The Legislature alternates between committee and floor schedules throughout the biennial session. If a bill does not pass before the end of the last floor period of the session, it dies and will need to be re-drafted to be introduced again in the next session. About 2,000 bills are introduced by both houses, and only about 500 pass. Board members serve important roles in both ensuring passage of bills that are favorable to public schools and in defeating bills that work to the detriment of the public school system. Once an idea is brought to a legislator, his or her staff researches the topic to find the pros and cons of the issue and then consults the drafting attorney as to the specific language to accomplish the proposal's goal.
Board members serve two important roles here.
First, they can initiate bills by bringing ideas for bills to legislators. Second, they provide information for legislators as they research proposals initiated by other constituents. Once the bill is drafted, the proposal along with an analysis and a letter from the author is sent to all senators and representatives to request their co-sponsorship. It is important to get bipartisan support to avoid a veto, as well as Senate and Assembly passage, since someone will be needed from both parties to champion the bill in both caucuses and on the floor in each house once debate on the bill begins. It is also helpful to have key committee members co-sponsoring the bill to shepherd it through the committee process.