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Motion of the Council of Allegheny County amending Rules of Council for Allegheny County Council.
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NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY,
That this Council hereby amends the Rules of Council as follows:
ARTICLE IV. LEGISLATION & LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
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B. Legislative Action
1. No ordinance or resolution shall be considered until it is given a first reading, referred to a committee, printed for the use of the members, returned from committee, and given second reading, unless:
i. A motion to waive the second reading is approved by two-thirds of the seated members of Council;
ii. A motion to pull a bill from committee is approved by two-thirds of the seated members of Council, if such motion is made fewer than sixty (60) days from the date of the first reading of the bill; or
iii. A motion to pull a bill from committee is approved by a majority of the seated members of Council, if such motion is made after sixty (60) days from the date of the first reading of the bill.
2. All proposed motions, resolutions, and ordinances introduced to Council for a final vote shall be passed by an affirmative vote of the majority of the seated members of Council unless the legislative action requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the seated members of Council, as follows:
2.i. A motion intended to override a veto by the Chief Executive;
2.ii. A resolution to authorize inquiries and investigations; or
2.iii. An ordinance levying taxes.
3. In lieu of a vote of approval, Council may hold any piece of legislation until a future designated time by an affirmative vote of a majority of the seated members of Council. All motions to hold must contain a specified time period or condition upon which the bill will be brought before the full Council for reconsideration.
4. Council may also table any piece of legislation by an affirmative vote of a majority of the seated members of Council. An affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the seated members of Council is require to untable a bill.
5. All proposed motions, resolutions, and ordinances may be withdrawn by the primary sponsor or primary sponsors at any time before a vote is called. For the purposes of this section, a "primary sponsor" shall be defined as any Council Member who participated in the request for a bill to be drafted. Any Council Member requesting to be added as a sponsor after a bill is either (1) circulated to the full Council for co-sponsorship or (2) placed upon the agenda for introduction shall be deemed to be a co-sponsor.
6. Immediately after the second reading of any bill or the waiver of the second reading requirement for any bill under the provisions of these Rules, the presiding officer shall immediately recognize all primary sponsors of that bill for the purposes of discussion. Other Members shall only be permitted to conduct discussion after all primary sponsors have been provided the opportunity to speak on the bill. For the purposes of bills not subject to the second reading requirement, the primary sponsor(s) shall be accorded the opportunity to speak before other Members upon introduction of the bill. The provisions of this rule shall not be construed to apply in any committee meeting.
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