June 14, 1995
The second meeting of the 1995-1996 Legislative Council was called to order by the Chairperson, Speaker Ron Corbett, at 1:47 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, 1995, in Senate Room 22, Statehouse, Des Moines, Iowa. Members present, in addition to Speaker Corbett, were:
Also attending were Ms. Diane E. Bolender, Director, Mr. Thane R. Johnson, and other staff of the Legislative Service Bureau, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, House and Senate administrative offices, Computer Support Bureau, Office of Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman, and House and Senate political party caucuses, representatives of the news media, and other interested persons.
The meeting included the following topics and actions:
1. Approval of Minutes. Senator Lind asked that the minutes of the May 24, 1995, meeting be amended to reflect his presence at the meeting. Without objection, the minutes were amended and Senator Lind moved that the minutes be approved as amended. The motion was adopted.
2. Pricing of Iowa Administrative Bulletin, Iowa Administrative Code Supplement, and Iowa Court Rules. Chairperson Corbett recognized Ms. Bolender to summarize the recommendations of Ms. Kristi Little, Superintendent, Printing and Records Management, Department of General Services, for the pricing of the two administrative rules publications and the Iowa Court Rules for fiscal year 1995-1996. Ms. Bolender stated that Ms. Little recommends a three percent increase for the Iowa Administrative Bulletin and a five percent increase for the Iowa Administrative Code Supplement, and the Iowa Code Rules as follows:
Representative Connors moved the approval of the recommended price increases. The motion was adopted. A copy of Ms. Little's recommendations is filed with the Legislative Service Bureau.
3. 1996 Prefiling Rules. Ms. Bolender explained that section 2.16 of the Code provides for the prefiling of bills and resolutions for the next regular session of the General Assembly. Departmental bill requests for the 1996 legislative session may be submitted beginning September 1, 1995, and ending November 27, 1995. Legislators may request bills and resolutions for prefiling until December 8, 1995. Ms. Bolender noted that the proposed 1996 Prefiling Rules are the same as previous years except for specific dates. Representative Connors moved the adoption of the proposed 1996 Prefiling Rules. The motion was adopted. A copy of the 1996 Prefiling Rules is on file in the Legislative Service Bureau.
4. Report of the Fiscal Committee. Representative Millage reported that the Fiscal Committee met on June 7 and disagreed with the Governor's item vetoes in Senate File 481. He commented that the Fiscal Committee voted to request an opinion of Attorney General Tom Miller as to the disposition of the $2.2 million of lottery proceeds which was item vetoed. He noted that a response had been received by the Committee and Attorney General Miller's opinion concludes that the remaining funds which are to be transferred to the Iowa State Fair Foundation include only those funds left after deducting the appropriations in Senate File 481, section 16, subsections 1 through 39. The Attorney General concluded that appropriations vetoed by the Governor should remain in the Lottery Fund. Senator Murphy commented that further study is needed and that questions remain as to the disposition of the vetoed funds and it is the Committee's belief that the vetoed funds should be transferred to the Iowa State Fair Foundation as provided in subsection 40. He commented that the Governor believes that the votoed funds should be transferred to the State General Fund at the close of the l995 fiscal year; and the Attorney General's opinion is that the vetoed funds should remain in the Lottery Fund. Representative Millage moved the adoption of the Report of the Fiscal Committee. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Fiscal Committee is attached to these minutes.
5. Report of the Administration Committee. Senator Bisignano reported that the Administration Committee met on June 14, l995, and received the following information:
Senator Bisignano moved the adoption of the Report of the Administration Committee. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Administration Committee is attached to these minutes.
6. Report of the Capital Projects Committee. Representative Millage stated that the Committee met jointly with the Administration Committee and agreed to participate in planning meetings relating to the renovation of the State Capitol. He also stated that the Committee reviewed its duties under section 2.47A of the Code and agreed that the Committee Chairperson will contact the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Legislative Council for direction and authorization to meet to review a five-year plan of state agencies, the portion of the Iowa Infrastructure Study relating to state agencies, and the capital projects budget requests of state agencies. Representative Millage moved the adoption of the Report of the Capital Projects Committee. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Capital Projects Committee is attached to these minutes.
7. Report of the Joint Meeting of the Administration Committee and the Capital Projects Committee. Senator Bisignano, Acting Chairperson, reported that the Administration Committee and the Capital Projects Committee met jointly to receive a progress report regarding the fire and life safety projects approved in the Council's June 15, 1994, meeting. The Committees also agreed that the two Chairpersons meet with the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Council to determine the jurisdictions of each Committee regarding the renovation and space utilization of the Capitol Building, that the two Committees continue to meet jointly concerning these issues, and that representatives of all other affected offices in the Capitol Building and the Department of General Services be invited to meet with the Committees at a joint meeting for the purpose of developing a plan for renovation and utilization of space in the Capitol Building and the Old Historical Building.
The Joint Committee also recommended that the Legislative Council approve the expenditure of $45,000 from funds available under section 2.12 of the Code for the printing of the pamphlet "Under the Golden Dome." In response to questions from Council members, Ms. Julie Livers, Director, Legislative Information Office, stated that the pamphlet would concentrate on the historical features of the State Capitol Building and would comprise approximately 24 pages with many colored photographs of the interior and exterior. She commented that copies of the pamphlet could sell for around $.75 each to provide self-financing for the project. Representative Millage stated that he does not favor the recommendation because he believes it is a bad precedent for the Legislative Council to fund a project which was item vetoed in a 1995 appropriation bill. Senator Jensen expressed support for publishing the pamphlet. Representative Siegrist commented that the project probably should have been funded through the budget of the Legislative Service Bureau and that copies of the pamphlet should be sold to the public and to legislators.
Senator Bisignano moved that the Report of the Joint Meeting of the Administration Committee and the Capital Projects Committee be adopted. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Joint Meeting of the Administration Committee and the Capital Projects Committee is attached to these minutes.
8. Report of the Service Committee. Senator Gronstal briefly reviewed the recommendations of the Service Committee regarding promotions among the Central Legislative Staff Agencies. He noted that a proposed pay resolution affecting the Central Legislative Staff Agencies was received and action deferred because the policy varies from the pay policies for House and Senate staffs. Representative Connors commented that the current policy for the Central Legislative Staff Agencies would therefore remain in place until further action is taken. Senator Gronstal moved the adoption of the Report of the Service Committee. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Service Committee is attached to these minutes.
9. Report of the Studies Committee. Representative Gipp reviewed the Report of the Studies Committee. He stated that the report includes the interim study committee guidelines to be used during the 1995 and 1996 interim study periods and recommends the following nine study committees: Housing Development, Public Retirement Systems, Livestock Production, Business Taxation, Nonbusiness State Taxation, Iowa Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, One Call Statewide Underground Notification System, Alternative Energy Production, and Blueprint for Iowa's Young Children. Representative Gipp moved the adoption of items 1 and 2 of the report relating to the study guidelines and the nine studies. The motion was adopted.
Representative Gipp also recommended that the Legislative Council authorize the payment of $37,500 from moneys appropriated under section 2.12 of the Code for completion of a performance audit conducted by the Auditor of State regarding elderly care and nursing homes in Iowa. He noted that the Auditor of State will pay the remaining costs. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Studies Committee is attached to these minutes.
Senator Bisignano moved that the Studies Committee consider the establishment of a study committee to study the enforcement and surveillance capability of law enforcement personnel with regard to the regulation of the gaming industry in Iowa. Senator Bisignano withdrew the motion after Senator Horn agreed to consider the request at the next meeting of the Studies Committee.
10. Capitol Local Area Network (LAN) Backbone. Vice Chairperson Horn stated that Mr. Sandy Scharf, Director, Computer Support Bureau, submitted a memorandum itemizing the costs of computer equipment and wiring necessary for the installation of a Capitol LAN Backbone for the House and Senate chambers. Vice Chairperson Horn moved that the Legislative Council authorize the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Legislative Council to expend up to $166,000 from joint funds pursuant to section 2.12 of the Code for the purchase of the following equipment and wiring necessary for the House and Senate chamber automation projects, subject to joint approval of the specific expenditures by both the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson:
Vice Chairperson Horn noted that the Capitol LAN Backbone does not include personal computer hardware or software expenses. The motion was adopted. A copy of the memorandum is on file in the Legislative Service Bureau.
11. Award from the Federation of Malaysia. Vice Chairperson Horn stated that he was the recipient of an award, and had received a metal and wooden plaque from a representative of the Federation of Malaysia. He stated that the award was accepted on behalf of the Iowa General Assembly.
12. Next Meeting Date and Adjournment. Vice Chairperson Horn announced that there are no plans for a meeting in July and probably not in August. The meeting date will be announced by Chairperson Corbett.
Senator Fraise moved that the Council adjourn at 2:25 p.m. The motion was adopted.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
DIANE BOLENDER
Director
THANE JOHNSON
Senior Research Analyst
OTHER INFORMATION FOR THIS COMMITTEE:
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