Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/15/2002 01:57 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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HOUSE BILL NO. 515
"An Act relating to missions and measures to be applied
to certain expenditures by the executive branch of
state government and the University of Alaska and by
the judicial branch of state government from the state
operating budget for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2003; and providing for an effective date."
Co-Chair Mulder provided members with Amendment 1: provide
an accessible and impartial forum for the just resolution of
all cases that come before it, and to decide the cases in
accordance with the law, expeditiously and with integrity.
DENNY DEWITT, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE ELDON MULDER, explained
that the amendment would change the mission for the Alaska
Court System. This is the first year that the courts have
been brought into the missions and measures bill. He
referred to the separation of powers issue and noted that it
had been respected. The Alaska Court System is comfortable
with the measures but felt that, since they have a
constitutional responsibility for their own administration,
that the legislation should reflect the mission that they
had adopted. It is substantially the same.
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Mr. Dewitt reviewed technical changes. The first amendment
is on page 23, line 9: delete "law" and insert "statute".
The language was recommended by the Department of Law and
agreed on by legislative counsel. "Law" is all encompassing.
Mr. Dewitt observed that there should be a comma between
"average" and "median" on page 30, line 23; page 31, line
31, line 17; and page 33, line 2.
Mr. Dewitt noted that the last technical change occurred on
page 46, line 5: delete "rapes" and insert "sexual
assaults", which is a defined term.
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to ADOPT technical amendments: page
23, line 9: delete "law" and insert "statute"; place a comma
between "average" and "median" on page 30, line 23; page 31,
line 31, line 17; and page 33, line 2; and on page 46, line
5: delete "rapes" and insert "sexual assaults". There being
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Croft MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 3:
Page 1, line 2 after "Alaska" insert:
", the legislative branch of state government,"
Page 59, line 6
1) Add a new article to read:
Article 16. Alaska State legislature
Sec. 154. Alaska State Legislature.
(a) The mission of the Alaska State Legislature is to
adopt a balanced budget.
(h) The legislature intends to measure its success by
whether the legislature adopts a budget that balances
revenue and expenditures without unsustainable
withdrawals from the State of Alaska's savings
accounts.
Representative Croft explained that the amendment would add
a mission and measure for the legislature. He maintained
that there is no more fundamental, central task than to
adopt a balanced budget.
Co-Chair Mulder OBJECTED. He observed that the legislature
is already required to adopt a balanced budget through the
Constitution. The ability to do so is contained within the
ability to withdraw funds from the Constitutional Budget
Reserve. He did not agree with the evaluation of the
legislature's success or failure based on the ability to
adopt a fiscal plan.
Representative Davies argued in support of the amendment.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Croft, Davies, Hudson
OPPOSED: Foster, Harris, Lancaster, Whitaker, Bunde, Mulder
Representative Carl Moses was absent from the vote.
The MOTION FAILED (3-6).
Representative Foster MOVED to report CSHB 515 (FIN) out of
Committee with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSHB 515 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with a new zero fiscal note by the
House Finance Committee for all departments.
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