HB 171-ACCOMMODATE 90-DAY SESSION/LEG PROCEDURES 3:13:06 PM CHAIR COGHILL announced that the only order of business would be consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 171, "An Act relating to the terms of legislators, the date and time for convening regular legislative sessions, adoption of uniform rules of the legislature and to certain of those rules, the date for organizing the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, and deadlines for certain matters or reports to be delivered to the legislature or filed; prohibiting bonuses for legislative employees; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 171(STA) am and SCS CSHB 171(STA).] 3:13:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved that the committee adopt CSHB 171(STA) am, House version. SENATOR STEVENS objected. A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Gruenberg, Johnson, and Coghill voted in favor of adopting CSHB 171(STA) am. Senators Wilken, Stevens, and McGuire voted against it. Therefore, CS 171(STA) am, was not adopted. 3:13:17 PM SENATOR MCGUIRE moved that the committee adopt SCS CSHB 171(STA), Senate version. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL objected. A roll call vote was taken. Senators Stevens and McGuire voted in favor of SCS CSHB 171(STA). Representatives Gruenberg, Johnson, and Coghill, and Senator Wilken, voted against it. Therefore, SCS CSHB 171(STA), was not adopted. 3:15:30 PM CHAIR COGHILL directed the committee's attention to a chart that highlighted the areas of disagreement between the House and Senate versions of HB 171. He noted that if the committee had accepted one of the versions the committee would not need to continue to a limited free conference committee. 3:15:37 PM CHAIR COGHILL related that Sections 1 and 2 of both the House and Senate versions are in conformity. However, Section 3 of SCS CSHB 171(STA), Senate version, begins the session on the second Monday of January at each regular session while CSHB 171(STA) am, House version, has staggered beginning dates. There being no agreement and no discussion, he announced that he would suggest an amendment that would likely require powers of free conference. Both versions are in conformity in Section 4. However, Section 5 of the House version specifies a January 1st prefiling deadline while the Senate version specifies a February 1st prefiling deadline. There was no discussion and Chair Coghill stated that there is a need to amend Section 5. 3:17:03 PM CHAIR MCGUIRE expressed her belief that limited powers of free conference were needed for Sections 3, 5, 12, 13, 16, and 17 in which the start date specified in each version is in disagreement. The second area of disagreement is regarding the requirement in CSHB 171(STA) am, House version, of the Legislative Council to prepare a report on the 90-day session for presentation to the legislature, which is located in Section 7. 3:18:30 PM CHAIR COGHILL moved that the conference committee request limited powers of free conference from the presiding officers for those sections not identical in language in the House and Senate versions, that being Sections 3, 5, 12, 16, and 17 of CSHB 171(STA) am and Sections 3, 5, 7, 13, 17, 18, and 19 of SCS CSHB 171(STA). 3:19:08 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Gruenberg, Johnson, and Coghill, and Senators Wilken, Stevens, and McGuire voted in favor of the motion. Therefore, the motion requesting limited powers of free conference, as specified in the motion, was adopted by unanimous vote. 3:19:29 PM CHAIR COGHILL provided members with a proposed amendment that directs the legislature to gavel in on the third Tuesday in January, allows for the fifteenth day for fast track [budget], the thirtieth day for the regular budget amendments, and a report on the 90-day session issue. He suggested that after obtaining limited powers the committee would meet again. 3:21:13 PM CHAIR MCGUIRE stated her appreciation of a compromise that addresses her concerns and sets a consistent start date. 3:22:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked for an explanation of the purpose of Section 7 in SCS CSHB 171(STA). 3:22:18 PM CHAIR COGHILL responded that Section 7 will be addressed at the next meeting. In response to Senator Wilken, Chair Coghill stated that Mr. Boucher will speak tomorrow regarding the timing of the report.