The Legislative Process - A Process Of The People
COMMITTEE BRACKET SYSTEM OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE
House and Senate committees encompassing related subject areas generally have similar memberships and are grouped under broad program areas. This committee organization, known as the "bracket system," enables committee members to consider related bills, programs, and budgetary issues that may be raised in any of the program area committees. The bracket system also facilitates the joint referral and hearing of bills and allows chairs in the same bracket to exchange meeting times to accommodate their respective workloads as the need arises.
For example, during the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions, the House of Representatives has 17 standing committees and the Senate has 14 standing committees. Under this system, each representative or senator sits on several standing committees. The House and Senate bracket systems were implemented to avoid overlapping meeting schedules so that all members will have a greater opportunity to participate in their committees' activities.
The House committee bracket system operates as follows:
- All committees are organized either under the "A" or "B" bracket. Meetings and public hearings for all committees in the "A" bracket are held in the afternoons and evenings, while "B" bracket committees meet in the mornings. Most representatives are assigned to one program area in the "A" bracket to fill their afternoon and evening schedules, and one program area in the "B" bracket to fill their morning schedules.
- Standing committees within each bracket are grouped under major program areas, such as "Economic Opportunities" or "Justice & Consumer Protection," each consisting of two to four committees. For example, the Economic Opportunities program area consists of the committees on Agriculture; Economic Development & Business Concerns; and Tourism & Culture.
- î In some cases, committees within the same program area have similar memberships, allowing a representative to serve on a number of different though related committees.
The Senate committees are organized under the "A," "B," or "C" bracket system. Meetings and public hearings for all committees in the "A" bracket are usually held in the mornings, Monday through Friday, and may extend into the afternoons, if additional meetings are necessary. Senate "B" bracket standing committees usually meet in the afternoons, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The Senate "C" bracket standing committees usually meet in the afternoons, Tuesday and Thursday, and Saturday, if necessary.
For the Twenty-fourth Legislature (2007 and 2008 legislative sessions), the committee organizations of the House of Representatives and the Senate are as follows:
| Bracket | Broad Program Areas | Standing Comittees |
|---|---|---|
| "A" Bracket | Fiscal Management | Finance Committee |
| Legislative Management | Legislative Management Committee | |
| Justice and Consumer Protection | Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee | |
| Judiciary Committee | ||
| Education | Education Committee | |
| Higher Education Committee | ||
| "B" Bracket | Human Services | Health Committee |
| Human Services and Housing Committee | International Affairs Committee | |
| Natural Resources and Hawaiian Affairs | Energy and Environmental Protection Committee | |
| Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs Committee | ||
| Government Resources and Public Safety | Labor and Public Employment Committee | |
| Transportation Committee | ||
| Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee | ||
| Economic Opportunities | Agriculture Committee | |
| Economic Development and Business Concerns Committee | ||
| Tourism and Culture Committee |
| Bracket | Standing Committees |
|---|---|
| "A" Bracket | Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing Committee |
| Judiciary and Labor Committee | |
| Ways and Means Committee | |
| "B" Bracket | Education Committee |
| Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee | |
| Health Committee | |
| Transportation and International Affairs Committee | |
| Water and Land Committee | |
| "C" Bracket | Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs Committee |
| Economic Development and Taxation Committee | |
| Energy and Environment Committee | |
| Human Services and Public Housing Committee | |
| Public Safety Committee | |
| Tourism and Government Operations Committee |
| Acronym | Committee Name |
|---|---|
| AGR | Agriculture |
| CPC | Consumer Protection and Commerce |
| EDB | Economic Development and Business Concerns |
| EDN | Education |
| EEP | Energy and Environmental Protection |
| FIN | Finance |
| HED | Higher Education |
| HLT | Health |
| HSH | Human Services and Housing |
| INT | International Affairs |
| JUD | Judiciary |
| LAB | Labor and Public Employment |
| LMG | Legislative Management |
| PSM | Public Safety and Military Affairs |
| TAC | Tourism and Culture |
| TRN | Transportation |
| WLH | Water, Land, Ocean Resources and Hawaiian Affairs |
| Acronym | Committee Name |
|---|---|
| AHW | Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs |
| CPH | Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing |
| EDT | Economic Development and Taxation |
| EDU | Education |
| ENE | Energy and Environment |
| HTH | Health |
| IGM | Intergovernmental and Military Affairs |
| JDL | Judiciary and Labor |
| PBS | Public Safety |
| TIA | Transportation and International Affairs |
| TSG | Tourism and Government Operations |
| WTL | Water and Land |
| WAM | Ways and Means |