St. Louis City Board of Aldermen Rules 49-74 2011-2012 SESSION

X. BILLS

 

Rule 49 Ordinances to be Passed by Bills

 

No ordinance shall be passed except by bill. (City Charter, Art. VII, Sec. 11)

 

Rule 50 Adoption of Ordinances

 

Every bill shall be read on three different days in open session before its adoption, and no bill shall become an ordinance unless a majority of all the members vote in favor of its adoption and the President signs the same in open session. (City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 16)

Rule 51 Enacting Style of Ordinances

 

The style of every ordinance shall be: `Be it ordained by the City of St. Louis as follows:'' (City Charter, Art. IV. Sec. 10)

 

Rule 52 Ordinances in Aid of State Law

 

The Board of Aldermen may by ordinance make any provision necessary to carry into execution the laws of the state relating to state, school, City and other revenue; and any power, duty or trust under any of the laws of the state, vested in or imposed upon any body or officer of any county or of this City by the laws of the state may be exercised by such body or officer of the City as may be provided by ordinance consistent with the provisions of the Charter. (City Charter, Art. XXV, Sec. 17)

 

Rule 53 Bills to Contain Single Subject, Except

 

No bill, except a general appropriation bill which shall only embrace matters on account of which monies are appropriated, shall contain more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title. (City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 13)

 

Rule 54 Bills Which Change Existing Ordinances

 

1. No Ordinance shall be revised or reenacted except by bill setting it forth in full, nor amended except by bill setting forth the Ordinance or section amended in full, as amended. (City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 12)

2. Any bill, the purpose or intent of which is to change any or all sections of an existing Ordinance, shall be required to have attached to the bill as an exhibit, or noted and explained in the bill with brackets, boldface type or underlines, all sections sought to be changed, deleted or added if requested by any member of the Board at or before the Committee hearing for the bill.

Rule 55 Introduction Requirements

 

1. Each bill of the Board of Aldermen shall be introduced either by the Mayor or a member or members of the Board. (See City Charter, Art. VII, Sec. 1)

2. All bills to be introduced shall be delivered to the Clerk of the Board of Aldermen on or before 12:00 Noon on the third day before the date on which said bill is to be formally introduced (e.g., Tuesday for Friday meetings). No bill for introduction shall be accepted by the Clerk or any member of the staff of the Board of Aldermen unless such bill is submitted in the manner and form prescribed by the Clerk. Each bill shall be assigned a number by the Clerk. If substituted by later committee or floor action, the substitute bill shall meet the same manner and form as prescribed for the original bill submission.

3. Any bill which provides for the granting of any direct benefit to any person or entity (other than a non-profit entity) introduced at the request of such person or entity shall be printed by the person or entity seeking such direct benefit in the manner prescribed by the Clerk. Said person or entity shall also pay the Board for any advertising costs associated with the bill in the manner prescribed by the Clerk.

Rule 56 Last Day for Introducing Bills

 

The President shall, upon approval of the Board of Aldermen by Resolution, establish the last day for introducing bills. Notice of said date shall be posted on the Aldermanic Bulletin Board.

 

Rule 57 Reference to Committee

 

On the second day before the date on which a bill is to be formally introduced (e.g., Wednesday for Friday meetings), the original of the bill shall be given to the President of the Board of Aldermen for committee assignment. The President shall make these assignments in a timely manner so that they may be announced by the Clerk no later than the second subsequent regular meeting.

Rule 58 Discharge of Bill From Committee

 

1. The Board of Aldermen at any meeting held thirty days or more after any bill shall have been referred to a Committee shall, on motion of any member, determine by the yeas and nays entered on the Journal, whether such Committee shall be discharged from any further consideration thereof. (City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 14)

2. If a majority of the members present elect to vote in the affirmative on said motion the bill shall be immediately delivered to the Clerk and before transacting any other business the Board shall determine by a majority vote of the members present, whether it should be committed to any other Committee or shall proceed to Perfection.

 

Rule 59 Consideration in Committee

 

1. Each bill shall repose in the Committee to which it was assigned, and shall remain there until either the Committee acts and reports upon said bill, or the bill is discharged from the Committee's consideration as provided for in Rule 58.

2. Each bill shall be given a date for a Committee meeting or hearing, as the case may be, at least 24 hours in advance of such meeting or hearing, and notice of any such meeting shall be given as provided in Rule 25.

3. When any bill, the purpose or intent of which is to change any or all sections of an existing ordinance, is heard by a Committee, it shall be the duty of the Clerk to have in his/her possession at said Committee meeting or hearing, a copy of the Ordinance or section of the Revised Code proposed to be amended.

Rule 60 Committee Amendments and Substitutes

 

A bill may be reported out of a Committee either as originally referred, or with amendments, or as substituted. Amendments shall be presented to the Chairman in writing in the form prescribed by Rule 36, if requested by any member of the Committee. A bill amended or substituted in Committee and thereafter reported out of said Committee must show on the face of the bill cover and on the bill the fact that this particular bill has been amended or substituted by the Committee. This shall be the responsibility of the Chairman of the Committee. Any amendment or substitute to a bill approved by the Committee shall be separately attached to the original bill.

 

Rule 61 Committee Reports

 

1. No bill shall be reported out of any Committee or considered by the Board of Aldermen unless and until a hearing or meeting has been held on said bill by the Committee to which it was referred, except as provided by Rule 58.

2. A bill shall be reported out of Committee by the Chairman, according to the wishes of the Committee. The action of the Committee shall be reported in one of the three following manners:

a. DO PASS

b. DO NOT PASS

c. WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION

Rule 62 Second Reading of Bills

 

1. A bill reported out of Committee shall be placed upon the next subsequent Board meeting's agenda for Second Reading and Report of said Committee. A minority report may also be filed in writing at the request of any Committee member.

2. Except for bills with recommendation DO NOT PASS, any bill Second Read as stated above shall be placed on the next subsequent Board meeting's agenda for Perfection.

3. Any bill with the recommendation DO NOT PASS shall be placed on the next
subsequent Board meeting's agenda on the Perfection-Informal Calendar with the
notation ``(DO NOT PASS)'' and, Rule 63 notwithstanding, will not be thereafter considered by the Board except upon a motion to consider duly made by any Alderman with concurrence of two-thirds of all the members of the Board.

Rule 63 Principal Sponsor May Defer Action

 

The principal sponsor of any bill, whose name shall be listed first, may defer such bill from consideration on the Perfection or the Third Reading Calendar unless two-thirds of all members of the Board of Aldermen vote to consider said bill. Upon deferral by a principal sponsor the bill shall be placed on the Perfection-Informal Calendar or the Third Reading-Informal Calendar. The principal sponsor shall have the right to bring said bills off the Informal Calendars for consideration at any meeting.

 

Rule 64 Perfection

 

The Clerk shall see that each member has a copy of each bill as it was reported out of Committee at the time it is to be perfected. While the bill is being considered for Perfection, the bill will be subject to amendments from the floor. Amendments shall be presented to the Clerk in writing in the form prescribed by Rule 34, if requested by any member. If said amendments are numerous or substantial as to content, the proposed changes in the bill shall be considered a floor substitute. When amendments to a bill are presented in the form of a substitute bill, all of such amendments shall be voted upon jointly as the Board shall vote to accept or reject the said substitute bill. Separate amendments on separate pieces of paper may be voted on jointly or separately. Upon Perfection, a bill shall be referred directly to the Committee on Engrossment.

 

Rule 64.5 Consent Perfection Calendar

 

At any time after a Board Bill has been second read, a sponsor may request of the clerk that such Board Bill be placed on the consent perfection calendar. All such Board Bills shall be placed on the consent perfection calendar unless there is an objection by any member in which case the Board Bill objected to shall be referred to the perfection calendar. Objections may be made at any time prior to the motion to approve the Board Bills on the consent perfection calendar. All Board Bills placed on the consent perfection calendar shall be read by the clerk. It shall be the duty of the Majority Floor Leader to make the motion to adopt Board Bills appearing on the consent perfection calendar. The vote on such motion shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the Journal of the Board of Aldermen. If a majority of all the members vote in the affirmative on such motion the Board Bills shall be deemed perfected. Nothing in this rule shall require a member to place a Board Bill on the consent perfection calendar.

 

Rule 65 Engrossment

 

1. Any bill having been perfected and ordered engrossed shall be reviewed and reported by the Committee on Engrossment to the Board of Aldermen at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board for Third Reading and Final Passage; provided that when a bill has been amended during the perfection process, said report shall not be made sooner than three days after the order to engross. The three day period shall mean three twenty-four hour periods from the time the bill is referred to the Committee on Engrossment. (See City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 15)

2. Said Committee on Engrossment may authorize its Chairman, or the Vice-Chairman in the Chairman's absence, to act on the Committee's behalf.

3. The Clerk shall see that each Alderman has a copy of the engrossed bill at the time it is to be considered for Third Reading and Final Passage.

Rule 66 Title Revision

 

The title of a bill shall be made to conform to the body thereof during Engrossment.

 

Rule 67 No Amendments After Engrossment, Unless

A bill that has been perfected and engrossed may not be further amended unless there is a favorable vote to reconsider Perfection. If subsequently amended, the bill must be perfected again and referred to the Committee on Engrossment before being considered for Final Passage.

Rule 68 Third Reading, Final Passage and Enrollment

 

Upon vote for Final Passage, which shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the Journal, if a majority of all the members vote in the affirmative on said bill, the bill shall then be deemed to be truly enrolled and all other business shall be suspended and the President shall then announce that unless objections be made he will sign the same, to the end that it may become an ordinance. If no objections be made, the President shall in open session, and before any other business is entertained, affix his signature thereto, which fact shall be noted in the Journal. When a bill has been passed and signed by the President as heretofore provided for, it shall be the duty of the Clerk forthwith to present the same in person to the Mayor and enter the fact upon the Journal. (See City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 16 & 18)

 

Rule 68.5 - Third Reading - Consent Calendar

 

At any time after a Board Bill has been perfected, a sponsor may request of the clerk that such Board Bill be placed on the consent third reading calendar. All such Board Bills shall be placed on the consent third reading calendar unless there is an objection by any member in which case the Board Bill objected to shall be referred to the third reading calendar. Objections may be made at any time prior to the beginning of the roll call vote for final passage. All Board Bills placed on the consent third reading calendar shall be read by the clerk. It shall be the duty of the Majority Floor Leader to make the motion to adopt Board Bills appearing on the consent third reading calendar. The vote on such motion shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the Journal of the Board of Aldermen. If a majority of all the members vote in the affirmative on such motion the Board Bills shall be deemed truly enrolled and adopted. Nothing in this rule shall require a member to place a Board Bill on the consent third reading calendar.

 

Rule 69 Mayor's Approval or Disapproval

 

Each bill shall be presented to the Mayor immediately after its adoption, but shall not be acted upon by him (except it be an emergency measure) within ten days after its adoption. He shall within twenty days after its presentation to him return it with his approval or disapproval endorsed thereon to the Board of Aldermen, or, if said Board shall have finally adjourned, to the Register. Failure so to return any bill within said time shall constitute approval thereof by the Mayor. If the Mayor approves the bill, or fails to return it as and when above provided, it shall become an ordinance, subject to the referendum provisions of the Charter. If he returns it to the Register, with his disapproval endorsed thereon, after said Board shall have finally adjourned but within said twenty days, it shall not become an ordinance. If he returns it to said Board, with his disapproval endorsed thereon, within said twenty days and before said Board shall have finally adjourned, said Board shall reconsider it. If a bill contains several items of appropriation, the Mayor may disapprove one or more items while approving the others, and the items approved shall become an ordinance in like manner as a bill approved, and the items disapproved shall be proceeded with in like manner as a bill disapproved. (See City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 17)

 

Rule 70 Reconsideration of Vetoed Bill

 

1. Bills returned with the disapproval of the Mayor shall stand as reconsidered. The Clerk shall enter the objections of the Mayor thereto at large upon the Journal and the Board shall proceed to consider the question ``Shall the bill pass, the objection of the Mayor thereto notwithstanding?'' The vote shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the Journal. If two-thirds of all the members of the Board vote to pass the bill over the announced objections of the Mayor, the President shall certify the fact thereof over his signature and thereupon the bill shall become an ordinance, subject to the referendum provisions of the Charter. (See City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 17 & 18)

2. The aforesaid vote on reconsideration of said vetoed bill, shall be taken at any time within ninety (90) days of the date on which the Mayor returns said bill, or the day the Board shall have finally adjourned, which ever is sooner. Such motion to override the Mayor's veto being once made and voted upon shall not be renewed or reconsidered.

Rule 71 Effective Date of Ordinances

 

No ordinance, unless it be an emergency measure, shall take effect until thirty days after its approval by the Mayor or thirty days after the adoption over his veto. (City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 19)

 

Rule 72 Emergency Measure Defined

 

An emergency measure is any ordinance necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, or providing for public work or improvements of any kind or repairs thereof, or establishing a benefit or taxing district or a sewer district, or a joint sewer district, and declared to be an emergency measure; any ordinance calling or providing for any election or vote by or submission to the people, any ordinance making an appropriation for the payment of principal and interest of the public debt, or for current expenses of the City Government; any general appropriation ordinance; or any ordinance fixing any tax rate; but no ordinance granting, enlarging or affecting any franchise or amending or repealing any ordinance adopted by the people under the initiative shall be an emergency measure. (City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 20)

 

Rule 73 Ordinances to be Numbered and Published

 

Every ordinance shall be immediately sent to the Register, and by him or her numbered, filed and preserved in that office. Every ordinance shall be published within ten days after its approval by the Mayor or adoption over his/her veto. (See City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 21)

 

Rule 74 Revision of Ordinances

There shall be a revision of the general ordinances every five years. (City Charter, Art. IV, Sec. 22)

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