Chair Brooks-Powers presses administration on late testimony and hearing notice
Brooks-Powers says the hearing was noticed 21 days earlier and that she asked for testimony at least 24 hours in advance. She tells Boyd the administration's failure to submit timely testimony is disrespectful and hinders preparation. Boyd acknowledges the feedback and says he will take it back.
Thank you, and thank you for convening yesterday's tour of Horizon.
It was definitely insightful.
Okay, let's get into it.
First things first.
Commissioner, can you let me know when this hearing was noticed?
Do you recall when this hearing was noticed?
Are you asking when do we receive notification?
I mean, I receive it internally, so I got it from our, you know, our intergovernmental team, so I don't recall the actual date.
Do you guys normally get it before it's put publicly?
That I'm not totally aware of.
I think we normally see a public notification first, but I'm not.
I think it's coordinated in terms of the date to make sure that the administration is available.
And I ask that because we noticed this hearing on September 2nd, 21 days ago.
I also requested that when coming to this hearing, and I can't speak for any other committee, that we have testimony at least 24 hours in advance.
I ask this so that we can have a meaningful conversation.
So I'm going to say publicly on the record what I have said privately to the administration.
The past administration was able to submit testimony in advance.
The MTA, which is a state agency, was able to submit testimony in advance.
And I imagine this administration has the capacity to be able to submit testimony 24 hours in advance so that I can properly be prepared to chair this hearing.
I do feel it's very disrespectful that I continue to have that request disregarded.
And I feel like it's showing that the administration does not have good faith to work together to have a
truly productive conversation during these hearings because it allows us an opportunity to prepare better and not have redundant questions that you may be addressing in your testimony anyway and have to do that in real time.
I really want to maximize the use of my colleagues'time.
Your time is mine.
So I'm going to say it on the record again.
My request is that going forward, any agency that comes before the Committee on Criminal Justice has testimony to us within 24 hours of the hearing.
And I just want to acknowledge that, and I'm happy to take that feedback.
Obviously, you've had a conversation.
I've spoken to them, too, yep.
But I just wanted it on the record.
It's a way of that commitment, but we'll certainly take that back.
Thank you.