Wyoming Legislature

Committee Meeting Summary of Proceedings

 

Management Audit Committee

 

July 6, 2006

Room 302, Capitol Building

Headwaters Conference Center

Dubois, Wyoming

 

Meeting Attendance

 

Committee Members Present

Representative Randall Luthi, Chairman

Senator Grant Larson, Vice Chairman

 

Senator Kit Jennings

Senator John Schiffer

Senator Kathryn Sessions

 

Representative Roy Cohee

Representative Debbie Hammons

Representative Pete Illoway

Representative Marty Martin

 

Absent

            Senator Ken Decaria

            Senator John Hanes

 

Legislative Service Office

Barbara J. Rogers, Program Evaluation Manager; Kelley Pelissier, Senior Program Evaluator; Paula Gordinier, Program Evaluator.

 

Others Present

Representative Del Mc Omie, Chairman, Compensation Commission.  Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

 

 

Written Meeting Materials and Handouts

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. 

Call To Order

Chairman Luthi called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.

 

Approval of Minutes

Representative Martin moved to approve the minutes from the January 30, 2006 meeting.  Representative Illoway seconded and the motion carried.

 

Executive Session

Per W.S. 28-8-107 (c), Chairman Luthi resolved the Committee into Executive Session for consideration of a staff presentation on the draft report, Market Pay.  The Committee discussed the report’s findings and recommendations with officials from the Department of Administration and Information. 

 

Open Session

Chairman Luthi opened the meeting.  Representative Hammons moved and Representative Illoway seconded a motion to release the report Market Pay at noon on Friday, July 7, 2006.  The motion carried.   

 

Discussion followed as to what action the Committee wished to take with regard to the report recommendations.  Senator Larson moved and Representative Illoway seconded a motion that the Legislative Service Office be instructed to draft legislation to strengthen the Compensation Commission by empowering it to:  act as a liaison between the Legislature and the executive branch and Governor; hold public hearings; enter into contracts; present recommendations to the Joint Appropriations Committee during the budget hearing process; and recommend legislation.  The bill should also specify that the Commission chairman be a legislator.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Other Business

Chairman Luthi led the Committee in a discussion of scoping papers to be prepared prior to the next Committee meeting, at which time members will select a new topic for study.   Ms. Rogers explained that two scoping papers are underway:  Hiring Practices, and KidCare (Children’s Health Insurance Program).  She asked for an indication of members’ areas of interest for a third scoping paper assigned at the January meeting, on juvenile justice.  Following discussion,  Senator Sessions said she will be attending a meeting of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and she agreed to bring information from it to the July 26^th Management Audit Committee meeting.  Representative Luthi directed staff to postpone preparation of a scoping paper on this topic.

 

Representative Hammons suggested a scoping paper be prepared having to do with state agency programs serving young women who drop out of high school.  She stated that policymakers need to know what the characteristics are of this population in order to develop programs that meet their needs.  She stated that the Departments of Family Services and Health may have programs whose policies and incentives need to be looked at together to see if they complement one another.  Representative Illoway added that the National Guard’s Challenge Program may have relevant components, and other members suggested the Department of Education may have information available.  By consensus, members agreed to request a third scoping paper on this topic.

 

Chairman Luthi reminded members the next meeting will be held on July 26^th at the Foundation House in Laramie.  The Committee will consider the draft report on Drug Courts.

 

Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business, Chairman Luthi adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m. 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Representative Randall Luthi, Chairman