Amend HR 4 (adopting the permanent House Rules of Procedure) by amending Rule 5, Section 3, to read as follows:
Sec. 3. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. (a) No member shall be absent from the sessions of the house without leave, and no member shall be excused on his or her own motion.
(b) A leave of absence may be granted by a majority vote of the house and may be revoked at any time by a similar vote.
(c) Any member granted a leave of absence due to a meeting of a committee or conference committee that has authority to meet while the house is in session shall be so designated on each roll call or registration for which that member is excused.
(d) If a member is absent without leave for the purpose of impeding the action of the house, the member is subject to one or more of the following:
(1) fines as provided this section;
(2) payment of costs incurred by the sergeant-at-arms;
(3) reprimand;
(4) censure; or
(5) expulsion.
(e) Unless the house excuses the payment by a majority vote, each member who is absent without leave is liable to the house for:
(1) a fine in the amount of $500 for each calendar day of absence; and
(2) the member's pro rata share of the costs incurred by the sergeant-at-arms to secure the attendance of absentees.
(f) The Committee on House Administration shall notify a member of the total amount of fines and costs for which payment is not excused. A member must pay the amount stated in the committee's notice by making payment of that amount to the House Business Office not later than the third business day of the first calendar month after the date of the committee's notice. A member may not make any payment from funds in the member's operating account or from funds accepted as political contributions under Title 15, Election Code. If a member does not make full payment as required by this subsection, the committee shall direct the House Business Office to reduce the amount of the monthly credit to the member's operating account established under the housekeeping resolution by 30 percent in each month that any amount off a fine remains past due and owing. When a member has made full payment as required by this subsection, the committee shall direct the House Business Office to restore the impounded funds to the member's operating account subject to any limitations on the carrying forward of unexpended funds established by the housekeeping resolution.
(g) Before a member is expelled under this section, the matter shall be referred to the Committee on House Administration for investigation and report. A report issued under this subsection shall not be considered by the house until a printed copy of the report has been provided to each member of the house at least 24 hours before consideration.