As a student, you have the opportunity to assist your community while gaining vital experience in the government process. Through its Page and Messenger programs, the Florida Legislature provides a unique opportunity to engage in the legislative process.
From January to May, the Florida Legislature is at its busiest. During that period, the House and Senate enact a budget reflecting their respective interests.
In Florida, the legislative process entails the presentation of bills as well as their examination, debate, voting, and approval by committees. This allows legislators, the public, and individuals affected by the measure to thoroughly discuss ideas.
When a bill is assigned to a committee, the staff of that committee will examine it. The staff will discuss the measure's content, compare it to current law, and examine any economic effects the bill may have.
After a measure has cleared the committee, it is presented to the full House and Senate. It is sent to the governor for his approval after passing both chambers.
With a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers, the Legislature can override a gubernatorial veto. This can be done during a regular session, a special session following the regular session's adjournment, or another legislative session.
In Florida, committees play an important role in the legislative process. They convene to analyze and research laws before they are debated by the entire legislature, allowing a more in-depth look at subjects than would otherwise be possible.
During the legislative session, both House of Representatives and Senate Committees meet in January and February.The meetings normally continue no longer than 60 days, or until the General Appropriations Act is approved by the Governor and becomes law for the next fiscal year.
The Florida Legislature's "Online Sunshine" website provides access to bill texts, analysis, and legislative activities. It also contains information on the Florida Statutes and Constitution, legislative agendas, registered lobbyists, and other topics. To receive automatic email alerts when bills of interest change, create a Legislative Tracking Account on the House (Florida House of Representatives - Legislative Tracking Login Page) or Senate (Senate Tracker Login - The Florida Senate) websites.
The budget of Florida is a comprehensive document that ties tasks to monetary resources and assures that the state has the funding necessary to invest in schools, safety net programs, public health, infrastructure projects, and housing. In order to keep the government balanced and avoid overspending, the budget also regulates spending based on available revenue.
The budget process begins in July and continues throughout the year, with the governor and legislative leadership providing formal directions to state agencies on how to prepare their Legislative Budget Requests (LBRs). The governor uses LBRs to make a recommendation to the legislature for the state's spending plan.
The budgeting process is lengthy and can be difficult. However, most towns and counties follow a few fundamental processes to prepare their budget. These include forming council committees to manage specific departments inside the city. The budget request is then developed and submitted to the city by a department head in collaboration with the chair or full committee.
Legislators introduce bills in the Senate and House that, if accepted by both chambers and the governor, become laws. The laws are codified in a book called the Florida Statutes, which is produced each year.
Many changes to the legislation are made during this process. When these revisions become law, the Secretary of State grants the new law a number known as a "Chapter Law."
When an act is enacted into law, it is published in the Florida Statutes or the Digest of General Laws. This is a permanent collection of state laws that are arranged and indexed by subject area for easy access by individuals or groups.
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