2018 RELACS and LRL Professional Development Seminar Agenda

2:30-6 p.m.

Registration
Pre Lancaster

Registration
Pre Juniata  

Walk to Capitol (A taxi will be available for those who aren’t able to walk)

Welcome to Pennsylvania 

House Chamber

Speakers

• Karen S. Coates, chief of staff to the Speaker of the House, Pennsylvania

• Thomas G. Saylor, chief justice, Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Ethics and Civility [This session may be CLE eligible in your state]
House Chamber

We hear a lot about ethics and civility today. So what ethical values are important to you and what will guide you in your decision-making process? This session will explore ethical values and how they can help guide your decisions and actions. Further, we will look at civility—how to define it, promote it, and protect it. The session will focus on values based decision making in the context of legal theory and practical experience as a legislative staff attorney.

Speaker

• Mark Quiner, director, Center for Ethics in Government, NCSL

Resources

• Ethics and Civility - Slides
• Ethics and Civility - Model Code of Conduct

­­­­­­­­The Legislature and Litigation: A Case Study | Legal track [CLE Eligible]

States are frequently sued over legislation that the legislature did—and didn’t—enact.  Legislative involvement in these types of lawsuits raises a number of questions: How can the legislature participate? Who is the client? Who is the attorney? What is the legislature’s relationship with the state’s attorney general? This session will examine these questions in light of several recent cases in Washington.

Moderator

• Mark Cutrona, deputy director, Division of Research, Delaware

Speaker

• Kristen Fraser, senior counsel, House of Representatives, Washington

Resources

• Litigation-Frasier - handout

Panning for Primary Source Gold: Historical Methods in Legislative Research | Research, Editing and Librarian tracks

Researchers often serve as keepers of a legislature’s institutional memory, and, in that role, inform legislators and the public alike about key issues and developments in the institution’s past. This panel examines historical inquiry as a vital part of the researcher’s toolkit. It will address how to perform archival research in an organized, time-efficient, and effective way, using two case studies: a deep dive into the backstory (and bickering) behind a mural at the Wisconsin State Capitol, and an investigation into how post-Civil War and World War I veterans’ legislation played out in actual veterans’ lives.

Speakers

Noon-3:30 pm

Hearing Rooms 2 & #

Exhibitor’s Halls

Taxing Opioids: A Bill Drafting Case Study | Legal track [This session may be CLE eligible in your state] 

he opioid addiction crisis continues unabated across the country and states are searching for more resources to prevent and treat addiction. Several states have considered imposing a tax or fee on prescription opioids to raise those funds. This session will address the legal and policy hurdles involved in one state’s efforts to enact an opioid impact fee and create a dedicated opioid impact fund. The attorney who drafted the legislation will discuss the legal issues that arose at various points in the drafting process and how they were addressed. A division director, from the state agency holding key data upon which the development and negotiations regarding the legislation were centered, will discuss issues and limitations of the available data.

Speakers

• Deborah Gottschalk, legislative attorney, Division of Research, Delaware
• David C. Mangler, Director, Division of Professional Regulation, Delaware

Resources

Taxing Opioids - primary handout

Ass_n for Accessible Meds. v. Frosh_ 887 F.3d 664, 4th Circuit

Delaware 2018.01.19_Final-Opioid-Complaint

Delaware Lawsuit Press Release

NYS Complaint, July 2018

Pharma Sues to Block NY Opioid Fee, Lexis Article

South Dakota v. Wayfair_ Inc._ 138 S. Ct. 2080

WaPo, April 28, Drugmakers push back

WaPo, April 28, State propose taxing opioids

Archival Alchemy: Transforming Original Research into Engaging Narratives | Research, Editing and Librarian tracks

Building from the previous presentation on historical research, this panel focuses on how to use primary sources to create coherent narratives with rich details and anecdotes. It lays out self-editing strategies and peer-reviewing practices that can help produce more polished work and lighten the load of editors. The ultimate goal is to write superior research briefs that engage broader audiences within and beyond the legislature.

Speakers

A Horse of a Different Color: Working with the Budget Bill | Legal and Research tracks

This panel session will look at how the budget is approached in several states. During this session, by examining the process of funding state government, we will explore an omnibus bill and states that use several bills to address the state budget.

Speakers

• Jason Simmons, principal fiscal analyst, Legislative Research Council, South Dakota
• Colbey Sullivan, staff coordinator, House Research Department, Minnesota

Resources

• Budget Bill - handout

What Makes a Great Legislative Editor? | Editor’s track

A good legislative editor can read, edit, and format proposals, identify inconsistencies and other problems in proposals, and advise attorneys on technical drafting aspects. But what makes a great legislative editor? This session will explore traits that separate the great from the good in legislative editing. For example, are you a “first responder” for issues of grammar and syntax? Are you adept enough and quick enough to take two passes under a tight deadline? This session will present ideas that will help you be great at legislative editing no matter where you are in your career.

Speakers

• Wendy L. Jackson, administrative services manager, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin
• Raeanne R. Martinez, legal editor, Legal Division, Legislative Council, Texas

Resources

• Great Editor - handout

Senate Library Tour and De-escalation Session | Librarian track

Guests of the Senate Library will see the new permanent exhibit and display cases recently opened (9.24.18) in addition to the collections housed on the main floor and balcony.

Dan Billings has spent 27 years investigating, researching, mitigating and teaching the topic of Workplace Violence. This session will focus on de-escalation techniques to consider when dealing with potentially violent people in the workplace.

Tour Guide

• Evelyn Andrews, Librarian, Senate Library, Pennsylvania

Speaker

• Dan Billings, Director of Security & Chief Sergeant at Arms, Pennsylvania Senate

3:45-5:15 p.m.

Hearing Room 1,
North Office Building

LRL 5 Minutes of Fame – Librarians track

Network and share information about your library and legislature with peers from across the nation. Have an exciting project or tricky issue you’re trying to solve? Bring it to this session and pick the brains of other legislative librarians.

Moderators

• Betsy Haugen, LRL Chair, Minnesota
• Teresa Wilt, LRL Vice Chair, Nevada

3:45-5:15 p.m.

House Majority Caucus Room

Creating an Aspiring Leaders Program

Are you concerned about retaining top talent? Replacing soon-retiring leaders? Developing the professionals within your organization? The Maine Legislature has found an effective way to prepare for a successful transition to the next generation of staff leaders -- and it’s easy enough to adopt almost anywhere and with limited financial resources.

Speaker

• Jackie Little, director, Human Resources, Maine Legislature

Moderator

• Kae Warnock, NCSL Liaison to RELACS

Resources

• Creating an Aspiring Leaders Program - handout

Opening Reception

East Wing Rotunda

Breakfast at the Capitol
8 E-A & B

Concurrent Sessions

Putting People Under Oath: Committee Subpoena Power and Usage | Legal and Committees tracks [This session may be CLE eligible in your state]

Legislative subpoenas are a potentially vital tool for obtaining witness testimony and other evidence. Unfortunately, not all subpoena recipients respond appropriately. This session will consider how to draft subpoenas in anticipation of legal challenges, responses to challenges if they do occur, and how to enforce subpoenas against recipients who do not fully comply with them.

Speakers

• Frank Arey, legal counsel, Division of Legislative Audit, Arkansas
• Jerry G. Jones, chief legislative counsel, Louisiana Senate

Moderator

• Fred Messerer, principal deputy legislative counsel, California

Resources

• Committee Subpoena - Arey
• Committee Subpoena - Jones

LRL Tour of the Pennsylvania State Museum | Librarian track 

LRL will visit the State Museum of Pennsylvania which is located just north of the State Capitol Complex. Attendees will learn about Pennsylvania’s early Native American cultures and view the museum’s rich collection of artifacts from the Civil War era, including remnants of its greatest battles that reflect the Commonwealth’s Civil War experience.  The LRL tour group will be led by the Museum's Senior Curator of Archaeology, Dr. Kurt Carr.  He will show us around his gallery for 30 minutes and then we will be free to explore the rest of the museum on our own in the remaining time.

In-house Interim Training: The Grammar Boot Camp | Editor’s track

If you don’t use it, you lose it. You learn what you practice. Help retain knowledge through an interim with a grammar boot camp! Set-up your own in-house grammar boot camp for legal editors, drafters, communications staff, or anyone interested in refreshing or perhaps learning from an in-depth study of English grammar. From the simple but fundamental noun/verb to the compound-complex sentence structures, this old school transformational grammar boot camp will help anyone flourish.

Moderator

• Lilli Hausenfluck, DLS Chief Editor, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia

Speaker

• Antony LePage, House Publications, Missouri

Resources

• Grammar Boot Camp - Workbook
• Grammar Boot Camp - Calendar
• Grammar Bootcamp - slides

Gubernatorial Activism | Legal Track [This session may be CLE eligible in your state]

This panel will discuss recent attempts by governors in several states to coerce enactment of a policy agenda by withholding legislative branch funding, and how the affected legislatures responded.  Recent vetoes of legislative operating budgets and other critical vetoes that affected separation of powers, particularly the legislature’s power of the purse, policy-making and oversight will be highlighted.

Moderator

• Duane Gall, Assistant Director, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado

Speakers

• Raúl E. Burciaga, director, Legislative Council Service, New Mexico
• Matt Gehring, staff coordinator, House Research Department, Minnesota

Resources

• Gubernatorial Activism: Burciaga - slides

• 62-CV-17-3601 Distrct Court Order 7-19-17

• 62cv173601 Complaint_6-13-17

• A17-1142 9-8 Order

• A17-1142 Supreme Court Opinion

• Minnesota - handout

• Minnesota - slides

• Filings related to Minnesota Supreme Court proceedings

• Filings related to Minnesota District Court proceedings

LRL Tour of the Pennsylvania State Library | Librarian track

Guests will be given a tour of each of the Library’s reading rooms: The Main Reading Room, the Law and Government Publications Reading Room, the Genealogy and Local History Reading Room, and the Newspaper Reading Room. The Rare Books Room is also included on our tour. A number of other services provided by the State Library will be discussed as we tour.

100 Words | Editor’s track

This session will examine the surprising number of mistakes that can fit into a single paragraph—a lot can go wrong in 100 words. We’ll discuss the rules and principles for fixing the mistakes, and we’ll also hear some eye-opening tips for improving the process of editing.

Moderator

• Wendy L. Jackson, Administrative Services Manager, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin

Speaker

• Brian Throckmorton, research editor, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Preparing for Committee Sessions: Managing Chaos and Engagement | Committee track

Legislatures across the country are experiencing an intensity in issue engagement from special interest groups. These engaged citizens are using more targeted approaches to impact committee discussions. Each year most committees hear from the same agency or agencies, and frequently about the same projects or activities. How do presenters (and staff) keep legislators engaged?

Speakers

• Erica Warren, committee staff administrator, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky
• Nora Winkelman, Esq. committee staff administator, House Democratic Causus, Pennsylvania
• Nick Troutman, executive director of Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, Pennsylvania
• Jason Mohr, Research Analyst, Legislative Environmental Policy Office, Montana

Resources

• Managing Chaos and Engagement - Warren - slides
• Preparing for Committees - Warren - handout
• Managing Chaos and Engagement - Mohr - slides
• Preparing for Committees - Winkelman - handout

Legislative Staff Services in Pennsylvania (Group B)

House Majority Caucus Room  

A panel of Pennsylvania staff will provide an overview of how the legislature is staffed, including partisan vs. nonpartisan staffing and roles each play in the day to day operations.

Speakers

• Vincent C. DeLiberato, Jr., director, Legislative Reference Bureau, Pennsylvania
• Karen Coates, chief of staff to the Speaker of the House, Pennsylvania
• Shelly Brown, majority staff administrator, Senate President Pro Tempore, Pennsylvania

Legislative Staff Services in Pennsylvania (Group A)

House Majority Caucus Room  

A panel of Pennsylvania staff will provide an overview of how the legislature is staffed, including partisan vs. nonpartisan staffing and roles each play in the day to day operations.

Speakers

• Vincent C. DeLiberato, Jr., director, Legislative Reference Bureau, Pennsylvania
• Karen Coates, chief of staff to the Speaker of the House, Pennsylvania
• Shelly Brown, majority staff administrator, Senate President Pro Tempore, Pennsylvania

Prepare To Present: Tools To Present A Concise, Precise Message, And Become More Comfortable In Any Speaking Situation

House Chamber

Prepare your toolkit:

- Understand communication styles: You and Your listener(s)

- Plan a concise message

- Know your Key Takeaways

- Plan for questions

Prepare for your format: In-person, Email, Phone?

Become more comfortable when presenting

What to do when caught off-guard

Demo: Half-Life

Action Planning

Moderator

• Wendy Jackson, administrative services manager, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin

Speaker

• Marianna Swallow, public speaking coach, Author, 21 Ways to Engage Your Audience

Resources

• Prepare to Present - worksheet

Breakfast

York/Lebanon

Supreme Court Update [CLE Eligible]

York/Lebanon

Lisa Soronen, has filed amicus briefs on behalf of the states and represented the states in cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and is an expert on legal issues affecting the states. Hear an overview of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent term and decisions in several cases with implications for states and states' rights. Lisa will also provide a brief overview of Supreme Court cases of interest to the states to be decided in the Court’s new term beginning October 1, 2018.

Moderator

• Anne Sappenfield, Chair of RELACS and Special Assistant to the State Auditor, Wisconsin

Speaker

• Lisa Soronen, executive director, State and Local Legal Center, Washington, D.C.

Resources

• Supreme Court Update - slides
• Preview 2018
• Review 2018
• Justice Kennedy

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Navigating Parties as a Nonpartisan

York/Lebanon

Working for legislators who have far-ranging political viewpoints, legislative staff must protect the nonpartisan nature of our work. We may all be accustomed to refraining from openly supporting a political candidate or legislation, but what if your core beliefs or identity can be construed as a partisan issue? Or when you’re called to research or draft legislation that goes against these core beliefs? In this session, we’ll discuss areas that can trip up legislative staff professionally and personally, including varied approaches our offices take to nonpartisanship, political parties’ shifting agendas, and the increasing relevance of social media.

Moderator

• Holly Vaughn Wagner, legislative attorney, Legislative Council, Division of Research, Delaware

Panelists

• Vincent C. DeLiberato, Jr., director, Legislative Reference Bureau, Pennsylvania

• Jennifer Fletcher, librarian, Alaska Legislative Reference Library

• Deborah Gottschalk, legislative attorney, Division of Research, Delaware