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Committee inserts technical-advisor language into Lignite Research Council statute, advances House Bill 1592
Summary
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 1592 that codifies a technical-advisor position to support the Lignite Research Council and moved the amended bill forward with unanimous committee support.
Chairman Patton brought House Bill 1592 before the committee. Senator Boehm walked members through a committee amendment (identified as 2,003) that inserts "Lignite Research Council" language into statutory counsel references, defines council membership and duties, and directs the Industrial Commission to consider reviewers’ relevant experience.
Senator Boehm said the amendment also directs the program to "allocate sufficient funding from the Lignite Research Development and Marketing program to retain a technical advisor as determined necessary by the Lignite Research Council to support program operations and provide expert analysis" and that the change essentially codifies a position already performing that role rather than creating a new unfunded post.
Senator Boehm moved the amendment; Senator Van Oosting seconded. The clerk recorded the amendment vote as 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent. Senator Boehm then moved to advance the amended bill; the motion passed on a recorded 7–0 committee vote. The committee noted Representative Novak had worked with sponsors on a proposed amendment that was incorporated into the committee draft.
The amendment makes explicit in statute that the Industrial Commission should consider a reviewer’s educational background and relevant government or industry experience when selecting technical reviewers and establishes funding language to ensure the council can secure technical support.
