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J_LS_2025A 02/07/2025 08:01:27 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL SERVICES
Date 02/07/2025
Attendance
Camacho X
Carson *
Frizell X
Gonzales J. X
Joseph *
Luck X
Mabrey X
Roberts *
Soper X
Weissman X
Time 08:01:27 AM to 08:53:45 AM
Place SCR 357
This Meeting was called to order by Weissman
This Report was prepared by Jessica Chapman
Hearing Items Action Taken
Other business

Approval of the OLLS Budget for FY 2025-26 - Ed DeCecco, Director, Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS) presented the OLLS budget request for 2025-26



08:02:00 AM
Chair Weissman calls
the meeting to order



08:03:00 AM
Senator Weissman
requested that the roll call be updated to show that Senator Roberts is
present



08:03:02 AM
Director DeCecco
shares 2025-26 budget requests for OLLS and for the Office of Legislative
Workplace Relations



08:06:37 AM
Director DeCecco
explains the legislative budgeting process



08:11:00 AM
Senator Weissman
asked why the OLLS Law Team has two assistant team leaders while other
teams only have one



08:12:02 AM
Director DeCecco
discusses the OLLS operating budget



08:12:15 AM
Senator Weissman
requested that the roll call be updated to show that Representative Joseph
is present.



08:12:30 AM
Senator Gonzales
asked if the OLLS budget contemplates the possibility of special sessions



08:14:00 AM
Vice-chair Soper
inquires about legal representation fees incurred by OLLS on behalf of
the General Assembly and when they were last updated



08:20:00 AM
Director DeCecco
discusses changes to the OLLS budget as detailed on page 2 of the handout



08:22:00 AM
Senator Weissman
asks about OLLS loss of drafting expertise



08:25:30 AM
Senator Frizell asked
if there is any type of hiring freeze



08:30:00 AM
Senator Weissman
requested that the roll call be updated to show that Senator Carson is
present.



08:30:30 AM
Director DeCecco
discusses adjustments to operating expenses



08:33:05 AM
Representative Luck
asked if fees must be paid in the event certain supplements are not needed



08:34:30 AM
Vice-chair Soper
asks if it would be possible to increase legal representation rates as
they have not been updated since 2021



08:35:00 AM
Committee discussion
regarding legal fees for attorneys who represent the general assembly.



08:35:50 AM
Senator Weissman
speculates it would be possible to find out rates paid by other legislative
branches



08:36:25 AM
Vice-chair Soper
wonders about the possibility of securing a 50-state breakdown of rates



08:37:31 AM
Representative Camacho
suggests a survey of metro areas similar to Denver



08:37:56 AM
Director DeCecco
commits to trying to figure out rates, perhaps with the help of NCSL, by
the next COLS meeting



08:38:00 AM
Discussion of collecting
data on attorney fees in other cities and/or states.



08:39:00 AM
Senator Weissman
suggests revisiting the topic at a later date



08:45:00 AM
Director DeCecco
discusses the OLWR budget



Approval of the OLLS Budget for FY 2025-26 -




08:51:55 AM
 Motion I move to approve the proposed OLLS Budget as it appears in the Budget Request dated February 5, 2025, and may be amended by the Executive Committee.
Moved Mabrey
Seconded
Camacho Yes
Carson Yes
Frizell Yes
Gonzales J. Yes
Joseph Yes
Luck Yes
Mabrey Yes
Roberts Yes
Soper Yes
Weissman Yes
YES: 10   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



Other business -




08:53:03 AM
Litigation update:
Subpoena of Assistant Director Jason Gelender withdrawn due to Deputy Director
Jerry Barry's efforts


08:53:45 AM   The committee adjourned.






The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 6, 2025, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 7, 2025 (unless otherwise specified). Details

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