In stark contrast to last week at the Legislative Office Building, the words "a slow day" have not been uttered from anyone's lips. Things are starting to pick up now as committees feel the pressure of early "JF" deadlines while language is still being released for all the "concept" raised committee bills from the previous several weeks.

The proverbial log jam that exists annually in the non- partisan Legislative Commissioner's Office (LCO) has broken and we are flooded with detailed language. This language is essential for crafting testimony and to figure out if amendments will be needed in order to shape the underlying public policy. Until now, we have been working with committee chairs to uncover what details were intended within the so called "concepts" that were raised within every committee. With specific language released, the sides are drawn, the debate will get hot and the fur will begin to fly on the most controversial bills during the public hearing process.

Committees are holding public hearings at an unprecedented rate this week. There were 12 committees holding public hearings this Thursday alone! It's even difficult for committee staff to secure a room. Committees like Energy have to break up their public hearings into two two-hour stints and restrict public comment to 2 minutes with questions to follow. Other committees have long agendas with the hearing stretching well into the evening hours. Committee chairs schedules are filling up so quickly that the Vice- Chairs are accommodating the overflow requests from interested parties and at this pace, most meetings will focus on rank and file members of the committee.

The short session brings quick reaction times. We are about to head into March and the JF Deadlines, the last day for committees to favorably vote a bill out of committee, will be looming over everyone's heads beginning next week. Public hearings should be wrapping up in the next three weeks and scheduled session days are beginning to pop up weekly. So far, session days have focused on judicial nominations and confirmations of the Governor's interim appointees.

Next Wednesday, the House and Senate return to wrap up the remaining judicial nominations, and soon will begin to entertain the rush of committee-approved bills. The infamous "work in progress" bills are certain to begin flying out of committees as the deadlines approach and the interested parties wrangle over specific language. We will see a lot of committee referrals on the floor at first, but by the first of April, the legislature is expected to have regularly scheduled session days to take action on legislation.

The familiar phrase that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb just doesn't apply to the short sessions at the LOB. It's all going to be looking like a lion straight through until May for those who roam the Capitol halls this session!

A hand reaches to the bottom of the manila envelope and pulls up a tiny slip of paper. "Number 22," the clerk says, "You may actually get to speak today." Welcome to public hearing season.

In a short session, public hearings hit fast and hard. Every bill must have a public hearing before it can be voted to the House or Senate floor. This week alone there were 35 public hearings scheduled! Working in a tight timeframe, committees may hold two hearings in the same day or may have what seem like endless agendas. And long agendas mean a number of people testifying.

Committees hold public hearing sign-ups in two ways: first come, first serve or by lottery. For first come, first serve committees, such as the Energy or Insurance Committees, people interested in testifying line up at the door of the hearing room one hour prior to the start of the hearing. The first person in line gets to speak first and so on. Sometimes the committees will break up the hearings by bill number so that the legislators can focus on one item at a time. In order to give clients an edge and ensure they speak towards the head of the pack, lobbyists may come in hours before the official time to line up. This could be as early as 4 or 5 am!

The other option, sign-up by lottery, is being utilized by more committees this year such as the Environment and Judiciary Committees. The lottery is often considered the fairer option as it levels the playing field. People line up at the hearing room one or two hours before the hearing begins and pick a number. Once everyone has picked a number and their name is written in that spot, any spaces between the numbers are deleted and what remains is the order of those testifying at the public hearing. This way, the public does not have to battle the lobbyists to see who can get into the Legislative Office Building the earliest! Everything is left to the luck of the draw.

Committees do have deadlines to hold public hearings. Public hearings on bills proposed by an individual must be held as early as February 21 for the Aging Committee or as late as March 20 for the Finance Committee. Public hearings on raised bills can be held anytime before the Joint Favorable deadline for each committee, most of which occur in early to mid-March. So far there are six more hearings set for next week with more sure to pop as deadlines approach!

If you have any questions on how to sign up for a public hearing or how to submit written testimony, please contact Kate Mulligan at (860) 560-0000.

To further explore revenue enhancers for corporate entities, we wanted to follow up last week's information on tax credits and incentives from the Department of Economic and Community Development with a look at what's available at the Department of Revenue. The annual DRS helpful publication "Guide to Connecticut Business Tax Credits" provides a description of a tax credit program, definitions of any relevant terms, and information on how to apply and where to obtain additional information.

Tax credit programs include:

• Clean Alternative Fuel Credit (10% and 50%) for: Vehicles, Equipment, and Related Filling or Recharging Stations
• Apprenticeship Training Credit in Manufacturing, Plastics, Plastics-Related, or Construction Trades
• Credits for the Donation of Land
• Hiring Incentive Tax Credit
• Traffic Reduction Programs Credit
• Urban and Industrial Site Reinvestment Credit

To view the full publication, click on the link below. Next week look for info on what's hot at the Office of Policy and Management!