01/29/1993 09:20 AM Senate STA

  SENATOR  LEMAN  brought  SB  49  (YEAR-END CAMPAIGN  FINANCE                 
  REPORTS)  before  the  committee  as   the  first  order  of                 
  business.                                                                    
                                                                               
  JOSH  FINK, representing SENATOR KELLY'S office testified in                 
  support of SB 49.  He  explained this legislation makes some                 
  long needed adjustments to the  campaign reporting laws, the                 
  major feature of which is closing the two-day reporting gap.                 
                                                                               
  Number 035                                                                   
                                                                               
  Since  the inception  of Alaska's current  finance reporting                 
  laws  in 1974,  there has  been an  inadvertent  two-day gap                 
  which occurs between  the seven day pre-election  report and                 
  the 24-hour reports. The reporting period for the 7-day pre-                 
  election report  ends three  days  prior to  the report  due                 
  date.  The  24-hour reports  for contributions which  exceed                 
  $250 do not begin until 7 days prior to the election.  Thus,                 
  contributions exceeding $250  received the 9th and  8th days                 
  before  the election are not reported  until the 10-day post                 
  election report.    This has  the  effect of  obscuring  the                 
  public's right to know.                                                      
                                                                               
  In addition SB49 would change the deadline  for filing year-                 
  end campaign reports from December 31 to February 15th, thus                 
  allowing  candidates  and groups  the  use of  December bank                 
  statements, and  provide a longer  time period to  prepare a                 
  year-end report.                                                             
                                                                               
  This legislation was introduced in the 17th Legislature and,                 
  after passage in  the House, passed the Senate Ethics Reform                 
  and  Judiciary  Committees,  but died  in  the  Senate Rules                 
  Committee. During  the committee  process  last session  the                 
  Alaska Public Office Commission requested  amendments to the                 
  bill; new language  clarifies scope of year-end  report; and                 
  the filing of zero reports are made mandatory.                               
                                                                               
  SENATOR  ELLIS   asked  if  SENATOR   KELLY  had   discussed                 
  introduction of this bill with SENATOR  DONLEY and if he was                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  in  agreement  with  the  amendments  contained  within  the                 
  legislation.   JOSH FINK,  answered that  SENATOR KELLY  had                 
  talked with SENATOR DONLEY and that SENATOR DONLEY was first                 
  co-sponsor.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Number 100                                                                   
                                                                               
  BROOKE  MILES,   representing  the   Alaska  Public   Office                 
  Commission, testified that SB49 was  identical to House Bill                 
  86  from the  17th Legislature  and that  the  Alaska Public                 
  Office Commission was in favor of it.                                        
                                                                               
  SENATOR LEMAN asked if  the February 15th date was  to allow                 
  time for  bank statements to  clear.  BROOKE  MILES, replied                 
  that  the  January 15th  date was  a  concern, and  that the                 
  commission supported the date change to  February 15th.  She                 
  mentioned that  the commission  currently did  not have  the                 
  statutory authority for moving forward  that date to January                 
  15.                                                                          
                                                                               
  A final concern with respect to its January 15 date is that,                 
  except  for  the  year  following  gubernatorial  elections,                 
  January 15 always falls on the first week of the legislative                 
  session, which makes it difficult for some elected officials                 
  who haven't filed their report before they come to Juneau to                 
  file it timely.                                                              
                                                                               
  Number 130                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR TAYLOR  moved  to pass  SB  49 from  committee  with                 
  individual recommendations.   Hearing no objections,  it was                 
  so ordered.