Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Date:07/13/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:09:34 AM to 10:52 AM
May
X
Morse
X
Place:SCR 354
Penry
X
Weissmann
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Carroll T.
X
Senator Shaffer B.
Shaffer B.
X
This Report was prepared by
Katey McGettrick
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Approval of Interim Committee Drafting Deadlines
Approval of Funding for Additional Interim Committee Meetings
Update on the 2011 Reapportionment and Redistricting
Update on Senate Television Implementation
Discussion of Capitol Building Security Costs
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09:35 AM --
Approval of Interim Committee Drafting Deadlines

Dan Cartin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, reviewed the procedure for approving the policy on the interim committee timetable for requesting draft legislation (Attachment A). He noted that the Legislative Council meeting for reviewing interim committee legislation is scheduled for November 13, 2009. He noted the benefits for establishing drafting deadlines for interim committees, and that the Office of Legislative Legal Services and Legislative Council Staff would provide a memorandum, on behalf of the Executive Committee, detailing the policy to the interim committee chairs.

090713 AttachA.pdf
BILL:Approval of Interim Committee Drafting Deadlines
TIME: 09:41:29 AM
MOVED:Weissmann
MOTION:Moved to approve the policy on the interim committee timetable for requesting draft legislation as presented by Mr. Cartin. The motion passed on a 6-0 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
May
Yes
Morse
Yes
Penry
Yes
Weissmann
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Shaffer B.
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: 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 the 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 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 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 allocations to 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

10:05 AM --
Update on the 2011 Reapportionment and Redistricting

Jerry Barry, Office of Legislative Legal Services, and Suzanne Keim, Legislative Council Staff, provided an update on reapportionment and redistricting for 2011 (Attachment B). Mr. Barry reviewed the timeline for the 2010 census, congressional redistricting, and noted some of the challenges of redistricting if political parties move up the dates of their party caucuses leading up to a presidential election year. He specifically noted that a special session might be required for the 2011 redistricting. He noted the challenges in soliciting public comment during a special session due to the short length of such a session and suggested that the legislature could mirror the process the reapportionment commission uses by establishing an interim committee to solicit public comment and hold meetings across the state prior to the special session.

090713 AttachB.pdf

10:11 AM

He continued his comments, explaining the makeup of the reapportionment commission, which includes legislative members and nonlegislative members appointed by the Governor and the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. He stated that the reapportionment commission will most likely begin meeting at the end of the 2011 legislative session. He noted the staffing and scheduling challenges with such a schedule.

10:12 AM

Suzanne Keim, Legislative Council Staff, reviewed the preparation necessary for the 2011 redistricting and reapportionment process. She explained that there are three software options for use in the redistricting process: Maptitude, Citygate, and a Florida model that may be used free of charge, but does not provide technical support. Mr. Barry explained that OLLS and LCS are seeking clarification on whether they should consult with the political parties as they consider the software to be selected. President Shaffer replied that the committee grants OLLS and LCS permission to consult with the state committee parties, specifically with the committee chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties. Ms. Keim continued her presentation, noting that in the last redistricting cycle, each member had access to a software license, and asked if it would be appropriate to limit the number of licenses. She explained that the request for information (RFI) should be sent out during this interim.

10:17 AM

Representative May also noted that there he expects will be a ballot initiative proposing to change the redistricting and reapportionment process. Ms. Keim continued her remarks, noting the availability of software to allow members of the public to draw plans, and asked if she should find out the costs for doing so. President Shaffer requested that LCS research the cost of making software available to the public online.

10:19 AM

Mr. Barry reviewed Senate Bill 00-119 (Attachment C), which was the last bill that the General Assembly passed regarding redistricting, noting the specific components of the bill. Mr. Barry requested permission to begin drafting the bill for the 2011 redistricting, explaining that he would bring the draft to the committee at a later date. Representative Weissmann asked about the appropriation for funding. Representative May noted that the funds used in 2000 are not available now for funding this program. Representative May explained the potential ballot initiative would change the redistricting process, which would include appointing authority from legislature, the governor, and the Ethics Commission. He noted that the stakeholders are working with Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and the courts to bring the ballot initiative.

090713 AttachC.pdf


10:25 AM -- Update on Senate Television Implementation

Mr. Mauer noted where the Senate is in the implementation of televising the Senate proceedings. He explained that there is $55,000 available from unused funds from when the House implemented its TV program, which could be used to cover the additional $26,000 needed to purchase the remaining equipment to get the Senate online. Mr. Mauer clarified that it would require a vote and should include a reversion of the unexpended funds to the Legislative Expenses Cash Fund. Senator Morse stated that the Governor has asked departments to cut 10 percent, and so the legislature is similarly trying to cut 10 percent. He asked what the savings would be to hold off expending the funds. Mr. Mauer addressed the funding cuts requested by the Governor. He explained the difficulty with cutting in the same way that the executive branch can, because departments can raise fees and cut programs, which is not an option for the legislature. He noted that a 10 percent cut would result in cutting a whole department such as the economists, tour guides, constituent services, or similar departments. He explained that cutting the budget for TV in the House would be a savings of $112,000 in operations but would also result in the loss of the TV channel and would require finding more money in the future to bring the House back online.

10:33 AM

Senator Morse asked what the $112,000 cost covers. Mr. Mauer explained that is the cost of the ongoing operating costs. Karen Goldman, Secretary of the Senate, clarified that the Senate put money in the budget to cover the operation of TV for when it went live,at $112,000. She noted that $18,000 was spent to put wires in the Senate for TV equipment. She further noted that at the direction of the President, the Senate purchased equipment with the $93,000. Representative May clarified that the $26,000 is for equipment, and going live could be delayed. Representative Weissmann suggested that there could be money within the Senate budget for the $26,000, instead of taking money from House. He also noted the staffing disparities between the two houses.

10:38 AM

Representative May clarified that his point was that it would be important to finish the equipment purchasing so that the Senate could have the option to go live in January or not, and that without the equipment, there will not be the option for the Senate to do so. Mr. Mauer explained that the funding would be from a joint fund, and is not specific to House funding. Senator Penry asked if Representative Weissmann could be in support of the expenditure in light of the information provided by Mr. Mauer. Representative Weissmann replied that he wants to fix the staffing disparity first. Senator Morse noted he may not vote for the funding if this is an area of the legislative budget that could provide savings. Senator Shaffer noted the importance of televising Senate proceedings because of the transparency and public access it provides. Speaker Carroll noted his support for the Senate to televise because he believes it is an investment in transparency.


10:43 AM

Representative May noted that if the equipment is not purchased, the Senate will not be able to come online. He said if the committee does not approve it, then there is not an option in January to televise.
BILL:Update on Senate Television Implementation
TIME: 10:45:31 AM
MOVED:May
MOTION:Moved to expend $26,000 out of the Legislative Expenses Cash Fund to purchase remaining equipment and to revert the unexpended funds for television into the Legislative Expenses Cash Fund for general expenses. The motion passed on a 5-1 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
May
Yes
Morse
Yes
Penry
Yes
Weissmann
No
Carroll T.
Yes
Shaffer B.
Yes
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:46 AM --
Discussion of Capitol Building Security Costs

Representative Weissmann raised the issue of Capitol building security costs, specifically eliminating having two public, secured entrances. President Shaffer noted that this is one of the places where there is enough money to create savings. Representative May said that currently security funding is not being spent wisely because the funding is insufficient. Committee members agreed that discussing security costs would be an important conversation to have. President Shaffer noted that the issue should be raised at the next meeting so that the necessary people need to be involved can provide more information to the committee. Senator Penry suggested having staff begin researching the security options available. The President directed LCS to prepare a briefing on security, threat assessment, and budgeting.

10:52 AM

The committee adjourned.