The Louisiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations met on February 21, 2002, in Senate Committee Room E.

Chairman Harris called the meeting to order and asked the Secretary to call the roll. The following was noted:

Mayor Harris thanked members for their attendance at the meeting. He further stated that ACIR is embarking on a directive from the legislature to study local and state relationships.

Motion by Clarence Savoie to approve December 13, 2001, minutes. Ned Randolph seconded the motion. There being no objection the minutes were approved.

III. PRESENTATION BY DR. BROOKIE ALLPHIN

Dr. Brookie Allphin, Director of LSU Office of Government Programs, addressed members of the commission. She began referring to the SCOFA report and NCSL report which delves into the sorting out process of government relations between state and local, particularly with a focus on revenue and fiscal issues. After her review of these documents, what LSU can offer ACIR is a set of survey questions based on these reports, she feels the reports encompass everything that the commission wants to review in determining the huge mandate, looking at the roles and responsibilities of government. She handed out a long and short version of her form, to assess all of the described different area's, the fiscal relationships between state and local governments and further explained the form and LSU's research process.

She reviewed five principal issues she pulled from the National Council of State Legislatures in the sorting out process of state and local government, which were:

• A clear separation of responsibility between state and local governments
• Assigning program responsibility to the lowest possible level of government unless there is an important reason to do otherwise.
• The fiscal effects of state mandates on locals for assumed financing by the state and allowing local discretion in implementing or repeal.
• Assume state responsibility for programs where uniformity or state benefits result.
• Financial assistance for locals with the lowest capacity to raise revenue

Dr. Allphin reviewed her survey forms. She noted that the forms were set up only as suggestions which members could change questions, add questions, delete something, or whatever as this is what the process is all about, as the questionnaire is set up to fit the needs of the ACIR commission.

Chairman Harris thanked Dr. Allphin for her presentation. He spoke of the three subcommittee's, which are broken up into three different categories saying that they will have their opportunity to complete the survey's and explore different areas. He urged the school boards, municipalities and the parish police jury members to speak to their resources, financial people, principals, directors, etc., and to really explore what area's are the most bothersome and bring the greatest amount of concern. If we can adequately address these survey's, this is the map we are going to try and address.

Mr. Guillot addressed members of the commission noting that Ms. Ellen Rhorer from the Department of Revenue brought along two of their staff members from their policy and services division who are research analysts and would assist the commission. Ms. Rhorer introduced them as Kelli Jumpter and Nancy Beverly, noting that they would be assigned to work with the General Services and Public Works subcommittee's.

Mr. Guillot continued referring to a list in each member's file relative to the Senate Staff that would assist relative to the support work for each individual subcommittee. He introduced them, with the Education, Health, Social Services and State Fees, Peggy Russell and Nancy Campanella; Public Works and Judicial System, Yolanda Dixon and Linda Middleton; General Services, Tim Prather and Nancy Vicknair.

Chairman Harris referred to the membership list for subcommittee's. He appointed Michael Zito as Chairman for the Education, Health, Social Services and State Fees; Senator Jon Johnson as Chairman for Public Works and Judicial System; and Joel Richert as Chairman for General Services.

Mr. Guillot commented on the ACIR's official position with respect to LSU's involvement with this program and asked Chairman Harris for direction.

Chairman Harris reiterated what was spoken at the last meeting and advised that one of the problems that the commission has had in the past is continuity of some activity going on between meetings. This is one of the reasons Dr. Allphin and the LSU Office of Governmental Programs was asked to be that go between to keep the ball bouncing in between the ACIR meetings. He asked members to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with LSU Office of Government Programs to provide strategic planning of this study including conducting the survey of commission members and other designated parties and facilitating study efforts and also authorizing expenditure of up to $5,000 dollars in that regard. He asked Dr. Allphin how long this dollar amount would take the commission through. She advised that it would take the commission through to the end of the report which is due in 2003 prior to the legislative session. The funding is from a long-time ago donation to the ACIR from the Louisiana Municipal Association, so there are funds from an outside agency and there is money to expend for this $5,000 expenditure.

Senator Johnson recommended that Southern University's Master's Program-Public Administration, be included or tied-in with this cooperative endeavor agreement, so that Southern and LSU would be both involved in the process. He further stated that it may not be able to be done at this particular meeting but he hoped the commission would see some way to involve them in this process.

Dr. Allphin responded saying she saw this as a huge resource opportunity, and there is a lot of research here, information and such that could be provided as a partnership.

Chairman Harris noted that he would discuss with Mr. Guillot and try to make contact with Southern University officials as he was unaware that Southern had this type of program. He also said that as the subcommittee's meet and directions are formed, there may be some additional needs and then the question comes regarding funding which is a question that will have to be determined, a)-what's the focus and b)-how much will it cost. Mayor Harris advised that this would be checked out.

Senator Johnson made a motion to approve the cooperative endeavor agreement with LSU Office of Governmental Programs. Motion seconded by Mike Zito. There being no objection, the motion was approved.

Chairman Harris reviewed with members a proposed meeting schedule - making note of the second Thursday of each month. He referred to the mission and time line that needs to be accomplished by the commission. Chairman Harris dismissed commission members to break-out into their subcommittee groups to get acquainted with each other and to review the survey's that Dr. Allphin has presented and to develop a course of action.

Mr. Guillot made a brief comment relative to the initiating factor for this study was a House Concurrent Resolution and we are aware it has a 2002 deadline. Realistically this is in the scope of the authority of the ACIR commission, so we will proceed in a 2003 deadline as this will be a full legislative session.

Representative Smith made a motion to recess for subcommittee meetings to begin. Mayor Randolph seconded the motion. There being no objection, the meeting was recessed.

Chairman Harris reconvened the commission.

Chairman Mike Zito reported that his committee, Education, Health, Social Services and State Fees, discussed filling out the survey individually; having a representative from DHH, DSS, and DOE present at future meetings to explain how their agency functions in the state; communicate with each subcommittee member and staff by sharing information.

Chairman Johnson reported that his committee, Public Works and Judicial System, had an extensive discussion on the issues listed under public works (public buildings, highways/roads/streets, judicial system, corrections, mandates). The committee agreed they would not limit themselves to any specific area if they found another area that needed to be added to the committee, which were related to the areas listed. During their meeting Mr. Blaize Carriere from DOTD brought out other areas which were not listed, aviation areas, coastal erosion, drainage and other areas that may need to be added. The judicial system/court costs and fees is an area which they will spend lots of time discussing, Senator Johnson noted that there was another subcommittee that is currently studying this area and has been meeting on this issue since the last legislative session. He advised that they would be holding off on this particular issue for maybe a month or two. The subcommittee's next area to zero in on will be courts, parish officials, and jails.

Chairman Richert reported that his committee, General Services met and decided that they were a very diverse group which had lots of various areas to cover. They decided to look at the public works issues first. Not knowing what direction to begin, Tim Prather, Nancy Vicknair and Nancy Beverly was asked to provide information regarding who was doing what and what is it costing summary or report narrowing items down on a percentage basis.

Chairman Harris thanked each chairman for their reports. He commented that Bill Miller had given an excellent presentation on education issues for the state in his committee. Commission members were asked to fax their e-mail addresses to Sabrina Whitaker or to pass along a business card so a current e-mail listing of all commission members could be established.

Mr. Guillot made a few overall general comments regarding the subcommittee meetings, noting that things were moving along and one of the goals of the support staff should be that as we indicate in the subcommittee meetings a topic for the next meeting, to provide materials to members before the next meeting to give everyone a flavor of what will be covered.

The March 14th meeting will be held for subcommittee meetings.

Dr. Allphin closed by saying she would provide her e-mail address for anyone who had questions and stated again that the survey was an on-going process and only a guideline to be used as an organizational pattern. She noted that each committee has approached their directive in a different way and asked for each commission member to begin answering the questionnaire and sending their information in through to the senate office and to her for further gathering of information.

Representative Jane Smith commented relative to the ACIR agenda, saying that staff hit the nail on the head by answering question #1, breaking up into different committee's and pretty much covers what we really think government really does, education, protection of the citizens, roads and highways, public works and general services. What she thinks that what ACIR is going to find out is that some of the co-mingling we may or may not need and the state should leave it alone or maybe assist them. She commended the staff for their assistance and the manner in which the subcommittee information was broken up.

Mayor Harris appreciated Representative Smith's comments saying that they have worked hard and have been filling him in, as the direction ACIR is going so he echoed the effects.

Representative Jane Smith made a motion to adjourn. Mayor Simpson seconded the motion. There being no objection, the meeting was adjourned.

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Date Approved, Chairman Ronnie Harris