TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2003

Special Seminars (registration complimentary if attending fall forum):

• Fiscal Leaders--budgeting strategies, state tax reform efforts, the economic outlook and solutions to state fiscal problems.
• Transportation Leaders--financing, TEA-21 reauthorization, traffic safety, teen licensing and commercial vehicle safety.

1:30 pm - 5:30 pm

• Health Leaders-- containing rising health costs, improving access to quality care, managing long-term care and exploring timely public health issues. (Held at the Washington Court Hotel)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2003

7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Registration

9:00 am - 1:15 pm

Special Seminars for Fiscal and Transportation Policy Leaders

9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Special Seminar for Health Policy Leaders

2:30 pm-3:45pm

Help America Vote Act--Developments and Updates
Many states have proceeded to implement major overhauls of the election process in order to comply with the Help America Vote Act passed by Congress in 2002. This session will look at many of the issues regarding the act. When will Congress appropriate all of the money promised to fund the Act? What issues are states encountering as they move toward conducting the first presidential election since the infamous events in Florida in 2000?

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Opening Plenary Program

The Importance of a State-Federal Partnership in Addressing America's Health Care Challenges Ahead

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2003

7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Registration

8:00 am - 9:30 am

Plenary Breakfast: Public Opinion
What's on the mind of voters in these tight fiscal times? Two prominent pollsters discuss their findings on national and state issues and funding priorities.

Speakers:
Ed Goeas, The Tarrance Group
Al Quinlin, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Inc.

9:45 am-11:00am

Recall: Democracy or Disaster
Co-sponsored with the Legislative Effectiveness Committee
California's recent recall of its governor touched off a debate about this little used populist mechanism. Many states have recall provisions including Wisconsin that recently recalled a State Senator. How do state laws differ on the issue? Will there be an increase in recall activity? Is this form of direct democracy a healthy check on power or a threat to stable governance?

11:15 am-noon

Campaign Finance
A Supreme Court decision on the federal Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act is due any day. This session will examine the potential fallout for states of a Court decision either upholding or overturning the law.

noon - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch & Redistricting Roundtable
And you thought this was the quiet time for redistricting?-Ha. Redistricting litigation rages on in at least a half-dozen states including Texas and Colorado where challenges are pending to "mid-decade redistricting." The United States Supreme Court will have heard a potential blockbuster redistricting case challenging partisan gerrymandering just the day before this session. A petition is circulating in California that would have voters decide on a new redistricting process that is unlike any other state-a process where new plans would require passage by a statewide referendum before being adopted. We'll get updates on these developments and much more including one state that is about to consider new plans

1:45 pm-2:45 pm

Continuity of Government
Congress is considering legislation (both statutory and constitutional) that would pre-empt a number of state election laws on filling vacancies in the U.S. House of Representatives. This session will look at the potential impact of that legislation as well as consider feasibility issues and other solutions.

3:00 pm-4:30 pm

So Many Census Updates, so Little Time
There are many issues and developments swirling that relate to the taking of the census and redistricting. In addition to a discussion of the process for states and localities to challenge census results, topics to be covered include:

• Evaluation of 2000 Census Redistricting Data Program
• Update on Census 2010 Planning--
• Enumeration of Americans Overseas Testing in 04
• Update on Enhancing TIGER data base as part of Census 2010 planning
• Citizenship Data from the American Community Survey

Speakers:
Cathy McCully, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C.
Bob LaMacchia, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C.

4:30p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Business Meeting
During this session, the Committee will review any potential federal policies that it would like to consider. This time will also permit a discussion of future committee topics and any work products that the Committee would like to pursue.

6:15 pm - 7:30 pm

Reception
U.S. State Department

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2003

8:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Special Briefings
Changing Demographics and the Policy Impacts

Identity Theft
Insurance Regulation

10:45 am - 12:00 pm

Debate and Voting on Official Policy Statements and Resolutions

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Closing Plenary Lunch

1:30 pm

Meeting Adjourns