00HOUSE BILL NO. 256                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to the legislative internship program."                                                                
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 24.20.060 is amended to read:                                                                       
04  Sec. 24.20.060.  POWERS.  The legislative council has the power                                                       
05   (1)  to organize and adopt rules for the conduct of its business;                                                    
06   (2)  to hold public hearings, administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel                                              
07 the attendance of witnesses and production of papers, books, accounts, documents, and                                   
08 testimony, and to have the deposition of witnesses taken in a manner prescribed by                                      
09 court rule or law for taking depositions in civil actions when consistent with the                                      
10 powers and duties assigned to the council by AS 24.20.010 - 24.20.140;                                                  
11   (3)  to call upon all state officials, agencies, and institutions to give full                                       
12 cooperation to the council and its executive director by collecting and furnishing                                      
13 information, conducting studies, and making recommendations;                                                            
14   (4)  in addition to providing the administrative services required for the                                           

01 operation of the legislative branch,                                                                                    
02   (A)  to provide the technical staff assistance in research,                                                         
03 reporting, drafting, and counseling requested by standing, interim, and special                                         
04 committees and spot research and drafting services for individual members in                                            
05 conformity with law and legislative rules;                                                                              
06   (B)  to conduct a continuing program for the revision and                                                           
07 publication of the acts of the legislature;                                                                             
08   (C)  to execute a program for the oversight of the administration                                                   
09 and construction of laws by state agencies and the courts through regulations,                                          
10 opinions, and rulings;                                                                                                
11   (D)  to operate and maintain the state legislative reference                                                        
12 library;                                                                                                                
13   (E)  to do all things necessary to carry out legislative directives                                                 
14 and law, and the duties set out in the uniform rules of the legislature;                                                
15   (F)  to sue in the name of the legislature during the interim                                                       
16 between sessions if authorized by majority vote of the full membership of the                                           
17 council;                                                                                                                
18   (5)  to exercise control and direction over all legislative space, supplies,                                         
19 and equipment and permanent legislative help between legislative sessions;                                              
20   (6)  to produce, publish, distribute, and to contract for the printing of                                            
21 reports, memoranda, and other materials it finds necessary to the accomplishment of                                     
22 its work;                                                                                                               
23   (7)  to take appropriate action for the preconvening and post-session                                                
24 work of each legislative session including the employment one week in advance of                                        
25 each session of not more than 10 temporary legislative employees; the continuing                                        
26 employment of the temporary legislative employees is subject to legislative approval                                    
27 when the session convenes;                                                                                              
28   (8)  to establish a legislative internship program on a cooperative basis                                            
29 with the University of Alaska that will provide for the assignment of interns to                                        
30 legislators and to standing committees of each house of the legislature during regular                                
31 sessions of the legislature; [,] and                                                                                  

01   (9)  to establish reasonable fees for services and materials provided by                                             
02 the Legislative Affairs Agency to entities outside of the legislative branch of state                                   
03 government and charges for collecting the fees; all fees and charges collected under                                    
04 this paragraph shall be deposited into the general fund.                                                                
05    * Sec. 2.  AS 24.20.062 is amended to read:                                                                          
06  Sec. 24.20.062.  LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.  A legislative                                                       
07 internship program established by the legislative council under AS 24.20.060(8) shall                                   
08 provide that                                                                                                            
09   (1)  the University of Alaska provide academic support and credit to the                                             
10 program;                                                                                                                
11   (2)  students enrolled and in good standing at any accredited                                                        
12 postsecondary educational institution who have successfully completed at least two                                      
13 years of study are eligible to participate in the program;                                                              
14   (3)  interns will be selected by a committee composed of members of                                                  
15 the legislature appointed by the legislative council and representatives of the university                              
16 appointed by the university;                                                                                            
17   (4)  interns will be selected on the basis of their experience and interest                                          
18 in subjects which the legislative council feels are likely to be considered during a                                    
19 legislative session;                                                                                                    
20   (5)  legislative interns are entitled to receive academic credit and                                                 
21 payment of $30 for each day of participation in the program during the legislative                                      
22 session;                                                                                                               
23   (6)  placement of legislative interns in the offices of legislators who                                              
24 are members of different political parties must be in proportion to the                                                 
25 representation in the legislature of membership in the political parties.