Management Council Meeting Summary (April 30, 2003)

The Management Council met in Cheyenne on April 30, 2003.  The Council received an update on recent legislation that changed the administrative rule process and the process changes that will be made by LSO staff to accommodate the new law.  The Council discussed options for improving legislative involvement in the administrative rule process.  The members reviewed the position description developed by LSO for the two research analyst positions authorized by the Legislature during the 2003 General Session.  The positions will report to the Assistant Director for Administration, but eventually may develop into a general research and policy analysis section within the LSO.  The Council approved the position description and placement of the positions within the LSO. 

The Council received an update on school finance studies resulting from 2003 legislation.  Major issues to be addressed this interim include the small school adjustment and the regional cost adjustment to the school finance funding formula.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction addressed the Council concerning the school finance funding model, the required basket of goods, and the federal No Child Left Behind Act.  The Council also discussed policies related to legislative travel and authorized legislator travel to participate in national legislative meetings, subject to budget constraints.  The Council received information related to a proposed contract to include uranium in the mineral tax incentive econometric model, which was not approved.  The Council approved a contract for the procurement of professional services to assist in the study of the state’s health insurance and benefits programs for employees.  The Council also received an update on the state’s fiscal outlook and on interim committee activities.  The Council plans to hold several more meetings during the interim, with the next meeting scheduled for June 5, 2003.