How a bill becomes a law in the Kentucky General Assembly
- A BILL STARTS AS AN IDEA It can be an idea from an individual,
a group or a lawmaker. Contrary to popular belief, most bills propose small
changes to existing law to correct, update or improve.
- A BILL IS INTRODUCED Only a member of the General Assembly
can introduce a bill, but anyone can submit an idea to a legislator to get
the ball rolling.
- FIRST STEPS After a bill is introduced, it is assigned
to a standing committee for review. Many bills are routed to the most logical
committee -- for example, a bill on sprinkler systems in residence halls would
go to the Education Committee. But lawmakers also can bury a bill by sending
it to a committee whose chairs may refuse to call it up for consideration.
- COMMITTEE ACTION Committee chairs have great power over
the fate of a bill. A chair can quietly kill a bill in two ways -- by not
calling it up or delaying its reading till it is too late in the session to
progress to completion. Once a bill is called up, the committee may hold a
public hearing where supporters or opponents are invited to testify. If the
committee reports the bill favorably, it continues on to either the House
or the Senate.
- TO THE FLOOR A bill gets its first and second reading on
the floor from which it originated. The multiple readings essentially serve
as notice the bill is coming up for a vote by the full chamber. After the
second reading, the Rules Committee can recommit the bill or schedule it for
a final vote.
- VOTING A vote to pass a bill is always by roll call. Floor
debate beforehand seldom sway the final vote. For a bill to proceed, it must
have at least two-fifths of all members -- 40 votes in the House and 16 votes
Senate. For appropriations and revenue-raising bills, a higher standard of
three-fifths support is required – equating to 51 House votes or 20
Senate votes.
- AFTER IT'S PASSED If a bill passes, it's sent to the other
chamber where it will be assigned to a committee and the process begins again.
On a complex or important piece of legislation, new amendments may be attached.
It is important to note that both the House and Senate must agree on the same
version of a bill before it becomes law. If they can't agree, the bill goes
to a conference committee comprised of members of the House and Senate. It
is the job of the conference committee to draft a compromise version of the
bill. The compromise is presented to both bodies, and must be approved by
both before it goes to the governor.
- ACTION BY THE GOVERNOR The governor has 10 days, excluding
Sundays, to act. He can sign a bill into law, allow it to become law without
his signature or veto it. If vetoed, the bill returns to the General Assembly,
which can enact it into law through a three-fifths majority vote of each chamber.
<< Return to Resources
|
