SB 68 TASK FORCE ON PRIVATIZATION SENATOR DONLEY MOVED to RESCIND previous committee action of reporting out CSSB 68(FIN). Without objection, the action was rescinded. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED to ADOPT CSSB 68(FIN). It was ADOPTED without objection. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED Amendment #4. Without objection, Amendment #4 was ADOPTED. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED Amendment #3. Senators Torgerson and Adams objected. A vote was taken and the amendment failed by a 5 to 1 vote. SENATOR ADAMS MOVED CSSB 68(FIN) from committee with individual recommendations and an updated fiscal note, then WITHDREW his motion. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED to RESCIND previous action of failing to adopt Amendment #3. COCHAIR PEARCE objected. SENATOR DONLEY WITHDREW his motion to rescind. SENATOR ADAMS renewed his motion to move the bill from committee. Without further objection, CSSB 68(FIN) was REPORTED OUT with new fiscal notes from Legislative Affairs Agency (17.9), Office of Management and Budget (indeterminate) and Office of the Governor (indeterminate). COCHAIR SHARP explained that the bill had been reported out of committee on 3-21-97 but there had been a difference between the actual amendment and what the drafter put in the CS, so he wanted to bring it back before committee for clarification. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED to RESCIND previous committee action of reporting out CSSB 68(FIN). Without objection, the action was rescinded. SENATOR DONLEY commented that he had spoken with SENATOR PARNELL about his concern. He explained that the specific amendment adopted previously dealt with modifying the number of members of the task force. The amendment draft sent over by Legal Services was different than what they intended to draft. The proposed CS before the committee reflects the actual motion to Section 2, page 2. COCHAIR SHARP stated for clarification that the confusion was over page 2, lines 6-7, and that the proposed CS was the correct version. SENATOR DONLEY concurred, adding that it was what had been discussed and voted on. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED to ADOPT CSSB 68(FIN). It was ADOPTED without objection. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED Amendment #4. He explained that he and SENATOR PARNELL developed the language. Under the CS, the task force selects a chair and vice-chair from among its members on page 2, line 14. That would be deleted and replaced with co-chairs, one of which would be selected by the Senate President and one by the House Speaker. They both thought that with past experience with the Long Range Financial Planning Commission it would be a good idea to keep the legislature more active in it and have more direct control. COCHAIR SHARP called for discussion or objection. There being none, Amendment #4 was ADOPTED. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED Amendment #3. It would adopt a new fiscal note to fund the additional public member proposed in the CS and a full-time staff person to carry out the duties of the task force from July 1, 1997 to December 1, 1998. Senators Torgerson and Adams objected. SENATOR ADAMS opposed the additional staff position, as did SENATOR TORGERSON, who added that he would rather hire a contractual facilitator rather than a staff person. A roll call vote was taken on the MOTION to adopt Amendment IN FAVOR: Donley OPPOSED: Torgerson, Phillips, Adams, Pearce, Sharp And so, the MOTION FAILED (1-5). COCHAIR SHARP called attention to the $17.9 thousand fiscal note from Legislative Affairs Agency and noted it accommodated the additional member. He invited additional comments or amendments to SB 68 and there were none. SENATOR ADAMS MOVED CSSB 68(FIN) from committee with individual recommendations and an updated fiscal note. SENATOR DONLEY reiterated his position that for the task force to be effective it needed personnel. He referred to significant staff cuts taken by the legislature and appealed to the committee to rescind their action in failing to adopt Amendment #3. SENATOR ADAMS WITHDREW his motion at the request of the Cochair. SENATOR DONLEY MOVED to RESCIND previous action of failing to adopt Amendment #3. COCHAIR PEARCE objected and spoke to her objection. She appreciated the concerns and agreed that to be credible, complete and have integrity, the task force would need good staff with excellent writing and researching skills. It was her belief that there existed latitude within the legislative budget to provide staffing without the need to attach a fiscal note to the bill. She acknowledged inconsistencies in the past regarding fiscal notes attached to task force bills, but noted that in the past two years, the leadership of both houses stepped forward to provide adequate staffing. She believed there were adequate funds in the budget to do so again, if needed. She added that Legislative Finance, Legislative Research, and Legal Services staff were underutilized during the interim, and the task force could benefit from some of their skills and availability. SENATOR ADAMS agreed and added that Legislative Council could also get someone on contract. SENATOR DONLEY WITHDREW his motion to rescind. SENATOR ADAMS renewed his motion to move the bill from committee. Without further objection, CSSB 68(FIN) was REPORTED OUT with new fiscal notes from Legislative Affairs Agency (17.9), Office of Management and Budget (indeterminate) and Office of the Governor (indeterminate).