short session authorizing resolutions explained

I have had several requests recently to explain “authorizing resolutions” for the 2008 short session of the North Carolina General Assembly

 

The adjournment resolution lists ten categories of bills that can be considered in the short session:

(1)    state budget and state tax bills,

(2)    state constitutional amendments,

(3)    bills that passed one house in 2007,

(4)    bills recommended by study commissions and select committees in the interim,

(5)    noncontroversial local bills,

(6)    appointments,

(7)    state and local pension bills

(8)    joint resolutions allowed under the rules,

(9)    adjournment resolutions, and

(10)   bills disapproving administrative rules.

 

It then allows bills that are not otherwise eligible to be considered in the following circumstance:

 

“(7)       Any matter authorized by joint resolution passed during the 2008 Regular Session by a two‑thirds majority of the members of the House of Representatives present and voting and by a two‑thirds majority of the members of the Senate present and voting. A bill or resolution filed in either house under the provisions of this subdivision shall have a copy of the ratified enabling resolution attached to the jacket before filing for introduction in the Senate or introduction in the House of Representatives.”

 

In order to use this provision, the member needs to have the substantive bill drafted and also ask the drafting staff to prepare the “authorizing resolution”, which lists the title of the bill proposed to be authorized. The member may ask for an authorizing resolution at the same time the substantive request is made. The member files the authorizing resolution, and when passed by two-thirds vote of each house and ratified, the member may then introduce the main bill.

 

Here is how many authorizing resolutions were ratified in each short session the past 20 years:

2006:     7

2004:     0

2002:     1

2000:     0

1998:     0

1996:     9

1994:     5

1992:    37

1990:    31

1988:    11

 

Here is what one authorizing resolution that passed looks like:

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE 2005 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, REGULAR SESSION 2006, TO CONSIDER A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ALLOWING THE STATE LICENSING BOARD OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS TO EXTEND THE PERIOD IN WHICH A LICENSE REMAINS IN EFFECT AFTER A PERSON LICENSED ON BEHALF OF A FIRM OR CORPORATION CEASES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT FIRM OR CORPORATION.

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

 

SECTION 1.  The 2005 General Assembly, Regular Session 2006, may consider “A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT ALLOWING THE STATE LICENSING BOARD OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS TO EXTEND THE PERIOD IN WHICH A LICENSE REMAINS IN EFFECT AFTER A PERSON LICENSED ON BEHALF OF A FIRM OR CORPORATION CEASES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT FIRM OR CORPORATION.”

SECTION 2.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 15^th day of June, 2006.

Short session eligible bills

Our Legislative Librarian Cathy Martin has posted a memo with a list of 212 bills eligible for the short session because they passed one house prior to the May 24, 2007 crossover deadline. I had posted last month details on the adjournment resolution that governs the 2008 reconvened (short) session. In addition to an explanation of the joint rules for the short session, Cathy’s memo has the text of the adjournment resolution, and a list of the bills that passed one house.

Of the 212 bills on the list, two are in conference committee and four are back in the first house on the issue of concurrence.  The remainder are in the second house awaiting action.

The list does not include bills filed in 2007 that may be eligible because they directly and primarily affect the state budget.

UPDATE 9/26: The list of eligible bills now has live hyperlinks to bill status (and then to the bill text) for each bill.

Adjournment resolution details

I’ve gotten some requests to discuss the adjournment resolution, Resolution 2007-68, Senate Joint Resolution 1573, as amended by Resolution 2007-70, Senate Joint Resolution 1575, which sets the details for the 2008 short session of the North Caorolina General Assembly. The adjournment resolution is nearly identical in pattern to that for the 2006 short session.  The convening date, Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 12:00 noon, is one week after the primary.

The dates for requests and filing of various categories of bills are the same in relationship to the date of convening as in 2006, except that the deadline for filing of appropriations and finance bills is earlier to allow more time for staff preparation (12 days instead of the 7 in 2006). 

I set out each category below with my explanation: