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September 19, 2002 - Minutes 

President Judy Hall called the meeting of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries Executive Committee to order. President Hall and the committee welcomed Ana Elena Fierro, the Clerk of the Legislature from the State of Yucatan, Mexico who was in attendance.

Members present: Judy Hall, President; Ann Cornwell, President-elect; Norman Moore, Secretary-Treasurer; Bruce Jamerson, Elected Principal; Donna Doyle, Elected Associate; Mark Corrigan, Appointed Principal, Karen Wadsworth, Appointed Principal; Judy Barrows, Appointed Associate; Carmela Bills, Appointed Associate; Pat Saville, Immediate Past President; Diane Bell, Immediate Past Associate Vice-President.

A quorum was present.

NCSL Staff present: Joan Barilla.

The minutes of the Executive Committee meeting of Friday, July 26, 2002, from the meeting in Denver, Colorado at the NCSL Annual Meeting were reviewed by the committee. Karen Wadsworth moved that the minutes be approved as written. Bruce Jamerson seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote. The minutes of the meeting will be printed in the next issue of the Legislative Administrator.

Norman Moore reported that as of September 19, 2002, the balance in the ASLCS Dues Account, after deposits of $300.00 for 2002 annual dues and disbursements of $3,397.23 since July 26, 2002 from the meeting in Denver, Colorado at the NCSL Annual Meeting, is $38,571.95. The total number of dues paying members of the Society is 360: 85 Principals and 275 Associates (the 275 Associates includes 12 retired members). Norman said that there are 30 new members of the Society so far this year (3 Principals and 27 Associates). Carmela Bills moved that the Treasurer’s Report be adopted. Ann Cornwell seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

Joan Barilla, NCSL staff liaison to ASLCS, reported that the balance in the ASLCS Shared Profits Account as of September 19, 2002, is $9,108.00 which is the same amount as reported at the July 26, 2002, committee meeting in Denver, Colorado at NCSL. The balance in the ASLCS Special Meeting Fund as of September 19, 2002 is $51,434.20. The balance includes additional deposits since the last meeting of $15,700 for the Annual Meeting in Portland, $3,200 for the Annual Meeting in 2003 in Scottsdale, $54 in logo item sales, $541 in interest and expenditures since the last meeting of $2,221.02 for ASLCS meetings at NCSL, $19,208.08 for the Annual Meeting in Portland, $609.25 for logo items and $200 for a hotel deposit for the 2003 Joint Canadian/American Clerks Meeting in Wilmington, Delaware.

George Bishop, Chair of the Technology and Innovation Committee, was unable to attend the meeting but Bruce Jamerson provided a copy of the report and an overview to the committee. The overview of the report covered the following topics: summarized written guidelines or policies governing the posting of presentations or meeting materials on the web site; the use of copyrighted materials and the need for a signed waiver; benefits of making information available on-line: tracking the ASLCS web site for usage statistics; and specific recommendations to the Publication Standards. The recommendations to the Publication Standards are as follows:

Part I: Posting presentations and materials from ASLCS meetings on the ASLCS web site

Recommendation #1 - the following language be added to the ASLCS Web Site Publication Standards in Section 3 as a new paragraph 11 as follows:

Recommendation #2 - the following language be added to the ASLCS Web Site Publication Standards in Section 2 immediately following the language relating to Committee Reports.

Recommendation #3 - A new section could be added to the ASLCS Web Site Publication Standards as follows:

Recommendation #4 -

"The Program Development Committee should make the request of presenters to submit electronic versions of handouts or presentations to the NCSL staff liaison, since they will already have contact with all presenters. This could be done without a change to the Publication Standards, since Section 4 already provides that the NCSL liaison serves as webmaster "with assistance from the committee chairs". The webmaster could simply choose to receive assistance for this duty from the Program Development Committee Chair."

Part II: Posting Committee Minutes on the ASLCS Web Site

Recommendation #1 - a revision to the ASLCS Web Site Publication Standards, Section 3, paragraph 5, to clearly add the term "minutes":

"5. Committee information, to include committee descriptions, membership, minutes and

reports;"

Recommendation #2 - a revision to the ASLCS Web Site Publication Standards, Section 2 (in Committee Reports) to clearly identify the source from which the webmaster receives the minutes:

"Committee Reports - following each Society meeting, and as soon as meeting minutes are available after each Society meeting received by the webmaster from the various committee chairs."

Following the overview, there were a number of questions and discussion regarding the Program Development Committee collecting the electronic versions of presentation materials and handouts and the Technology & Innovation Committee developing standards

for posting materials and the workload that might be placed on Joan at NCSL regarding the posting of all the materials.

Karen Wadsworth suggested that the language of the second sentence of Recommendation #3 - Part I which would add a new section 7 to the ASLCS Web Site Publication Standards be changed from "will " to "may". Additionally, Mark Corrigan suggested that boiler plate language be included in contracts with Speakers that the Speakers be requested to sign a waiver regarding their own copyrighted material so that the materials could be released for posting on the web site. The committee agreed with the suggestions.

Judy Barrows made a motion that a pilot project be established for one year using the recommendations of the Technology & Innovation Committee as contained in the report as discussed and amended with the Program Development Committee being responsible for collection of materials to be posted and the Technology & Innovation Committee to develop standards for posting the materials. Diane Bell seconded the motion. Following discussion, the motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

JoAnn Hedrick reported that after thorough examination the Bylaws and Standing Orders Committee had completed its labors by checking to make sure all the current Bylaws and Standing Orders were accurately compiled with appropriate Indices of the Bylaws and Standing Orders. The following documents were provided to the committee for review and approval:

1. Alphabetical index of the ASLCS Bylaws.
2. ASLCS Bylaws.
3. Alphabetical index of the current ASLCS Standing Orders.
4. ASLCS Standing Orders.
5. Alphabetical Joint Index of the current ASLCS Bylaws and Standing Orders.
6. Alphabetized ASLCS Standing Orders.

JoAnn stated that if the committee approved the indices and the new alphabetized Standing Orders that the next Bylaws and Standing Orders Committee would need to update the indices of the ASLCS Standing Orders and the Joint Index of the ASLCS Bylaws and Standing Orders to reflect the changes made in the new alphabetized version of the Standing Orders. Following brief discussion, committee members expressed their gratitude to JoAnn and the Bylaws and Standing Orders Committee for a job well done. Mark Corrigan moved to adopt the indices and the alphabetized ASLCS Standing Orders. Carmela Bills seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

Pat Saville provided copies of the updated President and Executive Committee Reference Guide to the members of the committee for review and approval. Pat thanked the committee for forwarding suggestions to her following the distribution of the draft that was distributed at the previous committee meeting in Denver. A number of revisions to the Reference Guide were made this year to reflect the addition of new Standing Orders including: Mason’s Manual Study Commission, the Logo Pin Policy and the Nomination Process for Candidates to the Executive Committee. Additionally, Pat stated that if the Reference Guide was approved it would be given to the members of the next Executive Committee at the meeting on Tuesday, September 24. Karen Wadsworth moved to adopt the revisions to the President And Executive Committee Reference Guide as printed and distributed. Ann Cornwell seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

Pat Saville requested that the committee consider approving the cost of publishing the Reference Guide which was $164.28 for 25 copies due to state budget constraints. Ann Cornwell moved that reimbursement of $164.28 for printing 25 copies of the President and Executive Committee Reference Guide be approved. Karen Wadsworth seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

Discussion followed regarding making copies of the Reference Guide available to other staff sections of NCSL, ASLCS Past Presidents, Past Associate Vice-Presidents and to all Principals of the Society so that individuals interested in becoming an officer would have available information regarding the duties of officers and the functions of the Executive Committee. Mark Corrigan offered to print enough copies (about 125) for Principals and the others named in the discussion at a future date.

Pat Saville distributed a copy of a working document designed to facilitate proper budget planning. She reported that a lot of time had been spent gathering information regarding costs of the Annual Meeting and Professional Development Seminar, costs of publications, travel, mailings and other expenses of the Society. The Special Budget Committee was still gathering information and that a final document would not be available until a future date. Ann Cornwell indicated that a Special Budget Committee would be appointed next year to complete the project. Additionally, Pat reported that the Special Budget Committee was asked to develop recommendations regarding an automatic increase in the registration fee charged to attend the ASLCS Annual Meeting and Professional Development Seminar and that Mark Corrigan would present the proposals because Mark was the drafter. Mark presented three proposals for possible adoption as a Standing Order as follows:

1. Unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Committee, the registration fee to attend the annual meeting of ASLCS shall increase annually by 5% rounded to the nearest five dollars.

2. Unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Committee, the registration fee to attend the annual meeting of ASLCS shall increase annually by $10.00.
3. By October 31 of each calendar year, the NCSL liaison to ASLCS shall certify to the Executive Committee the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the most recent 12 month period as reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Committee, the registration fee to attend the annual meeting of ASLCS shall increase by the percentage so certified rounded to the nearest $5.00.

Discussion followed relating to the amount the proposed increases would have on the current registration fee of $250. It was stated that proposal #1 would increase annual registration by about $15 for each of the next 3 years and that proposal #3 would probably increase the fee about $15 for next year but that it was hard to predict future years. It was emphasized that each of the 3 proposals give the Executive Committee the ability to establish a different fee. Ann Cornwell moved that proposal #2 be adopted which would increase the registration fee annually by $10.00. Bruce Jamerson seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

Susan Clarke Schaar, Chairman of the International Development and Communication Committee made a presentation to the committee regarding a pilot program with ASLCS and ANOMAC to expand international ties and strengthen relations between our associations by inviting ANOMAC to participate in an internship program to be effective January 1, 2003. A resolution containing the program guidelines was distributed to the committee. Susan stated that the program would be similar to the current exchange program that the Society has with the Canadian Clerks-at-the-Table. Additionally, she reported that the State University of New York had a pool of money available for use in the next 18 months that representatives of ANOMAC could use to travel to a host state or chamber during that time. Questions and discussion followed regarding the time line, the responsibilities of host states, ANOMAC participation in the discussions and whether the proposal should be a pilot program or formalized as a Standing Order. Bruce Jamerson moved that the Internship Program Resolution with ASLCS and ANOMAC be approved as a pilot program. Pat Saville seconded the motion. The motion carried on voice vote.

President Hall requested the committee to approve travel reimbursement for Susan Clarke Schaar in the amount of $800 for airfare for attending the ANOMAC meeting in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico from August 21^st through August 24^th. President Hall indicated that the total airfare was $1,118.37 but that the partial reimbursement of $800 was requested. Karen Wadsworth moved that the reimbursement of $800 for Susan’s airfare to Mexico for ANOMAC be approved. Judy Barrows seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

Donna Doyle distributed copies of the updated three color trifold ASLCS pamphlet to the committee. She reported that the biggest expense in printing is the setup cost which is approximately $350 and that to print 1000 copies would be about $450 and that 2,000 copies would be about $550. Following review of the pamphlet, the committee thanked Donna for her efforts and provided positive comments about the pamphlet. It was suggested that the wording across the top of the pamphlet be moved so that it did not overlay onto the seal of the Society and that the two references to Mason’s Manual needed to be italicized. Following other discussion regarding the number of copies to have printed, Diane Bell moved to approve the pamphlet with the discussed changes and to have 2,000 copies printed. Karen Wadsworth seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

There being no further business, Bruce Jamerson moved that the meeting be adjourned.

Pat Saville seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote.

September 21, 2002 - Minutes

Call to Order

President Judy Hall called the meeting of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries Executive Committee to order.

Quorum

Old Business

Susan Clarke Schaar, Chairman of the International Development and Communication Committee explained to the committee that there were some concerns surrounding the Internship Program Resolution with ASLCS and ANOMAC that was adopted at the Executive Committee Meeting on September 19, 2002. She indicated that the pilot program was flexible and that the language of the resolution referring to an "internship" should be changed to "visitation" because of possible undesired perceptions of the meaning of internship. The point was reiterated that the most important goal of the resolution was to invite representatives of ANOMAC to an interested host state or chamber to enhance relationships and provide an opportunity for ANOMAC members to observe the operation of a state legislature within the next 18 months because of available money through the State University of New York. Bruce Jamerson moved that the Executive Committee reconsider its action of September 19, 2002, whereby the Executive Committee adopted the Internship Program Resolution with ASLCS and ANOMAC as a pilot program. Pat Saville seconded the motion. The motion carried by unanimous consent on voice vote. Karen Wadsworth then moved to establish a pilot program with ASLCS and ANOMAC to include guidelines contained in the Resolution with changes in the language from "internship" to "visitation". Lengthy discussion ensued concerning ANOMAC’s participation in developing the language of the resolution and the specifics of the program, the process of presenting the resolution to the committee and the need to take formal action at the present time. Following discussion, Karen Wadsworth moved that, without objection, her previous motion be withdrawn. Hearing no objection, the motion was withdrawn. President Hall stated that the committee would revisit this issue again at the conclusion of the discussion and action on the Report of the Mason’s Manual Study Commission.

Alfred "Butch" Speer, Chairman of the Mason’s Manual Study Commission, reported to the committee that the Commission had completed it work and that copies of the report had been provided to all members of the Executive Committee prior to the meeting in Portland. An overview of the report was presented by Butch which included: the appointment process of Commission membership and leadership; the mission and process to accomplish the role of the Commission; and substantive issues to identify the unfinished business of the Commission including what changes need to be examined to improve the Manual and ensure the Manual is consistent with the charge that Paul Mason gave to NCSL. Following the overview, Butch thanked all of the members of the Mason’s Manual Study Commission for their efforts and thanked the Executive Committee for the opportunity to serve. The report is as follows:

To: Ms. Judy Hall, President of ASLCS
and the members of the Executive Committee of ASLCS for 2001 - 2002

Ladies & Gentlemen:

On August 14, 2001 the Executive Committee adopted a new Standing Order governing Mason’s Manual Commission. This order commissioned a thorough study of the mission, role, process, and membership of the Commission. The Standing Order directed the study focus on three discreet areas of inquiry: appointment of membership, substantive issues, and mission and process. The Study Commission was directed to submit a comprehensive report of their findings and recommendations to the Executive Committee of ASLCS.

The report of your Study Commission follows:

• Recommend the appropriate size of the "new" Commission
• Determine what credentials are necessary to serve
• Suggest a process to fill vacancies
• Consider the issue of participation by non-ASLCS members

Finding: The Study Commission finds that maintaining the high quality of the Manual from edition to edition requires the membership of the Commission to be veteran parliamentarians, familiar with the manual and its application in state legislative procedures, committed to producing an exemplary edition of Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure to assist legislative leaders, members, and staff.

Recommendation no. 1: The Commission should consist of sixteen (16) members with at least two (2) slots designated for Associate Members of the Society.

Recommendation no. 2: Members appointed to the Commission should possess the following credentials:

• Legislative staff experience.
• Working experience with legislative parliamentary procedure.
• Prior experience on the Commission should be considered by the appointing authority.
• Associate Members must obtain a letter of recommendation and support from their Principal in order to be eligible for consideration as a member.
• Members must be dues paying ASLCS members.
• Members of the Society serving as an officer of NCSL should resign their service on the Commission during their term of office.

Recommendation no. 3: The appointment of members to the Commission should be made as follows:

• All appointments to the Commission shall be made by the ASLCS President.
• The President of the ASLCS shall forward a copy of this report to all members of the Society notifying them of the creation of the Mason’s Manual Commission.
• Any member of the Society who wishes to be considered for appointment to the Commission must submit a letter of interest to the President of ASLCS no later than February 1, 2003.
• The President shall appoint the full Commission membership by March 1, 2003.

Recommendation no. 4: The President of ASLCS, prior to appointing someone to the Commission, should request written assurance from the applicant that she/he is prepared to commit the necessary time to properly perform the duties of a member of the Commission. The applicant must be cognizant of the role of the Commission, the travel required to meet their obligations as a member, and the applicant shall affirmatively assure the President of their availability, willingness, and competence to serve as a member of the Commission.

Recommendation no. 5: Any Commission member who is physically absent from three (3) consecutive meetings or from three (3) meetings in any twenty-four (24) month shall be automatically removed as a member of the Commission.

Recommendation no. 6: If any Associate Member of the Commission becomes a Principal, thereby reducing the number of Associates on the Commission to one, an Associate shall be appointed to fill the next occurring vacancy on the Commission.

Recommendation no. 7: Notice of vacancies on the Commission shall be advertised openly to all members of the Society.

Recommendation no. 8: The Executive Committee should arrange to have members from the Revision Commission conduct a thorough orientation for the newly appointed members of the Commission. Once the Commission is appointed, this responsibility should pass to the officers of the Commission and such an orientation must be conducted for each new member.

• Recommend how leadership of the Commission is selected and rotated, if appropriate.

Finding: The Study Commission finds that a principle weakness of the immediate past revision process was a lack of consistent guidance to all members of the Commission, to all subcommittees, and to their chairs. Experience and consistency in the leadership of the Commission will enhance the Commission’s ability to apply greater focus to its work.

• The Chair and the Vice Chair of the Commission should have prior service on the Revision Commission or the Study Commission.
• The leadership of the Commission should be elected by the members of the Commission.
• The leadership should be elected for a two-year term and may succeed themselves if re-elected by the members of the Commission.
• Subcommittee Chairs of the Commission and members of each subcommittee shall be appointed by the Commission Chair and serve terms concurrent with that of the Commission Chair.

• There shall be at least three (3) meetings each calendar year - one at the ASLCS Annual meeting, one at the NCSL Annual meeting and at least one additional meeting.
• Meetings of the Commission shall be duly advertised to the membership of ASLCS and shall be open to all persons interested in the proceedings of the Commission.
• The Commission shall be dissolved with the delivery of the next edition of the revised Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure to NCSL for editing and publishing.

• Examine the extended role of the Commission and what process best accomplishes that. For example, should the Commission expand its role on training parliamentary procedure?
• This group shall examine the process issues that were discussed in Chicago and Wilmington (i.e., how does the Commission become more "efficient" in its work?).
• Develop a procedure to collect, maintain and notify membership of new case law affecting parliamentary procedure.
• Are there other services that the Commission and the Society could offer its members, other staff sections or legislatures?

Finding: The Study Commission finds that the prior two editions have thoroughly "revised" the Manual. However, much work still must be performed: citation checking, cross-reference checking, case law updating, inclusion of state-specific citations of rulings by a chair, and a thorough review of the index of the Manual.

Recommendation no. 11: The Standing Order governing the Commission should contain the following Mission Statement: "The Mason’s Manual Commission shall promote the proper application of the rules of procedure in the legislative process while preserving the integrity and historic perspective of the legislative manual developed by Paul Mason by periodically reviewing Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure and shall further serve as a resource on American legislative parliamentary procedure."

Recommendation no. 12: The following should be included within the Commission’s Mission and Tasks:

• The Commission should perform a comprehensive review of the Manual’s index.
• The Commission should conduct an item analysis, comparing the contents of the Manual with that of other major parliamentary authorities.
• The Commission should review cross-references.
• The Commission should continually review citations to update them and ensure their relevance.
• The Commission should review Sturgis/Roberts citations to ensure that the cites fit and the proper version is cited.
• The Commission shall maintain a database of key citations for reference that relate to legislative procedure.
• The Commission shall maintain a database of rulings by legislative presiding officers based on Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure.
• The Commission shall maintain a database of judicial decisions relating to legislative procedure.
• The Commission should quarterly publish on the ASLCS web site legal cases that impact the legislative process.
• The Commission shall survey clerks/secretaries periodically to gather parliamentary rulings by presiding officers based on Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure. The information so gathered should be maintained as part of the ASLCS web site, hosted by NCSL.
• The Commission should notify clerks/secretaries via the ASLCS web site and/or list-serve of parliamentary issues they may want to track in other states.
• The Commission should be provided summaries of the procedural questions and replies from the ASLCS listserv, incorporating these items in their examination of Supplemental Material.

Finding: The Study Commission finds that a high quality, consistent work product from the next Commission is highly dependent upon well defined, clearly stated guidelines governing the various work-phases of the Commission.

Recommendation no. 13: The Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission shall develop work guidelines for the specific work-phases for the Commission and have these guidelines adopted by the Commission.

Recommendation no. 14: The officers of the Commission should consider the incorporation of the following into the work guidelines:

• The work of the Commission should be performed by not less than three subcommittees, performing related tasks in each phase of the Commission’s work, with the work of the Commission distributed to insure equality of work load among the subcommittees.
• Each subcommittee should have both new and experienced members, if possible.
• Each subcommittee should have a chair and a historian.
• The historian shall record the actions of the subcommittee along with the subcommittee’s rationale in support of the proposed change for the full Commission’s review.
• The historian’s notes should be archived with the work of the Commission.
• The subcommittee’s assignments shall be made with consideration to interrelated topics and chapters, and all phases of the Commissions work.
• Each subcommittee shall check case law, citations and rulings relevant to their assigned portions of the Manual.
• The Commission members should be trained on searching case law.
• A timeline shall be established for the whole Commission that identifies the work to be performed, tasks assigned to each subcommittee, report deadlines, and the target date for the delivery of the next edition of the Manual.

Recommendation no. 15: Other duties to be performed by the Commission may include:

• The Commission shall serve as a resource to conduct parliamentary procedure training to both NCSL and ASLCS membership.
• The Commission should consider developing a pocket guide index as a separate document (a parliamentary law quick reference).
• West Publishing should be asked to limit their reported case citations to those case truly relevant to the Manual.
• The Commission should explore making parliamentary authorities available on-line.
• The Commission shall submit an annual report at the ASLCS annual meeting and to the ASLCS Executive Committee which may be posted on the web site.

Finding: The timely consideration of subcommittee work by the full Commission will insure the fullest and most informed debate on the issues presented by a subcommittee.

Recommendation no. 16: The Commission shall consider reports of the subcommittees within a time-frame insuring the fullest and most current consideration of the subcommittee’s recommendations.

Finding: The staff support provided to the Commission is a critical resource for the Commission’s success in meetings its charge from the Society and from NCSL.

Recommendation no. 17: The following duties and responsibilities are appropriate and necessary for the Commission to successfully meet its charges:

• NCSL is encouraged to provide staff support to the Commission.
• NCSL staff person shall work with the Chair and the Vice Chair in setting agenda for the Commission meetings.
• NCSL staff person shall be responsible for disseminating information to all members of the Commission.
• NCSL staff person shall serve as the recording secretary for the Commission and shall collect notes from the subcommittee historians.
• NCSL, through this assigned staff person or some other resource, shall maintain the searchable databases for judicial decisions, ruling of the chair and citations relevant to the legislative process.
• NCSL staff person shall conduct any polls or surveys requested by the Commission.
• NCSL staff person shall be responsible for posting information on the ASLCS web site desired by the Commission.
• NCSL staff person shall be a resource of parliamentary procedure information to all legislative leaders, members and staff on behalf of the Commission.
• NCSL staff person shall perform such other tasks for the Commission as determined by the Chair and Vice Chair.

• Identify the unfinished business of the Commission. What can a new Commission do to make the Manual better? What fundamental changes/issues need to be examined so as to improve the Manual?
• In short, how do we ensure that the next Commission produces a manual that is consistent with the charge that Paul Mason gave NCSL?
• What new issues need to be addressed?
• Which portions of the Manual need special attention or focus in the next revision process because they seem to be obsolete?

Finding: The next Commission should undertake an examination of issues related to improving the usefulness of the Manual to legislative staff.

Recommendation no. 18: The Manual be made available alternatively in a "pocketsize" version. A smaller book would be more conveniently carried, more distinctive among legislative publications and more consistent with the tradition of the legislative pocket manual.

Recommendation no. 19: The Commission should work with NCSL and the publisher to accomplish, through the choice of paper weight and size, a reduction in the Manual's weight and heft, but only if doing so can be achieved without substantial "bleed-through" from page to page.

Recommendation no. 20: The covers of the Manual be made thinner and more flexible while maintaining the look and feel of a hard-bound book, possibly through the use of synthetic leather materials.

Recommendation no. 21: Some form of digital edition of the Manual be made available.

Recommendation no. 22: A simulated nameplate for owner's information be included on the inner cover page, to facilitate the Manual being retained by individuals as mementos of their legislative service.

Recommendation no 23: The organization of the Manual be retained.

Recommendation no. 24: The Commission should work with NCSL and the publisher to include some type of ‘colored’ inserts for "Part divisions" to reduce the time involved in research.

Finding: The Study Commission finds that the next Commission should not attempt to prejudge areas of parliamentary practice that may possibly arise to confound legislators, focusing its talents and resources and expertise on discovering materials to supplement the Manual.

Recommendation no. 25: The Commission define "new materials" narrowly and according to the following categories:

Recommendation no. 26: The Commission focus upon supplemental material.

Recommendation no. 27: The Commission refrain from devising procedures that could be defined as original material.¹

Finding: The Commission always will be faced with judgments as to whether some provision in the Manual is or is not obsolete. The Commission must walk the line between preserving the historical integrity of the Manual and updating the material that is contained therein.

Recommendation no. 28: The Commission develop a clear definition of "obsolete." The Commission should create procedures to determine whether provisions in the Manual are outmoded—such as it has done to determine whether new case law is included in the Manual. A structured approach to this process should be developed by the Commission to ensure uniform and comprehensive results are obtained.

Recommendation no. 29: The Commission address any material, issue, question, or matter remaining as unfinished business from the Revision Commission for the 2000 Edition.