SCR 2-UNIFORM RULES: PRESIDING OFFICER PRO TEM    9:32:13 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced SCR 2 would be the next item for consideration. SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, sponsor of SCR 2, said this legislation could be very helpful to all 60 members, and it would increase leadership positions without taking away any duties from the current officers. Senator Davis noted there is already a temporary pro tem during organization of the session, and she would like to see a permanent speaker pro tem. She stated that 31 states have this. She added that this new position would make it easier for women to move into the leadership. No women currently have leadership positions in the Alaska State Legislature. Senator Davis said that having an additional leadership position would strengthen the legislature. 9:36:47 AM TOM OBERMEYER, aide to Senator Bettye Davis, read the sponsor statement, as follows: The purpose of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 2 is to amend the Uniform Rules to increase the roles and responsibilities of temporary presiding officers. SCR 2 first amends Uniform Rule 1 and changes the titles of Temporary Presiding officers to Presiding Officers Pro Tempore and Permanent Presiding Officers to Regular Presiding Officers. The SCR next amends Uniform Rule 4 relating to duties of Temporary Presiding Officers. Presently, Temporary Presiding Officers only preside over floor sessions until the chamber is organized and the Permanent or "Regular" Presiding Officer is seated. Rule 4 is amended to increase the duties of the Presiding Officer Pro Tempore who in the absence of the Regular Presiding Officer "shall preside during sessions of the house and may exercise any other duty of the regular presiding officer." In this capacity the Presiding Officer Pro Tempore replaces the Majority Leader of the House presently serving ex officio as presiding officer pro tempore. The major advantage of these rule changes is to provide opportunities for more legislators to function in leadership positions. MR. OBERMEYER said that Doug Gardiner, Director of Legal Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, was present for questions about the current draft. The resolution proposes amendments to Uniform Rules 1 and 4 to increase the roles and responsibilities of presiding officers pro tempore. Sections 1 and 2 change the titles of temporary presiding officers. Section 4, Rule 4, establishes that in the absence of both regular presiding officers, the pro tempore serves as presiding officer. The intent of SCR 2 is that the presiding officer pro tem would be selected at the start of the first session, and would continue to serve for both sessions. This would effectively create a third permanent leadership position. 9:40:05 AM SENATOR MEYER noted the House has created a new leadership role, referred to as majority whip. SENATOR DAVIS said the majority whip position is already available on both sides. The proposed new position would be different, because it would be part of the structure in the Uniform Rules. 9:42:41 AM SENATOR GIESSEL asked if there was a fiscal note. SENATOR DAVIS said there was not. SENATOR MEYER asked if SCR 2 would have fiscal impact. SENATOR GIESSEL asked if the new position would require additional staff. SENATOR DAVIS responded that would depend upon the leadership. But the bill does have a finance hearing, and that committee will determine if there is a fiscal note. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI said resolutions don't typically have fiscal notes. 9:01 AM SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt work draft committee substitute (CS) for SCR 2, labeled 27-LS0031\M, as the working document. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes. MR. OBERMEYER stated the CS was rewritten to recognize that there was no intent to supersede the existing leadership structure. The position added would be a totally new position, and it would be a back-up, not a superior position 9:46:27 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI removed his objection; therefore, version M was before the committee. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony. 9:47:27 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced SCR 2 would be held in committee.