HOUSE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE


The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Office
is the "first point of contact" for people who want state
government information but aren't sure where to find it, says
David Cummiskey, acting public information officer.  

Whether constituents need to know their districts, the phone
number of their representative, or direc-tions to committee
hearings, the purpose of the non-partisan office is to help
people participate in the government pro-cess, he says. The
office serves a variety of publics including the media, House
members, staff, and all Minnesotans.

"We walk a tight line by serving the public as well as all 134
House members," says Peg Hamerston, assistant public information
officer. "We try to stay with the issues and give fair coverage
to all committees and divisions." 

During each legislative session, the staff publishes a weekly
newsletter, the Session Weekly, which covers committee and floor
action on bills, lists bill introductions, highlights the week's
legislative activities, gives the upcoming week's committee
schedule and agendas, and provides other useful information about
the House. Between sessions, the office reports on statewide
mini-sessions, interim hearings and studies, and other state
government news. 

The Session Weekly staff aims to produce a weekly product that
makes the legislative process easier to understand and more
approachable. Writers cover committees and attend all scheduled
hearings.

The office opens before the legislative day begins so that staff
members can help people find committee hearing rooms.  After the
legislative day ends, the staff is availble to answer questions
about the day's events.

The office's radio line provides radio stations throughout
Minnesota with access to up-to-date committee and floor action. A
weekly news release service keeps media throughout the state
informed of legislative action.

Two 24-hour call-in lines also provide session information: (612)
296-9283 gives committee schedules and agendas; (612) 297-1264
reports bill actions from the preceding day. For general
infor-mation, the public can call (612) 296-2146 or
1-800-657-3550.  The staff answers telephone queries between 
7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.

A TDD, or telecommunications device for the deaf, is also
provided by the office. Those with hearing impairments can ask
questions or leave messages on the TDD line, (612) 296-9896,
during regular office hours. 

The office staff publishes informational material about the
lawmaking process. The material explains how to contact elected
representatives, how a bill becomes law, and other helpful facts
about the state and its government. 
 
The House Information Office's main outreach program is a booth
at the State Fair. "It takes a big piece of effort but it's a
good way to let people know what our office does," says
Cummiskey. Informational brochures, publications about the
Legislature, and colorful district maps are available to locate
representatives. And legislators and staff are there to discuss
issues.  

At the beginning of each biennium, the office sponsors a Media
Day in which Minnesota journalists who are new to the Legislature
learn how the process works. The journalists participate in a
mock committee hearing and sit in on a legislative session in the
House Chamber. During the day, representatives and other state
officials are available for press conferences.

Beginning with the 1990 Session, the House Information Office
added a new form of publishing geared to help the public find
what they want faster and more easily.

Committee hearing information is now available on the Minnesota
Legislative Information Systems (MLIS) computer. Previously, this
information has been on the office's telephone recordings, but
only on a limited basis.

The service is for those who are at the Capitol regularly and
want to look up bill information on their own, Cummiskey says.
This means lobbyists or members of the public can now find the
hearing history of a bill without having to go to several
sources, he adds.


The computer service also makes it easier for people doing
legislative history research to find the committee hearing
history of a bill after session ends. "In the past, it has been
very difficult to reconstruct a committee hearing history for
those seeking more clarification of legislation," says Cummiskey.

Publications
-- Session Weekly -- Newsletter that highlights daily House and
committee action, lists bill introductions, advance committee
schedules, and provides other information to help you follow the
legislative process.
-- New Laws -- Book published after a legislative session
adjourns summarizing all bills the governor signed.
-- Membership Directories -- A listing of House and Senate
members.
-- Educational Materials -- Pamphlets and informational brochures
explaining how government works, including "Your House on the
Hill Coloring Book." 
-- Chamber Seating Charts -- For both the House and Senate.


Originally printed in 1990 in Session Weekly, a weekly
newsmagazine published by the Minnesota House Public Information
Office.

***Last Update 8/5/94 (jtt) Last Review 8/5/94 (jtt) ***