HB 225 - CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND LEGISLATIVE ETHICS CHAIRMAN KOTT announced the first order of business is HB 225, "An Act relating to election campaigns and legislative ethics; and providing for an effective date." Number 0073 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN made a motion to adopt the proposed committee substitute for HB 225, Version 1-LS0931\G, Cramer, 5/7/99. There being no objection, it was so adopted. Number 0128 REPRESENTATIVE CROFT referred to page 5, subsection (H), and noted the phrase - "...however, a legislator or legislative employee may not use governmental resources to solicit contributions for or gather signatures on..." It's appropriate to say "resources" in that phrase because it means a state employee cannot be used from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to gather signatures for a petition or use a Legislative Information Office, for example. It read "facilities" before when it was suppose to incorporate the two concepts. Number 0239 CHAIRMAN KOTT noted that is his understanding of the intent of the language in (H) as well. Number 0261 CHAIRMAN KOTT offered a conceptual amendment to Section 4 of the proposed committee substitute. Susie Barnett is requesting an effective date of December 1, 1999. In reading a memo from her, she indicated that she spends several hours with Terry Cramer of the Legislative Affairs Agency every time the ethics code is amended discussing how it should be interpreted. She also has the responsibility of compiling that information into a handbook for new employees. Number 0406 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked Chairman Kott whether it would change only the ethics portion of the proposed committee substitute or the campaign portion as well. CHAIRMAN KOTT replied it would change only the ethics portion. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES inquired as to whether Section 4 actually says that. CHAIRMAN KOTT reiterated the intent of the conceptual amendment is to make sure that the ethics portion of the bill goes into effect December 1, 1999. Number 0471 REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COWDERY, Alaska State Legislature, came before the committee as sponsor of HB 225. It is also his understanding that a pamphlet has to be worked on for new employees. The conceptual amendment would give ample time for that; it is acceptable to him. Number 0512 REPRESENTATIVE JAMES clarified as to whether Sections 1 and 2 would have an immediate effective date, while the rest of the proposed committee substitute would have an effective date of December 1, 1999. CHAIRMAN KOTT replied that's the intent of the conceptual amendment. Number 0602 REPRESENTATIVE CROFT stated that the only reason Section 2 is in the bill is because of a cross-reference to Section 3. He noted that Section 1 should match the effective date in Section 5, while Sections 2 and 3 should match the proposed December 1, 1999 effective date. He suggested substituting "December 1, 1999" for "effective immediately" on page 5, line 21, of the bill. CHAIRMAN KOTT noted that he would inform the drafter of the intent of the conceptual amendment in the event that the change is not accurate. CHAIRMAN KOTT asked whether there is any objection to the conceptual amendment. There being none, it was so adopted. Number 0750 REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG made a motion to move HB 225, Version 1-LS0931\G, Cramer, 5/7/99, as amended, from the committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, CSHB 225(JUD) was so moved from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.