III. Legislative Files, 2002-2005 (accession 42414).

Containers:

Box 38-174

Extent:

Extent: 47.95 cubic feet (137 boxes).

Scope and content:

The Legislative Files series is housed in 137 boxes and is arranged chronologically by legislative session. This series documents the Governor's Policy Office review of all legislation introduced by the General Assembly during the Warner administration. Each file usually contains the text of each bill including any amendments, bill tracking information, Governor's Summaries (prepared by the Division of Legislative Services), Legislative Action Summaries (for bills tabled, withdrawn or killed in committee), Governor's Policy Office Enrolled Bill Review Forms, Enrolled Bill Reviews (by Cabinet Secretary), Department of Planning and Budget Fiscal Impact Statements, Attorney General's Recommendations to the Governor and other miscellaneous legislation-related documents which explain in detail various bills brought before and voted upon by the General Assembly. In addition to providing the policy positions and decisions of the Warner administration, the Legislative Files may also be useful to researchers in determining legislative intent.

Each Governor's Summary prepared by the Division of Legislative Services contains the bill number, patron, bill summary, other information and name of reviewer. The Enrolled Bill Reviews, prepared by the agency most affected by the legislation, summarize the bill and the number of votes for passage achieved by the House and Senate. The reviews include affected constituents' summary, agency analysis and recommendations, recommendations by the appropriate cabinet secretary and notations as to whether the Governor should sign, ask to amend or veto the bill. The Governor's Policy Office Enrolled Bill Review Form contains the vote in the House and Senate, a list and explanation of any no votes, fiscal impact (if any), summary of bill and comments by a Policy Office analyst (Ryan Childress, Suzette Denslow, Steven Gould, David Hallock, Anna Healy, Gail Jaspen, William L. Murray, Grant Neely or Wayne Turnage), and recommendations to Governor Warner from the Analyst, Director of Policy (Jane N. Kusiak, 2002 and Robert M. Blue, 2002-2005) and Chief of Staff (William H. Leighty) if the Governor should sign, veto or amend the bill. Some files contain Department of Planning and Budget fiscal impact statements which detail the monetary affect any legislation might have on the budget. The Office of the Attorney General's Recommendations to the Governor contain check boxes noting if the legislation conflicts with existing law or the Virginia and Federal constitutions, as well as any suggested amendments or comments. The Attorney General's Recommendations are restricted due to attorney-client privilege. Other files also contain correspondence including e-mail messages from bill supporters and opponents related to that particular bill. Also included in this series are Legislative Action Summaries that contain agency and cabinet secretary recommendations and handwritten comments and Governor's suggested amendments and veto messages.

Notable legislation includes: Budget Bills, HB 30 (02), HB 29 (04), HB 30 (04) and HB 5001 (Special Session 2004); Educational Facility Bond Act of 2002, HB 99 (02) and SB 31 (02); creation of Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA), HB 1926 (03) and SB 1247 (03); creation of the small, women, and minority-owned business (SWAM) program, HB 1145 (04) and SB 598 (04); the creation of the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, SB 543 (04) and the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act, SB 1327 (05).

Access and use

Contents