LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Minutes of the

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 Prairie Room, State Capitol Bismarck, North Dakota

Senator Bob Stenehjem called the meeting to preferences. He said it takes approximately two to order at 10:45 p.m. three weeks to distribute, return, and tabulate the Members present: Senators Bob Stenehjem, results from the legislators. He said the chairman Dick Dever, Tim Flakoll, Joel C. Heitkamp, Ray puts together a tentative committee list and presents Holmberg, David O'Connell, Larry J. Robinson, Rich that list to the Legislative Council, which approves the Wardner; Representatives , Merle Boucher, committee membership assignments. Al Carlson, , Lee Kaldor, Shirley Meyer, The director said the 60th Legislative Assembly Phillip Mueller, , Bob Skarphol approved funding for continuation of the legislative Others present: Randel Christmann, State branch infrastructure replacement project. He said Senator, Hazen time is of the essence and he suggested at the next JoNell A. Bakke, State Senator, Grand Forks meeting of the Legislative Council a presentation be Kathy Stenehjem, Bismarck made concerning the infrastructure replacement Elizabeth Stenehjem, Bismarck project for decision by the Legislative Council on how Janell Cole, Forum Communications to proceed. Dale Wetzel, Blake Nicholson; Associated Press, The Council discussed various dates for the next Bismarck meeting. After reviewing conflicts members had on Jim W. Smith, Jeffrey N. Nelson; Legislative various dates, Chairman Carlson announced the Council, Bismarck Legislative Council would meet on Tuesday, May 15, Chairman Stenehjem announced that nominations 2007, to prioritize studies. He requested information for chairman of the Legislative Council were open. on required and proposed studies be distributed to Representative Berg nominated Representative Council members before the meeting. The assistant Carlson, seconded by Representative Delzer. director said the information that had been presented Senator Holmberg nominated Senator Stenehjem, to the Legislative Council for the prioritization meeting seconded by Senator Dever. On a roll call vote, last interim identified and listed the required studies Senators Stenehjem, Dever, Flakoll, Heitkamp, first and grouped discretionary studies with similar Holmberg, O'Connell, Robinson, and Wardner voted required studies and other similar discretionary for Senator Stenehjem. Representatives Berg, studies. Boucher, Carlson, Delzer, Kaldor, Meyer, Mueller, The director noted that the supplementary rules of Pollert, and Skarphol voted for Representative the Legislative Council provide that the Legislative Carlson. Representative Carlson was elected Council chairman approves all out-of-state travel by chairman. legislators. He said a decision needs to be made very Chairman Stenehjem announced the nominations soon on attendees to the annual meeting of the for vice chairman for the Legislative Council were National Conference of State Legislatures in Boston open. It was moved by Senator Holmberg, August 5-9, 2007. In answer to a question from seconded by Senator Dever, and carried on a Senator Stenehjem, Chairman Carlson said he voice vote that a unanimous ballot be cast for intends to follow the prior practice of consulting with Senator Stenehjem as vice chairman of the each majority and minority leader about attendees Legislative Council. from their respective caucuses for major meetings. Senator Stenehjem called on Representative Senator Robinson inquired as to Chairman Carlson to take the chair. Chairman Carlson presided Carlson's thoughts on interim committee chairmen over the remainder of the meeting. and vice chairmen. Senator Robinson said he thinks The director described the process for selecting politics should be moved aside with respect to studies and establishing interim committees. Usually, Legislative Council studies and chairmanships. he said, the Council meets two to three weeks after Chairman Carlson said if a member of the Legislative the legislative session to review study directives and Council wants to chair a committee, that member establish priorities for discretionary studies. He said should be able to chair a committee. With respect to the Council traditionally has authorized the chairman vice chairmen, he said, his preference is the chairman to establish a committee structure based on the study of the committee work with the Legislative Council directives approved for the interim, and a survey is chairman in naming a vice chairman. sent to each legislator asking for committee Legislative Council 2 April 25, 2007

No further business appearing, Chairman Carlson adjourned the meeting at 11:15 p.m.

______Jay E. Buringrud Assistant Director

______John D. Olsrud Director