Joint Committee Committee on Executive Committee of the Legislative Council (05/09/2005)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Date:	05/09/2005	ATTENDANCE

Time:	08:32 AM to 09:02 AM	Gordon	X
		Hillman	X
Place:	SCR 353	Madden	E
		Stengel	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Romanoff	E
	Senator Fitz-Gerald	Fitz-Gerald	X

This Report was prepared by
	Cathy Eslinger
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Legislative Aide Hours Joint Computer Management Committee Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security		- - -

08:33 AM -- Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Senator Fitz-Gerald. Members present were: Senators Gordon and Hillman; and Representative Stengel. Representative Madden and Speaker Romanoff were excused. Staff present were: Kirk Mlinek, Director, Legislative Council Staff, Dan Chapman, Carl Jarrett, Jennifer Moe, and Cathy Eslinger.

08:33 AM -- Legislative Aide Hours

Marilyn Eddins, Chief Clerk of the House, indicated that legislative aides, by tradition, have been allowed to work through the Friday following sine die, but that Executive Committee authorization would be required for this to occur this year. A copy of Joint Rule 39, outlining the authority of the Executive Committee was distributed to the committee (Attachment A). Because adjournment of the legislative session has usually occurred on a Wednesday in recent years, the tradition allowed two additional days for aides to work, if the member still had aide hours available.


BILL:	Legislative Aide Hours
TIME:	08:34:05 AM
MOVED:	Gordon
MOTION:	Moved to allow legislative aides to work through Friday, May 13, if the member has aide hours remaining in his or her allocation. Hours remaining after Friday, May 13, would not be available for use. The motion passed on a 4 -0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Gordon	Yes
	Hillman	Yes
	Madden	Excused
	Stengel	Yes
	Romanoff	Excused
	Fitz-Gerald	Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

08:34 PM

Following Senator Gordon's motion and before the vote was called, committee discussion on the issue continued. Karen Goldman, Secretary of the Senate, responded to questions regarding how many hours remain for Senators as of today. She indicated that the bank of hours for individual members at this point varies a great deal. Approximately half of the Senators do not have any legislative aide hours remaining. She said that her concern is that remaining legislative aide hours not be authorized for time into the next fiscal year. Ms. Eddins responded to questions about hours remaining for House members and said that it also varies in the House, with remaining allocations from 0 to 250 hours. She also discussed the fact that some members have been able to use other members' unused hours. Ms. Eddins said that several House members would like to have aide assistance this week because they will be required to move out of their offices shortly after the session adjourns.

08:39 AM -- Discussion of Recommendations from the Joint Legislative Computer Management Committee

Senator Hagedorn discussed the recent meetings of the Joint Legislative Computer Management Committee. A letter from Senator Hagedorn outlining the committee's recommendations was presented (Attachment B). Senator Hagedorn discussed a recent survey of legislators and lobbyists regarding wireless connectivity in the Capitol and said that the survey indicated interest in wireless access for the public. The committee's survey also showed that responders were unwilling to pay more than $25 per month for wireless access. The committee is requesting that the Executive Committee authorize the Legislative Management Team and the Legislative Information Services staff to prepare a request for proposals for a public wireless system, with a goal of having it installed for the 2006 legislative session. The committee is recommending that the proposal go forward with the intention that no state resources be used for construction of a system. Senator Hagedorn responded to questions about the potential cost of a system and said that any estimate would have to be based on what individuals currently pay.

08:43 AM

Senator Gordon confirmed with Senator Hagedorn that any charges for public wireless access would be used to cover costs, and not to make a profit. Senator Hagedorn discussed the manner in which many businesses provide wireless access, and that some require subscription services.


BILL:	Joint Computer Management Committee
TIME:	08:45:04 AM
MOVED:	Fitz-Gerald
MOTION:	Approve recommendations of the Joint Legislative Computer Management Committee, as presented. The motion authorized the Legislative Management Team and the Legislative Information Services Staff to solicit vendor response for the concept of a public wireless system in the Capitol, with the goal of having it installed for the 2006 legislative session and without the use of state resources. The motion passed on a 4 - 0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Gordon	Yes
	Hillman	Yes
	Madden	Excused
	Stengel	Yes
	Romanoff	Excused
	Fitz-Gerald	Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

08:46 AM -- Report from the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security

Senator Hagedorn, as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security, introduced Carl Jarrett, Legislative Council Staff. Mr. Jarrett, as staff for the committee, reviewed Senate Rule 22C, which allowed the establishment of the committee. Mr. Jarrett indicated that the committee met 12 times during the 2005 legislative session and took testimony from a wide variety of state and local officials, "first responders;" such as fire departments and emergency personnel; and private sector providers. He reviewed the focus of the committee's work as outlined in the executive summary of the committee's upcoming final report (Attachment C).

08:48 AM

Mr. Jarrett responded to questions regarding the committee's discussion of the state's Digital Trunked Radio System and legislation that had been considered during the 2005 legislative session. Senator Fitz-Gerald asked questions regarding the specific recommendations. Mr. Jarrett reviewed the recommendations and the need for continuing meetings of the Critical Infrastructures Committee. Mr. Jarrett discussed the fact that the committee has been looking at enhancing interoperability statewide and expanding "gateways" so as to allow communications between differing radio systems and frequencies.

08:53 AM

Senator Grossman, chairman of the committee, thanked the legislative staff who assisted the committee and reviewed the work of the committee, particularly the committee's discussions with first responders. He said that the he believes that certain items need to be monitored over the interim and that the continuing work of the Critical Infrastructures Committee is a priority. Senator Grossman recommended that the committee be authorized to continue its work and to start looking at how other states are implementing the federal grant system. He indicated that other states have taken a more comprehensive look at state needs in implementing the federal grant system, and that a survey of other states would be useful. Senator Grossman requested permission for the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Committee to meet as an ad hoc committee during the interim.

08:56 AM

Senator Gordon raised issues regarding obtaining additional input from House leadership about the continuing work of the committee. Senator Grossman said that the committee's model is to bring people in and solicit input and that this model has worked well. Senator Fitz-Gerald said that she would have preferred to have Senator Grossman's request brought before the Executive Committee as a formal request for an interim committee. In the absence of the formal request for an interim committee, she indicated that she feels the committee may continue to meet on an ad hoc basis during the 2005 interim. Senator Fitz-Gerald and Senator Hillman discussed the staffing issues that are raised by work of the committee during the committee. The committee discussed the fact that legislative staff may have a variety responsibilities for approved interim studies and ongoing statutory committees during the 2005 interim. Senator Grossman said that he believes the committee can meet on an ad hoc basis during the interim, with a goal of minimizing staff support. Senator Grossman continued his discussion about what he would like to see the legislature look at during the next legislative session. He voiced concern that the state still does not have a comprehensive idea of what the state's critical needs and weaknesses are.

09:00 AM

Senator Hagedorn followed up on comments regarding the federal grant process. He said that there is concern about the ability of smaller entities and agencies to compete in a grant process. He advocated assistance in the grant process for entities with fewer resources.

09:02 AM

With no further business, the committee adjourned.