Wyoming Legislature

Committee Meeting Summary of Proceedings

Management Council

Council Meeting Information

Telephone Conference Meeting

May 19, 2005

Council Members Participating

Senator Grant Larson, Chairman

Representative Randall Luthi, Vice Chairman

Senator Rae Lynn Job, Secretary

Senator Jim Anderson

Senator Ross Diercks

Senator John Hines

Senator Mike Massie

Senator John Schiffer

Representative Roy Cohee

Representative Tom Lockhart

Representative Wayne Reese

Representative Ann Robinson

Representative Colin Simpson

Legislative Service Office Staff

Dan J. Pauli, Director

Dave Gruver, Assistant Director

Dave Nelson, School Finance Manager

Others Participating

Special Assistant Attorney General Michael O'Donnell

Call To Order

The Council met by telephone conference  on Thursday, May 19, 2005.  Chairman Larson called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.  The following sections summarize the Council proceedings by topic. 

 Speech and Debate Privilege Policy

The Council reviewed a draft policy relating to the speech and debate privilege existing under Article 3, Section 16 of the Wyoming Constitution (See initial draft at Appendix 1).  Senator Massie moved adoption of the policy, seconded by Senator Anderson.  Following discussion, Representative Simpson moved to amend the policy to clarify that it applied to both standing and interim committees.  The motion passed.  Senator Schiffer moved to further amend the policy by changing the second sentence of paragraph two to clarify that a waiver might apply to a privilege that "may be" asserted rather than a privilege that is "being" asserted.  The motion passed.  The motion to adopt the policy, as amended, passed by a unanimous roll call vote. (The policy as finally adopted appears at Appendix 2).

Amicus Brief

The Council discussed whether LSO staff should be directed to file an amicus brief in support of the speech and debate privilege, in the event issues relating to the privilege are brought before the Wyoming Supreme Court  for review as part of the on-going school finance litigation.

Following discussion, Chairman Larson asked that a roll call vote be taken on the question of directing the staff to file an amicus brief.  He stated that an Aye vote would be a vote in favor of filing an amicus brief.  The question passed by a vote of 11 Ayes, 2 Noes (Representatives Reese and Simpson voting No).

Committee Budgets

The Council considered a request by the Joint Corporations Interim Committee for authorization to create a subcommittee on Telecommunications (See Appendix 3).   Senator Larson noted his concern that a subcommittee should not take the place of the full committee in developing legislation and that it is the responsibility of the full committee to ensure that legislation it sponsors is in fact the work product of the full committee. Following discussion, the Council approved the request of the Joint Corporations Interim Committee and voted to increase the Committee's budget by $10,000.

Next Meeting

Chairman Larson advised that the Council would likely meet in late June or early July.

Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business, Chairman Larson adjourned the meeting at 9:10 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Senator Rae Lynn Job, Secretary