LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL January 20, 2000 1. ROLL CALL  The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 12:04 p.m. by Senator Mike Miller, Legislative Council Chair, in the Butrovich Room at the Alaska State Capitol. The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members Miller, Donley, Tim Kelly, Pearce, Torgerson, Hoffman, Barnes, Cowdery, Porter and Rokeberg. Members present via speakerphone were Leman and Ogan. Members absent were Phillips and Berkowitz. Staff present were Varni, Cook, Ibesate, Johnston, Kempton, Lobaugh, Price, Schofield and Wyatt. 2. APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 30, 1999 MEETING MINUTES    Representative Barnes moved the minutes of the June 30, 1999 meeting be approved: YEAS: Miller, Donley, Tim Kelly, Leman, Pearce, Torgerson, Barnes, Cowdery and Porter NAYS: None ABSENT: Hoffman, Ogan, Phillips, Rokeberg and Berkowitz The motion was approved unanimously. 3. LEGISLATURE FY 99 AUDIT  Pam Varni, Executive Director reported a clean audit with no audit exceptions. Senator Tim Kelly congratulated the Executive Director on a clean audit. 4. APPROVAL OF WALRUS PINS Pam Varni requested approval for the solicitation, award and expenditure - not to exceed $25,000 - for the purchase of walrus pins with. Representative Barnes moved the approval of the purchase of walrus pins. YEAS: Miller, Donley, Tim Kelly, Leman, Pearce, Barnes, Cowdery, Ogan, and Porter NAYS: Torgerson ABSENT: Hoffman, Phillips, Rokeberg and Berkowitz The motion was approved. 5. APPROVAL OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND OTHER WORKPLACE HARASSMENT  POLICY Pam Varni, Executive Director stated that we do not have a written policy and it has become evident over the last year in different court cases that it is important to have a written Sexual Harassment Policy. Representative Porter thought the policy was an excellent one but suggested that discrimination is not illegal; illegal discrimination is illegal and that is established by regulation or by statute. Senator Donley agreed with Representative Porter that we need to identify that it should be the policy of this state to maintain a workplace that is free of illegal discrimination. Senator Miller asked Senator Donley to restate his amendment as a motion. Senator Donley amended the first sentence of the policy to read … it is the policy of the Alaska State Legislature to maintain a workplace that is free of all illegal discrimination. YEAS: Miller, Donley, Tim Kelly, Leman, Pearce, Torgerson, Barnes, Cowdery, Ogan, Porter and Hoffman NAYS: none ABSENT: Phillips, Rokeberg and Berkowitz The policy amendment was passed unanimously. Senator Miller brought the policy back in its amended form. Representative Barnes moved the policy be approved as amended YEAS: Miller, Donley, Hoffman, Tim Kelly, Leman, Pearce, Torgerson, Barnes, Cowdery, Ogan and Porter NAY: none ABSENT: Phillips, Rokeberg and Berkowitz The motion was approved unanimously.   6. LAWSUIT UPDATES    Kasayulie vs. State of Alaska Barbara Ritchie of the Attorney General's Office presented a summary of the status and issues with discussion by Representative Barnes and Senator Pearce following. John vs. Baker Jim Baldwin of the Attorney General's Office presented a summary of the status and issues with discussion by Senator Hoffman following. Katie John vs. United States Ron Somerville presented a summary of the status and issues.   7. APPROVAL OF GYM & WELLNESS CENTER GUIDELINES Representative Barnes moved that the guidelines be approved. Senator Donley moved to amend the guidelines by deleting item number one which had to do with entry to and from the gym. He moved to leave it up to Legislative Affairs Agency to determine what door people go in and out of, and not have it part of the formal guidelines adopted by the Council. Senator Pearce also requested the Terry Miller Wellness Center be changed to the Wellness Center. Representative Cowdery stated that he had gone into the gym during the noon hour and found that the noise of balls bouncing off the walls was very disruptive to the people working in House Records. He suggested signs be put up that say not to bounce the balls off the wall or to hang a curtain a few inches from the wall. Senator Miller responded by saying that it was an issue that had been raised and that the Legislative Affairs Agency has been working on that issue trying to resolve it. Senator Miller recognizes the motion put forth earlier approving the Gym and Terry Miller Wellness Center Guidelines and amended by eliminating item number one (1) and changing it from Gym and Terry Miller Wellness Center to Gym and Wellness Center Guidelines. YEAS: Miller, Donley, Leman, Pearce, Hoffman, Barnes, Cowdery, Ogan, Porter and Rokeberg NAYS: none ABSENT: Tim Kelly, Torgerson, Berkowitz and Phillips Motion was approved unanimously. 8. APPROVAL OF LATE PER DIEM CLAIMS    The late per diem claim put in by Representative Therriault had been removed because it was discovered that it was not late, rather there was a miscalculation of dates. Representative Barnes moved an approval of late per diem claim by Representative Cowdery. YEAS: Miller, Donley, Hoffman, Leman, Barnes, Cowdery, Ogan, Porter and Rokeberg NAYS: Pearce ABSENT: Tim Kelly, Torgerson, Berkowitz and Phillips Motion was approved. WALRUS PINS  Before adjournment Representative Ogan asked for reconsideration of his vote of the walrus pins (item 4 on the agenda) because he could not hear what it was he was voting on. Reconsideration was accepted so the approval of walrus pins was before the members. Representative Barnes moved for the approval of the purchase of walrus pins. YEAS: Miller, Donley, Hoffman, Pearce, Barnes, Cowdery, Porter and Rokeberg NAYS: Ogan ABSENT: Leman, Tim Kelly, Torgerson, Berkowitz and Phillips The motion was approved. The meeting was adjourned at 1:12 p.m.