House staff changes and deadlines at the Legislature

Author :
 Erin Boeckman
 
Date :
 11/20/2007
 

Senior Staff Writer

(OK) When the House and Senate staffers return from their holiday break, they will have two weeks before the legislation hits the fan and the Legislature's deadline process begins anew for 2008.

The first legislative deadline quickly approaches on Dec. 7. Bill requests must be submitted by that Friday. Staff members then have a little more than a month before their next deadline. Bills must be filed by Jan. 17 in the House and Senate, according to their deadline calendars.

 The 2008 legislative session, the second half of the 51st Legislature, is set to begin Feb. 4. A Senate committee deadline quickly follows on Feb. 21, according to the Senate's calendar. The House has not yet established any internal deadlines for subcommittees or full committees, said Jan Harrison with the House chief clerk's office.

The first joint house deadline is set for March 13. It is the deadline for the third reading of measures in the house of origin. Another Senate committee deadline is set for April 3, which is the date by which Senate committees must have heard House bills, according to the Senate calendar. The deadline for third reading of legislation in opposite houses is April 24. Sine die, the end of session, is scheduled for May 30.

The 2008 session will also bring new staff members and new roles for existing staff. Harrison is acting as chief clerk in the absence of Joel Kintsel, who is on military leave from the House. Kintsel is expected to resume his role as chief clerk when he returns. Assistant Chief Counsel Mark Harter will be providing the clerk support previously provided by Kintsel during session. Harter will assume the seat to the acting speaker's right on the floor of the House, said Damon Gardenhire, director of communications for the House. While Harter's new role is a temporary role, Jeff Hubbard is permanently taking over as the new reading and agenda clerk. He takes over the position left vacant by Renee Jourden, who left earlier this fall, Gardenhire said.

In the Senate, Robin Maxey, media assistant to Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, left his post to become communications director for the Senate president in Oregon. Maxey's replacement is Amber England.