Date: 07/13/2009

Final
Approval of Funding for Additional Interim Committee Meetings

COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to approve one additional meeting for the th
Moved to direct Legislative Council Staff to quant		PASS
PASS



09:42 AM -- Approval of Funding for Additional Interim Committee Meetings

Representative Middleton, chair of the Interim Committee on School Finance, requested funding for one additional committee meeting. She explained the need for holding an additional meeting, specifically noting that the committee is considering a complete rewrite of the school finance formula, in addition to significant changes to the at-risk factor.


09:44 AM

Speaker Carroll asked Representative Middleton how much it would cost to hold an additional meeting, and if the committee would be willing to hold the meeting without compensation. Representative Middleton explained that she would be happy to do that, but presented concerns about compensating staff time. Senator Penry asked if money is available to fund an additional meeting. Representative Weissmann asked if the Executive Committee had already committed all funding for interim committees.


09:47 AM

Senator Shaffer asked Mike Mauer, Legislative Council Staff, to provide clarity on what funding is available for interim committees. He noted it would cost $1,900 for thethe Interim Committee on School Finance to hold one additional meeting, and that it would cost $1,100 to 1,200 per meeting for each additional meeting convened by the long-term fiscal stability commission.

09:50 AM

Speaker Carroll stated that he would support the additional meeting of the the Interim Committee on School Finance to provide funding for staff support.


BILL:Approval of Funding for Additional Interim Committee Meetings
TIME: 09:52:14 AM
MOVED:Carroll T.
MOTION:Moved to approve one additional meeting for the the Interim Committee on School Finance without granting per diem or mileage reimbursement to the members and to encourage that the additional meeting be scheduled concurrently with other interim committees to minimize costs associated with providing sergeant staffing. The motion passed on a 6-0 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
May
Yes
Morse
Yes
Penry
Yes
Weissmann
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Shaffer B.
Yes
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



09:53 AM

Senator Heath, chair of the Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission, requested funding for six additional meetings. Representative May asked if any of the six legislative members sitting on the committee might already be compensated for attending the meeting because of other legislative commitments. Senator Morse explained that he would be the only member compensated because of his position in leadership, but that the Joint Budget Committee members sitting on the commission will not be compensated unless the compensation is provided through the interim committee budget. Representative Weissmann suggested that interim committee chairs work within the existing budget allocated to interim committees, instead of approving additional funding. Senator Morse clarified the motion would be to keep the budget at its current amount, with the chairs determining how to use existing appropriations. Mr.. Mauer clarified that the money allocated for interim committees is in one pool, not appropriated individually to each committee.


BILL:Approval of Funding for Additional Interim Committee Meetings
TIME: 10:03:39 AM
MOVED:Weissmann
MOTION:Moved to direct Legislative Council Staff to quantify the total reimbursement for the Long Term Fiscal Stability Commission and, from that information, to allow Chairman Heath to manage the reimbursement allocationsto allow members to set reimbursement for up to 12 meetings. The motion passed on a 6-0 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
May
Yes
Morse
Yes
Penry
Yes
Weissmann
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Shaffer B.
Yes
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS