Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/27/2018 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): Alaska Police Standards Council, Alaska Public Office Commission | |
| HB44 | |
| SB186 | |
| HB138 | |
| SB210 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 138 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 210 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 44 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 186 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 186-VOTER REGISTRATION & PFD APP REGISTRATION
4:30:01 PM
CHAIR MEYER called the committee back to order and announced the
consideration of Senate Bill 186 (SB 186). He noted that at the
previous meeting the committee adopted an amendment from Senator
Coghill which made the bill an opt-in rather than an opt-out. He
said his office has come back with a committee substitute (CS).
4:30:37 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the CS for SB 186, version 30-
GS2097\D as the working document.
CHAIR MEYER objected for discussion purposes.
4:31:02 PM
CHRITINE MARASIGAN, Staff, Senator Meyer, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that version D
incorporates the amendment that Senator Coghill offered in the
previous meeting into the bill. She noted that at the same
meeting there had been a second amendment that was a technical
amendment to the bill, but the amendment needed to be reworked
considering the changes that Senator Coghill's amendment made to
the original bill. She said the CS makes the voting option opt-
in versus an opt-out.
CHAIR MEYER asked if there was an amendment from the Division of
Elections that was included or is forth coming.
MR. MARASIGAN replied that there was a revised amendment.
CHAIR MEYER removed his objection to the CS and announced that
the CS, version D, was adopted.
4:32:34 PM
JOSE BAHNKE, Director, Alaska Division of Elections, Office of
the Lieutenant Governor, Juneau, Alaska, announced her
availability to address the division's amendment for SB 186.
4:32:49 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved Amendment 1 dated March 26, 2018.
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE
TO: CSSB 186(STA)
Page 2, line 16, following "treat":
Delete "an eligible"
Insert "a"
Page 2, line 26:
Delete "registration of the applicant's
registration status"
Insert "voter registration"
Page 3, line 23, following "(9)":
Insert "under the procedures established by the
director of the division of elections under AS
15.07.070(k)"
4:33:02 PM
SENATOR COGHILL objected to review the amendment.
4:33:07 PM
At ease.
4:33:35 PM
CHAIR MEYER called the committee back to order.
MS. BAHNKE specified that the amendment makes three technical
changes. She noted that the first change made on page 2, line
16, "an eligible" to "a" was done because the division does not
know if a person is eligible at the time, they apply for the
permanent fund dividend (PFD).
She explained that the second technical change on page 2, line
26, was made because of Senator Coghill's amendment to provide
conformity by adding reference to the PFD statute and clarity
relating to voter registration.
She said the third technical change on page 3, line 23, allows
the division director to adopt regulations.
CHAIR MEYER asked if committee members had questions for Ms.
Bahnke regarding Amendment 1.
SENATOR COGHILL stated that he had no objection.
SENATOR MEYER asked if the CS will reduce the division's
workload related to sending out cards.
4:36:15 PM
MS. BAHNKE explained that the intent for the bill was threefold:
make necessary legal changes to enhance efficiency, harmonize
the interaction between the division and the Permanent Fund
Division, and reduce expenditures by avoiding the opt-out mailer
from the PFD registration process. She summarized that the
amendment will make the harmonizing changes and enhance
efficiency, but mailing will still be required as part of the
division's work.
SENATOR GIESSEL addressed the third paragraph of the third
fiscal note and pointed out the sentence, "Reoccurring costs of
$360,000 will be needed to hire temporary workers to process
notices." She asked if the division is willing to absorb the
cost.
MS. BAHNKE answered correct.
CHAIR MEYER removed his objection and announced that Amendment 1
is adopted.
4:38:19 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CSSB 186(STA), version 30-
GS2097\D as amended from committee with individual
recommendations and pending zero fiscal notes.
4:38:33 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced that there being no objection, the motion
carried.