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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Boitano		DATE TYPED:	02/25/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Limit Number of Bill Introductions				SCR	2
					ANALYST:		Fernandez

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Senate Bill 343

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Legislative Council Service

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 proposes a new joint rule that places limits on number of bills introduced by Senate and House members.

Significant Issues

Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 would limit bill introduction by Senate members to 15 bills and House members would be allowed to introduce 9 bills. Bills requested by the Governor, and up to 2 bills endorsed by an interim Legislative committee, are excluded from the total count. The limitation may be suspended in either house by a two-thirds vote. A legislator may allocate any part of his or her allotment of bills to another member of the same house.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

According to LCS, during the 2001 Legislature, the House of Representative spent $325,484 on printing costs for 1,151 pieces of legislation including bills, resolutions and memorials. During the 2002 Legislature, the House of Representative spent $131,778 on printing costs for 666 pieces of legislation including bills, resolutions and memorials.

Under this proposal, the House of Representatives would be limited to introduction of 630 bills.

During the 2001 Legislature, the Senate spent $246,381 on printing costs for 1,083 pieces of legislation including bills, resolutions and memorials. During the 2002 Legislature, the Senate spent $121,327 on printing costs for 646 pieces of legislation including bills, resolutions and memorials.

Under this proposal, the Senate would be limited to introduction of 630 bills.

RELATIONSHIP

Relates to SB 343 which changes bill introduction deadlines for regular sessions of the Legislature.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to Joint Rule (8-1), joint rules may be adopted, amended or repealed by concurrent resolution approved by two-thirds of the membership of each house; and if either house shall violate a joint rule, a question of order may be raised in the other house. Joint rules are enforced by leadership of each house.

CTF/njw:yr