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ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE
Forty-ninth Legislature – First Regular Session
SENATE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE
FOR THE SUNSET REVIEWS OF:
ARIZONA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
ARIZONA STATE LIBRARY, ARCHIVES AND PUBLIC RECORDS
OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL
Minutes of Interim Meeting
House Hearing Room 5 -- 2:30 p.m.
Co-Chairman Montenegro called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m. and attendance was noted by the secretary.
Members Present
Senator Jay Tibshraeny, Co-Chairman Representative Steve Montenegro, Co-Chairman
Senator Jorge Luis Garcia Representative Tom Chabin
Senator Chuck Gray Representative Adam Driggs
Senator Jim Waring Representative David Gowan
Members Absent
Senator Meg Burton Cahill Representative Chad Campbell
Opening Remarks
Chairman Montenegro thanked everyone for attending the meeting.
Arizona Legislative Council
Michelle Hindman, Majority Research Analyst, Government Committee, explained that the Arizona Legislative Council (ALC) is a statutory Committee of the Legislature that is chaired in alternate years by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and includes six additional Members from each chamber. Under the direction of the executive director, ALC provides bill drafting, legal research, information technology and operational support services to the Members and staff of the Arizona Legislature. ALC only exercises regulatory authority regarding scheduling of events on the common areas adjacent to the House of Representatives, Senate and Capitol buildings. The agency is not recommending any statutory changes, and at the last sunset review, the ALC was continued for 10 years.
Mike Braun, Executive Director, Arizona Legislative Council, remarked that the Members are familiar with the work of the staff at ALC. He said he trusts the Members will agree with him that it would be worth the Legislature’s time and effort to continue ALC for another 10 years.
Co-Chairman Montenegro expressed gratitude for the work that is done by Mr. Braun and ALC staff.
Senator
Tibshraeny moved that the Committee of Reference recommend to the full
Legislature that the Arizona Legislative Council be continued for
10 years. The motion carried.
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Michelle Hindman, Majority Research Analyst, Government Committee, explained that the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records (Library) was established to serve as the state library administrative agency to oversee, plan, support, seek resources for and coordinate public library and public records services statewide. The Library directs operations, education and outreach of the State Capitol Museum and develops library services for the blind and physically handicapped. The Library was moved from the Legislative branch of government to become a part of the Secretary of State’s Office this past Legislative Session. In its sunset review response, the Library indicated that current statutes do not inhibit the Library from fulfilling its statutory mandate; however, there are several statutory clarifications needed due to the recent move to the Secretary of State’s Office so the Library is planning to run a clean-up bill in the 2010 Legislative Session. The Secretary of State requested a 10-year continuation in a letter to the Committee.
GladysAnn Wells, Director/State Librarian, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, stated that Library staff work daily in the Legislators’ districts with cultural institutions, city, town and county managers. One division alone, the Braille and Talking Book Library sends 1,500 items per day across the state to readers and does as much fundraising as possible to bring private money to Arizona.
Letters of Support were provided from the following:
Co-Chairman Montenegro expressed gratitude for everything the Library does.
Co-Chairman Montenegro announced the names of those who signed up in favor of continuation of the Library but did not speak:
Jim Drake, Assistant Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
Kristen Boilini, Lobbyist, Arizona Librarians Association
Senator Tibshraeny moved that the Committee of Reference recommend to the full Legislature that the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records be continued for 10 years. The motion carried.
Office of the Auditor General
Michelle Hindman, Majority Research Analyst, Government Committee, explained that the Office of the Auditor General (Office) was established in 1969. The Office is under the direction of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and provides information to the Legislature and various other governmental entities, and assists them in overseeing operations, improving their financial management and effectiveness, and giving the public a measure of accountability. The mission of the Office is to improve state and local government operations and accountability by independently providing the Legislature, government decision-makers and the public with timely, accurate, and impartial information; relevant recommendations and technical assistance. In fiscal year (FY) 2009 the Office issued 197 reports that were in one of three categories; performance audits and evaluations, financial audits and related letter reports, and compliance reports and letters. The Office is not a regulatory agency and does not receive or process complaints, or prosecute actions. The Office is not recommending any statutory changes for the upcoming Legislative Session.
Debbie Davenport, Auditor General, stated that she perceives the duties and responsibilities of the Office as helping legislators in their mission by preparing independent, unbiased information. She responded to questions concerning the FY 2009 budget for the Office.
Co-Chairman Montenegro extended gratitude for the work of the Auditor General’s Office.
Senator Tibshraeny moved that the Committee of Reference recommend to the full Legislature that the Office of the Auditor General be continued for 10 years. The motion carried.
Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 2:46 p.m.
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Linda Taylor, Committee Secretary
November 19, 2009
(Original minutes, attachments and audio on file in the Chief Clerk’s Office; video archives available at http://www.azleg.gov)
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COR - SENATE GOV AND HOUSE GOV
2
November 17, 2009
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