03/11/2024 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB17 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
March 11, 2024
1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Matt Claman, Chair
Senator Jesse Kiehl, Vice Chair
Senator James Kaufman
Senator Löki Tobin
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Cathy Giessel
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 17
"An Act relating to political contributions; and providing for
an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 17
SHORT TITLE: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KAWASAKI
01/18/23 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23
01/18/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/23 (S) STA, JUD
04/27/23 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/27/23 (S) Heard & Held
04/27/23 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/06/23 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/06/23 (S) Moved SB 17 Out of Committee
05/06/23 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/08/23 (S) STA RPT 2DP 1NR
05/08/23 (S) DP: KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI
05/08/23 (S) NR: BJORKMAN
01/19/24 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
01/19/24 (S) Heard & Held
01/19/24 (S) MINUTE(JUD)
03/11/24 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
BREANNA KAKARUK, Staff
Senator Matt Claman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the explanation of changes for
SB 17 from version A to version B.
HEATHER HEBDON, Executive Director
Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the discussion of
SB 17.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:31:01 PM
CHAIR MATT CLAMAN called the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the call to order were
Senators Kiehl, Tobin, and Chair Claman. Senator Kaufman arrived
immediately thereafter.
SB 17-CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
1:31:28 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 17
"An Act relating to political contributions; and providing for
an effective date."
CHAIR CLAMAN said this is the second hearing of SB 17 in the
Senate Judiciary Committee. There is a proposed committee
substitute (CS). He invited Ms. Kakaruk to put herself on the
record to present the explanation of changes for the committee
substitute.
1:31:55 PM
SENATOR KAUFMAN joined the meeting.
1:32:08 PM
BREANNA KAKARUK, Staff, Senator Matt Claman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the explanation of
changes for SB 17 from version A to version B:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Senate Bill 17 version B rewrites the language in
version A. The language from version B that replaces
the language from version A is based on a current
ballot initiative, 23RCF2, which is currently in the
signature gathering phase.
The initiative: "An Act restoring campaign
contribution limits for campaigns for state and local
offices; and restoring limits on out-of-state
contributions to candidates for state and local
offices" was introduced to reinstate fair, reasonable,
and constitutional campaign contribution limits. These
limits are adjusted based on Alaska's consumer price
index rates every ten years to ensure limits remain
constitutional moving forward. The initiative was
introduced following the 2021 Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals decision to strike down Alaska's statutory
campaign contribution limits.
Version B moves from a "per-year" limit to a "per-
campaign" contribution limit and raises the campaign
contribution limits from version A to account for a
two-year fundraising period and to better adjust for
inflation.
1:33:22 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN announced that Ms. Heather Hebdon, Executive
Director, Alaska Public Offices Commission, was available to
answer questions on SB 17.
1:33:34 PM
SENATOR KIEHL noted that the explanation of changes references a
two-year cycle. He sought verification that the CS does not
alter the 18-month limitation on fundraising. For instance, a
House member could not raise money throughout their entire term.
1:33:56 PM
MS. KAKARUK replied that she will follow up with an answer.
1:34:15 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN directed the question to Ms. Hebdon.
1:34:19 PM
HEATHER HEBDON, Executive Director, Alaska Public Offices
Commission (APOC), Anchorage, Alaska, responded that she does
not have a copy of the CS. She expressed her belief that neither
the current initiative nor the CS extends the 18-month
fundraising period.
1:34:44 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN agreed, expressing his understanding that the CS
does not change the 18-month timeframe.
1:34:55 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN found no further questions.
1:35:01 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN solicited a motion to adopt the CS as the working
document.
1:35:06 PM
SENATOR KIEHL moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 17, work order 33-LS0183\B, as the working document.
1:35:19 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN found no objection and CSSB 17 was adopted as the
working document. He noted that the questions under discussion
in the Senate Judiciary Committee align with terms raised by the
ballot initiative. He expressed his belief that the initiative
would not appear on the ballot this year.
[SB 17 was held in committee.]
1:35:57 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Claman adjourned the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee
meeting at 1:35 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 17 Fiscal Note DOA-APOC 3.8.24.pdf |
SJUD 3/11/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 17 |
| SB 17 version B 3.6.2024.pdf |
SJUD 3/11/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 17 |
| SB 17 Supporting Document - 23RCF2 Ballot Initiative.pdf |
SJUD 3/11/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 17 |
| SB 17 Explanation of Changes from the Senate Judiciary Committee3.11.2024.pdf |
SJUD 3/11/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 17 |