Introduction

 

Table of Contents

 

 

CHAPTER I.  ORGANIZATION AND OPERATING GUIDELINES

 

1.         Session Standing Committees

(a)        Designation of Chairman

(b)        Committee Membership

(c)        Other Committee Officers

 

2.         Interim Committees

(a)        Formation of Joint Interim Committees

(b)        Organizational Meeting

(c)        Election of Officers

 

3.         General Operating Guidelines

 

CHAPTER II.  INTERIM COMMITTEES - BUDGET/FINANCE

 

1.         Interim Committee Budgets

(a)        Management Council Procedures

(b)        Planning the Committee Budget

 

2.         Committee Finance Guidelines

(a)        Authorized Expenditures

(b)        Monitoring the Budget; Shortfalls

(c)        Accepting Outside Funds Prohibited

(d)        Limiting Reimbursement to Members

 

CHAPTER III.  CONDUCT OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 

1.         Committee Rules

 

2.         Decorum/Protocol in Meetings

 

3.         Chairman's Role at Committee Meetings

 

4.         Executive Sessions

 

5.         Authority to Subpoena Witnesses

 

6.         Americans With Disabilities Act

 

 

CHAPTER IV.  STANDING COMMITTEE OPERATIONS

 

1.         Planning the Committee Workload

(a)        The Need to Prioritize

(b)        Status Boards

(c)        Scheduling

 

2.         Committee's Role in Screening Legislation

 

3.         Committee Action on Assigned Bills

(a)        Bill Security

(b)        Scheduling Committee Meetings

(c)        Notice of Meetings

(d)        Appearance of Bill Sponsor

(e)        Presentation of Testimony

(f)         Working the Bill

(g)        Substitute Bills

(h)        Motion to Re-refer

(i)         Preparation of Committee Report

 

4.         Standing Committee Minutes

 

5.         Standing Committee Report

 

 

CHAPTER V.  INTERIM COMMITTEE OPERATIONS

 

1.         Developing Interim Study Proposals

(a)        Importance of Interim Work

(b)        Identifying Study Topics

 

2.         Format for Study Proposal

 

3.         Interim Committee Budget

 

4.         Scheduling Interim Work

(a)        Getting Started

(b)        Determining the Number of Meetings

(c)        Scheduling for Early Completion

(d)        Determining Where to Hold Meetings

 

5.         Exceeding Authorized Studies

 

6.         Effective Use of Staff

 

7.         Interim Committee Summary of Proceedings

(a)        General Guidelines

(b)        Public Hearings

(c)        Subcommittee Meetings

(d)        Approval of Committee Summary of Proceedings

(e)        Recording Votes on Bill Introductions

 

8.         Procedure in Absence of a Quorum

 

APPENDICES:

 

1.         Committee Operating Guidelines

 

2.         Sample Interim Committee Rules

 

3.         Sample Interim Study Proposal

 

4.         How To Be An Effective Committee Chair (NCSL)

 

5.         A Chairman's Guide To Effective Committee Management (NCSL)