Legislature(2007 - 2008)
2007-01-25 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0103 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE Juneau, Alaska Thursday January 25, 2007 Tenth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Harris at 10:05 a.m. Roll call showed 32 members present. Representatives Gatto, Kohring, LeDoux, Salmon, and Wilson had been excused from a call of the House today. Representative Stoltze was absent and his presence was noted later. Representative Chenault was absent. Representative Samuels moved and asked unanimous consent that Representative Coghill be excused from a call of the House today. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Nancy Campbell. Representative Dahlstrom moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. With respect for the religious beliefs of each person here, I offer the following prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, You are God in heaven and we are here on earth, so let our words be few and the words we do need to speak meaningful. Give us this day, strength for the tasks that lie ahead and quicken us by your spirit. Be merciful to us and bless us. Cause your face to shine upon us. Fill this place with your 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0104 light as these Representatives move forward in this new legislative session. Thank you, Lord, Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Joule. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Samuels moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the ninth legislative day be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. * * * * * Representative Doll introduced Lindsay Birk, Guest Page, from Juneau. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE A message dated January 24, 2007, was read stating the Senate accepted the invitation to meet in joint session in the House Chamber at 11:00 a.m., April 26 to hear an address by the Honorable Ted Stevens, U.S. Senator. COMMUNICATIONS The following was received: Dept. of Environmental Conservation National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Progress Report January 24, 2007 (as required by Chapter No. 95, SLA 2005) REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES The Judiciary Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to the House for ratification: 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0105 Ann Rabinowitz H. Conner Thomas Gary J. Turner as members of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. The reports were signed by Representative Ramras, Chair; and Representatives Gruenberg, Lynn, Coghill, Dahlstrom, and Holmes. HB 25 The Resources Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 25 "An Act relating to landowners' immunity for allowing use of land without charge for a recreational activity; relating to landowners' liability where landowner conduct involves gross negligence or reckless or intentional misconduct; relating to claims of adverse possession and prescriptive easements, or similar claims; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representatives Johnson and Gatto, Co- chairs, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (8): Guttenberg, Edgmon, Seaton, Kawasaki, Wilson, Roses, Johnson, Gatto The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Administration HB 25 was referred to the Judiciary Committee. HB 69 The Judiciary Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 69 "An Act relating to executive clemency." and recommends it be replaced with: 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0106 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 69(JUD) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Ramras, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Gruenberg, Lynn, Dahlstrom, Samuels, Holmes, Ramras No recommendation (1): Coghill The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 69(JUD): 1. Zero, Dept. of Administration 2. Zero, Dept. of Corrections 3. Zero, Office of the Governor 4. Zero, Dept. of Law HB 69 was referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar. HB 76 The Judiciary Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 76 "An Act relating to the creation of a civil legal services fund." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 76(JUD) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Ramras, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (3): Gruenberg, Holmes, Ramras No recommendation (3): Dahlstrom, Lynn, Coghill 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0107 The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 76(JUD): 1. Zero, Dept. of Administration HB 76 was referred to the Finance Committee. **The presence of Representative Stoltze was noted. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Bruce Wilson By Representatives Stoltze, Fairclough Honoring - Ed Knoebel, National Citation for Meritorious Service and the 2005 Governor's Veterans Advocacy Award By Representative Harris INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 5 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5 by Representative Kelly: Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska limiting appropriations from certain mineral revenue, relating to the balanced budget account, and relating to an appropriation limit. was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Ways & Means and the Judiciary and Finance Committees. HJR 6 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6 by Representatives Crawford and Harris: 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0108 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the office of attorney general. was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Judiciary, and Finance Committees. INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 108 HOUSE BILL NO. 108 by the House Labor and Commerce Committee, entitled: "An Act extending the termination date for the Board of Marine Pilots; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. HB 109 HOUSE BILL NO. 109 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act relating to the requirement for candidates, groups, legislators, public officials, and other persons to submit reports electronically to the Alaska Public Offices Commission; relating to disclosures by legislators, public members of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, legislative directors, public officials, and certain candidates for public office concerning services performed for compensation and concerning certain income, gifts, and other financial matters; requiring legislators, public members of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, legislative directors, public officials, and municipal officers to make certain financial disclosures when they leave office; relating to insignificant ownership interest in a business and to gifts from lobbyists for purposes of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act; relating to certain restrictions on employment after leaving state service for purposes of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act; and providing for an effective date." 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0109 was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Judiciary Committees. The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Administration 2. Zero, Dept. of Law The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 24, 2007, follows: "Dear Speaker Harris: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to reports to the Alaska Public Offices Commission and relating to the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. This bill would (1) generally require candidates, groups, legislators, public officials, and others to submit required reports electronically to the Alaska Public Offices Commission; (2) require legislators and other public officials to make financial disclosures when they leave office; (3) require candidates, legislators, and other public officials to disclose information about services performed for compensation and about certain income, gifts, and other financial matters; (4) establish a presumption that an interest of less than $5,000 in a business is an "insignificant" interest for purposes of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act; (5) establish a presumption that gifts from a lobbyist to a public officer and the public officer's immediate family members are prohibited under the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act, unless the lobbyist is an immediate family member of the gift recipient; and (6) tighten certain restrictions on employment after leaving state service for purposes of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. The public's confidence in its government and governmental officials is essential. This bill would foster the openness in government that I have advocated as one means to increase that confidence. In preparing this bill, I have taken into consideration the advice and counsel of numerous individual Alaskans. The issues addressed by the provisions within this bill have largely been publicly discussed, and may even be addressed in other bills currently pending in the 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0110 Legislature. For example, provisions to establish a presumption regarding "insignificant" interests were addressed in legislation last year that passed the Senate and moved all the way to the House Rules Committee. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Sarah Palin Governor" UNFINISHED BUSINESS HB 63 Representatives Kerttula and Gara added their names as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 63 "An Act relating to the alternative energy grant fund and to alternative energy grants." HB 65 Representative Ramras added his name as cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 65 "An Act relating to breaches of security involving personal information, credit report and credit score security freezes, consumer credit monitoring, credit accuracy, protection of social security numbers, care of records, disposal of records, identity theft, furnishing consumer credit header information, credit cards, and debit cards, and to the jurisdiction of the office of administrative hearings; amending Rule 60, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure; and providing for an effective date." HB 69 Representative Holmes added her name as cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 69 "An Act relating to executive clemency." 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0111 HB 76 Representative Holmes added her name as cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 76 "An Act relating to the creation of a civil legal services fund." ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published daily under separate cover. ADJOURNMENT Representative Samuels moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 11:00 a.m., January 29, 2007. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 10:25 a.m. Suzi Lowell Chief Clerk 2007-01-25 House Journal Page 0112 HOUSE JOURNAL INDEX HB 25 105 HB 63 110 HB 65 110 HB 69 105-106, 110 HB 76 106-107, 111 HB 108 108 HB 109 108-110 HJR 5 107 HJR 6 107-108