How a Bill Becomes a Law

1. How a Bill Becomes a Law Fortunately it’s not simple

2. Ideas come from many sources Should Kids Serve Time for Skipping School? Fifteen-year-old Tam Chau hates school. For that, there's a jumpsuit waiting with his name on it at juvie hall. By Huan Hsu Published on May 08, 2007 at 3:43pm Couple charged in May 31 car-to-car shooting death Pierce County prosecutors charged a man and his girlfriend on Monday with first-degree murder in a car-to-car shooting that left another man dead earlier this year. Yakima County-- Why so popular for pot? Small Monday raid brings county's total marijuana seizures this year to about 100,000 plants — and counting by Melissa Sánchez Yakima Herald-Republic

3. Bills must be sponsored by a legislator • A Legislator works with constituents, citizen groups, lobbyists, government agencies, and staff to move from an “idea” to a bill.

4. Where did LYAC begin? • Be careful what you wish for, kid... • Last year, 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 the usual hearings, lawmakers last year said OK. But the House of Representatives made one key change: membership on this board was limited to those 14 and older. • Alex is 12.

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

6. Sponsors seek support from other members • “Co-sponsors” also sign the bill. • Sponsor drops the bill in a box called the “hopper” and the bill gets a number.

7. Members Seek Co-Sponsors Prime Sponsor signs on the first line Co-sponsors sign after the Prime

8. 1st Reading -Bill introduced on the floor & assigned to committee

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

10. Cut-off calendars Odd Numbered Year Even Numbered Year

11. House bills start with HB & are numbered 1000s - 3000s. Senate bills start with SB and are numbered 5000s & 6000s. How do you distinguish Senate bills from House bills?

12. Legislators usually sit on three committees

13. House Committees 2009-10 • Agriculture & Natural Resources • Audit Review and Oversight • Capital Budget • Commerce & Labor • Community and Econ. Development & Trade • Early Learning & Children’s Services • Ecology and Parks • Education • Education Appropriations • Environmental Health • Finance • Financial Institutions & Insurance • General Gov. Appropriations • Health and Human Services Appropriations • Health Care & Wellness • Higher Education • Human Services • Judiciary • Local Government & Housing • Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness • Rules • State Government & Tribal Affairs • Technology, Energy & Communications • Transportation • Ways & Means

14. Senate Committees 2009-10 • Agriculture& Rural Economic Development • Early Learning & K-12 Ed. • Economic Development, Trade & Innovation • Environment, Water, & Energy • Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance • Gov. Operations & Elections • Health & Long-Term Care • Higher Education & Workforce Development • Human Services & Corrections • Judiciary • Labor, Commerce, Consumer Protection • Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation • Rules • Transportation • Ways & Means

15. Committees Reflect the Issues of the Time • Post War Planning • 1945 • Public Morals • 1909 - 1954 • Community Security • 2002 Can you guess when these committees existed?

16. Public Hearings

17. SB 5229

18. Standing Committees • Hold public hearings. • Study & debate bills. • Recommend bills be amended and/or passed.

19. Bill Report

20. S SB 5229

21. Fiscal Committees • Bills appropriating money (e.g. budget bills) • Bills affecting revenue (e.g. tax bills) • Policy bills costing state or local governments money

22. FISCALNOTE

23. 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?

24. Rules Committee • Determine bills that move to consideration by full House or Senate • No testimony • No amendments

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

26. Back to the Floor for Second Reading • Amendments are voted on during 2nd reading.

27. Third Reading • Final Debate • Final Passage

28. In 2007E2S SB 5627

29. Opposite Chamber-Repeat the Process • Standing committee, Fiscal Committee, Rules Committee • Floor Action

30. House Amendment

31. Post – Committee ActionAmend. By Opposite House • Concurrence • Conference Committees

32. There are many points in the process where bills may “die.”Many bills are reintroduced for several years before they are refined enough to make it through the entire process.

33. Progress of 2009 Bills 21% of bills introduced in 2009 passed the Legislature. HSE

34. Comparing 2009 Biennium with the Average over 10 years HSE

35. It’s not easy for laws to be made or changed. The many steps assure bills are carefully considered.

36. Bill goes to the Governor • Governor’s signature • Governor’s full or partial veto

37. 2009 Gubernatorial Vetos

38. 2008 & 1998 Governor Vetos Fewer bills were introduced 1998 but a higher percentage were enacted – 23% as opposed to 18% for 2008.

39. 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).

40. Obtaining Information • On-line Bill Information http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/bills.cfm • TVW (can view/listen to hearings) tvw.org • Legislative Information Center (360) 786-7573 • Hotline call to your members 1-800-562-6000

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

42. THEEND