Rule 1.006 - Introduction of bills, resolutions and petitions.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    Introduction of Bills or Resolutions. Bills or Resolutions which have been prefiled as provided in subsection 1.002(a) of these rules may be introduced by any member at any meeting on call of bills or resolutions. Bills and Resolutions prefiled by the Administration shall be identified as introduced by "The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive." Bills or resolutions which have not been prefiled may be added to the agenda for introduction by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Council Members to amend the agenda. A bill or resolution as introduced shall be printed in the form herein provided. When a bill or resolution is introduced, the Administrator shall certify the copy introduced and shall maintain a file on all such original bills or resolutions. The Administrator shall cause copies thereof to be reproduced and made available to the Council Members and the news media, and shall post one copy on the official bulletin board. Copies shall be made available to the public at reasonable cost. The Administrator shall provide for the notice required by law.

    (b)

    Addition of Co-sponsors. After a bill or resolution has been prefiled and before the end of the legislative session at which the bill or resolution is introduced, a Council Member may, with the consent of the original sponsor, direct the Administrator to add the Council Member as a co-sponsor. After the adjournment of the legislative session at which a bill or resolution is introduced, a co-sponsor may be added by amendment.

    (c)

    Introduction of Petitions. Petitions may be presented by the Administrator to the County Council upon application by any person entitled by law to petition the County Council. When a petition is presented, the Administrator shall certify the copy presented, shall give it a number, and shall maintain a file on all such petitions. The Administrator shall cause copies thereof to be reproduced and made available to the Council Members, the public, the news media, and shall post one on the official bulletin board. If the petition raises an issue requiring notice, the Administrator shall provide for the notice required by law.

    (d)

    Form of Bills. Each bill shall have printed on the first page thereof the form as provided in appendix A of these Rules. The Administrator shall attach to each bill following its enactment a page summarizing its final status, as provided in appendix B of these rules; for each resolution, a page shall be attached as provided in appendix C; for each petition a page shall be attached as provided in appendix D.

    (1)

    Title. The title shall be succinct to the reference of the general subject of the bill.

    (2)

    Enacting clause. The enacting clause shall read "Be it enacted by the County Council of Howard County, Maryland".

    (3)

    Numbering of sections. Section of a bill shall be numbered in Arabic numerals.

    (4)

    Numbering of lines. The lines of the text of a bill shall be consecutively numbered commencing at the top line of each page.

    The Administrator may add to the first page of a bill the date or dates when the bill may fail due to inaction as provided by Charter Section 209(h).

(Res. No. 190, 1979; Res. No. 140, 1994; Res. No. 11, 2011; Res. No. 140, 2015; Res. No. 10, 2018)