This session provides an in-depth look at the responsibilities for members of the MSCSA Platform Committee.

1. …And all the roadblocks on the way!
How a Bill Becomes Law

2.  Bills typically come from one of four
sources:
◦ Constituents
◦ Elected officials themselves
◦ Interest groups
◦ State agencies
 The legislative process is a multi-
faceted process with lots of potential
stumbling blocks.
How a Bill Becomes Law

3.  Steps in the process:
◦ Drafting and introduction:
 Revisor’s Office
 House Research and Senate Counsel
 Role of the Member
◦ Committee hearing:
 Bills must navigate every committee in which
they may have an impact (tuition work group
would have required four committee stops).
 Bill Is open to amendment in this process.
How a Bill Becomes Law

4.  Steps in the process (cont):
◦ Floor debate and vote:
 Both chambers must pass a version off the
floor.
 Bill is open to amendment in this process.
◦ Conference committee:
 If there are differences between the two
versions, representatives of the House and
Senate meet to work them out.
 Bills must be IDENTICAL in order to be sent to
the Governor.
How a Bill Becomes Law

5.  Back the floors:
◦ Once a conference committee reaches
agreement the final version must be re-
passed by both chambers.
◦ A “conference report” is not amendable.
 Off to the Governor:
◦ Signature
◦ Veto
How a Bill Becomes Law

6. How a Bill Becomes Law

7. What Bill the bill didn’t teach
us…

8.  The legislative process can often be full
of roadblocks.
 In some situations, one member can
prevent a bill from moving through the
process. For example:
◦ Committee chairs
◦ Leadership
◦ Authors
Sometimes, it’s not that
simple!

9.  Committee deadlines can cause bills to “die.”
 At the start of each session joint deadlines between
the House and Senate are agreed upon. Those
deadlines are:
◦ 1st policy deadline: The date at which a bill must be
heard in its first policy committee in one of the two
chambers
◦ 2nd policy deadline: The date at which a bill must be
passed through all its policy committee stops
◦ 3rd deadline: Bills must be through all policy and
finance committees
 There are exceptions to these deadlines:
◦ Rules Committee
◦ Tax and Capital investment bills
Sometimes, it’s not that
simple!

10.  There are alternative ways to pass bills.
 These alternate ways can work, but they
can also be very tricky. They include:
◦ Offered as a committee amendment
◦ Offered as a floor amendment
◦ Included in an omnibus bill
 MSCSA’s legislative agenda was, in part,
moved in some of these alternative ways due
to the roadblocks discussed earlier.
Other ways to pass your bills?

11.  PSEO Advertising legislation:
◦ Received a hearing in the House E-12 Policy
Committee and passed on a 10-1 vote.
◦ Chair of House Higher Education requested the
bill to his committee and refused to hear.
◦ Bill was heard in the Senate E-12 Policy
Committee and was tabled.
◦ Nearly identical language was later added to
the policy omnibus bill on the House floor.
◦ Language survived conference committee and
was included in the conference report.
Real Life Example

12.  PSEO Cont:
◦ The conference report was awaiting action
on the Senate floor.
◦ Senate Majority Leader objected to this
provision and initially refused to bring the
report up for a vote.
◦ Language repealing our change was included
in a different bill.
Real Life Example

13.  Be able to present on relevant research topics at regional
meetings
 Rep & Alt should be working together and maintain
constant contact
 Communicate with GC Rep and campuses in region
regularly to gather feedback on legislative and policy issues
facing the region or the state.
 Attend all regional meetings and conferences to represent
your region and report back on initiatives you and your
region are taking on.
 Stay in contact with Kerrie, ask questions, and participate in
discussion/debate. Feel free to contact at any time. 
 HAVE FUN!
Expectations

14.  Serve on the MSCSA Platform Committee
representing their region(s)
 Conduct independent research on important
legislative/policy issues in higher ed.
 Assist the MSCSA in organizing their regions
to attend Advocacy events.
 Set the legislative agenda for the year and
make recommendations for the Platform
document.
 Ask questions and engage in the issues!
Duties

15.  Please pair up for this project!
 Work together to answer as many of the
questions as possible!
 With the exception of questions 9 and
10, answers can be found on legislative
websites or sites linked to these pages:
◦ www.house.mn
◦ www.senate.mn
Let’s do some research!