HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE January 21, 1997 3:10 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Con Bunde, Chairman Representative Joe Green, Vice Chairman Representative Al Vezey Representative Fred Dyson Representative J. Allen Kemplen Representative Tom Brice MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Brian Porter COMMITTEE CALENDAR Organizational meeting PREVIOUS ACTION No previous action to record WITNESS REGISTER No testimony given ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 97-1, SIDE A Number 0001 CHAIRMAN CON BUNDE called the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:10 p.m. Members present at the call to order were Representatives Bunde, Green, Vezey, Dyson, Kemplen and Brice. Representative Porter was absent. CHAIRMAN BUNDE said this was a brief organizational meeting to answer any questions that the committee members might have about the procedures as the committee goes through the session. He said the committee meeting will begin as close to 3:00 p.m. as possible. He announced that the committee needs four members for a quorum and the committee might start voting very early in the meeting. Number 0065 CHAIRMAN BUNDE introduced the new committee members; Representative Dyson and Representative Kemplen. He then introduced committee members who were returning to the legislature; Representative Green, Representative Vezey and Representative Brice. He remarked that Representative Green was returning to the committee after a hiatus. Number 0122 CHAIRMAN BUNDE introduced Lynne Smith as the able committee aide, who does the difficult at any given moment and the impossible at a day's notice. He introduced Corinne Conlon as the committee secretary, the person responsible for transcribing the minutes. He said it is important to get an accurate transcription in case the legislative intent is ever in question and there is a need to go back to the hard copy. Number 0192 CHAIRMAN BUNDE introduced Gayle Wolf, an intern who will be working with the committee to make sure the business gets done in a timely fashion. Number 0210 CHAIRMAN BUNDE reiterated that the meeting begins at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at least at this point in the session. He said, certainly, if the work load increases the meeting days would expand to include Saturday. Number 0242 CHAIRMAN BUNDE said the bill packets will be ready 3:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled meeting, available for pick up on top of the file cabinet inside the door. He said any questions regarding the bill packets should be directed to Ms. Smith. CHAIRMAN BUNDE said these meetings are recorded for the public record. He reviewed the procedure which he said is sometimes cumbersome, but he said it is necessary to have the recognition of the chairman so that people's names and titles are recorded and their comments get proper attribution when the secretary transcribes the minutes. He added that he forgets as well as anyone that these microphones are sensitive and that tapping on them muffles testimony. Number 0335 CHAIRMAN BUNDE said in cases where there is dialogue on particular testimony, it is awkward to have to keep interrupting and referring through the chair but he asked that the committee members do that as much as they could to make life as simple as possible for the secretary. He said if something is said that is of particular importance, committee members should preface their comments with, "for the record." Those words will signal to the secretary that the comment should be written verbatim to insure that the intent is enshrined as the committee member would like it to be. He said he would try to help out witnesses in this fashion as well. Number 0408 CHAIRMAN BUNDE said if a committee member has an amendment to a bill before the committee it is helpful if those amendments be in written format. He said the more advance notice the committee has on amendments, the more efficient the movement of the bill. He said, in the past, the committee has amended pieces of legislation right here at the table and probably will again, but he said we are all better served if advance notice is given. He said it allows the committee members to think the ideas through before they are recorded on Gavel to Gavel. Number 0443 CHAIRMAN BUNDE said it would normally be the policy of the committee not to pass a bill out the first day the committee hears it to give committee members a chance to review the information and, if necessary, to do further research to seek input from the various publics that they serve. He said if there is an overriding necessity that the bill be passed out of committee in an expeditious fashion it could be passed out in one meeting, but normally the committee will give the bill at least two hearings and take action at the second hearing. CHAIRMAN BUNDE said that brings him up to what he wanted to cover. He asked the committee if they had any questions or comments. Number 0503 REPRESENTATIVE FRED DYSON said that at another venue he served, there was a policy to not challenge or argue with people that testified and asked what the committee's policy was on this subject. Number 0525 CHAIRMAN BUNDE said that policy is an excellent one. However, being well aware of human nature and the fact that the committee is here to gather information he said that if a committee member feels that the information being given is incorrect and that the committee ought to be made aware of it. He said he invites the committee members to do this in a manner that does not involve a debate with the witness. He said it is important for committee members to express different information or different perspectives. Number 0568 REPRESENTATIVE DYSON said he is sure the committee would never want to penalize people when they come to testify before the committee. He said when "push came to shove" for him he did not understand and started asking probing and challenging questions. He said he would try very hard to be respectful. Number 0598 CHAIRMAN BUNDE said, again, that it is the committee's job to often gather information to add to the understanding of the issue at hand. He said it is intimidating for some folks to show up and testify and the committee sits on the other side like a bunch of judges here in our black robes. He said the committee doesn't want to make the process any more intimidating then it already is. He said he views it as part of his job to try to make people, who come to the committee and testify, as comfortable as possible. He said it is also necessary to get questions answered and that he, as chairman, will assume the job as referee. He asked that Representative Dyson not feel intimidated about asking questions. Number 0643 CHAIRMAN BUNDE said he is appreciative of the willingness of everyone to serve on what, he feels, is one of the most challenging committees in the legislature. He said the committee has many difficult issues to address and seldom are the answers simple. He thanked the members for their willingness to serve the broader goal and their role on the committee. He said he looked forward to a good two years. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, CHAIRMAN BUNDE adjourned the meeting of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee at 3:20 p.m.