SB 68: "An Act relating to the Task Force on Privatization; and providing for an effective date."
00SENATE BILL NO. 68 01 "An Act relating to the Task Force on Privatization; and providing for an 02 effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. FINDINGS AND INTENT. (a) The legislature finds that 05 (1) the annual cost of state government is exceeding the annual revenue of the 06 state; 07 (2) there may be functions of state government that could be performed more 08 efficiently by individuals or businesses in the private sector; 09 (3) other states are considering privatization of some of their governmental 10 functions; 11 (4) more information is needed before the legislature can determine whether 12 privatization is a feasible alternative for this state to pursue in controlling its fiscal problems. 13 (b) The legislature intends to consider all reasonable methods to deal with the state 14 revenue shortfall.
01 * Sec. 2. TASK FORCE ON PRIVATIZATION ESTABLISHED. (a) There is established 02 in the legislative branch the Task Force on Privatization consisting of 03 (1) two members appointed by the governor; 04 (2) two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; one 05 member shall be a member of the majority and one member shall be a member of the 06 minority; 07 (3) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of 08 the house; one member shall be a member of the majority and one member shall be a member 09 of the minority; 10 (4) two public members appointed by the president of the senate; and 11 (5) two public members appointed by the speaker of the house. 12 (b) The task force shall select a chair and vice-chair from among its members. 13 * Sec. 3. COMPENSATION OF PUBLIC MEMBERS. The public members of the Task 14 Force on Privatization are not eligible for compensation but are entitled to per diem and travel 15 expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180. 16 * Sec. 4. MEETINGS; WITNESSES. (a) The Task Force on Privatization shall meet as 17 frequently as the task force determines necessary to perform its work and may meet during 18 the interim as well as during legislative sessions. The task force may meet and vote by 19 teleconference. 20 (b) A subpoena or subpoena duces tecum requiring the attendance of a witness or the 21 production of a record or other material at a meeting of the task force may be issued by the 22 chair upon the approval of at least a majority of the members. The subpoena shall be served 23 in accordance with the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure. The subpoena is sufficient if it 24 (1) is addressed to the witness; 25 (2) states that the witness is required to appear before the Task Force on 26 Privatization and identifies records to be produced, if any; 27 (3) states the time and place that the attendance of the witness is required; 28 (4) states that the subpoena has been approved by at least a majority of the 29 members of the task force; and 30 (5) is signed by the chair of the task force or the chair's designee. 31 (c) A witness who appears before the task force under a subpoena is entitled to
01 receive 02 (1) fees as prescribed for a witness in a court action, unless the witness is an 03 officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state; 04 (2) reimbursement of transportation expenses in accordance with standard 05 established by the Department of Administration under AS 39.20.160 for required travel in 06 excess of 30 miles round trip from the witness's residence; and 07 (3) reimbursement of food and lodging expenses in accordance with standards 08 established by the Department of Administration under AS 39.20.160 for each day of actual 09 attendance and for each day of reasonable and necessary travel to and from the place of the 10 meeting if the witness attends a meeting at a point so distant from the residence of the witness 11 that a return to the residence from day to day is not practicable. 12 (d) A witness who is under subpoena and neglects or refuses to attend a meeting of 13 the task force may be arrested and brought before the task force by any person charged with 14 the enforcement of state law. The only warrant or authority necessary to authorize an arrest 15 under this subsection is a 16 (1) copy of the subpoena; 17 (2) copy of the proof of service of the subpoena; and 18 (3) a written direction for the arrest of the witness signed by the chair and by 19 a majority of the members of the task force. 20 (e) The chair of the task force may administer an oath to a witness appearing before 21 the task force. 22 * Sec. 5. DUTIES. The Task Force on Privatization shall 23 (1) review and evaluate the policies and recommendations of the other states 24 that are studying or have implemented recommendations to privatize any of their governmental 25 functions; 26 (2) review state contracting policy and procedures, including competitive 27 bidding procedures; 28 (3) identify functions of our state government that could economically and 29 appropriately be privatized, if any; 30 (4) solicit public comment about its subjects of consideration; 31 (5) submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the governor
01 and the legislature by November 15, 1997, concerning state contracting policy and procedures 02 and privatization of state government functions in the Department of Transportation and Public 03 Facilities, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Health and Social Services; 04 the report shall suggest legislation that may be needed to accomplish the recommendations; 05 and 06 (6) submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the governor 07 and the legislature by November 15, 1998, concerning privatization of government functions 08 of state agencies not addressed in the first report; the report shall suggest legislation that may 09 be needed to accomplish the recommendations. 10 * Sec. 6. This Act is repealed on December 1, 1998. 11 * Sec. 7. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).