Probably more information than anyone really wants to know about how "Interim Studies" are handled according to the "Rules of the Legislature."
Interim - the period between regular legislative sessions.
Interim Study Resolution - a resolution authorizing a committee to study an issue following adjournment of a legislative session.
Sec. 3. Study Resolutions: Introduction; Referral; Standing Committees; Select Committees; Results.
(a) Any senator or committee may introduce resolutions proposing interim studies. The resolutions shall be submitted to the Clerk of the Legislature on a form prescribed by the Clerk, printed in the Journal, and referred to the Executive Board.
(b) Study resolutions may be introduced up to and including the 80th legislative day in odd-numbered years and the 50th legislative day in even-numbered years. However, each standing committee may introduce one additional study resolution prior to adjournment sine die. The Executive Board shall refer the study resolutions to the appropriate standing committees or to select interim committees created by it to conduct such studies.
(c) Study resolutions shall be prioritized by the chairperson of the committee to which they are referred, and a report on those priorities shall be filed with the Clerk, on a form prescribed by the Clerk, prior to adjournment sine die. Also, the chairperson of each committee may file with the Clerk, on a form prescribed by the Clerk, his or her committee's study plan for any study resolution referenced to such committee. Unless otherwise agreed to, staff to interim studies conducted by standing committees shall be headed by the respective committee counsels. Legislative aides whose senators serve on such standing committees and legislative aides of other interested senators may be invited by the respective committee counsels to participate as staff in the conduct of the interim studies. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit the standing committees in their traditional prerogatives to conduct hearings and oversee matters and agencies that are within their subject-matter jurisdiction.
(d) The Executive Board may, on its own behalf, conduct interim studies or create select interim committees to do so. Before creating a select interim committee, the Board shall consider whether the subject matter proposed for study by such a committee lies within the jurisdiction of one or more standing committee. To the extent possible, the jurisdiction of a select interim committee created by the Board shall be limited to subject matters that do not lie wholly within the jurisdiction of one or another standing committee. Membership on a select interim committee shall, to the extent possible, include senators who are both interested in serving on such a committee and are from the standing committees that have the most direct concern with the subject matter proposed for study. Select interim committees shall meet no later than five legislative days prior to adjournment sine die to organize and to review study plans. Staff to select interim committees shall be drawn from the Legislature's division staffs (e.g., fiscal, research, bill drafting), be based upon a joint plan submitted to the Executive Board by the division directors, may include other interested legislative staff, and shall be coordinated by the Office of Legislative Audit and Research, and the chairpersons of the standing committees involved with the select interim committee.
(e) The Executive Board shall retain its traditional prerogatives to consider and refer study proposals arising from extraordinary circumstances after the deadlines established in this section.
(f) The chief sponsor of a study resolution, if not otherwise a member of the committee to which the resolution is referred, shall be an ex officio member of the committee during and only for the conduct of the study.
(g) On or before December 1 of each year, each standing and select interim committee shall file a report, on a form prescribed by the Clerk, with the Executive Board on the disposition of the study resolutions referred to them. These reports shall be printed in the Journal at the beginning of the next session of the Legislature.
(h) The results or final reports of studies conducted by standing committees may be prepared in a format of their choosing. Nine copies of each completed standing committee report shall be filed with the Legislative Reference Library. The results or final reports of studies conducted by select interim committees shall be prepared and published in a format prescribed by the Office of Legislative Audit and Research and copies of such studies will be indexed and filed with the Legislative Reference Library.
RRS 50-404.
