Legislature(2003 - 2004)

02/05/2004 04:05 PM House LEC

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL                                                                                                           
February 5, 2004                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1.  ROLL CALL                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The  Legislative Council  meeting  was  called  to order at 4:05  pm  by  Senator                                               
Therriault, Chairman,   Legislative Council, in the  Senate   Finance  Committee                                                
Room and via teleconference.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The  roll was taken.  In attendance were Council  members:    Therriault, Cowdery,                                              
Ben  Stevens,  Ogan,   Gary  Stevens,  Coghill, Kott, Masek,   Rokeberg,  Stoltze,                                              
Weyhrauch,   Wagoner   and  Berkowitz. Absent   member:   Lincoln.  Staff present:                                              
Varni, Bannister, Collins, Clothier, Cook, Gullufsen, Ibesate, Johnston, Lobaugh,                                               
Lord-Jenkins, Maher, Price and Schofield.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2.  APPROVAL OF JANUARY 15, 2004 MINUTES                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Gary  Stevens   moved   the  minutes  of January  15,  2004  meeting  be                                               
approved.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:         Therriault, Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Ogan, Gary Stevens, Wagoner,                                                    
                Masek, Rokeberg, Stoltze, Berkowitz and Weyhrauch                                                               
                                                                                                                                
NAYS:         None                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ABSENT: Lincoln, Kott and Coghill                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
With no objection the motion was approved.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Chairman   Therriault gave notice  to Legislative Council that he had  given prior                                              
approval  of the Red   Cross  Ball under  AS  24.60.080(c)(10).   The  Red  Cross                                               
qualifies as a 501(c)(3) organization.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Ogan and Senator Ben Stevens joined the meeting.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3.  APPROVAL OF INTRODUCTION OF 2004 REVISOR'S BILL                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Coghill joined the meeting.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Masek   moved  that the Introduction of the 2004 Revisor's  Bill be                                             
moved through Legislative Council to the Rules Committees.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
With no objection the motion was approved.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4.  APPROVAL OF FLAG AND WALRUS PINS                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Chairman   Therriault asked  that members   review  the information sheet  in their                                             
packets.  The  last time pins were purchased  was  in January  of 1998 and  March                                               
of 2000.   Currently, there are  4,000  walrus pins  left, zero map  pins left and                                              
30,000 flag pins left.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Weyhrauch     moved    that  Legislative  Council  approve    the                                              
solicitation, award and expenditure  not to exceed   $50,000  for the purchase  of                                              
walrus and flag pins.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Weyhrauch    had a question.  He  requested  where  the pins were                                               
made and if a competitive bid was made on the pins.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Ogan objected to the purchase of the pins.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Ogan amended the motion from $50,000 to $25,000.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Rokeberg objected to the amendment for discussion.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Discussion followed.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kott joined the meeting.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:         Ogan, Stoltze and Berkowitz                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
NAYS:         Therriault, Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Gary Stevens, Wagoner,                                                          
              Coghill, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg and Weyhrauch                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ABSENT: Lincoln                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The amendment failed 10 - 3.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Chairman   Therriault asked  Representative  Weyhrauch    if his main motion  just                                              
included flag and walrus  pins or was it split between the 3 pins.  Representative                                              
Weyhrauch stated it was for walrus and flag pins.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Berkowitz objected.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Discussion followed.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Berkowitz  moved  to include map  pins in the main  motion for the                                              
solicitation, award and expenditure  not to exceed   $50,000  for the purchase  of                                              
walrus and flag pins.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:         Therriault, Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Gary Stevens, Wagoner,                                                          
              Coghill, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Berkowitz and Weyhrauch                                                           
                                                                                                                                
NAYS:         Ogan and Stoltze                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ABSENT: Lincoln                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Motion passed 11 - 2.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5.  COPIES OF FY 03 LEGISLATURE ANNUAL AUDIT                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Pam   Varni, Executive Director, presented  the Legislature's FY 03 Annual  Audit.                                              
Ms.  Varni, stated per statute the Legislature is to have an independent  auditor.                                              
The  current contract is with KPMG.     Ms. Varni  confirmed  that in each packet                                               
contains a  schedule, cover  letter and management    letter to Legislative Council                                             
and  Legislative Budget and  Audit Committee   members.    The  audit was a  clean                                              
audit with no audit exceptions.  No action needs to be taken.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
6.  PRESENTATION OF FY 05 LAA PROPOSED BUDGET                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Pam   Varni,  Executive  Director gave   an  overview  of  the Legislative  Affairs                                             
Agency's  (LAA)  FY  05  Proposed   Budget.  Senator  Cowdery   asked  to make   a                                              
friendly amendment   to the budget.  Senator  Cowdery   asked  Legislative Council                                              
to forward the FY  05 Budget   to the House  and  Senate  Finance  Committees   as                                              
presented  and  make   one  minor  change  for clarification purposes.  Under  the                                              
Session   Expenses   component,    Senator  Cowdery    would  like the  Executive                                               
Director to reflect 3 lounge positions as  follows:  after the Senate  and House                                                
positions please  reflect the 3 lounge  positions are  under  the authority of the                                              
Senate  or House   Rules Chairman   every  two years  because  the running  of the                                              
lounge  switches   every  Legislature  between   the  House   and  Senate   Rules                                               
Chairman.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Rokeberg objected.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Discussion followed.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:         Therriault, Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Ogan, Gary Stevens, Wagoner,                                                    
              Masek                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
NAYS:         Rokeberg, Stoltze, Coghill, Weyhrauch, Kott, and Berkowitz                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ABSENT: Lincoln                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The motion failed 7 to 6.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Discussion followed.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Masek   moved   that  under  AS   24.20.130  Legislative Council                                               
transmit the Legislative Affairs Agency FY 05 Proposed   Budget  to the House and                                               
Senate Finance Committees.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
With no objection the motion was approved.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7.  PRESENTATION OF FY 2005 OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN BUDGET                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Linda Lord-Jenkins,  Ombudsman,    presented  the Office of the Ombudsman's    FY                                               
05 proposed budget.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Masek    moved    under  AS   24.55.080(c)   Legislative Council                                               
transmit the Office of the Ombudsman   FY  05 Proposed   Budget  to the House and                                               
Senate Finance Committees.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
With no objection the motion was approved.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8.  APPOINTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SUBCOMMITTEE                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Chairman    Therriault appointed   Representative    Kott, as   Chair  of  the  IT                                              
Subcommittee.     Chairman    Therriault requested   anyone   interested in being                                               
members     of  the  IT   Subcommittee    to  contact   Chairman    Therriault  or                                              
Representative Kott.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9.  PROTEST OF RFP 391                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
Pam   Varni, Executive  Director, informed Legislative Council  that a protest for                                              
RFP  391,  Anchorage   office space was  received from  Mark  Marlow, on  January                                               
26, 2004.  Ms.  Varni will keep the Legislative Council informed about  the matter                                              
through Chairman Therriault.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 pm.                                                                                           

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