SB 648

This bill establishes a process for the removal of nonfiscal policy items from the

biennial budget bill. Under the bill, a nonfiscal policy item is defined as an item that

generally has no state fiscal effect or the policy implications of the item are greater

than the state fiscal effect; an item that has been or is the subject of introduced

legislation other than the biennial budget bill; an item that would be referred to a

standing committee of the legislature, other than the Joint Committee on Finance

(JCF); or an item that can be accomplished without legislation. Under the bill,

however, nonfiscal policy items do not include those that affect state program

eligibility; that, if prepared as a bill, would generally be referred to JCF; or that

address a reorganization or transfer of state government operations or functions.

Under the bill, no later than 30 days after introduction of the biennial budget

bill, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) must prepare a report, for submission to the

cochairpersons of JCF, that identifies all nonfiscal policy items. The LFB shall also

identify all nonfiscal policy items adopted in motions during JCF deliberations on a

biennial budget bill. Each nonfiscal policy item identified by the LFB must be

referred to an appropriate standing committee in each house of the legislature. The

chairperson of each standing committee must hold a hearing and an executive

session on the nonfiscal policy item to make recommendations to the assembly or

senate, whichever is appropriate.

Finally, under the bill, the cochairpersons of JCF must introduce bills in both

houses of the legislature for each nonfiscal policy item identified by the LFB.