Final
Legislative Aides Program

COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Votes:
Action Taken:
Approve funding for the legislative aides program
Approve the legislative budget guidelines for FY 2
Authorize the payment of membership dues to the Ed
Moved that the Executive Committee go into executi
Moved the legislative aides program would allow a
Require public disclosure of compensation of those		PASS
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS
Pass Without Objection
TIE


12:05 PM

The committee was called to order by the chairman, Senator Fitz-Gerald. Members present were: Senators Gordon and McElhany and Representatives Madden and Stengel. Speaker Romanoff was present after roll call. Staff present were: Kirk Mlinek, Director, Legislative Council Staff, Dan Chapman, and Cathy Eslinger.


12:05 PM - Legislative Aides Program

Kirk Mlinek, Director, Legislative Council Staff, reviewed the provisions in Senate Bill 05-203, the legislative appropriation bill, for funding the legislative aides program from moneys budgeted for special sessions. The bill authorizes up to $368,280 for the program. Mr. Mlinek referred to a staff memorandum provided to the members (Attachment A). He discussed the history of unexpended appropriations, and noted that the General Assembly's unexpended appropriations at the end of FY 2004-05 totaled $1,076,864. Mr. Mlinek further noted that, in the past, legislative aides have been permitted to work from December until the Friday following sine die. Senator Fitz-Gerald and Representative Madden discussed the potential for members to use their aide hours in December and the fact that individual members may allot their hours at their discretion, not to exceed 330 total hours.


12:11 PM

Representative Stengel reiterated that employment of legislative aides could begin in December, at the member's discretion, and asked about the applicability of the legislative aides program for members appointed by a vacancy committee. Mr. Mlinek responded to questions about the applicability to returning members. In 2000, the program was specified as applying to returning members.



BILL:Legislative Aides Program
TIME: 12:13:29 PM
MOVED:Stengel
MOTION:Moved the legislative aides program would allow a member appointed by a vacancy committee to utilize legislative aide hours thirty days prior to the session through the Friday following the adjournment of the session. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Gordon
Madden
McElhany
Stengel
Romanoff
Excused
Fitz-Gerald
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:Legislative Aides Program
TIME: 12:14:08 PM
MOVED:Stengel
MOTION:Require public disclosure of compensation of those employed as legislative aides from non-state sources outside of the legislative aides program. The motion was held over for future consideration.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Gordon
Madden
McElhany
Stengel
Romanoff
Fitz-Gerald
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE
12:18 PM

Representative Stengel responded to questions regarding his motion and the concerns that are expressed in his motion. Representative Madden said she was not comfortable making a decision at the current time and expressed interest in further research and information on the issue. Senator Gordon made further comments on the motion. Senator Fitz-Gerald asked legislative staff to research the privacy issues involved in the motion made by Representative Stengel.

Karen Goldman, Secretary of the Senate, came to the table to respond to questions concerning background checks performed by the Colorado State Patrol on legislative aides in the Capitol. She confirmed that basic background checks are done on legislative aides. Representative Stengel made further comments about his motion. Pending receipt of further research and information, Representative Stengel's motion was held over for future consideration.


BILL:Legislative Aides Program
TIME: 12:26:47 PM
MOVED:Madden
MOTION:Approve funding for the legislative aides program from unexpended special session funds, as provided in Footnote 1 of Senate Bill 05-203. The motion authorized use of 15 days of special session funding, with the balance to be provided through unexpended funds at the end of the year. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Gordon
Yes
Madden
Yes
McElhany
Yes
Stengel
Yes
Romanoff
Yes
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



12:27 PM

Senator McElhany discussed recent incidents regarding conduct of legislative employees. He spoke about testimony that had been provided by staff. The committee continued its discussion on these issues.


12:30 PM -- Membership Dues

Mr. Mlinek reviewed the status of membership dues to member organizations. Dues to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the Council of State Governments (CSG) for FY 2005-06 have been paid as provided in the legislative appropriations bill. He reviewed the outstanding balance to the Education Commission of the States of $71,400. The outstanding dues to the Energy Council for FY 2005-06 total $32,000.


12:32 PM

Senator Entz came to the table to review provisions in Senate Bill 05-066 for funding membership dues to the Energy Council. The bill provides up to $56,000, and Senator Entz said he feels that the organization is due its payment promptly.


BILL:Membership Dues
TIME: 12:35:14 PM
MOVED:Madden
MOTION:Authorize the payment of membership dues to the Education Commission of the States (ECS) ($71,400) and the Energy Council ($32,000), as provided in Senate Bill 05-203 and Senate Bill 05-066. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Gordon
Madden
McElhany
Stengel
Romanoff
Fitz-Gerald
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



12:35 PM

Mr. Mlinek reviewed the legislative budget guidelines proposed for FY 2006-07. His presentation included a staff memorandum provided to the committee (Attachment B).

BILL:Legislative Budget Guidelines
TIME: 12:36:39 PM
MOVED:Gordon
MOTION:Approve the legislative budget guidelines for FY 2006-07, as presented. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Gordon
Madden
McElhany
Stengel
Romanoff
Fitz-Gerald
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:Executive Session
TIME: 12:37:01 PM
MOVED:Fitz-Gerald
MOTION:Moved that the Executive Committee go into executive session under Section 24-6-402, C.R.S., to evaluate the performance of the legislative service agency directors and service agencies. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Gordon
Yes
Madden
Yes
McElhany
Yes
Stengel
Yes
Romanoff
Yes
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



12:38 PM

The Executive Committee went into executive session under Section 24-6-402, C.R.S., to complete performance evaluations of the legislative service agency directors and service agencies.


1:36 PM

Senator Fitz-Gerald announced that the committee had completed its executive session.

1:36 PM

With no further business before the committee, the committee adjourned.