Legislature(2011 - 2012)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/13/2012 09:00 AM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB160 | |
| SCR24 | |
| SB91 | |
| SB19 | |
| SB23 | |
| SB210 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SCR 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 91 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 182 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 23 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 119 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 210 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 160 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24
Establishing the Alaska Legislative Celebration
Commission to organize events to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the first convening of the legislative
branch of government in Alaska.
TIM LAMKIN, STAFF, SENATOR GARY STEVENS, presented a
PowerPoint, "SCR 24: The 100-Year Commission Celebrating
the Alaska Legislature" (copy on file). He stated that on
March 3, 1913, the first convening of the first legislature
of Alaska occurred.
Mr. Lamkin displayed slide 1. The photo was of downtown
Juneau taken in 1905. He remarked that Juneau was densely
crowded, with not much useable land. He stated that in
1911, the United States Congress authorized the funds to
build a capitol building for use by the legislature.
Because of World War I and land shortage, the construction
of the Capitol was stalled for 16 years. For the first
sixteen years, the legislature met in various halls in
downtown Juneau.
Mr. Lamkin displayed slide 2, and explained that the photo
was taken in September, 1929. The building in the photo was
the former governor's office, and it was torn down to make
room for the new Capitol.
Mr. Lamkin discussed slide 3. The photo was of the same
site as the former governor's office, facing the Gastineau
Channel. He pointed out the car on the right side of the
photograph, and stated that this photo was from the
beginning of the Capitol construction in 1929.
Mr. Lamkin displayed slide 4. He explained that
approximately a year and a half after the Capitol
construction began the building was dedicated as the
"Territory and Federal Building."
Mr. Lamkin discussed slide 5, and stated that the photo was
of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1913 in the
Juneau Elks Hall. He remarked that the Elks Hall was
originally three floors. It was his understanding that the
Senate met on one floor, and the House of Representatives
met on another floor.
Mr. Lamkin displayed slide 6, "First House of
Representatives Committee Structure." There were originally
15 standing committees, with 16 members that sat on all of
the committees:
1. Banks and Banking, Corporations (including
Municipal)
2. Committee on Committees
3. Education, Public Health, Quarantine, and Morals
4. Elections, Election Laws, and Mileage
5. Engrossment and Enrollment
6. Fisheries, Fish, Game, and Agriculture
7. Judiciary and Federal Relations
8. Labor, Capital, and Immigration
9. Mining and Manufacturing
10. Printing
11. Roads and Highways
12. Rules
13. Territorial Institutions
14. Transportation, Commerce, and Navigation
15. Ways and Means and Contingent Expenses
Mr. Lamkin stated that he did not believe that there was a
Revenue-type committee at that time, because the
legislature had very limited powers. Every item that the
legislature examined and determined needed to be approved
by congress.
Mr. Lamkin discussed slide 7, "A Sampling of the Session
Laws of 1913." He explained that the first legislature
passed 84 bills and 111 resolutions in 60 days. He
highlighted some of the laws. He remarked that the
legislature passed a law allowing women the right to vote,
several years before congress. He pointed out five more
notable laws that were passed in the first legislature of
Alaska:
- "An Act to Prevent the Desecration of the Flag of
U.S., and to Provide Punishment For Carrying Flags in
Public Parades or Flying Them From Buildings Under
Certain Conditions"
- "An Act to Require Hotels and Lodging Houses to be
Provided With Fire Escapes, Ropes, and Other
Appliances"
- "An Act to Prevent Employees from Being Oppressed by
Reason of an Employer Compelling Them to Board at a
Particular Boarding House, or to Purchase Goods or
Supplies at a Particular Store."
- "An Act to Establish Juvenile Courts, to Provide For
the Care of Dependent Children, and to Create
Childrens' Guardians in Alaska…"
- "An Act to Prevent the Spread of Contagious Disease
Among Livestock"
Mr. Lamkin discussed slide 8, "A Sampling of Session Laws
of 1913." He discussed six more laws of note from the first
legislature of Alaska:
- "An Act to Provide For the Registration of Persons
Employed to Advocate or Oppose Legislative Measures,
and to Regulate the Method of Such Advocacy or
Opposition"
- "An Act to Provide For the Compulsory Education of
the Children of Alaska…"
- "An Act to Fix the Liability of Employers For
Personal Injuries Sustained by Their Employees"
- "An Act Prohibiting the Casting of Sawdust, Planer
Shavings, and Other Lumber Waste Into the Waters of
Alaska..."
- "An Act to Provide Punishment For Pimps or Macques"
- "An Act to Create a Board of Commissioners to
Provide For a Home for Aged Prospectors in Interior
Alaska"
Co-Chair Thomas wondered if the Flag Act had been repealed
since the first Alaska legislature. He remarked that he had
recently visited the Treadwell Ice Arena, and noticed that
the U.S. flag was level with the Canadian flag. He made a
complaint with an employee at the Ice Arena, and was told
that they receive that complaint many times. He told the
employee that veterans would be "very upset" to see the
U.S. flag flying equal to a foreign country's flag. Mr.
Lamkin replied that he assumed that the flag act had been
amended, but was not sure.
Mr. Lamkin looked at slide 9, which was a photo of the
first territorial senate in 1913, in what he assumed was
the second floor of the Elks Hall. Elwood Brunner, pictured
in the front and left-hand side of the photo, was the first
president pro-tem of the Alaska State Senate. He also
served as the Rules Committee Chairman.
9:23:14 AM
Co-Chair Stoltze requested a description and intent of the
fiscal note attached to the bill. Mr. Lamkin replied that
the purpose of the fiscal note was to allow the legislature
some flexibility in spending on the project. Other
organizations were contacted to determine a reasonable
figure, in order to shape the logistics of bringing
legislators and state officials from around the state
together for the celebration.
Co-Chair Stoltze surmised that the geographical references
were intended for the purpose of estimated the fiscal note.
Mr. Lamkin agreed.
Co-Chair Stoltze hoped to not spend the amount of money
represented in the fiscal note. He thought it should be a
community based celebration, like the statehood
celebration. Mr. Lamkin agreed.
Representative Doogan felt the focus should really about
the whole history of Alaska, and not just the legislature.
He read part of the bills that passed during the first
Alaska legislature, and related a personal story.
9:29:41 AM
STEPHEN HAYCOX, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of SCR
24. He felt that it was important for education in Alaska.
Before the legislature was held in 1913, Alaska was
effectively ruled by the "federal bureaucracy." James
Wickersham, who supported the formation of a legislature,
was very committed to the idea of "government by the
consent of the governed." He remarked that the formation of
the first legislature was an important step towards Alaska
statehood.
Representative Edgmon stated that Professor Haycox was his
history teacher in 1984.
9:33:35 AM
TERRENCE COLE, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in support of SCR
24. He stated that James Wickersham stopped the territory
from being ruled by Washington D.C. He remarked that this
resolution was not party-based, but merely a narrow focus
on a part of state history education. He felt it is
important to remind Alaskans of this particular aspect of
Alaska history.
Co-Chair Stoltze appreciated Terrence Cole's publications.
Representative Doogan related another personal story.
Co-Chair Stoltze closed the public testimony.
Representative Neuman recalled that there was $25,000 left
over from the Alaska Statehood Celebration. He thought that
that money may have been placed in an endowment. He
wondered if that money could be used toward SCR 24.
Representative Guttenberg hoped that the archives from the
celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first
legislature would be easily accessible for future
generations.
9:40:36 AM
Co-Chair Thomas MOVED to report SCR 24 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
SCR 24 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with previously published fiscal impact
note: FN1 (LEG).
9:41:03 AM
AT EASE
9:45:16 AM
RECONVENED