01/30/2018 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB8 | |
| SB154 | |
| SB130 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 154 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
January 30, 2018
3:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Kevin Meyer, Chair
Senator David Wilson
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Dennis Egan
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator John Coghill
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 8
"An Act allowing federally recognized tribal governments to
receive contributions from permanent fund dividends."
- MOVED CSSB 8(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 154
"An Act relating to contributions from permanent fund dividends
to the general fund."
- MOVED SB 154 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 130
"An Act relating to a vote of the people before a broad-based
individual income tax or statewide sales tax takes effect."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 8
SHORT TITLE: PFD CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS
01/18/17 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/17
01/18/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/17 (S) STA, FIN
03/23/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/23/17 (S) Bill Hearing Postponed to 3/28/17
03/28/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/28/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/28/17 (S) MINUTE(STA)
04/06/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/06/17 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/11/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/11/17 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
01/30/18 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 154
SHORT TITLE: PFD CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL FUND
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WILSON
01/24/18 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/18 (S) STA, FIN
01/30/18 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 130
SHORT TITLE: VOTER APPROVAL FOR NEW TAXES
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MEYER
01/16/18 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/18
01/16/18 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/18 (S) STA, FIN
01/30/18 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
DOUG LETCH, Staff
Senator Stevens
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of SB 8.
NINA KEMPPEL, President & CEO
The Alaska Community Foundation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 8.
SARA RACE, Director
Permanent Fund Dividend Division
Alaska Department of Revenue
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed the division's fiscal note for SB
8.
GARY ZEPP, Staff
Senator Wilson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of SB 154.
SARA RACE, Director
Permanent Fund Dividend Division
Alaska Department of Revenue
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed potential federal tax implications
for SB 154.
NINA KEMPPEL, President & CEO
The Alaska Community Foundation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed concerns regarding SB 154.
PAMELA LEARY, Director
Treasury Division
Alaska Department of Revenue
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed the impact on the state treasury
from SB 154.
CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, Staff
Senator Meyer
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of SB 130.
EMILY NAUMAN, Attorney
Legislative Legal Services
Legislative Affairs Agency
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained why SB 130 is possibly
unconstitutional.
BRIAN JACKSON, Elections Program Manager
Alaska Division of Elections
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 130.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:11 PM
CHAIR KEVIN MEYER called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Giessel, Wilson, Egan, and Chair Meyer.
SB 8-PFD CONTRIBUTIONS TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
3:32:14 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of Senate Bill 8 (SB 8).
He noted that at a previous hearing, Senator Wilson raised a
concern pertaining to prohibition of a guardian contributing a
child's Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) to a tribal government.
3:32:59 PM
DOUG LETCH, Staff, Senator Stevens, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, said SB 8 is straight forward legislation to
allow PFD contributions to tribal native nonprofit
organizations. He noted that an amendment will be offered that
addresses Senator Wilson's question. He disclosed that Senator
Stevens supports the proposed amendment by Senator Wilson. He
noted that Melissa Borton, Tribal Administrator for the Native
Village of Afognak intends to testify from Kodiak. He pointed
out that the Native Village of Afognak was one of the tribal
organizations in Kodiak that approached Senator Stevens about
accessing the PFD's Pick.Click.Give program.
3:35:11 PM
CHAIR MEYER opened public testimony.
3:36:04 PM
NINA KEMPPEL, President & CEO, The Alaska Community Foundation
(ACF), Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 8. She
explained that ACF manages the Pick.Click.Give program in
concert with other partners including the Rasmuson Foundation
and The Foraker Group. She said ACF has no inherent concerns
regarding SB 8. She noted that there was an Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) ruling that allows federally recognized tribal
organizations to receive charitable donations.
3:37:24 PM
SARA RACE, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend Division, Alaska
Department of Revenue, Juneau, Alaska, addressed the division's
fiscal note as to how SB 8 could impact the PFD Division and
noted that SB 8 is in line with the other participating
organizations in the Pick.Click.Give program where 7 percent of
the contributions are collected by the PFD Division to cover
administrative costs.
CHAIR MEYER asked how the division arrived at the dollar amount
in their fiscal note.
MS. RACE explained that the division has a contract with United
Way for the Pick.Click.Give program's application process. She
detailed that United Way provided their billing input regarding
programming hours for changes required for SB 8.
3:39:43 PM
CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony.
3:39:56 PM
SENATOR WILSON moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 30-
LS0176\A.2.
A M E N D M E N T 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR WILSON
Page 4, following line 28:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 7. AS 43.23.062 is amended by adding a new
subsection to read:
(o) A person who claims a dividend on
behalf of an unemancipated minor under
AS 43.23.005(c) when the minor is the subject
of an adoption or guardianship proceeding
pending in a tribal court may not elect to make a
contribution from the minor's dividend to a
federally recognized tribal government under (a)
of this section."
SENATOR WILSON explained that the amendment inserts a new bill
section under page 4, [following line 28]. He said the amendment
seeks to protect the unemancipated minors PFD when the minor is
the subject of an adoption or guardianship proceeding in a
tribal court. This is like AS 47.10.15 for a PFD under AS
43.23.15 where the Office of Children's Services (OCS) puts a
minor's PFD into a trust until the minor turns 21 or reaches 18
and is emancipated. He summarized that SB 8 would add a layer of
protection to make sure a child's PFD is not used to help fund
tribal governments.
MR. LETCH stated that Senator Stevens supports Senator Wilson's
amendment because it clarifies the process.
CHAIR MEYER announced that seeing no objection, Amendment 1 is
adopted.
3:42:02 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SB 8, [CSSB 8(STA)], version 30-
LS0176\A as amended from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note.
3:42:27 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced that being no objection, the motion
carried.
3:42:30 PM
At ease
SB 154-PFD CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL FUND
3:44:42 PM
CHAIR MEYER called the committee back to order and announced the
consideration of SB 154.
3:45:06 PM
SENATOR WILSON, Alaska State Legislature, bill sponsor,
explained that SB 154 would allow Alaskans to donate all or a
portion of their PFD directly to the state's general fund. He
said the bill would provide those Alaskans who would like to
donate to the state's general fund a method and an opportunity
to do so through the Pick.Click.Give program. He explained that
the Alaska Department of Administration has said the PFD
donation process to the state would be tax exempt and could be
used to provide tax relief, reduce the rates, and allow to "Only
tax the other portion of their items." He disclosed that any
other cash donation to the general fund would be exempt from the
7-percent coordination or would not be required to pay the $250
fee. He added that the "children protection piece" for the PFD
already exists in statute.
3:46:53 PM
GARY ZEPP, Staff, Senator Wilson, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, provided a sectional analysis for SB 154 as
follows:
Section 1:
Amends AS 43.23.062(a) by adding to the general fund
and "the general fund" to allow contribution from the
electronic Alaska Permanent Fund dividend to the state
general fund.
Section 2:
Amends AS 43.23.062(b) to add "general fund" to the
list of organizations, community foundations or
charitable organizations eligible to be added to the
contributions list.
Section 3:
Amends AS 43.23.062(m) by adding "general fund" or to
the list of organizations that do not have a
coordination fee withheld.
MR. ZEPP noted that a zero fiscal note was submitted by
Centralized Administrative Services-Finance Division, Department
of Administration. He detailed the second fiscal note from the
Permanent Fund Dividend Division, Taxation and Treasury,
Department of Revenue as follows:
• FY2019: $20300 for programming to establish and administer
new process.
• FY2020 and beyond: $10000 annually to administer program.
3:51:15 PM
SENATOR WILSON emphasized that the intent of the legislation is
not to politicize the Pick.Click.Give program.
CHAIR MEYER asked if the bill should have a fiscal note showing
some revenue to the general fund.
SENATOR WILSON explained that the statute does not allow
donations to be used to help offset the cost of the program. He
said his office has met with the Department of Revenue to look
at ways to offset the ongoing cost. He noted that an amendment
could be introduced where a percentage fee from the first
donation could be used to offset some of the reoccurring cost.
CHAIR MEYER assumed that somebody could write a $1,500 check to
the State of Alaska if they wanted too.
SENATOR WILSON answered correct.
CHAIR MEYER asked if the legislation would save the taxes by
having it taken off the PFD.
SENATOR WILSON specified that the intent was to ease the process
for Alaskans. He added that the transaction would also be a tax
deduction.
3:53:13 PM
MR. ZEPP noted that Senator Wilson's office will work with The
Alaska Community Foundation to address potential concerns
regarding donor competition and work on messaging to make sure
folks understand the difference of their donations.
SENATOR GIESSEL pointed out that a PFD must be declared on an
individual's income report to the IRS. She asked if donating
directly to the general fund would bypass IRS notification.
MR. ZEPP emphasized that he is not a tax consultant but opined
that donating a PFD to the general fund would bypass IRS
notification.
SENATOR GIESSEL replied that she was surprised by Mr. Zepp's
answer.
MR. ZEPP disclosed that the executive branch classified the
donation as charitable.
SENATOR GIESSEL pointed out that the proper definition is the
donation is tax deductible but nevertheless income that an
individual will be taxed on.
MR. ZEPP answered that he believed so.
3:54:53 PM
SARA RACE, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend Division, Alaska
Department of Revenue, Juneau, Alaska, noted that she was not a
tax professional but opined that once a dividend is issued it
becomes income; however, a contribution back to the state can be
used as an itemized deduction just like a contribution to a
nonprofit.
3:55:23 PM
CHAIR MEYER opened public testimony.
SENATOR WILSON asked what happens if an individual declines
their PFD.
MS. RACE assumed that an individual would not apply for a
voluntary program; however, she noted that there is an option
available for somebody that decided to sign over their dividend
or write a check back to the state and the funds would be
deposited into the general fund. She disclosed that there are a
couple of individuals every year that call the Department of
Revenue and go through the process of returning their PFD.
CHAIR MEYER asked Ms. Race if she had any other comments on the
division's fiscal note.
MS. RACE explained that the administrative costs taken on from
SB 154 ends up being different because there is a statute that
says that the department cannot use operating funds from the
dividend fund to administer the Pick.Click.Give program, so
without the 7-percent fee being taken off for an application fee
that is why a fiscal note was included.
3:57:24 PM
NINA KEMPPEL, President & CEO, The Alaska Community Foundation,
Anchorage, Alaska, noted the success of the Pick.Click.Give
program and thanked the Legislature for developing and
continually refining the program. She disclosed that over $20
million has been raised in charitable giving for over 700
charitable organizations.
She remarked that the Pick.Click.Give program faces challenges
due to the uncertainty around the permanent fund and the state's
near-term finances. She disclosed that the program finds
attracting new donors to be harder. She explained that the
original intent of the Pick.Click.Give program was to be a tool
for the nonprofit sector to be able to increase their
unrestricted charitable donations. She added that the program
was also intended to assist charitable organizations in
cultivating new and existing relationships with their donors as
well as increasing the impact of Alaska's nonprofit sector.
4:00:08 PM
MS. KEMPPEL said The Alaska Community Foundation sees the merits
of SB 154 but noted the foundation's concerns with the
legislation where the charitable intention of Pick.Click.Give
will be "watering down" as well as causing confusion about what
is a charitable organization by bringing in a new element into
the program. She opined that the legislation opens the door to
anyone joining the program outside of charitable organizations.
She said the foundation's final concern pertains to the general
fund not having to contribute towards the program's 7-percent
administrative fee and that may lead to a public misperception
regarding the program's low-overhead-number administrative fee.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked Ms. Kemppel if charitable organizations
are defined as 501(c)(3).
MS. KEMPPEL replied yes, except for some educational
organizations such as the university.
4:02:47 PM
PAMELA LEARY, Director, Treasury Division, Alaska Department of
Revenue, Juneau, Alaska, said the only impact from the bill in
terms of processes is that there will be more money in the
general fund to go towards the state's operating cost.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked how many people routinely give their PFD
back, how much revenue is generated, and how many more might
return their PFD if SB 154 is passed.
MS. LEARY replied that she did not know. She noted that the
bill's intent will provide a process should an individual decide
to return their PFD.
CHAIR MEYER asked if a person could write a check to the
"treasury or revenue" if a person wanted to give $10000 to the
state government because Alaska does not have an income tax.
4:04:39 PM
MS. LEARY answered yes. She explained that an individual could
write a check to the "State of Alaska." She noted that the money
is sent to the general fund.
CHAIR MEYER asked if an individual can request that the money
specifically go to education.
MS. LEARY replied that she is not sure the money can go anywhere
other than the general fund.
4:06:34 PM
CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony.
SENATOR WILSON noted that he would like to offer an amendment
either in the Senate State Affairs Committee or the next
committee of referral. He explained that his intent is to lower
the fiscal note's ongoing costs and figure out ways to make sure
the process is easy without burdening additional charitable
giving.
CHAIR MEYER noted that Senate Finance is the next committee of
referral, an appropriate venue for Senator Wilson to offer his
amendment. He remarked that SB 154 is a good mechanism for those
that want to give their PFD back to the state.
4:08:11 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SB 154, version 30-LS0081\D from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
notes.
4:08:21 PM
CHAIR MEYER said there being no objection, the motion carried.
4:08:35 PM
At ease
SB 130-VOTER APPROVAL FOR NEW TAXES
4:12:49 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of SB 130. He disclosed
that he is the sponsor of the bill.
4:13:18 PM
CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, Staff, Senator Meyer, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said the intent of SB 130 is to
require a vote of the people before a broad-based-individual-
income tax or statewide sales tax takes effect.
MS. MARASIGAN disclosed that there are four sections in the bill
and provided an analysis as follows:
Section 1
The section would be amended to include tax levied
under AS 43.98.020. The section makes a vote on taxes
subject to the same rules and limitations as ballot
propositions when it comes to contributions.
Section 2
Would amend AS 15.15.030 to direct the Division of
Elections' director to place a question on the
election ballot; this is essentially the kind of
language used when requiring an advisory vote.
Section 3
Amends AS 15.80.010(33) to include taxes; in that
section there are a series of definitions and there
are about 45 definitions in that section that the word
"taxes" is included under questions.
Section 4
Adds a new section to AS 43.98 to include Article 1A,
which is the language requiring any bill that the
legislature passes levying a broad-based individual
income tax or statewide sales tax or both to be
ratified by the people, and it specifies the statewide
election ballot in which the question on the bill
levying the tax is asked either a yes or no question;
essentially, it just requires that the legislation
that you would pass to levy a tax has to include the
instructions that requires the vote of the people upon
passage, so that would be written into whatever
vehicle used to tax.
MS. MARASIGAN summarized that SB 130 would put into statute that
any legislation levying a broad-based tax be ratified by a vote
of the people.
4:16:09 PM
She said Emily Nauman, legal drafter for the bill from
Legislative Legal Services, will address the committee. He noted
that Ms. Nauman also wrote a memo that explained why the
legislation is unconstitutional. She pointed out that while Ms.
Nauman raised the case for the legislation to be
unconstitutional, there are many ways that governments have
weighted the opinion of its people on taxes.
She revealed that the Anchorage municipality uses an advisory
vote on any tax increases, or the proposition process that may
alter or do away with a tax. She said according to a very
cursory survey by Legislative Research, Californians have voted
on 10 statewide sales-tax-related ballot measures since 1932: 4
defeated and 6 approved. Colorado has the Taxpayer Bill of
Rights (TABOR); they wrote that into their state constitution in
1992 and it had a simple premise, if lawmakers want to raise
taxes or issue a debt, they need to ask the voters for
permission. She pointed out that Washington state voters have
been asked on 11 separate occasions to adopt a state personal
income tax or corporate income tax, but the first vote in 1932
was the only one that was successful.
MS. MARASIGAN noted that not all taxes are voted down. She
disclosed that 22 states approved ballot measures in the
November 8 election that would provide more than $201 billion in
funding extension and new revenue for state and local
transportation projects. She opined that the November 8 vote for
funding ballot measures indicates that there is an appetite for
voting in taxes that people want to see, particularly for
transportation and roads.
4:18:15 PM
MS. MARASIGAN explained that the intention is to explore the
idea that the vote of the people should take place to enact new
income or sales taxes. She noted that voters are being asked to
approve budget timelines, spending caps, and per diem funding
spending. She asserted that having the Legislature consult the
people who "foot the bill" makes sense.
SENATOR EGAN asked why the committee is looking at the bill that
Legislative Legal Services is saying is unconstitutional.
CHAIR MEYER replied that Senator Egan's question is a good
question and noted that Legislative Legal Services will address
the committee during the meeting.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked Senator Egan to verify that Juneau votes
on sales taxes every five years. She recalled that Juneau's
citizens voted on a 1.5 percent sales tax.
SENATOR EGAN concurred with Senator Giessel and specified that
the tax is a little above 1.5 percent. He detailed that Juneau
has a permanent tax and citizens vote whether to extend the
sales tax.
CHAIR MEYER noted that Alaska's citizens vote on bonds all of
the time. He asked Ms. Nauman from Legislative Legal Services to
address the committee and comment on her memo concerning the
bill.
4:21:01 PM
EMILY NAUMAN, Attorney, Legislative Legal Services, Legislative
Affairs Agency, Juneau, Alaska, confirmed that she believes SB
130 is very likely if not certainly going to be found
unconstitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court. She referenced
previous discussions about other types of jurisdictions, other
states and some of Alaska's municipalities; however, she pointed
out that they all have different voting rules.
MS. NAUMAN specified that her concern with SB 130 is that a
state law is being enacted under the provision of Alaska's
constitution that binds the Legislature to act and pass bills in
a certain way. She stated that one of her main concerns,
although not in the constitution outright, is that the U.S.
Supreme Court has found for anytime that a legislature attempts
to bind a future legislature; in other words, SB 130 has the
effect of putting a requirement on all subsequent legislatures
for any tax that they want to pass.
MS. NAUMAN said Legislative Legal Services also has a concern
under the constitution, Article IX, Section 1, that the power of
taxation cannot be delegated; this is generally recognized as a
legislative power. She explained that her concern of leaving it
up to the people whether to enact a tax is a delegation of the
Legislature's power to tax and is a direct contradiction to
Article IX, Section 1.
She added that another concern is about using the proposed
structure for initiatives and referendums, something that is a
little more of a "muddy issue." She pointed out that the state's
constitution contemplates an initiative and referendum as the
two sorts of methods to bring a binding vote to the people about
something that is going to become law or a law that is repealed.
She detailed that the initiative and the referendum are really
fleshed out in the state's constitution; however, the state
constitution does not really have any space for the kind of vote
that originates from the Legislature.
She said her final concern is about the actual enactment. She
pointed out that there are several sections in the constitution
that talk about how and when a law or bill becomes a law;
specifically, Article II, Sections 14, and 16-18. She opined
that there are going to be some timing issues related to
enactment; for instance, normally when a bill becomes law is 90
days after approval by the governor or a veto is overwritten by
the Legislature, and that language is in the constitution. She
summarized as follows:
If we pass a tax bill that becomes law, but is delayed
in effect, that sort of structure really isn't
contemplated in the constitution and I have some
concerns about how that would be integrated as well.
4:24:41 PM
CHAIR MEYER asked how Colorado was able to get around the issue
with the U.S. Supreme Court.
MS. NAUMAN replied that Colorado passed a constitutional
amendment. She explained that the state through the constitution
can make the Legislature comply with whatever requirements they
would like. She pointed out that one way to make SB 130 legal
would be to rephrase it as a constitutional amendment. She
conceded that there are limitations or extra steps that are
required before a constitutional amendment resolution can pass;
however, she noted that she would not have a problem with
putting the requirement in the constitution for a vote of the
people before a broad-based individual income tax or statewide
sales tax takes effect.
CHAIR MEYER asked if there would be a problem with an advisory
vote.
MS. NAUMAN replied that advisory votes are non-binding; however,
she said she would still worry about the structure regarding how
the Legislature would get the advisory vote on the ballot, but
the issues could be worked out. She said one idea is to have an
advisory vote that requires the vote to take place before a tax
bill's effective date; however, that language would have to be
inserted into every single tax bill that passed.
4:26:52 PM
SENATOR EGAN pointed out that if a future legislature must pass
a tax, they could ignore or change the proposed legislation. He
asked Chair Meyer why he did not consider proposing a
constitutional amendment.
CHAIR MEYER concurred with Senator Egan and noted that he may
consider the option. He explained that his intent was to bring
the bill before the committee to address concerns. He said his
intent is not to move SB 130 out of committee until revisions
are made and the legislation meets Legislative Legal Services'
standards.
SENATOR GIESSEL noted that Ms. Nauman cited Article IX regarding
voter approval of tax and specified as follows:
The power of taxation shall never be surrendered; this
power shall not be suspended or contracted away,
except as provided in this article.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked to verify that if SB 130 is changed to an
advisory vote that Article IX, Section 1 would have to be
repealed.
4:28:41 PM
MS. NAUMAN answered no. She explained that the reason is an
advisory vote has no effect. She said the issue in front of the
committee is SB 130 would have the effect of leaving whether a
tax is enacted or not that was made by the people's vote rather
than by the Legislature. She summarized that because an advisory
vote has no effect, the advisory vote only informs the
Legislature and the Legislature would still be enacting the tax.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if Article IX, Section 1 in the state
constitution would have to be repealed if the bill was amended
to constitutionally allow citizens to determine taxation.
MS. NAUMAN answered no due to the language that said, "Except as
provided in this article." She believed that a constitutional
amendment would be placed into Article IX.
CHAIR MEYER asked her to verify that a referendum to repeal an
income or sales tax passed by the legislative body is okay.
MS. NAUMAN answered correct. She explained that the state
constitution has the structure and place for a referendum and
that is the reason why a referendum is constitutional as opposed
to the structure SB 130 is exploring.
CHAIR MEYER asked a representative from the Alaska Division of
Elections to address the committee and inquired if the division
has any input or concerns about the bill.
4:32:04 PM
BRIAN JACKSON, Elections Program Manager, Alaska Division of
Elections, Juneau, Alaska, replied that SB 130 is straight
forward with the understanding that the division will have to
reanalyze the bill after it is reworked. He pointed out that the
legislation would place a question to the voters on a ballot
that would also force the division to put the information into
the official election pamphlet whereby the division would
require enough time to obtain information for translation into
Alaska Native languages.
SENATOR WILSON asked if there would be an additional cost
between an advisory vote versus going to the general voting
process.
MR. JACKSON replied that he did not know.
4:34:25 PM
CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony.
4:34:33 PM
CHAIR MEYER held SB 130 in committee.
4:35:18 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Meyer adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee at 4:35 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB - 8 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 - Version A.PDF |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 - Support Letter Native Village of Afognak.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 - Support Letter Woody Island Tribal Council.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 - Fiscal Note Updated 2018.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 154 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 154 |
| SB 154 - Version D.PDF |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 154 |
| SB 154 - Sectional Analysis, ver D.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 154 |
| SB 154 - Invited-Expert Testimony Summary.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 154 |
| SB 154 - Fiscal Note DOA.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 154 |
| SB 154 - Fiscal Note DOR PFD.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 154 |
| SB 130 Sponsor Statement .pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 Version A.PDF |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 Legal Memo 11.20.2017.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 Letter of Support NFIB.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 Fiscal Note DoE.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 154 - PickClickGive Flowchart.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 154 |
| SB 154 - PickClickGive Program Overview.pdf |
SSTA 1/30/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 154 |