Legislature(2001 - 2002)
2001-04-18 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1036 HB 193 The following, which was moved to the bottom of the calendar (page 1033), was read the second time: HOUSE BILL NO. 193 "An Act relating to the primary election; and providing for an effective date." with the: Journal Page STA RPT CS(STA) 3DP 2DNP 2NR 839 FN1: (GOV) 839 JUD RPT CS(JUD) NT 3DP 1DNP 1AM 879 FN1: (GOV) 880 FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 5DP 2NR 1AM 950 FN2: (GOV) 951 Representative James moved and asked unanimous consent that the following committee substitute be adopted in lieu of the original bill: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 193(FIN) "An Act relating to the primary election and to the nomination of candidates for the general election; and providing for an effective date." There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Berkowitz: Page 1, line 9, following "next": Delete "primary" Insert "general" Page 1, line 11, through Page 3, line 24: Delete all material and insert: 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1037 "* Sec 2. AS 15.20.225 is amended to read: Sec. 15.20.225. Definition of "state election''. In AS 15.20.010 - 15.20.225, "state election" means a [PRIMARY,] general [,] or special election a purpose of which is to (1) select [, NOMINATE,] or elect a governor, a lieutenant governor, an acting governor, a state senator, or a state representative; (2) select, nominate, or elect delegates to a constitutional convention; (3) approve or reject an initiative submitted under art. XI of the state constitution and AS 15.45.190 - 15.45.200 or a referendum submitted under art. XI of the state constitution and AS 15.45.420 - 15.45.440; (4) recall an official identified in (1) of this section when authorized by art. XI of the state constitution and AS 15.45.650 - 15.45.690; (5) approve or reject a proposed constitutional amendment submitted under AS 15.50; or (6) ratify or reject a state general obligation bond when authorized by AS 37.15." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 3, lines 27 - 28 and line 31 following "time,": Delete "on the day of the primary election" Insert "August 15" Page 4, line 3, following "mailing.": Delete "[IF JUNE 1 IS A SUNDAY OR HOLIDAY, THE DEADLINES FOR POSTMARKING AND RECEIPT OF THE PETITION SHALL BE EXTENDED 24 HOURS IN EACH INSTANCE.]" Insert "If August 15 [JUNE 1] is a Sunday or holiday, the deadlines for postmarking and receipt of the petition shall be extended 24 hours in each instance." 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1038 Page 4, lines 21 - 22: Delete all material. Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly. Representative Berkowitz moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Representative James objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 1 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 193(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 1 YEAS: 13 NAYS: 23 EXCUSED: 3 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Berkowitz, Cissna, Crawford, Croft, Davies, Guess, Hayes, Hudson, Kapsner, Kerttula, Kookesh, Moses, Williams Nays: Bunde, Chenault, Coghill, Dyson, Fate, Foster, Green, Halcro, Harris, James, Kohring, Kott, Lancaster, McGuire, Meyer, Morgan, Mulder, Murkowski, Porter, Rokeberg, Scalzi, Stevens, Whitaker Excused: Joule, Ogan, Wilson Absent: Masek And so, Amendment No. 1 was not adopted. Amendment No. 2 was offered by Representative Berkowitz: Page 4, line 12: Delete all material. Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly. Page 5, line 14, following "names": Delete "and the political group affiliation" 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1039 Representative Berkowitz moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 be adopted. Representative Rokeberg objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 2 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 193(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 2 YEAS: 9 NAYS: 26 EXCUSED: 3 ABSENT: 2 Yeas: Berkowitz, Cissna, Crawford, Croft, Guess, Hudson, Kerttula, Kookesh, Moses Nays: Bunde, Chenault, Coghill, Davies, Dyson, Fate, Foster, Green, Halcro, Harris, Hayes, James, Kapsner, Kohring, Kott, Lancaster, McGuire, Meyer, Morgan, Murkowski, Porter, Rokeberg, Scalzi, Stevens, Whitaker, Williams Excused: Joule, Ogan, Wilson Absent: Masek, Mulder And so, Amendment No. 2 was not adopted. Amendment No. 3 was offered by Representative Croft: Page 3, following line 4: Insert a new subsection to read: "(d) The director shall charge a fee to a political party to recover the costs of preparing under AS 15.25.010 and (b) of this section the party's ballot containing the names of that party's candidates, unless the party has notified the director that its bylaws permit members of other political parties to participate in the party's primary election. The director shall adopt regulations to implement this subsection." Representative Croft moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 3 be adopted. 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1040 Objection was heard. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 3 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 193(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 3 YEAS: 10 NAYS: 25 EXCUSED: 3 ABSENT: 2 Yeas: Berkowitz, Cissna, Crawford, Croft, Davies, Guess, Hayes, Kapsner, Kookesh, Moses Nays: Bunde, Chenault, Coghill, Dyson, Fate, Foster, Green, Harris, Hudson, James, Kohring, Kott, Lancaster, Masek, McGuire, Meyer, Morgan, Mulder, Murkowski, Porter, Rokeberg, Scalzi, Stevens, Whitaker, Williams Excused: Joule, Ogan, Wilson Absent: Halcro, Kerttula And so, Amendment No. 3 was not adopted. Amendment No. 4 was offered by Representative Cissna: Page 1, line 1, through page 5, line 28 (title amendment): Delete all material and insert: ""An Act providing for a nonpartisan blanket primary election." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: * Section 1. AS 15.13.060(c) is amended to read: (c) Each candidate for state office shall file the name and address of the campaign treasurer with the commission, or submit, in writing, the name and address of the campaign treasurer to the director for filing with the commission, no later than 15 days after the date of filing [THE DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY OR] the nominating petition. Each candidate for municipal office shall file the name and address of the campaign treasurer with the 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1041 commission no later than seven days after the date of filing the declaration of candidacy or the nominating petition. If the candidate does not designate a campaign treasurer, the candidate is the campaign treasurer. * Sec. 2. AS 15.13.074(c) is amended to read: (c) A person or group may not make a contribution (1) to a candidate or an individual who files with the commission the document necessary to permit that individual to incur certain election-related expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100 when the office is to be filled at a general election before the date that is 18 months before the general election; (2) to a candidate or an individual who files with the commission the document necessary to permit that individual to incur certain election-related expenses as authorized by AS 15.13.100 for an office that is to be filled at a special election or municipal election before the date that is 18 months before the date of the regular municipal election or that is before the date of the proclamation of the special election at which the candidate or individual seeks election to public office; or (3) to any candidate later than the 45th day (A) after the date of a primary election if the candidate (i) has been chosen to appear on the general election ballot [NOMINATED] at the primary election or is running as a write-in candidate; and (ii) is not opposed at the general election; (B) after the date of the primary election if the candidate was not chosen to appear on the general election ballot [NOMINATED] at the primary election; or (C) after the date of the general election, or after the date of a municipal or municipal runoff election, if the candidate was opposed at the general, municipal, or municipal runoff election. * Sec. 3. AS 15.13.110(a) is amended to read: 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1042 (a) Each candidate and group shall make a full report in accordance with AS 15.13.040 for the period ending three days before the due date of the report and beginning on the last day covered by the most recent previous report. If the report is a first report, it shall cover the period from the beginning of the campaign to the date three days before the due date of the report. If the report is a report due February 15, it shall cover the period beginning on the last day covered by the most recent previous report or on the day that the campaign started, whichever is later, and ending on December 31 of the prior year. The report shall be filed (1) 30 days before the election; however, this report is not required if the deadline for filing a nominating petition [OR DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY] is within 30 days of the election; (2) one week before the election; (3) 10 days after the election; and (4) February 15 for expenditures made and contributions received that were not reported during the previous year, including, if applicable, all amounts expended from a public office expense term account established under AS 15.13.116(a)(8) and all amounts expended from a municipal office account under AS 15.13.116(a)(9), or when expenditures were not made or contributions were not received during the previous year. * Sec. 4. AS 15.13.116(b) is amended to read: (b) After a general, special, municipal, or municipal runoff election, a candidate may retain the ownership of one computer and one printer and of personal property, except money, that was acquired by and for use in the campaign. The current fair market value of the property retained, exclusive of the computer and printer, may not exceed $2,500. All other property shall be disposed of, or sold and the sale proceeds disposed of, in accordance with (a) or (c) of this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a candidate may (1) retain a bulk mailing permit that was paid for with campaign funds, and (2) use personal funds, campaign funds, or unused campaign contributions transferred to a public office expense term account under (a)(8) of this section to pay the continuing charges for the permit after the 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1043 election. Money used to continue the life of the permit is not considered to be a contribution under this chapter. In addition to any other use permitted under this chapter, during the candidate's term of office, the candidate may use the bulk mailing permit for mailings associated with service in the office to which the candidate was elected. During the candidate's term of office, if the candidate files a nominating petition [DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY] or a letter of intent to become a candidate for the same or a different elective office, the candidate may also use the bulk mailing permit in that election campaign. * Sec. 5. AS 15.20.082(c) is repealed and reenacted to read: (c) A special state absentee ballot prepared for the state general election or for a state special election shall, if the names of candidates are not yet certified, include the names of each candidate appearing on the primary election ballot. The ballot shall permit the voter to vote in the general election by indicating the voter's order of preference for each candidate for each office. To indicate order of preference for each candidate for each office to be voted on in the election, the voter shall put the number one next to the name of the candidate who is the voter's first choice, the number two for the voter's second choice, and so forth, so that, in consecutive numerical order, a number indicating the voter's preference is written by the voter next to each candidate's name on the ballot. For each office, the director shall count the vote as being for the highest ranked candidate whose name appears on the general or special election ballot. If the voter writes in a name for an office, the vote shall be counted as a write-in vote for that office. * Sec. 6. AS 15.25.010 is amended to read: Sec. 15.25.010. Provision for primary election. Candidates for the elective state executive and state and national legislative offices shall be chosen to appear on the general election ballot [NOMINATED] in a primary election by direct vote of the people in the manner prescribed by this chapter. * Sec. 7. AS 15.25.042(c) is amended to read: (c) If a candidate for the legislature has been registered to vote at any time during the 12 months preceding 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1044 the filing of the nominating petition [DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY] in a district other than the district in which the nominating petition [DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY] has been filed, the director may not determine that a candidate is eligible except under a standard of clear and convincing evidence. * Sec. 8. AS 15.25.050(a) is amended to read: (a) At the time the nominating petition [DECLARATION] is filed, each candidate shall pay a nonrefundable filing fee to the director. The filing fee for candidates for office of governor, lieutenant governor, United States senator, and United States representative is $100. The filing fee for candidates for office of state senator and state representative is $30. * Sec. 9. AS 15.25.100 is repealed and reenacted to read: Sec. 15.25.100. Placement of nominees on general election ballot. (a) Of the names of candidates that appear on the primary election ballot under AS 15.25.190, the director shall place on the general election ballot the names of the candidates receiving the greatest number of votes and the second greatest number of votes for an office, except as provided in (b) and (c) of this section. (b) If two candidates tie (1) in having the greatest number of votes for an office in the primary election, the director shall place only the names of those two candidates for that office on the general election ballot; (2) in having the second greatest number of votes, the director shall place on the general election ballot the name of only one of the candidates who tied for that office, to be determined by lot under AS 15.20.530. (c) For the office of lieutenant governor, the director shall place on the general election ballot (1) together with the name of the candidate for governor who received the greatest number of votes in the primary election, the name of either the candidate for lieutenant governor receiving the greatest number of votes or the candidate for lieutenant governor receiving the second greatest number of votes, whichever the candidate for governor chooses to run jointly with; and 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1045 (2) together with the name of the candidate for governor who received the second greatest number of votes in the primary election, the name of either the candidate for lieutenant governor receiving the greatest number of votes, or the candidate for lieutenant governor receiving the second greatest number of votes, whichever was not chosen to run jointly with the candidate for governor who received the greatest number of votes. * Sec. 10. AS 15.25.105(a) is amended to read: (a) If a candidate does not appear on the primary election ballot or is not successful in advancing to the general election and wishes to be a candidate in the general election, the candidate may file as a write-in candidate. Votes for a write-in candidate may not be counted unless that candidate has filed a letter of intent with the director stating (1) the full name of the candidate; (2) the full residence address of the candidate and the date on which residency at that address began; (3) the full mailing address of the candidate; (4) the name of the political party or political group of which the candidate is a member, if any; (5) if the candidate is for the office of state senator or state representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident; (6) the office that the candidate seeks; (7) the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election; (8) the length of residency in the state and in the house district of the candidate; (9) the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to be written on the ballot by the voter; (10) that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements of the office for which the person is a candidate; (11) that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the office for which the person is a candidate by the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn into office; 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1046 (12) that the candidate is a qualified voter as required by law; and (13) that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be voted on at the general election and that the candidate is not a candidate for this office under any other nominating petition [OR DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY]. * Sec. 11. AS 15.25.140 is amended to read: Sec. 15.25.140. Provision for [NO-PARTY] candidate nominations. Candidates [NOT REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY] are nominated by petition. * Sec. 12. AS 15.25.180(a) is amended to read: (a) The petition must state in substance (1) the full name of the candidate; (2) the full residence address of the candidate and the date on which residency at that address began; (3) the full mailing address of the candidate; (4) the name of the political party or group, if any, of which [SUPPORTING] the candidate is a member; (5) if the candidacy is for the office of state senator or state representative, the house or senate district of which the candidate is a resident; (6) the office for which the candidate is nominated; (7) the date of the election at which the candidate seeks election; (8) the length of residency in the state and in the district of the candidate; (9) that the subscribers are qualified voters of the state or house or senate district in which the candidate resides; (10) that the subscribers request that the candidate's name be placed on the primary election ballot; (11) that the proposed candidate accepts the nomination and will serve if elected, with the statement signed by the proposed candidate; (12) the name of the candidate as the candidate wishes it to appear on the ballot; 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1047 (13) that the candidate is not a candidate for any other office to be voted on at the primary or general election and that the candidate is not a candidate for this office under any other nominating petition [OR DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY]; (14) that the candidate meets the specific citizenship requirements of the office for which the person is a candidate; (15) that the candidate will meet the specific age requirements of the office for which the person is a candidate by the time that the candidate, if elected, is sworn into office; and (16) that the candidate is a qualified voter. * Sec. 13. AS 15.25.185 is amended to read: Sec. 15.25.185. Eligibility of candidate. The provisions of AS 15.25.042 and 15.25.043 apply to determinations of a candidate's eligibility when a candidate seeks nomination by petition under AS 15.25.140 - 15.25.200 [AS 15.25.140 - 15.25.205]. * Sec. 14. AS 15.25.190 is amended to read: Sec. 15.25.190. Placement of names on primary election ballot. The director shall place the names and the political party or group affiliation of persons who have been properly nominated by petition on the primary election ballot. * Sec. 15. AS 15.40.010 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.010. Conditions and time of filling vacancy by appointment and special election. When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor, within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, shall (1) appoint a qualified person who, if the predecessor in office was a member of [NOMINATED BY] a political party, has been, for the six months before the date of the vacancy and is on the date of appointment, a member of the same political party as [THAT WHICH NOMINATED] the predecessor in office to fill the vacancy temporarily until the vacancy is filled permanently by election; and (2) by proclamation and subject to this chapter, call a special primary election and a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1048 predecessor in office if the predecessor's term would expire more than 30 calendar months after the date of the vacancy. * Sec. 16. AS 15.40.075(b) is amended to read: (b) The [NOTWITHSTANDING AS 15.25.040, THE] declaration of a member of a political party who seeks to become a candidate of the party in the special primary election under AS 15.40.010 is filed by either the actual physical delivery (1) of the declaration in person or by mail at or before 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on the third day following the proclamation; or (2) by telegram or other reliable electronic means of notice of the full name of the candidate, the full mailing address of the candidate, the office for which the candidate seeks nomination, and the name of the political party of which the person is a candidate for nomination [OF A COPY IN SUBSTANCE OF THE STATEMENTS MADE IN PARAGRAPHS (1) - (5) OF THE DECLARATION AS REQUIRED BY AS 15.25.030(a)] at or before 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on the third day following the proclamation and also the actual physical delivery of the declaration, including the information specified in AS 15.25.105(a) [DECLARATION CONTAINING PARAGRAPHS (1) - (16) AS REQUIRED BY AS 15.25.030(a)] to the United States Postal Service for delivery by the most expeditious means possible. If the declaration is not received within seven calendar days, the candidate shall be notified of nonreceipt. The candidate shall have the opportunity to refile the declaration with proof that a previous declaration has been filed in a timely manner and in accordance with law. * Sec. 17. AS 15.40.075(d) is amended to read: (d) The director shall place on the special election ballot the name of the individuals [INDIVIDUAL] receiving the greatest number of votes and the second greatest number of votes [BY A POLITICAL PARTY] in the special primary election under AS 15.40.010. [FOR PURPOSES OF PLACEMENT OF THE NAMES OF NOMINEES ON THE SPECIAL ELECTION BALLOT UNDER THIS SECTION, ALL CANDIDATES WHO PROPERLY FILE NOMINATING PETITIONS WITHOUT DESIGNATING A 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1049 POLITICAL GROUP NAME SHALL BE TREATED AS CANDIDATES OF THE SAME POLITICAL GROUP.] * Sec. 18. AS 15.40.135 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.135. Definition. In AS 15.40.010 - 15.40.135, "special primary election" means an election under AS 15.40.010 for the purpose of choosing two candidates to appear on the ballot [DETERMINING WHO WILL REPRESENT A POLITICAL PARTY] in a special election to fill a vacancy of United States senator. * Sec. 19. AS 15.40.190 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.190. Requirements of petition for [NO- PARTY] candidates. Petitions for the nomination of candidates [NOT REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY] shall be signed by qualified voters of the state equal in number to at least one percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the preceding general election and shall state in substance that which is required for nomination petitions by AS 15.25.180. * Sec. 20. AS 15.40.280 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.280. Requirements of petition for [NO- PARTY] candidates. Petitions for the nomination of candidates [NOT REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY] shall be signed by qualified voters of the state equal in number to at least one percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the preceding general election, shall include nominees for the office of governor and lieutenant governor, and shall state in substance that which is required for nomination petitions by AS 15.25.180. * Sec. 21. AS 15.40.330(a) is amended to read: (a) The appointee shall meet the qualifications of a member of the legislature as prescribed in sec. 2, art. II of the state constitution, shall be a member of the same political party as [THAT WHICH NOMINATED] the predecessor in office, and shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature who are members of the same political party as [WHICH NOMINATED] the predecessor in office and of the same house as was the predecessor in office. If [THE PREDECESSOR IN OFFICE WAS NOT NOMINATED BY A POLITICAL PARTY OR IF] no other member of the predecessor's political party is a member of the 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1050 predecessor's house of the legislature, the governor may appoint any qualified person. If the appointee is not a member of a political party, the appointment is not subject to confirmation. If the appointee is a member of a political party, the appointment is subject to confirmation as provided by this section for the confirmation of political party appointees. * Sec. 22. AS 15.40.440 is amended to read: Sec. 15.40.440. Requirements of petition for [NO- PARTY] candidates. Petitions for the nomination of candidates [NOT REPRESENTING A POLITICAL PARTY] shall be signed by qualified voters equal in number to at least one percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the proposed nominee's respective house or senate district in the preceding general election. A nominating petition may not contain less than 50 signatures for any district, and must state in substance that which is required in petitions for nomination by AS 15.25.180. * Sec. 23. AS 15.58.030(b) is amended to read: (b) No later than July 22 of a year in which a state general election will be held, an individual who becomes a candidate for the office of United States senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state representative under AS 15.25.180 [AS 15.25.030 OR 15.25.180] may file with the lieutenant governor a photograph and a statement advocating the candidacy. An individual who becomes a candidate for the office of United States senator, United States representative, governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state representative by party petition [FILED UNDER AS 15.25.110] may file with the lieutenant governor a photograph and a statement advocating the candidacy within 10 days of becoming a candidate. * Sec. 24. AS 39.50.020(b) is amended to read: (b) A public official other than an elected or appointed municipal officer shall file the statement with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Candidates for the office of governor and lieutenant governor and, if the candidate is not subject to AS 24.60, the legislature shall file the statement under AS 15.25.180 [AS 15.25.030 OR 15.25.180]. Municipal officers, and candidates for elective municipal 2001-04-18 House Journal Page 1051 office, shall file with the municipal clerk or other municipal official designated to receive their filing for office. All statements required to be filed under this chapter are public records. * Sec. 25. AS 15.25.030, 15.25.040, 15.25.056, 15.25.110, 15.25.120, 15.25.130, 15.25.205; AS 15.40.200, 15.40.210, 15.40.290, 15.40.300, 15.40.450, and 15.40.460 are repealed." Representative Cissna moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 4 be adopted. Representative Kott objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 4 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 193(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 4 YEAS: 7 NAYS: 27 EXCUSED: 3 ABSENT: 3 Yeas: Berkowitz, Cissna, Crawford, Croft, Davies, Kapsner, Kookesh Nays: Bunde, Chenault, Coghill, Dyson, Fate, Foster, Green, Guess, Halcro, Harris, Hayes, Hudson, James, Kohring, Kott, Lancaster, Masek, McGuire, Meyer, Morgan, Mulder, Murkowski, Porter, Rokeberg, Scalzi, Stevens, Whitaker Excused: Joule, Ogan, Wilson Absent: Kerttula, Moses, Williams And so, Amendment No. 4 was not adopted. Representative James moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 193(FIN) be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. Representative Berkowitz objected. The Speaker stated that CSHB 193(FIN) will advance to third reading on the April 19, 2001, calendar.