Wednesday, january 18, 1978
daily nebraskan
page 1 1
Legislative bills' path traced from idea to law
To insure that citizens can express their
opinion on proposed laws that affect them,
each bill before the Nebraska Legislature
goes through several stages of debate and
review.
First, a senator, or one of the com
mittees, introduces a bill. The idea can
come from anyone, a senator, the gover
nor, private citizens, corporations or
associations.
The bill sponsor submits it to the bill
drafter who writes the bill in the proper
legal form. The Clerk of the Legislature
assigns the bill a number, and reads it
during a legislative session.
The bill then is referred to a committee
permanently established by the Legisla
ture, called a standing committee, which
schedules a public hearing.
Copies of the bill arg made available to
the public.
After a public hearing, committees can
either indefinitely postpone (kill) a bill or
place it on general file. A bill indefinitely
postponed in committee can be placed on
general file by a majority vote of the Leg
islature taken within three days of the
committee report. After three days a two
thirds vote is required. Bills on general
file are considered by the entire Legis
lature. When a bill on general file is scheduled
for debate, amendments are considered,
and the bill is debated. A fiscal note is
prepared for all bills which the fiscal
analyst determines could cost more than
$5,000.
An appropriation, or "A" bill, is pre
pared for every bill proposing more than
$50,000 in expenditures. All bills must
receive vote (25) before it is advanced to
the next step.
The bill can advance to select file, the
second stage of debate, after review by E
and R. The Legislature considers additional
amendments after E and R-amendments
are considered. Amendments can be
adopted by a majority vote. -
At this stage, the bill can be referred to
committee or general file, indefinitely
postponed or advanced to E and R for
engrossment, or legal documentation.
If the bill is advanced to engrossment,
all amendments are incorporated into the
bill for final reading. After engrossment,
bills may be amended only by returning to
select file. This requires a majority vote.
A bill on final reading requires a major
ity vote to send it to the governor for
approval. A bill wth an emergency clause,
which becomes effective with the gover
nor's signature, requires a two-thirds vote
(33). After engrossment, bills may be
amended only be returning to select file.
This requires a majority vote.
If the governor does not sign or veto a
bill within five days, excluding Sunday, the
If the Legislature gives first-round bill becomes law without his signature,
approval to a bill, it is advanced to enroll- The Legislature may oweride a veto with a
ment and review (E and R). E and R cor- vote of three-fifths of the members (30).
rects technical errors in the bill, but Information courtesy Unicameral
Informational Service.
cannot change the bill's meaning.
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