Volume 7

March 30, 1998

Number 5
Now that the budgets have passed out of their respective houses, the rumors are rampant that this legislative session is well on its way to closing a week early. Having been in this process a few years, I've certainly heard that one before! Even so, this week, only the fifth of the session, the conference process will begin. Conferees are expected to be announced today. As most of you know, the conference committee is where a select few members of the legislature meld the House and Senate budgets into one final product. It is an important time of the session.

Other bills important to the SUS are passing out of committees as well. The Management Efficiency bill passed a Senate committee last week, for only the third year in a row (see Spotlight on Bills). Revisions to the Bright Futures statute con tinue to be discussed, although nothing has passed yet. A bill pertaining to an expansion of our PIMS program will be heard later this week (see related story) and a bill naming an FSU -owned recording studio in Gadsden County is up for a vote in a House committee today.

Remember that the Florida Channel (local cable channel 47) carries live coverage of the House and Senate deliberations daily. Also, every weekday at 5:30 p.m., the Florida Channel airs Capitol Update, a live, half-hour recap of the day's legislative events.

Please feel free to contact me if you need copies of bills and their analysis, or if you have questions about issues which may concern you. I can be reached at 644-4453 or by e-mail, kdaly@govrel.fsu.edu..

Kathleen Daly