Connecticut House Bill HB06417

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/17
• Refer: 1/23/17

Caption

An Act Concerning Legislative Procedures For Budget And Revenue Related Bills.

Impact

The proposed legislation also includes a specific time restriction on when votes can be held on such crucial bills. It stipulates that no votes on state budgets or revenue-related bills can occur between the hours of 11:59 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. This measure is aimed at preventing last-minute decisions during off-hours, reinforcing the need for careful consideration of budgetary matters, and allowing members more time for thoughtful discourse and deliberation.

Summary

House Bill 6417, also known as An Act Concerning Legislative Procedures for Budget and Revenue Related Bills, aims to enhance transparency and provide adequate notice regarding budget-related legislation in the Connecticut General Assembly. The bill mandates that any emergency certified budget or revenue related bill must be publicly available at least seventy-two hours before a vote is taken on the House or Senate floor. This provision is intended to ensure that both members of the General Assembly and the public have sufficient time to review and understand these critical financial documents before they are voted on.

Contention

A significant aspect of this bill is the requirement that any suspension of these new regulations must receive the approval of at least three-quarters of the members from each chamber of the General Assembly. This provision is likely to be a point of contention, as it sets a high threshold for any changes to the proposed rules, potentially leading to debates about the balance between efficient legislative processes and ensuring due diligence in financial governance.