Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/10/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB 2 | |
| HJR 28 | |
| HB 147 | |
| HB 281 | |
| HB 200 |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| = | HB 2 | ||
| + | HJR 28 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 226 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 373 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 281 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 320 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 200 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 325 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 50 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 332 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 44 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | HB 147 | ||
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 281(RLS) am
"An Act requiring candidates to disclose certain
information about all contributors under AS 15.13;
relating to the preservation of records required to be
kept by candidates, groups, nongroup entities, or
persons under AS 15.13; relating to records required to
be kept by certain lobbyists and persons who employ,
retain, or contract for the services of lobbyists;
relating to complaints filed with the Select Committee
on Legislative Ethics; relating to administrative
complaints filed with the Alaska Public Offices
Commission; relating to the statute of limitations for
civil actions brought under AS 39.50; extending the
statute of limitations for prosecutions of violations
of the Alaska Election Code; and providing for an
effective date."
10:01:17 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT a Senate Committee
Substitute for CSHB 281 (FIN), work draft 25-LS1115\D as the
working document before this committee. There being NO
OBJECTION, work draft 25-LS1115\D was adopted.
AT EASE: 10:01:32 AM
RECONVENED: 10:02:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN presented an overview of the Sponsor
Statement:
House Bill 281 strengthens oversight of Alaska's ethics
laws by allowing the state's watchdog agencies more time
to receive complaints and properly investigate alleged
violations. It also establishes an adequate time period
for the retention of records related to those complaints.
This act covers the four areas of oversight assigned to
the Alaska Public Offices Commission and the Select
Committee on Legislative Ethics: campaign disclosures (AS
15.13), lobbying (AS 24.45), legislative financial
disclosure (AS 24.60) and public official financial
disclosure (AS 39.50)
HB 281 creates a standard statute of limitations of five
years for complaints that can be filed with APOC and the
Select Committee. It also codifies a period of six years
for the retention of records required under these
sections.
By allowing a reasonable amount of time to receive
complaints and conduct investigations, HB 281 helps APOC
and the Select Committee accomplish their missions of
ensuring the public's confidence in elected and appointed
officials, and preserving the integrity of the
legislative process.
This bill is an important follow-up to the recent efforts
to shore up the Foundation of Trust between Alaskans and
their government, which took a big step forward last year
when the governor and the legislature passed a landmark
ethics bill.
10:04:23 AM
Senator Elton referred to Section 4, page 3, where it
changed the requirement for a lobbyist or a person who
contracts for a lobbyist. He inquired why it was six years
there and five years elsewhere in the bill.
10:04:51 AM
MICHAEL SICA, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN explained that
in the past APOC when having a statute of limitations for
one year through regulations would then have two years for
retention of records. The additional year for records to be
retained would help with the associated statute of
limitations. The six years of retention dovetails with the
five years allowed for the complaint of an alleged
violation.
10:05:49 AM
Senator Huggins inquired if there were any violations or
concerns that made the two year requirement inadequate.
Representative Lynn responded that although he did not have
the actual numbers it did cause some concern.
Mr. Sica remarked that there has been past testimony that
the two years was inadequate. He remarked that the five
years seemed like a standard uniform statute of limitations
for all codes overseen by the agencies.
10:06:54 AM
Senator Olson questioned if this was a comparable time with
other complaints related to non-elected officials throughout
the state.
10:07:11 AM
Mr. Sica responded he could not think of any similar codes
but some alleged violations do have five year statutes of
limitations.
Senator Olson inquired how other states deal with APOC type
complaints.
Mr. Sica responded that the time varies from state to state.
10:08:17 AM
Senator Elton MOVED TO REPORT out of Committee SCS CSHB 281
(FIN) from Committee with individual recommendations and
accompanying fiscal notes.
SCS CSHB 281 (FIN) was REPORTED out Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation, and accompanying previously published
fiscal notes from the Legislative Affairs Agency, the
Department of Administration, and the Department of Law.
AT EASE: 10:09:00 AM
RECONVENED: 10:25:11 AM
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