Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 124
02/10/2005 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB14 | |
| HB108 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 14-MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 8:10:43 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 14, "An Act relating to municipal initiative and referendum elections." 8:10:54 AM SENATOR GARY STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor, related that SB 14 really came from the municipal clerks' association. He explained that when there are initiatives or referendums, [municipalities] must hold an election within 75 days. However, sometimes these initiatives or referendums aren't time sensitive and don't require immediate action. Furthermore, special elections often have poor voter turnout as compared to that of a regular election. This legislation would provide the municipalities the option to decide whether an issue is important enough to hold a special election. He informed the committee that the Fairbanks North Star Borough had 46 petitions in a four-month period, although only one led to a special election. He related that one special election cost the Fairbanks North Star Borough $60,000. This legislation merely places the matter [of whether to hold a special election] in the hands of the locals. 8:13:20 AM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN stated his support for SB 14. He opined that on occasion special elections are used in a way to pass legislation that perhaps the entire general populous wouldn't support. The aforementioned happens when special interest groups make sure that their members go out and vote. Representative Neuman said he wasn't sure that represented the good of all the people. 8:14:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE SALMON inquired as to the amount of savings this legislation would afford. REPRESENTATIVE GARY STEVENS pointed out that the savings would depend upon the amount of initiatives and referendums that each municipality may have. He clarified that this legislation wouldn't save the state money, although it would save local communities money. 8:14:49 AM KATHIE WASSERMAN, Alaska Municipal League (AML), related AML's support for SB 14. Ms. Wasserman said that the city clerks certainly know better than anyone what is occurring [in their area]. Furthermore, any suggestions from the city clerks is usually based on hard facts rather than politics. This [legislation] would save the communities money while allowing for good public process. 8:15:34 AM LINDA MURPHY, Clerk, Kenai Peninsula Borough, highlighted that SB 14 doesn't apply to home rule communities. The cost savings, she related, depends upon the size of the city or borough. She informed the committee that a boroughwide special election in the Kenai Peninsula Borough would cost approximately $50,000. She pointed out that [municipalities] don't budget for special elections, and therefore special elections require a special appropriation for the governing body. Ms. Murphy also highlighted that SB 14 is essentially the same legislation that sailed through the House last year. 8:17:22 AM MONA LISA DREXLER, Clerk, Fairbanks North Star Borough, urged the committee to pass SB 14. 8:18:32 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS, upon determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony. 8:18:44 AM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report SB 14 out of committee [with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes]. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
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