October 5, 2021 |
The not-so-simple process of convening a special session of the Wyoming Legislature began yesterday with four state lawmakers asking fellow members to get the ball rolling with a straw poll. The purpose of the session would be narrow. Addressing COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Wyoming would be the only topic considered. No more than three bills could be introduced. The session could be as short as three days if special rules laid out in a memorandum sent to members of the 66th Legislature are adopted.
The four legislators behind the push are Representatives Mike Greear, Jared Olsen and Albert Sommers along with Senator Ogden Driskoll. They sent a memo to fellow members of the 66th Legislature along with a “yes-no” ballot.
The protocols for convening a special session are articulated in both the State Constitution, Article 3, Section 7, and in the Join Rules of the Senate and House, 18-1. The rules require the Presiding Officers poll the members of both houses.
The ballot sent yesterday only asks whether lawmakers concur or do not occur with the request that the Presiding Officers conduct a formal poll of both Houses to convene a special session. It’s essentially a vote asking if a formal vote on holding a special session should take place. If at least 35 percent of the membership of both houses requests a poll, the presiding officers would send out the final poll which would require a vote of at least 31 House members and 16 senators to call a special session.
Yesterday’s memo and initial ballot were sent to lawmakers through the Legislative Service Office. The LSO is the permanent central staff office of the Wyoming Legislature. State lawmakers do not hire their own staff. They depend on the LSO for staff services.
The introductory letter from Matt Obrecht of the LSO stresses that the four lawmakers calling for the official vote are requesting a special session solely to address COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
No specific legislation is discussed. The memo lays out parameters under which the special session addressing COVID-19 mandates would operate.
• No more than three bills would be considered.
• Members could appear remotely with the presiding officer’s approval.
• Any bill eligible for introduction must be posted on the LSO website five days prior to the convening of the special session.
• Mirror bills would be introduced and referred to standing committees on Day 1 of the session.
• All three readings in the first house will held on Day 2.
• The final day would be reserved for concurrences and joint conference committees for the bills that passed.
The special rules are designed for speediness and an expedited workload. They would need to be adopted by 2/3 of the membership in each house. Without the special rules, the special session would last at least a week. Consideration of the special rules would be the first order of business if a special session is called.
According to the memorandum, if the special rules are not adopted in both houses, presiding officers would move for an immediate adjournment of the special session without considering any legislation.
Even the initial poll is built for speed. The deadline for submitting the ballot electronically is 5 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, October 6. The signed, original ballot must also be submitted separately, and bear a postmark of no later than Friday.
Again, this first step in the process is vote for a vote. This initial request to the Presiding Officers to conduct a poll of both houses requires at least 35 percent of the membership of both houses — 21 Representatives and 11 Senators — to approve in writing. If those numbers are met, the presiding officers would send out the final poll which would require a vote of at least 31 House members and 16 senators to call a special session.
The ball is rolling. The clock is ticking. By Wednesday morning, at least one House member had voted in favor of a special session. House District 12 Representative Clarence Styvar posted his ballot marked yes to his social media page.
Pictured above: File photo of the Wyoming State Capitol Building.
