03/20/1998 01:48 PM House FIN

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9                                              
                                                                               
Proposing amendments to the Uniform Rules of the Alaska                        
State Legislature relating to committee meetings; and                          
providing for an effective date.                                               
                                                                               
Co-Chair Therriault provided members with a proposed                           
committee substitute for HCR 9, work draft 0-LS0579\B, dated                   
3/18/98 (copy on file).                                                        
                                                                               
JANICE SEITZ, STAFF, ROKEBERG spoke in support of the                          
proposed committee substitute.  She explained that the                         
proposed committee substitute would allow a member who is                      
not physically present at a committee meeting to participate                   
and vote via teleconference.  The chair of the committee                       
would sign for the person participating via teleconference.                    
                                                                               
Co-Chair Therriault recounted that he participated in a                        
teleconferenced committee meeting from Fairbanks.  He was                      
able to vote on amendments but could not sign the committee                    
report.                                                                        
                                                                               
In response to a question by Representative Mulder, Co-Chair                   
Therriault expressed concern with interim committee                            
meetings.  He noted that a number of legislators have jobs                     
that monopolize a portion of their time.  He stressed that                     
legislation could move through the process when legislators                    
are not present to participate.                                                
                                                                               
Representative Grussendorf observed that it would be more                      
difficult for the public to be involved in interim meetings.                   
                                                                               
Representative Davies agreed with comments regarding the                       
ability of legislators and the public to participate during                    
interim meetings.                                                              
                                                                               
Representative Mulder maintained that concern for public                       
input and participation could be addressed by moving the                       
legislative session to Anchorage.                                              
                                                                               
Representative Foster MOVED to ADOPT work draft 0-LS0579\B,                    
dated 3/18/98.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                   
                                                                               
Representative Foster MOVED to report CSHCR 9 (FIN) out of                     
Committee with the accompanying fiscal note.  There being NO                   
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                  
                                                                               
CSHCR 9 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with "no                           
recommendation" and with a zero fiscal note by the                             
Legislative Affairs Agency.