Legislature(2011 - 2012)BUTROVICH 205
02/10/2011 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB39 | |
| SB18 | |
| SCR2 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 39 | ||
SB 18-DURATION OF REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS
9:08:22 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced SB 18 to be the next item for
consideration.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, sponsor of SB 18, said the state
constitution says the legislature shall meet for 120 consecutive
calendar days. The public voted to shorten this to 90 days. Many
legislators feel they cannot get the job done in 90 days, and
the public is not being adequately heard. More than 20 bills
have been introduced over the years to reduce the length of
legislative sessions. None of them have passed. Some legislators
prefer the 90 day session for selfish reasons.
The shorter session is convenient for many people; however, the
shorter session gives more power to the governor and the
administration, and takes away power from the legislature. Many
members feel it is not working. Last year in the resources
committee the public was limited to two minutes of testimony
each. Senator Stevens stressed that the legislature's job is to
do the right thing for the public, not what is convenient for
the legislature.
He further noted that Governor Parnell opposes returning to 120
day sessions, and emphasized that legislators need to keep an
eye on the administration. Also, a legislator knows his or her
home district better than the administration or the governor.
The 90 day session is not working, and the legislature is
weakened because of it.
9:15:03 AM
SENATOR MEYER asked how the 120 day session length was arrived
at, since originally there was no limit.
SENATOR STEVENS responded the constitution says the legislature
shall adjourn not later than 120 consecutive calendar days from
the date it convenes.
SENATOR MEYER wondered how the drafters of the constitution
arrived at that figure.
SENATOR STEVENS noted that the legislature could just convene,
and stop when things get done, but an open-ended session would
make it hard to reach a conclusion. Sometimes it is necessary to
have a 10-day extension, which the constitution allows.
9:17:08 AM
TIM LAMKIN, staff to Senator Gary Stevens, said that originally
there was no limit to the length of sessions. In the early years
of statehood, sessions lasted an average of 70 calendar days.
Once the pipeline arrived, in the early 1970s, the average
length went up to 170 and even 180 days. In 1984 a
constitutional amendment was passed limiting the length of
sessions to 120 days.
MR. LAMKIN also pointed out that the 90-day session limit was
passed by 3,843 votes. Statewide there were 6,800 people who
took ballots but did not vote on that question. Perhaps those
voters felt that this decision was best left up to the
legislature itself. He further noted that 27 other states have
sessions shorter than Alaska. He explained there is a difference
between calendar days and legislative days. Alaska is in the
middle in terms of average annual calendar days. Mr. Lamkin also
noted how other states set limits; most use the constitution.
Alaska uses the constitution and statutes. Some states use an
indirect method, by limiting per diem. Loss of per diem pay
motivates legislatures to end on time. In conclusion, he said
that SB 18 is a compromise.
9:23:02 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked Mr. Lamkin to explain the difference
between legislative days and calendar days.
MR. LAMKIN answered that a legislative day is when the Senate or
House is actually on the floor, but the session length itself is
counted in calendar days.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted there was a CS for SB 18.
9:24:32 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute
(CS) for SB 18, labeled 27-LS0122\B as the working document.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes.
MR. LAMKIN said that version B corrects a drafting oversight, to
change the effective date to 2012.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI removed his objection and version B was
before the committee.
9:25:19 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CSSB 18, version B, from
committee with individual recommendations and accompanying
fiscal notes.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted there were two proposed amendments.
9:25:32 AM
MR. LAMKIN said that amendment B.1 would change the date when
the legislature convenes, and would restore an earlier provision
to convene the first session on the third Tuesday in January,
and the second session on the second Tuesday in January.
Amendment B.2 would make the change to convene every year on the
second Tuesday in January.
9:27:02 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI clarified the amendments.
SENATOR MEYER asked why there are staggered start dates.
MR. LAMKIN said the start date has changed over the years, most
recently to start on Tuesday rather than Monday. The staggered
start dates are also in consideration of gubernatorial election
years.
9:28:59 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if the sponsor had a preference between
the two amendments.
SENATOR STEVENS said he preferred the first amendment.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI clarified that was amendment B.1.
9:30:26 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI moved to adopt Amendment [27-LS0122\B.1] and
objected for discussion purposes.
AMENDMENT B.1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR STEVENS
TO CSSB 18(...), DRAFT VERSION "B"
Page 1, following line 3:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Section 1. AS 24.05.090 is amended to read:
Sec. 24.05.090. Duration of legislature;
sessions. [THE LEGISLATURE SHALL CONVENE AT THE
CAPITAL EACH YEAR ON THE THIRD TUESDAY IN JANUARY AT
1:00 p.m.] Each legislature has a duration of two
years and consists of a "First Regular Session" that
meets in the odd-numbered years, and a "Second Regular
Session" that meets in the even-numbered years, and
any special session that the governor or legislature
calls. The legislature shall convene a First Regular
Session at the capital on the third Tuesday in January
at 1:00 p.m. and shall convene a Second Regular
Session at the capital on the second Tuesday in
January at 1:00 p.m."
Page 1, line 4:
Delete "Section 1"
Insert "Sec. 2"
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 2, line 1:
Delete "Section 1 of this Act takes"
Insert "Sections 1 and 2 of this Act take"
Page 2, line 2:
Delete "Section 2"
Insert "Section 3"
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI removed his objection and closed public
testimony.
9:30:51 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CS for SB 18, version B as
amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
accompanying fiscal notes.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced that without objection, CSSB
18(STA) moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SCR 2 Sponsor Statement Rev. 1-27-2011.pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SCR 2 UNIFORM RULES: PRESIDING OFFICER PRO TEM |
| SB 39 Testimony Curtis Gans (Feb 8 2011).pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 39 |
| SB 39 Testimony Tara Ross Feb 2011.pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 39 |
| SB 18 Testimony April Hodges.pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 18 |
| SCR 2 Sectional revised- CS & Amend. 2-8-2011.pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SCR 2 |
| SCR 2 - CSSCR 2 27-LS0031M.pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SCR 2 |
| SCR 2 Docs- Uniform Rules 1-4.pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SCR 2 |
| SCR 2 Sponsor Statement Rev. 2-9-2011.pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SCR 2 |
| SB 18 Supporting Document Chart of Session Days by State - Data Source NCSL.pdf |
SSTA 2/10/2011 9:00:00 AM |
SB 18 |