Resolve, Establishing a Committee To Study the Legislative Confirmation Process

Sec. 1. Committee established. Resolved: That the Committee To Study the Legislative Confirmation Process, referred to in this resolve as "the committee," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Committee membership. Resolved: That the committee consists of 12 members appointed as follows:

1. Three members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

2. Five members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

3. Two members of the public, appointed by the President of the Senate;

4. One member of the public, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

5. One member of the public, appointed by the Governor; and be it further

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the committee; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of committee. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, section 7, all appointments must be made prior to December 31, 2009. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been made. When the appointment of all members has been completed, the chairs of the committee shall call and convene the first meeting of the committee by January 15, 2010; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the committee shall thoroughly review the legislative confirmation process with the goal of reporting on the best ways to streamline and improve the process. In reviewing the process, the committee shall:

1. Review the final report of the Committee To Develop a Total Quality Management Plan from September 1, 1992 concerning the legislative confirmation process that resulted in new legislation concerning the subject. The committee shall also review the reasons given for the need for improving the process and what was recommended and what was implemented;

2. Identify the existing issues surrounding the nomination and confirmation process, such as time constraints, the number of confirmations required, background checks and dealing with negative information and confidentiality, and identify ways to improve problems within the process that have been discovered; and be it further

Sec. 6. Report. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, section 7, the committee shall submit a report no later than March 15, 2010 that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government. Pursuant to Joint Rule 353, the committee is not authorized to introduce legislation. Upon receipt of the report required by this section, the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government may, pursuant to Joint Rule 353, introduce a bill during the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature to which the report is submitted to implement its recommendations on matters relating to the study.

SUMMARY

This resolve establishes a committee to examine the legislative confirmation process with the goal of reporting on the best ways to streamline and improve the process. The committee will review the final report of the Committee To Develop a Total Quality Management Plan from September 1, 1992 concerning the legislative confirmation process that resulted in new legislation concerning the subject and review the reasons given for the need for improving the process and what was recommended and what was implemented. The committee will identify the existing issues surrounding the nomination and confirmation process, such as time constraints, the number of confirmations required, background checks and dealing with negative information and confidentiality, and identify ways to improve problems within the process that have been discovered. The committee will report to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government in the Second Regular Session with recommendations and suggested legislation. The joint standing committee is authorized to report out a bill on this subject.