Legislature(2005 - 2006)
06/29/2005 09:43 AM House LEC
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
June 29, 2005
1. ROLL CALL
Legislative Council was called to order at 9:43 a.m. by Chairman Pete Kott via
nd
teleconference and in the Anchorage LIO 2 Floor Conference Room and Butrovich
Room.
The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members: Representatives Kott, Coghill,
Gatto, Rokeberg, Weyhrauch, Berkowitz, Senators Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Gary Stevens,
Wagoner, and Davis. Members absent: Senators Therriault, Wilken and Representative
Harris. Staff present: Varni, Schofield, Cook, Finley, Clothier, Johnston, Price, Ibesate,
Ohmer, Williams, Weissler, Brakes, Matheny, and Gullufsen.
2. APPROVAL OF May 6, 2005 MINUTES
Senator Cowdery moved Legislative Council approve the minutes of the May 6, 2005
Council meeting.
YEAS: Kott, Coghill, Gatto, Rokeberg, Weyhrauch, Berkowitz, Cowdery, Ben
Stevens, Gary Stevens, Wagoner, and Davis
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Harris, Therriault, and Wilken
There was no objection the motion was approved.
3. MOVING, TRAVEL, AND PER DIEM POLICY APPROVAL
Pam Varni, Executive Director of the Legislative Affairs Agency stated that the Moving,
Travel, and Per Diem Policies needed to be amended to reflect the policies of the
Legislature as it relates to reimbursement for staff travel, moving and per diem expenses
to, from and during a regular session of the Legislature. The amendments add one
sentence to the Moving and Travel Policy and two sentences to the Travel and Per Diem
Policy.
Discussion followed.
Senator Cowdery moved that Legislative Council approve the proposed amendments to
the Legislative Council Moving and Travel Policy and the Legislative Council Travel and
Per Diem Policy.
YEAS: Kott, Coghill, Gatto, Rokeberg, Weyhrauch, Berkowitz, Cowdery, Ben
Stevens, Gary Stevens, Wagoner, and Davis
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Harris, Therriault, and Wilken
There was no objection the motion was approved.
LONG TERM PER DIEM RATE FOR LEGISLATORS
Chairman Kott stated the Long Term Per Diem Rate for Legislators is $65 during the
interim for every four hours worked and has not been changed since 1990.
Discussion followed.
Representative Weyhrauch moved to increase the Long Term Per Diem Rate from $65 to
$200 a day.
Discussion followed.
Representative Rokeberg objected.
Discussion followed.
Representative Rokeberg moved to amend the motion from $200 to $150.
Representative Weyhrauch objected.
Discussion followed.
YEAS: Kott, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Gary Stevens, Wagoner, and
Davis
NAYS: Gatto, Weyhrauch, and Berkowitz
Amendment failed 7 - 3.
Discussion followed.
Representative Weyhrauch moved to increase the Long Term Per Diem Rate from $65 to
$150 and withdrew his original motion.
Discussion followed.
YEAS: Kott, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Weyhrauch, Berkowitz, Gary Stevens,
Wagoner, and Davis
NAYS: Gatto, and Ben Stevens
ABSENT: Coghill, Harris, Therriault, and Wilken
Motion passed 8 - 2.
4. COMPUTER AND PRINTER PURCHASE APPROVAL
Curt Clothier, DP Manager asked for Legislative Council's approval to move forward
with the purchase of 145 new Gateway computers and 30 new HP Laser printers as
outlined in the Legislature's Three-year Technology Plan. Each Legislative office will get
one new computer to replace the oldest computer in the office. DP will then work with
the Presiding Officers and Rules Chairman to distribute the remaining equipment to
replace the oldest computers in the building. As for the printers, 19 will go to the House
and 9 will go to the Senate. The rest will be spare printers that will be used when needed.
Discussion followed.
Senator Cowdery suggested getting laptop computers.
Discussion followed.
Curt asked for Legislative Council to look into laptop computers as a separate issue.
Discussion followed.
Representative Gatto questioned the price of the computers and wondered why these
particular computers were so expensive.
Discussion followed.
Representative Gatto requested 19" LCD flat screen monitors as opposed to the 17".
Discussion followed.
Representative Gatto moved that Legislative Council approve the solicitation, award and
expenditure not to exceed $270,000 for computers, 19" monitors and printer upgrades
from Legislative Council funds.
YEAS: Kott, Gatto, Rokeberg, Weyhrauch, Cowdery, Gary Stevens, Wagoner,
and Davis
NAYS: Berkowitz
ABSENT: Coghill, Harris, Ben Stevens, Therriault, and Wilken
Motion passed 8 - 1.
5. 2004 CSG ANNUAL MEETING FINAL HOST COMMITTEE REPORT
Pam Varni, Executive Director gave the final Alaska Host Committee Report for the
2004 CSG Annual State Trends & Leadership Forum & CSG-WEST Annual Meetings
held in Anchorage September 25-29, 2004. The conference of over 1,800 delegates was
a huge success with the assistance of our Host Committee and Legislative and Executive
Branch volunteers. Our state appropriation was repaid by cash and in kind contributions
by the private sector.
Discussion followed.
6. CONTRACT FOR THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE ALASKA STATUTES
Pam Finley, Reviser of Statues affirmed that the Legislative Affairs Agency has a
contract with Lexis-Nexis to publish the Alaska Statutes in print and on CD-ROM. The
initial contract period expires at the end of 2006, but the Agency has the option of
renewing the contract for a two-year period. The contract requires the Agency to notify
the publisher by July 1, 2006 whether it intends to renew or not. Pam recommended that
Legislative Council make this decision now, so that if Council decides not to renew, the
Agency could begin the RFP process this fall. If Council decides now to renew the
contract for two years, it could avoid having to address this issue during what promises to
be a busy session.
Senator Cowdery moved that Legislative Council approve the two-year extension with
Lexis-Nexis.
YEAS: Kott, Gatto, Rokeberg, Berkowitz, Cowdery, Gary Stevens, Wagoner, and
Davis.
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Coghill, Harris, Weyhrauch, Ben Stevens, Therriault, and Wilken
With no objection the motion was approved.
7. SECURITY UPDATE
Pam Varni, Executive Director gave the Security Update.
Discussion followed.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|