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MINUTES

IOWA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

June 20, 1996 - Fourth Meeting of 1995-1996

MEMBERS PRESENT

MEETING IN BRIEF

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

The meeting included the following topics and actions:

  1. Procedural Business.
  2. Educational Leave Reports.
  3. Iowa Supreme Court Rules.
  4. Reports of the Fiscal Committee.
  5. Report of the Administration Committee.
  6. Report of the Service Committee.
  7. Report of the International Relations Committee.
  8. Report of the Studies Committee.
  9. 1997 Prefiling Rules.
  10. Pricing of Legal Publications.
  11. Correspondence on Parking Lot #13.
  12. Written Materials Filed with the Legislative Council.
  13. Attachments.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

1. Procedural Business.
Call to order. The fourth meeting of the l995-1996 Legislative Council was called to order by the Chairperson, Speaker Ron Corbett, at 1:35 p.m., Thursday, June 20, l996, in Senate Room 22, State Capitol, Des Moines, Iowa.
Approval of November 29, l995, meeting. The minutes of the meeting of November 29, l995, were approved as submitted to members of the Council as of March 19, l996.
Adjournment. Upon a motion by Vice Chairperson Horn, the meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. The motion was adopted unanimously.
2. Educational Leave Reports.
Chairperson Corbett recognized Ms. Diane Bolender, Director, Legislative Service Bureau, for presentation of the educational leave reports. Ms. Bolender stated that the reports are filed with the Legislative Council as required under Iowa Code section 70A.25. Representative Connors moved that the educational leave reports be received and filed. The motion was adopted.
3. Iowa Supreme Court Rules.
Chairperson Corbett again recognized Ms. Bolender concerning the Iowa Supreme Court Rules. Ms. Bolender stated that the Iowa Supreme Court has submitted four sets of amendments to its rules since the last Council meeting. As provided in Iowa Code section 602.4201, the rule amendments take effect 60 days after submission to the Legislative Council unless the Council votes to delay their effective date. Three sets have taken effect and the fourth set takes effective July 1, l996, unless the Council objects. She noted that the Chairpersons of the House and Senate Committees on Judiciary were informed of the rule amendments and expressed no objection. Representative Connors moved that the rules be received and filed without objection. The motion was adopted.
4. Reports of the Fiscal Committee.
Chairperson Corbett recognized Representative Millage and Senator Murphy for the Reports of the Fiscal Committee. Representative Millage briefly reviewed the issues discussed and information received at the three Fiscal Committee meetings of January 3, January 10, and June 13, l996. Representative Connors asked if the Committee discussed privatization issues, particularly in the areas of transportation and supplies. Senator Murphy stated that several issues have been raised concerning privatization in state government but the Committee has not addressed any specifics. Representative Millage noted that no recommendations were made to the Council and moved the adoption of the Committee Reports. The motion carried. Copies of the Reports of the Administration Committee are attached to these minutes.
5. Report of the Administration Committee.
Representative Van Maanen briefly reviewed the Report of the Administration Committee. He stated that the Committee received updates relating to the electronic version of the Administrative Code project and the legislative bill drafting system project. He stated that the Committee also discussed the development of a policy relating to the distribution and pricing of electronic information, computer programs, and publications published in electronic format under the authority of the General Assembly. He added that a proposed policy is being discussed by the Computer User Policy Direction Committee, but until this policy is completed and adopted by the Legislative Council, he moved that the legislative agencies of the General Assembly continue the distribution and pricing policies and practices as they existed before July 1, l996. The motion was adopted. Representative Van Maanen moved that the Report of the Administration Committee be adopted. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Administration Committee is attached to these minutes.
6. Report of the Service Committee.
Senator Gronstal was recognized to present the Report of the Service Committee. Senator Gronstal reviewed the recommendations for promotion of legislative staff members, the creation of a legislative document specialist job series for the Legislative Service Bureau, and the annual personnel reports for each of the central legislative staff agencies. He specifically noted that an environmental ombudsman contract with the Department of Natural Resources is being discontinued and the Service Committee recommends that a letter be sent to the Department expressing concern about the late notice of nonrenewal of the contract and that the employee directly involved be retained by the Office of Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman as long as funding is available. He added that the Service Committee created a four-member subcommittee, one legislator for each House and Senate caucus, to review possible changes in personnel guidelines for all legislative employees and make recommendations to the Service Committee. Upon a motion by Senator Gronstal, the Report of the Service Committee was adopted. A copy of the Report is attached to these minutes.
7. Report of the International Relations Committee.
Chairperson Corbett recognized Senator Elaine Szymoniak, Vice Chairperson of the International Relations Committee, to discuss the report on behalf of the International Relations Committee. Senator Szymoniak stated that the purpose of the Committee meetings in October 1995 and April 1996 was to discuss recommendations for adoption of policies regarding visits by officials from other countries and to establish a protocol for introduction of international visitors as well as to discuss funding for the purpose of purchasing gifts for presentation to foreign governmental officials visiting Iowa and for use by representatives from the Iowa General Assembly who are visiting foreign governments and to discuss funding for visits of elected officials from foreign countries. Chairperson Van Maanen noted that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, not the Majority Leader, should be the official specified to introduce visitors in the House Chamber. Senator Szymoniak expressed support for Representative Van Maanen's proposed change. Vice Chairperson Horn moved the adoption of the Report on behalf of the International Relations Committee. The motion was seconded by Representative Jochum and adopted. A copy of the Report is attached to these minutes.
8. Report of the Studies Committee.
Representative Gipp presented the Report of the Studies Committee. Representative Gipp stated that the Report recommends 10 studies for the l996 interim. Senator Tinsman expressed concern that the property tax study may be too narrow in its scope if the study charge does not include a review of the effect that property tax changes may have on other taxes. Representative Gipp stated that the Committee agreed to recommend the study language agreed to by the Senate last session. He added that he understands that the Department of Management is also conducting a property tax study during the interim. In reply to a question by Senator Murphy, Representative Gipp stated that the property tax study should not include the school aid formula.
Senator McLaren stated that in addition to the study areas in the Report, he is concerned about the potential problems that "hedge to arrive" contracts may have on the agricultural community. He added that while the full impact of the controversial contracts is not known, estimates range from $300 million to $1.1 billion in Iowa alone. He noted that the state Grain Indemnity Fund currently has a balance of $8 million to repay losses. After further comment, Senator McLaren moved to amend the Report of the Studies Committee to add a "Hedge to Arrive" Study Committee with five legislative members from each house and two meeting days. The motion was adopted. Representative Gipp moved the adoption of the Report of the Studies Committee, as amended. The motion was adopted. A copy of the Report of the Studies Committee, as amended, is attached to these minutes.
9. 1997 Prefiling Rules.
Chairperson Corbett recognized Ms. Bolender to review the major changes in the proposed 1997 Prefiling Rules. Ms. Bolender stated that the proposed rules differ from the 1996 rules adopted by the Legislative Council in the following ways: departmental requests may be filed beginning on August 5 rather than September 2; if departmental requests are not specific enough to draft, specifics must be provided within three days of a request for specifics or the request will require legislative sponsorship; a department may request changes to an initial draft only once; a departmental memorandum will be substituted for a background statement for departmental bills and the memorandum will accompany the completed bill draft to the legislative leaders; and gubernatorial bill requests must be submitted with specific drafting instructions on or before January 10, l997. In addition, she added that the Legislative Service Bureau requests that the Legislative Council and the respective House and Senate Rules and Administration Committees consider changes to the dates for filing individual bill requests and committee bill requests during odd-numbered years. Senator Rife suggested that the date for filing committee requests be reduced more than suggested by the memorandum. Senator Gronstal suggested that the entire series of legislative session deadlines be reviewed in consultation with the Legislative Service Bureau. Representative Schrader stated that he does not agree with the suggestions for change in the memorandum, but he does agree that the entire session deadlines should be reviewed. After further discussion, Chairperson Corbett stated that the Legislative Council, by unanimous consent, adopted Senator Gronstal's suggestion to recommend review of the entire "funnel" process by House and Senate rules committees in consultation with the Legislative Service Bureau. Representative Connors moved that the Prefiling Rules be adopted as presented. The motion was adopted. A copy of the 1997 Prefiling Rules is attached to these minutes.
10. Pricing of Legal Publications.
Ms. Bolender submitted a memorandum from Mr. Jerry Gamble, Acting Printing and Records Team Leader, recommending the pricing of the Iowa Administrative Bulletin, Iowa Administrative Code Supplement, and Iowa Court Rules for the fiscal year beginning July 1, l996. He recommends an increase of 1 percent over the previous price, i.e. prices of $230 for the Bulletin, $371 for the Supplement, and $73 for the Iowa Court Rules. Vice Chairperson Horn moved the adoption of the pricing recommendation of the Printing Division of the Department of General Service for the three listed publications. The motion was adopted. A copy of the memorandum is attached to these minutes.
11. Correspondence on Parking Lot #13 Repair.
Representative Connors moved that the Legislative Council send a letter to the Department of General Services requesting the filling of pot holes and other related repair to the surface of parking lot #13 and its entrances. The motion was adopted unanimously.
12. Written Materials Filed with The Legislative Service Bureau.
Educational Leave Reports for 1995.
Changes to Iowa Court Rules.
13. Attachments.
a. Reports of the Fiscal Committee.
b. Report of the Administration Committee.
c. Report of the Service Committee.
d. Report on Behalf of the International Relations Committee.
e. Report of the Studies Committee.
f. 1997 Prefiling Rules.
g. Pricing for Publications.

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