 |
Home | Contact Us | Press Room | Site Overview | Help | Login | Register |
 |
 |
| About NCSL | State & Federal Issues | Legislatures | Legislative Staff | Meetings | Bookstore | Legislators & Staff Only |
| NCSL Home > Legislative Staff: Staff Sections & Networks > NLSSA > | Add to MyNCSL |
|
Articles and Region newsMessage from President Kevin Ebata re: AED Region 1 -- Region 2 -- Region 3 - Region 4 Hawaii: House Speaker to Urge Open Voting -- Nevada: Lawmakers to Rethink Ban on Concealed Weapons in Offices - Nevada: The YML Bug - -Nevada Profile -- Idaho: Capitol Debate Available on Internet-Spokane.net -- Missouri: Internet Broadcast Brings Legislative Debate Home - -Wisconsin: Last Puffs at the Capitol -- Smoking in State Capitols -- Maine: State House Renovation Could Disrupt Session -- Maine: Capitol Renovation Proceeds -- Connecticut: Thermal Imaging in Connecticut -- New Hampshire's New Year's Eve Bomb Threat -- The Office of the Legislative Health Services in Pennsylvania - Washington, D.C.: House Bill Would Target Fire Safety - -Nevada: Service Quality Institute -- Medical Personnel Profiles of State Capitols: A Brief Tour of Nevada's Capitol --- Pennsylvania's State Capitol---Mercer Tile Retirements: Jimmy Branson --- Lois Spearman
HawaiiMessage from President Kevin Ebata: Hello fellow members. I have a request and would like to share some information related to the American Heart Association's (AHA), AED-Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program. The AHA and Survivalink Corporation have agreed to donate a First Save AED to the Hawaii State Legislature to promote public awareness and encourage the establishment of PAD programs as an important way to save the lives of thousands of cardiac arrest victims. The availability of safe, effective, easy-to-use AED's - combined with new federal legislation that provides limited liability coverage for lay AED users has increased interest in placing these devices in areas where defibrillation capabilities are not what they should be. While this is a positive movement, the AHA wants to ensure that AED's outside the emergency medical system are used as safely and effectively as possible. To accomplish this, the AHA recommends that any facility obtaining AED's incorporate them into a public access defibrillation (PAD) program. The elements of the PAD program are: 1) Training designated rescuers to perfom CPR and use an AED. 2) Having physician oversight to help ensure quality control. 3) Integrating with the local EMS system. 4) Using and maintaining AED's according to the manufacturer's specifications. The program also addresses legal issues, which I will not specify, as laws and regulations vary from state to state. The AHA's model legislation encourages notifying the local EMS when a PAD program is established, involving a physician to ensure the quality of the program, and CPR and AED training for all designated AED users. I have found the AHA's material information on the PAD program a valuable resource in helping me establish a quality program for our State Capitol and encourage anyone who does not have an AED program and is interested in doing something for your Capitol or organization to contact your local chapter of the AHA. You could also inquire about getting assistance for a donation of an AED. Now getting back to my request. I would appreciate it if those of you who already have established guidelines or operational plans for the use of the AED's in your organization to send me a copy at: Kevin Ebata or E-mail: In advance, thank you for your assistance with this request. Aloha, Kevin House Speaker to Urge Open VotingBy Kevin Dayton House Speaker Calvin Say will urge House Democrats this week to adopt new public voting procedures in conference committee, but Say said, "He believes the existing procedures are legal." Senate Majority Leader Les Ihara said, "How the Senate handles the issue depends mostly on Senate President Norman Mizuguchi. If the President recommends that we implement it this year, it will be done." Mizuguchi could not be reached for comment yesterday afternoon. Hawaii Republican Party Chairwoman Linda Lingle and Republican David Pendleton (R-Maunawili, Enchanted Lake) last week filed a lawsuit in state court seeking an injunction to force public voting on all bills in joint House-Senate conference committees. The state Attorney General's Office last week advised legislators the state constitution requires open voting in conference committee. The opinion was requested by Ihara, who contends lawmakers can and should adopt open voting in conference. Open voting is required in other standing House and Senate committees, but the open-voting requirement was never applied to conference committees, which meet late each session to work out differences between the House and Senate drafts of each bill. Instead, lead negotiators on each bill often bargain until just before the midnight deadline, and strike deals at the last minute. In one of the most suspenseful moments of each session, the other conference committee members are asked to sign off on the deals before midnight. The other committee members often do not have time to read the bills before signing off on the committee reports and sometimes do not know the exact terms of the deals that have been struck. But if a majority of the committee members refuse to sign, the bills likely will die for the year. Say said, "The new House procedure the caucus will consider would be similar to those followed by other House and Senate committees." The committee members will not necessarily have a copy of the bill they are voting on, but they will be given a summary of the agreement by the lead conference committee negotiators. "A quorum of the conference committee members would then have to vote in favor of the measure before it could advance the next step for a full floor vote. The size of each conference committee will probably be reduced to make it easier to gather a quorum when it is needed, which means fewer legislators will be able to participate in conference committee discussions," Say said. "Republicans have participated in the existing system for years without complaining about it, the House makes decisions in the open." He does not know why a lawsuit was filed. The Advertiser retained Honolulu attorney Jeffrey Portnoy to study the conference committee voting issue, and Portnoy wrote to Say and Mizuguchi earlier this month to urge them to adopt quorum requirements and open voting in conference committee. Portnoy called the current practice of approving bills without open voting "clearly illegal and unconstitutional."
NevadaLawmakers to Rethink Ban on Concealed Weapons in OfficesBy Sean Whaley CARSON CITY - A panel of legislators will reconsider its decision to prohibit citizens with concealed weapon permits from entering its offices armed, but one lawmaker who opted for the ban said he does not believe there is any new information that will change his mind. The Legislative Commission voted in December to post signs banning carrying concealed weapons into its offices and buildings. But the Legislative Building is not yet posted. Lorne Malkiewich, Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said he will wait until after the next discussion before ordering signs prohibiting concealed weapons. The signs are required if the operators of a public building do not allow concealed weapons. Senator Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, chairwoman of the commission, said recently she agreed to rehear the issue. The commission meets every few months between legislative sessions to provide guidance to staff and to deal with other interim matters. Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, the author of legislation last year that made it easier for people to carry concealed weapons into public buildings, is expected to present arguments why the commission should change its stand. Hettrick did not attend in December. But Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, a police captain and commission member, said Monday he does not believe there is any new information that will change his mind. But Hettrick is welcome to present his arguments, he said. The decision to post the signs and ban concealed weapons was a unanimous vote of the 12 member commission at its December 13 meeting. The commission meets again March 13. "I thought the issue through carefully from a number of angles and discussed it with people on both sides of the issue," Perkins said. "The decision will make it less of a burden on our officers, who we expect to provide public safety in our buildings." Perkins made the motion to post the signs banning weapons at the December meeting. He argued that because the Legislature has its own police force, citizens carrying concealed weapons could only make matters worse if an incident was to occur. "If a Good Samaritan, a permit holder with a weapon, brandished the weapon, how could our police determine who is the good guy and who is the bad guy? We don't want a tragedy to occur." Some other state buildings have also posted signs prohibiting concealed weapons. The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation office in Carson City is posted, as is the Kinkead Building, which houses primarily the Department of Human Resources. The Capitol Building, which houses the offices of the Governor and some other offices, has not been posted. Nevadans can carry concealed weapons if they obtain the necessary permit, submit to a background check and have no criminal records. They also must pass a safety course in the use of the firearm. About 13,000 residents have the permits. The YML BugSubmitted by Dave Whatley, Facilities Manager, Building Unit, Nevada Okay here it is January 6, 2000 and I'm breaking the last of my five New Years resolutions. The first four; lose weight, exercise, stop smoking and become a vegetarian have already gone by the wayside. So why not break number 5; that is, to never mention Y2K again, ever. In Nevada we took Y2K as seriously as the rest of the world. We talked with vendors, got letters of compliance, tested, retested and followed the press release from the utilities. We were ready! But just in case, we developed detailed contingency plans. This all culminated in a staff meeting called by Chief Deputy Director and Past NLSSA President Steve Watson on December 30, 1999 at the eleventh hour. I presented the Building Unit plan. We had four of our top people "on call". Actually the instruction was...if your lights go out, come to work. We had a plan for freeze protection. We presented diagrams for load shredding to extend diesel fuel and battery back up power. Security plans. Fire protection plans. In a word, we had it covered. Finally, December 31 and I was glued to the T.V. watching the 1999-2000 transition. Guam made it. New Zealand made it. The Middle East made it. Western Europe made it. Relax. Dressed to the nines for our New Years Eve dinner dance, I pulled my Mini Mag Lite out of my back pocket and set it confidently on the kitchen counter...the Y2K bug is dead. However, in a last act of paranoid insecurity I put my work keys in my wife's purse...just in case The dinner was great and the music was occasionally danceable. Around the ballroom were big screen T.V's and we watched with anticipation as New York, Chicago, and Denver celebrated and the lights stayed on in the background. Our turn was coming! We're on the dance floor and the moment is approaching. We're watching Reno's fireworks display on all the big screens. 4...3...2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! BLACK. Lori commented first, "this is really a sick joke". Meanwhile, I'm thinking the whole @#%@&* world is missed by the Y2K bug and it hits in Carson City, Nevada. Lights back on, fluttering, the generator dies. BLACK. Eyes open, eyes shut, looks the same. Stay still, wait for the emergency lighting, now GET OUT! The dance was right across the street from the Legislative Building. Heading out we could see the streetlights were out and everything was dark for blocks around, but the Legislative Building was lit. Generator? When we got to The Building, the officer on duty was away from the desk. "Lori, give me the building keys in your purse." "What do you mean you don't have them?" "What possessed you to take them out and leave them on the table at the casino?" Back across the dark streets, in a dark suit, up dark stairs, to a dark ballroom. Fumbling to find "our table", patting the table top to find the missing keys. Got `em. Back across the street to the still lit Legislative Building. Help arrives. Check all systems. Generator is not running. All systems are normal. Power is normal. A localized power outage. Relief. Time to go home. Back across the street. The sound of brakes. Two pedestrians down. Call 911. Aid and comfort. No obvious serious injuries. Ambulances. Police. Parking attendants with Bic lighters and burned fingers. Our car. Careful. Home. Lights. Heat. Saturday morning paper: Mylar balloons knock out Carson City power. In all our contingency plans we overlooked the bar two blocks south of the Legislative Building where celebrants released balloons under the electric company's sub-station power lines; knocking out a power grid for an hour. Y2K is now being reported as a non-event. Be that as it may. I intend for this to be my final words on Y2K. However, I end the word with caution. Beware of the YML bug. That's Y.M.L.......Why Me Lord? Saying Good-Bye to a LieutenantSubmitted by Stacey Breneman, Administrative Assistant to the Legislative Police JIMMY BRANSON. That name says is all. Most of the members know him, but who does not? It is not difficult to recognize him (once you get to know him). The Legislative Counsel Bureau has had the opportunity to work with Jimmy for 15 year. As of March 31, 2000, Jimmy is RETIRING as the Lieutenant of the Legislative Police. If you have not had the opportunity to talk with Jimmy, here are some things you might not know about him. He was born June 7, 1936, in Missouri. Shortly after his graduation from high school, he joined the Air Force because he loves to travel. While he was in the Air Force, he visited 19 countries. Jimmy retired from the Air Force as Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) in 1981. After serving in the Air Force, he went back to Missouri to finish his college degree. In May of 1984. he graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. In September of 1984, Jimmy moved to Nevada. Jimmy was hired by the Legislature January 7, 1985. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1987 and became a Lieutenant September 21, 1992. Jimmy's first NLSSA meeting was in Vermont in 1991. He has served as Chair, Region 1; Vice Chair, Region 1; 3rd Trustee; 2nd Trustee; and Chaplain. His new address is: 843 Belle Drive Nevada ProfileBy Steve Watson The Nevada Legislature moved into its own 100,000 sq.ft.building for the 1971 Legislative session. Since that time we have added a 30,000 sq.ft. staff office building and added 100,000 sq.ft. to the existing Legislative building. There are 63 Legislators in Nevada with 21 in the Senate and 42 in the Assembly. Our constitution allows for 75 Legislators and during the 2001 session the 63 may change. Each Legislator has their own office with at least 1 secretary. Chairman have larger offices and space for more secretaries. We also have areas for additional secretaries for committees and general office functions. Nevada has an in-house cable TV system that is in all 11 hearing rooms and both chambers. It is on for all meetings. We also put all meetings out on real audio over the net and will include real video during the 2001 legislative session. We hope to have the capitol complex wired by the 2001 session so the executive and judicial branches can view hearings. The only meetings that are not televised are those when other state agencies use our meeting rooms. They can televise if they want. We also have video conference capability in all hearing rooms and both chambers. This function is very important for the citizens in the Las Vegas area (450 miles from Carson City) as it is our most populous area and the technology allows people to testify from Las Vegas. We have also linked with other states and most recently testified at the US House of Representatives via a four way video conference with Florida, Minnesota, Nevada the US Congress. The Legislative Counsel is the permanent non partisan staff that serves both houses and all parties. Nevada does have metal detectors but only uses them if we have a special situation that warrants it. We do have our own Legislative Police Unit with officers at the 2 main entrances at all times and additional offices at all doors during a legislative session. We also have over 30 security cameras within and outside the Legislative building. IdahoCapitol Debate Available on Internet-Spokane.netBy Beth Bow, Staff Writer Even from as far away as North Idaho, people can now listen to the live action in the Idaho Legislature. Idaho Public Television and the state's legislative service office pooled their resources to create a link on the Internet where people can hear live audio from debates on the House and Senate floors and budget deliberations in the powerful Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. "Idaho Public Television has a 25-year history of providing coverage of the Legislature," said General Manager Peter Morrill. "This seemed like a natural step for us, to give citizens all over the state an opportunity to have better access to what is going on in the Statehouse." "This is really part of a mutli-layer effort to show people how Idaho's Legislature works and make the legislative process accessible," said Sheila Ison, Communications Manager for Legislative Services. "I think it's really a neat service." On Wednesday, 736 citizens plugged into the network to listen to Governor Dirk Kempthorne's budget address. "For the general public to be able to connect into the system from wherever they are makes it a lot easier for them to be involved," Morrill said. Though some broadcasts of floor debates started last year, this is the first year that the key budget committee is being aired live. A free, downloadable program called RealPlayer allows the audio to play; links on the site guide users who don't already have the program. "The Idaho Report Web site has several other things that people will want to look at," Morrill said. Among them is a section set up especially for high school government classes, designed to allow students to get involved in the legislative process. House and Senate debate times vary, but lawmakers generally convene mid-to-late morning early in the session. Later, they'll be in session much of the day. Links on the Internet site to calendars give the schedule. The budget committee meets Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. Mountain time or 7 a.m. Pacific time. The audio feeds are live, so if you tune in at 7 p.m. all will be quiet. But you can see a recap of what went on in the Legislature each week by watching episodes of the Idaho Reports program, IPTV's weekly legislative affairs program, stored on the site. Beth Bow can be reached at (208) 336-2854, or by E-mail at spokes2@rmci.net
MissouriInternet Broadcast Brings Legislative Debate HomeCopyright 2000, Reprinted with permission of the Associated Press Live legislative debate is now just a few clicks away for Missourians connected to the Internet. For the first time, the state is providing live Internet audio through the House and Senate web sites. The free service began during the opening day of the session last week. That means voters, lobbyists and state officials can listen to debate on bills of interest without having to be in Jefferson City. All listeners have to do is go to the House and Senate web sites and click on a House and Senate debate "button." Free software can be downloaded from the site to access the debate. But unless you have two computers at home--and an extra phone line--you can listen to only one chamber at a time. Missouri, which spent about $35,000 on the system, is one of nine states that use taxpayer money for Internet broadcasts of the Legislature. Six other states use outside providers. It is unclear exactly how many Missourians are wired to the Internet, state officials say. Up to 1,000 people can access debate at one time. About 80 people logged on to last Wednesday's opening session and state officials expect that number to grow. "I expect that as we continue through the session we'll get those numbers higher," said Cliff Gronauer, House director of information systems. A local radio group pioneered Internet broadcasts of the Legislature in 1997. Live Internet broadcasts of the Missouri Supreme Court oral arguments is also being offered. Gene Rose, spokesman for the National Conference of State Legislatures and former Missouri House information director, said Missouri has led the way in live Internet services. "In the last couple of years, we've seen more legislatures getting into this field because it allows the public an opportunity to hear firsthand what legislators are saying," Rose said. Senate President Pro Tem Ed Quick, D-Liberty, said the Internet broadcasts allow Missourians to get a sense of a wide array of legislation. "So many times, space that is allocated in a newspaper for a story dealing with an issue is sometimes pretty small," Quick said. "If a person is really interested in what's going on, I think when they hear the full debate, they get a better feel for what a piece of legislation does." One challenge for listeners unfamiliar with state government will be interpreting legislative jargon which sometimes confuses even experienced Capitol observers. House Speaker Steve Gaw, D-Moberly, said he doesn't see legislative jargon as an impediment to Internet listeners. "Most of the debates that we have really are not technical in regard to rules," Gaw said. "It really amounts to discussion and debate on how people feel about issues, what they think about them, in a way that anyone can understand." Lynne Schlosser, a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society, said Internet broadcasts will allow supporters of special interests to closely monitor their issues. "I can tell them what happened, but they didn't hear it," Schlosser said. "There may be something they've picked up that I didn't." The technology exists to record Internet broadcasts and state officials are considering providing electronic sound bites known as ".wav" (pronounced wave) files that can be downloaded by listeners. There is the potential that during an election year, political parties with the technology means could take clips of the live debate and use them for political purposes. Marck Hughes, the Senate communications director and one of the driving forces behind the new system, said once the debates are broadcast, they are fair game. "We will provide a stream of information to anyone who wants to use it," Huges said. "We hope that it will balance with the commonsense understanding that state resources are best not used for personal or political gain." As for the future, lawmakers and computer experts say live Internet video from the House and the Senate isn't far off. WisconsinLast Puffs at the CapitolBy Scott Milfed Don't tell Terry Musser to quit smoking. "It's too late for old geezers like me," the state representative sighs. Musser, 52, has been puffing through packs of cigarettes since 1965, when he started three years of service in Vietnam. Back then, the military gave Musser and other soldiers four or five free cigarettes with their meals, and a pack of unfiltered Chesterfield or Lucky Strike cost just 11 cents. "You were almost rewarded for smoking," Musser recalls, noting that soldiers who smoked were allowed more breaks. "And it was in the middle of a war. Why not?" Musser, a Republican from Melrose, these days tries to limit himself to one cigarette per hour in his office at the state Capitol. Many of his colleagues, however, want to stop him from smoking altogether, unless he walks outside and across the street. Senator Fred Risser, D-Madison, Republican Carol Owens, R-Oshkosh, are pushing an anti-smoking bill that's likely to pass both houses in some form this spring. The bill would ban smoking in and around the Capitol-no exceptions-and levy a $50 fine. "If I could, I'd ban it all the way from the Capitol back to the driveway of my home," Owens says. "It used to be chic. But that was a different world. It's rude for those who don't like it." In January 1984, the Legislature prohibited smoking in virtually all state-owned buildings. But a loop-hole in the law still allows lawmakers to puff in private if their Capitol offices are totally enclosed and only occupied by smokers. Musser is one of the few lawmakers who is open about his smoking. Both his staffers smoke, and many others consider his office the Capitol's unofficial smoking lounge where even Democrats are welcome. "I had one Democrat - I won't name names - who used to come in and tell me he had secretive stuff he wanted to tell me about," Musser says. "We'd go back in my office and shut the door, and all he really wanted to do was bum a cigarette." The Senate banned smoking in the Senate chambers in 1913, primarily as a fire precaution, said Senate Chief Clerk Don Schneider. They continued to chew tobacco on the floor until the 1950s, and kept spittoons next to their seats. The Assembly banned smoking in their chamber in 1979 at the urging of Rep. Joanne Duren, D-Cazenovia. Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, and others who served in the Assembly in the 1970s, recalled how Duren battled with a large group of cigar smoking assemblymen. The cigar aficionados once surrounded Duren during a floor session, lighted their cigars and at the same time blew smoke in her face, Schneider said. Duren later retaliated by bringing a fan to session and spraying perfume through it at the offenders. "Smoke was everywhere back then," Schneider recalls. "It filled the chamber. It filled the caucus rooms. It filled the offices. The whole building stunk." Schneider supports Risser and Owens' proposal and also wants to ban smoking within 1,000 feet of high schools. He says it's "hypocritical to the nth degree" for the state to sue major tobacco companies and yet allow smoking in its Capitol building. Risser, a smoking opponent long before it became popular, is worried about health risks to non-smokers at the Capitol. He also points to the Capitol's ongoing, more than $100 million renovation project. "The Capitol is a jewel, and we don't want to smudge our jewelry with cigarette smoke," Risser said. The Senate Human Services Committee voted 4-1 in favor of a total ban, with Senator Gwendolynne Moore, D-Milwaukee, as the lone dissenter. The Assembly Public Health Committee endorsed it 7-2 with Reps. Frank Urban, R-Brookfield and Greg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, against. They said they didn't want the ban to cover the entire Capitol grounds, which could be difficult to enforce because of tourist traffic, outdoor concerts and a farmers' market. Risser and Owens' bill would ban smoking on the Capitol grounds all the way to the street curbs. But the lawmakers said they might compromise on outdoor smoking to ensure passage of a total ban inside. Musser wholeheartedly agrees with smoking opponents that his habit is a nasty and a potentially deadly one. Musser urges young people, including his grown children, not to start smoking and wishes he could stop. Musser said he's tried quitting "a thousand times" using special gum, patches, and other techniques. "It's easy to quit," he says. "It's hell when you've smoked as long as I have to stay quit." Musser bristles at the thought of being banned from lighting up outside the Capitol. "Look at the smoke stack industry," he says. "Where do you think that's going to go? as if there isn't enough stuff out in the air to kill you." Musser says if the smoking opponents are really serious about their cause, they should push for a cigarette and cigar prohibition. But they won't do that because government is addicted to the million of dollars it earns each year in tobacco taxes, he says. Musser recalled a proposal by Rep. Schneider in the 1980s to prohibit anyone who isn't born yet from ever buying cigarettes once they're alive. "That one I could support," Musser said. The proposal was killed after major tobacco companies hired five lobbyists and sent them to Madison to arm-twist leaders, Schneider said. If a total ban on smoking in and around the Capitol does become law later this year, Musser isn't sure what he'll do. "Maybe I'll just close my door," he said with a grin. Four state Capitols are smoke free. Wisconsin would join at least four other states if it bans smoking throughout its Capitol building, a national group said. Washington, Vermont, Kansas and Nebraska ban smoking with no exceptions in their Capitols, said Kae Warnock of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Pennsylvania also bans smoking except for a small area in its cafeteria. Several other states may have bans, but the National Conference hasn't surveyed all 50 states since 1992. Editor's Note: A list of smoking regulations for 39 states follow this article. Some information was received after the Wisconsin article was written.
MaineState House Renovation Could Disrupt SessionBy Glenn Adams AUGUSTA-Hard hats could outnumber suits and ties this winter as a major renovation of the State House continues, potentially disrupting the legislative process when lawmakers return on Jan. 5. Contractors promise to have the Senate chamber, which was completely gutted and occupied by table saws, tools and staging in early December, reopened in time for the start of business. But workers will still be on the job in other parts of the Capitol's South Wing until mid-February. Next door, the State Office Building, where many legislative committees meet and several state departments are headquartered, is completely shut off for renovations as well. With all of the work going on, departments are scattered across the city, and legislative committees are temporarily ensconced in a hodgepodge of locations that include the Augusta Civic Center; City Hall, the Augusta State Armory; and the St. Paul's Center, a religious retreat house. To complicate matters, scores of former parking spaces have vanished as the Capitol Complex has been transformed into a construction zone, complete with cranes, backhoes and blasting. Mobile units housing many offices occupy numerous parking spaces. Governor Angus King has even vacated his office. Because of blasting, he is conducting business from the Blaine House across the street. Jim McGregor, a lobbyist whose office is a short walk from the State House, noticed weeks before lawmakers were due back that spaces in local parking lots were already filling up, making him wonder where people will park when the real action begins. Parking will be a particularly vexing problem for lawmakers and lobbyists who will have to drive all around town to keep track of three, four or more bills at a time, said McGregor. Besides that, the work limits access to the State House for the public, said McGregor. "There's no doubt it will be a challenging session, but it will be a successful session," promised House Speaker G. Steven Rowe, who said legislative leaders are doing everything possible to make things run smoothly. For example, three shuttle buses will run between the various locations where legislative business is conducted, said Rowe, D-Portland. Also, extra parking lots will be marked, new signs will be erected on Augusta streets, and a kiosk will be set up at the Augusta Civic Center. In addition, a toll-free number, (800) 301-3178, has been set up to help direct people to their destinations, and directions to meeting sites will be provided on the Legislature's Web page at www.state.me.us/legis/homepage.htm, said Row. A schedule distributed by Rowe includes fewer dates for full House sessions than usual, with only three dates in January, seven in February, and two in March before all bills have to be out of committee. But the floor schedule is light by design. It gives extra time to committees to work on nearly 600 bills that have been submitted, said Rowe, who noted that hearings have already been held on 210 bill because they were carried over from last session. "I believe it is achievable" to wrap up work by April 9, the target date, said Rowe. While the renovations may be disruptive, legislators decided they could not put off the $25 million project any longer because it involves issues of public safety and accessibility, not to mention a need to correct some structural weaknesses. The original State House dates to 1832, but a major renovation and expansion was done in 1910. A primary purpose is to upgrade the heating system and install a ventilation and cooling system. To comply with safety codes, a sprinkler system had to be installed. In addition, asbestos and lead-based paint were removed in some areas. New, energy-efficient windows and interior lighting have been installed, and interior walls are being torn down and rebuilt to improve efficiency. In some places, contractors found structural flaws deep inside the State House walls resulting from add-ons, and fix-ups of long ago. Once the miles of new wiring and conduits are installed and the walls and ceilings are rebuilt, contractors can concentrate on the cosmetic improvements in Maine's most public-and one of its most historic-buildings. "The object is to maintain everything you can and preserve the historical integrity," said Stan Fairservice, the project manager. After the work is completed in the South Wing where the Senate is located contractors will proceed next year to the West Wing, where the governor's office is located. In 2001, portions of the North Wing, with the exception of the House of Representatives, which was done last year, will be renovated. MaineCapitol Renovation ProceedsBy A.J. Higgins, Of the NEWS Staff AUGUSTA-Surveying Maine's 151 lawmakers from his podium vantage point, Speaker G. Steven Rowe rapped his gavel Wednesday to remind some rambunctious representatives that the House was in order. It was a good thing the legislators could actually see Rowe. The crack of his gavel was nearly lost beneath the persistent low rumble of dump trucks entering and leaving the State House reconstruction area. "Challenging" was the operative word majority Democratic leaders were using to describe the hardships accompanying the massive Capitol renovation project that will not be completed until 2001. Rowe was inclined to try to put a happy face on the inconveniences associated with shuttle buses, limited parking, and the logistics of arriving at one of five relocated meeting places on time. It all came down, he said, to a question of attitude. "If we choose to be negative, it will be a long and difficult session," predicted the Portland Democrat. "A positive attitude is contagious. Let's catch the spirit and together make this a positive session." Rep. Joseph Brooks had just maneuvered down an ice-laced Interstate 95 from Winterport, and the two-term Democrat had to admit he was having a little trouble with the spiritual thing Rowe was talking about. "To me this is already extremely disruptive," Brooks said. "I have one bill before the Appropriations Committee Thursday at the St. Paul's Center a half-mile away while the Health and Human Services Committee that I serve on will be meeting at the same time here at the State House. How am I going to be in both places at the same time? It's going to be really crazy." In less hectic times, lawmakers presenting bills or serving on more than one committee have always faced such pressure. But in the past, competing committee hearings were all at least in the State House or the State Office Building nearby. This year, legislators are finding their hearing rooms are as much as five miles apart. Arriving an hour late may actually be considered good form when accounting for the extra time lost waiting for a shuttle bus. "On Tuesday I jumped on the shuttle bus in the freezing rain thinking I was going to make it to my hearing only to find out the bus was going to the State Armory first, which would have made me even later," Brooks said. "So I jumped back out, got a ride and made it in time for my hearing." Rep.Debra D. Plowman, R-Hampden, said that in addition to the obstacles facing lawmakers, there will be real problems for residents arriving at the State House to speak on bills, only to find the hearings have been moved to a place miles away. "It's bad enough what we do to the people of the state of Main when they're actually able to observe the proceedings," she said. "It's going to be incredible what some people are going to try to get away with when the public fails to show up because they can't find out where they're supposed to go. I think we should have come in today, adjourned for a month and let them finish up some of this work so people wouldn't have to be inconvenienced as much." At the end of the hall from the House, the Maine Senate was cheerier than it has ever been, with new carpets and a goldenrod yellow coat of paint to replace the former blue interior that had faded over the year. While Senate President Mark Lawrence, D-Berwick, urged his chamber to rise and meet the challenges posed by the construction, not everyone was optimistic. Legislative leaders hope to adjourn by April 7, but many lawmakers expect the construction work to push that deadline back. "I would expect that there's going to be a lot of days where committees are just going to be waiting around for enough members to arrive to create a quorum," said Senator Leo Kieffer, R-Caribou. "Things will work, but the process is going to be slowed down." One floor below the Legislature, Gov. Angus S. King was finally given the go-ahead to move back into his office. He was forced to vacate the premises last month when excavation blasts shook the building's foundation. As a memento of the construction work, Kay Rand, King's chief of staff, has a lengthy crack in the wall of her office not far from the governor's suite. "I think one of my light fixtures fell down in here at one point," said King. "That happens occasionally and the grill fell off one of my loudspeakers." Whatever the logistical hassles, lawmakers must make some major decisions this year on health care, school funding, taxes and scores of other issues. A central focus will be deciding how to allocate the mounting revenue surplus of more than $250 million. King and most of the lawmakers plan to persevere through the difficulties of the reconstruction work by trying to identify any positive aspects of the experience. "In my case, the Augusta Civic Center is where most of my hearings are and that makes it about six miles closer to my home than the State House," joked Rep. Joseph Perry, D-Bangor. ConnecticutThermal Imaging in ConnecticutBill Morgan Connecticut State Capitol Police are participating in a program sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy Counter drug Technology Transfer Program. Law enforcement officials from across the country came together in Phoenix during November of 1999. These officials were introduced to some of the latest high technology equipment on the market today. One of the most interesting items was a hand-held thermal imager manufactured by Raytheon. The Palm IR 250 Thermal Imager is an infrared night sight device capable of detecting differing amounts of infrared and converting them into a video image. It creates these images based on heat energy not transmitted light, thus making it perfectly suitable for day or night operations. With a range of over 800 yards, the device had a wide scope of applications, from search and rescue to drug traffic monitoring, perimeter surveillance, and tactical scenarios. A vehicle-mounted unit is also available. Perhaps the most astounding fact was that the thermal imager, the transportation to Phoenix and the training conference itself was provided free of charge from the federal government. The U.S Army had previously conducted warfare tests of the thermal imager at the Electronic Proving Ground in Fort Huachuca, Arizona and was confident that this would be a superb new crime-fighting tool in the law enforcement arsenal. OFC John Fabale, a 17-year veteran of the Connecticut State Capitol Police, had learned of this program from a military advisor and applied for the thermal imager online. Part of his responsibilities includes researching new technology and its potential application to the mission statement of his department. OFC Fabale is the department contact on this new program and has worked with other police agencies in Connecticut to advance the use of such technology. OFC Fabale can be reached by email at john.fabale@po.state.ct.us Lee Corrington, the director of the program at the Electronic Proving Ground, and his staff coordinated the entire program, from the application phase to the travel arrangements, training and technical support. For information on how to obtain the thermal imager for your law enforcement agency, contact Lee Corrington at 1-877-372-2282 or e-mail him at Corrington@epg.army.mil. New HampshireNew Hampshire's New Year's Eve Bomb ThreatBy Howard "Crow" Dickinson, Jr., NH On Wednesday before New Year's, New Hampshire State Police intercepted an anonymous letter mailed to the Governor Jeanne Shaheen. Someone threatened to bomb a New Year's Eve celebration somewhere in the state. State Police set up a hotline to receive tips about the threat, and offered a $25,000 reward for information that would lead to an arrest. They also notified all the communities holding celebrations. Based on handwriting samples, state police believed the threat came from the person or people involved with leaving two pipe bombs in Concord in the fall of 1998. Although neither bomb detonated, one caused a small fire at the Concord City Library and the other was found on the steps of the state library, across the street from the governor's office. For the Y2K celebration, the police forces throughout the state took extra precautions: Staff and patrols were increased; extra equipment, such as riot gear, was put in police vehicles; public trash receptacles and other containers where a bomb could be hidden were removed. Furthermore, "First Night" celebrations, including the fireworks, etc., were canceled in the state capitol of Concord and several other cities and towns throughout New Hampshire. FBI Investigators profiled the suspect as follows: The bomber is at least in his 30s, and may have had a job in 1998 that he felt was beneath him. Based on his letters and his actions, he didn't intend to hurt anyone but was compelled to act out his anger toward the state. The threats are the suspect's reaction to a personal setback, which likely happened in late 1997 or early 1998. In a feeling of desperation, the suspect felt his only recourse was to make bombs and drop them off. In response to the problem, the suspect's personality began to change in some way-he started drinking or using drugs, lost sleep or missed work. He has at least a high school education and is not confrontational, choosing to threaten the state "long distance" through the letters and planted explosives. He probably holds a job and is relatively intelligent. He knows how to make bombs and is good with his hands. He deals with neighbors and probably has one or two significant others. He leans toward the introverted side. The suspect could have been sick, incarcerated or perhaps started a relationship, which would explain the time between the suspect's threats. Authorities subpoenaed a number of people for hair, saliva, fingerprint or handwriting samples after the threats, but made no arrest. Fortunately, the letter, postmarked in Manchester, proved to be an empty threat. The Governor was quoted as saying, "We cannot allow threats to dictate our lives or our millennium celebrations. I am confident that law enforcement officials are doing everything possible to apprehend whoever is responsible for this threat and to protect public safety." "The potential for a terrorist attack in New Hampshire is pretty slight, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen here," said Jim Van Dongen, spokesman for the State Office of Emergency Management. We think it's essential that law enforcement take threats seriously and pay special attention to security at large public gathers on New Year's Eve." Unfortunately, like all terrorists, one deranged individual was empowered by spreading fear, and the New Year's Eve celebration of "First Night" was ruined for thousands of well-wishers. PennsylvaniaThe Office of the Legislative Health Services in PennsylvaniaBy Alice Weiser, R.N., PA Legislative Supervisor and NLSSA Member In Pennsylvania's State Capitol health services employees provide health services to the Senators and Representatives, their staff and visitors. With 253 members of the General Assembly and hundreds of employees, it requires a full-time staff. Two registered nurses staff each of the two health services offices located within the Capitol, along with one consulting physician. The nurses work an eight-hour shift on non-session days and session days until adjournment. Many of their duties are routine health care, such as treatment for colds, headaches, gastric upsets, simple burns and lacerations. They also provide disease prevention programs, primarily flu and tetanus immunizations, and hypertension evaluation and monitoring. The nurses counsel, and refer as needed, for stress, drug and alcohol conditions. Occasionally, job-related problems occur and they provide counseling for those matters as well. Emergency health care is also provided. A radio communication system, operated by the Capitol Police, offers the nurses immediate response to emergencies. There are CPR trained staff throughout the building who also help in emergency situations. Recently, two AED's (Automatic External Defibrillators) were purchased to help save the lives of people in cardiac arrest. The nurses will provide training on the AED's, in addition to the CPR training they offer legislators and staff. On an average day each health services office accommodates 25 to 70 patients. For more information or questions about this service contact Alice Weiser at (717) 787-4874 or aweiser@pabmc.net
Washington, D.CHouse Bill Would Target Fire SafetyBy Larry Margasak Associated Press Writer, Copyright 2000, Preprinted with permission from Associated Press WASHINGTON-Less than two months after a congressional agency sharply criticized fire safety in the U.S. Capitol complex, a House bill unveiled Tuesday proposed a $15.1 million appropriation to address the hazards. The largest amount of fire safety money, more than $7 million, would be spent in the Capitol to survey asbestos, install smoke detectors, upgrade alarm systems, test electrical equipment and study smoke control measures. "The funding in this bill will provide the resources necessary" to address the hazards cited by the congressional Office of Compliance, the report accompanying the bill said. The Architect of the Capitol, responsible for congressional grounds and buildings, told Congress that 66 of the 173 fire safety findings have already been addressed. The legislation only covers House-controlled areas. Senate appropriators would have to decide whether money should be added for Senate-administered space. The money is part of a House Republican bill that would spend $9 billion to finance diverse domestic and foreign government programs. However, key Democrats support money to upgrade the Capitol's fire safety. Portions of the $15.1 million would replace defective sprinkler heads, install sprinkler in areas that don't have them, design new fire suppression systems, provide proper storage for hazardous materials and improve emergency lighting systems. The Office of Compliance in late January said in its report that the lives of 535 members of Congress, their staffs and thousands of daily visitors were jeopardized by the poor state of fire safety. The safety inspectors found "the overall level of fire safety to be far below that of most other American office buildings of similar size and age."
Profiles of State Capitols
A Brief Tour of Nevada's CapitolSubmitted by Stacey Breneman, NV Nevada was admitted as the 36th state on October 31, 1864. The state slogan the "Battle Born State" refers to the fact that Nevada became a state during the Civil War. The slogan was adopted March 26, 1937. The word "Nevada" comes from the Spanish in early 1700's meaning "snow-capped", referring to the Sierra Mountains. Our State seal was designed in July 1864 and was adopted February 24, 1866. The outer edge of the seal has the words, "The Great Seal of the State of Nevada". Within the outer border are pictures of mining, agriculture, railroads, and scenery of Nevada. Underneath is a scroll with the State's motto, "All for our Country". From 1862 to 1869, sessions were originally at the Orsmby County Building. Governor Henry Goode Blasdel signed the "Capitol Building Bill" on February 23, 1869. An architect was hired, and plans were drawn for a two-story building forming a Grecian cross. The building was 148 feet in length and 98 feet in width. The building was completed by the Fifth Legislature, which convened in 1871. From 1871 to 1969, the Legislature met in the State Capitol Building. Two additional wings were added in 1905 and 1913. 
New Legislative Building The whole original structure of the Capitol Building was gutted and restored in 1977 for $6 million. The silver-colored cupola represents the "Silver State". The interior marble floors came from Alaska. Throughout the first floor there a portraits of the Governors that have served the state of Nevada. On the second floor, there is a museum in the old Assembly Chambers. The Capitol houses the Nevada Governor's Office, Secretary of State, State Controller, State Treasurer, and the Capitol Police. In 1967, $3.4 million was appropriated for the construction of a separate Legislative Building. The Legislative Building was built in 1971, located just south of the Capitol Building. For the 1997 session, it was extensively remodeled and expanded. Nevada is one of four states in the Nation with it Legislative chambers located in a separate building from its Capitol. The Nevada Legislature continues to meet in the Legislative Building today. Legislative web page: Pennsylvania's State Capitol---Mercer TileSubmitted by Andrea Faber, Director In 1982 the Pennsylvania General Assembly established the Capitol Preservation Committee for the purpose of coordinating and overseeing programs to conserve, restore, preserve, and maintain Pennsylvania's State Capitol and its historic contents. Since 1982 the Committee has accomplished many projects. One project of significant magnitude, and one that will be ongoing, is the cleaning and conservation of the "Mercer" tile floor, which covers the first floor of the Capitol. Installed when the Capitol was built (1902-06), the tile floor was designed and executed by Henry Chapman Mercer, a native Pennsylvanian. Henry Mercer was commissioned to produce 16,000 square feet of quarry tile. Mercer seized this opportunity to express himself in a unique way, choosing as his theme the history of Pennsylvania. The tile sequence is roughly chronological, beginning at the northwest entrance with scenes depicting Native Americans and proceeding through history into the story of European habitation in the New World and eventually encompass the Commonwealth's triumph through invention of at the southwest entrance. "CONESTOGA WAGON" 
"It is the life of the people," Mercer wrote, "rough, powerful, and absolutely real, that seems to struggle in this plastic pavement for expression." The floor is commonly referred to as the "Mercer" Title floor, but the correct terminology is the Moravian Tile Floor. Mercer himself referred to his tiles as "artistic pottery" and apprenticed himself to a Bucks County red ware potter. As a collector of Early American artifacts, he was reluctant to witness the death of local craft traditions, including "so beautiful an art as that of the old Pennsylvanian German potter." The early tiles were patterned on medieval tiles, Pennsylvania German stove plates, and objects Mercer had collected in his travels. Later designs were based on Mercer's own experiences and creativity.
"Mercer Tile" Floor 
Mercer firmly believed that the tiles should utilize local clay and that they should be made by hand. Eventually, Mercer developed a method using plaster molds which allowed the designs to be reproduced by workers without losing the original integrity. The molds also allowed tiles to be produced in quantities large enough to maintain affordability, while retaining the look and individuality of hand cut tiles. The floor of the Capitol Building is made of two types of tile: field tiles, the red background tiles; and mosaic tiles, which make up the "pictures" on the floor. The field tiles are various shades of red, and some have tile numbers or the MOR logo of Moravian tile. The mosaic tiles are a wide range of colors. Over the years, the tile floor has sustained significant damage. Several campaigns to repair and maintain the floor have been undertaken since the 1930's. The Capitol Preservation Committee began the most recent of these campaigns in early 1998. The Cleaning and Conservation of the "Mercer" Tile Floor Project includes the removal of old wax coatings, replacement of worn and damaged tiles, repair of mortar and grout joints, and the application of protective wax coatings. Detail of "Mercer Tile" Floor 
Reproduction tiles are being produced by the Moravian Tile Factory, founded by Henry Mercer in 1888. In 1997, an in-depth survey of the floor's condition was conducted in preparation for the restoration project. The Committee, utilizing the survey and the resulting CAD drawing of the Moravian Tile Floor, produced a map of the floor. This map is the first comprehensive layout ever developed of this unique Capitol floor. After the survey was completed, the actual restoration could begin. After removing dirt and wax layers that had built up over years, the tiles were cleaned with a mild detergent. Some areas requiring special attention were cleaned with a poultice to pull out deep stains. Once stripped and cleaned, the floor was examined for damage, and a determination of which tiles that needed replacement was made. Both field tiles and mosaics were in need of attention. Twenty-one of the almost 400 mosaics needed some replacement tiles. Pennsylvania's Treaty with the Indians 
To restore the damaged mosaics, a template of clear poly material, made by the head ceramist, is laid over the mosaic, and each tile is carefully traced. The replacement tiles are produced and returned to the Committee to determine that the color, size, and shape are accurate. This is done by laying the replacement tiles against the actual tile. The joints around damaged tiles are cut, using a water tile saw to minimize dust. The damaged tile is then drilled out. If there are adjourning damaged tiles, only one tile is drilled out, the remaining tiles are "popped" out and preserved for reuse. A vacuum is used while drilling out tiles to keep the dust to a minimum. Once the tile is removed, the mortar bed and new grout is tinted to match the original joints. To help produce authentic replacement tiles, the Moravian Tile Works entrusted the Committee with one of eight original tile cutters. The Committee had a reproduction made from this tile cutter for use in reproducing field tiles. This tile cutter is a hand-press that was used to produce the original field tiles in the Capitol. Another challenge during this project has been reproducing the range of dark red and orange colors of the field tiles. Modern techniques, clays, dyes and firing of dark red and orange colors of the field tiles. Research at the Spruance Library revealed instructions, handwritten by Henry Mercer, on how to produce, point and finish the Moravian tile for the Pennsylvania Capitol. Black Bear 
In addition to the replacement tiles being produced, the Capitol Preservation Committee has contracted with the Moravina Tile Works to produce a more resilient, waterproof tile for placement in the high traffic vestibule entrances where moisture, dirt, and walkway salt is most destructive to the tiles. Once fully restored, the floor will be put on the Committee's maintenance schedule and guidelines for the care of the tiles will be developed. With proper care, this unique Pennsylvania floor will be preserved for generation of visitors to enjoy for another century. In 1908, Mercer wrote and published, at his own expense, his Guide Book to the Tiled Pavement in the Pennsylvania Capitol so visitors to the new building could read along as they strolled through the corridors and the Grand Rotunda. In 1997, the Committee reprinted this book, with a new introduction and a listing of tiles which are no longer visible. The book has an accompanying map of the floor. To order a copy of the book and map, contact the Committee Office. PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AND SECURITY ASSOCIATION |
National Legislative Services and Security Association
© 2008 National Conference of State Legislatures, All Rights Reserved
Denver Office: Tel: 303-364-7700 | Fax: 303-364-7800 | 7700 East First Place | Denver, CO 80230 | Map
Washington Office: Tel: 202-624-5400 | Fax: 202-737-1069 | 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515 | Washington, D.C. 20001
