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MINUTES

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

May 21, 1997 -- First Meeting of the 1997-1998 Biennium

MEMBERS PRESENT

MEETING IN BRIEF

Minutes prepared by Thane Johnson, Senior Research Analyst
Organizational staffing by Diane Bolender, Director

  1. Procedural Business.
  2. Educational Leave Report.
  3. Iowa Supreme Court Rules.
  4. Report on Capitol Space.
  5. Report of Service Committee.
  6. Report of Studies Committee.
  7. Gourmet Coffee Bar.
  8. Legislative Compensation Resolution.
  9. Adjournment.
  10. Attachments.
  11. Written Materials Filed with the Legislative Service Bureau.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

1. Procedural Business.
Call to order. The first meeting of the 1997-1998 Legislative Council was called to order by Temporary Chairperson, Senator Stewart Iverson, Jr., at 1:29 p.m., Wednesday, May 21, l997, in Senate Room 22, State Capitol, Des Moines, Iowa.
Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Senator Kramer moved that Senator Stewart Iverson, Jr., and Speaker Ron Corbett, respectively, be elected Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Legislative Council for the l997-1998 biennium. The motion was adopted unanimously.
Legislative Council Committee Membership. Representative Van Maanen moved that the memberships of the Legislative Council Committees be received and filed. The motion was adopted unanimously. A list of the members of the Administration, Service, Capital Projects, Studies, Fiscal, and International Relations Committees is attached to these minutes.
Rules of the Legislative Council. Representative Schrader moved that item #9 of the proposed rules be amended so that if the appointing authority for members of the permanent legislative committees, committees created under rule 7, statutory bodies, and other bodies is the Legislative Council, the Speaker of the House, Majority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leaders of the Senate and House shall make the appointments. Representative Schrader stated that this is the same procedure by which appointments are made for interim committees under proposed rule 8. Representative Connors seconded the motion to amend. Chairperson Iverson commented that when fewer than four legislative appointees are needed, the procedure in proposed rule 9 having the Chair make the appointment in consultation with the Vice Chair and Minority Leaders, seems more appropriate. The motion to amend by Representative Schrader was adopted. Representative Siegrist moved the adoption of the proposed rules as amended. The motion was adopted unanimously. A copy of the rules, as amended, is attached to these minutes.
2. Report of Educational Leave.
Chairperson Iverson recognized Ms. Bolender for comments on the educational leave reports. She stated that pursuant to Code section 70A.25, the state departments and agencies are required annually to file the reports which show direct and indirect costs to a state agency of educational leave and educational assistance for state employees. Representative Connors moved that the Educational Leave Reports be received and filed. The motion was adopted. A copy of the educational leave reports is filed with the Legislative Service Bureau.
3. Iowa Supreme Court Rules.
Ms. Bolender noted that since the last Legislative Council meeting, two amendments to Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure and Juvenile Procedure have been received from the Iowa Supreme Court. She added that the rule changes take effect 60 days after receipt if the Legislative Council does not take action to delay their implementation. Copies of the rules were sent to the chairpersons and ranking members of the Senate and House Committees on Judiciary. After discussion, Representative Millage moved that a copy of any proposed Iowa Court Rule change be sent to each member of the Legislative Council as soon as possible after receipt. The motion was adopted unanimously. The Legislative Council also received an updated report of a project to renumber and reformat the Iowa Court Rules being carried out by the Iowa Supreme Court and the Legislative Service Bureau. Representative Van Maanen moved that the Legislative Council accept both reports. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Iowa Supreme Court Rule changes is filed with the Legislative Service Bureau.
4. Report of the Capital Projects Committee.
Representative Gipp discussed the role of the Capital Projects Committee during the 1997 legislative interim and distributed copies of a proposed Legislative Council Resolution. He stated the Committee intends to be directly involved in planning the renovation of the legislative areas of the State Capitol, and the resolution contemplates the creation of a Capital Projects Work Group to monitor current progress on interior and exterior renovation of the State Capitol and the old State Historical Building. The Director of the Department of General Services is directed to maintain contact with the Work Group and consult on new contractual commitments before entering into any contract and before funding any encumbrances. Representative Gipp also stated that the resolution prepared by the Committee recommends that the Work Group be authorized to employ a consultant if necessary to assist in the planning for Capitol space usage with the final approval of any contract for consulting services resting with the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Legislative Council. Representative Connors stated that a consultant should not be needed for the State Capitol space usage study. Representative Gipp replied that a consultant will be employed only if needed, but some expertise may be needed for space utilization advice although other state expertise will be relied upon whenever possible. Representative Gipp moved the adoption of the Legislative Council resolution. The motion was adopted.
Representative Gipp also recommended a judicial department planning proposal which would allow for the immediate expenditure of $150,000 to assess the use of areas in the State Capitol by the legislative branch. The study would include planning for the relocation of the judicial department's offices outside of the State Capitol. The moneys will be reimbursed if appropriated funds become available to the Judicial Department for purposes of the study. If the study costs more than $150,000, up to an additional $100,000 is authorized with approval of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Legislative Council. In reply to a question by Representative Millage, Representative Gipp stated that under the motion consultant services are authorized for the judicial space component of the study. Representative Gipp moved that the recommendations presented in the Judicial Department Planning Proposal be adopted. The motion was adopted.
A copy of the resolution and proposal are attached to these minutes.
5. Report of Service Committee.
Representative Siegrist was recognized to present the Report of the Service Committee. He stated that the Committee received two reports from the Computer User Policy Direction Committee and recommends the following regarding home pages on the Internet:
  1. That the Computer Support Bureau continue to create, maintain, and store nonpartisan information about the Iowa General Assembly on its home page on the Internet.
  2. That the Computer Support Bureau refrain from creating, maintaining, or storing an Internet home page for a member of the General Assembly and that the Computer Support Bureau shall store, on a six-month trial basis, home pages for each of the four legislative caucuses on the Iowa General Assembly's Internet home page.
  3. That the Computer Support Bureau provide notification on each link from the Iowa General Assembly's state-supported home page to another Internet site, including links to home pages of members of the General Assembly, that the user is leaving the Iowa General Assembly's state-support home page and the legislative branch has no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in the linked home pages.
  4. That the following electronic links from the Internet site on the Iowa General Assembly's Internet server to home pages hosted on other Internet services be approved:
    • Any Iowa General Assembly member's official home page.
    • Any central nonpartisan legislative staff agency's official home page.
    • The official home page of any member of Congress from Iowa.
    • The official home page of either house of Congress.
    • The official home page of the President of the United States.
    • The official home page of any major political party in Iowa.
    • The official home page of any major national political party.
    • The official home page of the State of Iowa.
    • The official home page of any official state government library in Iowa.
    • The office home page of any educational or nonprofit organization holding a copyright over information made available on the Iowa General Assembly's Internet site.
    • Any official site of the United State Library of Congress.
    • The official home page of any national or regional government organization of which the Iowa General Assembly is a member or to which the state of Iowa pay dues or membership assessment on behalf of the legislative branch.
    • Any additional links shall be approved by the legislative leaders.
The Committee also recommends that the Computer Support Bureau develop a mission statement for the Bureau, that decisions regarding software, training, and support for the chamber laptop computers be made by the House Administration and Rules Committee and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee for their respective members.
The Committee also reviewed proposed changes to personnel guidelines and received and filed personnel reports.
Representative Siegrist moved the adoption of the Report of the Service Committee. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report is attached to these minutes.
6. Report of the Studies Committee.
Representative Gipp reported that the Studies Committee received a report prepared by the Legislative Service Bureau listing the study requests. A list of similar studies conducted previously to those being requested will be prepared by the Legislative Service Bureau for the June meeting of the Studies Committee. The Committee also recommends the adoption of guidelines for the interim study committees. Representative Gipp moved the adoption of the Report. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Studies Committee, including the committee guidelines, is attached to these minutes.
7. Gourmet Coffee Bar.
Representative Connors requested that Mr. Joe Van Lent, Chair of the Elected Committee of Blind Vendors, be allowed to address the Council. Mr. Van Lent stated that the State Capitol Complex vendors are interested in the status of the coffee bar which was operated in the Capitol on a part-time basis during the last legislative session. Chairperson Iverson recognized Senator Kramer who responded that interested parties including the Director of the Department for the Blind, the manager of the State Capitol cafeteria, and other interested persons have agreed to study the cost effectiveness of one or more blind vendors acquiring equipment to operate such a concession. She stated that the study is not completed.
8. Legislative Compensation Resolution.
Representative Schrader stated that action may be needed by the Legislative Council because Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 which provides for the compensation of officers and employees of the House and Senate was not adopted. Ms. Bolender responded that she had no immediate answer, but the Legislative Service Bureau will research the question with the assistance of the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House. Senator Gronstal expressed the belief that the compensation resolution from the preceding biennium can be used as authority until a new resolution is finally adopted.
9. Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:02 p.m.
10. Attachments.(on file with the Legislative Service Bureau.)
a. Committee Memberships
b. Legislative Council Rules
c. Legislative Council Resolution
d. Judicial Planning Motion
e. Service Committee Report
f. Studies Committee Report
11. Written Materials Filed with the Legislative Service Bureau.
Educational Leave Reports
Iowa Supreme Court Rule Changes

OTHER INFORMATION FOR THIS COMMITTEE:

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