Date: 04/26/2010

Final
Amendment to Legislative Council Rule XIV

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Move to amend Legislative Council Rule XIV (1) (a)PASS



08:42 AM -- Amendment to Legislative Council Rule XIV

Mike Mauer, Director, Legislative Council Staff, distributed Legislative Council Rule XIV to the committee (Attachment B). He explained that the rule guides the production of the blue book by Legislative Council Staff and talked about the requirement that the staff publish legal notices in the Denver Post to solicit involvement from proponents, opponents, and interested persons. Mr. Mauer explained that his office has never received any feedback from the posting in the newspaper and asked that the committee approve an amendment to the rule so the Legislative Council Staff can use modern technology, such as the Internet and e-mail to solicit involvement from proponents, opponents, and interested persons.

100426AttachB.pdf

BILL:Amendment to Legislative Council Rule XIV
TIME: 08:44:40 AM
MOVED:Morse
MOTION:Move to amend Legislative Council Rule XIV (1) (a) to read "Solicitation of involvement from proponents, opponents, and interested persons on measures for which analyses will be drafted." The motion passed 16-0.
SECONDED:Carroll T.
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Boyd
Yes
Gardner C.
Yes
Gibbs
Yes
Hodge
Yes
Kerr A.
Yes
Kopp
Yes
May
Yes
Middleton
Yes
Morse
Yes
Penry
Excused
Scanlan
Yes
Scheffel
Yes
Spence
Yes
Stephens
Yes
Weissmann
Excused
Shaffer B.
Yes
Carroll T.
Yes
Not Final YES: 16 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




08:47 AM

Before the committee adjourned, Representative Middleton asked for clarification on interim meetings and the difference between interim committees, task forces, and unfunded committees and whether they are all being discouraged. President Shaffer explained that even if there are no funds associated with some committees and task forces, it is still discouraged and a burden on staff. Representative C. Gardner asked whether committees funded by gifts, grants, and donations are also discouraged. President Shaffer responded, stating he was unaware of such a committee being proposed for the 2010 interim. Representative C. Gardner explained the bill to which he was referring. Representative Middleton requested that these various situations be explained in writing in order to inform members who did not listen to the meeting. Senator Boyd asked about committees that use gifts, grants, and donations and independent staff. President Shaffer responded that although this is an option, it is discouraged because staff and legislators still end up being involved. He explained the issues involved in conducting an interim study with gifts, grants, and donations. Mr. Mauer commented on the issue and explain that independent staff do not always understand the interim process and then issues, such as drafting bills, eventually get brought to staff's attention problems may arise. Senator Kopp explained that hearings can be held informally with only legislators and no staff. Senator Spence asked what types of committees will still be meeting during the interim. Mr. Mauer explained that legislative oversight committees will still be meeting during the interim, including the Legislative Audit Committee, Legislative Council and Executive Committees, Joint Budget Committee, Capital Development Committee, and the Committee on Legal Services. Senator Hodge asked about the Water Resources Review Committee. Mr. Mauer explained that House Bill 10-1354 creates a new process for interim committees to be formed and to meet and even if committees are exempted in that bill, and that the Executive Committee has a bill that it will introduce to suspend all interim committee meetings this interim.

08:53 AM

The committee adjourned.