5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Registration

Thursday, October 16

7:30 am - 9:00 am

Registration

Welcome and Introductions 

Presiding:  Deborah Haskins, Senior Attorney, Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services
Steve Miller, Chief, Wisconsin, Legislative Reference Bureau

Editors & Drafters:  Working Together to Produce Quality Bill Drafts

What do drafters what from editors?  What do editors want from drafters:  How do you collaborate?  How do you work through disagreements on style?  When is it a matter of style or a matter of "the law"?  Panel Discussion.

Introductions: Chris Siciliano, Legislative Editor, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin

Faculty:  Steve Miller, Chief, Wisconsin, Legislative Reference Bureau,  Julie Pelegrin, Senior Attorney, Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services,  Cindi Markwell, Head Legislative Assistant, Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services

Editing and Writing Tips

This session will address common editing and writing issues.

Introduction:  Deborah Haskins, Senior Attorney, Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services

Faculty:  Robert Anderson, Lawyering Process Professor, Sturm College of Law, University of Denver

Communication Quandaries & Selected Strategies in Editing and Working in a Legislative Environment

What are the communication challenges and difficulties working as an editor in a legislative environment?  What strategies can a legislative editor employ to communicate better and overcome difficulties working in the legislative environment and working in state government?    

Faculty:  Jon Richard, PsyD, Colorado State Employees Assistance Program

Luncheon

Faculty:  Fred Brown, Editorial Columnist for the Denver Post and former Capitol Bureau Reporter for the Denver Post

Understanding Editing of a Bill by Understanding the Principles of Bill Drafting

Drafting Basics.  Frequently encountered grammar, spelling and style issues.  Writing exercises. 

Introduction: Rebecca Hausmann, Senior Legislative Assistant, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado

Faculty:  Becky Lennahan, Retired Deputy Director, Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services

Understanding Editing of a Bill by Understanding the Principles of Bill Drafting

Drafting Legislation.  Analysis of a Bad Draft.

Faculty:  Becky Lennahan, Retired Deputy Director, Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services

Friday, October 17 - at Legislative Services Building across from the Colorado State Capitol

8:00 am

Walk to Legislative Services Building - on 14th and Sherman - just south of the State Capitol

Continental Breakfast

Proofreading "201"

Drafting  and editing checklists, creating a mini drafting manual, technological methods, working smarter.  Panel discussion. 

Editing From the Publication Perspective

 How you write an effective date or applicability section might affect how you write an editor’s note.  How you approach conforming amendments or repeals of statutes might affect how you prepare your statute books.  What can you address on the front end when drafting and editing a bill so that it doesn’t create problems or extra work on the publications end after the bill is passed?  How states can harmonize conflicting bills in the publications process or address conflicts through a Revisor’s Bill. 

Faculty:  Jennifer Gilroy, Revisor of Statutes, Colorado

Leslie Hickey, Code Editor, Legislative Services Agency, Iowa

Roundtable Discussion on Providing Services Other Than Editing 

Moderator: Frank Arey, Legal Counsel, Division of Legislative Audit, Arkansas General Assembly

Faculty: Anne O'Brien, Senior Editor, Legislative Counsel's Office, Oregon

John McKay, Senior Legislative Assistant, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado

Jessica Chaves, Editor, Legislative Council, Vermont (invited)

NCSL 101 - a Primer on NCSL Services 

Faculty:  Kae M. Warnock, Policy Specialist, NCSL, Colorado

Optional Tours

At registration, you can sign up for Optional Friday Afternoon Tours.

Special Behind the Scenes Dome Tour

Tour Mr. Brown’s Attic plus Observation Deck #1 and #2 at the State Capitol

Tour the Colorado Governor’s Mansion