Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/09/1998 08:13 AM House STA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 9, 1998
8:13 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jeannette James, Chair
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
Representative Joe Ryan
Representative Kim Elton
Representative Mark Hodgins
Representative Jerry Sanders
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Ivan Ivan, Vice Chairman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
* HOUSE BILL 330
"An Act repealing the termination date of the state training and
employment program; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 330 OUT OF COMMITTEE
* HOUSE BILL 257
"An Act relating to voter qualification, disqualification, and
registration; to voter registration officials; to election notices;
to mail elections; to certain voting procedures; to the
transportation of ballots; and to the official election pamphlet
and certain immunity from liability regarding claims arising from
publication of the official election pamphlet."
- MOVED CSHB 257(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 105(FIN) AM
"An Act relating to legislative and executive branch ethics;
relating to campaign finances for candidates for state office;
relating to the conduct and regulation of lobbyists with respect to
public officials; relating to the filing of disclosures by certain
state employees and officials; making a conforming amendment to the
definition of 'public official' for employment security statutes;
and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD AND HELD
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 330
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND STATE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROG
SPONSOR(S): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
1/16/98 2070 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
1/16/98 2070 (H) STATE AFFAIRS, L&C, FINANCE
1/16/98 2070 (H) 4 ZERO FNS (2-DCRA, GOV, LABOR)
1/16/98 2070 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
4/07/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
4/09/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
4/09/98 2938 (H) STA RPT 5DP
4/09/98 2938 (H) DP: JAMES, ELTON, BERKOWITZ, RYAN,
4/09/98 2938 (H) HODGINS
4/09/98 2939 (H) 4 ZERO FNS (2-CRA, GOV, LABOR) 1/16/98
4/09/98 2939 (H) REFERRED TO LABOR & COMMERCE
BILL: HB 257
SHORT TITLE: VOTING & ELECTIONS
SPONSOR(S): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
4/22/97 1263 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
4/22/97 1263 (H) STATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE
4/22/97 1264 (H) FISCAL NOTE (GOV)
4/22/97 1264 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
4/07/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
4/09/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
BILL: SB 105
SHORT TITLE: ETHICS/LOBBYING/CAMPAIGN FINANCE
SPONSOR(S): RULES BY REQUEST OF LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMITTEE
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
2/25/97 494 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
2/25/97 494 (S) STATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE
3/11/97 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211
3/11/97 (S) MINUTE(STA)
3/13/97 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211
3/13/97 (S) MINUTE(STA)
3/18/97 (S) MINUTE(STA)
3/25/97 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211
3/25/97 (S) MINUTE(STA)
3/26/97 873 (S) STA RPT CS 3DP NEW TITLE
3/26/97 873 (S) DP: GREEN, MILLER, WARD
3/26/97 873 (S) FISCAL NOTE TO SB (ADM)
3/26/97 873 (S) ZERO FISCAL NOTE TO SB (LAA)
3/26/97 873 (S) FISCAL NOTE TO CS (ADM)
4/10/97 (S) FIN AT 5:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
4/10/97 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
4/10/97 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
4/15/97 (S) FIN AT 8:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
4/15/97 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
4/16/97 (S) FIN AT 8:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
4/16/97 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
4/16/97 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
4/16/97 1163 (S) FIN RPT CS 2DP 5NR NEW TITLE
4/16/97 1163 (S) DP: PEARCE; DP IF AM: PHILLIPS
4/16/97 1163 (S) NR: SHARP, PARNELL, ADAMS, TORGERSON,
4/16/97 1163 (S) DONLEY
4/16/97 1163 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FN APPLIES (LAA)
4/16/97 1163 (S) ZERO FNS TO CS (LABOR, LAW)
4/16/97 1163 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FN APPLIES (LAA)
4/18/97 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP RM 203
4/18/97 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
4/18/97 1276 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR & 1NR 4/18/97
4/18/97 1279 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
4/18/97 1279 (S) FIN CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
4/18/97 1280 (S) AM NO 1 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN
4/18/97 1281 (S) AM NO 2 FAILED Y4 N13 E3
4/18/97 1282 (S) AM NO 3 FAILED Y4 N13 E3
4/18/97 1283 (S) AMENDMENTS 4, 5 NOT OFFERED
4/18/97 1283 (S) AM NO 6 ADOPTED Y12 N5 E3
4/18/97 1285 (S) AM NO 7 FAILED Y7 N10 E3
4/18/97 1286 (S) AM NO 8 FAILED Y5 N12 E3
4/18/97 1287 (S) AM NO 9 ADOPTED Y17 N- E3
4/18/97 1291 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN CONSENT
4/18/97 1291 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 105(FIN) AM
4/18/97 1292 (S) PASSED Y15 N2 E3
4/18/97 1292 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
4/18/97 1292 (S) LINCOLN NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION
4/21/97 1334 (S) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD READING
4/21/97 1335 (S) RETURN TO SECOND FOR AM 10 UNAN CONSENT
4/21/97 1335 (S) AM NO 10 ADOPTED Y14 N5 E1
4/21/97 1336 (S) AUTOMATICALLY IN THIRD READING
4/21/97 1337 (S) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y17 N2 E1
4/21/97 1337 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
4/21/97 1370 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
4/22/97 1232 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
4/22/97 1233 (H) STATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE
2/05/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
2/05/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
2/12/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
2/12/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
2/17/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
2/17/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
2/19/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
2/24/98 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 102
2/24/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
2/26/98 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 102
2/26/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
3/03/98 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 102
3/03/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
3/05/98 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 102
3/05/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
3/12/98 (H) STA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 102
3/12/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
3/19/98 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 102
3/19/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
3/26/98 (H) STA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 102
3/26/98 (H) MINUTE(STA)
4/04/98 (H) STA AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 102
4/07/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
4/09/98 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
WITNESS REGISTER
DWIGHT PERKINS, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Labor
P.O. Box 21149
Juneau, Alaska 99802
Telephone: (907) 465-2700
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 330.
MARY SHIELDS, General Manager
Northwest Technical Services
3330 Arctic Boulevard
Suite 201
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Telephone: (907) 562-1633
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 330.
GAIL FENUMIAI, Election Coordinator
Division of Elections
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
P.O. Box 110017
Juneau, Alaska 99811
Telephone: (907) 465-4611
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 257.
BEN BROWN, Legislative Administrative
Assistant to Senator Tim Kelly
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 101
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 465-4823
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on behalf of Senator Tim Kelly,
sponsor of SB 105.
SUZIE BARNETT, Professional Assistant
Legislative Ethics Committee
P.O. Box 101468
Anchorage, Alaska 99510
Telephone: (907) 258-8172
POSITION STATEMENT: Available to answer questions on SB 105.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 98-51, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR JEANNETTE JAMES called the House State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:13 a.m. Members present at the
call to order were Representatives James, Berkowitz, Ryan, Elton,
Hodgins, and Sanders.
HB 330 - EXTEND STATE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROG
Number 0004
CHAIR JAMES announced the first order of business is HB 330, "An
Act repealing the termination date of the state training and
employment program; and providing for an effective date," sponsored
by the House Rules Standing Committee.
Number 0007
DWIGHT PERKINS, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Labor came before the committee to provide
information on the State Training and Employment Program (STEP).
Mr. Perkins read the following statement:
"The STEP was enacted in 1989 as a temporary, two-year pilot
program. Its success has led to the legislature's extending its
existence three more times in subsequent years. With its last
extension in 1996, STEP became a permanent program but remains
subject to a sunset provision. Since its last extension, STEP has
made great strides in addressing the legislative concerns with the
program.
"State Training and Employment Program is financed with a 0.1
percent contribution from employees' share of unemployment
insurance. The STEP job training provided with this small
contribution to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund results in
more working Alaskans and a decreased need to pay out unemployment
insurance benefits. State Training and Employment Program also
assists Alaskans who need to upgrade their job skills in order to
maintain their employability.
"In Fiscal Year 97, more than 1,500 individuals were enrolled in
STEP, an increase of 500 enrollees over the previous year. In one
year, STEP clients have reduced claims for unemployment insurance,
resulting in about a $1.5 million saving to the Unemployment
Insurance Trust Fund. Along with the increased use of the program,
STEP administrators were successful in reducing federal recapture
of Unemployment Insurance Trust Funds by 60 percent while holding
administrative costs below 20 percent."
MR. PERKINS noted he has Arbe Williams, Director, Division of
Administrative Services, Department of Labor, and representatives
from the Department of Community and Regional Affairs with him to
speak on financial matters.
Number 0025
CHAIR JAMES asked if there were any questions of the Department of
Labor.
Number 0026
REPRESENTATIVE MARK HODGINS remarked this is pretty cut and dried,
he indicated he wanted to move HB 330.
Number 0029
CHAIR JAMES called on Mary Shields via teleconference.
Number 0031
MARY SHIELDS, General Manager, Northwest Technical Services, said
she is absolutely in favor of HB 330.
CHAIR JAMES asked Ms. Shields if she minded if the committee moved
the bill.
MS. SHIELDS replied not at all.
Number 0033
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS made a motion to move HB 330, with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. Hearing no
objections, HB 330 moved from the House State Affairs Standing
Committee.
HB 257 - VOTING & ELECTIONS
Number 0038
CHAIR JAMES announced the next order of business is HB 257, "An Act
relating to voter qualification, disqualification, and
registration; to voter registration officials; to election notices;
to mail elections; to certain voting procedures; to the
transportation of ballots; and to the official election pamphlet
and certain immunity from liability regarding claims arising from
publication of the official election pamphlet," sponsored by the
House Rules Standing Committee.
Number 0040
GAIL FENUMIAI, Election Coordinator, Division of Elections, Office
of the Lieutenant Governor, came before the committee to provide
information on HB 257. She stated the division has prepared a
draft committee statement dated April 7, 1998.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER made a motion to move proposed CSHB 257.
Number 0045
CHAIR JAMES announced there being no objections CSHB 257 is before
the committee.
MS. FENUMIAI explained that the reason the bill is so large is that
the Division of Elections is changing the term "questioned" ballot
to "special review" ballot which they feel better reflects the true
intent of the questioned ballot.
MS. FENUMIAI pointed out other changes in the bill to current law
are extending the deadline for absentee voting by fax to the day
before the election. Current statute is four days before the
election. Increasing the deadline to 5:00 p.m. the day before
would then allow an extra opportunity for people to be able to
vote.
MS. FENUMIAI said the bill also is streamlining and improving the
absentee by personal representative voting process. It cuts down
the number of steps between the personal representative, the
election official and the voter, it also cuts down on the number of
times the people need to sign the confusing form. In 1996 15
percent of the ballots that were voted absentee by personal
representative, were rejected for insufficient witnessing or Alaska
signature. Ms. Fenumiai said they feel the new process will
greatly improve that as well as add additional checks and balances
on behalf of the personal representative. She indicated they have
to provide identification, sign a log, sign a log again when they
return the ballot, provide the date and time when they returned the
ballot. She concluded, for the first time, the division would know
the name of the personal representative, have an address, and have
a form of identification which they presented.
Number 0063
REPRESENTATIVE JOE RYAN said this is the person can't make it out
to vote and you send a personal representative out with the ballot
and that representative brings the ballot back to the voting place.
MS. FENUMIAI replied that's correct.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN asked how many people do this, in a ballpark
number.
MS. FENUMIAI responded in 1996 there was approximately 500 people
that voted absentee by personal representative.
Number 0068
MS. FENUMIAI mentioned there are additions in this bill that would
allow the division - to give the division statutory authority to
conduct an election with "optical scanning ballot tabulation"
technology. She also noted there are also minor changes to the
official election pamphlet statute, and an addition that would
allow for unemployment tax exemption to election workers who make
less than one thousand dollars in a calendar year that is the
result of the balanced budget Act of 1997, in order to take
advantage of that the state needs to bring their laws into
compliance with the federal law.
Number 0077
REPRESENTATIVE ETHAN BERKOWITZ suggested a proposed amendment to
page 4, line 20, by adding "E-mail."
and the address, phone number and E-mail address of the
election supervisor or supervisors for the judicial district
in which the notice is broadcast.
CHAIR JAMES asked if there were objections. There being none the
amendment was unanimously adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN said, "Having been, along with Representative
Berkowitz, through all the fine details of this that my changes I
understand are special review takes the place of question ballots
and the electronic voting, but the punch ballots will still be
available, will still be sorted, and kept in the original districts
like they were, and so forth and so on, and there's a tally count
to make sure that we don't come up with more absentee ballots than
were sent out and we don't have more special review ballots than
were originally calculated because these things some times grow in
dark places, they've been known to, perhaps not in Alaska, but
Texas is notorious for 'dark ballot box' growing."
Number 0103
MS. FENUMIAI remarked the process of what is now known as the
"question ballot process" would not change, they are just simply
changing the term to "special review ballot." The process the
Division of Elections has used in past elections will continue
according to the way they are written in statute.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN pointed out they found a bunch of ballots in a
box (tucked under something) that had already been counted. He
said fortunately they were in his favor.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said, "Me too."
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN said it makes one nervous.
MS. FENUMIAI responded this bill does not change the process, it
just simply changes the term.
Number 0112
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ referred to Section 39, AS 15.58.030(f):
A candidate's photograph must be five by seven inches in size
and must have been taken within the past five years. The
photograph must be limited to the head, neck, and shoulders of
the candidate.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said no one could ever explain why it had
to be five by seven. He pointed out it is an awkward size to get.
MS. FENUMIAI wasn't able to respond.
CHAIR JAMES asked Representative Berkowitz what would be the size
he would like.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ replied passport.
MS. FENUMIAI remarked the passport size might be too small for the
use of the official election pamphlet. She assumes the publisher
or the printer would then have to enlarge that.
Number 0122
REPRESENTATIVE KIM ELTON stated he was previously in publishing and
the five by seven is generally the minimum size a printer would
want because of quality issues - when you try to enlarge them. He
asked why just five by seven instead of eight by ten or something
else.
CHAIR JAMES indicated she put a booklet together one time and said
you do have to have consistency.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN said he has a scanner which he can scan any
size photograph, enlarge it or reduce it in size, and enhance it,
he can also print it on a colored printer with the quality of a
photographic print. He noted, if they are still using archaic
printing technology, he thinks they should come forward.
MS. FENUMIAI said they are removing the requirement for it to be
black and white, they will take colored photos.
Number 0138
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS said he concurs with Representative
Berkowitz and suggested a friendly amendment for the photograph to
be bigger than a passport.
CHAIR JAMES said she is not comfortable changing it at this point
in time since she has no knowledge of the technology that is used.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked if this could be checked into
because this may just have to do with old requirements rather than
old technology.
CHAIR JAMES asked Ms. Fenumiai to take that request to the House
Finance Standing Committee [HB 257's next referral].
MS. FENUMIAI said she would.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON made a motion to move CSHB 257 with individual
recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There being no
objections CSHB 257(STA) moved from the House State Affairs
Standing Committee
SB 105 - ETHICS/LOBBYING/CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Number 0157
CHAIR JAMES announced the last order of business is CSSB 105(FIN)
AM, "An Act relating to legislative and executive branch ethics;
relating to campaign finances for candidates for state office;
relating to the conduct and regulation of lobbyists with respect to
public officials; relating to the filing of disclosures by certain
state employees and officials; making a conforming amendment to the
definition of 'public official' for employment security statutes;
and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR JAMES said they have gone through the process that affects
the legislature, they are at the place where they will be affecting
the executive branch. Chair James mentioned Suzie Barnett is on
teleconference in Anchorage She suggested the committee go
through the amendments as systematically and as quickly as possible
starting with LS0074\L.1, Cramer, 4/3/98.
Number 0171
BEN BROWN, Legislative Administrative Assistant to Senator Tim
Kelly, Alaska State Legislature came before the committee to
explain the amendments. He said Amendment L.1 deals with the issue
of the Executive Branch Ethics Act enforcement agency which is
currently the Department of Law (manifested under the attorney
general), except for complaints that are sent to hearing and those
are heard before the Personnel Board.
MR. BROWN stated the problem with the approach that the Senate took
in transferring authority in the bill from the Office of the
Attorney General almost exclusively to the Personnel Board is that
it first of all gave the powers to enforce the executive branch
ethics to (indisc.) who didn't want it, a citizen personnel board
that never had that responsibility with that magnitude before.
MR. BROWN said, "The second big problem was the enormity of the
fiscal impact which was about $250 thousand a year in creating new
positions to staff the Personnel Board to basically act like an
executive branch ethics committee. ... It was determined that there
were more cons than pros, therefore Amendment L.1 tries to go back
into the legislation and change back the structure of the transfer
of power so that the [Office of the] Attorney General's Office is
responsible for the 'lion's share' of ethics advise, and
complaints, resolution and dismissal, and even over sighting in
conjunction with the designated supervisors in the executive
branch. Only at the point when an issue goes to hearing will the
Personnel Board probably will take an active role except with one
change. Right now when the attorney general settles or dismisses
a complaint - that really can't be undone, the bill doesn't seek to
give the Personnel Board power to undo those resolutions or
dismissals it does give the Personnel Board the power to, if they
find that the resolution or dismissal is grossly inconsistent with
the provisions of AS 39.52, to tell the subject that they're going
to publicize the resolution of the dismissal. The number of cases
that this will likely happen is probably very small because very
often when (indisc.) he negotiates a resolution, makes public
disclosure a provision of it in the interest of executive branch
ethics." Mr. Brown stated the seven-page amendment deletes many
references of the Personnel Board and replaces them with references
to the Office of the Attorney General.
Number 0198
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked if it just restores things to the
way they essentially are.
MR. BROWN replied essentially yes.
Number 0199
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ made a motion to adopt Amendment
LS0074\L.1, 4/3/98. There being no objections, Amendment L.1 was
adopted.
Number 0201
CHAIR JAMES asked Mr. Brown to address Amendment LS0074\L.2,
Cramer, 4/3/98.
MR. BROWN explained Amendment L.2 deals with fund-raisers happening
when people are traveling at state expense. This language puts a
prohibition in place for legislators, governor and lieutenant
governor. If you go somewhere at state expense it should have to
be incidental if you end up staying there and holding a political
fund-raiser it should not at any way be apparent to the public that
that was part of the reason there at state expense. This puts a
48-hour ban in place to try to prevent that sort of activity.
Page 17, following line 5, insert a new bill section to read:
*Sec. 21. AS 24.60.031 is amended by adding a new subsection
to read:
(c) a legislator may not travel at state expense to a place in
which the legislator plans to hold a campaign fund raising
event if the travel occurs less than 48 hours before the event
is scheduled to begin. This subsection does not prohibit a
legislator from holding a campaign fund raising event in a
place to which the legislator traveled at state expense if the
travel to the place is completed at least 48 hours before the
event was scheduled to begin.
Page 48, following line 31, insert a new subsection to read:
(b) Except for travel to the capital city, an elected official
may not travel at state expense to a place in which the
official plans to hold a campaign fund raising event if the
travel occurs less than 48 hours before the event is scheduled
to begin. This subsection does not prohibit an elected
official from holding a campaign fund raising event in a place
to which the elected official traveled at state expense if the
travel to the place is completed at least 48 hours before the
event was scheduled to begin. In this subsection, "elected
official" means the governor or the lieutenant governor.
Number 0210
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stated, "I drive home at the end of
session ... they want to have a fund-raising event for me when I
get there, they can't do it."
MR. BROWN replied they can after 48-hours or if you don't take your
state reimbursement for the drive. If it were 48-hours after you
got home state expense would cover your reimbursement.
Number 0213
CHAIR JAMES stressed she didn't think that was ever the intent of
this amendment, there should be an exception when you go home at
the end of the legislative session. She suggested they include
that as an amendment to this amendment.
MR. BROWN indicated that was discussed with the drafter as an
exemption for adjourning travel not for convening travel.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ remarked if you don't want people to
travel at state expense solely or primarily to have a fund-raising
event, and if that's the case why don't we just say it that way.
CHAIR JAMES asked for a motion to adopt Amendment L.2 for
discussion and amending if needed.
Number 0222
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS made a motion to adopt proposed Amendment
L.2 for discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN objected.
CHAIR JAMES noted there is an objection. Chair James said she
believes it should be amended that in the adjourning trip home,
especially when they are limited to any campaigning while in the
capital and there is so little time, going home should not be the
issue.
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS said he is totally against the amendment
since he lives in Kenai and makes many trips to Anchorage. He
indicated this means he can't go into Anchorage two days prior to,
a function or committee meeting, or something like that. He will
be voting against it if it is a 48-hour thing.
CHAIR JAMES responded it is not proper for her to fly from
Fairbanks to Anchorage to attend fund-raising. She indicated she
has either paid her own way or used her campaign funds to pay and
has not traveled to Anchorage for a fund-raiser on state pay
because she doesn't believe it's right.
Number 0234
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS continued. He pointed out Kenai is so close
to Anchorage that he will make several trips back and forth. If he
has business the day before (an Oil and Gas Committee meeting) and
travels on a state warrant and returns to Kenai and the following
day travel to Anchorage on his own money for a fund-raiser that
would unduly restrict him for the compensation of traveling the day
before. He said they're assuming that you...
CHAIR JAMES stressed the four days is a problem in the amendment.
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS read the amendment which addresses traveling
at state expense and travel that occurs less than 48 hours before
the event is scheduled to begin. He stressed if he makes a round-
trip on Tuesday and attends a fund-raiser on Wednesday...
CHAIR JAMES reiterated this isn't going to work.
MR. BROWN remarked he believes the drafter deleted another sentence
when she put the legislative language in there. He indicated at
that time they were only dealing with the governor.
Number 0246
CHAIR JAMES noted the governor is what prompted them on the issue
of whether or not he should be raising funds while they are in a
legislative session when someone is running against him. She said,
"We tried to solve on the floor ... so now he can't. That means he
can go visit somebody, any place in the state, and have a fund-
raiser while he's there. Unless we put something in here, that's
still allowed. I don't think it should be, and I think it's fair
for both of us to not." She asked that this amendment be withdrawn
for now and move onto the next amendment.
Number 0254
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS removed his motion to adopt Amendment L.2.
CHAIR JAMES indicated they need to talk to the drafter.
Number 0255
MR. BROWN said Amendment LS0074\L.3, Cramer, 4/3/98, attempts to
remedy an apparent oversight in the personnel Act that permits
exempt employees to run for office while keeping their jobs.
Presently it would mean you could be the commissioner of
Administration and you could run for state Senate while you're the
commissioner even though you couldn't do it if you were the
commissioner's secretary. He remarked that's probably not the best
possible public policy, there's only one example where someone who
was in an exempt position decided to run for office (in the prior
administration to this one) and that person was removed by his
commissioner.
MR. BROWN stated, "The problem, by just putting the entire exempt
service into the category of state employees who immediately resign
their positions upon running for state office, is that there are a
lot of people on the exempt service who don't want to (indisc.) in
- all teachers - everyone who works for the university. This list
attempts to go through the list of persons in the personnel Act
(the second page of the amendment is a photocopy of the list of
whose in the exempt service from the personnel Act) and it picks
from that list certain categories of persons. Representative
Berkowitz had suggested five of them at the outset, and working
with the drafter several more persons that don't seem to be
particularly unfit to run for public office due to the high-
sensitive nature of their exempt political position or while
they're holding both have been exempted - people on the welfare
program, people who work in the "Challenge" program, young people
who are in the 'youth corps challenge program,' people who work
steady (Indisc.)university (indisc.). There's no real public
policy - it assumes in preventing them from running for office like
there is for those who higher-level political appointees getting a
state paycheck and then running while they're holding that state
office."
Page 38, following line 29: Insert a new bill section to
read:
*Sec. 66. AS 39.25.160(e) is amended to read:
(e) An employee in the classified, [OR] partially exempt, or
exempt service who seeks nomination or becomes a
candidate for state or national elective political office
shall immediately resign any position held in the state
service. The employee's position becomes vacant on the
date the employee files a declaration of candidacy for
state or national elective office. This subsection does
not apply to
(1) a justice, judges, magistrates, and employees of the
judicial branch, including employees of the judicial
branch, including employees of the judicial council;
(2) the governor or the lieutenant governor;
(3) a member of the legislature;
(4) an employee seeking election as a delegate to a
constitutional convention;
(5) officers and employees of the University of Alaska;
(6) certificated teachers and noncertificated employees
employed by a regional educational attendance area
established and organized under AS 14.08.031 - 14.08.041
to teach in, administer, or operated schools under the
control of a regional educational attendance area school
board;
(7) certificated teachers employed by the Department of
Education as correspondence teachers, teachers in skill
centers operated by the Department of Education, or
teachers at Mt. Edgecumbe School;
(8) members of boards and commissions and authorities if the
member is not entitled to compensation other than per
diem and travel for service on the board, commission, or
authority;
(9) emergency fire-fighting personnel by the Department of
Natural Resources for a fire emergency or for fire
prevention and related activities conducted under AS
41.15.030;
(10) youth employed by the Department of Natural Resources
under the Youth Employment and Student Intern programs;
(11) students employed by the state institutions in which the
students are enrolled;
(12) persons engaged in employment or pre-employment training
programs operated by the Department of Military and
Veteran's Affairs;
(13) a participant in the Alaska temporary assistance program
under AS 47.27 who holds a temporary position with the
state in order to obtain job training or experience.
Number 0272
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ made a motion to move Amendment L.3 for
discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN objected. He said he is uncomfortable with the
whole position of limiting how people can make a living because
they want to take part in the political process. Representative
Ryan pointed out two representatives had to resign before they ran
for office. He asked why does a person have to give up their
career because they want to take part in the political process.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ responded this takes away that
restriction, this opens it up.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN asked it that is going to include people
working here whose legislative system...
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said these people as he understands, who
are listed, can now run for office as opposed to not being able to
run for office before.
Number 0279
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS remarked there still would be a restriction,
there would be some people that could not run for public office
without resigning.
CHAIR JAMES asked Mr. Brown to tell the committee again who these
people are.
MR BROWN noted they would be employees of the legislature,
commissioners of departments, legislative aides, and special
assistants to commissioners. People in the partial-exempt service
in a lot of these positions -- deputy directors already cannot run,
it's the higher-level people in the executive branch that are not
covered by this law. All the secretaries are prohibited from
running for state office while they have that job, many of their
bosses are not, that's the inconsistency in the current law.
Number 0286
MR. BROWN stated, "By going through this list and being very
specific about who in the exempt service is not being made to
resign upon running for office, we actually put a little amount of
protection - a bubble around some other people. Like officers and
employees of the University of Alaska, certificated teachers and
noncertificated teachers employed by an REAA (Rural Education
Attendance Area), the teachers at Mt. Edgecumbe, members of boards
and commissions."
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN interjected that he is not going to let
teachers run for office while other people are restricted.
CHAIR JAMES asked Representative Ryan if he was saying that he
wants people to keep their jobs, but if they're teachers he
doesn't.
Number 0292
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN replied everybody. This amendment restricts
certain people and allows other people -- it's bologna. He
believes it should be all or none. Anybody can exercise their
privileges as a citizen, stand as a candidate, or nobody can.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ reiterated that this opens it more than it
is now.
Number 0298
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON pointed out in some cases it calls for
difficult decisions on the part of people who opt to run for public
office. For example, Representative Elton said he had a very high-
paying job in the exempt state service when he made the decision to
run he resigned his job because he thought it would be awkward for
him to control a budget of $15 million at the same time that he was
running for legislative office. He said he believes that that's
the appropriate decision, and thinks that's a decision that ought
to be enforced on a lot of other people in the exempt state
service. He indicated the difficulty that he has is that his
clerical staff and some of the nonprofessional staff were also
exempt state employees. Representative Elton asked, "How do you
craft a perfect law that would allow them to do that because I
think it's probably more appropriate if they didn't control the
budget? I don't know. I support this because I think this opens
it up a little bit more than it was before, especially for those in
the teaching service, but it is a difficult decision."
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN reiterated, "If we're going to hold people
down, let's hold everybody down, or we're going to open it up and
let everybody have a chance."
Number 0311
CHAIR JAMES said she tends to agree on both sides of this issue,
however, she believes there is a common line. Even though they
will be running for office (without having much time for
campaigning) she doesn't see how anybody can continue to do their
work and run for office. Chair James said, "If you're on the state
payroll ... it seems to me like maybe resigning isn't the issue but
certainly taking a leave-without-pay is because you ought not to be
being paid while you're campaigning because you can't possibly be
doing your work, and you're getting paid while you're campaigning.
... The perception by the public, that if you are running for
office, which is a very intensive thing to do and you're still on
the state payroll that that's wrong. ... It doesn't seem reasonable
to me that a challenger should be able to have it both ways."
Number 0323
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS offered a proposed amendment, along that
line, to Amendment L.3, line 6, which would read:
Office shall immediately resign or take leave-without-pay for
any position held in the state service.
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS indicated this does what Representative Ryan
and Chair James would like to see.
CHAIR JAMES said it does, however, she doesn't believe it applies
to Representative Ryan's concerns.
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS explained the rest of the list then would
not have to take leave-without-pay.
Number 0329
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ objected. He said he might be willing to
contemplate this amendment if people in the private sector resigned
from their positions or went on leave-without-pay in order to run.
Representative Berkowitz said, "I think what this does is unfair to
people in the public sector - to say that they can't do their jobs
- the option is always available. Now we want to ensure that they
do their jobs correctly, that's what we have supervisorial
structure for, that's what we have this whole (indisc.) all this
ethical codes to ensure. But, when we put public employees in a
different position than private employees that's unfair. We talk
a lot about making government more like private industry, one of
the ways we can do it is let public employees run for office just
like private employees."
CHAIR JAMES remarked there is a vast difference between private
employment and public employment because we all pay for the public
employment and most of the decisions that the legislature makes
affect that public employment. If you need to quit your job on
private employment, that's up to your employer not to the public
because your job is not assumed to have any conflict with the job
you are running for.
Number 0339
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS further explained that his amendment would
allow people in Amendment L.3, line 4, to keep their job, to take
a leave-without-pay otherwise under this section they would have to
quit or they can't run. He reiterated this would allow them to
keep their job and run for office and then be reinstated into their
job.
(e) An employee in the classified, partially exempt, or exempt
service who seeks nomination or becomes a candidate for...
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ responded a lot of people he knows in
public service have accumulated vast amounts of leave, compensated
leave time, if they choose to use that leave and run for public
office they should be allowed to do that. Or alternatively,
someone can run for office, just put their name on the ballot and
not do any active campaigning. He said there's all kinds of ways
of running for office. Some of us are more vigorous than others.
Some times it's just a question of mailing things out, and getting
on Television and radio. He mentioned he's a door knocker himself
but not everybody's going to adopt that tactic.
Number 0346.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN said, "We live in a political arena constantly
in this business and I happen to look at the actions as to what the
political consequences may be. If I recall correctly from last
election, the opposition to my party ran 16 candidates and lost 16
races, they had a net loss of minus three. Obviously their
candidate pool has been diminished somewhat. Opening this up here
allows a whole new group of individuals to enter the arena and I
don't think that, being a political animal, that I want to do that.
I like my own survival and it was rough enough to start with and
I'm not going to aid and abet the opposition no matter how loyal
and wonderful people they are in helping them further their
political agenda, so I'm not going to support this."
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated for the record, "Anything that we can
do to encourage any Alaskan to run for public office is a good step
and I get a little bit upset when I hear people argue that some
people ought not run because it reduces somebody's candidate pool.
I think that any Alaskan who wants to run ought to be able to run.
I will offer my first candidacy for elected state office as a good
example, my opponent was an honorable person, he was a state
employee, he was a teacher and I think that everyone of the voters
in my district benefited from his participation in one of the most
important public processes that we go through. So any argument
that is used to preclude those people from running..."
CHAIR JAMES interjected that she let him rebut to Representative
Ryan's comment that really had nothing necessarily to do with
whether or not this amendment to the amendment is appropriate.
CHAIR JAMES reread the amendment.
TAPE 98-51, SIDE B
Number 0042
CHAIR JAMES said that's a whole different issue whether you're paid
or not paid in this case. She asked if there was any objection to
the amendment to the amendment.
Number 0045
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON offered a friendly amendment to the amendment.
He suggested it read, "or take any leave" for any position, that
leaves it open for annual leave or leave-without-pay.
CHAIR JAMES stated that totally changes the amendment to the
amendment and would have to be a separate amendment.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said if Representative Hodgins can
withdraw his amendment then we could maybe...
Number 0049
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS withdrew his amendment. There being no
objection, the amendment to the amendment was withdrawn.
Number 0052
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON offered his amendment to the amendment. After
the word resign, line 6, suggested adding "or take leave from":
or take leave from any position held in the state service.
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS objected.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON spoke on his amendment to the amendment. He
said, "What we're doing is we're broadening the pool of people and
we're increasing the options that a person may have if they make a
decision to run for public office."
CHAIR JAMES said, "I think what this does is contrary to the intent
of this piece of legislation that allows them to continue to
receive funds from the state or from the public entity while
they're running which is not the intent of this legislation so I'm
objecting."
CHAIR JAMES asked for a roll call vote. Representatives Hodgins,
Elton and Berkowitz voted in support of the amendment to the
amendment. Representative James and Ryan voted against it.
Therefore, the amendment to the amendment passed and was before the
committee.
CHAIR JAMES stated the amendment is before the committee and asked
if there were objections to the amendment.
Number 0067
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN objected.
CHAIR JAMES asked for a roll call vote on Amendment LS0074\L.3 as
amended. Representatives Hodgins, Berkowitz and Elton voted in
support of the amendment. Representative James voted against it.
Number 0081
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON asked a procedural question. With eight
members on a committee do we have a quorum now and can we adopt a
motion.
CHAIR JAMES said you're right we can't.
CHAIR JAMES asked for an at-ease for approximately eight minutes
for the purpose of obtaining a quorum.
Number 0084
CHAIR JAMES called the meeting back to order.
Number 0088
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ made a motion to adopt Amendment LS0074\
L.3 as amended.
MR. BROWN explained the amendment to Representative Sanders.
Number 0105
CHAIR JAMES objected to the amendment and asked for a roll call
vote. Representatives Berkowitz, Hodgins, and Elton voted in
support of the amendment. Representatives Sanders and James voted
against it. Therefore, the Amendment L.3 passed.
CHAIR JAMES announced the next one up is L.4.
Number 0110
MR. BROWN addressed Amendment LS0074\L.4, Cramer, 4/3/98. He said,
"L.4 deals with, in the Executive Branch Ethics Act, a moratorium
on the receipt and official consideration of complaints by the
Ethics Committee in a period immediately preceding a campaign. The
policy goal here is to prevent the politicization of the ethics
process by taking away the committee's ability to actually
literally receive the complaint from a complainant and begin
determining whether or not it's valid and all the other stuff that
(indisc.) forward in the ethics process."
MR. BROWN continued, "The mechanics are, that if in the campaign
period (which is 45 days before the primary or the day you file,
whichever is later), once that campaign period clock starts ticking
if someone files a complaint against you, Suzie [Barnett] would
have to say to the complainant, 'I'm sorry we're in a campaign
period, I hereby return this to you, you're free to bring it back.'
However, once the campaign period is over, that campaign period
ends the day after the primary (if you lose the primary), or the
day after you're reelected. ... The candidate does have the option,
however, 11 days after the notification by the committee that an
attempt to file the complaint was received to waive the provisions
of this amendment. The goal there being that if you're so sure
you're innocent, you're not afraid to have the Ethics Committee
investigating you while you're running for office, you have the
right to waive this protection."
Page 28, Line 30, following ".": Insert:
The committee shall respond to a complaint concerning the
conduct of a candidate for election to state office received
during the campaign period in accordance with (o) of this
section.
Page 32, following line 8: Insert a new bill section to read:
*Sec. 52. AS 24.60.170 is amended by adding a new subsection
to read:
(o) The committee shall return a complaint concerning the
conduct of a candidate for state office received during a
campaign period to the complainant unless the subject of the
complaint permits the committee to assume jurisdiction under
this subsection. If the committee receives a complaint
concerning the conduct of a candidate during the campaign
period, the committee shall immediately notify the subject of
the complaint of the receipt of the complaint, of the
suspension of the committee's jurisdiction during the campaign
period, and of the candidate's right to waive the suspension
of jurisdiction under this subsection. The candidate may,
within 11 days after the committee mails or otherwise sends
notice of the complaint to the candidate, notify the committee
that the candidate chooses to have the committee proceed with
the complaint under this section. If the candidate does not
act within that time or if the candidate notifies the
committee that the candidate is not waiving the suspension of
committee jurisdiction, the committee shall return the
complaint to the complainant with notice of the suspension of
jurisdiction under this subsection and of the right of the
complainant to file the complaint after the end of the
campaign period. A campaign period under this subsection
begins on the later of 45 days before a primary election in
which the legislator or legislative employee is a candidate
for state office or the day on which the individual files as
a candidate for state office and ends at the close of election
day for the general or special election in which the
individual is a candidate or on the day that the candidate
withdraws from the election, if earlier. For a candidate who
loses in the primary election, the campaign period ends on the
day that results of the primary election showing that another
individual won the election are certified.
Number 0125
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON made a motion to move Amendment L.4, Cramer,
4/3/98. He asked Mr. Brown, "Under the effective dates of the bill
you put Section 52 would take effect in January 1, 1999 and so this
would not apply to this campaign year. Could you tell me why
you've got it with that effective date when there are a couple of
other effective dates?"
MR. BROWN replied, "Merely because there's 114 sections in the
bill. Rather than go through and pick out which ones needed to be
effective now or then, there's kind of a default delayed effective
date, especially to the executive branch changes to give them time
to prepare for the changes. There may in the provisions to the
legislative ethics code that are good I think and it would be nice
to have them go into effect earlier. I just didn't want to have
such a 'salt and pepper' approach, that it was really confusing
what was going into effect when. So the effort here is to make a
very minimal number of things going into effect immediately -- and
the vast majority of the rest of them."
Number 0137
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS remarked we had questions yesterday
concerning a time period. He asked if that was going to be
reflected somewhere or should that be inserted in this.
MR. BROWN replied, "I think that needs to be another amendment to
[AS] 24.60.170, but it's not going to be in subsection (o). I will
be happy to work with you in this committee or hypothetically in
the next committee of referral to make sure we have a concrete
proposal on the idea of whether or not it's any more appropriate
for the Ethics Committee to release a decision immediately before
an election than it is for them to start proceedings since both
actions by the Ethics Committee obviously can have an effect on the
political process. I don't think it's possible to tweak this, and
I certainly didn't try to between yesterday and today." He
indicated he would get something drafted on this.
CHAIR JAMES asked if there were objections to Amendment L.4.
Number 0149
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON said what bothers him the most is it's
assuming that any complaint that is filed during an election period
is politically driven. There are going to be cases in the future
in which a complaint is a justified complaint. When you have those
kinds of situations, he believes it's important that the public
know, or that there is some kind of a resolution before an election
period. He may end up voting for this, but we're just assuming
that all complaints about a (indisc.) person's activities are going
to be politically motivated. Representative Elton said he doesn't
believe all of them will be and those that aren't ought to be part
of the political debate that occurs before a campaign is finished.
Number 0156
CHAIR JAMES gave an analogy. She said we make these decisions all
the time, if there are more offenders than there are nonoffenders,
generally bring everybody down to the level of offenders - we do it
on every piece of legislation that has to do with crime or other
restrictions and that's what we're doing here. If most of the
complaints are politically motivated, then we're bringing them down
and saying no one can do it. Chair James understood Representative
Elton's concerns but noted that's the way our system works.
Number 0161
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ objected.
Number 0162
CHAIR JAMES asked for a roll call vote on Amendment L.4.
Representatives, Hodgins, Sanders, Elton, and James voted in favor
of the amendment. Representative Berkowitz voted against it.
Therefore, Amendment L. 4 was adopted.
Number 0166
MR. BROWN noted Amendment LS0074\L.5, Cramer, 4/3/98, deals with
the campaign finance provisions of the bill that were already dealt
with by both the House and Senate and their respective passages of
SB 275. SB 275 allows the governor to raise money during a session
and allows legislators who are running for the office of governor
to also raise money during a session, it does not allow by default
legislators running for the legislature to raise money during a
session. The original approach of the bill was to create one
category of candidacy called "state office" that included all
legislators, governor and lieutenant governor. Because we're going
to have a different standard about when money can be raised by
either the executive branch or legislative branch, depending on the
office they're seeking not the office they're currently holding,
this amendment is necessary. Amendment L.5 removes all the
references to "state office" and replaces them with bifurcated
reference to either governor, lieutenant governor, or legislature.
The net effect is to permit legislators who are running for the
office of governor to raise money during a legislative session and
also to allow legislators who are running for the legislature to
raise money during a "special session" if it's within 90 days of
the election when they're running.
Number 0179
Mr. Brown concluded, "If this amendment doesn't pass, and also if
the bill doesn't pass, none of you will be able to raise money
during a special session that's held this coming election."
Page 2, line 6, through page 4, line 29: Delete all material
and insert:
(d) A candidate or an individual who has filed with the
commission the document necessary to permit that individual to
incur election-related expenses under AS 15.13.100 for
election or reelection to the state legislature may not
solicit or accept a contribution while [IF] the legislature is
convened in a regular or special legislative session unless [,
AND] the solicitation or acceptance occurs during the 90 days
immediately preceding an election in which the candidate or
individual is a candidate [MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, OR
EMPLOYED AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATOR'S STAFF OR AS A MEMBER
OF THE STAFF OF A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE].
*Sec.3. AS 15.13.074(c) is amended to read:
(c) a person or group may not make a contribution
(1) to a candidate for governor or lieutenant governor or an
individual who files with the commission the document
necessary to permit that individual to incur certain election-
related expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100 for governor or
lieutenant governor, [WHEN THE OFFICE IS TO BE FILLED AT A GENERAL
ELECTION,] before the later of the following dates:
(A) the date the individual
(i) becomes a candidate; or
(ii) files with the commission the document necessary to
permit the individual to incur certain election-related
expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100; or
(B) January 1 of the year of the [GENERAL] election when the
office is to be filled at a general election or the date
of the proclamation when the office is to be filled at a
special election;
(2) to a candidate for the state legislature or an individual
who files with the commission the document necessary to
permit that individual to incur certain election-related
expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100 for the state
legislature [. WHEN THE OFFICE IS TO BE FILLED AT A
GENERAL ELECTION.] while the legislature is convened in
a regular or special legislative session, unless the
contribution is made during the 90 days immediately
preceding an election in which the candidate or
individual is a candidate, or [AND] before the later of
the following dates:
(A) the date the individual
(i) becomes a candidate; or
(ii) files with the commission the document necessary to
permit the individual to incur certain election-related
expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100; or
(B) January 1 of the year of the [GENERAL] election;
(3) to a candidate or an individual who files with the
commission the document necessary to permit that
individual to incur certain election-related expenses as
authorized by AS 15.13.100 for an office that is to be
filled at a [SPECIAL ELECTION OR] municipal election
before the later of the following dates:
(A) the date the individual
(i) becomes a candidate; or
(ii) files with the commission the document necessary to
permit that individual to incur certain election-related
expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100:
(B) the date that is nine months before the date of the
[GENERAL OR REGULAR] municipal election [OR THAT IS
BEFORE THE DATE OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE SPECIAL
ELECTION AT WHICH THE CANDIDATE OR INDIVIDUAL SEEKS
ELECTION TO PUBLIC OFFICE]; or
(4) to any candidate later than the 45th day
(A) after the date of a primary election if the candidate
(i) has been nominated at the primary election or is running
as a write-in candidate; and
(ii) is not opposed at the general election;
(B) after the date of the primary election if the candidate
was not nominated at the primary election; or
(C) after the date of the general election, or after the date
of a municipal runoff election, if the candidate was
opposed at the general municipal, or municipal runoff
election.
Number 0183
CHAIR JAMES asked what is the effective date.
MR. BROWN replied it is set up to become effective immediately - if
you look at the final sections of the proposed House Committee
Substitute.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stated, "It was my understanding that we
could raise funds in a special session if it was within 90 days
prior to an election."
MR. BROWN replied he does not believe that exemption is in law and
he knows it's not included in SB 105. The reason is because of the
changes that were affected in SB 275.
Number 0192
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ made a motion to adopt Amendment L.5.
CHAIR JAMES asked if there was an objection to Amendment L.5.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER replied tentatively, possibly.
Number 0195
SUZIE BARNETT, Professional Assistant, Legislative Ethics
Committee, asked (on the net affect, when we make these changes)
what happens to legislative staff because they pulled out and we
get a new designation in here of legislators, can legislative staff
now raise money during sessions or not.
CHAIR JAMES said she thinks the way the law is written no
challengers or no one can raise money during a legislative session.
Only in a special session when it's within 90 days of the election.
MR. BROWN added, "It would already still be illegal in the
legislative ethics law for staff to be candidates or to raise money
to solicit or accept..."
CHAIR JAMES stated staff would have to quit before they file.
Number 0206
CHAIR JAMES asked if the objection was maintained.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ referred to Section (3), page 2, a person
may not make a contribution "to a candidate or an individual who
files with the commission the document necessary to permit that
individual to incur certain election-related expenses as authorized
by AS 15.13.100 for an office that is to be filled at a municipal
election before the later of the following dates":
MR. BROWN explained that's when the clock starts ticking to when
you can make your donations and it's nine months. That's the
provision of the Campaign Finance Act passed to supersede the
voters' initiative. The importance there, for those who might run
for a municipal office in Anchorage, is that nine months is that
half of the nine months is going to run through the legislative
session.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ indicated he is not anxious to see them to
be able to raise funds during a legislative session.
MR. BROWN concluded they won't until the 90 days kicks in, but it
would be unfair not to give them 90 days if you're giving yourself
90 days...
Number 0219
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said he wanted to ensure that a legislator
running for a municipal office is limited by the requirements of
the restrictions of the office sought, not the office held.
MR. BROWN replied, "Yes, that's the effect (indisc.) in SB 275 and
this goes through this bill and conforms its changes to the rest of
the statute..."
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stressed, "I just want to be real clear
that we accept this change, understanding that there are some
serious risks that the public is going to perceive impropriety with
legislators who seek money - and runs for other offices. I just
want to be clear on that, it's more of a caveat to people who are
raising funds particularly other offices."
Number 0230
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON said, "Ben [ Mr. Brown], let me make sure I
understand the effects of this, you're deleting a lot of language
and it seems to me that some of the language which you're deleting
includes language on page 3, lines 14 and 15, which was a House
change that allows candidates to begin raising money on June 1 of
the year before an election. You're not putting that provision
back in this language - if that's the case I applaud you, thank you
very much. So this maintains the prohibition on fund-raising in
off years."
MR. BROWN replied yes it does.
Number 0236
CHAIR JAMES asked if the objection is maintained on Amendment L.5.
There being none, Amendment L.5 was adopted.
Number 0237
MR. BROWN said, as he mentioned before, unless there's someone on
the committee who wants to reinstate the ban on spousal lobbying
they don't need to consider Amendment L.6. He said he would make
sure it's available to the members of the Finance Committee.
Number 0239
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS made a motion to move Amendment LS0074\L.8,
Cramer, 4/8/98, by Representative Ryan (because he has another
meeting scheduled).
Page 37, following line 19: Insert a new bill section to
read:
*Sec.63. AS 24.60 is amended by adding a new section to read:
Sec.24.60.975. Liability for fling a frivolous legislative
ethics complaint.
A person who files a complaint against a legislator under AS
24.60.170 and that the complaint is frivolous or that the
committee lacks jurisdiction to consider it is liable to the
subject of the complaint if the complaint is dismissed under
AS 24.60.170(c) as frivolous or because the committee's lack
of jurisdiction is apparent on the face of the complaint. The
subject of the complaint may recover the greater of actual
damages or $5,000 from the person who filed the complaint.
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS offered a proposed amendment by deleting the
word "the" so it now reads "and that complaint is frivolous."
CHAIR JAMES suggested deleting the word "that" and leaving the word
"the."
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS agreed.
Number 0251
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ objected for purposes of discussion.
Number 0255
CHAIR JAMES asked if there was objection to the amendment to the
amendment [Amendment L.5]. There being none, it was adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked Ms. Barnett how is a determination
made that a complaint is frivolous.
MS. BARNETT noted she didn't have a copy of the amendment. [Being
faxed]. She said, "We're not actually allowed to do that yet, so
I guess this amendment addresses that - part of the bill that talks
about us being able to do that."
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ suggested Representative Hodgins withdraw
the amendment until such time is appropriate to discuss it.
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS said he would just as soon keep the
amendment in.
Number 0264
CHAIR JAMES suggested they leave it in and address "frivolous"
before they move the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ replied he thinks they're putting the cart
before the horse if they do that - we've done it before.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON said, "The thing that bothers me about this
amendment, is that I think that there are a lot of people that -
this is like throwing cold water on some people. There are a lot
of people that may be precluded from even approaching the ethics
committee if, in fact they don't know what frivolous means. It's
one thing to have the committee to determine it, and I think the
committee is good, and I think the committee probably can make a
determination, but I have a feeling that with this law, there's
going to be a lot of people that won't even approach the committee
because they don't know what frivolous means."
CHAIR JAMES said she believes everybody knows what frivolous means.
Number 0274
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said unfortunately, that kind of clarity
doesn't exist in the law and there are reams of cases discussing
whether an issue is frivolous or not. There is a possibility of
determining, with greater clarity, what it is. He indicated
there's a bill that went through the Judiciary Committee where they
talked about the standards in Civil Rule 11, for the first time in
legislation there was a description of what constituted frivolous.
CHAIR JAMES said she thought they could borrow it, but they didn't
have it before them. She suggested they deal with that later.
Chair James asked for a vote.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said he didn't want to be in a position of
denying the chair a quorum, but he didn't think there was enough
time to vote on this issue - he is not prepared to vote.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON jokingly said to Representative Berkowitz, "If
you pour me a cup of coffee I'll go with you."
Number 0288
MR. BROWN explained they are putting in the ability of the
committee to determine if a complaint is frivolous. There isn't a
definition in the bill as yet, so that's very much a valuable
question. It's going to become much more important for there to be
a definition if there's going to be a penalty attached than if it's
merely an action that the committee can take to dismiss.
MS. BARNETT said she thinks the [ethics] committee would like the
opportunity for complaints that appear frivolous - how you drive,
or with purple hair - to not have to spend time and money on them.
But when you put a fine on it, we may be talking about people who
lack the mental capability at times to understand the law, and to
determine if something is within the ethics code, if it's frivolous
or not. You would be fining some people whom she didn't think they
intend this for.
CHAIR JAMES said it doesn't say that the ethics committee is going
to impose a penalty, it says that there has to be a case. She
thinks they can sue and get up to $5,000 or their actual damages
whichever is the higher.
MS. BARNETT stated so they would sue in court.
Number 0309
CHAIR JAMES replied that's what it looks like to her, it doesn't
say anything about it being a fine. It look like they'll have to
file a case against them for that. She doesn't know that it's
necessarily up to the Legislative Ethics Committee to determine for
sure that it's frivolous. It reads:
The subject of the complaint may recover the greater of actual
damages or $5,000 from the person who filed the complaint.
MS. BARNETT said Chair James is right, it isn't the ethics
committee setting any fines or recommending any fines. She
concluded that she doesn't know who finds it to be frivolous then.
CHAIR JAMES stressed that it would have to be determined in a
hearing of some sort.
Number 0315
REPRESENTATIVE HODGINS asked Representative Berkowitz, "In the
court function, this would obviously go to court, what kind of
discovery must there be made to establish frivolous. That's not a
new word for the court, so it must already be decided. I don't
think we need to identify what frivolous means in this because it
will be the court that will decide."
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said his read on the way this is written
right now is that might wind up being the ethics committee
determining whether a complaint is frivolous, and Ms. Barnett said
she didn't think it was that.
CHAIR JAMES asked isn't there some place in this piece of
legislation that indicates that if it is frivolous they can send it
back. Currently they have to review every case, this way it gives
them the chance to send it back if it appears to be frivolous.
Number 0322
MR. BROWN referred to page 29, lines 13 to 17:
If the committee determines that the allegations, if proven,
would not give rise to a violation, that the complaint is
frivolous on its face, that there is insufficient credible
information that can be uncovered to warrant further
investigation by the committee, or that [IF] the committee's
lack of jurisdiction is apparent on the face of the complaint,
the committee shall dismiss the complaint[,] and shall notify
the complainant and the subject of the complaint of the
dismissal.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stressed if the committee determines, if
it's frivolous, then there's no action pursuit. He asked Ms.
Barnett if this was right.
MS. BARNETT replied that would be correct, there would not be any
money spent or action.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ stated, "Then it's gone, so there's no
damages. If you get something that's frivolous on its face, the
legislature never sees it really until it's gone."
Number 0329
MS. BARNETT responded the "legislator" would see it, the subject of
the complaint always sees a complaint. She assumed even under the
frivolous category.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ remarked someone said they didn't like
Representative Berkowitz' tie for example, you [Ms. Barnett] said
this was a frivolous complaint but you let me know about it.
MS. BARNETT replied correct.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said I have not suffered any actual
damages.
MS. BARNETT said that would be her take.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said what we're doing is really just
talking about the sleeves in someone's vest, it's really not an
issue.
Number 0334
CHAIR JAMES referred to Amendment L.8, line 10 [beginning on line
9] which says "The subject of the complaint may recover the greater
of actual damages or $5,000..." If there aren't any damages they
still could get $5,000, but it doesn't tell her that they're going
to get that without going to court. The only evidence that they
would have would be the complaint that was filed, the subject of
this complaint also gets a notice of that, and quite frankly the
newspaper will have notice of it, she can't imagine anybody filing
a frivolous ethics complaint and not having anybody know about it.
Chair James concluded she doesn't necessarily think the ethics
committee has to necessarily determine that. If they do determine
one that's frivolous and it ends up going to court, and it wasn't,
then there might be a problem with the ethics committee not having
done their job well.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON said he didn't think there's anything that
precludes a person from pursuing a civil action now on a frivolous
claim that's either liable or slanderous. He said they may just be
restating something that's already out there, if in fact this
requires no action by the Legislative Ethics Committee.
CHAIR JAMES mentioned, "I (indisc.) those same people who
Representative Berkowitz says doesn't seem to know what's frivolous
might see and that was his concern that we're going to deter people
from filing complaints. If that's the intent, then this might do
that."
Number 0353
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON mentioned that was his point. He indicated
there are a lot of people who see the world differently then they
do, there are a lot of people in the body that see the world
differently. Just because they do, it doesn't mean that their view
is frivolous.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ said, "What we're really striking at here
is not frivolous law suits, what we're striking at here is abuse of
process. If there were an amendment that addressed the abuse of
process, where people were attempting to use the ethics complaint
as a 'sword' instead of a 'shield,' then I would be more receptive
to it."
CHAIR JAMES announced they are going to leave Amendment L.8 on the
table.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 0367
CHAIR JAMES adjourned the House State Affairs Standing Committee at
9:44 a.m.
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