Training Sessions

Bill Submission and Selection

At the Training Session each participant will be assigned to a committee.  These committees will hear each bill submitted to the Training Session.  Their role in this Training Session is to make a determination on the bills that should be included in the Augusta Session.

Training Session Committees will be conducted as a public hearing, doing the following:

• Sponsors will present their bill giving reasons and justifications for their bill
• Allow committee members to ask questions for clarifications
• Allow committee members to make amendments to the bill
• Allow committee members to critique the bill and offer the sponsor ideas for their presentation of the bill at the Public Hearing in Augusta.
• Make sure that all elements of the bill including Fiscal Impact are in the bill. 
• If any are missing they can be amended at this time.
• THERE WILL NOT BE A COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION, THE COMMITTEE MAY REMOVE ANY BILL THEY VOTE DOES NOT PASS THE "STRAIGHT FACE TEST. "

After the committee arrives in their room, they need to,

              1) Go around the room and give each member a chance to introduce themselves.

              2) Hold a quick election to select a Committee Chairperson to run the meeting,

              3) Hold a quick election to select a Committee Secretary to record all the changes to the bill.   

The Hearing on each bill should follow the following format;

1) Distribute copies of the bill to all the members, give everyone time to read the bill.

2) Have the sponsor of the bill speak about why he/she submitted the bill; allow time for the members to         ask questions.

3) Have anyone who wishes to speak in favor of the bill speak, again leaving time for questions

4) Have time for the committee to discuss the bill with the sponsor, giving suggestions about the bill and    sponsor’s presentation for the public hearing.

5) Make amendments to the bill

6) Make sure that all elements of the bill are included:

              STATEMENT OF FACTS:  Are they really facts or simply opinions.

              REFERENCES: Make note of where you got their information.

              FISCAL IMPACT: Please make sure there is a fiscal impact.

Bills may be withdrawn by sponsor after the public hearing. 

If there is no sponsor in attendance the committee may still hear the bill, and make suggestions and amendments to the bill.