03/12/2009 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

         SB 113-INCREASE COMPENSATION FOR APOC MEMBERS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MENARD announced the consideration of SB 113.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  MEYER  said he  is  the sponsor  of  SB 113,  which  will                                                              
increase  the honorarium  received  by  the Alaska  Public  Office                                                              
Commission (APOC) members  from $50 to $150 per  meeting day. APOC                                                              
administers  laws  upholding  the   public's  right  to  know  the                                                              
financial  affairs of  lobbyists  and public  officials.  It is  a                                                              
five-member  volunteer commission  that oversees campaign  finance                                                              
laws,  including issuing  formal  advisory opinions,  adjudicating                                                              
civil  penalties  for late  filing,  assessing penalties  for  non                                                              
compliance,  recommending removals,  and adjudicating  complaints.                                                              
The  work by  the agency  is  subject to  appeal  by the  superior                                                              
court, so  work must be  done thoroughly. APOC's  responsibilities                                                              
have expanded  over the  years, but  the pay  has stayed  the same                                                              
since  1975. The proposed  increase  is in line  with other  state                                                              
boards and  commissions. The  workload and  the scrutiny  that the                                                              
board has to face deserve appropriate compensation.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:06:55 AM                                                                                                                    
HOLLY   HILL,   Executive   Director,    Alaska   Public   Offices                                                              
Commission,  Department of  Administration (DOA),  said last  year                                                              
17 complaints were  filed with APOC compared with 3  from the year                                                              
before. There  were 9 advisory  opinion requests. This  year there                                                              
have  already  been 7  requests.  SB  113  will help  attract  and                                                              
maintain qualified and dedicated commissioners.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MENARD asked if complaints increase in election years.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  HILL said  yes, but  it is  still an  increase over  previous                                                              
election years.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:08:43 AM                                                                                                                    
RACHAEL    PETRO,     Deputy    Commissioner,     Department    of                                                              
Administration, said the department supports SB 113.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH  said he has a  matter pending before APOC,  and he                                                              
believes he will  be fined, but was also told  that the commission                                                              
could change its mind. He wants that on the record.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KOOKESH  moved  to  report SB  113  from  committee  with                                                              
individual  recommendations  and  attached fiscal  note(s).  There                                                              
being no objection, SB 113 moved out of committee.