IDEA DEVELOPEDa legislator decides to sponsor a bill, sometimes at the suggestion of a constituent, interest group, public official or the Governor. The legislator may ask other legislators in either chamber to join as co-sponsors.
IDEA DEVELOPED
a legislator decides to sponsor a bill, sometimes at
the suggestion of a constituent, interest group, public official
or the Governor. The legislator may ask other legislators in either
chamber to join as co-sponsors.
BILL DRAFTED
At the legislator's direction, the Revisor's Office, Office
of Policy and Legal Analysis, and Office of Fiscal and Program
Review staff provides research and drafting assistance and prepare
the bill in proper technical form.
BILL INTRODUCED
The legislator gives the bill to the Clerk of the House or
Secretary of the Senate. The bill is numbered, a suggested committee
recommendation is made and the bill is printed. The bill is placed
on the respective body's calendar.
COMMITTEE REFERENCE
The bill is referred to one of the Joint Standing or Joint
Select committees in the originating branch and then sent to the
other body for concurrence.
COMMITTEE ACTION
When scheduled by the chairs, the committee conducts a public
hearing where it accepts testimony supporting and opposing the
proposed legislation from any interested party. Notices of public
hearings are printed in newspapers with statewide distribution.
GENERAL ORDER
When the bill is reported to the floor it receives it's first
reading and any committee amendments are adopted at this time.
The committee reports the bill to the originating body as is,
with amendment, with a divided report or with a unanimous recommendation
of Ought Not to Pass.
SECOND READING
The next legislative day the bill is given its second reading
and floor amendments may be offered. When one chamber has passed
the bill to be engrossed, it is sent to the other body for its
consideration. The House has a consent calendar for unanimous
Ought to Pass or Ought to Pass as amended bills which takes the
place of First and Second readings.
SECOND CHAMBER
The bill goes through a similar process. If the second chamber
amends the bill, it is returned to the first chamber for a vote
on the changes. It may then be sent to a conference committee
to work out a compromise agreeable to both chambers. A bill receives
final legislative approval when it passes both chambers in identical
form.
GOVERNOR
After final passage (enactment) the bill is sent to the Governor.
The Governor has ten days in which to sign or veto the bill. If
the Governor does not sign the bill and the Legislature is still
in session, the bill after ten days becomes law as if the Governor
signed it. If the Legislature has adjourned for the year the bill
does not become law. This is called a "pocket veto."
If the Legislature comes back into special session, the Governor
on the 4th day must deliver a veto message to the chamber of origin
or the bill becomes law.
LAW
A bill becomes law 90 days after the end of the legislative
session in which it was passed. A bill can become law immediately
if the Legislature, by a 2/3 vote of each chamber, declares that
an emergency exists. An emergency law takes effect on the date
the Governor signs it unless otherwise specified in its text.
If a bill is vetoed, it will become law if the Legislature overrides
the veto by a 2/3 vote of those members present and voting of
both chambers.
Committee reports shall include one of the following recommendations:
With the exception of Unanimous Ought Not to Pass, a plurality of the committee may vote to make one of the other recommendations. When this occurs, a minority report or reports are required.