Legislature(2003 - 2004)
2003-03-05 House Journal
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Full Journal pdf2003-03-05 House Journal Page 0427 rule on complaints in a timely manner. The collapse of enforcement and lengthy delays in decisions, sometimes approaching two election cycles, has undermined the objectives of campaign finance laws. Due to the lack of timely enforcement, the APOC has become a vehicle which focuses nearly all media attention on allegations of misconduct and not on the factual reporting of contributions. Therefore, with this bill, enforcement of Alaska's campaign finance laws will be elevated to the Department of Law and the Judiciary. This change will allow legitimate complaints to be processed with just resolution coming from the Alaska Court System. Raising the bar to the judiciary should reduce allegations made for political gain and will install confidence in our reporting system. Furthermore, this bill mandates electronic reporting. For the past decade private sector employers, citizens, and some public agencies have increasingly moved into the technological age. It is now common to use electronic means to pay bills, reserve travel, renew a driver's license or offer up-to-the-minute election results. One of the premier users and innovators of technology is the Division of Elections. With this bill the Division of Elections will now be tasked with collecting the electronic reporting and distributing the information to the public. With this step the public will be able to access election and campaign information from a single source and the state will see a savings through consolidation and technological efficiencies. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Frank H. Murkowski Governor" HB 158 HOUSE BILL NO. 158 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act eliminating the longevity bonus program and making related conforming changes; and providing for an effective date."