00                             SENATE BILL NO. 4                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to binding votes under the Legislative Ethics Act."                                                    
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 24.60.030(j) is amended by adding new paragraphs to read:                                          
04                 (4)  "caucus" has the meaning given in AS 24.60.037(g);                                                 
05                 (5)  "legislative body" has the meaning given in AS 24.60.037(g).                                     
06    * Sec. 2. AS 24.60.030 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                            
07 (k)  A legislator may not, through a vote in caucus, commit or bind another                                             
08 legislator to commit to vote for or against a bill, to confirm an appointment, to                                       
09 override the governor's veto of a bill or appropriation, or to vote for or against another                              
10       question that may come to a vote before a legislative body, except as provided in this                            
11       subsection. A legislator may                                                                                      
12                 (1)  vote in a caucus on a matter directly relating to the selection of an                              
13       officer of the caucus or a leader of a legislative body;                                                          
14                 (2)  conduct an informal poll, outside of a meeting of the majority of                                  
15       the members of a legislative body, to determine how another legislator may vote on a                              

01       measure.                                                                                                          
02    * Sec. 3. AS 24.60.170(k) is amended to read:                                                                      
03 (k)  Following the hearing, the committee shall issue a decision stating whether                                        
04 or not the subject of the complaint violated this chapter, and explaining the reasons for                               
05 the determination. The committee's decision may also indicate whether the subject                                       
06 cooperated with the committee in its proceedings. If the committee finds a violation,                                   
07 or lack of cooperation by the subject, the decision shall recommend what sanctions, if                                  
08 any, the committee believes are appropriate. If there has not been a hearing because                                    
09 the person charged admitted to the allegations of the charge, the committee shall issue                                 
10 a decision outlining the facts of the violation and containing a sanctions                                              
11 recommendation. If the committee finds that the subject violated AS 24.60.030(k),                                   
12 the committee shall recommend expulsion from the legislature and refer the                                          
13       matter to the appropriate house of the legislature.