SCR 1 am: Suspending Rules 24(a) and 34(c), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; authorizing the presiding officers to allow members to attend a session by videoconference or teleconference in certain circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and relating to sessions where members are authorized to attend a session by videoconference or teleconference.
00 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1 am 01 Suspending Rules 24(a) and 34(c), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, in 02 response to the COVID-19 pandemic; authorizing the presiding officers to allow 03 members to attend a session by videoconference or teleconference in certain 04 circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and relating to sessions where 05 members are authorized to attend a session by videoconference or teleconference. 06 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 07 WHEREAS the World Health Organization has declared the disease caused by the 08 novel coronavirus, COVID-19, a pandemic; and 09 WHEREAS, under art. XV, sec. 20, Constitution of the State of Alaska, Juneau is the 10 capital and the seat of government of the State of Alaska, and the legislature must continue to 11 meet in the seat of government to the fullest extent possible; and 12 WHEREAS, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be unsafe or impossible 13 for all members to travel to Juneau or to continue the essential business of the legislature in 14 person; and 15 WHEREAS the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature may be suspended by
01 a two-thirds vote of the full membership of each house; 02 BE IT RESOLVED that, under Rule 54, Uniform Rules of the Alaska State 03 Legislature, the provisions of 04 (1) Rule 24(a), requiring signature by a majority of the members of the 05 committee for committee reports, are suspended during the Thirty-Second Alaska State 06 Legislature to the extent necessary to authorize a member of the committee to vote by 07 videoconference to report a bill from committee; if a member is prevented from participating 08 by videoconference in a committee meeting because of technological reasons, including 09 internet service interruption or other unavoidable technological complications, the presiding 10 officer may allow the member to vote to report the bill from committee by teleconference; the 11 vote at a meeting held under this paragraph shall be taken by roll call, and the committee 12 report must be in writing, signed by the chair, and approved by a majority of the members of 13 the committee; 14 (2) Rule 34(c), regarding voting procedure, are suspended during the Thirty- 15 Second Alaska State Legislature when attendance of members by videoconference is 16 authorized by the presiding officer to allow a member attending a session by videoconference 17 to vote in a roll call vote by videoconference; when attendance of members by 18 videoconference is authorized by the presiding officer, the electronic voting machine may be 19 used by a member voting from the member's desk and may be used to tally roll call votes cast 20 by members by videoconference; and be it 21 FURTHER RESOLVED that, by agreement of the presiding officers of both houses, 22 the presiding officer may authorize a member to attend a session by videoconference when 23 the member is in quarantine or has contracted COVID-19 or when necessary to establish a 24 quorum if the legislature cannot physically meet because of the COVID-19 pandemic; and be 25 it 26 FURTHER RESOLVED that, when attendance of members by videoconference is 27 authorized by the presiding officer, 28 (1) the presiding officer must be physically present in the capitol when 29 conducting a session; 30 (2) a member participating by videoconference is considered present for 31 quorum purposes under Uniform Rule 14(a);
01 (3) a member participating by videoconference must be physically present at a 02 Legislative Information Office or the member's legislative office, unless otherwise approved 03 by the presiding officer; and 04 (4) the identity of each member participating by videoconference must be 05 verified and the actions of each participating member must be authenticated in a manner 06 satisfactory to the presiding officer; the videoconference must enable each participating 07 member to hear or read the comments of a member who is recognized by the presiding 08 officer; and be it 09 FURTHER RESOLVED that, if the presiding officer has authorized members to 10 attend a session by videoconference and there are technological reasons, including internet 11 service interruption or other unavoidable technological complications, that prevent members 12 from participating by videoconference, the presiding officer may allow members to attend a 13 session by teleconference; a member allowed to participate by teleconference under this 14 provision will be regarded as participating by videoconference for purposes of this resolution; 15 and be it 16 FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution remains in effect for the duration of the 17 regular or special session in which attendance of members by videoconference is first 18 authorized by the presiding officers.