Legislative History

STEP 1	Your legislative history research should begin with a Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS)number. For example: KRS 342.817
STEP 2	Go to the history portion at the end of the statute and find the Kentucky Acts chapter and year: (Enact. Acts 1994, ch. 181, Part 12 §47 effective April 14, 1994)
STEP 3	Go to the Kentucky Acts to identify the bill's sponsor and locate the Senate or House bill number at the chapter heading. CHAPTER 181 HB 928
STEP 4	Use the Final Legislative Record to find the legislative committee(s) to which the bill was assigned. Mar 3 - to Labor & Industry Mar 8 - reported favorably Mar 17 - received in Senate Mar 18 - to Labor & Industry Mar 22 - reported favorably
STEP 5	Check with the Legislative Research Commission library to see if the committee minutes were taped during the session *. Tapes may be copied for $5.00/tape or you may listen to them in the library.
STEP 6	If the committee meeting was not taped, the summary minutes of the committee hearings can be used. These are available in the Legislative Research Commission library.
STEP 7	House and Senate Journals can then be used to trace the action of the bill on chamber floors. These journals will show votes, amendments, and floor action on the bill. Vote House - HB 928 (Mar 30) Yeas 90 Nays 6 Senate - HB 928 (Mar 30) Yeas 23 Nays 15
STEP 8	If legislative intent is not included in the bill text or discernable from committee materials: Contact the bill sponsor or Legislative Research Commission committee staff for background material (if any).