REVISED AGENDA

Government Operations Interim Committee

Utah Legislature

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 • 3:00 p.m. • Room C450 State Capitol

Approximate

Time Frame3:00      1.   Committee Business

                        •    Call to order

                        •    Approval of the minutes of the June 18, 2008 meeting

3:05      2.   Citizen Requests and Ombudsman Processes

Last year, the Committee discussed whether ombudsmen and 211 information services should be expanded and what other options are available to provide information to assist citizens and agencies in answering inquiries or resolving disputes involving government services. During those discussions, a representative from the Department of Community and Culture offered to study other agencies and existing 211 information services and report back potential ways to improve citizens' requests for assistance from state government. What are the recommendations? How should the Legislature respond? How can the Legislature assist with the implementation of the desired recommendations?

                        •    Palmer DePaulis, Department of Community and Culture

3:25      3.   Election Law Changes from the County Clerks

Each year, a number of election issues come up that require consideration by the Legislature. Most of the issues are technical and administrative in nature, others may require a more substantive policy determination. At the request of the committee chairs, representatives from the county clerks will present this year's list of prioritized and proposed election law changes for the Committee's preliminary consideration. How should the Legislature respond to these issues? Should draft legislation be prepared to address the issues presented?

                          •    Bryan Thompson, Association of County Clerks (Utah County)

                          •     Scott L. Hogensen, Association of County Clerks (Utah County)

4:00      4.   Salt Lake Area Master Plan for State Office Space Needs -- Follow-up

The Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM) completed a Salt Lake area master plan of state government office space needs for the future and reported this information at the April meeting. Several questions where raised by committee members regarding the state's long range plan for state office space needs in the Salt Lake area. DFCM will address the questions raised and report new information gathered from the last four months.

                        •    Gregg Buxton, Division of Facilities Construction and Management

                        •    Kent Dee Beers, Division of Facilities Construction and Management

4:30      5.   Four-day Work Week for State Employees Program -- Briefing

On June 26, 2008, the Governor announced the "Working 4 Utah" initiative, which requires most state agency employees to shift to a four-day, ten-hour work schedule. State government service hours would be extended from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday beginning August 4, 2008 with offices closed on Fridays. Essential public services that already run on extended hours and during the weekends would remain open. Conserving energy and enhancing customer service are two purposes given for the change, which will be evaluated after the first year. Surveys have indicated that most state employees welcome the change. What is the background of this change and what are the pros and cons? How much savings is expected? What adjustments, if any, are needed to state law? How should the Legislature respond?

                        •    Jeff Herring, Department of Human Resource Management

5:00      6.   Other Items / Adjourn