Legislature(1999 - 2000)
2000-01-24 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1983 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE -- SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday January 24, 2000 Fifteenth Day Pursuant to adjournment, the House was called to order by Speaker Porter at 11:03 a.m. Roll call showed 39 members present. Representative Kott had been previously excused from a call of the House today. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Connie Munro of the Juneau Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Representative Brice moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it appears below: Let us hold to light all of those Alaskans who have contributed to our welfare and our creativity. In honor of former Representative Alvin Osterback of Sand Point and Senator Frank Ferguson of Kotzebue who supported and encouraged the writing of a second verse to the Alaska Flag Song, and to the late author, Carol Beery Davis, who wrote it in 1986 in her early nineties, may we reflect on this inclusion of our history: Alaska Flag Song Verse 1 by Marie Drake Eight stars of gold on a field of blue, Alaska's flag, may it mean to you; The blue of the sea, the ev'ning sky, The mountain lakes and the flow'rs near by; The gold of the early sourdough's dreams, The precious gold of the hills and streams; The brilliant stars in the northern sky, 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1984 The "Bear," the "Dipper," and shining high, The great North Star with its steady light, O'er land and sea a beacon bright, Alaska's flag to Alaskan's dear, The simple flag of a last frontier. Verse 2 by Carol Beery Davis A Native lad chose the Dipper's stars For Alaska's flag that there be no bars Among our cultures. Be it known Through years the Natives' past has grown To share life's treasures, hand in hand, To keep Alaska our Great Land; We love the northern, midnight sky, The mountains, lakes, and streams nearby. The great North Star with its steady light Will guide all cultures, clear and bright, With nature's flag to Alaskans dear, The simple flag of the last frontier. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Brice. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Green moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 12th, 13th and 14th legislative days, House Journal Supplement No. 5, Senate & House Joint Journal Supplement No. 9 and House & Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 10 be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. COMMUNICATIONS The following reports were received: Dept. of Administration Office of the Commissioner 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1985 Report on the Monetary Terms of Collective Bargaining Agreement between the University of Alaska and the Alaska Community College Federation of Teachers January 14, 2000 (as required by AS 23.40.215) The Speaker referred the report to the Finance Committee. Dept. of Community & Economic Development Division of Economic Development Alaska Minerals Commission Report of the Alaska Minerals Commission January 2000 Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities Alaska Marine Highway System AMHS Fund, Annual Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1999 (as required by AS 19.65.080) Legislative Affairs Agency Division of Legal and Research Services Report Examining Court Decisions and Opinions of the Attorney General Construing Alaska Statutes December 1999 (as required by AS 24.20.065) INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Alaska Raven AmeriCorps Member Graduates By Representative Kapsner; Senator Hoffman In Memoriam - Donald James Brown By Senator Taylor 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1986 INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 47 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 47 by Representative Davis: Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the permanent fund and to payments to certain state residents from the permanent fund. was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance Committees. INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 311 HOUSE BILL NO. 311 by Representatives Coghill, Ogan, Foster, Kohring, Sanders, and Harris entitled: "An Act eliminating a requirement that a social security number be provided by an applicant for a hunting or sport fishing license or tag." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Judiciary Committees. HB 312 HOUSE BILL NO. 312 by the House Finance Committee, entitled: "An Act making and amending appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1987 HB 313 HOUSE BILL NO. 313 by the House Finance Committee, entitled: "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. HB 314 HOUSE BILL NO. 314 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act clarifying the requirements for limited liability companies and partnerships to qualify for the Alaska bidder's and disability preferences under the State Procurement Code; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and Judiciary Committees. The following fiscal note applies: Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Administration/All Depts., 1/24/00 The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21, 2000, appears below: "Dear Speaker Porter: I am transmitting a bill clarifying the statutory requirements for limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships to qualify for the Alaska bidder's and disability preferences under the State Procurement Code. Limited liability companies (LLCs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) were recently recognized in state law, well after the state procurement code established its Alaska bidder and disability preferences. Therefore, the procurement code preferences do not clearly prescribe qualification requirements for LLCs or LLPs. 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1988 HB 314 By providing needed clarification and recognizing LLCs and LLPs under the state procurement code, this bill furthers the legislative objective of ensuring that Alaska businesses receive a preference while safeguarding application of the preferences to bonafide resident businesses. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor" HB 315 HOUSE BILL NO. 315 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act relating to elimination of the Alaska Administrative Journal and instituting public notice requirements on the Alaska Online Public Notice System; amending public notice publication requirements for certain regulations; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee. The following fiscal note applies: Zero fiscal note, Office of the Governor, 1/24/00 The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21, 2000, appears below: "Dear Speaker Porter: The state has made great effort and had much success in taking advantage of today's electronic medium. As part of our ongoing work to keep Alaska in step with the Internet age, this bill I transmit today eliminates the need for the hard copy publishing of the Alaska Administrative Journal and replaces it with the new Alaska Online Public Notice System. 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1989 HB 315 The Alaska Administrative Journal (journal) is a weekly public notice publication of the lieutenant governor's office. It has been available in print by subscription as well as on the Internet. With the increased efficiency and accessibility of the Internet by government agencies and the public, continuing to provide the journal in printed form by weekly subscription is neither time nor cost effective. At this time, there are only 12 subscribers to the journal, a drop from about 125 in 1995. Only one remaining subscriber, a law firm, is based in Alaska. The lieutenant governor will supervise use of the Alaska Online Public Notice System (system) and prescribe the form for agencies to post required notices on the system. There is no change as to which notices are required to be posted. However, under this bill, posting of public notices will be done directly by agencies, which means the system will be continually updated. The system has an archiving function that will allow a person to locate a particular public notice and verify that it was posted as required. For those who do not have personal computers, the system may be accessed on computers at most libraries and at other state agencies that provide a computer terminal for public use. Additionally, a copy of a public notice that was posted on the system may be obtained from any designated state employee by requesting a printed copy. Finally, the bill does not remove existing requirements for publication in other media. State agencies will continue to be required to comply with those requirements relating to printing, posting, and distribution of public notices, such as newspaper notices for solicitations to bid and for meetings covered by the open meetings statutes. As the result of an Administrative Order, the Alaska Online Public Notice System is already functioning and includes all the information now published in the journal. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor" 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1990 HB 316 HOUSE BILL NO. 316 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act relating to standard industrial classification for, eligibility for benefits under, and the definition of 'benefit year' for, the Alaska Employment Security Act; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee. The following fiscal note applies: Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development, 1/24/00 The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21, 2000, appears below: "Dear Speaker Porter: Recent amendments to federal law regarding job training and unemployment insurance require the state to update certain statutory references in these areas. This bill I transmit today accomplishes this requirement. Congress repealed the Job Training Partnership Act, replacing it with the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. This bill makes corresponding changes to state law. Similarly, the bill updates the classification system for employers determining their contribution rate to the unemployment compensation fund. The federal Office of Management and Budget decided in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification Code with the North American Industry Classification System. The updated coding system was developed jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to provide new comparability in data about business activity across North America. 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1991 HB 316 The bill also clarifies that an unemployment insurance claimant is not entitled to benefits for the first six weeks of unemployment if termination was for misconduct connected with the claimant's last work. Finally, the bill provides definite beginning and ending dates for a claimant's "benefit year." In order to keep Alaska's labor and unemployment statutes current with federal law, I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor" HB 317 HOUSE BILL NO. 317 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act relating to recruitment, selection, appointment, and promotion of state employees and the duties of the Department of Administration concerning those and other related functions; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Military & Veterans' Affairs and the State Affairs and Finance Committees. The following fiscal note applies: Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Administration/All Depts., 1/24/00 The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21, 2000, appears below: "Dear Speaker Porter: Workplace Alaska, the state's new, highly successful system for hiring, has won national awards for outstanding innovation. It is time to put this pilot program into state law. 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1992 HB 317 This bill I transmit today amends various sections of the State Personnel Act to integrate Workplace Alaska as an on-line recruitment, application, and hiring process for positions in the classified service. Workplace Alaska replaces the time-consuming old system of eligibility lists and examinations, which could cause a single hire to take as much as several months to complete. Under this new program, an applicant maintains a single resume on-line that can be used for any vacancy advertised. The new hiring process follows these steps: Hiring manager completes an on-line vacancy announcement; Agency reviews and approves the job announcement; Division of Personnel posts the announcement on the Internet; Job seekers complete a one-time applicant profile (resume); Job seekers access job postings over the Internet and view individual vacancies; Job seekers file a job qualification summary form for each vacancy of interest, attaching the applicant profile; Hiring manager reviews all submitted job qualification summaries and profiles, conducts interviews, reference checks, and selects an individual for the position; Agency approves the appointment. Workplace Alaska is an advantage to hiring managers as well as to applicants. It results in faster hires, a better-qualified pool of candidates who are interested in specific vacancies, and up-to-date applicant and vacancy information. The bill establishes a system to continue honoring preference for veterans, prisoners of war and members of the Alaska National Guard. It also provides authority for the personnel board to adopt necessary implementing regulation changes. 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1993 HB 317 Workplace Alaska has proven to be a vast improvement in the state's hiring process. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor" CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HCR 15 The following was read the second time: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15 Requesting the governor to proclaim March as Developmental Disability Awareness Month. with the: Journal Page HES RPT 5DP 1948 ZERO FISCAL NOTE (H.HES) 1949 A title amendment was offered by Representative Dyson: Page 1, line 1, following "March": Insert "2000" Representative Dyson moved and asked unanimous consent that the title amendment be adopted. There being no objection, it was so ordered and the new title appears below: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15 Requesting the governor to proclaim March 2000 as Developmental Disability Awareness Month. The question being: "Shall HCR 15(title am) pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1994 HCR 15 HCR 15(title am) Second Reading Final Passage YEAS: 39 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Austerman, Barnes, Berkowitz, Brice, Bunde, Cissna, Coghill, Cowdery, Croft, Davies, Davis, Dyson, Foster, Green, Grussendorf, Halcro, Harris, Hudson, James, Joule, Kapsner, Kemplen, Kerttula, Kohring, Kookesh, Masek, Morgan, Moses, Mulder, Murkowski, Ogan, Phillips, Porter, Rokeberg, Sanders, Smalley, Therriault, Whitaker, Williams Excused: Kott And so, HCR 15(title am) passed the House and was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment. LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS Representative Green moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citations on the calendar. There being no objection, the following citations were approved and sent to enrolling: Honoring - Atsuo Tsunoda By Representatives Grussendorf, Porter, Austerman, Berkowitz, Brice, Cissna, Croft, Davis, Dyson, Halcro, Hudson, Joule, Kapsner, Kemplen, Kerttula, Kott, Mulder, Murkowski, Phillips, Rokeberg, Smalley; Senator Taylor Honoring - William Schoephoester By Representatives Bunde, Porter, Austerman, Berkowitz, Brice, Cissna, Croft, Davis, Dyson, Foster, Green, Grussendorf, Halcro, Hudson, Joule, Kapsner, Kemplen, Kerttula, Kohring, Kott, Mulder, Murkowski, Phillips, Rokeberg, Smalley Honoring - Cec Riordan By Representatives Bunde, Porter, Austerman, Barnes, Berkowitz, Brice, Cissna, Croft, Davis, Dyson, Green, Grussendorf, Halcro, Hudson, Joule, Kapsner, Kemplen, Kerttula, Kott, Mulder, Murkowski, Rokeberg, Smalley 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1995 Honoring - Shirley Horn By Senator Ward; Representatives Porter, Austerman, Berkowitz, Brice, Bunde, Cissna, Coghill, Croft, Davis, Dyson, Grussendorf, Halcro, Hudson, Joule, Kapsner, Kerttula, Kohring, Kott, Murkowski, Rokeberg, Smalley In Memoriam - Emil Otto Herman Wegner By Representatives Harris, Porter, Austerman, Berkowitz, Brice, Cissna, Croft, Davis, Dyson, Foster, Grussendorf, Halcro, Hudson, Joule, Kapsner, Kemplen, Kerttula, Kott, Morgan, Mulder, Murkowski, Phillips, Rokeberg, Smalley; Senator Lincoln In Memoriam - Bill Lewis By Representatives Davies, James, Kerttula, Porter, Austerman, Berkowitz, Brice, Cissna, Coghill, Croft, Davis, Dyson, Foster, Grussendorf, Halcro, Hudson, Joule, Kapsner, Kemplen, Kerttula, Kott, Morgan, Mulder, Murkowski, Phillips, Rokeberg, Smalley In Memoriam - Helen L. Fisher By Representatives Smalley, Hudson, Davis, Phillips, Porter, Austerman, Berkowitz, Brice, Bunde, Cissna, Croft, Dyson, Foster, Grussendorf, Halcro, Joule, Kapsner, Kemplen, Kerttula, Kott, Morgan, Mulder, Murkowski, Rokeberg; Senators Torgerson, Elton UNFINISHED BUSINESS Representative Green moved and asked unanimous consent that the following members be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the members were excused as noted: Representative Davis - from 6:30 a.m., January 28 to 9:30 a.m., plane time, January 31, 2000 Representative Harris - from 9:00 a.m., February 4 to 9:00 p.m., plane time, February 6, 2000 Representative Sanders - from 6:00 p.m., February 9 to 9:30 a.m., plane time, February 15, 2000 Representative Smalley - from 1:35 p.m., February 11 to 1:50 p.m., plane time, February 14, 2000 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1996 Representative Halcro - from 5:00 p.m., February 11 to 9:32 a.m., plane time, February 15, 2000 Representative Rokeberg - from 1:35 p.m., February 11 to 9:31 a.m., plane time, February 15, 2000 Representative Whitaker - from 1:35 p.m., February 11 to 9:32 p.m., plane time, February 15, 2000 HCR 15 Representatives Smalley, Murkowski, and Joule added their names as cosponsors to: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15(title am) Requesting the governor to proclaim March 2000 as Developmental Disability Awareness Month. HJR 2 Representative Croft added his name as cosponsor to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to a biennial state budget, to the appropriation limit, and to appropriations from the budget reserve fund. HB 272 Representative Porter added his name as cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 272 "An Act relating to the tax assessment by a home rule or general law municipality of housing that qualifies for the low-income housing credit under the Internal Revenue Code; and providing for an effective date." HB 298 Representative Phillips added her name as cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 298 "An Act requiring that health care insurers provide coverage for treatment of diabetes." 2000-01-24 House Journal Page 1997 ENGROSSMENT HCR 15 HCR 15(title am) was engrossed, signed by the Speaker and Chief Clerk and transmitted to the Senate for consideration. ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published daily under separate cover. Republican Minority Caucus Rm. 416 upon adj., 1/24 ADJOURNMENT Representative Green moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:00 a.m., January 26, 2000. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:42 a.m. Suzi Lowell Chief Clerk