23. DECORUM


(a) No member shall walk across or out of the House chamber while the Speaker is putting the question.

(b) No member shall engage in loud private discourse or commit any other act tending to distract the attention of the House from the business before it.

(c) Upon the objection of a member, or upon the Speaker's own initiative, a member who has transgressed the rules of the House, in speaking or otherwise, may be called to order by the Speaker; whereupon the member, subject to the right to appeal a decision of the chair, shall immediately sit quietly in his or her place.

(d) When speaking or debating before the House, a member shall confine his or her remarks to the question under discussion or debate, avoiding personalities.

(e) When the General Assembly is in session, members and such employees as authorized by the chief clerk shall be the only persons to use the center aisle of the House chambers, the aisles between the member's desks, and the well of the House chambers immediately in front of the House front desk. The center aisle of the House chambers may also be used during joint sessions by Senators and by such guests as may be authorized by the Speaker.

(f) Members shall be the only persons to use the chairs provided for use of the members in the House chambers. However, a member may authorize a Senator to use his or her chair during joint sessions or an immediate family member to use his or her chair during special ceremonies.

(g) Whenever the House is conducting business in the House chambers, gentlemen members shall be required to wear a suit coat or sport coat. The requirement to wear a suit coat or sport coat may be suspended by the Chair when the House is sitting as a committee of the whole or by the Speaker when the Speaker deems suspension appropriate. The majority party leader shall develop guidelines for proper dress for members and staff attending to legislative business in the House chambers and assure that such guidelines are communicated to the members and staff.

(h) (1) Introduction of visitors or guests in the House gallery shall be limited to school classes and school groups.

(2) Introduction of guests on the floor of the House shall be limited to the immediate families of members, former members of the House, present or former elected state officials, city and county officials, members of Congress, elected officials of other states or the United States, and foreign dignitaries. In addition, a member of the House may introduce and recognize:

(A) Any individual who is serving or who has previously served in the military;

(B) The family members of an individual who died in combat while serving in the military or who died while serving in a law enforcement or firefighting capacity and who is the subject of a House tribute or a House or Senate joint memorial tribute;

(C) Any individual who has been recognized statewide for a significant accomplishment or achievement; or

(D) The members of an academic or athletic group or organization who have achieved a significant goal such as winning a league, state, or national title, competition, or championship.

(3) No introductions shall be made during deliberations by the committee of the whole or when the House is engaged in third reading of bills.