Legislature(2011 - 2012)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/15/2012 11:30 AM Joint CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB 311
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB311 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 311 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 311 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 311 - REPORTS TO APOC
4:23:33 PM
CHAIR HAWKER announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 311, "An Act relating to certain information
filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission; and providing
for an effective date." He noted that the committee would be
operating under Uniform Rule 42, Conference and Free Conference
Committees. The conference committee has convened to resolve
the differences between CSHB 311(STA) am, which has passed the
House, and SCS CSHB 311(RLS), which has passed the Senate.
Chair Hawker explained the procedure would be for the committee
to bring up both versions of the bill, reject both versions, and
then to request the powers of limited conference. Under the
presumption that the Senate President and the Speaker of the
House will grant the committee's request, the committee will
proceed with a proposed committee substitute.
4:24:43 PM
SENATOR MEYER moved to accept SCS CSHB 311(RLS).
4:24:48 PM
CHAIR HAWKER objected.
4:24:53 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Johnson, Kerttula,
and Hawker voted against the motion to accept SCS CSHB 311(RLS).
Senators Hoffman, Stevens, and Meyer voted in favor of it.
Therefore the motion to accept SCS CSHB 311(RLS) failed by a
vote of 0-3 from the House members, and 3-0 from the Senate
members. [Please note that a majority of the membership of the
committee from each house must be in agreement in order to take
action in a conference committee.]
4:25:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to accept CSHB 311(STA) am.
4:25:35 PM
SENATOR MEYER objected.
4:25:38 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Johnson, Kerttula,
and Hawker voted in favor of the motion to accept CSHB 311(STA)
am. Senators Hoffman, Stevens, and Meyer voted against it.
Therefore, the motion to accept CSHB 311(STA) am failed with a
vote of 3-0 from the House members and 0-3 from the Senate
members. [Please note that a majority of the membership of the
committee from each house must be in agreement in order to take
action in a conference committee.]
4:26:16 PM
SENATOR MEYER moved to request limited powers of free conference
for HB 311. Hearing no objection, the motion was accepted.
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER advised that a request letter was prepared
and ready for signature by members of the committee.
4:27:02 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 4:27 p.m. to 4:28 p.m.
4:28:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER asked for a motion contingent upon
receiving the powers of limited free conference.
4:29:00 PM
SENATOR MEYER moved that contingent upon the committee receiving
the powers of limited free conference, the committee adopt the
conference committee substitute (CCS) for HB 311, Version 27-
LS1233\U, Bullard, 2/15/12.
4:29:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER objected. He informed the committee the
conference committee substitute is the same as the bills passed
both by the House and Senate except for changes in Sections 4
and 7. The change in Section 4 provides that the Alaska Public
Offices Commission (APOC), Department of Administration (DOA)
may not change the manner or format in which reports of a
candidate are filed in the middle of a campaign cycle, but that
changes in electronic reporting must be mandated between
campaign cycles. The change Section 7 adds Section 4 to the
retroactivity clauses, in order to make the active portions of
the bill retroactive to 12/1/2011, which would encompass the
current reporting period.
4:30:40 PM
SENATOR STEVENS observed that the intent has always been for
complete transparency and honest disclosure in the reports filed
with APOC. However, he expressed his belief that APOC is not
ready to go totally electronic as there are "bugs in the
system." Ideally, an all-electronic filing system will be
easier for all, but there needs to be a one-year transition
period, thus filing by electronic or hard copy should be
accepted through 2/15/13. Furthermore, APOC should be placed on
notice to get its system up and running.
4:32:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER agreed. This legislation will provide
additional policy guidelines on how to ensure that potential
candidates for state office are not disenfranchised and that
APOC uses a best practices mode of operation.
4:33:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON countered the presumption that
legislators believe APOC is "inherently bad." In fact, state
employees in all departments - almost without exception - are
hard-working and dedicated, and this action is not a reflection
on the staff at APOC.
4:34:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HAWKER removed his objection. There being no
further objection, the committee adopted CCS HB 311, Version 27-
LS1233\U, contingent upon receiving the powers of free
conference.
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