02/26/2025 08:00 AM House RULES

          SB 87-REJECT COMP COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:00:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES announced  that the only order of  business would be                                                               
SENATE BILL NO.  87, "An Act disapproving  the recommendations of                                                               
the State Officers Compensation  Commission; and providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:01:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BILL WIELECHOWSKI,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor presented SB 87.  He  explained that SB 87 would reject a                                                               
pay raise  recommended by the Alaska  State Officers Compensation                                                               
Commission (ASOCC),  in a report  received by the  legislature on                                                               
January 30, 2025.   He said by statute, the  legislature must act                                                               
within 60  days, by March  31, 2025, to  reject the pay  raise or                                                               
else  it goes  into  effect.   He  stated  that  last month,  the                                                               
commission  recommended that  the governor,  lieutenant governor,                                                               
department heads, and legislators all  receive pay raises tied to                                                               
the Anchorage Consumer  Price Index (CPI).  He  explained that if                                                               
accepted,  this pay  increase would  go into  effect in  calendar                                                               
year  2027  after   the  next  election  cycle.     He  said  the                                                               
Legislative  Finance Division  estimates that  the total  cost of                                                               
increasing these salaries in the  fiscal year 2027 (FY 27) budget                                                               
to be approximately $507,157 in  undesignated general funds above                                                               
what  is currently  paid, with  continued growth  in the  future.                                                               
Senator  Wielechowski   stated  that  SB  87   also  rejects  the                                                               
statutory recommendations because  many of the items  in the bill                                                               
referenced in 2023 do  not need to be done in  statute.  He noted                                                               
that Emily  Nauman, of Legislative  Legal Services  was available                                                               
by phone to speak further to  the legal opinion [in the committee                                                               
file]  provided  to members.    He  offered to  answer  committee                                                               
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STUTES ascertained that there were no questions from                                                                      
committee members and entertained a motion.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:03:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved  to report SB 87 out  of committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.                                                               
There being  no objection, SB  87 was  reported out of  the House                                                               
Rules Standing Committee.