Members of the Management Council met virtually April 16 to discuss interim topics for committee work as well as options for moving forward with a special session.
SPECIAL SESSION
Members voted unanimously to pursue several pieces of emergency legislation that all but guarantee convening the first special session since 2004. Conversation focused on convening a series of short one-day sessions, the first of which may take place virtually in early June.
Priorities include evaluating the state's financial position with regard to rounding out this fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, as well as the next biennium budget. The legislature will also have to help allocate the $1.25 billion in incoming aid from the CARES Act once guidance is available from the Treasury.
Based on the
April 10 Legislative Services Office (LSO) memo
, Wyoming could stand to have a revenue loss anywhere between $555,800,000 to $2,763,800,000 for FY2020, FY2021, and FY20022. Governor Gordon has already asked state agencies to look at cutting expenses, and has frozen vacant positions and large scale contract approvals.
BROADBAND TASK FORCE AND TELEMEDICINE
The Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee submitted interim topics for Management Council consideration prior to realizing the full impact that COVID-19 would have on Wyoming. Listed as Priority #6, the Committee sought authorization to examine options available to further utilize broadband and telehealth services to increase access to and reduce costs of healthcare services. During the meeting, Management Council voted to move this priority up to #2 on the Committee's list. Chairman Sue Wilson is asking WMS, WyTN, WDH and others for input and guidance as to what medicine sees as the future of telemedicine in Wyoming. In practice, what do physicians and PAs envision for virtual patient care with regard to software platforms, connectivity, transmission of imaging and data, wearable monitors and interoperability with the state's HIE and individual EMRs.
Management Council also elected to establish a Broadband Task Force to review telehealth, tele-education, and remote work access. They want to engage in meaningful discussions with industry and others about how to widely increase broadband capacity and tackle barriers like establishing connections along the "last mile". The task force will include three members from the Senate, three members from the House, all appointed by the Governor, and one member from the private sector.
