Welcome to the Senate Legislative Page website

 

Here are a few frequently asked questions. If you would like to be a page or have more questions, please contact Jennifer Novak, Secretary of the Senate, at (208)332-1309

What is a Senate Page?

 

Pages are valuable members of the Senate team, and they are afforded many opportunities to experience firsthand the workings of the Idaho State Senate. As a result of their service as a Senate page they:

• • Become very familiar with the legislative process in a way most people never experience.
  • Follow the process from the start to the finish.
  • Handle actual legislation and understand the order the legislation must go through to become law.
  • Leave their service in the Senate knowing much better than most of the electorate about how to bring forth legislation and effect change.
  • This is more than just a personal benefit. It puts people out in our society who are informed as to the process and know how to bring about legislation as a citizen. We have a history of senators, staff and lobbyists who began their Senate experience as a Senate page.

 

Who can be a page?

 

The Idaho State Senate Page Program is a program open to Idaho high school seniors from the age of 17 to 19. Upon approval of their high school principals, students hired as senate pages are allowed to leave school for six weeks to work for the Senate. Many students schedule lighter class loads at the time that they will be in the Senate Page Program. School work must be completed after work and on the weekends. The Senate tries to accommodate the pages by allowing them to study during downtimes, proctoring tests, and allowing time to confer and collaborate with their teachers. 

 

What are the duties of a Senate Page?

 

The pages work a forty-hour week for six weeks and are compensated for their time. The first six weeks ten pages work from the 2nd week of January through the 3rd week in February. The second set of ten pages work from the 3rd week of February until the end of March or the end of the session. If the session goes longer those pages who need to get back to school do so and any pages who can stay remain until the end of session.

The pages perform varied and important tasks for the senators and Senate staff. In addition to general tasks each page is assigned to one of the ten Senate committees working for the Senate Committee Chairman and the Committee Secretary. Their responsibilities include preparing materials, setting up the hearing room, signing in guests who wish to testify, technical support, and delivering messages.

General duties include mail distribution, bill book, journal, and bill drawer maintenance, delivery of materials, and assisting senators and attaches. One interesting aspect of their responsibilities is sitting on the floor of the Senate Chambers during the floor sessions. Very few people are allowed that privilege.

 

What will you learn as a Page?

 

We teach the pages many important things which pertain to the business world. We have a dress code like that required of the senators and staff. It is a formal setting, and the pages are exposed to formal manners, language, rules, and decorum. They learn to interact with the senators, the staff, and the public in a professional manner. We arrange for the pages to meet all the constitutional officers of the State of Idaho. They meet as a group with all the Senate Leadership in a question/answer setting where they can ask any questions they want.

 

What is expected of a page?

 

Respectful Workplace Training is required of all senators, staff, and pages. We have additional training for the pages regarding recognizing and reporting harassment. There is strict protocol as to what is appropriate behavior and what is not. Emphasis is placed on reporting any inappropriate behavior to authorized personnel. We also have a drug, alcohol, and tobacco free workplace policy for the Senate pages.

 

What are the future advantages of being a page?

 

Being a Senate page is often a life changing experience. We watch them grow through their experiences every day. Many pages and their parents have told us what a great impact this experience has had on their lives. Their confidence grows as they have these positive experiences as Senate pages. They leave with knowledge not available in any other setting and with letters of recommendation reflecting their unique experiences.

The pages establish lifelong friendships with people from all parts of Idaho. They learn to cooperate with the other pages. They are often very self- directed. Many times, we care more that the task gets done than it be done in a certain way or order, so they gain experience in problem solving skills. They contribute greatly to our operation. The senators and the staff appreciate the pages and are very kind and nurturing to them. You might even say we spoil the pages. Senators and staff are often seen bringing treats into the page room. If the senators or staff, see a special need, they are quick to step in to help the pages. The pages love the experience and are always very sad to leave.

Former Senate pages often come back to visit and share with us how the life experiences they gained while they were here helped them gain confidence and opened doors of opportunity for them. They are very appreciative of having been able to serve as Senate pages.

 

What will you need to do to be a page?

 

If you are interested in being a Senate page complete the application by clicking on the “Page Application” button at the bottom of this page and return it to the address on the form by November 15th. If you would like more information about the Senate Page Program contact Jennifer Novak, Secretary of the Senate at (208) 332-1309 or Sarah Jane McDonald (208) 863-7290. We would love to answer your questions.

Pages are responsible for their own housing and transportation. Some housing options may come from relatives, family friends, home-school groups, or religious groups.