04/29/1999 03:40 PM House C50

Senator Parnell MOVED that Representative Mulder serve as                                                                       
presiding chair of the 1999 operating budget conference                                                                         
committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mulder MOVED that Senator Parnell serve as                                                                       
vice-chair of the 1999 operating budget conference                                                                              
committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                         
Co-Chair Mulder observed that committee would attempt to                                                                        
meet between 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Senate Finance                                                                            
Committee, room 532.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder noted that the Conference Committee will                                                                        
operate under Uniform Rule 42. A majority of members and at                                                                     
least two affirmative votes from each body is need to adopt                                                                     
any motion or take any action. It takes two votes from each                                                                     
body to reopen any closed budget components. A copy of                                                                          
Uniform Rule 42 and related legal opinions were give to each                                                                    
member.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder observed that only members of the Conference                                                                    
Committee may make motions, take part in discussion, or sit                                                                     
at the table, with the exception of the Legislative Finance                                                                     
Division.  The Legislative Finance Division was invited to                                                                      
the table in order to provide information. He added that the                                                                    
Conference Committee may call members of the Legislature or                                                                     
other witnesses to answer questions raised by members of the                                                                    
Conference Committee. Testimony will only be taken upon                                                                         
request of a Committee member and with approval of the                                                                          
Chair.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder noted that the Legislative Finance would                                                                        
prepare motion sheets for the Committee's use. These sheets                                                                     
summarize the differences between the House and Senate                                                                          
versions. They are being prepared and proofed and will be                                                                       
available by Monday.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder pointed out that both the House and the                                                                         
Senate process allowed for public testimony. That portion of                                                                    
the process has concluded and the Conference Committee will                                                                     
not accept public testimony.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT a letter by the Conference                                                                       
Committee requesting limited powers of free conference for :                                                                    
CS HB 50 (FIN) (brf sup maj fld) and SCS CSHB 50 (FIN) am S;                                                                    
and CSHB 51 (FIN)  and SCS CSHB 51 (FIN) am S. There being                                                                      
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder noted that under limited powers the                                                                             
Conference Committee can go no higher than the highest                                                                          
number. It can go as low as zero or anywhere in between. Co-                                                                    
Chair Mulder described the categories before the Conference                                                                     
Committee:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Category I is items where House and Senate are the same                                                                         
in both appropriations and intent.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Category II is items where House and Senate are the                                                                             
same in appropriation amount but different in language                                                                          
or Intent (the Conference Committee is free to adopt                                                                            
either version of intent or insert new intent).                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Category III is items where House and Senate are                                                                                
different in appropriation amount, language and/or                                                                              
intent.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder noted that the Legislative Finance Division                                                                     
has redesigned the motion sheets. He described the new                                                                          
motion sheets.  He noted that the motion sheets would be                                                                        
similar to sheets used during the conference committee on HB
.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DAVID TEAL, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION further                                                                      
reviewed the new motion sheets. Senator Parnell suggested                                                                       
that a column be added for recommendations by conference                                                                        
committee members. Mr. Teal noted that the motion sheets                                                                        
contain the additional columns, but that they were hidden.                                                                      
He added that the entire spreadsheet could be sent to                                                                           
members in electronic form.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder stated that he would try to give 24-hour                                                                        
notice to the departments, directly or through the Division                                                                     
and Office of Management and Budget.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Adams requested that members receive intent language                                                                    
in the morning of the afternoon meeting. Co-Chair Mulder                                                                        
stated that his intent would be to provide information as                                                                       
early as possible.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Parnell MOVED to adjourn the organizational meeting.