall bear the same
numbers
as those appearing on said list. A boy or girl, selected by
the
clerk, then being blindfolded shall draw from the box 1 ball
and
hand it to the clerk, who shall announce the number on the
ball,
and the clerk shall call the member's name found on the list
opposite
the corresponding number, who shall then select a seat not
previously
selected. In like manner all members entering upon their
first
terms shall select seats. Any representative-elect
necessarily
absent on the first day of the session may, in writing,
appoint
any representative to select a seat for him, and if no one
appears
for such absent representative-elect, then the clerk of the
house
shall make a selection for him, when his name is called.The
seats assigned by the clerk of the house shall be the members'
seats unless a resolution altering the members' seats is adopted by
a majority of the members voting on the resolution.