TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 18, A

003

Chair Shields

Opens the meeting at 3:16 p.m. and opens a public hearing on SB 316.

SB 316 – PUBLIC HEARING

008

Judith Callens

Administrator. Explains the provisions of the bill.

020

Lydia Muniz

Governor’s Advocate for Minority, Women and Emerging Small Businesses (Advocate). Testifies in support of SB 316.

042

Muniz

Summarizes the intent of the bill, which would require state agencies to notify the Advocate of the award of public contracts with a value of $5,000 or more.

061

Muniz

Outlines an amendment that would address those state agencies that fall outside the purview of Department of Administrative Services (DAS) authority.

073

Chair Shields

Asks how the timeline would reflect itself in the statute.

080

Muniz

Responds that the statute requires “timely” notification and would be determined through administrative rules.

086

Dianne Lancaster

Chief Procurement Officer, DAS. Presents written testimony (EXHIBIT A) and testifies in support of the bill.

114

Sen. Verger

Asks if there would be a fiscal impact.

117

Lancaster

Answers that they have a system in place to capture the information and there would be no further cost.

125

Sen. B. Starr

Asks if there would be a cost associated with state agencies meeting these reporting requirements.

135

Lancaster

Responds that the DAS agencies are implementing a system that requires them to report any contracts exceeding $5,000, but she cannot speak for the other state agencies.

154

Sen. B. Starr

Notes that it would be helpful to have a list of the agencies not under DAS authority.

162

Chair Shields

Asks if the information gathered could be embarrassing to the state.

171

Muniz

Answers that is a difficult question as they do not presently have a state-wide collection site.

179

Sandra Bishop

Fair Competition Alliance. Testifies in support of SB 316. Expresses a concern on whether or not the contracts mandated to go to non-profits would be awarded before or after the notification went to the Advocate.

218

Andre Baugh

Group AGB. Testifies in support of the bill. Notes that this will be a valuable tool for solid data collection.

259

Chair Shields

Closes the public hearing on SB 316 and opens a public hearing on SB 387.

SB 387 – PUBLIC HEARING

263

Callens

Explains the provisions of the bill.

280

Susan  Wilson

Administrator, Human Resource Services Division, DAS. Presents written testimony (EXHIBIT B) and a program explanation for the Employee Suggestion Program (EXHIBIT C) and testifies that DAS is neutral on SB 387.

329

Wilson

Explains the current structure and staffing of the Employee Suggestion Awards Commission.

374

Chair Shields

Asks if they are more comfortable with the system at present or with the proposed system suggested in the bill.

378

Wilson

Answers that they are comfortable with the ability they have at present to staff and manage the program.

389

Sen. Verger

Notes that this is a huge expansion of the program.

398

Sen. Walker

Agrees that if the system is not broken, it should not need fixing.

413

Chair Shields

Closes the public hearing on SB 387 and opens a public hearing on SB 388.

SB 388 – PUBLIC HEARING

423

Wilson

Presents written testimony (EXHIBIT D) and explains the provisions of the bill. Expresses concern over the staffing that would be required.

TAPE 19, A

003

Wilson

Reviews an informal survey asking if there had been problems within agencies with people making suggestions, and was not able to discover any existing problems.

011

Sen. Walker

Asks for information on the largest suggestion award presented.

016

Wilson

Reviews an award for a suggestion on highway repairs.

027

Amy Klare

Administrator, Civil Rights Division, Bureau of Labor and Industries. Submits written testimony on behalf of Dan Gardner, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries  (EXHIBIT E) that expresses some concerns with portions of the bill.

070

Mary Botkin

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Testifies on the intent to protect employees who come forward with suggestions to save money.  

111

Botkin

Adds that if suggestions save money, the money should go back into the budget.

155

Botkin

Thinks the suggestion program should be limited to employees.

164

Sen. B. Starr

Asks about the percentages of savings awarded to the person making the suggestion.

187

Botkin

Responds that we would be better off putting the money saved back into the programs. Stresses the value of listening to suggestions from front line workers.

220

Chair Shields

Closes the public hearing and adjourns the meeting at 4:04 p.m.