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SF0002 • 2020

Legislative budget.

AN ACT relating to appropriations for the legislature; providing appropriations for the operation of the legislative branch of state government; and providing for effective dates.

Budget Children Education Elections Energy Technology
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Mgt Council
Last action
2020-03-12
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details about all the special projects funded, only mentioning a few examples.

Legislative Budget Act

This act provides funding for the operation of Wyoming's legislative branch from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022.

What This Bill Does

  • Provides appropriations for the operation of the legislative branch of state government including salaries and travel expenses for legislators and staff.
  • Includes funding for administrative costs such as technology support and special projects like voting systems and video conferencing equipment.
  • Allows leftover funds from previous budgets to be used in this new budget period.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Legislators and staff of the Wyoming legislature
  • The Legislative Service Office (LSO)

Terms To Know

Management Council
A group that oversees legislative operations and can make decisions about how funds are used.
Legislative Service Office (LSO)
An office within the legislature responsible for providing support services to legislators and staff.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify all details about how funds will be spent, leaving some decisions up to the Management Council.
  • Some parts of the budget are only effective on certain dates, which could cause confusion without careful tracking.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SF0002H2001

2nd reading • Representative Lindholm

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the budget to include $525,000 for video conferencing and streaming services in ten public meeting rooms.

  • Adds $525,000 for video conferencing and streaming equipment in ten public meeting rooms.
SF0002H2002

2nd reading • Representative Miller

Failed

Plain English: The amendment removes a previous committee's changes and adds new provisions requiring each chamber to appoint members as liaisons to various commissions and provides funding for their expenses.

  • Removes the Nicholas committee of the whole amendment (SF0002HW001/AE).
  • Requires the president of the senate and speaker of the house to appoint one member each to act as a legislative liaison to attend meetings of specified commissions.
  • Appropriates $380,000 from the general fund for salary, mileage, and per diem expenses for the appointed liaisons.
  • The exact details of previous committee changes removed are not provided in this amendment text.
SF0002H3001

3rd reading • Representative Laursen

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds funding for a new voting system that allows legislators to vote from their desks and displays bill information and roll call votes on video monitors in the legislative chambers.

  • Adds $275,000 to fund a new voting system for the legislature.
  • The amendment does not specify how the existing budget will be adjusted to accommodate this additional funding.
SF0002H3002

3rd reading • Representative Laursen

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the bill that requires Wyoming legislators to host an educational tour for out-of-state legislators about energy production sites in Wyoming and allocates $12,500 from the general fund for this purpose.

  • Adds a requirement for Wyoming legislators to organize an educational tour of energy production sites for legislators from other states.
  • Allocates $12,500 from the general fund to the legislative service office for organizing and conducting the tour.
  • The amendment specifies that any remaining funds must revert as provided by law on June 30, 2021, but does not provide details about what happens after this date.
SF0002HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Nicholas

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds funding for two legislative liaisons to attend meetings of the transportation commission.

  • Adds $38,000 from the general fund to pay for salaries, mileage, and per diem expenses for two legislative liaisons.
  • Specifies that each of the president of the senate and the speaker of the house will appoint one member as a liaison.
  • The amendment does not specify how these appointments will be made or what qualifications are needed for the liaisons.
SF0002HS001

Standing Committee • House Rules and Procedures Committee

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the bill that allows legislators to be reimbursed for additional childcare expenses up to $500 per calendar quarter when they are attending legislative sessions or meetings.

  • Adds a new section allowing legislators to receive reimbursement for extra childcare costs due to their attendance at legislative activities, capped at $500 per calendar quarter.
  • Requires legislators to submit receipts to the Legislative Service Office for any reimbursable childcare expenses.
  • The amendment does not specify how the childcare expense policy will be implemented or what types of expenses are eligible for reimbursement beyond general childcare costs.
SF0002S3001

3rd reading • Senator James

Failed

Plain English: The amendment adds funding for a new voting system in the state legislature that allows members to vote from their desks and shows bill information and roll call votes on video screens.

  • Adds $275,000 to fund a new voting system for the legislative branch.
  • The amendment does not provide details about how the system will work or be implemented beyond funding it.
SF0002SW001

Committee of the Whole • Senator Perkins

Adopted

Plain English: This amendment reduces a specific funding amount in the bill by $65,000.

  • Decreases a particular dollar amount in the bill's text by $65,000.
  • The exact line or section where this reduction applies is not specified in the amendment text provided.
SF0002SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Appropriations Committee

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the bill that restricts funds appropriated in the act from being used for certain committees' activities.

  • Adds a new section (Section 14) stating that no funds allocated by this act can be spent on the management audit committee and the select committee on legislative facilities, technology, and process.
  • Adjusts the numbering of an existing section to avoid overlap with the newly added Section 14.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if these committees need funding for their activities after this restriction is in place.
SF0002VT001

Veto Override

S Adopted, H Adopted

Plain English: This amendment overrides the governor's veto on a specific part of Section 11, subsection (a), in the bill.

  • Overrides the veto made by the governor on a particular portion of Section 11, subsection (a).
  • The amendment text does not provide details about what specific language or provisions within Section 11, subsection (a) are being overridden.

Bill History

  1. 2020-03-12 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 81

  2. 2020-03-12 Wyoming Legislature

    Veto Message Received

  3. 2020-03-12 Governor

    Governor Signed SEA No. 0035

  4. 2020-03-09 House

    H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0035

  5. 2020-03-09 Senate

    S President Signed SEA No. 0035

  6. 2020-03-09 LSO

    Assigned Number SEA No. 0035

  7. 2020-03-09 Senate

    S Concur:Passed 16-14-0-0-0

  8. 2020-03-09 Senate

    S Received for Concurrence

  9. 2020-03-06 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 46-13-1-0-0

  10. 2020-03-05 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  11. 2020-03-04 House

    H COW:Passed

  12. 2020-03-03 House

    H Placed on General File

  13. 2020-03-03 House

    H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0

  14. 2020-03-02 House

    H COW:Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations

  15. 2020-02-28 House

    H Placed on General File

  16. 2020-02-28 House

    H12 - Rules:Recommend Do Pass 11-1-1-0-0

  17. 2020-02-25 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H12 - Rules

  18. 2020-02-21 House

    H Received for Introduction

  19. 2020-02-20 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 29-1-0-0-0

  20. 2020-02-19 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  21. 2020-02-18 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  22. 2020-02-13 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  23. 2020-02-13 Senate

    S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  24. 2020-02-11 Senate

    :Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations

  25. 2020-02-10 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S12 - Rules 29-0-1-0-0

  26. 2020-02-07 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  27. 2020-02-06 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0343
Bill No.:

SF0002

Effective:

Multiple Dates

LSO No.:

20LSO-0343

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0035

Chapter No.:

81

Prime Sponsor:

Management Council

Catch Title:

Legislative budget.

Subject:

Provides appropriations for the Legislature for the 2020-2022 fiscal biennium.

Summary/Major Elements:
The act provides:
Appropriations for the operation of the legislative branch of government;
Appropriations for the Legislative Service Office (LSO), session staff and legislators’ salaries, per diem, mileage and any statutory benefits;
Administrative costs for the LSO, legislative sessions, interim activities and publication of session laws and statutes;
Legislative dues to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Energy Council and Council of State Governments (CSG).

Special appropriations in this act provide for:
Carry over of previous appropriations to the Legislature for the 2018-2020 biennium;
Management Council contingency;
Continued development and support of the legislative management system;
Legislative travel related to economic development and attendance at the State Treasurer’s conference on investment of state funds;
New legislator training;
The hiring of a consultant to assist with office furnishings, fixtures and owner identified improvements within the Capitol and Capitol extension;
Miscellaneous furnishings and projects, room management and video conferencing and video streaming;
Hardware, software, staff support and committee meetings required for legislative redistricting;
Members of the Legislature and staff to attend the 2020 CSG annual meeting;
Payment of salary, mileage and per diem for two (2) legislative liaisons to attend meetings of the Transportation Commission.

Comments:
Multiple Effective Dates;
Appropriates funds to LSO;
Requires a Legislative Appointment.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
20LSO-0343

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0002

ENROLLED ACT NO. 35,

SENATE

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to appropriations for the legislature; providing appropriations for the operation of the legislative branch of state government; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

There is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office the following specified amounts, or as much thereof as may be necessary, to pay the costs and expenses of the Wyoming legislature through June 30, 2022:

SALARIES
LSO Staff Permanent/Temporary
.......................
$8,694,968
Legislators – Session
..................................
1,176,246
Legislators – Interim
.................................
1,947,602
Session Staff
..............................................
649,608
Employer Paid Benefits
................................
4,432,169

IN-STATE TRAVEL
Mileage and Per Diem – Session
.......................
1,065,024
Mileage and Per Diem – Interim
..........................
860,090

OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL
Travel Expenses
.............................................
80,800
Per Diem
....................................................
110,800

ANNUAL DUES
National Conference of State Legislatures
.............
267,587
The Energy Council
.........................................
76,800
Council of State Governments
............................
217,332
Other
........................................................
10,520

REGISTRATION FEES
...........................................
55,600

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
.........................................
50,000

ITD SERVICES (Network connections & backup)
...........
10,000

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
.........................
743,610
(Information technology, copying,
supplies and equipment, furniture,
contract services, special projects, etc.)

STATUTES, SESSION LAWS AND DIGESTS
.....................
385,000

TOTAL
...................................................
$20,833,756

Section 2.

[Standard Provision-Flex]. The Management Council may transfer funds from one expense category to another under Section 1 of this act as the activities of the legislature may require.

Section 3
.

[Standard Provision-Travel]. The appropriation for out-of-state travel under this act shall be used to reimburse legislators for documented legislative travel and per diem expenses to attend out-of-state meetings in accordance with policies of the Management Council.

Section 4.

[Carry Forward of Prior Appropriations].

(a)

Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008, 9
‑
2
‑
1012(e) and 9
‑
4
‑
207(a), the unobligated portions of the following appropriations shall not revert on June 30, 2020, and are hereby reappropriated to the legislative service office for the following purposes:

(i)

Any unexpended, unobligated amounts
reappropriated for expenditure by the legislative service office under 2018 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 24, Sections 4(a)(i) and 7, are reappropriated for expenditure by the legislative service office for the period commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2022. Expenditures of amounts reappropriated under this paragraph shall be for professional consulting expertise and other support necessary to carry out and execute work of the legislature pertaining to required K-12 education responsibilities, issues and studies. Professional consulting expertise may be retained by the legislative service office only upon approval of the Management Council, and the unexpended, unobligated amounts may be expended for contractual agreements between the Council and professional consultants
;

(ii)

Any balance remaining on June 30, 2020, resulting from the sale of legislative laptop computers prior to that date is appropriated to the legislative service office to be used for the purchase of replacement laptop computers and support systems for the period July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022;

(iii)

Any
unexpended, unobligated amounts appropriated for expenditure under 2018 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 24 are reappropriated for expenditure by the legislative service office at the direction
of the Management Council

for extraordinary expenses of the legislature and as necessary to supplement any expense category under this act,
for the period commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2022.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 5.

[Technology Project].

(a)

There is appropriated one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for continued development and support of the legislative management system.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 6.

[New Legislator Training Compensation].

(a)

From and after the date the state canvassing board certifies the results of the 2020 general election in accordance with W.S. 22
‑
16
‑
118, legislators elect and newly appointed legislators may, to the extent authorized by the Management Council, receive mileage and per diem at the same rate as members of the legislature plus an amount equal to the daily salary paid to legislators for each day spent at a legislative training function or at a meeting of an interim committee to which they will be assigned.

(b)

There is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office thirty-four thousand dollars ($34,000.00) or as much thereof as may be necessary for purposes of this section.

(c)

As used in this section:

(i)

"Legislator elect" means a person elected to the legislature during the 2020 general election who is not a current member of the legislature and before the person is duly sworn in;

(ii)

"Newly appointed legislator" means a person appointed after the 2020 general election to fill a vacancy in the House or Senate and before the person is duly sworn in.

Section 7.

[Reappropriation of School Foundation Program Account Funds].

(a)

Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008, 9
‑
2
‑
1012(e) and 9
‑
4
‑
207(a), a
ny unexpended, unobligated amounts
appropriated from the school foundation program account to the attorney general under 2018 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 134, Section 2, Section 015, as amended by 2019 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 80, Section 2, Section 015, for purposes of the law office
shall not revert on June 30, 2020. On July 1, 2020 these amounts are reappropriated for expenditure by the legislative service office for the period commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2022. Expenditures of amounts reappropriated under this subsection shall be for professional consulting expertise and other support necessary to carry out and execute work of the legislature pertaining to required K-12 education responsibilities, issues and studies. Professional consulting expertise may be retained by the legislative service office only upon approval of the Management Council, and the unexpended, unobligated amounts may be expended for contractual agreements between the Council and professional consultants.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 8.

[Special Contingency].

(a)

There is appropriated two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office to be expended at the direction of the Management Council for extraordinary expenses of the legislature and as necessary to supplement any expense category under this act.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 9.

[Economic Development Authorized Travel].

(a)

Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008, 9
‑
2
‑
1012(e) and 9
‑
4
‑
207(a), any
unexpended, unobligated amounts appropriated for expenditure under 2016 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 79, Section 10, as amended by 2017 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 42, and 2018 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 24, Section 9 are reappropriated
to

the

legisl
a
t
i
ve

service office for legislative travel expenses as authorized in this
section.

(b)

Subject to available appropriation, le
g
islators traveling ou
t
-of-state, including internationally, in connection

with

executive

branch

or

legislatively

approved efforts to ex
p
and and diver
s
ify Wyoming's energy and industrial economy or to attract new business enterprises to the state or to imp
r
ove access to and growth in domestic and
international

markets,

are

authorized

reimbursement

of

actual
travel expenses, including travel, lodging, meals and
necessary incidentals, provided:

(i)

Reimbursement

of

travel

expenses

for

members of

the

legisla
t
ure

to

participate

in

economic

d
evelopment

efforts under this section shall require the approval of the
Management Council;

(ii)

In designating members authorized to receive

travel reimbursement under this section, preference shall be

given to members w
h
o have expressed an intention to seek r
e
-election

to,

or

if

mi
d
-term

to

continue

to

serve

in,

the

Wyoming legislature during the 2021 and 2022
l
egislative
sessions.

(c)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 10.

[Wyoming State Treasurer's Investment
Conference].
There is appropriated twenty th
o
usand

dollars

($20,000
.
00)

from

the

g
e
n
e
ral

fund

to

the

l
egislative

service

office

f
or

payment

of

r
e
gistration,

mil
e
age

and

per

diem for legislators attending the Wyoming state treasurer's

investment conference in the 2020 or 20
21
interim.
Registration

p
a
yments

shall

not

exceed

three

hundred

fifty dollars ($350.00) per legislator.

Section 11.

[Facilities Appropriations].

(a)

There is appropriated two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office to hire a consultant and other qualified professionals to assist with the design, procurement, ordering, purchasing and installation of office furnishings, other furnishings, fixtures and equipment and owner identified improvements within the capitol building and capitol extension.

Contracts shall be awarded under this subsection by a vote of a majority of the members of the State Building Commission and a vote of the majority of the members of the Management Council.

(b)

Management Council may also engage the services of consultants and other qualified professionals to procure the items listed in this subsection using funds appropriated under this subsection. There is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office:

(i)

One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for miscellaneous furnishings and projects;

(ii)

Ninety-one thousand dollars ($91,000.00) for room management equipment and professional fees;

(iii)

Five hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($525,000.00) for video conferencing and video streaming in
the ten (10) public meeting rooms in the capitol and capitol extension.

(c)

Funds appropriated under this section shall be expended pursuant to all requirements of law, including the requirements of article 3, section 31 of the Wyoming constitution.

(d)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 12.

[Legislative Redistricting]. There is appropriated two hundred eighty-five thousand dollars ($285,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office to fund hardware, software, staff support and committee meetings required for legislative redistricting following the 2020 census.

Section 13.

[CSG Annual Meeting]. There is appropriated one hundred twenty-five thousand seven hundred dollars ($125,700.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for members of the legislature and staff of the legislative service office to attend the 2020 annual meeting of the Council of State Governments.

Section 14.
[Transportation Commission Liaisons]. There is appropriated thirty-eight thousand dollars ($38,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for payment of salary, mileage and per diem for two (2) legislative liaisons to attend meetings of the transportation commission. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house shall each appoint one (1) member to act as a legislative liaison to the transportation commission.

Section 15.

[Effective Dates].

(a)

As used in this act, "effective immediately" means effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution. Any appropriation contained in this act that is effective immediately shall not lapse until June 30, 2022, unless otherwise specified.

(b)

Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective
July 1, 2020.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1