05/06/2003 04:12 PM House 075

Senator Green  MOVED to  ADOPT Representative Harris  as presiding                                                              
chair  of the  2004 budget  Conference Committee.  There  being NO                                                              
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Harris  MOVED to ADOPT Senator  Green as vice-chair                                                              
of  the   2004  budget   Conference  Committee.  There   being  NO                                                              
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Chair Harris reviewed rules and guidelines. Chair Harris noted                                                                  
that  both the  House and  the Senate  process allowed  for public                                                              
testimony. That  portion of the process has now  concluded and the                                                              
Conference Committee will not be accepting public testimony.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Chair  Harris  clarified  that  only  members  of  the  Conference                                                              
Committee  may make motions,  take part  in discussion, or  sit at                                                              
the  table. He  indicated that  David Teal,  Director, Legislative                                                              
Finance Division would join  members at the table and be available                                                              
to answer questions. 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.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
 As in past Conference Committees, Legislative Finance has been                                                                 
directed to  prepare the  "motion sheets". These  sheets summarize                                                              
the differences between the two versions.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
Chair  Harris noted  that the  Conference Committee  would operate                                                              
under  Uniform Rule 42.  Voting to  adopt any  motion or  take any                                                              
action before  the Committee  takes a majority  of members  and at                                                              
least two affirmative votes  from each body. If a budget component                                                              
has been closed,  it takes two votes from each  body to reopen. [A                                                              
copy of Uniform  Rule 42 and related legal  opinions were provided                                                              
to each member].                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Vice   Chair  Green   MOVED  to   ADOPT  all   appropriations  and                                                              
allocations  that are identical  in House  and Senate  versions of                                                              
the bills. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green MOVED to request limited powers of free conference                                                                
on the following specific points:                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Allocations with Items Subject to Conference                                                                               
     Language Subject to Conference                                                                                             
     Structural Change Subject to Conference                                                                                    
     Mental Health Capital Projects Subject to Conference                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Chair Harris explained that under Limited Powers the Conference                                                                 
Committee can adopt any amount between zero and the higher of the                                                               
House or Senate of each item subject to conference.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Chair Harris noted that he would try to give 24-hour notice to                                                                  
the departments directly or through 0MB.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB 75 and HB 76 were HELD in Committee for further consideration.                                                               
#75                                                                                                                             
#76                                                                                                                             
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 4:19 p.m.