Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 1995 — Legislative deadlines / significant days [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Legislative deadlines / significant days

by A. Frenchy DeSoto Trustee-at-Large January 18, 1995 is the opening day of the Hawai'i State Legislature, whieh signals "ho'omākaukau," and "maka'ala" for us. The Government Affairs Office prepared a guide to the legislative process that I believe will empower you to "work the system." True and lasting empowerment comes from knowledge. Our daily lives, individually and eollee-

tively, are impacted by legislative bodies and their decisions. Make a commitment to make a difference by being informed and involved. The following are important legislative dates and deadlines you should know if you intend to pursue legislation this session. 1995 LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES / SIGNIFICANT DAYS Jan. 11 - Pre-filing of bills begins. Jan. 18 - Opening day. Marks offi-

eial commencement of the 1995 legislative session. Jan. 20 - Last day for unlimited bill introduction. Jan. 23 - Five bills/day limit begins. Jan. 27 - Introduction cut-off. Five bills/day limit ends. The last day for introduction of bills in the Legislature. Feb. 17 - First lateral. An intemal deadline affecting only those bills referred to more than one eommittee. All bills must move to the last referred eommittee by this date. This deadline is established to give the last referral committee adequate time to review pending legislation. Mar. 3 - First decking (last day to plaee bills on the floor of the originating house for third reading).

The deadline for bills in final form to be available to members of the originating house. Also, the deadline for committees to file bills with the Clerk in order to comply with the mandatory 48 hour waiting period before a bill may be voted on for passage to the receiving house.

Mar. 7 - Dead-line for the House to deck the three major budget bills for third reading - the Executive, the Judiciary, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs - and the Senate to deck the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) bill. Mar. 9 - First crossover. Deadline for all bills reported out of committee to be voted on by the originating house and sent to the receiving chamber for consideration. After the 48-hour decking period has lapsed, eaeh house votes on the bills in their chambers. The bills that pass the Senate are sent to

the House for consideration and vice versa. Mar 10 - Last day to introduce substantive resolutions. Deadline for introducing concurrent resolutions and resolutions whieh require specific action. Mar 24 - Second lateral. Deadline for Senate bills with House referrals and House bills with Senate referrals to move to their final committee. Apr 7 - Second decking (last day for the receiving house to deck bills whieh will

be returned to the originating house). Because Hawai'i has a bicameral legislature, amended measures must be approved by the originating house before they ean be enacted. The convening of House-Senate conference committee meetings is used to resolve differences between the originating and receiving houses. Apr. 12 - Second crossover (last day for third reading of bills whieh will be returned to the originating house). This is the last day the Senate ean vote on third-reading House bills and the House ean vote on third-reading Senate bills. Forty-eight hours must pass between the time these bills are decked and when they are voted on. The only bills exempt from

this deadline are bills that have not been amended by the non-originating body. Apr. 13 - Agree/disagree. Either house ean agree or disagree with amendments made to its bills by the receiving body. If either house disagrees with the amendments, it must do so by this deadline. Apr. 27 - Deadline to deck non-fiscal bills for final reading. Deadline for review of bills, concurrent resolutions and resolutions whieh will be passed by eaeh house of the Legislature. Apr. 28 - Deadline to deck fiscal bills for final reading. May 1 - Adjournment Sine Die. Final adjoumment of the Legislature without fixing a date for reconvening. In addition, before adjoumment, votes are taken on bills up for final reading and on resolutions up for adoption. If passed by both houses, bills go to the Govemor for enactment. Should you need more information or want a copy of OHA's "Guide to Legislative Process," please eall toll-free, OHA-Government Affairs Office (GAO) at 1-800-468-4644.