Florida 4-H
KNOW HOW TO ENGAGE
Parliamentary Procedures
Parliamentary procedure is the rule of conduct that legislative bodies use to facilitate meetings. The goals of parliamentary procedure are to protect the rights of the minority, maintain the rule of the majority, and promote the most efficient proceedings.
Use the resources below to better understand how we will be using parliamentary procedure to run our legislative sessions during LEG. All of these are included in Manual I - Key Documents, which can be found on LEG's landing page.
Resources
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Parliamentary
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Committee Meeting Agendas & Proper Language
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Writing Bills
Laws are established when legislators agree that proposed bills are in the best interest of the state and favorably pass the bills. However, the process involved in creating, debating, and passing or defeating bills is complex.
Just like citizens who propose bills at the state and federal levels of government, 4-H citizens influence this event by proposing bills to use during the Florida 4-H Legislature event. Assistance comes from various county officials and community resources.
Proposed bills are in one of six committees:
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Agriculture & Natural Resources
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Education
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Criminal Justice
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Health & Human Services
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Government, Commerce & Transportation
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Juvenile Justice
Submitting bills and ideas for bills:
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Any 4-H member may submit a bill or an idea for a bill to be included for consideration among the bills for Florida 4-H Legislature.
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The 4-H Legislature Committee and Steering Committee, with approval of Florida 4-H Administration, will make the final decision as to which bills are published for use at Florida 4-H Legislature.
Timeline for submitting bills:
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Ideas for bills are requested one week prior to the First Executive Board Meeting.
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Formatted Bills are requested at least one week prior to Second Executive Board Meeting.
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Ideas for bills and formatted bills should be submitted to the 4-H Legislature Planning Committee Chair or State 4-H Office.
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Bills to be considered for the next year’s 4-H Legislature may also be submitted during current 4-H Legislature.
Purpose of Bills:
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Each 4-H bill is designed to correct an existing problem somewhere in the state.
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As is often the case, a bill affects groups of people in entirely different ways. In other words, a benefit for one group may be a disadvantage for another group.
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Due to differences in opinion, lobby groups are established as “vested interest” groups. The purpose of each “vested interest” group is to promote passage of legislation that is beneficial to their group.
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In a similar manner, lobby groups guard against unnecessary legislation or legislation not beneficial to their group.
Bill Research Sources
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National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
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Discussion of state issues and links to other state legislatures.)
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A public service organization and learning/teaching environment.
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The librarians index to the internet.
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State & Local: Locate Resources Fast
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This site provides frequently updated directory of links to government sponsored and controlled resources on the Internet.
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Great source to access Florida legislative information.
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Very thorough web site for U.S. state resources and Federal information.
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Legal Subject Index provides legal information searching by subject.
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Many sources to search for information including: legal dictionary and legal news.
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Drafting Amendments
After a bill has been introduced, any action taken thereon is taken with respect to the bill and amendments made to that bill.
In writing amendments to a bill, the objective is to make clear the change to be made in the bill.
Form and Style:
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The following examples of form and punctuation are suggested for simple amendments: On Page 2 of the bill, line 17, after “of,” insert “the.”
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On Page 3 of the bill, line 1, after “Florida Statute 57.967,” insert a period. Delete the rest of line and line 2.
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On Page 1, after line 15, insert: “(4) In all counties over 300,000 population…”
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Normally, it is not necessary to indicate both the word before and the word after the material to be inserted. Sometimes it is necessary to do so in order to make it clear where the new materials fit into the printed bill.
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For example, if the word “of” appeared twice on page 2, line 17, of the bill, the following form would be used: On page 2 of the bill, line 17, after “of” and before “state,” insert “the.”
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In amending a one-page bill, it is not necessary to give the page number in the amendment.
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After the phrase “of the bill” has been used once in the bill, it does not needed to be repeated.
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When replacing existing material with new material, delete existing material first and then insert new material.
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In referring to a punctuation mark, spell out the word rather than use the symbol. For example: On page 4 of the bill, line 3, delete semicolon.
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Restore material that the bill proposes to delete from existing law in following manner: On Page 1 of the bill, line 18, restore “3” and delete “2.”
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Always use clear and simple wording in amendments. The following words and phrases are preferred:
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USE:
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Lines 3 through 7
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Rest of the line
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Insert “penalties
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After “(7)” and before “(4)”
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Delete “173.170” and insert
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Insert
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AVOID
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Lines 3 through 7, inclusive
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Remainder of the line
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Insert the word “penalties”
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After the number “(7)” and before the number “(4)”
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Delete “FS173.170” and in lieu “173.171” thereof insert “FS173.171”
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Insert the following
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When more than one change is made in the same line, use the following form:
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On page 1 of the bill, line 3, after “FS” insert “78.982” and in the same line after “penalties,” insert “appropriate money.”
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When all of a bill is to be deleted, except the title and enacting clause, make sure that the title still applies to new matter, and use the following form:
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On page 1 of the bill, delete lines 8 through 19.
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Select pages 2 through 4 and insert: “Section 1. FS 428.070 is amended to read: “418.070. (1)…”
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Special Committees
Throughout the sessions described below, two special committees will meet to carry out the following responsibilities:
Rules Committee
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The function of the Rules Committee will be to determine the calendar (bills in order of debate) for each chamber.
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The Senate and House shall each have a Rules Committee.
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The President of the Senate and House Speaker will preside over their respective committees.
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All committee chairpersons serve as Rules Committee members.
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The Rules Committee will convene at a time stated by the presiding officers.
Conference Committee
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A joint rules committee will meet to streamline companion bills passed in both the House and Senate.
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If there are any differences in the bills, the joint rules committee will attempt to “hammer out” the differences and compromise to create a “Conference Bill” that can be presented for vote in the House and in the Senate.
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A “Conference Bill” that passes both the House and Senate is then presented to the 4-H Governor for their consideration.
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