00                       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7                                                                     
01 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska to avoid the use of                                     
02 personal pronouns and similar references that denote masculine or feminine gender in                                    
03 that document.                                                                                                          
04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
05    * Section 1. Article I, sec. 9, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
06            Section 9. Jeopardy and Self-Incrimination. No person shall be put in                                      
07       jeopardy twice for the same offense. No person shall be compelled in any criminal                                 
08       proceeding to be a witness against oneself [HIMSELF].                                                         
09    * Sec. 2. Article I, sec. 11, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                             
10            Section 11. Rights of Accused. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall                           
11       have the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of twelve, except that                          
12       the legislature may provide for a jury of not more than twelve nor less than six in                               
13       courts not of record. The accused is entitled to be informed of the nature and cause of                           
14       the accusation; to be released on bail, except for capital offenses when the proof is                             
15       evident or the presumption great; to be confronted with the witnesses against the                             

01       accused [HIM]; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in the accused's                        
02       [HIS] favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for the accused's [HIS] defense.                           
03    * Sec. 3. Article II, sec. 2, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                             
04            Section 2. Members: Qualifications. A member of the legislature shall be a                                 
05       qualified voter who has been a resident of Alaska for at least three years and of the                             
06       district from which elected for at least one year, immediately preceding the member's                         
07       [HIS] filing for office. A senator shall be at least twenty-five years of age and a                               
08       representative at least twenty-one years of age.                                                                  
09    * Sec. 4. Article II, sec. 5, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                             
10            Section 5. Disqualifications. No legislator may hold any other office or                                   
11       position of profit under the United States or the State. During the term for which                                
12       elected and for one year thereafter, no legislator may be nominated, elected, or                                  
13       appointed to any other office or position of profit which has been created, or the salary                         
14       or emoluments of which have been increased, while the legislator [HE] was a                                   
15       member. This section shall not prevent any person from seeking or holding the office                              
16       of governor, secretary of state, or member of Congress. This section shall not apply to                           
17       employment by or election to a constitutional convention.                                                         
18    * Sec. 5. Article II, sec. 9, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                             
19            Section 9. Special Sessions. Special sessions may be called by the governor or                             
20       by vote of two-thirds of the legislators. The vote may be conducted by the legislative                            
21       council or as prescribed by law. At special sessions called by the governor, legislation                          
22       shall be limited to subjects designated in the governor's [HIS] proclamation calling                          
23       the session, to subjects presented by the governor [HIM], and the reconsideration of                          
24       bills vetoed by the governor [HIM] after adjournment of the last regular session.                             
25       Special sessions are limited to thirty days.                                                                      
26    * Sec. 6. Article II, sec. 10, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
27            Section 10. Adjournment. Neither house may adjourn or recess for longer                                    
28       than three days unless the other concurs. If the two houses cannot agree on the time of                           
29       adjournment and either house certifies the disagreement to the governor, the governor                         
30       [HE] may adjourn the legislature.                                                                                 
31    * Sec. 7. Article II, sec. 15, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            

01            Section 15. Veto. The governor may veto bills passed by the legislature and [.                         
02       HE] may, by veto, strike or reduce items in appropriation bills. The governor [HE]                            
03       shall return any vetoed bill, with a statement of [HIS] objections, to the house of                               
04       origin.                                                                                                           
05    * Sec. 8. Article II, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
06            Section 17. Bills Not Signed. A bill becomes law if, while the legislature is in                           
07       session, the governor neither signs nor vetoes it within fifteen days, Sundays excepted,                          
08       after its delivery to the governor [HIM]. If the legislature is not in session and the                        
09       governor neither signs nor vetoes a bill within twenty days, Sundays excepted, after                              
10       that [ITS] delivery [TO HIM], the bill becomes law.                                                           
11    * Sec. 9. Article III, sec. 2, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
12            Section 2. Governor: Qualifications. The governor shall be at least thirty                                 
13       years of age and a qualified voter of the State, [. HE] shall have been a resident of                         
14       Alaska at least seven years immediately preceding [HIS] filing for office, and [HE]                               
15       shall have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years.                                          
16    * Sec. 10. Article III, sec. 4, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
17            Section 4. Term of Office. The term of office of the governor is four years,                               
18       beginning at noon on the first Monday in December following [HIS] election and                                    
19       ending at noon on the first Monday in December four years later.                                                  
20    * Sec. 11. Article III, sec. 7, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
21            Section 7. Lieutenant Governor - Duties. There shall be a lieutenant                                       
22       governor who [. HE] shall have the same qualifications as the governor and serve for                          
23       the same term. The lieutenant governor [HE] shall perform such duties as may be                               
24       prescribed by law and as may be delegated [TO HIM] by the governor.                                               
25    * Sec. 12. Article III, sec. 8, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
26            Section 8. Election. The lieutenant governor shall be nominated in the manner                              
27       provided by law for nominating candidates for other elective offices. In the general                              
28       election the votes cast for a candidate for governor shall be considered as cast also for                         
29       the candidate for lieutenant governor running jointly with the candidate for governor                         
30       [HIM]. The candidate whose name appears on the ballot jointly with that of the                                    
31       successful candidate for governor shall be elected lieutenant governor.                                           

01    * Sec. 13. Article III, sec. 10, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          
02            Section 10. Succession: Failure to Qualify. If the governor-elect dies,                                    
03       resigns, or is disqualified, the lieutenant governor elected with the governor-elect                          
04       [HIM] shall succeed to the office of governor for the full term. If the governor-elect                            
05       fails to assume office for any other reason, the lieutenant governor elected with the                         
06       governor-elect [HIM] shall serve as acting governor, and shall succeed to the office if                       
07       the governor-elect does not assume the [HIS] office of governor within six months of                      
08       the beginning of the term.                                                                                        
09    * Sec. 14. Article III, sec. 12, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          
10            Section 12. Absence. Whenever for a period of six months, a governor has                                   
11       been continuously absent from office or has been unable to discharge the duties of the                        
12       governor's [HIS] office by reason of mental or physical disability, the office shall be                       
13       deemed vacant. The procedure for determining absence and disability shall be                                      
14       prescribed by law.                                                                                                
15    * Sec. 15. Article III, sec. 14, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          
16            Section 14. Title and Authority. When the lieutenant governor succeeds to                                  
17       the office of governor, the lieutenant governor [HE] shall have the title, powers,                            
18       duties and emoluments of that office.                                                                             
19    * Sec. 16. Article III, sec. 16, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          
20            Section 16. Governor's Authority. The governor shall be responsible for the                                
21       faithful execution of the laws and [. HE] may, by appropriate court action or                                 
22       proceeding brought in the name of the State, enforce compliance with any                                          
23       constitutional or legislative mandate, or restrain violation of any constitutional or                             
24       legislative power, duty, or right by any officer, department, or agency of the State or                           
25       any of its political subdivisions. This authority shall not be construed to authorize any                         
26       action or proceeding against the legislature.                                                                     
27    * Sec. 17. Article III, sec. 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          
28            Section 17. Convening Legislature. Whenever the governor considers it in                                   
29       the public interest, the governor [HE] may convene the legislature, either house, or                          
30       the two houses in joint session.                                                                                  
31    * Sec. 18. Article III, sec. 18, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          

01            Section 18. Messages to Legislature. The governor shall, at the beginning of                               
02       each session, and may at other times, give the legislature information concerning the                             
03       affairs of the State and recommend the measures that the governor [HE] considers                              
04       necessary.                                                                                                        
05    * Sec. 19. Article III, sec. 19, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          
06            Section 19. Military Authority. The governor is commander-in-chief of the                                  
07       armed forces of the State and [. HE] may call out these forces to execute the laws,                           
08       suppress or prevent insurrection or lawless violence, or repel invasion. The governor,                            
09       as provided by law, shall appoint all general and flag officers of the armed forces of                            
10       the State, subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature in                             
11       joint session, and [. HE] shall appoint and commission all other officers.                                    
12    * Sec. 20. Article III, sec. 23, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          
13            Section 23. Reorganization. The governor may make changes in the                                           
14       organization of the executive branch or in the assignment of functions among its units                            
15       which the governor [HE] considers necessary for efficient administration. Where                               
16       these changes require the force of law, they shall be set forth in executive orders. The                          
17       legislature shall have sixty days of a regular session, or a full session if of shorter                           
18       duration, to disapprove these executive orders. Unless disapproved by resolution                                  
19       concurred in by a majority of the members in joint session, these orders become                                   
20       effective at a date thereafter to be designated by the governor.                                                  
21    * Sec. 21. Article III, sec. 25, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                          
22            Section 25. Department Heads. The head of each principal department shall                                  
23       be a single executive unless otherwise provided by law. That executive [HE] shall be                          
24       appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of                                
25       the legislature in joint session, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, except                         
26       as otherwise provided in this article with respect to the secretary of state. The heads of                        
27       all principal departments shall be citizens of the United States.                                                 
28    * Sec. 22. Article IV, sec. 2(b), Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                         
29            (b)  The chief justice shall be selected from among the justices of the supreme                              
30       court by a majority vote of the justices. The [HIS] term of office of a person serving                    
31       as chief justice is three years. A justice may serve more than one term as chief justice                          

01       but [HE] may not serve consecutive terms in that office.                                                          
02    * Sec. 23. Article IV, sec. 6, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
03            Section 6. Approval or Rejection. Each supreme court justice and superior                                  
04       court judge shall, in the manner provided by law, be subject to approval or rejection on                          
05       a nonpartisan ballot at the first general election held more than three years after                               
06       justice's or judge's [HIS] appointment. Thereafter, each supreme court justice shall                          
07       be subject to approval or rejection in a like manner every tenth year, and each superior                          
08       court judge, every sixth year.                                                                                    
09    * Sec. 24. Article IV, sec. 7, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
10            Section 7. Vacancy. The office of any supreme court justice or superior court                              
11       judge becomes vacant ninety days after the election at which the justice or judge                             
12       [HE] is rejected by a majority of those voting on the question, or for which the justice                      
13       or judge [HE] fails to file a [HIS] declaration of candidacy to remain in office under                
14       section 6 of this article [SUCCEED HIMSELF].                                                                  
15    * Sec. 25. Article IV, sec. 8, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
16            Section 8. Judicial Council. The judicial council shall consist of seven                                   
17       members. Three attorney members shall be appointed for six-year terms by the                                      
18       governing body of the organized state bar. Three non-attorney members shall be                                    
19       appointed for six-year terms by the governor subject to confirmation by a majority of                             
20       the members of the legislature in joint session. Vacancies shall be filled for the                                
21       unexpired term in like manner. Appointments shall be made with due consideration to                               
22       area representation and without regard to political affiliation. The chief justice of the                         
23       supreme court shall be ex-officio the seventh member and shall chair [CHAIRMAN                                
24       OF] the judicial council. No member of the judicial council, except the chief justice,                            
25       may hold any other office or position of profit under the United States or the State.                             
26       The judicial council shall act by concurrence of four or more members and according                               
27       to rules which it adopts.                                                                                         
28    * Sec. 26. Article IV, sec. 12, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
29            Section 12. Impeachment. Impeachment of any justice or judge for                                           
30       malfeasance or misfeasance in the performance of the justice's or judge's [HIS]                               
31       official duties shall be according to procedure prescribed for civil officers.                                    

01    * Sec. 27. Article IV, sec. 14, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
02            Section 14. Restrictions. Supreme court justices and superior court judges                                 
03       while holding office may not practice law, hold office in a political party, or hold any                          
04       other office or position of profit under the United States, the State, or its political                           
05       subdivisions. Any supreme court justice or superior court judge filing for another                                
06       elective public office forfeits the justice's or judge's [HIS] judicial position.                             
07    * Sec. 28. Article IV, sec. 16, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
08            Section 16. Court Administration. The chief justice of the supreme court                                   
09       shall be the administrative head of all courts and [. HE] may assign judges from one                          
10       court or division thereof to another for temporary service. The chief justice shall, with                         
11       the approval of the supreme court, appoint an administrative director to serve at the                             
12       pleasure of the supreme court and to supervise the administrative operations of the                               
13       judicial system.                                                                                                  
14    * Sec. 29. Article V, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                             
15            Section 1. Qualified Voters. Every citizen of the United States who is at least                            
16       eighteen years of age, who meets registration residency requirements which may be                                 
17       prescribed by law, and who is qualified to vote under this article, may vote in any state                         
18       or local election. A voter shall have been, immediately preceding the election, a thirty                          
19       day resident of the election district in which the voter [HE] seeks to vote, except that                      
20       for purposes of voting for President and Vice President of the United States other                                
21       residency requirements may be prescribed by law. Additional voting qualifications                                 
22       may be prescribed by law for bond issue elections of political subdivisions.                                      
23    * Sec. 30. Article V, sec. 2, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                             
24            Section 2. Disqualifications. No person may vote who has been convicted of a                               
25       felony involving moral turpitude unless the person's [HIS] civil rights have been                             
26       restored. No person may vote who has been judicially determined to be of unsound                                  
27       mind unless the disability has been removed.                                                                      
28    * Sec. 31. Article VI, sec. 9, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
29            Section 9. Board Actions. The board shall elect one of its members as its                              
30       chair [CHAIRMAN] and may employ temporary assistants. Concurrence of three                                    
31       members of the Redistricting Board is required for actions of the Board, but a lesser                             

01       number may conduct hearings. The board shall employ or contract for services of                                   
02       independent legal counsel.                                                                                        
03    * Sec. 32. Article VII, sec. 3, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
04            Section 3. Board of Regents. The University of Alaska shall be governed by a                               
05       board of regents. The regents shall be appointed by the governor, subject to                                      
06       confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature in joint session. The                                
07       board shall, in accordance with law, formulate policy and appoint the president of the                            
08       university, who [. HE] shall be the executive officer of the board.                                           
09    * Sec. 33. Article VIII, sec. 15, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                         
10            Section 15. No Exclusive Right of Fishery. No exclusive right or special                                   
11       privilege of fishery shall be created or authorized in the natural waters of the State.                           
12       This section does not restrict the power of the State to limit entry into any fishery for                         
13       purposes of resource conservation, to prevent economic distress among persons who                             
14       fish [FISHERMEN] and those dependent upon them for a livelihood and to promote                                
15       the efficient development of aquaculture in the State.                                                            
16    * Sec. 34. Article VIII, sec. 16, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                         
17            Section 16. Protection of Rights. No person shall be involuntarily divested of                             
18       the person's [HIS] right to the use of waters, the person's [HIS] interests in lands, or                  
19       improvements affecting either, except for a superior beneficial use or public purpose                             
20       and then only with just compensation and by operation of law.                                                     
21    * Sec. 35. Article IX, sec. 14, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
22            Section 14. Legislative Post-Audit. The legislature shall appoint an auditor to                            
23       serve at its pleasure. The auditor [HE] shall be a certified public accountant, [. THE                    
24       AUDITOR] shall conduct post-audits as prescribed by law, and shall report to the                              
25       legislature and to the governor.                                                                                  
26    * Sec. 36. Article XI, sec. 2, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
27            Section 2. Application. An initiative or referendum is proposed by an                                      
28       application containing the bill to be initiated or the act to be referred. The application                        
29       shall be signed by not less than one hundred qualified voters as sponsors, and shall be                           
30       filed with the lieutenant governor. If the lieutenant governor [HE] finds the                             
31       application [IT] in proper form, the lieutenant governor [HE] shall so certify. Denial                    

01       of certification shall be subject to judicial review.                                                             
02    * Sec. 37. Article XV, sec. 8, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                            
03            Section 8. United States Senators and Representative. The officers to be                                   
04       elected at the first general election shall include two senators and one representative to                        
05       serve in the Congress of the United States, unless senators and a representative have                             
06       been previously elected and seated. One senator shall be elected for the long term and                            
07       one senator for the short term, each term to expire on the third day of January in an                             
08       odd-numbered year to be determined by authority of the United States. The term of the                             
09       representative shall expire on the third day of January in the odd-numbered year                                  
10       immediately following the person's [HIS] assuming office. If the first representative                         
11       is elected in an even-numbered year to take office in that year, a representative shall                           
12       be elected at the same time to fill the full term commencing on the third day of                                  
13       January of the following year, and the same person may be elected for both terms.                                 
14    * Sec. 38. Article XV, sec. 15, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
15            Section 15. First Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Terms. The                                             
16       provisions of Section 5 of Article II shall not prohibit any member of the first state                            
17       legislature from holding any office or position created during the member's [HIS]                             
18       first term.                                                                                                       
19    * Sec. 39. Article XV, sec. 16, Constitution of the State of Alaska, is amended to read:                           
20            Section 16. First Judicial Council. The first members of the judicial council                              
21       shall, notwithstanding Section 8 of Article IV, be appointed for terms as follows: three                          
22       attorney members for one, three, and five years respectively, and three non-attorney                              
23       members for two, four, and six years respectively. The six members so appointed                                   
24       shall, in accordance with Section 5 of Article IV, submit to the governor nominations                             
25       to fill the initial vacancies on the superior court and the supreme court, including the                          
26       office of chief justice. After the initial vacancies on the superior and supreme courts                           
27       are filled, the chief justice shall assume the [HIS] seat on the judicial council reserved                
28       for the chief justice.                                                                                        
29    * Sec. 40. The amendments proposed by this resolution shall be placed before the voters of                         
30 the state at the next general election in conformity with art. XIII, sec. 1, Constitution of the                        
31 State of Alaska, and the election laws of the state.