LAWS users once again provided us feedback during and after the 2005 regular session. We appreciate your comments, and have implemented many of the best ideas. Listed below are some of the enhancements that are new for the 2007 session.
Hearing notifications, via email, can now be sent to multiple addresses. Preference list users now have the option of having email notifications sent to multiple email addresses for bills maintained on their preference list(s). Restrictions include the following: 1) The "owner" of the preference list should always be the first email address entered -- any communication (beisdes the hearing notifications) regarding the list will be sent to the first address listed only. 2) Each email address must be separated with a semicolon. 3) Total length of the addresses, including the separators, can not exceed 500 characters.
Default "toggle" for hearing notifications added to preference list maintenance screens. Preference list users now have the option of setting a "default" for bills added to their preference list(s) that will automatically set the hearing notification indicator. Previously, each hearing notification "flag" had to be set after the bills were added to the list.
Added a more convenient, user friendly, link to bill text with line numbers. The Detailed Bill Information screen now contains a link to the "Authorized print version w/line numbers (PDF formatted)" bill text. The link can also still be found at its old location, at the bottom of the .html formatted bill text, as it has been since 2001. Users unfamiliar with this format should note that Adobe Acrobat, or a similar .pdf reader, is required to open this file.
Look up bills by their Chapter Number. The Bill Look Up Information screen now contains an option to retrieve bill status (and therefore its text) by using its Chapter Number (once assigned). Chapter Numbers are assigned to bills once they have successfully completed the Legislative process, and have been signed into law by the Governor.
Modified the Detailed Bill Information page to prominently display the Chapter Number. The Detailed Bill Information page now prominently displays the Chapter Number (once assigned). Previously, users needed to scroll down to the "Add'l Bill Info" section of the page to see the Chapter Number.
These are just a few of the prominent changes we've made for the 2007 session. Thanks to everyone that provided feedback. If you have other ideas or feedback, please send a message to LAWS Webmaster.
