House adopts rules calling for anti-harassment policy

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The House of Representatives has adopted new rules calling for a written anti-harassment policy and code of conduct.

The new provisions are found under Rule 4, which outlines the House speaker’s powers, and Rule 38, which outlines procedures for adopting a code of conduct that applies to members.

House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, said a code of conduct has not yet been drafted.

Under Rule 4, the speaker will have unilateral power to develop and put into place a written code of conduct and harassment prevention policy applicable to staffers.

Under Rule 38, members will have the power to adopt and amend an anti-harassment policy with a majority vote of the House.

Placing the harassment policy and code of conduct in the House rules carries the force of law.

The chamber amended its rules on February 5, but the anti-harassment policy was removed from the final version as leadership worked to figure out where in the rules the policy best fits.

Majority Leader John Allen, R-Scottsdale, said many lawmakers asked that the original language of the rules be amended to give members more say in the process. He called the new rules a “compromise.”