Joint Committee Committee on Executive Committee of the Legislative Council (12/12/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Date:	12/12/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:44 AM to 10:03 AM	Gordon	E
		Madden	X
Place:	HCR 0107	May M.	X
		McElhany	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Fitz-Gerald	X
	Representative Romanoff	Romanoff	X

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

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Legislative Aides New Chairs for Committee Rooms Other Business		- - -

09:44 AM

Kirk Mlinek, Director of Legislative Council Staff, discussed the legislative aides program for the upcoming session. He explained that the funding for the program and stated that each member receives approximately 330 hours for his or her aide. Mr. Mlinek also stated that the aides for returning members can start on December 11, and aides for new members must wait until January to begin.


BILL:	Aides
TIME:	09:46:41 AM
MOVED:	Fitz-Gerald
MOTION:	Move to allow the new members' legislative aides for the 2007 session to start on December 11, the same day as the returning members. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Madden
		VOTE
	Gordon	Excused
	Madden
	May M.
	McElhany
	Fitz-Gerald
	Romanoff
Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

09:47 AM

There was a discussion about the remaining hours from the Joint Budget Committee's (JBC) aides. Mr. Mlinek stated that although there are hours left over, there is no way to know now whether the hours will be needed or not throughout the session.

09:50 AM

Marilyn Eddins, Clerk of the House, responded to a question from the committee regarding whether the JBC members are restricted from using their aide hours at certain times. She stated that the JBC is only restricted by the Executive Committee, and therefore any hours left over can be signed out to them at the end of the session.

09:50 AM

Karen Goldman, Secretary of Senate, added that the timing for the start of the JBC aide hours is in the beginning of fiscal year in July and that those unused hours go away on June 30 of that year. She also stated that it is hard to know how much time will be left over.


BILL:	Aides
TIME:	09:52:03 AM
MOVED:	Fitz-Gerald
MOTION:	Move to allow the JBC to use aides as soon as they convene as the JBC. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Madden
		VOTE
	Gordon	Excused
	Madden
	May M.
	McElhany
	Fitz-Gerald
	Romanoff
Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

09:52 AM

The Speaker requested that one of the staff members inform the freshman legislators that they can start their aides as of December 11.

09:53 AM

Karen Goldman, Secretary of the Senate, requested $50,000 from the Legal Expense Cash Fund for the replacement of senate committee chairs. She distributed a copy of Section 2-3-1002, C.R.S. that authorizes such an expense (Attachment A). She stated that if the Executive Committee approves the request, she would then ask Representative McGihon, head of the Committee on Legal Services, for approval. Ms. Goldman added that the House has already done this.

09:55 AM

Marilyn Eddins, Chief Clerk of the House, stated that the Legislative Management Team also requests the committee approve the request. Representative Madden asked what the current balance of the fund is, and what the fund is typically used for.

09:58 AM

Charley Pike responded to Representative Madden's question and stated that the fund is used for legal expenses. He added that the only year they had spent more than the allotted budget was in 2003 and 2004 due to the redistricting and that the money has not been accessed since. This year only $5,000 has been expended for outside council. However, he stated that he has received two complaints regarding election contests from people who feel their elected representatives are not residents of the legal Colorado. The also believe that the Colorado constitution is the only document that governs the state of Colorado.


BILL:	chair
TIME:	10:01:03 AM
MOVED:	Fitz-Gerald
MOTION:	Move to adopt the proposal for the new chairs as explained by Karen Goldman. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	McElhany
		VOTE
	Gordon	Excused
	Madden
	May M.
	McElhany
	Fitz-Gerald
	Romanoff
Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

10:02 AM

The committee briefly discussed the issue of the Colorado Constitution as the on document that governs the state of Colorado that was brought up earlier by Charley Pike. Mr. Pike explained that some people believe that their legislators are not proper residents in the state. He stated that those people believe that the real Colorado is what was imposed in the 1876 Colorado Constitution.

10:03 AM

The committee adjourned.