What do you know about the legislative process?

[galthatfishes]

One thing I noticed at the Federation Convention was that some didn't know things like what first consideration was, and they had other "questions" on bills that made me think perhaps an article on "An Introduction to the Legislative Process" article was in order.

Because I deal with it all the time and I'm pretty familiar, I want to know from all of you what YOU have questions on, or perhaps HAD a question on and it was cleared up. What made the light bulb turn on so to speak; so I can get that message through for the next issue.

Oh, deadline is in a few days.

I already wrote an article, but it got changed into a report of sorts, lol

[wentzler]

Good stuff I like it!!

[Deleted]

Definitely a great idea. Since joining here and the PFSC in general, I've learned a lot about the lay of the land with regards to the legislative process.

It'd be great to read about how things are conceived, moved forward, where they can get tripped up and how and when they eventually get voted on. Why do things pass or fail? This could be expansive I imagine.

I mean it would even be great to see a map or something like a flow chart.

The key players could be listed out too. It'd be nice to see it in one place.

This sounds like big task to get it into laymans terms! It's probably why so many people feel alienated or just don't bother trying to learn the process.

Great work and great idea!

[Dutch]

The process to get a bill thru is very time consuming. Very few bills ever make it thru. 2-3%, which is good, actually.

April 2008, Gal and I came up with the idea for the mentored youth doe tag transfer. Was introduced not long after. 2011 it was finally passed and signed into law.

In September 2008, we also had Senator Wozniak introduce the mentored Adult bill. That is now getting some steam.

The leashed tracking dog idea was first introduced in 2001, maybe. Those guys have been working on that ever since. Great bill, but some hate it or have blocked it. Like last fall it was blocked, and because we now have a new session, it had to be reintroduced.

These few good things take much time and wrangling, and these aren't paid people doing this stuff, it's volunteers who believe in the idea and seek support.

In the long run, there are just only so many volunteers to do this "stuff". And most importantly, younger folks need to be brought in in order to keep the process going.

[galthatfishes]

Here is where the article is- Tell me how to improve it. I want it clear.

What am I missing?

How a Bill Becomes Law and How to Effectively Communicate Your Message to the Legislature

Ideas. We all have them, and it’s those very ideas that give rise to new legislation in Pennsylvania. My partner and I wrote one bill so far that has become law in Pennsylvania and we’re on our way to the second one passing, perhaps as early as April! It’s exciting for sure, but what steps do we as sportsmen need to take to make something like this happen?

The first step we took in the process was to contact Carl Roe at the Game Commission and the PFSC and run the ideas by them. It is important to gain the support of the agency as well as the Federation when trying to change laws. They may have an objection that you haven’t thought of; but support your idea in general. Another advantage is that they can, and are willing to work with you on language for the bill so things are clear and the agency and the PFSC can support your bill; helping you to make it law.

The next thing you want to do is to gain support from the hunting community before the bill is even introduced. That’s important because they can ask their legislators to co-sponsor the bill; and vote in favor of it; when the time is right. Contact the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Trappers Association and all of the other hunting groups as well as your friends asking them to back the idea.

It’s a good idea to have a written statement highlighting the positives of the legislation and create talking points so they can better understand the concept of how it will favor hunting, angling or the environment.

One thing that is very important is who you have introduce the legislation. If it’s a senior member of the legislature, the bill may run more smoothly. Sometimes; those senior members will tell you to give it to a junior member to introduce because they want to help them to get a bill under their belt. That’s something else the agencies or the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs can help you determine. Most bills can originate in either the house or the Senate.

Once you have chosen the legislator that can best help you move your idea forward, that legislator puts out what is called a co-sponsorship memorandum where they ask other members to sign in support of the idea. That is when you “rally the troops”; the people you have sold your concept to. It’s their turn to take action, calling their legislators and asking them to co-sponsor and vote in favor of the bill.

When the bill is introduced, it is then referred to Committee. Most things we as a hunting and fishing community would introduce will be sent to the Game and Fisheries Committee. The Chairmen of that Committee is critically important to garner support from. They have the ability to hold the bill or move it from Committee. If they don’t support your legislation, it may never see the house or senate floor. They hold the key.

The next step is up to that chairman to call for a Committee meeting where the bill will be voted on. Its critical yet again to engage your friends to work on calling and emailing those committee members so its passed favorably from the Committee to the floor for a vote. Once it passes Committee, it is either sent back to another Committee, laid on the table to be called at a future date, or it can be placed on the floor for a vote. Nearly all bills are sent to the Appropriations Committee at some point so a fiscal test can be run to determine the cost to the agencies or the sportsmen. After that is done, it is on its way to passing the chamber where it was introduced.

A bill must pass each chamber three times. If the bill started in the House, the process generally goes like this:

1. Committee vote

2. Floor vote

3. Sent to appropriations where it is examined for fiscal clarity and voted on.

4. Sent back to the chamber floor for second and third considerations. ** A bill in the house may be amended on second consideration. We’ll talk about that in another issue, or you can discuss it on the Federation’s message board.

5. Once a bill passes third consideration in its originating chamber; in this case the house; it is sent to the other chamber (the Senate) where the process starts again.

6. The Game and Fisheries Committee votes on the legislation if the chairman of the committee agrees to move it. If it has already been sent to appropriations, then it may continue to the floor for three affirmative votes, or it may be sent back to appropriations or another committee such as judiciary for other impact considerations.

7. It must pass both chambers with three affirmative floor votes (called first, second and third consideration) before the bill is sent to the Governor for his signature.

8. The Governor signs or vetoes the bill; typically within ten business days of its passage.

Very few bills pass into law on their first attempt. It takes a lot of work and dedication to get them to that point. Sometimes, it can take a decade or more. All it takes to hold up a bill is one senior member of the legislature who has an objection to the bill. That is why it’s important that you gain as much support as you can on the issue in advance of its introduction and you continually engage your supporters and ask that they continue to contact their legislators. It’s also why it’s important to be a member and supportive of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs. They have legislative clout, and can learn from the representatives and senators what their objections are and work to overcome them with your help.

[Deleted]

WOW. Crystal clear. Nice job. Just wow.

And a whole lotta patience!

[davetm]

Thanks GTF. In a nut shell, that's how it's suppose to work. In a democracy, laws passed are going to affect (effect?) all people who live here. So, it's important that this "vetting process" be through and well though out. (Not that the "well thought out part" always happens.)

Nice job!!

Dave

[wentzler]

Nice job, Lady!!! Awesome.

That is as supposed to work. That's what many think..at first glance. Another giblet in the gravy, for those who stir the gravy before they pour it...is that IS how the system does work. Yet, still, aggravatingly slow..but still works. WE are the grease. And the system needs a LOT of grease. Learn the ropes. Climb in the ring:)

[Dutch]

Hey Kath, just a minor edit, if you might, PLEASE.

Using the word "partner", well, it might lead people to think, mistakenly, that you are, shall we say, with a same sex "partner"?

Unless there is something I should know about? LMBO!

[ridgecommander]

"What do you know about the legislative process?"

Enough to know that I do not know how some of you folks find the energy to deal with this process day in and day out. And enough to know why this country is headed where it is headed.

[galthatfishes]

Amen Ridge. If you only knew

[davetm]

I hear what Ridge is saying, and I do know that there are a pile of things that need obvious fixes, but for streamlining the fundamental process where everyone has a chance at input, I don't know if you have a better way. (Again....my caveat being the obvious broken things.)

[Dutch]

One thing I know, the more money you have, the better the chances a legislator will REALLY listen to you.

What I'm saying is if you own a large business or contribute to a campaign, they will listen a bit more intently to what you propose. Money buys access. It's that simple.

[wentzler]

I will offer this. The critical mass, and nucleus to get this ALL done...is RIGHT HERE...this 'board'. It is in our hands...we just gotta play the cards right...and righteous. And I, for one, feel I am in the perfect company to make "THAT" happen.

[Deleted]

Thanks for sharing Gal...very informative!!

[galthatfishes]

Thanks guys. I think we all need (myself included) to get back to the basics.

[dennyf]

Here's what I know of it: They won't let anyone in the front door with a pick handle. If they did, things would've straightened out years ago.

Lest anyone think that place is beyond redemption, I'd like to make it clear that there are some very good people over there, that actually listen to constituents and give a rat's patootie about the right things to do.

In my opinion, there are just not enough of them - yet.

I have a habit of visiting some of my favorites before leaving the place. That way I can leave with at least a few good feelings.

[Dutch]

Man, you musta woke up on the right side of the bed today, Mr. Sunshine and Cheerful!

[galthatfishes]

You know what I'm like when I come home from over there. Some of them think they are the pope and you should kiss their rings and wash their feet. A hunter shouldn't have to beg another hunter to do whats right. We should stand togethert and work together. Too many egos there to make REALLY good things happen often.

And then you add the complacentness of sportsmen- We don't call; we don't write- in general. Ain't nothing going to change unless WE change and get more involved.

[dennyf]

Agreed. According to some of our elected representatives, the only ones that do call/write, are those who complain about "no deer".

No surprise to hear that, since people who are upset about something, tend to complain about it.

Those who are fairly happy or at least not particularly upset, tend not to fuss about much of anything. So they are not contacting anyone with their opinions.

Look at it this way, on the "pressing" subject of deer: Roughly 800,000 people hunt deer in PA each year and kill approximately 300,000 or more deer as a result of their efforts.

Of that number, our elected representatives who are trying to insert themselves more and more into the wildlife management process, claim they're getting "hundreds and thousands" of complaints about deer numbers.

If they received eight thousand complaints total, that is roughly a 10% dissatisfaction rate. Most of us suspect they get less than 800 complaints total, so that'd be a 1% rate.

Someone point out another issue that would generate this much fuss in the General Assembly, if the complaint rates ran between one and ten percent of those participating.

[Deleted]

Good points. So, we should also send the occasional 'Thanks, keep up the good work' letters too?!

[wentzler]

cl3...yep, send an attaboy every time you see reason to do so. And don't worry....I don't see your total annual 'postage costs' amounting to much more than about a buck two eighty :

[johns]

The problem is our schools don't teach the legislative process any more. When I was in school we had Porblems of Democracy and Civics classes. I don't believe they teach that anymore, Suzy has two mothers has taken its place.

[wentzler]

Ya gotta admit though, John...those POD classes took a very long time to sink in for some of us ?

[Dutch]

Problems of Democracy? I remember that. Part of the problem today IS democracy, and people that don't have the brains to vote the "right" way. LOL