04/08/2008 04:00 PM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 406(STA)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to contracts for the preparation of                                                                       
     election ballots."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:48:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH  provided an overview of bill.                                                                   
She  explained  that  the  bill  addresses  ballot  printing.                                                                   
Currently the state  does not use the procurement  code, only                                                                   
a sole source method, to supply  printed ballots for Alaska's                                                                   
election  system.  This  bill  proposes  a  process  that  is                                                                   
competitive but  with quality  assurance and timeliness.  She                                                                   
noted that  quality ballots  are essential  to good  election                                                                   
processes  in   the  state.  She  referred  to   letters  and                                                                   
departments who supported the bill.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Fairclough explained  the changes in the bill.                                                                   
On page 1, line  14, the word "may" has been  substituted for                                                                   
"shall."  In  Section  1515.031,  page  4, it  lays  out  the                                                                   
ability for the Division of Elections  to look at preparing a                                                                   
contract  for bid with  the procurement  process. Inside  the                                                                   
bid process, it is the intention  to provide an Alaska bidder                                                                   
preference  as  referred to  on  line  10, with  the  outline                                                                   
definition of an  "Alaska offeror." On page 4,  line 28 there                                                                   
is a definition of an "Alaska product" preference.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman questioned if  this would have any effect on                                                                   
the upcoming fall 2008 elections.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Fairclough responded it  will not  effect the                                                                   
upcoming  elections  since  the  bill  will  take  effect  in                                                                   
January 2009.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:52:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Elton  asked  about   the  timelines  and  mechanics                                                                   
related to  this change. He wondered  if the time  lines were                                                                   
being moved  up to a  point where it  might be difficult  for                                                                   
the division to obtain requests for proposals.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:53:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GAIL  FENUMIAI, DIRECTOR,  DIVISION OF  ELECTIONS, OFFICE  OF                                                                   
THE LIEUTENANT  GOVERNOR reported  that since the  bill would                                                                   
start during  an "off"  election year  the division  plans to                                                                   
send out  requests for proposals  in the early part  of 2009.                                                                   
The Division feels that starting  on smaller locals elections                                                                   
will give  them an  opportunity to  test contractors  and not                                                                   
have to search for competitive  contracts during a primary or                                                                   
election year.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Elton  questioned  how  the "cost"  terms  would  be                                                                   
negotiated.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Fenumiai replied  that the Division had not  settled on a                                                                   
final decision but it would probably  be on a "market basket"                                                                   
approach involving  different pricing  specs based  on needed                                                                   
sizes and numbers.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton  questioned the difficulty of the  process when                                                                   
candidates may not be known until the last minute.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:55:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Fenumiai responded that there would be flexibility for                                                                      
vendors and bid solicitors.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:56:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas MOVED to REPORT CSHB 406 (STA) out of                                                                            
Committee with individual recommendations and attached                                                                          
fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 406 (STA) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do                                                                         
pass" recommendation and an accompanying previously                                                                             
published zero fiscal note from the Office of the Governor.