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June 5, 2003
Stockgrowers' Room, American Heritage Center
Laramie, Wyoming
Representative Fred Parady, Chairman
Senator April Brimmer Kunz, Vice Chairman
Senator Irene Devin
Senator Keith Goodenough
Senator John Schiffer
Representative Pete Anderson
Representative Randall Luthi
Representative Ann Robinson
Dan J. Pauli, Director; Mark Quiner, Assistant Director; Dave Gruver, Assistant Director; Dave Nelson, School Finance Manager.
Senator Rae Lynn Job
Senator Jayne Mockler
Senator Grant Larson
Representative Tom Lockhart
Representative Wayne Reese
Others
See Attachment 2
All meeting materials and handouts provided to the Committee by the Legislative Service Office (LSO), public officials, lobbyists, and the public are referenced in the Meeting Materials Index, attached to the minutes. These materials are on file at the LSO and are part of the official record of the meeting.
Speaker Parady called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. The following sections summarize the Council proceedings by topic. Please refer to Attachment 1 to review the Council meeting agenda.
Minutes of the April 30, 2003 Management Council meeting were approved with no amendments.
Administrative Rules
Mr. Dave Gruver provided an update on the administrative rule review process and the changes implemented as a result of suggestions made at the last Council meeting. The recent enactment of 2003 House Bill 200 amended some of the time periods for the promulgation of rules. Mr. Gruver explained that the Governor's office has been cooperative in responding to the Council's request to provide advance notice of administrative rules being considered by agencies for possible adoption.
LSO Positions
Mr. Mark Quiner provided an update on the two new LSO staff positions authorized by the passage of an amendment to the 2003 budget bill. Mr. Quiner related that LSO has received around 45 applications for the two positions. LSO is currently in the process of interviewing qualified applicants and hopes to have the positions filled and the new section up and running by July of this year.
University update
Mr. Phil Dubois, President of the University of Wyoming, gave a presentation on the draft Athletics Strategic Plan for UW. Mr. Dubois explained that UW is currently in Division 1-A for athletics. He explained the requirements for that Division and provided extensive information on how UW compares to other schools in that Division in terms of revenues and expenditures. He also reviewed the current capital needs for improving the athletics program at UW including repairs needed to existing facilities.
Attorney General's Office - update
Mr. Mike O'Donnell, Chief Deputy of the Attorney General's Office, explained that Attorney General Pat Crank was unable to attend this meeting since he was involved in interviewing for the new administrator of Crime Victims' Services in the Office. Mr. O'Donnell provided the Council with an update on the reorganization of the Attorney General's Office. He related that the new policy was to bring a lot of work back into the office which had previously been contracted to outside counsel, specifically education litigation and natural resources litigation. This will result in substantial savings to the state.
Senator Kunz moved that the Council resolve itself into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues as well as the North Platte litigation and school finance litigation. The motion passed. At 11:40 a.m. the Council resolved itself into Executive Session.
At 12:35 p.m. the Council returned to open session.
Senator Kunz moved that, to the extent they deem appropriate, the Speaker and President, and other members designated by them, be authorized to attend or otherwise participate in potential settlement negotiations on school finance issues. The motion passed (Senator Goodenough voted no.)
Chairman Parady asked Mr. O'Donnell to comment on the office space issue in the Capitol Building. Chairman Parady related that the Legislature several years back appropriated money for the relocation of the Attorney General's Office and inquired about plans to complete this move. Mr. O'Donnell indicated the office is looking for a suitable location where the entire office can be housed together and that the Attorney General would like to do so as soon as possible.
Mr. Pauli related there are now 6 to 8 LSO staff who are doubled up in offices or are officed in committee rooms who need their own office space. With the authorization of 2 new staff, Mr. Pauli stated that LSO now needs at least 10 additional office spaces.
Chairman Parady requested that Mr. O'Donnell relate to General Crank that it is the desire of the Council to move the Attorney General's Office out of the Capitol and that the Legislature will support him in this effort.
Representative Luthi asked Mr. O'Donnell for an update on wolf management negotiations. Mr. O'Donnell explained the difficulties they have encountered in getting a consistent response from the federal Department of the Interior on the issues. Mr. O'Donnell indicated he and General Crank are currently working to resolve the difficult wolf management issues facing Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, with a deputy secretary of the Interior Department who has become personally involved in the discussions.
Representative Luthi asked that Mr. O'Donnell provide a report back from the Attorney General's Office on the wolf management issue as discussions with the federal government progress.
Joint Interim Committee updates
The Council then received an update from Mr. Dave Gruver on the activities of the joint interim committees.
Chairman Parady advised that the Joint Transportation Committee would like to add graduated licenses to their interim work and suggested this be discussed at the August meeting.
Senator Schiffer raised concerns over some of the issues being considered by the Select Committee on Juveniles and Chairman Parady asked that these issues be added to the agenda for August.
Several members of the Council expressed concern over non-legislators chairing subcommittees of the Select Committee on Juveniles. Senator Kunz indicated she would investigate the matter and report back to Council. Chairman Parady asked that this also be placed on the next Council meeting agenda.
Senator Kunz moved to approve the additional $5,000 requested by the Joint Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee to complete its interim work. The motion passed.
Representative Luthi moved to approve the additional $10,000 requested by the Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Interim Committee to complete its interim work. The motion passed.
Other Business
Mineral tax incentive econometric model:
Senator Schiffer noted that the Council at its last meeting rejected the proposal to add uranium to the mineral tax incentive econometric model. He indicated that both the House and Senate strongly favored adding the mineral to the model and stated that in his opinion the Legislature needs that information to make informed decisions about revenue needs of the state. He would like the Council to reconsider its previous vote on this issue.
Ms. Sarah Gorin of the Equality State Policy Center also spoke in support of the addition of uranium to the model. She provided information to the Council on the cost of granting mineral tax exemptions and reductions.
Senator Schiffer moved that the Council reconsider its vote denying the funding for the addition of uranium to the mineral tax incentive econometric model. The motion failed on a roll call vote of 4 ayes (Goodenough, Schiffer, Luthi, Robinson) and 4 noes (Parady, Kunz, Devin, Anderson).
Senate Journal:
Senator Goodenough questioned why the Journal that was recently sent out does not appear to include committee votes on bills that died in committee in the Senate. Mr. Pauli explained that Senate Rule 7 does provide that such votes should be included in the Journal and that he will investigate the matter.
Table Rock, Wyoming as a Minimum Security Prison Site
Senator Goodenough related that Anadarko is selling the town of Table Rock containing about 50 houses and other buildings. He suggested that this could be considered as a possible site for a minimum security prison for white collar criminals.
Future Meetings
Chairman Parady announced the following tentative dates and places for upcoming Council meetings:
Senator Schiffer urged Council members to tour the Honor Farm facility in Riverton and noted that other states look to the Wyoming Honor Farm as a model program. Chairman Parady asked that a tour of the Honor Farm be scheduled in conjunction with the Council's meeting in August.
Adjournment:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Representative Fred Parady
Chairman