The Legislative Process 1

2 How the Process Works How to Find Legislative Information How to Influence the Process

How a Bill is Created Legislation is introduced for many reasons: – There is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed – There is something new that needs to be regulated – Someone has an idea to make something better – There is a budget item that needs legislation to be enacted 3

Starts with an Idea A constituent, an organization, or a legislator themselves has an idea for legislation. The constituent or organization looks for potential legislators to author the bill. They look at potential author’s bio, legislative history, their interests, committee membership, and how they have voted on similar legislation in the past. Once they find a legislator interested in authoring the bill the legislative process begins. 4

Bill is Introduced The legislator submits the idea or the proposed bill language to Legislative counsel, where it is turned into the language of the bill. The bill number, title, and description are then read for the first time on the floor of the house and is thereby officially introduced The bill has to be in print for 30 days before any action can be taken. 5

Committees Committees and committee hearings are important parts of the legislative process. Every bill must go through the committee process. Committee hearings give the public an open forum to hear discussions on legislative issues and express their opinions. Public hearings shed light on what our elected officials are considering. They give the public the ability to hear discussions about legislative issues and express their thoughts to the legislators themselves. It is also an opportunity to share information and give legislators some insight on how their decisions affect people in real world situations. 6

Committees Rules Committee The Rules Committee of each house decides which bills will go to what committees for hearing Rules committee will assign bills to the appropriate committees based on the subject matter of the bill and if there are any fiscal implications. It may get referred to more than one policy committee if it has overlapping subject matter. 7

Policy Committee(s) 8 Policy Committees review legislation from a policy perspective, looking at whether or not the legislation makes sense or would achieve its intended results. The staff of the policy committees create the committee analysis of a bill

9

Appropriations Committees 10 Each house has a fiscal committee called the Appropriations Committee. A bill will be referred to Appropriations if there are any fiscal implications or require the expenditure of any state money

Assembly Committees Accountability and Administrative Review Aging And Long-Term Care Agriculture Appropriations Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media Banking and Finance Budget Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Education Elections and Redistricting Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Governmental Organization Health Higher Education Housing and Community Development Human Services Insurance Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy Judiciary Labor and Employment Local Government Natural Resources Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Public Safety Revenue and Taxation Rules Transportation Utilities and Commerce Veterans Affairs Water, Parks and Wildlife 11

Senate Committees Agriculture Appropriations Banking and Financial Institutions Budget and Fiscal Review Business, Professions and Economic Development Business, Professions and Economic Development Education Elections and Constitutional Amendments Elections and Constitutional Amendments Energy, Utilities and Communications Energy, Utilities and Communications Environmental Quality Governance and Finance Governmental Organization Health Human Services Insurance Judiciary Labor and Industrial Relations Legislative Ethics Natural Resources and Water Public Employment and Retirement Public Employment and Retirement Public Safety Rules Transportation and Housing Veterans Affairs 12

Floor Vote When a bill passes out of the appropriate committees of that house, it then goes to the floor of that house for a vote. If a bill has costs attached to it, or if it is an urgency bill, it must get 27 votes in the Senate or 54 votes in the Assembly If no costs or urgency status, a bill must get 21 votes in the Senate or 41 votes in the Assembly 13

Second House Once the bill has passed the first house, it will go through the same process all over again in the second house If the bill is in different form when it passes the second house, it must go back to the original house for concurrence, where the members will vote on the amended bill 14

On to the Governor’s Office If the Governor signs the bill, it becomes law on January 1 st of the new year. If the bill had “urgency status”, it will take effect immediately 15

Where to Find Information Handy Websites 16

Legislative Glossary 17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

Influencing the Outcome Writing Letters, Meeting with Legislators and Staff, and Testifying 49

Timing Make sure you get involved early in the process– especially if you are asking for amendments Letters to committees should be sent no later than one week prior to the hearing to make the committee analysis 50

Deadlines The legislature has many deadlines (see handout) and those deadlines wait for no one: – May 3 is the last day for policy committees to hear bills introduced in their house that have to go to the fiscal committee (Appropriations) – May 10 is the last day for policy committees to pass non-fiscal bills introduced in their house. – May 24 is the last day for fiscal committees to hear bills introduced in their house 51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

Influencing Legislators or the Administration Directly Meetings and Influencing Other Organizations 60

Practical Tips on How to Meet with Your Legislator 1. Every citizen has the right to seek a meeting with their legislator, councilperson or other elected representative. Keep track of who your legislators are and what they are interested in. 2. Plan your meeting with a legislator. Decide what you are going to talk about. Don't talk about a lot of issues -- stick to no more than two or three. Decide what you want to get out of the visit, for example, a promise to vote for your issue or maybe you just want to give the legislator information about the issue. Allow time for small talk, but not too much. 3. Listen. Figuring out the legislator’s views will help you know what information to give. If you are meeting with a "silent type” – ask questions to get them to talk. If you are meeting with a "long-winded type" – gently bring them back to the point. 61

4. Be prepared, but you don't have to be an expert. Most legislators aren’t experts either. Do your homework, but you don’t have to know every little detail. Talk about your personal feelings and experiences. It is OK to say "I don't know," and say you’ll find out. Don't argue or confront. 5. Don't stay too long. If you get what you want, say thanks and leave. If you don’t get what you want, say thanks, that you are disappointed and leave. Remember you may come back, so leave on a good note. 6. Remember you are there to build a relationship. If the legislator is good on an issue you’ve been interested in, say thanks during the visit. If they have not, there may be another issue where they will be on your side. Your visit may keep them from actively opposing your issue. 7. Follow-up is important. Be sure to send a thank-you card. If staff members were there, write to them too. They can be important allies. 62

8. Letter Writing: Writing to a public official does make a difference. They know that every person who writes represents many others who feel the same but don't write. Follow these tips: Be clear about what you want. Tell a story or example to make the issue real. Ask for a direct response with their position. Personal letters are much better than form letters or petitions. 9. Get to know the legislator’s staff: Many legislators have staff people you can contact. They are usually more accessible and can help get your message to the legislator. 63

GETTING HELP FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS Another way to help influence the outcome is to urge other organizations to support your position on the bill. Find organizations that deal with the issue you are following and ask them to write letters or testify supporting your position. They might be able to help with visits to committee members and other legislators. They may also be able to help you bring more people to the committee to help influence the committee members. 64