The Anatomy of a Bill
The first three unnumbered lines tell: 1) If the bill originated in the
House or the Senate; 2) The number by which the bill will be known
until it becomes law (or dies); 3) The committee that heard testimony on
the bill and made recommendation to the full floor of the House (or
Senate)
The Title begins with the phrase,"An act . . . " and is always
capitalized.
The Short Title is the first phrase of the bill and paraphrases the
general purpose and the intent of the legislation. The rest of the
title identifies what body of law would be repealed, amended, and/or
added to if the bill were to become law. Each phrase within the title
ends with a semicolon and is more broadly discussed in the body of the
bill.
The Enacting Clause follows the title with the phrase, "Be it enacted by
the Legislature of the State of Idaho . . . " A bill must include this
phrase, without it, the measure cannot become law. One way to kill a
bill is to "strike" or delete the enacting clause.
SECTION ONE elaborates on the second phrase within the title. SECTION
TWO elaborates on the third phrase and so on.
Wording to be added to law is called "new language." It is underscored.
If a new section is to be added, the language is headed with the words
"NEW SECTION." Each new section of law being proposed has a new Idaho
code number.
If language is being amended, the section of law is first identified by
its code number and the words to be changed are struck out. New
language follows immediately and is underscored.
Language to be deleted or repealed is struck through. A whole section
can be deleted with the phrase, "That Section XX-XXXX, Idaho Code, be
and the same is hereby repealed."
The Effective Date is the final section of the body of the bill. It
gives the date the bill would become law if passed. Unless otherwise
stated, the implementation is first day of July of the year the bill is
passed. July 1 is the beginning of Idaho's fiscal year. If the date is
earlier than July 1, the wording "an emergency clause" will head the
section.
Amendments: If a bill is amended, the changes are printed on a pink
piece of paper and an "aa," which means "as amended," is added to the
bill number. An "aa" is attached for each amendment.
