FLORIDALegislative History

Florida House 1963

From: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/civics/idea_to_law_chart.pdf

Representatives Lawton M. Chiles Jr. (left) and Harry W. Westberry examining part of the 141 proposed bills in the House (1965)

1959 L-R: Senator Doyle E. Carlton Jr. of Wauchula & Senator W. Turner Davis of Madison

From: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/civics/idea_to_law_chart.pdf

Fla. Legislative History Documents

Hierarchy established by Courts:

1. Staff analysis2. Bills3. House and Senate Journals4. Committee hearings5. Debates6. Governor’s statements

• Tracking of new and pending statutes

• When the statutory language is ambiguous and statutory interpretation results in a “doubtful meaning” Dept. of Rev. v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 905 So. 2d 1017 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005).

When is legislativeresearch necessary?

Bill is passed by the Fla.

Legislature Bill #: S. 1840

Bill is published as

session laws in Laws of FloridaSession Law:

2009-79

Most session laws codified are arranged by subject in Fla. Statutes

Section 210.011

From Bill to Florida Statutes

Florida Legislative History

1988 – presentComplete at Archives

Some OnlineSome at FSU Libraries

Mid-1970s – 1988Complete at Archives

1969 – mid-1970sSome documentation

Pre-1969

Start with Florida Statutes or FSA cite

• Go to the history notes found at the bottom of statutes

• Identify session law numbers

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/

Look in Laws of Florida (print or online) to find the bill number

http://www.leg.state.fl.us

http://archive.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=1640320&CFTOKEN=87978923

CAVEAT:Bills in Florida go through a lengthy process of consideration by one or more committees, as well as floor debates. However, very little documentation of this process is published.

• Not printed; recorded only on CD/ audio tape– No index– Poor tape quality– Discussion is general, not specific

• Committees keep tapes for 2 years.• Legislative Library for one year• State Archives (Need bill #, committee name, and date from bill

history to access from the Archives)

Finding Committee Hearings

• Vetoes or addresses • Available from:

• State archives • House or Senate Journals• Sometimes Governor’s website

Finding Governor signing statements

– Voting records– Text of floor amendments – Committee action– Governor’s veto statements

Not particularly useful in interpreting statutes. Courts use it to look for an accurate accounting of the formal steps taken when a law is passed, e.g., First Reading; Second Reading; Third Reading.

Finding House and Senate Journals

Finding House & Senate Journals

Research Center in print: KFF 18.H61897-current

Online: 1998-currentNext day availability when legislature is in session

Finding current and pending legislative information

http://www.flsenate.gov/

Finding current and pending legislative information

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx