JULY 18 22, 2015 | SAVANNAH, GEORGIA Welcome to Savannah We’re glad you have Georgia on your mind 69TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE SLC Chair’s Welcome Dear Colleagues and Friends, As Chair of the Southern Legislative Con- ference (SLC), I am pleased to welcome you to Savannah, “The Hostess City of the South.” I appreciate the support of my col- leagues and friends throughout the South during my tenure as Chair, and I am hum- bled by this opportunity to serve as your host during our 69th Annual Meeting. The cohesiveness and strong sense of place found in our SLC re- gion are key ingredients in making our gatherings so successful. Spotlighting the innovative programs and efforts states in our re- gion are making to improve the well-being and prosperity of our citizens is the hallmark of our event. It long has been a tradition of the SLC to showcase innovative pro- grams unique to the South and the Host State. This year’s program continues in that vein by featuring a number of successful pro- grams and initiatives underway in Georgia. Critical to the suc- cess of our region – our pathways to prosperity – is our continued and collective focus on economic growth, aligning our workforce with work, and providing our citizens with the resources and as- sistance necessary to thrive in the 21st century. Participation in the SLC is one of the most effective mechanisms I know for sharing information and finding solutions to the challenges we encounter as stewards of our states’ institutions. Through the SLC and its many programs and services, we have the opportunity to work across state and political boundaries in an environment of civility and collegiality. During Conference-week, our Host State Committee and staff have arranged an array of activities to suit every interest, high- lighting the many treasures of Savannah and Georgia, the Empire State of the South. I hope you will take some time to enjoy the outstanding programs being offered this week. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Please do not hesitate to call on us during your stay if we can be of service to you. Welcome to Savannah. Best wishes, Speaker David Ralston, Georgia SLC Chair, 2014-2015 1 69TH ANNUAL MEETING of the SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE About the Annual Meeting LOCATIONS SLC committee meetings and workshops will be held at the Hyatt Regency Savannah and the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, except where noted otherwise. The SLC/Mark Norris Campaign Against HungerFood Pack- aging Event will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday in the West Room of the Harborside Center, at the River Street level of the Hyatt Regency Savannah. The Joint Committee Technical Tour will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the West Room of the Harborside Center, at the River Street level of the Hyatt Regency Savannah. Meanwhile, the Agriculture & Rural Development Committee Techni- cal Tour and International Paper Technical Tour will depart immediately at 11:30 a.m. from River Street. ATTIRE Attire for committee meetings is business casual. Attire for fami- ly and guest activities is casual unless otherwise indicated. Attire for the State Dinner is business formal. ETHICS The ethics laws in some states prohibit or limit the value of gifts to legislators and legislative staff. If it is a violation of your state’s ethics laws to accept or use any of these gifts, you may return them or pass them along. CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) Attending substantive committee sessions may qualify for Con- tinuing Legal Education credits for state government officials in SLC member states. Substantive committee sessions are identi- fied with a superscript CLE following the session title. Forms and instructions are available at the CLE table, located on the Lobby Level of the Hyatt Regency Savannah near Annual Meeting Reg- istration. For additional details, contact Lauren Greer in the SLC Policy Staff Office (Sloane Room) or at [email protected]. 2 TH of the The Premier Public Policy 69 ANNUAL MEETING Forum for Southern SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE State Legislatures DIRECTORY Main Phone Line ..................................................................... (912) 421-5100 Hyatt Regency Savannah 2 West Bay Street .............................................................. (912) 238-1234 Andaz Savannah 14 Barnard Street............................................................... (912) 233-2116 DoubleTree Savannah Historic District 411 West Bay Street......................................................... (912) 790-7000 Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District 201 East Bay Street ........................................................... (912) 231-9700 Hilton Garden Inn Historic District 321 West Bay Street......................................................... (912) 721-5000 Holiday Inn Express Historic District 199 East Bay Street ........................................................... (912) 231-9000 Staybridge Suites Savannah Historic District 301 East Bay Street ........................................................... (912) 721-9000 HYATT REGENCY SAVANNAH Annual Meeting Registration Lobby Level Transportation Scarbrough Ballroom Host State Staff Office Scarbrough Ballroom Sloane Room SLC Staff Offices Vernon Room Guest Lounge Savannah Room Youth Activity Center East Room, Harborside Center OPEN MEETINGS All publicized SLC committee sessions are open to all registrants regardless of formal committee appointments or affiliations. ALCOHOL The Council of State Governments advocates responsible con- sumption of alcohol and use of designated drivers by all partici- pants at CSG functions. 3 Meeting at a Glance SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY DAY JULY 18 JULY 19 JULY 20 JULY 21 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Registration Registration Registration Registration REG. Hyatt Regency Lobby Hyatt Regency Lobby Hyatt Regency Lobby Hyatt Regency Lobby 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Legislative Staff Committee Breakfasts Committee Breakfasts CLOSING PLENARY & Workshop AGRICULTURE & RURAL FISCAL AFFAIRS & BUSINESS BREAKFAST DEVELOPMENT GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS SESSION 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN SERVICES & CSG Policy Academy TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC SAFETY Innovative Delivery CULTURAL AFFAIRS MORNING Models in Postsecondary EDUCATION Education 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. - noon Executive Committee Session SLC/MARK NORRIS OPENING PLENARY Meets upon adjournment CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER SESSION of the Closing Plenary noon - 1:30 p.m. noon - 1:30 p.m. 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. LEGISLATIVE Comparative Data Technical Tours Reports Presentations FISCAL PLENARY FISCAL AFFAIRS & LUNCHEON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS MIDDAY noon - 2:00 p.m. noon - 3:30 p.m. Committee Luncheons State Transformation in EDUCATION Action Recognition (STAR) ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT Program Selection Panel 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Executive Nominating Committee for Committee Programs Committee Conference Officers AGRICULTURE & RURAL Session 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. DEVELOPMENT Committee Programs ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION & AFTERNOON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT CULTURAL AFFAIRS HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. “TASTE OF Center for the Advancement Policy Positions Committee “GEORGIA ON MY MIND” of Leadership Skills Alumni CLOSING RECEPTION & SAVANNAH” Reception STATE DINNER OPENING 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY EVENING RECEPTION FAMILY NIGHT AT GEORGIA KENTUCKY KICK-OFF STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM RECEPTION JULY 22 ROUNDHOUSE DEPARTURES (no meetings) 4 Meeting at a Glance SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY DAY JULY 18 JULY 19 JULY 20 JULY 21 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Registration Registration Registration Registration REG. Hyatt Regency Lobby Hyatt Regency Lobby Hyatt Regency Lobby Hyatt Regency Lobby 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Legislative Staff Committee Breakfasts Committee Breakfasts CLOSING PLENARY & Workshop AGRICULTURE & RURAL FISCAL AFFAIRS & BUSINESS BREAKFAST DEVELOPMENT GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS SESSION 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN SERVICES & CSG Policy Academy TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC SAFETY Innovative Delivery CULTURAL AFFAIRS MORNING Models in Postsecondary EDUCATION Education 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. - noon Executive Committee Session SLC/MARK NORRIS OPENING PLENARY Meets upon adjournment CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER SESSION of the Closing Plenary noon - 1:30 p.m. noon - 1:30 p.m. 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. LEGISLATIVE Comparative Data Technical Tours Reports Presentations FISCAL PLENARY FISCAL AFFAIRS & LUNCHEON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS MIDDAY noon - 2:00 p.m. noon - 3:30 p.m. Committee Luncheons State Transformation in EDUCATION Action Recognition (STAR) ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT Program Selection Panel 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Executive Nominating Committee for Committee Programs Committee Conference Officers AGRICULTURE & RURAL Session 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. DEVELOPMENT Committee Programs ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION & AFTERNOON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT CULTURAL AFFAIRS HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. “TASTE OF Center for the Advancement Policy Positions Committee “GEORGIA ON MY MIND” of Leadership Skills Alumni CLOSING RECEPTION & SAVANNAH” Reception STATE DINNER OPENING 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY EVENING RECEPTION FAMILY NIGHT AT GEORGIA KENTUCKY KICK-OFF STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM RECEPTION JULY 22 ROUNDHOUSE DEPARTURES (no meetings) 5 69TH ANNUAL MEETING of the SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE Saturday, July 18 7:30 a.m.