I'm looking into the nuts and bolts of the legislative process.

Last year 4042 bills were introduced!

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/as_new_nj_legislative_session.html

 

What I'm trying to figure out is, what does it take to move a bill from being "introduced" to being referred to committee.

 

For example, this one has been "introduced" for over a year, and I'd be very interested to discuss it in committee:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/A0500/499_I1.HTM

 

Is there anything we can do to put it on the schedule for the next meeting?

 

Others were introduced just three days before the meeting:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/A4000/3583_I1.HTM

Id also like to know how they get on the committee.

 

Bill sponsors were on the committee then proceeded to vote on their own Bills... ???

http://www.njleg.sta.../legprocess.asp

 

Step 4... You may call it by whim, perceived demand, backhall discussion, leveraging, whatever.

 

This is why it is so important to then have public meetings so the Committee can be INFORMED. However, that's where the process has broken down in current times, and Wednesday was the most extreme example I have witnessed in all my years dealing with government.

So it has to be initiated by the senate president or assembly leader? That person can just block anything they don't like?

Is there no way to force a hearing?

So it has to be initiated by the senate president or assembly leader? That person can just block anything they don't like?

Is there no way to force a hearing?

 

It's all about influence and lobbying. Bills need a champion, and that champion must get enough legislative support to affect its referral to Committee. More Bills die before they ever take on any life at all.