Legislative Service Agency & Research Directors Training Seminar July 9 11, 2017

Transcription

1 Legislative Service Agency & Research Directors Training Seminar July 9 11, 2017 Chair: Vice Chair: Charlotte Carter-Yamauchi Director, Rick Combs Director, AGENDA Sunday, July 9 th (Sunday is optional, guests are welcome) 10:15 AM to walk or ride to the Alaska Capitol Complex) The Legislature in Alaska Our host state will provide a tour of the Alaska State Capitol Campus and will provide insight regarding the history and uniqueness of the Alaska Legislature. The tour will include: Capitol Terry Miller Legislative Office Building Thomas Stewart Legislative Office Building Legislative Finance Building 12:00 PM Hosted Lunch at the Terry Miller Legislative Office Building 1:45 PM to shuttle to dock) Welcome Gathering Hosted by CSG West Location: Chartered Whale Watching Tour departing from: Four Points by Sheraton (Formerly The Goldbelt) 51 Egan Drive Juneau, AK :00 PM Return to the Four Points by Sheraton Monday, July 10 th 8:00 AM Breakfast Location: McGivney s at the Four Points by Sheraton 8:45 AM Depart hotel for Terry Miller Legislative Office Building th Street, Juneau, AK

2 9:00 AM Introductions and Welcome to Juneau Rick Combs, Director Pam Varni, Executive Director Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency 9:15 AM Legislative Staff Hiring Practices An effective legislative employee must not only have the appropriate educational background and skill set to perform the daily tasks; he or she must also be suited to handle the political environment in which we all work. This session will focus on recruiting, advertising, conducting the interview, and selecting the right candidate for your organization. Susan Howson, Staff Director Washington State Senate Joe Kolman, Director, Legislative Environmental Policy Montana Legislative Services Jerry Howe, Managing Policy Analyst Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel 10:15 AM Encouraging Career Longevity and Professional Development As a new generation of employees enters the legislative workforce, what steps are western legislatures taking to encourage young, bright employees to stick with the legislature as a career? The session will include a discussion of current compensation and benefits trends among the western states. 11:15 AM Break Jerry Howe, Managing Policy Analyst Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel Eric Milstead, Director Idaho Legislative Services Office 11:30 AM Technology Update Roundtable Discussion Advances in technology continue to change the manner in which legislatures conduct their work. Join in a roundtable discussion regarding recent developments and upcoming plans for the use of technology in western state legislatures and legislative offices. Raúl Burciaga, Director New Mexico Legislative Council Service 2

3 12:30 PM Working Lunch Roundtable Discussion Location: Onsite Each state has five minutes to update the committee on the following: Significant issues in the 2017 legislative session State economic and fiscal outlook Challenges ahead 1:30 PM Legislative Cost Reduction Measures Roundtable Discussion Since the start of the Great Recession, western states have each had their turn at addressing declining state revenues. Legislative Service Agencies have been asked to share in the cost reductions that result from budget shortfalls. This roundtable discussion will allow participating states to share some of the ways that legislative service agencies have reduced costs to help balance state budgets. Rick Combs, Director 2:30 PM Strategic Planning in the Legislative Environment Has your organization recently evaluated whether its mission and goals are still reflective of the services needed by a new generation of lawmakers? This session will be centered on the successes and failures of recent strategic planning efforts by legislative service agencies and advice for agencies considering such efforts in the future. Michael Stewart, Deputy Director, Research Division Fred Messerer, Principal Deputy II California Legislative Counsel Bureau Susan Howson, Staff Director Washington State Senate 3:45 PM Break 4:00 PM Being an Ethical Role Model for Staff- In this session, you will be presented with complex ethical issues that legislative service agency directors face on a regular basis. Dilemmas are often beyond what s included in the employee handbook and are not easy to navigate. We will discuss some of the toughest questions facing nonpartisan staff offices. Mark Quiner Director, Center for Ethics, NCSL 3

4 5:00 PM Wrap up & closing remarks Rick Combs, Director 6:00 PM to shuttle to gardens) Reception and dinner Location: Glacier Gardens 7600 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK Tuesday, July 11 th 8:00 AM Breakfast Location: McGivney s at the Four Points by Sheraton 8:45 AM Depart hotel for Terry Miller Legislative Office Building 9:00 AM A Case Study in Legislative Management This session will continue our practice of analyzing and solving an issue related to legislative management in a group setting. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn from others experiences and to share differing viewpoints. 10:15 AM The Role for Legislative Staff in Preserving the Legislative Institution Term limits and generational change have combined to increase turnover in legislative leadership positions in many states. As this turnover has occurred, the legislative environment has become more polarized and compromise has become more challenging. Scott Raecker, a former Iowa state legislator, will guide us through an examination of the role non-partisan legislative staff can play in preserving the legislative institution and maintaining its proper role in good governance. Scott Raecker, Executive Director The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, Drake University 12:00 PM CSG West Program Overview Edgar Ruiz, Executive Director, CSG West Committee Discussion: Location and date for 2018 LSA/RD Committee Training Session 4

5 12:15 PM Depart for Lunch Location: The Hangar on the Wharf 2 Marine Way, Juneau, AK :45 PM Thriving as a Legislative Manager Based on his perspective as a former Legislator, Scott Raecker will challenge us to enhance our use of communication, teamwork and leadership to maximize our potential as managers and to develop positive, productive relationships in the legislative environment. We will discuss what legislators expect from nonpartisan staff in terms of direct interactions and in terms of management practices with the staff on which they rely. Participants are encouraged to ask the questions they always wanted to ask a Legislator but never felt comfortable enough to ask. 4:45 PM Wrap up & evaluations 5:00 PM Adjourn 6:20 PM to walk to restaurant) Reception and dinner Location: SALT 200 Seward St. Juneau, AK Wednesday, July 12 th 11:00 AM Check out time for the Four Points by Sheraton 5