02/11/2014 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS

                  HB 274-HEARINGS ON REFERENDA                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:06:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN announced  that the first order of  business was HOUSE                                                               
BILL NO. 274, "An Act  relating to public hearings on initiatives                                                               
and referenda  scheduled to appear  on the ballot;  and providing                                                               
for an effective date."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:07:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEFF  TURNER,  Staff,  Representative  Charisse  Millett,  Alaska                                                               
State Legislature,  presented HB 275 on  behalf of Representative                                                               
Millett, sponsor.  He said  the proposed legislation would extend                                                               
the public  hearing requirements  for referendums.   He described                                                               
it  as "an  add-on" to  House Bill  36, which  was passed  by the                                                               
legislature in 2010.   He said referendums do  not commonly occur                                                               
on the ballot, but noted there would  be one later this year.  In                                                               
response to the chair, he reviewed  that an initiative is a voter                                                               
initiated item  on the ballot that  allows the public to  enact a                                                               
piece of  legislation in place  of the legislature;  a referendum                                                               
repeals a  law that was  passed by  the legislature.   Mr. Powell                                                               
said HB 274 would require  the lieutenant governor to hold public                                                               
hearings in  each of  the judicial  districts around  the states,                                                               
and it  would require a  hearing of  a standing committee  of the                                                               
legislature  whose  members  would  be chosen  by  the  presiding                                                               
officers of the House and Senate.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:08:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN,  after  ascertaining  that no  one  else  wished  to                                                               
testify, closed public testimony.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:08:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  said he  appreciates the  sponsor bringing                                                               
forward HB 274.  He said it seems like a great bill.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:09:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON said he was  thinking the same thing.  He                                                               
said it seems necessary and is  consistent.  He said, "Anytime we                                                               
ask people  to vote on something  it is good to  educate and have                                                               
both sides."  He stated his support of the proposed legislation.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:09:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN stated, "I, too, think  it's a good thing."  Regarding                                                               
referendums, he opined public hearings are needed.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:10:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  moved to  report HB  274 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.  There being no objection,  HB 274 was reported out of the                                                               
House State Affairs Standing Committee.