Senate Committee on -- Select -- Government Accountability (04/12/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON -- SELECT -- GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

Date:	04/12/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	12:06 PM to 12:20 PM	Owen	E
		Takis	X
Place:	SCR 354	Teck	X
		Grossman	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Groff	X
	Senator Groff

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

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Discussion of potential legislation		-

12:07 PM

Senator Groff discussed with the committee the possibility of running late legislation this session regarding best value construction contracting. He asked for input from the committee. He indicated the likelihood that such a bill would drive a fiscal note and the potential concerns with that. Senator Teck noted his philosophical agreement with the idea of best value contracting and support for running a bill this session. Senator Groff proposed asking for a draft of the bill for the committee's discussion and input.

12:10 PM

Senator Grossman discussed one of the issues raised during Director Wells' testimony regarding a contract with the Judicial Department. He noted the possibility of adding requirements to address those issues in the proposed bill. He indicated he had invited representatives from companies doing business with the department to the meeting to talk about the issue.

12:12 PM -- Diane Roth, representing Forensics Laboratories, spoke about the award of a lab testing contract. She described the experience of Forensics Laboratories in looking at the contract that was eventually awarded. She indicated that as a condition of treating defendants in the state system, private treatment centers are required to use the state contractor for lab work. She expressed concern about this requirement and asked for the assistance of the committee to change this requirement.

12:15 PM

Senator Grossman asked whether Forensics Laboratories had asked why the department had this requirement. Ms. Roth indicated that Forensics Laboratories have posed that question numerous times but have not had a clear answer.

12:17 PM

Senator Teck asked whether the legislature could pursue a change to the Judicial Department's contracting requirements without obstructing separation of powers. Senator Grossman indicated he thought that it would be possible. Senator Groff indicated his desire to have the Office of Legislative Legal Services research the issue of separation of powers as it might relate to changing the department's contracting requirements.

12:20 PM

Senator Groff indicated that this would be the last meeting of the committee. He stated that copies of a proposed draft of a best value contracting bill would be circulated to all committee members for their input. The committee adjourned.