Legislature(2011 - 2012)SPEAKER'S CHAMBER

03/28/2011 10:30 AM House COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES


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Audio Topic
10:34:42 AM Start
10:34:43 AM Committee on Committees Report
10:39:41 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
Committee on Committees
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
                 HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES                                                                                
                         March 28, 2011                                                                                         
                           10:34 a.m.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Chenault, Chair                                                                                             
Representative Alan Austerman, Vice Chair                                                                                       
Representative Craig Johnson                                                                                                    
Representative Bill Stoltze                                                                                                     
Representative Bill Thomas                                                                                                      
Representative Beth Kerttula                                                                                                    
Representative Berta Gardner                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES REPORT                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     - ADVANCED                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
No witnesses to record                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
10:34:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  MIKE CHENAULT  called the  House  Committee on  Committees                                                             
meeting  to  order  at 10:34  a.m.    Representatives  Austerman,                                                               
Johnson, Stoltze,  Thomas, Kerttula,  Gardner, and  Chenault were                                                               
present at the call to order.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
^Committee on Committees Report                                                                                                 
                 Committee on Committees Report                                                                             
10:34:43 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CHENAULT  explained that the  purpose of the meeting  is to                                                               
change  the   membership  of  the  House   Finance  Committee  by                                                               
replacing  Representative   Neuman,  who  is  away   on  personal                                                               
business, with Representative Hawker,  the current alternate, and                                                               
filling  the   vacant  alternate  position   with  Representative                                                               
Chenault.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:35:40 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CHENAULT  further  explained   that  there  were  concerns                                                               
regarding alternates on committees,  which resulted in an opinion                                                               
from Legislative Legal  and Research Services per  the request of                                                               
Representative  Doogan.   Chair Chenault  noted that  in previous                                                               
years  committees have  had alternates,  particularly when  there                                                               
were  members with  health  issues or  other  issues that  caused                                                               
their absence.   In fact, Chair Chenault recalled  sitting on the                                                               
House Finance  Committee as an  alternate.  Although  no specific                                                               
votes  were  taken the  day  [March  9,  2009]  he served  as  an                                                               
alternate, the record reflects that  amendments were accepted and                                                               
legislation was  moved.  Chair  Chenault opined that  the ability                                                               
to   utilize  alternates   is  important.     The   opinion  from                                                               
Legislative Legal and Research Services  points out that both the                                                               
House Committee  on Committees approved alternates  on committees                                                               
and the  full House  approved the  House Committee  on Committees                                                               
report.  Therefore,  the [use of alternates  on committees] seems                                                               
legal, particularly since the statute is silent on the matter.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:37:51 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STOLTZE said  that it's  troubling to  read about                                                               
the  legislature's  motives  in  the  press,  particularly  since                                                               
conversations would be more productive.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:38:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA remarked that  she was glad the committee                                                               
is being  clear.  She noted  that although she sits  on the House                                                               
Committee on Committees that  approved [committee membership with                                                               
alternates], she didn't  know the rule or the  question about the                                                               
rule.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STOLTZE  pointed out that legislators  are dealing                                                               
with some  very legitimate differences of  opinion on contentious                                                               
issues.   Therefore,  how legislators  treat each  other will  be                                                               
important through the process.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:39:24 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON moved to advance the House Committee on                                                                  
Committees report to the full body for consideration.  There                                                                    
being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:39:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Committee on Committees meeting was adjourned at 10:39 a.m.                                                                     

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