Executive Gov. Mansion Judicial Supreme Court The Legislative (House and Senate) Capitol Bldg.

The Legislative House of Representatives and Senate

 A Legislator works with constituents, citizen groups, lobbyists, government agencies, and staff to move from an “idea” to a bill.

Be careful what you wish for, kid... At age 11, a Seattle little boy named Alex Jonlin, wanting to give his peers a voice in state government, gathered hundreds of signatures on a petition to create a youth board to advise state lawmakers. He lobbied for his bill, which local Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D- Seattle, agreed to sponsor. After a year and the usual hearings, lawmakers said OK. But the House of Representatives made one key change: membership on this board was limited to those 14 and older. Alex was 12.

In 2005 a bill was introduced, because of youth effort, and the Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) became a reality. In 2009 it became permanent and was allowed to solicit funding.

 Bills are typically researched and written by legislative staff.  Code Reviser’s Office puts the bill into final legal language.

 “Co-sponsors” also sign the bill.  Sponsor drops the bill in a box called the “hopper” and the bill gets a number.

105 days in odd years; 60 days in even years How many days in a session?

Even Numbered Year Odd Numbered Year

 House bills start with HB & are numbered 1000s s.  Senate bills start with SB and are numbered 5000s & 6000s. How do you distinguish Senate bills from House bills?

 Agriculture & Natural Resources  Appropriations  Business & Financial Services  Capital Budget  Community Dev., Housing & Tribal Affairs  Early Learning & Human Services  Education  Education Appropriations & Oversight  Environment  Finance  Gov. Accountability & Oversight  Gov. Operations & Elections  Health Care & Wellness  Higher Education  Judiciary  Labor & Workforce Dev.  Local Government  Public Safety  Technology & Economic Dev.  Transportation  RULES  Agriculture Water & Rural Economic Dev.  Commerce & Labor  Early Learning & K-12 Ed  Energy, Environment, & Telecommunications  Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance  Gov. Operations  Health Care  Higher Education  Human Services & Corrections  Law and Justice  Natural Resources & Parks  Trade and Economic Dev.  Transportation  Ways & Means  RULES

 Post War Planning  1945  Public Morals   Community Security  2002 Can you guess when these committees existed?

 Hold public hearings.  Study & debate bills.  Recommend bills be amended and/or passed.

Bill Reports are often easier for the general public to read and understand than the actual bill. But they are a summary with background information and not the actual and legal wording of the bill.

 Bills appropriating money (e.g. budget bills)  Bills affecting revenue (e.g. tax bills)  Policy bills costing state or local governments money

Mission Statement To promote state government financial stability by producing an accurate forecast of economic activity and General Fund revenue for the legislature and the governor to be used as the basis of the state budget.

In odd numbered year it will be the Biennial Budget. In an even number year, the Supplemental Budget What budget will be considered in an odd numbered year?

 Determine bills that move to consideration by full House or Senate  No testimony  No amendments

Who presides over the Rules Committees? Lt. Governor, President of the Senate Speaker of the House

 Amendments are voted on during 2 nd reading.

 Final Debate  Final Passage

 Standing committee, Fiscal Committee, Rules Committee  Floor Action

 Concurrence  Conference Committees

 Governor’s signature  Governor’s full or partial veto  No Action

About 20 % of bills passed About 8% of those passed were vetoed or partially vetoed

True or False: The governor may veto a bill by failing to take action within 20 days. False No pocket veto. If bill passes during session, Governor has 5 days to sign or it becomes law. At the end of session the Governor has 20 days (excluding Sundays).

Idea Bill Intro-1 st Reading Committee Fiscal Comm. Rules Comm. 2 nd Reading & Amd Opposite chamber- repeat process 3 rd Reading - passage Conference Governor State Law (RCW)

Senator Alan Simpson [R-WY], Congressional Record, September “Cynicism is a cop-out. It takes no virtue – or brains – to be a critic. Anyone can qualify. … Skepticism, on the other hand, is essential to the functioning of a representative democracy. “