Wednesday, Oct. 3 Registration 2:30 6 p.m. Pre Lancaster RESEARCH, EDITORIAL, LEGAL AND COMMITTEE STAFF (RELACS) AND LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH LIBRARIANS (LRL) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR October 4-6, 2018 Hilton Downtown and State Capitol - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania AGENDA (Twitter hashtag #NCSLRELACS #NCSLlibrarians) Thursday, Oct. 4 Following breakfast, all events at the State Capitol 7-8:30 a.m. Registration Pre Juniata 7 8:15 a.m. Breakfast Pennsylvania Ballroom 8:15 a.m. Walk to Capitol (A taxi will be available for those who aren t able to walk) 8:45 9:15 a.m. Welcome to Pennsylvania House Chamber Karen S. Coates, Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House, Pennsylvania Thomas G. Saylor, Chief Justice, Pennsylvania Supreme Court 9:15 10:30 a.m. House Chamber ETHICS AND CIVILITY [This session may be CLE eligible] Speaker: Mark Quiner, Director, Center for Ethics in Government, NCSL We hear a lot about ethics and civility today. So what ethical values are important to you and what will guide you in your decision-making process? This session will explore ethical values and how they can help guide your decisions and actions. Further we will look at civility how to define it, promote it, and protect it. The session will focus on values-based decision making in the context of legal theory and practical experience as a legislative staff attorney. 10:45 a.m. Noon CONCURRENT SESSIONS: G-50 Irvis Office Noon 1 p.m. 8 E-A & B The Legislature and Litigation: A Case Study [This session may be CLE eligible] Moderator: Mark Cutrona, Deputy Director, Division of Research, Delaware Speaker: Kristen Fraser, Senior Counsel, House of Representatives, Washington States are frequently sued over legislation that the legislature did and didn t enact. Legislative involvement in these types of lawsuits raises a number of questions: How can the legislature participate? Who is the client? Who is the attorney? What is the legislature s relationship with the state s attorney general? This session will examine these questions in light of several recent cases in Washington. Panning for Primary Source Gold: Historical Methods in Legislative Research Moderator: Megan McClure, Liaison to LRL, Legislative Staff Services Program, NCSL Speakers: Jillian Slaight, Researcher in Policy and Legislative History, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin Staci Duros, Legislative Analyst, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin Researchers often serve as keepers of a legislature s institutional memory, and, in that role, inform legislators and the public alike about key issues and developments in the institution s past. This panel examines historical inquiry as a vital part of the researcher s toolkit. It will address how to perform archival research in an organized, time-efficient, and effective way, using two case studies: a deep dive into the backstory (and bickering) behind a mural at the Wisconsin State Capitol, and an investigation into how post Civil War and World War I veterans legislation played out in actual veterans lives. Luncheon at the Capitol Sponsored by Tallan
Noon 3:30 p.m. Hearing Rooms 2 & 3 Exhibitor s Halls Sponsors Tallan and Propylon will offer demonstrations of their software. 1 2:15 p.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS: G-50 Irvis Office Taxing Opioids: A Bill Drafting Case Study [This session may be CLE eligible] Deborah Gottschalk, Legislative Attorney, Division of Research, Delaware David C. Mangler, Director, Division of Professional Regulation, Delaware The opioid addiction crisis continues unabated across the country and states are searching for more resources to prevent and treat addiction. Several states have considered imposing a tax or fee on prescription opioids to raise those funds. This session will address the legal and policy hurdles involved in one state s efforts to enact an opioid impact fee and create a dedicated opioid impact fund. The attorney who drafted the legislation will discuss the legal issues that arose at various points in the drafting process and how they were addressed. A division director, from the state agency holding key data upon which the development and negotiations regarding the legislation were centered, will discuss issues and limitations of the available data. Archival Alchemy: Transforming Original Research into Engaging Narratives Moderator: Megan McClure, Liaison to LRL, Legislative Staff Services Program, NCSL Speakers: Jillian Slaight, Researcher in Policy and Legislative History, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin Staci Duros, Legislative Analyst, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin Building from the previous presentation on historical research, this panel focuses on how to use primary sources to create coherent narratives with rich details and anecdotes. It lays out self-editing strategies and peer-reviewing practices that can help produce more polished work and lighten the load of editors. The ultimate goal is to write superior research briefs that engage broader audiences within and beyond the legislature. 2:25 3:35 p.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Senate Library 3:45 5:15 p.m. A Horse of a Different Color: Working with the Budget Bill Speakers: Jason Simmons, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Legislative Research Council, South Dakota Colbey Sullivan, Staff Coordinator, House Research Department, Minnesota Leah Settle, Budget Reviser, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky This panel session will look at how the budget is approached in several states. During this session, by examining the process of funding state government, we will explore an omnibus bill and states that use several bills to address the state budget. What Makes a Great Legislative Editor? Speaker: Wendy L. Jackson, Administrative Services Manager, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin Raeanne R. Martinez, Legal Editor, Legal Division, Legislative Council, Texas A good legislative editor can read, edit, and format proposals, identify inconsistencies and other problems in proposals, and advise attorneys on technical drafting aspects. But what makes a great legislative editor? This session will explore traits that separate the great from the good in legislative editing. For example, are you a first responder for issues of grammar and syntax? Are you adept enough and quick enough to take two passes under a tight deadline? This session will present ideas that will help you be great at legislative editing no matter where you are in your career. Senate Library Tour and De-escalation Session Librarians track Tour guide: Evelyn Andrews, Librarian, Pennsylvania Senate Library Speaker: Dan Billings, Director of Security & Chief Sergeant at Arms, Pennsylvania Senate Guests of the Senate Library will see the new permanent exhibit and display cases recently opened (9.24.18) in addition to the collections housed on the main floor and balcony. Dan Billings has spent 27 years investigating, researching, mitigating and teaching the topic of Workplace Violence. This session will focus on de-escalation techniques to consider when dealing with potentially violent people in the workplace. LRL 5 Minutes of Fame Librarians track Network and share information about your library and legislature with peers from across the nation. Have an exciting project or tricky issue you re trying to solve? Bring it to this session and pick the brains of other legislative librarians. N ATI ONAL CONFERENCE of STATE LEGI SLATURES Page 2
3:45 5:15 p.m. 5:15 6:15 pm East Wing Rotunda CREATING AN ASPIRING LEADERS PROGRAM Moderator: Kae Warnock, RELACS Liaison, NCSL Speaker: Jackie Little, Director, Human Resources, Maine Legislature Are you concerned about retaining top talent? Replacing soon-retiring leaders? Developing the professionals within your organization? The Maine Legislature has found an effective way to prepare for a successful transition to the next generation of staff leaders and it s easy enough to adopt almost anywhere and with limited financial resources. Opening Reception Friday, Oct. 5 All events at the State Capitol 7:30 a.m. Walk to Capitol (A taxi will be available for those who aren t able to walk) 8 9 a.m. Breakfast at the Capitol 8 E-A & B Sponsored by Propylon 9 10:30 a.m. CONCURRENT SESSIONS: State Museum 10:30 10:45 a.m. Break 10:45 Noon State Library Putting People Under Oath: Committee Subpoena Power and Usage [This session may be CLE eligible] Moderator: Fred Messerer, Principal Deputy Legislative Counsel, California Speakers: Frank Arey, Legal Counsel, Division of Legislative Audit, Arkansas Jerry G. Jones, Chief Legislative Counsel, Louisiana Senate Legislative subpoenas are a vital tool for obtaining witness testimony and other evidence. Unfortunately, not all subpoena recipients respond appropriately. This session will consider how to draft subpoenas in anticipation of legal challenges, and how to enforce subpoenas against recipients who do not fully comply with them. LRL Tour of the Pennsylvania State Museum Librarian track LRL will visit the State Museum of Pennsylvania which is located just north of the State Capitol Complex. Attendees will learn about Pennsylvania s early Native American cultures and view the museum s rich collection of artifacts from the Civil War era, including remnants of its greatest battles that reflect the Commonwealth s Civil War experience. The LRL tour group will be led by the Museum's Senior Curator of Archaeology, Dr. Kurt Carr. He will show us around his gallery for 30 minutes and then we will be free to explore the rest of the museum on our own in the remaining time. In-house Interim Training: The Grammar Boot Camp Moderator: Lilli Hausenfluck, DLS Chief Editor, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia Speaker: Antony LePage, House Publications, Missouri If you don t use it, you lose it. You learn what you practice. Help retain knowledge through an interim with a grammar boot camp! Set up your own in-house grammar boot camp for legal editors, drafters, communications staff, or anyone interested in refreshing or perhaps learning from an in-depth study of English grammar. From the simple but fundamental noun/verb to the compound-complex sentence structures, this old school transformational grammar boot camp will help anyone flourish. CONCURRENT SESSIONS: Gubernatorial Activism [This session may be CLE eligible] Moderator: Duane Gall, Assistant Director, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado Speakers: Matt Gehring, Staff Coordinator, House Research Department, Minnesota Raúl E. Burciaga, Director, Legislative Council Service, New Mexico This panel will discuss recent attempts by governors in several states to coerce enactment of a policy agenda by withholding legislative branch funding, and how the affected legislatures responded. Recent vetoes of legislative operating budgets and other critical vetoes that affected separation of powers, particularly the legislature s power of the purse, policy-making and oversight will be highlighted. Specific cases and court rulings will be examined. LRL Tour of the Pennsylvania State Library Librarian track Guests will be given a tour of each of the library s reading rooms: The Main Reading Room, the Law and Government Publications Reading Room, the Genealogy and Local History Reading Room, and the Newspaper Reading Room. The Rare Books Room is also included on our tour. A number of other services provided by the State Library will be discussed as we tour. N ATI ONAL CONFERENCE of STATE LEGI SLATURES Page 3
100 Words Moderator: Wendy Jackson, Administrative Services Manager, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin Speaker: Brian Throckmorton, Research Editor, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky This session will examine the surprising number of mistakes that can fit into a single paragraph a lot can go wrong in 100 words. We ll discuss the rules and principles for fixing the mistakes, and we ll also hear some eye-opening tips for improving the process of editing. G-50 Irvis Office Preparing for Committee Sessions: Managing Chaos and Engagement Speakers: Erica Warren, Committee Staff Administrator, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky Nora Winkelman, Esquire, Chief Counsel, House Democratic Caucus, Pennsylvania Nick Troutman, Executive Director of Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, Pennsylvania Jason Mohr, Research Analyst, Legislative Environmental Policy Office, Montana Legislatures across the country are experiencing an intensity in issue engagement from special interest groups. These engaged citizens are using more targeted approaches to affect committee discussions. Each year most committees hear from the same agency or agencies, and frequently about the same projects or activities. How do presenters (and staff) keep legislators engaged? Noon 1 p.m. Luncheon at Capitol 8 E-A & B Sponsored by Lexis-Nexis 1 2 p.m. Pennsylvania State Capitol Tour (Group A) Capitol tour guides will take Group A through the Pennsylvania Capitol. Legislative Staff Services in Pennsylvania (Group B) Karen Coates, Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House, Pennsylvania Shelly Brown, Majority Staff Administrator, Senate President Pro Tempore, Pennsylvania A panel of Pennsylvania staff will provide an overview of how the legislature is staffed, including partisan versus nonpartisan staffing and roles each play in the day-to-day operations. 2:15 3:15 p.m. Pennsylvania State Capitol Tour (Group B) Capitol tour guides will take Group B through the Pennsylvania Capitol. Legislative Staff Services in Pennsylvania (Group A) Karen Coates, Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House, Pennsylvania Shelly Brown, Majority Staff Administrator, Senate President Pro Tempore, Pennsylvania A panel of Pennsylvania staff will provide an overview of how the legislature is staffed, including partisan versus nonpartisan staffing and roles each play in the day-to-day operations. 3:30 5 p.m. House Chamber PREPARE TO PRESENT: TOOLS TO PRESENT A CONCISE, PRECISE MESSAGE, AND BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE IN ANY SPEAKING SITUATION Moderator: Wendy Jackson, Administrative Services Manager, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin Speaker: Marianna Swallow, Public Speaking Coach, Author, 21 Ways to Engage Your Audience Prepare your toolkit Become more comfortable when presenting What to do when caught off-guard Action planning 5 pm Walk back to hotel (A taxi will be available for those who aren t able to walk) Saturday, Oct. 6 At the Hotel 7:30 am Noon Information Desk 7:30 8 a.m. Breakfast 8 8:15 a.m. 8:15 9:45 a.m. Anne Sappenfield, Chair of RELACS and Special Assistant to the State Auditor, Wisconsin SUPREME COURT UPDATE [This session may be CLE eligible] Moderator: Anne Sappenfield, Chair of RELACS and Special Assistant to the State Auditor, Wisconsin Speaker: Lisa Soronen, Executive Director, State and Local Legal Center, Washington, D.C. Lisa Soronen, has filed amicus briefs on behalf of the states and represented the states in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and is an expert on legal issues affecting the states. Hear an overview of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent term and decisions in several cases with implications for states and states' rights. Lisa will also provide a brief overview of Supreme Court cases of interest to the states to be decided in the Court s new term beginning October 1, 2018. N ATI ONAL CONFERENCE of STATE LEGI SLATURES Page 4
9:45 10 a.m. Break 10-11:30 a.m. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER: NAVIGATING PARTIES AS A NONPARTISAN Moderator: Holly Vaughn Wagner, Legislative Attorney, Legislative Council, Division of Research, Delaware Jennifer Fletcher, Librarian, Legislative Reference Library, Alaska Deborah Gottschalk, Legislative Attorney, Division of Research, Delaware Working for legislators who have far-ranging political viewpoints, legislative staff must protect the nonpartisan nature of our work. We may all be accustomed to refraining from openly supporting a political candidate or legislation, but what if your core beliefs or identity can be construed as a partisan issue? Or when you re called to research or draft legislation that goes against these core beliefs? In this session, we ll discuss areas that can trip up legislative staff professionally and personally, including varied approaches our offices take to nonpartisanship, political parties shifting agendas, and the increasing relevance of social media. 11:30 a.m. Seminar Concludes N ATI ONAL CONFERENCE of STATE LEGI SLATURES Page 5