The 2010 legislative session will begin next week on Wednesday, January 13.  Although the joint House and Senate Education Committees will be meeting on Thursday it will only be for over site hearings concerning the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Education.  There will be no bills heard at that time.

Beginning the week of January 11, the committees will meet on the following days and at the following times:

House Education Committee (HCR 112):

  • Monday afternoon from 1:30 PM – 6:00 PM
  • Thursday afternoon from 1:30 PM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday afternoon as needed from 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Senate Education Committee (SCR 354):

  • Wednesday morning from 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
  • Thursday afternoon from 1:30 PM – 6:00 PM
  • Friday afternoon as needed from 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Joint Education Committees (HCR 112):

  • Wednesday morning from 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM

Please note, the Rural Caucus will be making a presentation to the Joint Education Committee on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 am.  We are encouraging all of our members to attend.

Although several people have requested that a calendar of bills be put together further than a week or two in advance so that travel plans can more easily be accommodated, that is not likely to occur.  As I have in the past, I requested that I be notified as early as possible when bills will be scheduled in various committees.  Following is the response I received from Katey McGettrick, Research Associate for Legislative Council Staff:

“As for knowing in advance the calendar of bills, that is a bit trickier. We cannot schedule bills until they are introduced. Once they are introduced, Lauren and I work with our chairs and the sponsors to calendar the bills. Given the time needed to prepare a fiscal note, bills may be scheduled a week or two out. However, sometimes there is not as much lead time in calendaring bills, due to bill deadlines and when the chair wants the bill heard in committee. I recommend monitoring the calendar and the journal daily to see what has been calendared and introduced, and if there is a bill of particular interest to you or your members, please feel free to contact Lauren or me to see if we know when it might be heard.

I know that the last minute scheduling can be a hardship for those who live far from the capitol. You could also remind your members that they may listen in online if they are not able to attend the committee hearing. While I know that this will not give them the opportunity to testify, they could at least hear the proceedings, and follow up with members on any issues before second reading.”

I will do my best to provide the calendar of bills as soon as I have it.  However, members are welcome to take us up on the travel reimbursement at any time, even if there is not a bill of interest in committee on the day you choose to make the trip to the Capitol.  Please also keep in mind that a quick call or e-mail about a bill goes a long way in helping legislators understand the impact it will have on your district.  You can also request that your e-mail be submitted for testimony.

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