STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-SECOND MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
July 28, 2008
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, REFORM, TECHNOLOGY
& ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Gene Pelowski, Chair of the Government Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee, called the meeting to order at 9:01 A.M. on Monday, July 28, 2008, in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Pelowski, Chair
Morgan, Vice Chair
Anderson, S.
Emmer
Howes
Kahn
Kalin
Olson
Peterson, N.
Poppe
Simon
Wollschlager
Members excused: Brod , Hilty, Nelson, Winkler
Other House members in attendance:
Scalze
Greiling
Masin
Murphy, E.
Loeffler
McFarlane
A quorum was present.
The presentation on legislative process reform continued.
Testifying on the legislative process and its effects on counties:
Keith Carlson, Executive Director, Minnesota Inter-County Association
Also testifying:
Mark Anfinson, Minnesota Newspaper Association
Discussion was held regarding possible recommendations such as:
Making the legislative process easier to follow by having better notice requirements, following the committee agenda, and starting on time;
Simplifying the bill tracking process;
Having better coordination between similar committees in the House and Senate (having the same committee names), making sure bill hearings coordinate;
Holding hearings away from the Capitol; and
At the end of session, there are too many amendments on the floor that are too detailed, there are problems in conference committees with small groups making all of the decisions. It was stressed that the legislature needs to do a better job of explaining the process to the public.
July 28, 2008
Page Two
Mark Shepard, House Research, gave an overview of the document, Sample Format for Possible Committee Recommendations.
Members held discussion and ideas were again suggested for possible changes related to the legislative process.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:54 AM.
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REP. GENE PELOWSKI, CHAIRMAN
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Kathy L. Anderson, Committee Legislative Assistant