AGENDA

Government Operations Interim Committee

Utah Legislature

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 • 2:00 p.m. • Room C450 State Capitol

Approximate

Time Frame2:00      1.   Committee Business

                        •    Call to order

                        •    Approval of the minutes of the May 21, 2008 meeting

2:05      2.   State Capital Complex Construction Projects and Plans -- Update

The State Capitol Preservation Board exercises jurisdiction and stewardship over capitol hill facilities, capitol hill grounds, and the State Capitol Complex, with the exception of certain areas reserved under legislative control. The Board is required to preserve, maintain, and restore the State Capitol Complex, facilities, grounds, and their contents through an annual work plan and a long-range master plan. The employee parking structure east of the Capitol was completed in December 2007. The renovated and seismic upgraded Capitol was dedicated on January 4, 2008 and was used for the 2008 General Session. Currently, additional work continues in the Capitol and its grounds. Renovations have begun on the East and West buildings. What are the plans, cost, and status of these projects? What other plans and projects are on the long-range master plan, completed, or under construction? How are the projects funded?

                        •    David Harris Hart, State Capitol Preservation Board

2:25      3.   Election Law Changes

Under Section 20A-1-300.6, the lieutenant governor is designated as Utah's chief elections officer. Each year a number of election issues come up that require consideration by the Legislature. Most of the issues are technical and administrative in nature. Other issues may require a more substantive policy determination. A representative from the Lieutenant Governor's Office will present a list of proposed changes for the Committee's preliminary consideration. How should the Legislature respond to these issues? Should draft legislation be prepared to address the issues presented?

                        •    Michael J. Cragun, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

3:00      4.   State Per Diem Standardization for State Agency Boards

Under Section 63A-3-106 Utah Code, the Division of Finance is required to "establish per diem rates for all state officers and employees of the executive branch...for attendance at official meetings." These rates are made by rule (R25-5-4) and set at $60 per diem for each official meeting attended that lasts up to four hours and $90 for a meeting lasting longer that four hours. This per diem rate is the daily allowance for subsistence expenses for state policy boards, advisory boards, councils, and committees. Which state agencies' boards pay these standard rates and which do not? Should the statutory language be standardized for all boards that pay per diem? How often are the rates adjusted? How should the Legislature respond to these issues?

3:30      5.   Office of State Debt Collection -- Update

The Office of State Debt Collection of the Department of Administrative Services has overall responsibility for collecting and managing state receivables, for developing consistent policies governing the collection and management of state receivables, and for overseeing and monitoring state receivables. How does the office accomplish its duties? What is the annual impact on state finances? Are there additional methods that could be employed to increase debt collection efficiency and effectiveness?

                        •    Kimberly Hood, Department of Administrative Services

                        •    David Johnson III, Office of State Debt Collection

4:00      6.   Other Items / Adjourn