Legislature(2005 - 2006)

2006-12-29 Senate Journal

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2006-12-29                     Senate Journal                      Page 3813
                                                                                                    
                              SENATE JOURNAL                                                     
                                                                                                    
                         ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                
                                                                                                    
                        TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE                                                
                                                                                                    
                          FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION                                                 
                                                                                                    
Juneau, Alaska                    Friday              December 29, 2006                           
                                                                                                    
                             Final Supplement                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                              Certification                                                      
                                                                                                    
As Secretary of the Senate, I wish to certify as to the correctness of the                          
journal for the seventh legislative day of the Fourth Special Session of                            
the Twenty-fourth Legislature.                                                                      
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                Enrollment                                                       
                                                                                                    
SCR 401                                                                                           
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 401 Relating to                                                    
legislative powers over same-sex partner employment benefits and                                    
urging the courts to delay action until the legislature has sufficient                              
time to act in the next regular session of the legislature, was enrolled,                           
signed by the President and Secretary, Speaker and Chief Clerk and                                  
the engrossed and enrolled copies transmitted to the Office of the                                  
Governor at 1:25 p.m., November 27, 2006.                                                           
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                        Messages from the Governor                                               
                                                                                                    
HB 4001                                                                                           
Message dated December 28 and received December 29, stating:                                        
                                                                                                    
Dear President Stevens:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
Under the authority vested in me by art. II, sec. 15, of the Alaska                                 
Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill:                                                     
                                                                                                    

2006-12-29                     Senate Journal                      Page 3814
         CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 4001(FIN) am (efd fld)                                               
         "An Act prohibiting the commissioner of                                                    
         administration from adopting, allowing to become                                           
         law, or implementing regulations that grant or extend                                      
         employment-related benefits to same-sex partners of                                        
         state employees and members of the state retirement                                        
         systems unless expressly authorized by statute."                                           
                                                                                                    
The Alaska Supreme Court issued an order on December 19, 2006,                                      
that made effective regulations to provide employment-related benefits                              
to same-sex partners of public employees and members of the state                                   
retirement systems. The Department of Law has advised me that the                                   
Alaska Supreme Court is likely to find that this bill is unconstitutional                           
and, therefore, the bill would not effectively prohibit the provision of                            
benefits under those regulations.                                                                   
                                                                                                    
The regulations are already in effect in accordance with the court's                                
order of December 19, 2006. Allowing this bill to become law would                                  
violate my oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution of the                              
State of Alaska.                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
Please know that this veto does not signal any change or modification                               
to my disagreement with the action and order by the Alaska Supreme                                  
Court. It is my intention to work with the legislature and to give the                              
people of Alaska an opportunity to express their wishes and intentions                              
whether these benefits should continue.                                                             
                                                                                                    
Sincerely,                                                                                          
/s/                                                                                                 
Sarah Palin                                                                                         
Governor                                                                                            
                                                                                                    
HB 4002                                                                                           
Message was received stating the Governor signed the following bill                                 
on December 20 and transmitted the engrossed and enrolled copies to                                 
the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing:                                              
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    

2006-12-29                     Senate Journal                      Page 3815
         CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 4002(FIN)(efd fld) "An                                               
         Act authorizing an advisory vote on employment                                             
         benefits for same-sex partners of public employees                                         
         and same-sex partners of public employee retirees."                                        
                                                                                                    
                          Chapter 1, 4SSLA 2006                                                    
                         Effective Date: 3/20/07                                                   
                                                                                                    
SCR 401                                                                                           
Message dated November 27 was received stating the Governor read                                    
the following resolution and transmitted the engrossed and enrolled                                 
copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing:                                    
                                                                                                    
                   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 401                                            
         Relating to legislative powers over same-sex partner                                       
         employment benefits and urging the courts to delay                                         
         action until the legislature has sufficient time to act in                                 
         the next regular session of the legislature.                                               
                                                                                                    
                        Legislative Resolve No. 60                                                 

2006-12-29                     Senate Journal                      Page 3816
                          Index to Vetoed Bills                                                  
                                                                                                    
HB 4001                                                                                           
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 4001(FIN) am (efd fld) "An Act                                                
prohibiting the commissioner of administration from adopting,                                       
allowing to become law, or implementing regulations that grant or                                   
extend employment-related benefits to same-sex partners of state                                    
employees and members of the state retirement systems unless                                        
expressly authorized by statute."                                                                   
                                                                                                    
 Vetoed on 12/28/06…………………..3813…..12/29/06                                                         
                                                                                                    
This final supplement of the Senate Journal completes the official                                  
record of the Fourth Special Session of the Twenty-fourth Legislature.                              
                                                                                                    
                                                            Kirsten Waid                            
                                                  Secretary of the Senate