31. USE OF SENATE CHAMBER AND PRIVILEGES


(a) No person not a member of the General Assembly or an officer or employee required to be on the floor of the Senate in the course of legislative business, other than the judges of the district and supreme courts, the Governor and elected state officers, members of the congressional delegation, ex-members of the Senate, duly accredited representatives of the state press, and such other persons as may be invited by the President or members of the Senate and families of members of the Senate, shall be admitted to the Senate chamber and adjoining cloak rooms or antechambers, and any such persons shall only be entitled to the quiet and orderly occupancy of the seats provided for visitors or for representatives of the press, and in no event to the privileges of the floor; except that former members of the Senate may address the members of the Senate regarding a Senate memorial, Senate joint memorial, or House joint memorial expressing sentiment on the death of any person who served as a member of the Senate pursuant to subsection (g) of this rule. Persons invited by members of the Senate shall occupy the seats in the rear of the floor of the Senate and on the sides, and any five Senators may demand that the Senate floor be cleared of persons invited by members of the Senate. Other persons shall be admitted to the galleries of the Senate or to the lobby located at the main entrance of the chamber. It shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms to enforce this rule.

(b) No committee of the Senate shall occupy the Senate chamber for public hearings on any matter, without permission having been granted by the consent of a majority of the members elected.

(c) At no time, whether the Senate be in session or not, shall any employee of the Senate, or any persons whatsoever other than the President or a Senator or a Representative be permitted to occupy the chair or use the desk of the President or that of any Senator.

(d) Any employee of the Senate or of its committees, soliciting or inviting any Senator to vote or influence any bill or matter before the Senate, shall be at once dismissed from service and employment; and any person entitled to the privileges of the floor of the Senate who shall, while on the floor during the session of the Senate, solicit or invite any Senator to vote or influence any bill or matter before the Senate shall forfeit the privileges of the floor of the Senate. Nothing in this subsection (d) shall prohibit an employee of the Senate or of its committees from exercising the same rights and privileges as other citizens of Colorado with regard to legislation of interest if such attempts are made away from the premises of the state Capitol and not while fulfilling the responsibilities of whatever position the employee has been hired to perform. In addition, nothing in this subsection (d) shall prohibit an officer or employee of the Senate from appearing as a witness before a committee of reference or other committee of the General Assembly to provide analysis, data, research, or statistics or any other similar factual information upon the request of any member of the committee or upon the request of the sponsor of a bill or other measure so long as the officer or employee does not urge the committee to vote for or against any bill or measure.

(e) Any person known as a lobbyist, except a volunteer lobbyist, as such term is defined in the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives, desiring to appear before any committee of the Senate shall first be registered with the Secretary of State as required in section 24-6-303 or 24-6-303.5, Colorado Revised Statutes. A volunteer lobbyist shall be registered with the chief clerk of the House of Representatives.

(f) There shall be no introduction of visitors or groups in the Senate gallery. Introduction of guests on the floor of the Senate shall be limited to the immediate families of members, former members of the Senate, present or former elected state officials, members of Congress, elected officials of other states or the United States, and foreign dignitaries. In addition, a senator may introduce and recognize any individual who is serving in the military, the family members of an individual who died in combat while serving in the military, or individuals who have been recognized statewide for a significant accomplishment or achievement or 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. No introductions shall be made during deliberations by the committee of the whole or when the Senate is engaged in third reading of bills.

(g) At the discretion of the president, any former member of the Senate may be admitted to the floor of the Senate chamber in order to address the members of the Senate regarding a Senate memorial, Senate joint memorial, or House joint memorial expressing sentiment on the death of any person who served as a member of the Senate. Prior to the commencement of an address by a former member concerning a Senate memorial, senate joint memorial, or House joint memorial, the Senate shall recess for the purpose of hearing the address.