Staff-mediated information flows to forest policy committees in state legislatures

Forest policy committees in state legislatures depend on committee staff to provide them with relevant information for decisions affecting the status and management of forest lands within state boundaries. This study investigates the role of committee staff in mediating flows of information on these matters to committee legislators. Following the delineation of a scheme for categorizing the substantive content of information on forestry and related matters, the political environment of forest policy committees in state legislatures is identified in terms of groups and organizations that function as sources of such information for forest policy committees. Attention then turns to a model of the process in which committee staff perceive, interpret, evaluate, search for, and convey information on forestry matters to committee legislators. Based on this model, a survey instrument was designed and sent to staff of forest policy committees in both chambers of legislatures in 35 states in which forest resources are significant. The survey focused on staff communication with committee members and with groups and organizations in the political environment on matters related to forestry and state forest lands. With respect to their committees, staff respondents indicated the degree of committee attention to and familiarity with forestry and related matters; the form and content of requests for information by committee legislators; and the manner in which staff conveyed information to committee members on these matters. Staff also assessed the adequacy of information on various forestry-related matters for committee decision making, and they identified their most important priorities for improved information in this regard. Another series of responses focused on patterns of staff communication with groups and organizations in the political environment as sources of information on forestry and related matters. Staff evaluated the importance of such groups for information in both its functional and substantive dimensions. They also assessed the effectiveness of communications of these groups from a political perspective. Results of the survey are interpreted within the framework of the model of staff communication noted above; and implications for the quality of information, communication, and decision making of forest policy committees in state legislatures are discussed.