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.