Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/24/2022 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| HB157 | |
| SB129 | |
| SB126 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 157 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 129 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 126-REPEAL 90 DAY SESSION LIMIT
4:20:58 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 126 "An Act relating to the
duration of a regular session of the legislature; and providing
for an effective date."
4:21:32 PM
At ease
4:24:06 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting.
4:24:24 PM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, reminded the committee that the
bill was first heard last year and that presentation was on
BASIS and in the bill packets. He directed attention to the
sheet of new data in the packets that showed the following:
Total Session Days
• Overall historical average from 1970-2021: 134 days
• Average under the constitutional 120-day session from 1986-
2007: 131 days
• Average under a statutory 90-day session from 2008-2021 137
Special Session Days
• Overall historical average from 1970-2021: 15.1 days
• Average under the constitutional 120-day session from 1986-
2007: 10.2 days
• Average under a statutory 90-day session from 2008-2021
21.1 days
MR. LAMKIN stated that the data above demonstrates that the 120-
day session hits the sweet spot to do the legislature's critical
work of passing the budget. He highlighted that with the
additional federal money coming in, it is particularly
burdensome to make such critical budgeting decisions in 30 fewer
days. He pointed out that the executive branch works year-round
with that information and the legislature only works with it for
90 days. He maintained that when the people's branch of
government was limited to 90 days, it was a direct shift of
power to the executive branch.
He offered to answer questions or go through the presentation
the committee heard last year.
4:28:21 PM
At ease
4:29:19 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting. He asked how many days, on
average, the legislature meets during regular sessions.
MR. LAMKIN directed attention to page 13 that illustrated that
with few exceptions, the legislature met for 120 days during
regular sessions.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if the average number of days in session was
120, regardless of whether the statute said 90 or 120 days.
4:31:04 PM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 126, via teleconference, stated that the 90-day
session has been tested long enough to see that it doesn't work
very well. He reminded the committee that the initiative that
established a 90-day session was spearheaded by legislators who
wanted shorter sessions for personal reasons. It passed by a
thin margin, it hasn't been successful, and circumstances in the
legislature are different now than they were then. The
legislature is responsible for the largest budget in the state
and the largest permanent fund per capita in the world. He said
it is very important for the legislature to meet for the time it
needs to get the job done. It takes more than 90 days to be an
effective policy-making body and to keep from being dominated by
the executive branch. The constitution says 121 days and that's
the right approach.
4:34:14 PM
CHAIR SHOWER asked his thoughts on the fact that this would be
overriding the will of the people.
SENATOR STEVENS said the legislature has tried it since the
public passed the initiative in 2006 and it hasn't worked. The
public has lost out because their funnel to know what is
happening throughout the state is gone most of the year. The
legislature needs to be in the capitol minding the public's
interest for the 121 days called for in the constitution.
CHAIR SHOWER asked how other states do this work in less time.
4:36:56 PM
SENATOR STEVENS restated that the legislature tried it and only
once had been able to get the work done in 90 days. He
questioned whether other states would be able to handle what
they typically do and the federal money that will be coming in
in a shortened time.
SENATOR COSTELLO asked if the conflict between the constitution
and the stature has resulted in higher costs when the
Legislative Affairs Agency has planned on a 90-day session and
the legislature is unable to meet that deadline.
SENATOR STEVENS replied it is without question more costly when
the legislature meets for a longer time.
SENATOR COSTELLO clarified that her question was whether it
costs more for Legislative Affairs to wind the session down when
it plans for one date and the legislature extends beyond that
time. For example, the Marine Highway System plans to move
legislators' cars after 90 days and when the legislature extends
beyond that date, they must quickly switch the schedule to
accommodate a different exit date.
SENATOR STEVENS said Legislative Council has had to establish
exit plans for both the 90- and 120-day sessions and he would
suggest the committee consult the council to look at that
record.
4:40:07 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND commented that it seems ironic to impose a 90-
day limit and chronically run past that, and also have more
special sessions. He asked if anything in particular had been
identified to account for that.
SENATOR STEVENS said more legislation is being introduced and
each piece is typically referred to three committees in each
body, which takes time.
SENATOR HOLLAND offered his belief that 121 days was the sweet
spot.
CHAIR SHOWER argued that resolving the permanent fund dividend
(PFD) issue would alleviate much of the problem associated with
extended and special sessions.
He asked the sponsor if he had additional comments.
SENATOR STEVENS thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
CHAIR SHOWER asked Mr. Lamkin if he would like to respond to any
of the questions or supplement the sponsor's responses.
4:42:50 PM
MR. LAMKIN followed up on the sponsor's comments, pointing out
that the platform the proponents of the 90-day session used was
misleading. The proponents argued that a 90-day session policy
would:
• reduce the cost of state government
• align with the policy in other states
• encourage more people to run for office
MR. LAMKIN said every argument that was used had since proven
not to be the case. Speaking to Senator Holland's and Senator
Costello's questions, he pointed out that the promised cost
savings had not been realized. In fact, short notice changes for
things like ferry schedules add to the costs. Costs for special
session and interim meetings have also gone up.
4:44:51 PM
CHAIR SHOWER offered his belief that opening the door six or
seven years ago to not follow the formula for the statutory
dividend had caused chaos. He asked Mr. Lamkin to comment now or
follow up with data that shows the largest cost spikes since the
formula had not been followed.
MR. LAMKIN responded that the 90-day session took effect in 2007
and the legislature had met that deadline just twice. He
highlighted that Senator Stevens was Senate President those two
years. He said it's fair to say that the PFD debate contributed
to special sessions, but he wouldn't say that was the entire
reason.
CHAIR SHOWER agreed the PFD was just a contributor, not the sole
reason for special sessions.
MR. LAMKIN offered his belief that if the status quo is
maintained, issues will continue to come up that will keep the
legislature beyond 90 days.
4:47:45 PM
CHAIR SHOWER held SB 126 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| B.4 amendment rasmussen.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 157 |
| CSSB 129 version N_Amendment N.1.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 129 |
| David Knapp Application_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| David Ross Resume 2021_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| David Ross Application_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Jeff Brown Resume_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Jeff Brown - APSC Interest.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Lanette Blodgett Application_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Michael Craig Application_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| SB126-LEG-LEG-03-22-22.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 126 |
| SB 126 Research History of AK Legislative Sessions -updateMarch2022.pdf |
SSTA 3/24/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 126 |