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Rules committee approves visitor conduct policy, severe-weather and information-systems updates; two appointments cleared
Summary
The Senate Rules and Administration Committee adopted three administrative policies — a visitor rules policy (1.56), a severe-weather leave update (2.47) and modernized information-systems and website policies (1.6 and 1.65) — and the subcommittee approved two appointments including Shona Langseth to the LCCMR.
The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration on Jan. 6 adopted three administrative policy updates and the subcommittee approved two appointments.
Tom Bodnar, secretary of the Senate, introduced proposed Senate policy 1.56, a short policy to permit development of a written rules-of-conduct statement for visitors to Senate spaces. Bodnar said the policy would standardize expectations for public interactions with staff and noted the policy would be developed in consultation with legal counsel and the management advisory committee. He cited examples of prohibited conduct such as blocking hallways and shouting profanity. Senator Marty moved adoption of policy 1.56; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
Counsel Lexi Stangel summarized a proposed addition to the policy manual on severe weather emergencies that would permit employees who work remotely during a severe weather day to accrue compensatory time, with supervisor approval. "The main change here is a change that would allow employees to accumulate comp time on severe weather days," Stangel said. Senator Johnson moved to adopt the changes to senate policy 2.47; the motion passed by voice vote.
Bodnar and Carlin Doyle Fontaine presented modernization of the Senate Information Systems (SIS) user policy and the senate website policy (formerly the web page development and maintenance policy). Fontaine said obsolete terminology (for example, references to electronic mail, dial-in access, backup tapes and diskettes) was removed and the SIS policy was condensed from 29 pages to 10. Revisions clarify SIS support for personal devices, email-inspection provisions, procurement alignment and accessibility requirements for senate web content. Senator Coleman moved to adopt the proposed changes to senate policy 1.6 on Senate information systems; the committee adopted the motion by voice vote.
After the Rules Committee adjourned, the subcommittee on committees met and considered two appointments. Lexi Stangel read the relevant statute for the Financial Crimes Advisory Board Task Force and summarized its advisory role to the commissioner on identity-theft and financial-crime strategy. The subcommittee approved an appointment of a public member to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) to serve through Dec. 31, 2030 and approved Senator Gustafson's appointment to the Financial Crimes Advisory Board Task Force. The public appointee was identified in the meeting as Shona Langseth of Preston, Minn.; members discussed her scientific background and experience in soil-health and conservation matters. The subcommittee approved the appointment list by voice vote.
All four administrative items before the Rules Committee were adopted by voice vote; implementation and any technical corrections will be handled by Senate staff and the relevant offices.
