Final
Legislative Aide Hours

COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Votes:
Action Taken:
Moved to allow legislative aides to work through FPASS


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.