Uniform Law Commission (ULC) drafting committees consist of a chair, several ULC commissioners from various states, and a reporter (usually a law professor with expertise in the subject matter). Every ULC drafting committee is also assigned an ABA advisor, who represents the ABA as a whole, and frequently one or more ABA section advisors, who represent particular ABA entities. Other interested groups are also invited to send representatives, known as “observers.” ULC drafting meetings are open to the public, everyone at a drafting meeting is encouraged to participate fully in the discussion, and all of our drafts are available on the ULC website. ULC drafting committees typically meet three times a year (two substantive drafting committee meetings and a presentation of the draft for line-by-line reading and debate at the ULC Annual Meeting) for at least two years.
ULC Study Committees review an assigned area of law in light of defined criteria and recommend whether ULC should proceed with a draft on that subject. Study Committees typically do not meet in-person, but when appropriate Study Committees hold meetings with those interested in the area that the committee is exploring in order to assist in gauging the need for uniform state legislation in an area, the likely scope of any drafting project, and the potential support for a project. ABA advisors are appointed to Study Committees when such an appointment appears particularly useful.
Standby Committees
Upon approval of a Uniform or Model Act, the drafting committee which completed the act is converted to a Standby Committee. A Standby Committee is composed of the former members of the drafting committee. While not active, ULC Standby Committees are available if it becomes necessary to consider developments affecting a completed act.
The ULC has a limited number of standing committees. Standing committees are permanent committees of the ULC, appointed to do assigned work on an ongoing basis.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is the ULC's governing board, and has the responsibility for implementing the policies adopted by the ULC at its meetings, and all the duties and powers prescribed by the Constitution and Bylaws.
Committee on Scope and Program
This Committee on Scope and Program recommends to the Executive Committee the work the ULC should undertake and the general plan and scope of its activities.
Legislative Committee
The Legislative Committee, with at least one liaison in each state and territory, is responsible for seeking the state enactment of uniform and model acts approved by the ULC.
Committee on Membership and Attendance
This committee: encourages the prompt filling of vacancies in membership of the ULC; encourages members to attend meetings of the ULC; and acts as a reception committee for new members at annual meetings of the ULC.
Committee on Style
The Committee on Style revises as to phraseology and style, but without altering meaning or context, all acts submitted to it by drafting committees, and all acts finally approved by the ULC. This committee also periodically reviews the ULCs Drafting Rules for Uniform or Model Acts and makes recommendations concerning them.
Committee on Parliamentary Practice
The members of the Committee on Parliamentary Practice serve as parliamentarians at ULC annual meetings. Each session of the annual meeting has a parliamentarian on duty. The role of the parliamentarian is to give advice on parliamentary practice to the chair and any other member upon request. Parliamentarians will follow the ULC “Rules of Procedure for Meetings of the National Conference.”
Committee on Public Information
The purpose of the Public Information Committee is to develop, on an ongoing basis, strategies to improve and assure that the work of the ULC is timely and accurately communicated to the public, with particular emphasis toward State Legislators, Governors, and other State and Federal lawmakers and policy makers. The Committee will also support the legislative work of the ULC in conjunction with the Legislative Council, other committees of the ULC, and individual Commissioners, as necessary.
There are six Editorial Boards which have been appointed with respect to uniform Acts in various subject areas. These Boards are responsible for monitoring new developments which may have an impact on the Acts and for making recommendations for revising existing Acts or drafting new Acts in their subject areas. The Editorial Boards are made up of members from the Uniform Law Commission, the American Bar Association, the American Law Institute, and other organizations.
The ULC also establishes committees which do not fall under the category of standing or special committees. These “Other Committees” are specialized committees assigned for a specific purpose, such as committees which monitor a certain area of the law, or committees which establish liaison with other relevant organizations.