LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Step 4: Find the Audio Taped Discussions of the Bill

What are the Tapes?
Whereas the minutes contain only highlights of the proceedings concerning a bill, the tape recordings are a direct record of the committee's discussions. Note, however, that the quality of the tapes is often poor, and not all the sessions were recorded.

Which Tapes are at the History Center?
The current schedule for legislative tapes mandates retention for a period of eighteen years. Three institutions share custody: the creator, the Legislative Reference Library and the Minnesota Historical Society. Tapes for the current biennium are held by either the House or the Senate. At the end of each biennium, all tapes are transferred to the Legislative Reference Library, where they are held for eight years. At the end of that period, all tapes are transferred to the History Center, where they are held only for a further eight years. Tapes are not retained longer than a total of eighteen years from the date of creation.

How Do I Determine Which Tape to Request?
To locate the audio-tape of the committee session discussion the bill you are researching, it is essential to determine the date the bill was heard in committee. The committee minutes provide that date. With the date, use the Legislature inventory notebook for House tapes or Senate tapes, as appropriate. These are arranged first by year, then by committee.

Please provide on the call slip the committee or subcommittee name, the date of the tape and the box number.

Can I Get a Duplicate of the Tape?
Copies of legislative tapes held by the Society may be ordered trhough Copy Services located in the Library. Ask the copy center staff for information on the charges for this service.