Role of KLRD - Standing Committees During the Legislative Session

KLRD typically assigns two research analysts to each standing subject-matter committee, and two or more fiscal analysts to each House budget committee, the House Appropriations Committee, and the Senate Ways and Means Committee and its subcommittees.

As committee assistants normally are not available prior to the start of the Legislative Session, analysts work with chairpersons to develop agendas and schedule speakers for committee meetings during the first week or two of the Session.

During the Session, research and fiscal analysts perform a variety of tasks for committees, as shown in the list below (activities carried out solely or primarily by either research or fiscal analysts are noted):

• Attend each committee and subcommittee meeting;
• Respond to questions from committee members;
• Gather and present information upon request of the committee or one of its members;
• Explain a bill (this responsibility sometimes is performed by staff of the Office of Revisor of Statutes, depending on the preference of the chairperson);
• Prepare and present budget analyses for individual state agencies (fiscal analysts);
• Prepare and publish supplemental notes summarizing each bill on which the committee takes action (primarily research analysts);
• Prepare detailed explanations of appropriations bills, including the final budget bill;
• Prepare subcommittee reports incorporating budgetary adjustments throughout the appropriations process (fiscal analysts);
• Prepare and publish Conference Committee Report Briefs (CCRB's) (research analysts);
• Prepare a three-column report for an appropriations bill in conference committee that highlights the position of each chamber (fiscal analysts); and
• Review draft minutes of committee meetings.