House Speaker Cretul Issues Memorandum On Mid-Session Planning And Legislative Decorum–March 20

Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul issued a memorandum on Thursday, March 19, regarding mid-Session planning and Legislative decorum to members of the State House of Representatives.

Below is the text of House Speaker Cretul’s memorandum:

 

TO: Members of the Florida House of Representatives

FROM: Larry Cretul, Speaker

DATE: March 19, 2009

RE: Mid-Session Planning and Legislative Decorum

 

As we approach the upcoming weeks of the 2009 Legislative Session, I would like to address the very important issue of legislative decorum and assist you in planning your time in Tallahassee and back in the district. It is my sincere hope that this information will be helpful to you as we all work together.

First and foremost, we have a daunting task ahead of us in assembling a responsible and balanced budget to help our state’s economy recover while meeting the needs of the citizens we serve. The recent report from the General Revenue Estimating Conference only emphasizes this point. Next week we will be outlining the Special Rule for the amendment process of the General Appropriations Act and related implementing and conforming bills.

Secondly, below is a brief plan and outline for the final weeks of session to assist with expectations and planning.

• Week 4: (March 23 -27) This is the last week of regularly scheduled policy committees.

• Week 5: (March 30-April 3) Policy councils will be scheduled to meet. Fiscal committees are also scheduled to work on the budget in order to prepare and distribute legislation by the end of the week. Any policy committee meetings will be due to specific policy initiatives and with the Speaker’s approval.

• Week 6: (April 6-10) Anticipate this week to be an abbreviated but busy week. The House and Senate will convene a Joint Session the morning of Tuesday, April 7th to welcome former Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. Both fiscal councils willmeet that afternoon to consider budget legislation. Please know that it is our hope tofinish the budget process by the close of business on Tuesday, April 7th so members can travel home. However, if work is not completed in the fiscal councils by Tuesday, we will meet the morning of Wednesday April 8th. NOTE: Councils and Committees will NOT be meeting from noon on Wednesday, April 8th through noon on Monday, April 13th.

• Week 7: (April 13 – 17) The General Appropriations Act and related implementing and conforming bills are expected to be placed on Special Order on Thursday, April 16th and on third reading on Friday, April 17th. This week will also include a local bill calendar and a consent calendar on the floor.

Finally, I ask all of you to be mindful of proper decorum as we fulfill our constitutional duties during this time. Floridians are watching and professional behavior is expected. As members of the Florida House of Representatives, we need to conduct our business with dignity. Members should be attending all meetings of committees and councils to which they are assigned.  Additionally, Members should be attentive during committee meetings, showing up on time, staying until the meeting is finished and paying attention to the speakers. Tardiness, distracting side conversations, and blackberry and cell phone use during meetings is simply disrespectful.

Furthermore, this behavior is counterproductive to an orderly process.

Inevitably, there will be disagreements over proposed solutions to our state’s economic problems. I encourage you to disagree without being disagreeable. We all share a common goal to build a better Florida. By approaching each member and issue with respect and courtesy, we can achieve this goal in a manner befitting the trust our constituents have placed in us.

 

For additional information on Florida’s legislative process and terminology, click here.

 

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.

 

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