Interim Study Procedure
Although the Legislative Management has the authority to initiate studies or other action deemed necessary between legislative sessions, much of the work results from study resolutions passed by both houses. The usual procedure is for the Legislative Management to designate committees to carry out the interim studies. A few committees, including the Administrative Rules Committee, the Commission on Alternatives to Incarceration, the Employee Benefits Programs Committee, the Energy Development and Transmission Committee, the Information Technology Committee, the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee, the Legislative Ethics Committee, the Tribal and State Relations Committee, and the Water-Related Topics Overview Committee are statutory committees with duties imposed by state law.
Regardless of the source of authority of interim committees, the Legislative Management appoints the members. Nearly all committees consist entirely of legislators, although a few citizen members are sometimes selected to serve when it is determined they can provide special expertise or insight for a study.
The Legislative Management committees hold meetings throughout the interim at which members hear testimony, review information and materials provided by staff, other state agencies, and interested persons and organizations, and consider alternatives. Occasionally, it is necessary for the Legislative Management to contract with universities, consulting firms, or outside professionals on specialized studies and projects. However, the vast majority of studies are handled entirely by the Legislative Council staff.
Committees make their reports to the full Legislative Management, usually in November preceding a regular legislative session. The Legislative Management may accept, amend, or reject a committee's report. The Legislative Management then presents the recommendations it has accepted, together with bills and resolutions necessary to implement them, to the Legislative Assembly.
The Legislative Management selected these 2009-10 interim studies to be conducted by the 2009-10 interim committees.
