Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2023-02-08 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0163 SCR 1 The following was read the second time: SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 Proposing amendments to the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature relating to the 2020 edition of "Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure" and relating to standing committees; and providing for an effective date for the amendments. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, line 2: (title amendment) Delete "Procedure"" Insert "Procedure," relating to use of chambers and galleries," 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0164 Page 1, following line 11: Insert a new resolution section to read: "* Sec. 2. Rule 12, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended to read: Rule 12. Use of Chambers and Offices. Legislative chambers are to be used only for the official business of the legislature during legislative sessions. During the session access to the chambers and their galleries is under the control of the presiding officer of the house to which the space is assigned, and the assignment of legislative offices and use of committee rooms shall be provided for by and be under the control of the Rules Committee. When the legislature is in session, members of the public shall enjoy the same access to the capitol as members, and, unless prohibited by the presiding officer, shall be permitted in the galleries." Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. There was objection. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 1. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 2 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, line 1, following the second occurrence of "to": (title amendment) Insert "election of a parliamentarian," Page 1, line 2: Delete "Procedure" and relating to" Insert "Procedure," and" Page 1, following line 4: Insert a new resolution section to read: "* Section 1. Rule 3, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0165 (d) The legislature shall elect a parliamentarian to serve for the two-year duration of the legislature. The parliamentarian is nominated jointly by the Rules Committee of each house and elected in joint session by a majority vote of the full membership of each house." Page 1, line 5: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 be adopted. There was objection. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 2. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 3 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, line 2: (title amendment) Delete "Procedure" and" Insert "Procedure," relating to the appearance of measures on the daily calendar after the ninetieth day of the regular session, and" Page 1, following line 11: Insert a new resolution section to read: "* Sec. 2. Rule 18, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (b) No measure other than an appropriation bill may appear on the daily calendar after the ninetieth day of a regular session." Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 3 be adopted. 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0166 There was objection. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 3. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 4 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, line 2: (title amendment) Delete "Procedure" and" Insert "Procedure,"" Page 1, line 3, following "committees": Insert ", and relating to notice of committee meetings" Page 2, following line 27: Insert new resolution sections to read: "* Sec. 3. Rule 23(a), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended to read: (a) Written notice of the time, place and subject matter of all meetings of standing, special, and joint committees during a week shall be provided by the person who chairs the committee to the chief clerk or secretary by 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the week of the meeting, except that, during the first week of the first regular session, notice shall be given not later [LESS] than the day preceding the meeting [24 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN]. The person who chairs the committee to which a bill or resolution is first referred shall provide to the chief clerk or secretary written notice of the time and place of the first public hearing on the bill or resolution at least five days before the hearing. However, this requirement may be waived by motion of the person who chairs the committee to which a bill or resolution is first referred if concurred in by majority vote of the full membership of the house. The chief clerk or secretary shall publish and distribute copies of the weekly schedule of committee meetings and of the five-day notice of hearing. * Sec. 4. Uniform Rule 23(d), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended to read: (d) The provisions of (a) and (b) of this rule do not apply to a standing, special, or joint committee meeting scheduled after the 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0167 date a conference committee has been chosen to consider amendments to or differences between versions of the general appropriation act. However, a person who chairs a standing, special, or joint committee shall post written notice of the time, place and subject matter of a meeting not later than the day preceding [AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE] the meeting." Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 4 be adopted. There was objection. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 4. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 5 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, line 2: (title amendment) Delete "Procedure" and relating to" Insert "Procedure,"" Page 1, line 3, following "committees": Insert ", and adjournment" Page 2, following line 31: Insert a new resolution section to read: "* Sec. 4. Rule 52, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended to read: Rule 52. Adjournment. Neither house may adjourn or recess for longer than three days unless the other concurs. (Sec. 10, Art. II, State Constitution.) Adoption of a concurrent resolution by a majority vote of the full membership of each house constitutes concurrence. A motion to adjourn or recess a session is in order when it is the intention of the legislature to recess or adjourn to a day certain. A motion to adjourn sine die is in order [ONLY] at the end of a [SECOND] regular session or a special session. Unless changed by a vote of two-thirds of the full membership 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0168 of both houses, the legislature shall, by operation of this rule, be adjourned sine die from a regular session at 12:00 a.m. on the 91st legislative day." Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 5 be adopted. There was objection. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 5. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 6 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, line 2: (title amendment) Delete "Procedure" and" Insert "Procedure,"" Page 1, line 3, following "committees": Insert ", and relating to returning a bill not acted on by a committee" Page 2, following line 27: Insert a new resolution section to read: "* Sec. 3. Rule 24(a), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended to read: (a) A committee acts on all bills referred to it and reports its actions and recommendations to the house as soon as practicable. Committee reports must be in writing and the report must be signed by a majority of the members of the committee. The report will note the recommendation of each member signing the report. If, after 21 days, a committee has not reported its action on a bill referred to it, the committee chair shall return the bill to the chief clerk or senate secretary with a written notice to the body that the committee did not act on the bill." Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0169 Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 6 be adopted. There was objection. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 6. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 7 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, line 2: (title amendment) Delete "Procedure"" Insert "Procedure," relating to use of chambers," Page 1, following line 11: Insert a new resolution section to read: "* Sec. 2. Rule 12, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended to read: Rule 12. Use of Chambers and Offices. Legislative chambers are to be used only for the official business of the legislature during legislative sessions. During the session access to the chambers and their galleries is under the control of the presiding officer of the house to which the space is assigned, and the assignment of legislative offices and use of committee rooms shall be provided for by and be under the control of the Rules Committee. During the 14 days immediately preceding adjournment of a session, the Rules Committee may not schedule a committee room for any purpose except a meeting of a legislative committee." Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 7 be adopted. There was objection. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 7. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0170 Representative Patkotak moved and asked unanimous consent that amendments to SCR 1 be submitted by 11:42 a.m. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 8 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, line 2: (title amendment) Delete "Procedure" and" Insert "Procedure,"" Page 1, line 3, following "committees": Insert ", and relating to employment of legislative employees" Page 1, following line 4: Insert a new resolution section to read: "* Section 1. Rule 3(b), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended to read: (b) The Rules Committee of each house is responsible for the selection and direction of the session staff assigned to each chamber (sergeant-at-arms and their assistants, pages and messengers) and is the source of approval for hiring session assistants for standing, special, and joint committees and caucuses and any additional employees [SECRETARIAL HELP] to be assigned to individual members. Each member of the legislature may hire, without prior approval, one permanent legislative employee and one seasonal legislative employee who is hired for the duration of each session. The Rules Committees of the house and senate shall decide jointly and within the amount budgeted for session staff the compensation and conditions of employment of those working under their individual supervision. The director of administrative services of the Legislative Affairs Agency shall assist and make recommendations to the Rules Committees and members regarding staff compensation and related matters." Page 1, line 5: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0171 Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 8 be adopted. There was objection. Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 8 was offered by Representative Hannan: Page 1, line 16 of the amendment: Delete ", without prior approval," Representative Hannan moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 8 be adopted. Representative Eastman objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 8 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCR 1 Second Reading Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 8 YEAS: 17 NAYS: 23 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Armstrong, Carrick, Dibert, Eastman, Fields, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, Josephson, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Edgmon, Foster, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Patkotak, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Shaw, Stapp, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright And so, Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 8 was not adopted. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 8 be withdrawn. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 9 was offered by Representative Eastman: 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0172 Page 1, line 2: (title amendment) Delete "Procedure" and" Insert "Procedure,"" Page 1, line 3, following "committees": Insert ", and relating to introduction of bills" Page 2, following line 31: Insert a new resolution section to read: "* Sec. 4. Rule 37(a), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, is amended to read: (a) Any member, [GROUP OF MEMBERS,] standing, special, or joint committee may introduce a bill, subject to the provisions of these Uniform Rules. In accordance with AS 24.08.060(a), a committee chair may introduce a committee bill or resolution if the request to introduce a committee bill or resolution is signed by a majority of the active members of the committee. A bill must be introduced, in proper form as approved by the enrolling secretary of the legislature, with the original and three copies delivered to the chief clerk or secretary. The bill is then assigned a number which it retains through subsequent changes and substitutions. The bill is considered formally introduced when the clerk or secretary reads the heading and title aloud in open session (first reading). Bills may be introduced through the Rules Committees by the governor and the permanent interim committees pursuant to provisions of law." Renumber the following resolution sections accordingly. Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 9 be adopted. There was objection. Representative McCabe rose to a point of order regarding relevance of the debate. The Speaker cautioned the member to confine remarks to the amendment before the body. 2023-02-08 House Journal Page 0173 Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 9. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The question being: "Shall SCR 1 pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCR 1 Second Reading Final Passage YEAS: 38 NAYS: 1 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Allard, Armstrong, Carpenter, Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Shaw, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Nays: Eastman Absent: Patkotak And so, SCR 1 passed the House, was signed by the Speaker and Chief Clerk, and returned to the Senate.