Assembly on State Issues (ASI)
2001-2002 Conference

AFI/ASI Merger

A major restructuring of NCSL committees is taking place. These committees will consider both federal and state issues and develop lobbying positions for NCSL. Please join us at the NCSL Fall Forum (formerly the Joint Meeting of the Assembly on Federal Issues and the Assembly on State Issues) December 11-13, 2002 to kick-off the new NCSL Standing Committees.

Updated 9/20/02

Introduction

Current Officers

ASI Frequently Asked Questions

Upcoming Meetings

The ASI Committees

Governing NCSL
Guide to NCSL

Introduction

NCSL's Assembly on State Issues serves as a major forum for the exchange of ideas and information among state legislatures. It allows each legislature to benefit from the experiences of other states in shaping public policy, experimenting with new laws, and managing the legislative institution.

Through ASI and its eight standing committees and one task force, interstate communication has become more regular, more visible and more effective. The ASI's emphasis on state issues is exemplified in its tradition of holding two yearly meetings. ASI committees also meet at the NCSL Annual Meeting. See NCSL's Calendar for meeting dates.

ASI Officers

Chair: Senator Lana Oleen, Kansas
Vice Chair: Representative Susan Crosby, Indiana
Vice Chair: Representative Diane Winston, Louisiana
Staff Chair: Max Arinder, Mississippi
Staff Vice Chair: Joyce Honaker, Kentucky
Staff Vice Chair: Gary VanLandingham, Florida
Staff Vice Chair: Jack Hailey, California

NCSL Staff: Julie Davis Bell, Mary Fairchild and Barbara Houlik
E-Mail: julie.bell@ncsl.org; mary.fairchild@ncsl.org; barbara.houlik@ncsl.org.

Children, Families and Health Committee

The Children, Families and Health Committee investigates state policy and programs on a variety of health and social services issues such as child abuse, early childhood education, child support, juvenile justice, welfare reform, managed care, health care access and other health and children's issues that affect American families. It provides a forum for legislators and legislative staff to examine the complex socio-economic problems facing American families today. In addition, the committee makes recommendations for NCSL's health, family and social services policy and advises the NCSL Children and Families and the Health Services Programs on project activities and program development.

Chair: Representative Dave Heaton, Iowa
Vice Chair: Senator Betty Sims, Missouri
Vice Chair: Assemblyman Roger Green, New York
Staff Chair: Leon Czikowsky, Pennsylvania
Staff Vice Chair: Elaine Zimmerman, Connecticut
Staff Vice Chair: Rick Berkobien, Oregon

NCSL Staff: Scott Groginsky and Jo Donlin
SGAC Liaisons: G. Thomas Tranter, Jr., Dorothy Ouchida,
Kelli Kukura, Tom Wood, David Lloyd
E-mail: scott.groginsky@ncsl.org
E-mail: jo.donlin@ncsl.org

Communications and Information Policy Committee

The Communications and Information Policy Committee examines public policy issues related to the management of information, computer and telecommunications technology, and the regulation of telecommunication and cable industries at the state level. It provides a forum for discussing access to and dissemination of electronic public information, state computer and communications privacy, and innovative uses of technology to improve government efficiency and service delivery.

Chair: Senator Steve Kelley, Minnesota
Vice-Chair: Representative Jeff Hatch-Miller, Arizona
Vice Chair: Delegate Kumar Barve, Maryland
Staff Chair: Dan Schmidt, Wisconsin
Staff Vice Chair: Joyce Crofts, Kentucky
Staff Vice Chair: Jim Gilles, California

NCSL Staff: Jo Anne Bourquard
SGAC Liaisons S. Kerry Tassopoulos, Sano Riley Blocker
E-mail: jo.anne.bourquard@ncsl.org

Criminal Justice Committee

The Criminal Justice Committee examines law enforcement, sentencing, juvenile justice, prisons and jails, probation, parole, crime victims and the courts.

Chair: Representative Jari Askins, Oklahoma
Vice Chair: Representative Rich Stanek, Minnesota
Vice Chair: Representative Max Williams, Oregon
Staff Chair: Guy Cherry, Maryland
Staff Vice Chair: Jim Smith, North Dakota

NCSL Staff: Donna Lyons
SGAC Liaison: Jeremy Wiley
E-mail: donna.lyons@ncsl.org

Economic and Cultural Development Committee

The Economic and Cultural Development Committee identifies, evaluates and shares creative and innovative programs that have successfully promoted economic and cultural vitality. The Committee will examine economic development strategies/issues and the role that cultural activity and community development can play in enhancing the economy and quality of life in the states.

Chair: Representative Mike Derby, South Dakota
Vice-Chair: Senator Nick Jordan, Kansas
Vice Chair: Representative Peter Lewiss, Rhode Island
Vice Chair: Representative Sharon Westen Broome, Louisiana
Staff Chair: Michele Nelson, North Carolina
Staff Vice Chair: John Rappa, Connecticut
Staff Vice Chair: Tony Hutchison, Oklahoma

NCSL Staff: Mandy Rafool
SGAC Liaisons: Teresa Dyer, Stephen Lemson
E-mail: mandy.rafool@ncsl.org

Education Committee

The Education Committee is responsible for studying state education issues that affect both K-12 and higher education policy, sharing information about these issues with state legislatures and providing a forum for discussion between state legislators and legislative staff. Issues the committee studies include education finance, reform, and accountability, as well as school readiness, school-to-work transition, and life-long learning.

Chair: Representative Alice Seagren, Minnesota
Vice Chair: Representative Rick Miera, New Mexico
Vice Chair: Representative Larry Lehman, Montana
Staff Chair: David Summers, Florida
Staff Vice Chair: Mark Zickrick, South Dakota
Staff Vice Chair: Susan Scholley, Nevada

NCSL Staff: Demi Michelau and Michelle Exstrom
SGAC Liaison: To be named
E-mail: demaree.michelau@ncsl.org
E-mail: michelle.exstrom@ncsl.org

Fiscal Affairs Committee

The Fiscal Affairs Committee is responsible for examining policies with state fiscal implications and improving the working relationship among state, local and tribal governments. This includes funding of state-provided services and programs, tax and revenue issues, federal strategies that affect state policies, funding for state mandates, the role of the property tax in the state-local revenue system and local revenue diversification. The committee is also responsible for studying legislative oversight, the legislative budget process and state pension issues.

Chair: Delegate Sheila Ellis Hixson, Maryland
Vice Chair: Representative Eldon Mulder
Vice Chair: Senator Penfield Tate, Colorado
Staff Chair: John Massey, Utah
Staff Vice Chair: Kirk Jonas, Virginia
Staff Vice Chair: David Abbey, New Mexico

NCSL Staff: Judy Zelio
SGAC Liaisons: Judith Smeltzer, Dennis Brown
E-mail: judy.zelio@ncsl.org

Legislative Effectiveness Committee

The Legislative Effectiveness Committee has the responsibility of studying the operations, composition and powers of state legislatures. Its interests include legislative structure and management, rules and procedures, leadership, committees, staffing, information resources, constitutional issues, elections and ethics.

Chair: Senator Richard Romero, New Mexico
Vice Chair: Representative Shane Broadway, Arizona
Vice Chair: Pending
Staff Chair: JoAnn Hedrick, Delaware
Staff Vice Chair: Dina Hidalgo, California
Staff Vice Chair: Laura Rose, Wisconsin

NCSL Staff: Bruce Feustel and Kae Warnock
SGAC Liaisons: Pete Poynter, Jim Ruda
E-mail: bruce.feustel@ncsl.org
E-mail: kae.warnock@ncsl.org

Natural Resources Committee

The Natural Resources Committee serves as a forum for members to exchange state-specific information on natural resources, environment and energy issues. Recent issues have included growth management, water allocation, interstate air pollution, and electric utility restructuring. The committee works closely with NCSL working groups dealing with specific issues such as radioactive waste and clean air.

Chair: Representative David Scanlan, New Hampshire
Vice Chair: Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
Vice Chair: Representative Matt Smith, Colorado
Staff Chair: Dan Shein, Arizona
Staff Vice-Chair: John Helland, Minnesota
Staff Vice-Chair: Tim McDermott, Iowa

NCSL Staff: Cathy Atkins
SGAC Liaisons: Tim Kichline, Julie Offner, David Lloyd,
Mark Burtschi, Suzanne Madden
E-mail: cathy.atkins@ncsl.org

Redistricting Task Force

The Redistricting Task Force studies the legal, technical and political issues that affect reapportionment and redistricting of Congressional and state legislative election districts. The task force also communicates the views of state legislatures regarding programs conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Census Redistricting Data Program and the Voting Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Co-Chair: Senator Dean Skelos, New York
Co-Chair: Senator Thelma Harper, Tennessee
Co-Staff Chair: Frank Parisi, New Jersey
Co-Staff Chair: Marjorie Taylor, Oregon

NCSL Staff: Tim Storey
SGAC Liaison: To be named
E-mail: tim.storey@ncsl.org

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Assembly on State Issues (ASI) 2001-2002 Conference

AFI/ASI Merger

ASI Officers

Assembly on State Issues (ASI)
2001-2002 Conference