04/05/2010 11:00 AM Senate JUDICIARY

         SB 249-PUBLIC RECORDS/ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration  of SB 249. It was heard                                                               
previously. He noted that DOL  had articulated concern about some                                                               
perceived errors in the bill.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
11:11:25 AM                                                                                                                   
MIKE FORD,  Attorney, Civil Division, Department  of Law, related                                                               
that DOL has been working  on language to correct their concerns,                                                               
but  it's not  in final  form. He  spoke to  the sponsor  and his                                                               
staff and offered to continue to  work on their concerns and that                                                               
seemed  to  be  acceptable.  He  said  he  appreciates  that  the                                                               
committee wanted to advance the  bill, but DOL believes that this                                                               
is a  complex bill  with far-reaching  implications and  they are                                                               
not prepared  to go on  record with  a proposed solution  at this                                                               
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH said he agrees that  it's a complex bill, but it was                                                               
complex when  it was  first introduced  and he's  struggling with                                                               
the  fact that  it's taken  DOL two  months to  get its  views in                                                               
writing. He asked if DOL could get its work done by Wednesday.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. FORD replied that depends  in part on whether Senator Ellis's                                                               
staff is  available to meet, but  they could certainly try  to do                                                               
that.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH said  he would prefer to have  acquiescence from the                                                               
sponsor, but an inability to meet  with his staff should not hold                                                               
up  DOL's work.  He reminded  Mr. Ford  that he  could bring  the                                                               
material  straight to  this  committee since  this  is where  the                                                               
decision will be made. "As soon  as you can get concrete language                                                               
addressing the concerns  you raised you should send  copies to my                                                               
office, to my chief of staff, Cindy Smith," he admonished.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. FORD said he understood.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH said  the Governor and the public  support this bill                                                               
in concept  and we should  be able  to work through  the concerns                                                               
before the end of session.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MAX HENSLEY,  staff to  Senator Ellis, said  the sponsor  and his                                                               
staff  are happy  to work  with the  Department of  Law and  this                                                               
committee to do what is necessary within the timeframe.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
11:14:17 AM                                                                                                                   
CHAIR FRENCH  stated that this  committee will make time  to work                                                               
this out and get the bill moving  by Wednesday. He held SB 249 in                                                               
committee.