Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
02/22/2018 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB44 | |
| SB130 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 44 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 130-VOTER APPROVAL FOR NEW TAXES
4:04:26 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of Senate Bill 130 (SB
130).
4:04:52 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 130, version 30-LS1088\J as the working document.
4:05:08 PM
CHAIR MEYER objected for discussion purposes.
4:05:19 PM
CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, Staff, Senator Meyer, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the CS for SB 130.
The CS before you for SB 130 removes the entire bill,
both pages, all sections and replaces it with a main
section, section 1, which basically turns the bill
into an advisory vote.
This new version essentially carries the intent of the
original bill which was to place before voters
questions about having a broad-based tax, and so there
would be two questions.
The first question would be do you approve of the
passage by the Alaska State Legislature of a bill that
imposes an individual income tax, yes or no?
The second question would be do you approve of the
passage by the Alaska State Legislature a bill that
imposes a statewide sales tax, yes or no?
SENATOR COGHILL asked why the change was made.
MS. MARASIGAN explained that at the previous hearing on January
30, Emily Nauman from Legislative Legal Services said SB 130 was
unconstitutional. She said to determine whether voters approve
or disapprove a statewide sales tax or income tax, there are two
pathways. She said the first way would be a constitutional
amendment and the second way would be an advisory vote.
She detailed that Chair Meyer assumed sponsorship of SJR 7,
which was held by the former chair of the Senate State Affairs
Committee, to allow for voter approval of new taxes via a
constitutional amendment. She explained that a constitutional
amendment has the full force of law by enshrining the refutation
of taxation in the constitution unless allowed by voters, but
enactment requires a two-thirds vote in each body.
She said the second pathway is before the committee through SB
130, version J. She detailed that SB 130 is an advisory vote
which would simply be a majority vote from both bodies; however,
the caveat is the vote is nonbinding.
She summarized that Chair Meyer followed up with both pathways
by changing SB 130 into an advisory vote while taking up a
constitutional amendment bill as well.
4:09:09 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if SB 130 is the same as the vote that was
taken to put into place a 90-day legislative session.
SENATOR COGHILL explained that the vote for a 90-day legislative
session was a citizen initiative.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if SB 130 would have the same force as a
citizen's initiative and hopefully the citizens would understand
that.
CHAIR MEYER confirmed that the hope is citizens would
understand. He added that SB 130 would provide legislators with
feedback whether to implement a tax. He concurred that a
constitutional amendment is a high hurdle, as it should be;
however, SB 130 "hedges our bet" to have a go before the voters
on a broad-based tax this year.
He asked if the advisory vote would go on the ballot for the
primary or general election.
MS. MARASIGAN replied that the bill says the advisory vote would
go on the ballot on the first statewide election following the
effective date. She detailed that if the legislative session
goes beyond 90 days the advisory vote would be in the general
election.
SENATOR COGHILL asked if the advisory vote would be on a sales
tax or an income tax.
4:11:57 PM
CHAIR MEYER replied that the advisory vote would be on both.
SENATOR GIESSEL noted a letter from the Division of Elections
was included in the packets that estimated a cost if the
advisory vote was not held during the primary or general
election.
SENATOR WILSON pointed out that the question was posed during
the previous hearing about the difference between a statewide
election cost versus a special election cost.
CHAIR MEYER noted that the bill has a zero fiscal note. He
withdrew his objection to the CS.
4:13:52 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CSSB 130, version 30-LS1088\J
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note.
SENATOR COGHILL objected to comment. He said he is not a big fan
of advisory votes but would not hold the bill up in committee.
He asserted that legislators have a responsibility to perform.
He said he might be convinced to vote for the bill, but not at
this point. He removed his objection.
CHAIR MEYER added that he struggled with the same issue as well.
He concurred that people vote for legislators to be represented
on all issues during the session. He opined that although the
issue is big, there is a feeling that the bill is what the
public wants. He said by doing an advisory vote, legislators
will really know what the public wants or doesn't want regarding
broad-based taxes.
4:15:06 PM
CHAIR MEYER said there being no objection, CSSB 130(STA) moves
from committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CSSB 130 Version J.pdf |
SSTA 2/22/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |
| SB 130 Ltr from Div of Elections.pdf |
SSTA 2/22/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SB 130 |