Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 106
03/30/2006 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB45 | |
| SB249 | |
| HJR27 | |
| HB461 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 45 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 249 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 461 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 461-LEGISLATIVE DISCLOSURES 9:53:19 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the last order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 461, "An Act relating to disclosure to the Alaska Public Offices Commission of information about certain income received as compensation for personal services by legislators, public members of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, and legislative directors subject to the provisions of law setting standards of conduct for legislative branch officers and employees; and providing for an effective date." 9:53:20 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER presented HB 461 as sponsor. She described the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) as both active and capable, and she said APOC's job is to "follow the money" and allow the public adequate information. She stated that currently a candidate could accept $10,000 for consulting work and list the amount of money without having to explain what work was done for the money. She said that doesn't allow the public to measure or evaluate any conflicts that candidate may have or any interest people might have in what that candidate does. Representative Gardner said she is not "married to the specific language" in the bill and would welcome suggestions. 9:55:23 AM CHAIR SEATON, in response to a remark by Representative Ramras, clarified that the proposed legislation is not set out to challenge or impugn any particular people in the legislature, and he asked that the committee focus on the issues that are brought forward by the bill. 9:55:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER said the bill applies "to all of us in exactly the same way." 9:55:57 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS asked what Representative Gardner may have heard from the public to cause concern and drive the bill. 9:56:15 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER related that she has heard from people who want to know "where the money comes from in our campaigns and in our own personal lives." She said that information allows people to evaluate how decisions are made and what kind of factors influence candidates. She offered examples. Representative Gardner stated that there has been a longstanding tradition of revealing where the money comes from, a tradition that she indicated has broad public support. 9:57:32 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS asked how a distinction is drawn between the disparities in attorney fee amounts. He proffered, "What appears like a value to one person may appear to be an excessive charge to another person." 9:58:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER responded that Representative Ramras' comment parallels a comment that Representative Gruenberg had recently made to her: "An attorney may be able to do something in a half-hour phone call that he could charge a lot of money for and not necessarily want to reveal to his client that it took him only half an hour to do the job." She stated that nevertheless she thinks "we owe it to the public to give them enough information to make their evaluation." 9:59:35 AM CHAIR SEATON asked for clarification that the proposed legislation doesn't address the amount of money a person receives - because that information is already required to be disclosed to APOC - but rather what they person did for the money. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER confirmed that is correct. In response to a follow-up question by Chair Seaton, she said, for example, that a lawyer who is working on mergers would have to disclose that he/she is involved in mergers, but would not have to reveal with which companies or what terms. 10:00:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS directed attention to language on page 2, lines 5-6, which read: and the approximate number of hours that have been or will be spent performing the services REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said one attorney with a lot of experience could charge one rate, while another with lesser experience could charge another. He asked, "Why do we feel qualified to attach almost a value per hour of services to this? ... I take this to mean that there's almost a billable rate for personal services .... Is that correct?" 10:02:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER answered no. She explained, "I think we simply want the public to understand that real work is being done." She offered an example. 10:02:33 AM CHAIR SEATON noted that the committee had run out of time and public testimony would be heard at the next hearing of the bill. [HB 461 was heard and held.]
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