11/19/2006 05:00 PM Senate FINANCE

                                                                                                                                
5:14:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     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."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This was  the first hearing for  this bill in the  Senate Finance                                                               
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT  NORDSTRAND,  Commissioner, Department  of  Administration,                                                               
explained  that the  bill would  fund  a special  election for  a                                                               
state-wide advisory  vote on  April 3, 2007  to allow  voters the                                                               
opportunity  to   indicate  their  preferences  on   a  potential                                                               
constitutional  amendment prohibiting  the  State from  extending                                                               
benefits to  same-sex couples. If the  advisory vote demonstrated                                                               
support for the  proposed amendment, it would appear  on the 2008                                                               
general election  ballot. He understood  the advisory  vote would                                                               
coincide  with the  Municipality  of Anchorage's  election in  an                                                               
attempt to minimize the costs of the special election.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:16:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Hoffman voiced  concern that  voter turnout  for special                                                               
elections was historically low, and  voters in Anchorage may have                                                               
more incentive to participate on  election day if there are other                                                               
issues  on  the  ballot.  He   was  concerned  Anchorage  may  be                                                               
disproportionately represented in the election results.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:16:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Commissioner Nordstrand  replied that  the Division  of Elections                                                               
may be able  to address Senator Hoffman's concern.  He added that                                                               
other  municipal elections  could also  be  held on  that day  to                                                               
encourage voters in other areas to take part in the election.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:17:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Stedman moved  to report  the bill  from Committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being no  objection, CS HB 4002(FIN)(efd  fld) was REPORTED                                                               
from Committee  with fiscal note  #1 in the amount  of $1,156,300                                                               
from the Division of Elections.