05/06/1999 03:57 PM Senate STA

        SB 155-SALARY REPORTS: LEG/EXEC/JUDICIAL BRANCH                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN WARD informed committee members that SB 155 was introduced                                                             
by the Senate Rules Committee at the request of the Legislative                                                                 
Council.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DAVID ESSARY, Director of the Division of Finance, Department of                                                                
Administration (DOA), made the following comments about SB 155.                                                                 
The Division of Legislative Audit has performed an audit of                                                                     
executive management compensation and travel for each of the last                                                               
two years.  SB 155 shifts the audit responsibility to DOA and                                                                   
expands it to include division directors, University of Alaska                                                                  
officials, and the top executive of each public corporation                                                                     
established by law.  The requested information for the University                                                               
of Alaska and for some of the public corporations is not available                                                              
to DOA in that those entities maintain their own accounting and                                                                 
payroll records.  DOA has prepared a proposed amendment to give                                                                 
those entities the responsibility for the reporting requirements                                                                
related to their own organizations.  While DOA does not oppose the                                                              
intent of SB 155, its ability to comply with its provisions is                                                                  
dependent upon receiving the funding requested in the fiscal note                                                               
attached to the bill.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 061                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PHILLIPS moved to adopt DOA's proposed amendment (Amendment                                                             
A).  He then asked Senator Donley whether he had seen Amendment A.                                                              
SENATOR DONLEY said he had not.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. ESSARY explained because DOA does not have direct access to the                                                             
records of the University of Alaska and other public corporations,                                                              
Amendment A would make those entities directly responsible for                                                                  
their own reporting.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PHILLIPS withdrew his motion to adopt Amendment A which, he                                                             
said, could be addressed by the Senate Rules Committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GREEN moved SB 155 from committee with individual                                                                       
recommendations.  There being no objection, the motion carried.