Staff Talks: Appointments to Boards and Commissions

The National Governors Association (NGA) regularly convenes members of governors' staff from across the country to share best practices, exchange insights and learn from one another's experiences on issues relevant to state government operations. On June 11, NGA held a call for staff to discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in state government appointments work as well as, and best practices for handling board member conduct and removals. Participants shared how their respective states are approaching AI adoption, ranging from formal task forces and executive orders to more informal exploration of AI tools for day-to-day administrative tasks.

The second half of the call focused on management of board and commission members. Participants discussed the frameworks, statutory requirements and informal protocols their offices use when navigating attendance issues, ethics violations and other conduct concerns. The conversation highlighted the highly situational nature of these cases, as well as the range of approaches states take, from relying on board chairs to address minor issues, to formal removal letters and, in some cases, opportunities for members to resign before escalating to removal. Both discussions generated strong engagement from participants, with plans for a follow-up call on AI topics given the depth of interest on the issue.

If you are a governor's staff member and are interested in participation in future discussions, please contact Caroline Colavita, [email protected].