SCS CSHB 225(JUD) AM S: "An Act relating to election campaigns and legislative ethics; and providing for an effective date."
00SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 225(JUD) am S 01 "An Act relating to election campaigns and legislative ethics; and providing for 02 an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. PURPOSE. In the interest of attracting Alaska's best and brightest to 05 legislative service and retaining their services in the citizen legislature, and recognizing that 06 legislators are not full-time servants of the state but rather individuals with separate careers 07 whose business and personal obligations demand attention during the legislative session, it is 08 the purpose of this Act to minimize the burdens on candidates and legislators imposed by 09 Alaska's campaign finance and legislative ethics laws, without compromising the efficacy of 10 those laws. 11 * Sec. 2. AS 15.13.030 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 12 (b) In applying this chapter and adopting regulations under this chapter, the 13 commission shall narrowly interpret the applicable statutes and the commission's 14 powers concerning contributions to candidates and requirements for financial reports
01 from candidates to ensure that campaigns for public office are conducted in a manner 02 that imposes the fewest burdens necessary on citizens, candidates, and groups to 03 comply with statutory contribution limits and to provide appropriate information to the 04 public. If a statute is ambiguous, the commission shall consider the intent of the 05 legislature in interpreting the statute. 06 * Sec. 3. AS 15.13.040 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 07 (j) The results of a poll limited to issues and not mentioning any candidate 08 may not be considered a contribution. The results of a poll provided to a candidate 09 that mention a candidate may not be considered a contribution to the candidate to 10 whom the poll results were provided unless the poll was requested by or designed 11 primarily to benefit the candidate. 12 * Sec. 4. AS 15.13.050(b) is amended to read: 13 (b) If a group intends to support only one candidate, or to contribute to or 14 expend on behalf of one candidate 33 1/3 percent or more of its funds, the name of 15 the candidate shall be a part of the name of the group. If the group intends to oppose 16 only one candidate [,] or to contribute its funds in opposition to or make expenditures 17 in opposition to a candidate, the group's name must clearly state that it opposes that 18 candidate by using a word such as "opposes," "opposing," "in opposition to," or 19 "against" in the group's name. Promptly upon receiving the registration, the 20 commission shall notify the candidate of the group's organization and intent. More 21 than one group may be registered by a candidate to support that candidate; 22 however, multiple groups controlled by a single candidate shall be treated as a 23 single group for purposes of the contribution limit in AS 15.13.070(b)(1). 24 * Sec. 5. AS 15.13.074(c) as repealed and reenacted by sec. 12, ch. 48, SLA 1996, is 25 amended to read: 26 (c) A person or group may not make a contribution 27 (1) to a candidate for governor or lieutenant governor or an 28 individual who files with the commission the document necessary to permit that 29 individual to incur certain election-related expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100 for 30 governor or lieutenant governor when the office is to be filled at a general election 31 before January 1 following [THE DATE THAT IS 18 MONTHS BEFORE] the last
01 general election in which a governor was elected ; 02 (2) to a candidate for the state legislature or municipal office or an 03 individual who files with the commission the document necessary to permit that 04 individual to incur certain election-related expenses for the state legislature or 05 municipal office as authorized by AS 15.13.100 when the office is to be filled at 06 a general election before the date that is 18 months before the general election; 07 (3) to a candidate or an individual who files with the commission the 08 document necessary to permit that individual to incur certain election-related expenses 09 as authorized by AS 15.13.100 for an office that is to be filled at a special election or 10 municipal election before the date that is 18 months before the date of the regular 11 municipal election or that is before the date of the proclamation of the special election 12 at which the candidate or individual seeks election to public office; or 13 (4) [(3)] to any candidate after the earlier of December 31 of the 14 year of the election or the 60th [LATER THAN THE 45TH] day 15 (A) after the date of a primary election if the candidate 16 (i) has been nominated at the primary election or is 17 running as a write-in candidate; and 18 (ii) is not opposed at the general election; 19 (B) after the date of the primary election if the candidate was 20 not nominated at the primary election; or 21 (C) after the date of the general election, or after the date of a 22 municipal or municipal runoff election, if the candidate was opposed at the 23 general, municipal, or municipal runoff election. 24 * Sec. 6. AS 15.13.074(f) is amended to read: 25 (f) A corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, 26 business trust or surety, labor union, or publicly funded entity that does not satisfy the 27 definition of group in AS 15.13.400 may not make a contribution to a candidate or 28 group. Notwithstanding the prohibition set out in this subsection, a corporation, 29 company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust or surety, 30 labor union, or publicly funded entity may sponsor a political party event within 31 this state by paying for advertising, food, hall rental, and other actual costs
01 associated with the event. 02 * Sec. 7. AS 15.13.078 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 03 (e) A campaign expenditure for goods or services made by the candidate from 04 personal funds or by cash, personal check, or personal credit card and reimbursed to 05 the candidate by the campaign before the end of the reporting period for the report due 06 February 15 under AS 15.13.110(a) is not a loan or contribution for purposes of this 07 section and shall be reported to the commission as a campaign expenditure. 08 * Sec. 8. AS 15.13.110(a) is amended to read: 09 (a) Each candidate and group shall make a full report in accordance with 10 AS 15.13.040 for the period ending three days before the due date of the report and 11 beginning on the last day covered by the most recent previous report. If the report is 12 a first report, it shall cover the period from the beginning of the campaign to the date 13 three days before the due date of the report. If the report is a report due February 15, 14 it shall cover the period beginning on the last day covered by the most recent previous 15 report or on the day that the campaign started, whichever is later, and ending on 16 December 31 of the prior year. The report shall be filed 17 (1) 30 days before the election; however, this report is not required if 18 the deadline for filing a nominating petition or declaration of candidacy is within 30 19 days of the election; 20 (2) one week before the election; 21 (3) 10 days after the election; and 22 (4) February 15 for expenditures made and contributions received that 23 were not reported during the previous year, including, if applicable, all amounts 24 expended from a public office expense term account established under AS 15.13.118 25 [AS 15.13.116(a)(8)] and all amounts expended from a municipal office account under 26 AS 15.13.116(a)(9), or when expenditures were not made or contributions were not 27 received during the previous year. 28 * Sec. 9. AS 15.13.116(a) is amended to read: 29 (a) A candidate who, after the date of the general, special, municipal, or 30 municipal runoff election or after the date the candidate withdraws as a candidate, 31 whichever comes first, holds unused campaign contributions shall distribute the amount
01 held within 90 days. The distribution may only be made to 02 (1) pay bills incurred for expenditures reasonably related to the 03 campaign and the winding up of the affairs of the campaign, including a victory or 04 thank you party , thank you advertisements, and thank you gifts to campaign 05 employees and volunteers, and to pay expenditures associated with post-election fund 06 raising that may be needed to raise funds to pay off campaign debts; 07 (2) make donations, without condition, to 08 (A) a political party; 09 (B) the state's general fund; 10 (C) a municipality of the state; or 11 (D) the federal government; 12 (3) make donations, without condition, to organizations qualified as 13 charitable organizations under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), provided the organization is not 14 controlled by the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family; 15 (4) repay loans from the candidate to the candidate's own campaign 16 under AS 15.13.078(b); 17 (5) repay contributions to contributors, but only if repayment of the 18 contribution is made pro rata in approximate proportion to the contributions made 19 using one of the following, as the candidate determines: 20 (A) to all contributors; 21 (B) to contributors who have contributed most recently; or 22 (C) to contributors who have made larger contributions; 23 (6) establish a fund for, and from that fund to pay, attorney fees or 24 costs incurred in the prosecution or defense of an administrative or civil judicial action 25 that directly concerns a challenge to the victory or defeat of the candidate in the 26 election; 27 (7) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to 28 [AN ACCOUNT FOR] a future election campaign account in accordance with 29 AS 15.13.117 [; A TRANSFER UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH IS LIMITED TO 30 (A) $50,000, IF THE TRANSFER IS MADE BY A 31 CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR;
01 (B) $10,000, IF THE TRANSFER IS MADE BY A 02 CANDIDATE FOR THE STATE SENATE; 03 (C) $5,000, IF THE TRANSFER IS MADE BY A CANDIDATE 04 FOR THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; AND 05 (D) $5,000, IF THE TRANSFER IS MADE BY A 06 CANDIDATE FOR AN OFFICE NOT DESCRIBED IN (A) - (C) OF THIS 07 PARAGRAPH]; 08 (8) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to a 09 public office expense term account [OR TO A PUBLIC OFFICE EXPENSE TERM 10 ACCOUNT RESERVE] in accordance with AS 15.13.118 [(d) OF THIS SECTION; 11 A TRANSFER UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING: 12 (A) THE AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER IS LIMITED TO 13 CANDIDATES WHO ARE ELECTED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE; 14 (B) THE PUBLIC OFFICE EXPENSE TERM ACCOUNT 15 ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE USED ONLY FOR 16 EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CANDIDATE'S SERVING AS A 17 MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE; 18 (C) ALL AMOUNTS EXPENDED FROM THE PUBLIC 19 OFFICE EXPENSE TERM ACCOUNT SHALL BE ANNUALLY 20 ACCOUNTED FOR UNDER AS 15.13.110(a)(4); AND 21 (D) A TRANSFER UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH IS LIMITED 22 TO $5,000 MULTIPLIED BY THE NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE TERM TO 23 WHICH THE CANDIDATE IS ELECTED]; and 24 (9) transfer all or a portion of the unused campaign contributions to a 25 municipal office account; a transfer under this paragraph is subject to the following: 26 (A) the authority to transfer is limited to candidates who are 27 elected to municipal office, including a municipal school board; 28 (B) the municipal office account established under this 29 paragraph may be used only for expenses associated with the candidate's 30 serving as mayor or as a member of the assembly, city council, or school 31 board;
01 (C) all amounts expended from the municipal office account 02 shall be annually accounted for under AS 15.13.110(a)(4); and 03 (D) a transfer under this paragraph is limited to $5,000. 04 * Sec. 10. AS 15.13.116(b) is amended to read: 05 (b) After a general, special, municipal, or municipal runoff election, a 06 candidate may retain the ownership of one computer and one printer and of personal 07 property, except money, that was acquired by and for use in the campaign. The 08 current fair market value of the property retained, exclusive of the computer and 09 printer, may not exceed $5,000 [$2,500]. All other property shall be disposed of, or 10 sold and the sale proceeds disposed of, in accordance with (a) or (c) of this section. 11 Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, 12 (1) a candidate may (A) [(1)] retain a bulk mailing permit that was 13 paid for with campaign funds, and (B) [(2)] use personal funds, campaign funds, or 14 unused campaign contributions transferred to a public office expense term account 15 under AS 15.13.118 [(a)(8) OF THIS SECTION] to pay the continuing charges for the 16 permit after the election ; money [. MONEY] used to continue the life of the permit 17 is not considered to be a contribution under this chapter ; in [. IN] addition to any 18 other use permitted under this chapter, during the candidate's term of office, the 19 candidate may use the bulk mailing permit for mailings associated with service in the 20 office to which the candidate was elected ; during [. DURING] the candidate's term 21 of office, if the candidate files a declaration of candidacy or the document necessary 22 to permit the candidate to incur election-related expenses under AS 15.13.100 [A 23 LETTER OF INTENT TO BECOME A CANDIDATE] for the same or a different 24 elective office, the candidate may also use the bulk mailing permit in that election 25 campaign ; 26 (2) a candidate may retain campaign photographs and use the 27 photographs for any purpose associated with service in the office to which the 28 candidate was elected; 29 (3) a candidate may retain seasonal greeting cards purchased with 30 campaign funds; and 31 (4) campaign signs prepared for an election that has already taken
01 place have no monetary value and may be retained or disposed of at the 02 candidate's discretion . 03 * Sec. 11. AS 15.13 is amended by adding new sections to read: 04 Sec. 15.13.117. Future election campaign accounts. (a) Unused campaign 05 contributions may be transferred to one or more future election campaign accounts. 06 Before transferring unused campaign contributions to a future election campaign 07 account, a candidate must file a letter of intent to campaign for election with the 08 commission. The letter of intent may specify the office to be sought and must specify 09 the election year in which the campaign will take place. If the letter of intent does not 10 specify the office to be sought, a maximum of $20,000 may be transferred for 11 campaigns for state office and a maximum of $10,000 for campaigns for municipal 12 office. If the letter of intent does not specify that a state office is to be sought, a 13 maximum of $10,000 may be transferred. Contributions may be transferred to an 14 account for a future campaign for election to an office other than that for which they 15 were originally raised. 16 (b) If a candidate seeks election to a different office than that specified in the 17 letter of intent filed under (a) of this section, the candidate may use only that portion 18 of the amount transferred that would have been permitted under this subsection for the 19 office actually campaigned for. Any excess funds transferred are forfeited to the state 20 under AS 15.13.116(c). Any contributions that could not have been accepted under 21 AS 15.13.072 or 15.13.074 for a campaign for the office actually campaigned for are 22 forfeited to the state under AS 15.13.116(c). If the candidate does not actually seek 23 election to any office at the election specified in the letter of intent, the entire balance 24 of the account is forfeited to the state under AS 15.13.116(c). 25 (c) For an office specified in a letter of intent under (a) of this section, a 26 candidate may transfer to a future campaign account an amount not exceeding 27 (1) $100,000 for a future campaign for governor or lieutenant governor; 28 (2) $40,000 for a future campaign for the state senate; 29 (3) $20,000 for a future campaign for the state house of representatives; 30 (4) $60,000 for a future campaign for mayor of a municipality with a 31 population greater than 100,000;
01 (5) $40,000 for a future campaign for mayor of a municipality with a 02 population greater than 50,000 but not exceeding 100,000; 03 (6) $20,000 for a future campaign for mayor of a municipality with a 04 population not exceeding 50,000; and 05 (7) $10,000 for an office not described in (A) - (F) of this paragraph. 06 (d) A candidate may use $1,000 of the funds in a future election campaign 07 account each year for unconditional donations to one or more organizations qualified 08 as charitable organizations under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), provided the organizations are 09 not controlled by the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family. 10 (e) A candidate may use $1,000 of the funds in a future election campaign 11 account each year for the cost of attending, or paying the cost for guests of the 12 candidate to attend, an event or other function sponsored by a political party or 13 subordinate unit of a political party. 14 Sec. 15.13.118. Public office expense term accounts. (a) After a general or 15 special election, a candidate who has been elected to the state legislature in that 16 election may establish a public office expense term account reserve with unused 17 campaign contributions. A candidate for the senate may transfer up to $40,000 in 18 unused campaign contributions into a public office expense term account reserve. A 19 candidate for the house of representatives may transfer up to $16,000 in unused 20 campaign contributions to a public office expense term account reserve. The public 21 office expense term account reserve may only be used to make transfers to a public 22 office expense term account. 23 (b) A candidate elected to the senate may transfer up to $10,000 each calendar 24 year from a public office expense term account reserve to a public office expense term 25 account. A candidate elected to the house may transfer up to $8,000 each calendar 26 year from a public office expense term account reserve to a public office expense term 27 account. A candidate elected to the legislature may also transfer any interest that has 28 accrued in the candidate's public office expense term account reserve to a public office 29 expense term account. If, during a calendar year, a candidate transfers less than the 30 permitted amount from a public office expense term account reserve to a public office 31 expense term account, the excess may be carried over in the reserve and transferred
01 in a subsequent calendar year. At the end of the candidate's term of office, a balance 02 in the public office expense term account reserve must be disposed of only as 03 authorized by AS 15.13.116(a)(2), (3), or (5). 04 (c) Funds in a public office expense term account may be used only for 05 expenses associated with the candidate's serving as a member of the legislature, 06 including the unconditional donation of up to $1,000 a year to one or more 07 organizations qualified as charitable organizations under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), provided 08 the organization is not controlled by the candidate or a member of the candidate's 09 immediate family. Funds in a public office expense term account or public office 10 expense term account reserve shall be annually accounted for under 11 AS 15.13.110(a)(4). 12 * Sec. 12. AS 15.13.145(b) is amended to read: 13 (b) Money held by an entity identified in (a)(1) - (3) of this section may be 14 used to influence the outcome of an election concerning a ballot proposition or 15 question if the use is permitted under AS 24.60.030(a)(5)(H) or [, BUT ONLY] if 16 the funds have been specifically appropriated for that purpose by a state law or a 17 municipal ordinance. 18 * Sec. 13. AS 15.13.400(3) is amended to read: 19 (3) "contribution" 20 (A) means a purchase, payment, promise or obligation to pay, 21 loan or loan guarantee, deposit or gift of money, goods, or services for which 22 charge is ordinarily made and that is made for the purpose of influencing the 23 nomination or election of a candidate, and in AS 15.13.010(b) for the purpose 24 of influencing a ballot proposition or question, including the payment by a 25 person other than a candidate or political party, or compensation for the 26 personal services of another person, that are rendered to the candidate or 27 political party; 28 (B) does not include 29 (i) services provided without compensation by 30 individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a 31 political party, candidate , or ballot proposition or question [, BUT IT
01 DOES INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES VOLUNTEERED BY 02 INDIVIDUALS FOR WHICH THEY ORDINARILY WOULD BE 03 PAID A FEE OR WAGE]; 04 (ii) services provided by an accountant or other person 05 to prepare reports and statements required by this chapter; [OR] 06 (iii) ordinary hospitality in a home; 07 (iv) professional legal or accounting services that are 08 provided to a candidate, group, or political party without 09 compensation by an attorney or accountant; the nature or form of 10 the entity under which the attorney or accountant conducts the 11 attorney's or accountant's professional practice does not affect the 12 exception; or 13 (v) mass mailings by each political party describing 14 the party's slate of candidates for election, which may include 15 photographs and biographies of the party's candidates; 16 * Sec. 14. AS 24.60.030(a) is amended to read: 17 (a) A legislator or legislative employee may not 18 (1) solicit, agree to accept, or accept a benefit other than official 19 compensation for the performance of public duties; this paragraph may not be 20 construed to prohibit lawful solicitation for and acceptance of campaign contributions 21 or the acceptance of a lawful gratuity under AS 24.60.080; 22 (2) use public funds, facilities, equipment, services, or another 23 government asset or resource for a nonlegislative purpose, for involvement in or 24 support of or opposition to partisan political activity, or for the private benefit of either 25 the legislator, legislative employee, or another person; this paragraph does not prohibit 26 (A) limited use of state property and resources for personal 27 purposes if the use does not interfere with the performance of public duties and 28 either the cost or value related to the use is nominal or the legislator or 29 legislative employee reimburses the state for the cost of the use; 30 (B) the use of mailing lists, computer data, or other information 31 lawfully obtained from a government agency and available to the general public
01 for nonlegislative purposes; 02 (C) telephone or facsimile use that does not carry a special 03 charge; 04 (D) the legislative council, notwithstanding AS 24.05.190, from 05 designating a public facility for use by legislators and legislative employees for 06 health or fitness purposes; when the council designates a facility to be used by 07 legislators and legislative employees for health or fitness purposes, it shall 08 adopt guidelines governing access to and use of the facility; the guidelines may 09 establish times in which use of the facility is limited to specific groups; [OR] 10 (E) a legislator from using the legislator's private office in the 11 capital city during a legislative session, and for the 10 [FIVE] days 12 immediately before and the 10 [FIVE] days immediately after a legislative 13 session, for nonlegislative purposes if the use does not interfere with the 14 performance of public duties and if there is no cost to the state for the use of 15 the space and equipment, other than utility costs and minimal wear and tear, 16 or the legislator promptly reimburses the state for the cost; an office is 17 considered a legislator's private office under this subparagraph if it is the 18 primary space in the capital city reserved for use by the legislator, whether or 19 not it is shared with others; 20 (F) a legislator from use of legislative employees to prepare 21 and send out seasonal greeting cards; 22 (G) a legislator from using state resources to transport 23 computers or other office equipment owned by the legislator but primarily 24 used for a state function; 25 (H) use by a legislator of photographs of that legislator; 26 (I) reasonable use of the Internet by a legislator or a 27 legislative employee except if the use is for election campaign purposes; or 28 (J) a legislator from soliciting, accepting, or receiving a gift 29 on behalf of a recognized, nonpolitical charitable organization in a state 30 facility; 31 (3) knowingly seek, accept, use, allocate, grant, or award public funds
01 for a purpose other than that approved by law, or make a false statement in connection 02 with a claim, request, or application for compensation, reimbursement, or travel 03 allowances from public funds; 04 (4) require a legislative employee to perform services for the private 05 benefit of the legislator or employee at any time, or allow a legislative employee to 06 perform services for the private benefit of a legislator or employee on government 07 time; it is not a violation of this paragraph if the services were performed in an 08 unusual or infrequent situation and the person's services were reasonably necessary to 09 permit the legislator or legislative employee to perform official duties; 10 (5) use or authorize the use of state funds, facilities, equipment, 11 services, or another government asset or resource for the purpose of political fund 12 raising or campaigning; this paragraph does not prohibit 13 (A) limited use of state property and resources for personal 14 purposes if the use does not interfere with the performance of public duties and 15 either the cost or value related to the use is nominal or the legislator or 16 legislative employee reimburses the state for the cost of the use; 17 (B) the use of mailing lists, computer data, or other information 18 lawfully obtained from a government agency and available to the general public 19 for nonlegislative purposes; 20 (C) telephone or facsimile use that does not carry a special 21 charge; 22 (D) storing or maintaining, consistent with (b) of this section, 23 election campaign records in a legislator's office; [OR] 24 (E) a legislator from using the legislator's private office in the 25 capital city during a legislative session, and for the 10 [FIVE] days 26 immediately before and the 10 [FIVE] days immediately after a legislative 27 session, for nonlegislative purposes if the use does not interfere with the 28 performance of public duties and if there is no cost to the state for the use of 29 the space and equipment, other than utility costs and minimal wear and tear, 30 or the legislator promptly reimburses the state for the cost; an office is 31 considered a legislator's private office under this subparagraph if it is the
01 primary space in the capital city reserved for use by the legislator, whether or 02 not it is shared with others ; 03 (F) use by a legislator of photographs of that legislator; 04 (G) reasonable use of the Internet by a legislator or a 05 legislative employee except if the use is for election campaign purposes; or 06 (H) use of governmental resources, including paid staff time, 07 to support or oppose a proposed initiative or an amendment to the state 08 or federal constitution; a legislator or legislative employee may support or 09 oppose a proposed initiative or constitutional amendment; however, a 10 legislator or legislative employee may not use governmental resources to 11 solicit contributions for or gather signatures on an initiative petition; a 12 legislative employee may not, on government time, accept or receive 13 contributions relating to a proposed constitutional amendment or initiative . 14 * Sec. 15. AS 24.60.080 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 15 (l) A legislator may solicit, accept, or receive a gift on behalf of an organized 16 group of legislators, but the gift may only be used to cover the cost of the meetings 17 or activities of the organized group within this state. The value of a gift authorized 18 by this subsection may not be included in determining the value of gifts under (a) of 19 this section. This subsection does not authorize a gift from a lobbyist. In this 20 subsection, "organized group of legislators" means two or more legislators organized 21 for a particular purpose not related to an individual's election campaign, other than a 22 majority caucus, minority caucus, or party caucus. 23 * Sec. 16. AS 24.60.090 is repealed and reenacted to read: 24 Sec. 24.60.090. Nepotism. (a) An individual who is related to a member of 25 the legislature may not be employed for compensation 26 (1) during the legislative session in the house in which the legislator 27 is a member; 28 (2) by an agency of the legislature established under AS 24.20; or 29 (3) in either house during the interim between sessions. 30 (b) An individual who is related to a member of the legislature may not be 31 employed by the committee, whether for compensation or not.
01 (c) An individual who is related to a legislative employee may not be 02 employed in a position over which the employee has supervisory authority. 03 (d) Notwithstanding (a)(3) of this section, an individual who is related to a 04 member of the legislature may be employed in the other house of the legislature during 05 the interim between sessions if, while the individual was disqualified from employment 06 in either house of the legislature during the interim under (a)(3) of this section, the 07 individual worked for at least 100 days during each of four regular legislative sessions. 08 (e) In this section, 09 (1) "an individual who is related to" means a member of the legislator's 10 or legislative employee's immediate family or a person who is living together in a 11 conjugal relationship not a legal marriage with the legislator or legislative employee; 12 (2) "interim between sessions" means the period beginning on the 13 eighth day after the legislature adjourns from a regular or special session and ending 14 eight days before the date that the legislature next convenes in regular session under 15 AS 24.05.090 or in special session under AS 24.05.100; 16 (3) "other house of the legislature" means the house in which the 17 individual's relation is not a member. 18 * Sec. 17. AS 24.60.150 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 19 (c) In carrying out these duties, the committee shall interpret this chapter in 20 the manner that is no more restrictive of the actions of legislators than is necessary to 21 implement the intent of the law. If a statute is ambiguous, the committee shall 22 consider the intent of the legislature in interpreting the statute. 23 * Sec. 18. AS 15.13.116(d) is repealed. 24 * Sec. 19. Section 5 of this Act takes effect on the later of the effective date set out in 25 sec. 20 of this Act or on the date that, under sec. 34, ch. 48, SLA 1996, sec. 12, ch. 48, SLA 26 1996, takes effect. 27 * Sec. 20. Except as provided in sec. 19 of this Act, this Act takes effect December 1, 28 1999.