RULES OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 275
TITLE TO BILLS.
FORM OF TITLE TO AMEND A SECTION.
A bill entitled an Act to amend—Section to Article
—of the Code of Public General (or Local) Laws, en-
titled (here insert title). [Here briefly describe the subject of
the bill.]
(The title of bills to repeal, to add to, &c., may be framed
in a similar form, varying according to the object and inten-
tion of the Act.)
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS.
Before a bill can be introduced, leave must be obtained.
The proper proceeding, after leave obtained, is for the member
on whose motion leave has been granted to prepare a draft of
his bill, properly endorsed with the title thereof, and hand
it to the Engrossing Clerk, who shall deliver it as soon as en-
grossed to the Chief Clerk. All General bills, after being thus
handed to the Chief Clerk, shall be delivered by him at once
to the printer, and shall be printed and delivered as soon as .
practicable to the chairman of the committee to which referred.
Local bills shall not be printed unless ordered by the Clerk
to the delegation or committe to which they shall be referred.
To insure speed and accuracy in the transaction of business,
this form should be strictly observed.
AMENDING BILLS BEFORE THE HOUSE.
House bills are open to amendment on the second reading,
and Senate bills on the third.
When a bill is before the House for amendment, it is read
by sections, and amendments are only in order to the section
under consideration. After that is passed, it can be returned
to and amended as a whole.
An amendment submitted should be plainly written, and
endorsed with the name of the member submitting it, indicat-
ing the section and the line to be amended, thus:
In Section —, line —, after the word "—," insert the words
" ;" or, in Section —, line —, strike out the words " ,"
and insert the words " ," or in Section strike out all
after the word " " and insert " ."
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