ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL   JANUARY 16, 2023  10:00 AM   MEMBERS PRESENT  Representative Sara Hannan, Chair  Senator Lora Reinbold, Vice Chair  Representative Matt Claman  Representative Bryce Edgmon  Representative Neal Foster  Representative Louise Stutes  Representative Cathy Tilton  Representative Chris Tuck  Senator Peter Micciche  Senator Bert Stedman  Senator Gary Stevens    MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Click Bishop  Senator Lyman Hoffman  Senator Shelley Hughes (alternate)  Senator Mike Shower    OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT  Representative Andy Josephson  Representative Kevin McCabe  Representative Dan Ortiz  Representative Calvin Schrage  Senator Tom Begich  Senator Scott Kawasaki    AGENDA  APPROVAL OF AGENDA  COMMITTEE BUSINESS    SPEAKER REGISTER  Jessica Geary, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs  Agency (LAA)  Megan Wallace, Legal Services Director, LAA  Emily Nauman, Legal Services Deputy Director, LAA  Mindy Kissner, Finance Manager, LAA    I. CALL TO ORDER    10:05:29 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called the Legislative Council meeting to order  at 10:05 am on January 16, 2023. Present at the call were:  Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Foster, Hannan, Stutes,  Tilton, Tuck; Senators Micciche, Stedman, Reinbold, Stevens.    Eleven members present.    II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA    10:06:35 AM  VICE CHAIR REINBOLD moved that Legislative Council approve the  agenda as presented. She then objected to amend the agenda to  add a policy discussion regarding legislators facing  litigation in their official capacity.    REPRESENTATIVE TILTON agreed there should be discussion on the  item.    REPRESENTATIVE TUCK stated out of respect for an outgoing  legislator, he would like to see the item added to the agenda.    10:09:32 AM  A roll call vote was taken to amend the agenda.    YEAS: Representatives Tilton, Tuck; Senator Reinbold    NAYS: Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Foster, Hannan,  Stutes; Senators Stedman, Stevens    The motion to amend the agenda failed 3-7.    10:11:09 AM  A roll call vote was taken to approve the agenda as presented.    YEAS: Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Foster, Hannan,  Stutes, Tilton, Tuck; Senators Micciche, Stedman,  Reinbold, Stevens    NAYS: None    The motion passed 11-0.    III. COMMITTEE BUSINESS    A. Sanctioning of Charitable Events    10:11:59 AM  VICE CHAIR REINBOLD moved and asked unanimous consent that the  Legislative Council ratify the Chairs sanctioning of the  following charitable events per AS 24.60.080(a)(2)(B) for the  Governors Inaugural Celebration in Juneau on January 20,  2023; Fairbanks on January 28, 2023; and in Anchorage on  February 18, 2023.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for purposes of discussion and noted  that, as Chair, she had sanctioned these events, which now  need to be ratified, and verified the Governor's Inaugural  Committee was a 501(c)(3) organization. There was no  discussion, Chair Hannan removed her objection and the  sanctioning of these events was ratified unanimously.    B. Approval of Legislative Legal Services Priority Policy as  Amended December 19, 2022    CHAIR HANNAN stated that this item includes approval of the  priority policy as amended December 19, 2022; consideration of  an additional amendment; and a determination of the  implementation timeline of the amended policy.    10:13:51 AM  VICE CHAIR REINBOLD moved and asked that the Legislative  Council adopt the Legislative Legal Services Priority Policy  dated December 19, 2022.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for purposes of discussion and asked  Megan Wallace and Emily Nauman to speak to this item.    EMILY NAUMAN, Deputy Director of Legal Services, stated that  both amendments made to the priority policy in the meeting in  December were done by a verbal motion with nothing in writing.  Additional small changes were made to the language to ensure  the amendments fit with the existing priority policy and to  address details not considered in the meeting [Number 10 of  the priority policy]: (1) clarification that the 10 measure  limit for individual legislators was per session (10 for the  first session and 10 for the second session of a legislature);  (2) the individual legislator request deadline was the first  sixty days of the first session of a legislature and thirty- five days for the second session to coincide with the existing  personal bill deadline; (3) adding language for special  sessions called by the governor that priority will be given to  measures that are the subject of the special session; and (4)  including committee-sponsored measures that have no limit.    REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked for clarification that if the  governor calls a special session, the bills are limited to the  scope he proposes, but when the Legislature calls themselves  in, there is no limit.    MS. NAUMAN responded that the ten-bill limit would apply if  the Legislature called a special session.    In response to questions from Senator Stevens, Ms. Nauman  stated that individual drafting requests regularly exceeded  ten measures, referred members to the meeting packet that  included detail showing several members had introduced more  nd than twenty bills during the 32 Legislature; and noted that  the number of drafting requests greatly exceeded the number of  bills introduced.    SENATOR STEVENS asked if the amended policy would help to  control the Legal Services workload.    MS. NAUMAN said it will have the effect of reorganizing the  work so that after a legislator has requested ten bills and  after the sixtieth day, any new bill requests from that  legislator will be a lower priority in a drafters queue. All  bill requests will eventually be drafted, this just allows  staff to more efficiently prioritize their workload.    SENATOR STEVENS noted that nobody's bill requests would be  disqualified, just fall to the bottom of the priority list. He  asked if Legal Services agreed that before this policy change,  some bill requests were unable to be addressed timely and that  having some controls means the work will be more efficiently  done. Ms. Nauman confirmed that was her belief.    CHAIR HANNAN interjected that the term 'limit' could be  misleading; there is no limit to the number of bills a  legislator can request, it just changes the priority of  individual requests after ten.    MS. NAUMAN, in response to a question from Speaker Stutes  about whether the limit was applied to pre-file requests, said  for the Thirty-Second Legislature a lot of the pre-file  requests occurred before the amended policy was adopted, so it  is something Council will need to address later in this  meeting; however, in the future, pre-file requests will be  counted toward the ten request priority limit.    REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON asked that in the first session of a  two-year legislature, if an individual member requested ten  bills and workload for Legal continued to be high after the  personal bill deadline, is it presumed that Legal will work  over the interim on some of those lower priority bill draft  requests or will the intent be to get them done during the  regular session.    MS. NAUMAN responded it is always Legal's goal to finish all  drafting in a timely manner. The time it takes to draft a bill  depends primarily on the complexity of the subject. If a bill  request comes in after the personal bill deadline, but is a  very simple bill or a duplicate of a previously drafted bill,  the new draft would be done fairly quickly; the drafting of  more complex bills may continue into the interim.    REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON, citing an example from a previous  legislature of a member introducing 16 personal bills near the  end of the session, said he thinks this is a good start, and  would support a stronger and more definitive policy in the  future.    REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked what the numbers were looking like  for the Thirty-Third Legislature.    MEGAN WALLACE, Director of Legal Services, said the requests  for drafts this session range from zero to twelve per  legislator, so there are a few members that have reached ten  this session. Some of those requests may have been made prior  to the policy being amended as Legal Services receives pre- file requests before the current legislature has adjourned.    REPRESENTATIVE TUCK recognized the hard work of Legal Services  on behalf of all legislators and thanked them for their  dedication. He said he felt this policy was a result of the  actions of a small number of legislators and was very pleased  that the recommendation was to prioritize bill requests rather  than limit. He asked for clarification on if it was ten bills  requested or ten bills introduced; Ms. Nauman confirmed it was  ten bills requested. He followed up to ask if a legislator  could withdraw a bill request upon discovering that another  legislator had requested the same bill be drafted; Ms. Nauman  confirmed that canceling a bill request was allowed.    REPRESENTATIVE TILTON asked that if an existing bill was  previously drafted but had to be changed, does that count as  part of a legislator's ten bill priority limit.    MS. NAUMAN stated that an update to an existing bill (one  drafted for the current legislature) does not count as a new  bill, but if a bill drafted in a previous legislature was  requested for the current legislature, it would count as a new  bill and toward the ten request priority limit, even if it was  a duplicate of the past bill.    REPRESENTATIVE TILTON asked if it was possible for a  legislator to re-prioritize their individual bill requests.    MS. NAUMAN said if the legislation was still in Legal  Services, that would be possible and repeated that it was the  goal of Legal Services to draft all bill requests in a timely  manner.    MS. WALLACE added that an option available to legislators was  to ask leadership to request that their individual bill be  prioritized as leadership requests are a higher priority in  the policy; alternatively, the legislator could ask a  committee to submit the bill request, as committee requests  are the same priority as the first ten measures for an  individual legislator.    MS. NAUMAN, in response to a comment by Senator Reinbold and  to ensure a correct record, said that any bill that requires a  new work order will count toward the priority limit for bill  requests; a new version of an existing bill does not.    DISCUSSION FOLLOWED regarding limiting the number of bills  introduced by the governor (beyond the scope of this policy),  if the amendments change the power of the presiding officers  (they do not), and Legal Services staffing options.    MS. WALLACE, in response to a question from Representative  Tuck, said the current priority policy not only prioritizes  based on the number of requests, but also makes a clear  delineation in terms of the timing of those requests. It was a  policy decision that requests made after the sixtieth day of  the first session would fall to the lowest priority  irrespective of how many requests a legislator had previously  made based on the anticipated workload at that stage in the  session.    SENATOR STEDMAN said that looking at the charts, it's clear  that at least half of legislators do not go over ten bills  and, if they do, they can ask a colleague to file their good  idea or be a co-sponsor. He said there is no intent to stifle  the legislative process, so if there are 'barnacles' with this  policy change, Council can modify as necessary. He noted that  one legislator had more than 35 bill requests and while they  may all be good ideas, they aren't all number one good ideas,  so he feels that there has been abuse of the system for  tactical and political reasons and this is a good start.    SENATE PRESIDENT MICCICHE said that Council pursued this  option to address those legislators significantly outside of  the mean without limiting access and within existing Legal  Services resources so there wouldn't be a dramatic increase in  cost to the Legislature by adding attorneys. He asked for  confirmation of his assumption that the work necessary to  draft individual bill requests after the priority limit of ten  would not result in attorney overtime, but would occur as the  normal workday and workload allowed.    MS. WALLACE confirmed that his assumption was correct,  continuing that this clear policy direction will allow Legal  Services to better prioritize staff workloads and to limit  overtime to higher priority items.    CHAIR HANNAN indicated she was ready to vote on the motion  then recognized Representative Claman.    10:42:45 AM  REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved that Legislative Council amend the  Legal Services Priority Policy dated December 19, 2022, to  specify that priority within each category shall be in the  order the request was taken and in proportion to all  legislators making requests within the same category.    VICE-CHAIR REINBOLD objected.    10:43:06 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called a brief at ease.    10:44:26 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called the meeting back to order. She apologized  for any confusion and clarified that Representative Claman was  offering an amendment to the motion to approve the Legal  Services Priority Policy dated December 19, 2022.    REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN stated that that the language he  proposes to amend is the last sentence on page two that reads,  "Priority within each category shall be in the order the  request was taken" his motion would add the language, "and in  proportion to all legislators making requests within the same  category.    Representative Claman, speaking to the reason for his  amendment, provided an example that if there is a floor  session and Legislator X requests fifty amendments and three  other legislators each request one amendment after Legislator  X submitted fifty requests, this policy change would give  Legal Services the ability to draft the single amendment  requests before drafting all fifty amendment requests by  Legislator X. This policy makes the amendment request process  fair and equitable.    REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN, in response to a request for  clarification by Senator Reinbold, replied that as a matter of  Legal Services managing their workload, it is reasonable for  them to have flexibility in giving all legislators a decent  opportunity to have amendments drafted. He added that if a  legislator submits fifty amendment requests for a bill on the  floor, perhaps they should take some responsibility in  prioritizing their own requests.    DISCUSSION FOLLOWED regarding additional requests for  clarification by Senator Reinbold of Representative Claman' s  amendment language and intent, specific mention of fairness,  equity, nonpartisan support, and workload management. Ms.  Wallace summarized that this language provided Legal Services  the flexibility to respond to as many requests from as many  members as possible and noted that the changes to the priority  policy are explained on page five of her memo.    SENATOR STEDMAN said it might help the public to understand  that a lot of the bill requests or amendments never see the  light of day, it is just tactical maneuvering to gum up the  system, drive up the cost and make us less efficient. With  this policy, Council is trying to un-gum the system, lower the  cost, and make us more efficient. If members are uncomfortable  with these limits, they should be doing the work in committee.  He said he looks forward to implementing these changes and  Council can revisit in the future.    10:55:33 AM  A roll call vote was taken.    YEAS: Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Foster, Hannan, Stutes,  Tilton, Tuck; Senators Micciche, Stedman, Stevens    NAYS: Senator Reinbold    The motion to amend passed 10-1.    10:56:35 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called a brief at ease.    10:57:16 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called the meeting back to order.    10:58:38 AM  VICE CHAIR REINBOLD moved that Legislative Council amend the  Legal Services Priority Policy dated December 19, 2022, and  amended on January 16, 2023.    10:59:42 AM  A roll call vote was taken.    YEAS: Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Foster, Hannan, Stutes,  Tilton, Tuck; Senators Micciche, Stedman, Stevens    NAYS: Senator Reinbold    The motion to adopt the Legal Services Priority Policy as  amended passed 10-1.    C. Further Amendment to Legislative Legal Services Priority  Policy    CHAIR HANNAN explained that the next decision for Council is  to determine the implementation timeline of the priority  policy for the Thirty-third Legislature; specifically with  regard to when the ten request priority limit will go into  effect since several legislators had submitted requests prior  to Council setting the priority limit.    11:01:54 AM  SPEAKER STUTES moved that the policy be implemented effective  on January 17, 2023, and that any drafting that has occurred  prior to that date is not included in the limits of this  policy.    REPRESENTATIVE TILTON agreed that the start date should  coincide with the start of the new legislature which would  provide parity to all legislators. She asked that memo should  go out to all members for legislation planning purposes.    MS. WALLACE, in response to a question from Senator Stedman  about the effects of the implementation date on Legal  Services' workload, said that most of the bill requests have  been completed and sent out. She said Legal Services has no  recommendation on this policy decision and believed there  would be minimal impact to the workload either way.    Ms. Wallace, in response to a clarification question by  Representative Tuck, said that the choice before members now  is an implementation date of either December 19, 2022, or  January 17, 2023; the handling of early bill requests was not  discussed at the December 19, 2022, Council meeting so  clarification on the implementation date would be appreciated.  She went on to explain to members that the motions approved to  amend the priority policy in December 2022 were a mixture of  written and verbal, and Legal Services wanted to ensure that  the finally amended policy was what Council had intended and,  additionally, to request an implementation date as that item  was not discussed in the December 2022 meeting.    DISCUSSION FOLLOWED to again request that a memo be sent to  all legislators regarding the changes to the Legal Services  Priority Policy; in support of equal access for all  legislators; and in general support for the motion.    11:10:45 AM  A roll call vote was taken.    YEAS: Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Foster, Hannan, Stutes,  Tilton, Tuck; Senators Micciche, Reinbold, Stevens    NAYS: Senator Stedman    The motion to implement the policy effective January 17, 2023,  passed 10-1.    D. Legislative Staff Session Housing Stipend    CHAIR HANNAN explained that this issue has been raised by  several legislators concerned about recruitment and retention  of legislative staff. She asked Ms. Geary and Ms. Kissner,  Finance Manager, to summarize the history of the staff  stipend.    11:12:07 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called a brief at ease.    11:12:37 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called the meeting back to order.    SPEAKER STUTES moved that Legislative Council table this issue  and that it be brought up when the Thirty-Third Legislative  Council has been seated.    11:13:07 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called a brief at ease.    11:15:44 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called the meeting back to order.    CHAIR HANNAN, in response to an objection to the motion,  indicated a motion to table is not debatable and requested a  roll call vote.    11:16:02 AM  A roll call vote was taken.    YEAS: Representatives Stutes, Tilton; Senators Micciche,  Stedman    NAYS: Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Foster, Hannan, Tuck,  Senators Reinbold, Stevens    The motion to table failed 4-7.    CHAIR HANNAN asked Ms. Geary and Ms. Kissner, to speak to this  item.    MINDY KISSNER, Finance Manager with the Legislative Affairs  Agency, said that in 2019, Legislative Council adopted a $30  per day lodging stiped for staff relocating to the capital.  This amount matches the long term, noncommercial per diem  allocated by the executive branch. LAA was asked to provide a  break down on what it would cost if the staff lodging stiped  was increased; using $5 increments, the budget impact of  increasing the staff lodging stipend to $35 per day is  $78,000, $40 per day is $156,000, and $45 per day is $234,000.    Ms. Kissner, in response to a question from Senator Stedman,  said that the current long term lodging stipend for executive  branch employees is $30 per day.    DISCUSSION FOLLOWED about the rate when adjusted for  inflation; Ms. Geary noted that the average rent on the  Legislative Housing List has increased approximately $200 a  month since 2020 when the policy was first implemented, which  would equate to an increase of about $7 a day to the lodging  stipend. Though the analysis was provided in $5 per day  increments, Council can determine the increase.    REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER noted that the original lodging stipend  was approximately $900 a month; with rents averaging $1500 per  month for apartments and $2100 per month for a single-family  home, he said he was comfortable with an increase of $20 per  day, making the monthly stipend $1500.    REPRESENTATIVE TILTON stated her support for retaining  legislative staff and that she was concerned that the rental  rates for session housing were increased based on the amount  of the staff lodging stipend. She expressed that it was her  personal opinion that it would be better to have sessions on  the road system and asked if it was possible to do an analysis  of the rate increase from 2020, when the lodging stipend was  implemented, to current rental rates.    MS. KISSNER said that in 2020 the housing list had apartments  averaging $1300, ranging from $800-2000, and houses averaging  $1900 a month, ranging from $1050-3200.    SENATOR STEDMAN said he would be comfortable with an increase  of $7.50 to keep even with inflation and agreed with  Representative Tilton's concern that raising the lodging  stipend could have an impact on rental rates. He said it was  reasonable to adjust the lodging stipend every few years for  inflation or have a periodic review by Legislative Council. He  finished by saying that for those that feel the road system is  a good place, he would recommend putting the Capitol on an  island as it would make everyone more productive.    REPRESENTATIVE TUCK, noting that the $900 monthly stipend  amount was about 70% of the average monthly apartment rate of  $1300 in 2020, and 70% of the 2023 average monthly apartment  rate of $1500 is about $1055, so he agreed with Senator  Stedman's recommendation of raising the stipend $7.50 a day.    REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON said he supports in concept of approving  the highest increase for the lodging stipend but with worker  shortages all across Alaska, he is concerned about the  perception. He mentioned the Assembly Building, which may be  made available to legislative staff at no cost; the call for  pay raises in the public and private sector; the State  Officers Compensation Commission recommending a salary  increase for commissioners from $136,000 to $168,000; and the  issue of legislator compensation which will probably come up.  He said this is difficult for him, that one could argue that  the highest increase is inadequate, but he believes Council  also needs to consider the perception of this policy decision.    SENATE PRESIDENT MICCICHE said Council has been reviewing  numbers for months and he believes the information being  provided is correct. There is fierce competition for employees  and members cannot do their jobs without staff. He said he  thought there were several options for the executive branch  and how they pay per diem, but the Legislature has one. He  said looking at the increased costs and trends over the past  decade, taking into account that the Legislature will soon be  adding 33 units, which may relieve some market pressure, he  was willing to make a motion to increase the daily stipend by  $10 for the Thirty-Third Legislature. He said Legislative  Council can re-evaluate going forward. He ended by saying that  he understands staff face a hardship, that he's heard rumors  of new staff sleeping on inflatable beds and said he thinks  the Legislature wants good staff who are well-rested and able  to serve.    11:29:39 AM  SENATE PRESIDENT MICCICHE moved that Legislative Council add  $10 to the Moving and Travel Policy and staff lodging stipend  for the Thirty-Third Legislature.    REPRESENTATIVE TILTON objected to ask since it is still the  Thirty-Second Legislature, would this motion encumber the  Thirty-Third Legislature and are there existing funds to cover  this increase.    MS. GEARY responded that the motion as drafted also requests a  supplemental in the FY23 budget and an increment in the FY24  budget, and the budget request would go before the next  Legislative Council.    SENATOR STEDMAN asked if the Legislature increased salaries  last year for legislative staff.    MS. GEARY stated that there was a five percent cost of living  adjustment effective October 31, 2022. She added that this was  the first one that legislative and other exempt staff  received, while the executive branch employees in bargaining  unions have been getting regular increases.    SENATOR STEDMAN stated that the Legislature has not had a  raise in over a decade or longer. He said he thinks the target  rate is better set at $7.50, which is close to the inflation  rate, and if other issues surface the next Council can deal  with it.    11:32:53 AM  SENATOR STEDMAN moved to amend Senate President Micciche's  motion to change the increase from $10 a day to $7.50 a day.    DISCUSSION FOLLOWED regarding the need to state the entire  motion for the record with the figure of $7.50 a day.    11:34:32 AM  VICE CHAIR REINBOLD moved that the Legislative Council amend  the Moving and Travel Policy to increase the staff lodging  stipend to a total of $37.50 per day effective January 1,  2023. She further moved that the Legislative Council support  the FY 2023 supplemental request and FY 2024 increment request  for the amount of $117,000 for consideration by the Finance  Committee to fund this increase.    11:35:14 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called a brief at ease.    11:38:54 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called the meeting back to order and, following  parliamentary procedure, asked both Senator Stedman and Senate  President Micciche to withdraw their motions.    SENATOR STEDMAN withdrew his motion to amend $10 a day down to  $7.50 a day.    SENATOR MICCICHE withdrew his original motion.    11:39:43 AM  VICE CHAIR REINBOLD, restating the motion, moved that  Legislative Council amend the Moving and Travel Policy to  increase the staff lodging stipend to a total of $37.50 per  day effective January 1, 2023. She further moved that  Legislative Council support the FY 2023 supplemental request  and FY 2024 increment request in the amount of $117,000 for  consideration by the Finance Committee to fund this increase.    REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER objected and stated his support of the  $10 increase.    11:42:01 AM  SENATE PRESIDENT MICCICHE moved to amend the motion for an  increase of $10 per day or a total of $40 per day with a FY  2023 supplemental request and FY 2024 increment request of  $156,000.    SENATOR STEDMAN objected and said he supported the original  motion of $7.50 per day.    REPRESENTATIVE TUCK said that a $7.50 increase equates to 75%  of the average rent of $1500 and when combined with the 5%  cost of living adjustment staff received, he thought it was  adequate.    VICE CHAIR REINBOLD said this was a difficult vote because  staff are listening. She said that staff receive step  increases, have their moving expenses paid, some are well  compensated already, and this will be an increase to the  budget. She preferred the original motion, so will likely be a  'no' vote on this amendment.    REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON asked if this policy only pertained to  regular sessions and not special sessions.    MS. KISSNER affirmed that it was only for regular sessions.    11:45:51 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called a brief at ease.    11:46:22 AM  CHAIR HANNAN called the meeting back to order and requested a  roll vote on the motion to amend.    11:47:08 AM  A roll call vote was taken.    YEAS: Representatives Claman, Foster; Senator Micciche    NAYS: Representatives Edgmon, Stutes, Tilton, Hannan, Tuck;  Senators Reinbold, Stedman, Stevens    The motion to amend failed 3-8.    CHAIR HANNAN said that brings Council back to the original  motion of a $7.50 increase to the daily staff lodging stipend.    11:48:25 AM  A roll call vote was taken.    YEAS: Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Foster, Hannan, Stutes, Tilton, Tuck; Senators Micciche, Reinbold, Stedman,  Stevens    NAYS: None    The motion passed 11-0.    IV. ADJOURN    CHAIR HANNAN said this was her last meeting as Chair and  thanked members for their time and service. She said she  learned a lot and gained much knowledge from her fellow  Council members. There have been twenty-five Council meetings  over the last two years that she served as Chair.    Chair Hannan said she specifically wanted to take the time to  recognize the extraordinary work of Executive Director Jessica  Geary whose professionalism and tirelessness are immeasurable.  Until she became Chair, she did not appreciate the 24/7 nature  of the job to keep this institution functioning. Ms. Geary has  proved indispensable to the Legislature during some of the  most challenging times in our history: during the COVID  pandemic, creating policies never before contemplated and  contracts for testing and quarantining. Ms. Geary has been  able to deftly manage the seemingly endless series of crises  in the last two years, though maybe it has always been that  way. When things are running smoothly, legislators are unaware  of the work going on behind the scenes.    Chair Hannan continued that she regularly hears from Director  Geary's staff about the pride they take and the respect they  have for their boss. She is tremendously committed to the  institution of the Legislature and every one of her actions  and decisions is made with that commitment in mind. She said  Ms. Geary was her high school student a long, long, long time  ago, and to have learned so much from her has been a privilege  and an honor. It has been an honor to work with her over the  last two years. She wished Ms. Geary could take a week off,  but since she cannot, Chair Hannan said she offered a small  token of flower bouquets with appreciation and respect.    Addressing Ms. Geary directly, Chair Hannan said it has truly  been an honor to work with her these last two years and she  really wished could turn her phone off at night but knows she  won't. Ms. Geary hears from sixty bosses on a regular basis  and the demands are relentless. She then opened the floor to  other members.    SENATOR STEVENS thanked Ms. Geary as well [somewhat  inaudible].    SPEAKER STUTES requested everyone please give Ms. Geary a big  thank you and a round of applause.    VICE CHAIR REINBOLD expressed that it was a privilege to serve  in the Legislature and on Council with all of the members and  offered her appreciation to everyone at Legislative Affairs,  who she said have been amazing from Accounting to Legal  Services to so many others that make the Legislature work at  huge sacrifice. She ended with a reminder that we are a  constitutional republic, not a democracy, and that every  member takes a sacred oath to the constitution which is the  supreme law of the land. She wished all new members good luck  and everyone a nice session.    SENATE PRESIDENT MICCICHE expressed his thanks to Chair Hannan  for her service and appreciated her consistency and her  assertiveness when necessary to solve some tough issues. He  offered his thanks to all at this meeting, which is also his  last.    REPRESENTATIVE TUCK thanked Chair Hannan and said if Jessica  Geary is an example of one of her students, he is grateful for  her and the impact she has had on all her students.    CHAIR HANNAN closed the meeting by saying it has been a  privilege to learn from her fellow members as Chair of  Legislative Council and said they have been a 'crafty bunch.'  She noted to Ms. Geary that all her staff were in the room as  well as her husband to see this recognition. She said the work  Ms. Geary does keeps the Legislature going and as the Agency  does its work, no one notices because everything is running  smoothly.    VICE CHAIR REINBOLD moved to adjourn the meeting.    With no further business before the committee, the meeting was  adjourned at 11:57 AM.    11:57:06 AM