At 2 p.m. Wednesday, eight appropriations subcommittees were scheduled, but none had begun. At least 30 representatives were roaming the Capitol Complex.

"I've got to make sure I'm in the right place," said a hurried Rep. Rebecca Lockhart, R-Provo, at 2:18 p.m.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, wasn't in his chair on the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee nearly half an hour past 2 p.m.

Down the hall, the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee meeting was just barely getting started, almost a half-hour late for the second time since the session began.

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. It appears we're right on time -- 20 minutes late," Rep. Gordon Snow, R-Roosevelt, co-chairman of the committee, said facetiously.

At the Legislature, one thing is as certain as this year's budget surplus -- there will always be a meeting, and then some more meetings after that. And most will start late.

"There just get to be so many meetings that you have to pick and choose," said Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem.

Meetings start as early as 7 a.m. and can last late into the night. For Ray, it was 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Like all legislators, Ray serves on at least two committees. The first type is a standing committee, which hears and debates bills before they go to the Senate or House for debate.

The second type is an appropriations subcommittee, which prioritizes funding requests. For example, the Higher Education Appropriation Subcommittee hears requests for funding from the state's colleges and universities.

Besides sitting on committees, legislators have to present bills to them. The process can take an hour or more, usually when the bill is controversial.

Between those daily meetings is floor debate, which lasts two hours during the first few weeks and gets longer near the end of the session. Most legislators take advantage to meet during lunch for caucuses, or do interviews with the media.

Ray also met with constituents and two city councils within his district before going home to his family on Tuesday. He got to bed at about midnight, and woke up at 4 a.m. the next day to go to the gym.

"It's a busy schedule you know, but it's fun," he said.

But with all the business comes tardiness. At times, agendas get pushed back, and people who come to speak about bills leave without doing so because of postponements.

Ray attributes much of the lateness to busy schedules, but acknowledged room for improvement.

"It's kind of a courtesy to the public that we should be there on time," he said.

Wednesday's meetings for Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem. He didn't make it to all of them:

7 a.m. Breakfast with the Utah Conservancy District

8:30 a.m. Transportation Standing Committee and presentation of a bill

10 a.m. Floor debate in the House Chambers

12 p.m. Freshmen Caucus

12:45 p.m. Presentation of another bill

2 p.m. Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee

4:30 p.m. Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities

5 p.m. Meeting with constituents.

5:30 p.m. Children's Museum for families of legislators

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.