Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/10/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB19 | |
| HB217 | |
| HB155 | |
| HB66 | |
| HB28 | |
| HB129 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 217 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 50 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 155 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 66 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 135 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 347 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 202 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 129 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 28 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 10, 2024
9:28 a.m.
9:28:02 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Olson called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:28 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Ken Alper, Staff, Senator Donny Olson; Angie Kemp, Criminal
Division Director, Department of Law; Kaci Schroeder,
Senior Assistant Attorney General, Department of Law;
Senator Matt Claman, Sponsor; Hunter Lottsfeldt, Staff,
Senator Bill Wielechowski; Senator Bill Wielechowski,
Sponsor; Senator Scott Kawasaki, Chair, Senate State
Affairs Committee; David Dunsmore, Staff, Senator Scott
Kawasaki; Representative Sarah Vance, Sponsor; Jake
Almeida, Staff, Representative Sarah Vance; Senator Cathy
Giessel; Mike Shower, Self, Juneau.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
John Williams, Self, Cordova.
SUMMARY
SB 135 AK WORK and SAVE PROGRM; RETIRE. SAVINGS Mr. Dale
SB 135 was heard and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
SB 217 INTEGRATED TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
SB 217 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
CSHB 19(FIN)am
REGISTRATION OF BOATS: EXEMPTION
CSHB 19(FIN)am was HEARD and HELD in committee
for further consideration.
CSHB 28(FIN)
ACCESS TO MARIJUANA CONVICTION RECORDS
SCS CSHB 28(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee
with four "do pass" recommendations, three "no
recommendations"; and with one new zero fiscal
note from the Alaska Judiciary System, and one
new fiscal note from the Department of Public
Safety.
HB 50 CARBON STORAGE
HB 50 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CSHB 66(FIN)am
CONTROLLED SUB;HOMICIDE;CRIMES;SENTENCING
CSHB 66(FIN)am was HEARD and HELD in committee
for further consideration.
CSHB 129(JUD)
VOTER REGISTRATION
CSHB 129(JUD) was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
CSHB 155(FIN)am
ESTABLISH AK MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION
SCS CSHB 155(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee
with three "do pass" recommendation, one "no
recommendation", and two "amend" recommendations;
and with one new fiscal note from the Office of
the Governor.
CSHB 202(EDC)
OPIOID OVERDOSE DRUGS IN SCHOOLS
CSHB 202(EDC) was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.
CSHB 347(CRA)am
PROPERTY ASSESSMENT
CSHB 347(CRA)am was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(FIN) am
"An Act relating to the registration of commercial
vessels."
9:28:51 AM
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.
9:29:07 AM
AT EASE
9:30:03 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson REOPENED public testimony.
9:30:30 AM
JOHN WILLIAMS, SELF, CORDOVA (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill.
Co-Chair Olson asked whether Mr. Williams supported the
current version of the bill.
Mr. Williams replied in the affirmative.
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.
9:31:09 AM
Senator Kiehl MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for
CSHB 19(FIN)am, Work Draft 33-LS0251\D (Bullard, 5/9/24).
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.
9:31:31 AM
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, provided an
explanation of changes within the current bill version
(copy on file):
Change 2 Repeals the Derelict Vessel Prevention
Program Fund. When a state agency or municipality has
proceeds from sale of a derelict fund, those funds
would now go to the general fund.
Change 3 Removes an $8 registration fee, that was
added in the original bill, that certain commercial
fishing vessels would pay to the Commercial Fisheries
Entry Commission.
Change 4 The above changes result in changes to the
bill's title. Should this bill go to the Senate Floor,
it will be accompanied by a title change resolution.
9:32:36 AM
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSHB 19(FIN)am was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 217
"An Act relating to the taxation of independent power
producers; and increasing the efficiency of integrated
transmission system charges and use for the benefit of
ratepayers."
9:33:25 AM
Senator Bishop MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for
SB 217, Work Draft 33-GS2489\D (Walsh, 5/9/24).
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, explained the CS. He
addressed the Explanation of Changes (copy on file):
Change 1 Removed the increased qualifications for
Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) commissioners,
that required a specific number of years of
professional experience.
Change 2 Add a technical correction to the regulation
of telecommunications, which is preventing
implementation of SB83 as passed in 2019.
Change 3 Clarified and expanded sections that describe
how the Railbelt Transmission Organization (RTO),
while housed within the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA),
is a regulated utility for the specific purpose of
filing a single cost recovery tariff to replace the
current system of multiple wheeling rates. This is in
Sections 2,15, and 16 of the committee substitute.
Change 4 Added an immediate effective date to Section
4 of the bill, which allows the RCA to consider
factors other than cost when determining whether an
electric utility's rate is just and reasonable.
Change 5 Removed the section related to net metering,
which required power companies to credit customers who
generate excess power and provide that power into the
utility's system.
Change 6 Removed sections that said the RCA may not
require pre-approval for certain smaller electrical
generation or storage projects.
Change 7 Removed sections that exempted certain
independent power producers from state and local
property, income, and excise taxes if they sold their
power only to cooperative or municipal utilities.
Change 8 Added a requirement one of the new AEA
Board's members must have expertise or experience
managing a municipally owned utility located off the
road system.
Change 9 Removed several powers and duties previously
given to the Railbelt Transmission Organization,
including managing and operating the backbone
transmission assets and performing integrated
transmission planning. Eliminated a separate board for
the RTO, providing a governance structure made up of
the Railbelt utilities, the AEA, and the CEO of the
Electric Reliability Organization
9:37:58 AM
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
9:38:02 AM
Co-Chair Stedman noted that there were significant
differences between the current bill version and previous
versions.
9:38:28 AM
Mr. Alper replied that the most substantial piece was the
pulling back of the expanded powers to the Railbelt
Transmission Organization (RTO). He noted that the RTO had
not been in the original bill version but had been added in
previous committee, and then curtailed in the current
version.
9:39:57 AM
Senator Kiehl asked whether the Regulatory Commission of
Alaska's consideration of cost had been removed from the
bill.
9:40:15 AM
Mr. Alper replied that the cost remained a factor and
explained that the intention of the section was to ensure
that cost was not the primary factor.
9:40:53 AM
SB 217 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
9:41:09 AM
AT EASE
9:42:34 AM
RECONVENED
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 155(FIN) am
"An Act establishing the Alaska Military Affairs
Commission; and relating to the duties and powers of
the Alaska Military Affairs Commission."
9:43:14 AM
Senator Wilson MOVED Amendment 1 (copy on file).
Senator Olson objected for the purpose of discussion.
Senator Wilson explained Amendment 1.
9:43:52 AM
AT EASE
9:44:05 AM
RECONVENED
Senator Olson withdrew his objection to Amendment 1. There
being no further objection Amendment 1 was adopted.
9:44:19 AM
Senator Bishop move Amendment 2 (copy on file).
Senator Olson objected for purpose of discussion.
Senator Bishop explained Amendment 2.
Co-Chair Olson WITHDEW his objection to Amendment 2. There
being no further objection Amendment 2 was adopted.
9:45:15 AM
Senator Merrick moved Amendment 3 (copy on file).
Co-Chair Olson objected for the purpose of discussion.
Senator Merrick stated that the amendment removed Section 4
of the bill, which was no longer necessary due to other
legislation.
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW his objection to Amendment 3. There
being no further objection Amendment 3 was adopted.
Senator Merrick moved to report SCS(FIN) for CS for HB 155
33-LS0701\N, (Gunther, 5/8/24), out of committee as amended
with individual recommendations, attached and forthcoming
fiscal notes, and attached title change resolution.
There being no objection HB 155 moved from committee.
SCS CSHB 155(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with three
"do pass" recommendation, one "no recommendation", and two
"amend" recommendations; and with one new fiscal note from
the Office of the Governor.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 66(FIN) am
"An Act relating to homicide resulting from conduct
involving controlled substances; relating to
misconduct involving a controlled substance; relating
to sentencing; and providing for an effective date."
9:47:49 AM
Co-Chair Olson announced that there were 7 amendments
pertaining to the bill.
9:48:05 AM
AT EASE
9:49:14 AM
RECONVENED
ANGIE KEMP, CRIMINAL DIVISION DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF LAW,
provided a brief recap of the legislation.
9:50:03 AM
KACI SCHROEDER, SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL,
DEPARTMENT OF LAW, introduced herself.
9:50:05 AM
Ms. Kemp explained the bill.
9:51:09 AM
AT EASE
10:06:35 AM
RECONVENED
10:06:46 AM
Ms. Kemp continued to address the legislation.
10:08:08 AM
Co-Chair Olson MOVED Amendment 1 (copy on file) and
OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.
Ms. Kemp explained that the amendment.
10:13:02 AM
Senator Bishop wondered about body cameras and whether
every police department adhered to the same protocol of
wearing body cameras.
10:14:05 AM
Ms. Kemp replied in the negative. She added that body
cameras were the trend in most agencies and that most used
audio recordings.
10:14:19 AM
Co-Chair Olson REMOVED his objection.
10:14:28 AM
Senator Kiehl requested further discussion of the hearsay
element of the bill.
10:14:43 AM
Senator Wilson asked whether video footage could be used in
court if a victim chose not to, or was unable to, testify
in person.
10:15:16 AM
Ms. Kemp replied in the affirmative.
10:15:45 AM
There being no further objection Amendment 1 was adopted.
Senator Olson MOVED Amendment 2 and objected for the
purpose of discussion.
10:15:56 AM
Ms. Schroeder explained that the amendment changed the name
of "child pornography" to "child sexual abuse material" and
adds to the list of registerable sex offenses.
Co-Chair Olson REMOVED his objection to Amendment 2. There
being no further objection Amendment 2 was adopted.
10:17:08 AM
Co-Chair Olson moved Amendment 3 and objected for the
purpose of discussion.
10:17:39 AM
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, SPONSOR, explained Amendment 3.
10:18:18 AM
Co-Chair Olson REMOVED his objection to Amendment 3.
Senator Wilson OBJECTED to Amendment 3.
10:18:33 AM
Senator Wilson stated that testimony from victim advocate
groups had expressed concern for the amendment. He thought
that victim notification was important.
10:19:46 AM
Senator Kiehl asked about transportation.
10:20:13 AM
Senator Claman replied that the transportation portion was
primarily in Section 15 and related to people subject to an
ex parte order. He said the language had been cleaned up to
allow for a 7-day holding period before a hearing, rather
than 10 days.
10:21:36 AM
Senator Kiehl remarked that the bill had been carefully
crafted and noted the transportation difficulties.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Bishop, Kiehl, Hoffman, Olson, Merrick
OPPOSED: Wilson
By a vote of 5 YEAS and 1 NAY Amendment 3 was adopted.
10:22:57 AM
Co-Chair Olson MOVED Amendment 4 (copy on file) and
OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.
10:23:00 AM
Ms. Schroeder explained Amendment 4.
Senator Wilson asked whether judges would still have
discretion by case.
Ms. Schroeder replied in the affirmative.
Senator Olson REMOVED his OBJECTION. There being no further
OBJECTION Amendment 4 was ADOPTED.
10:24:17 AM
Co-Chair Olson moved AMENDMENT 5 (copy on file).
Senator Merrick OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.
10:24:58 AM
AT EASE
10:26:55 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Merrick spoke to her objection. She felt that the
amendment was like another bill currently at play and felt
that the provisions would be more cleanly passed in another
bill rather than incorporated into HB 66.
10:27:23 AM
AT EASE
10:31:42 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW Amendment 5.
10:32:20 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to RESCIND committee action in
adopting AMENDMET 4.
10:32:29 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman stated that the contents of Amendment 4
were already drafted into a bill currently in the Senate
Rules Committee.
10:33:04 AM
AT EASE
10:33:17 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson clarified that committee action on Amendment
4 had been rescinded.
Senator Olson MOVED Amendment 6 (copy on file). He OBJECTED
for the purpose of discussion.
Ms. Schroeder explained that Amendment 6 had previously
been in HB 11 and addressed the crime of assault in the
presence of a child.
10:34:23 AM
Co-Chair Olson REMOVED his OBJECTION to Amendment 6. There
being no further OBJECTION the amendment was adopted.
10:34:47 AM
Senator Merrick MOVED Amendment 7 (copy on file).
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.
Senator Merrick explained Amendment 7.
Senator Bishop wondered how the amendment applied to
individuals on parole who were hindered by geolocation when
trying to contact a parole officer.
10:36:07 AM
Ms. Kemp replied that it would not apply in that
circumstance.
10:36:51 AM
Senator Kiehl thought that more jail time would certainly
lead to cost increases.
Ms. Kemp had no comment on cost drivers.
10:37:39 AM
Senator Wilson wondered what the department felt the impact
would be from the legislation.
10:38:04 AM
Ms. Kemp responded that the impact on her division was
indeterminate. She was unsure whether there would be
significantly increased spending due to the legislation.
10:39:36 AM
Senator Wilson understood that the department did not
expect a significant increase in spending due to the
legislation.
10:39:59 AM
Ms. Kemp replied that costs would be determined by
convictions and were indeterminate.
10:40:48 AM
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW his OBJECTION to Amendment 7. There
being no further OBJECTION the amendment was ADOPTED.
10:41:05 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman remarked that the percentage of Alaska
Natives that were incarcerated in the state far exceeded
the total percentage of Alaska Natives in the state. He
expressed grave concern with the numbers and felt that the
issue should be further researched and discussed.
10:42:21 AM
Co-Chair Olson agreed.
10:42:26 AM
Senator Bishop agreed.
10:42:33 AM
Senator Bishop stated that he had other concerns related to
Co-Chair Hoffman's comments.
CSHB 66(FIN)am was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
10:42:57 AM
AT EASE
10:44:42 AM
RECONVENED
hb50
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 50(FIN)
"An Act relating to carbon storage on state land;
relating to the powers and duties of the Alaska Oil
and Gas Conservation Commission; relating to carbon
storage exploration licenses; relating to carbon
storage leases; relating to carbon storage operator
permits; relating to enhanced oil or gas recovery;
relating to long-term monitoring and maintenance of
storage facilities; relating to carbon oxide
sequestration tax credits; relating to the duties of
the Department of Natural Resources; relating to
carbon dioxide pipelines; and providing for an
effective date."
10:45:17 AM
Senator Merrick MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for
CSHB 50(FIN), Work Draft 33-GH1567\T (Dunmire, 5/10/24).
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.
10:45:20 AM
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, explained the CS. He
addressed the Explanation of Changes (copy on file):
Change 5 Removed a new required report of waste from
the AOGCC. This was in section 4 of the Senate
Resources version.
Change 6 Increased the minimum injection fee to be
included within a carbon storage lease, to at least
$10 per ton. This is in Section 16 of the committee
substitute.
Change 7 Restored sections related to regulating gas
storage facilities, including ensuring the
confidentiality of data held by the Regulatory
Commission of Alaska related to the finances of a
facility. This is in Sections 38-44 and 48 of the
committee substitute.
Change 8 Rewrote the section describing how certain
costs related to carbon capture and carbon storage are
not eligible as deductible lease expenditures for the
Oil and Gas Production Tax. This is in Section 46 of
the committee substitute.
10:47:28 AM
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
10:47:38 AM
Senator Kiehl wondered whether owner/operator gas storge
facilities would be treated the same as those under the Gas
Storage Authority.
10:48:01 AM
Mr. Alper replied that he did not know whether they would
be treated the same but that the concept was to create
fairness between facilities.
10:48:57 AM
Senator Kiehl asked whether Mr. Alper could speak to the
lease expenditure language.
10:49:04 AM
Mr. Alper referred to Page 39 of the bill, which listed
things that were not deductible. He quoted the bill:
(23) costs incurred for carbon capture or carbon
storage, including fees incurred under AS 41.06.160,
surcharges incurred under AS 41.06.175, or costs
associated with obtaining, operating, or maintaining a
license or lease under AS 38.05.700 38.05.795; in
this paragraph, "carbon capture" does not include gas
processing or gas treatment.
10:50:58 AM
Senator Kiehl remarked that the enhanced oil recovery
language merited further discussion. He wondered whether
the entirety of the capture facility would be deductible if
the carbon was being used for two purposes.
10:51:35 AM
Mr. Alper responded that the Department of Revenue (DOR)
would make resolutions to that concern.
10:52:29 AM
Senator Bishop looked at Change 6:
Change 6 Increased the minimum injection fee to be
included within a carbon storage lease, to at least
$10 per ton. This is in Section 16 of the committee
substitute.
Co-Chair Bishop spoke of previous work in Senate Resources
Committee and asked whether the change would remove ability
of the commissioner of DNR to negotiate below $10 per ton.
10:53:32 AM
Mr. Alper replied that the language amended in the bill
changed the number but did not change the other syntax. He
was not certain of the negotiating power and thought DNR
could speak to the question.
10:54:09 AM
Senator Olson removed his objection to the adoption of the
CS. There being no further objection committee substitute
for CSHB 50(FIN), Work Draft 33-GH1567\T (Dunmire, 5/10/24)
was adopted.
CSHB 50(FIN) was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
10:54:36 AM
AT EASE
10:54:44 AM
RECONVENED
10:55:01 AM
RECESS
1:36:56 PM
RECONVENED
sb135
HOUSE BILL NO. 135 am
"An Act relating to and disapproving recommendations
of the State Officers Compensation Commission; and
providing for an effective date."
1:37:48 PM
HUNTER LOTTSFELDT, STAFF, SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI,
introduced himself.
1:38:26 PM
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, SPONSOR, introduced the
legislation.
1:39:57 PM
Mr. Lottsfeldt discussed the Sectional Analysis (copy on
file):
Section 1 establishes that money can be subtracted
from the Permanent Fund dividend payment and
contributed to the Alaska Work and Save Program
participant account.
Section 2 establishes that the Alaska Work and Save
Program is one of the eligible programs under the
contribution list for the PFD.
Section 3 prohibits the department from withholding a
coordination fee for contributions to the Alaska Work
and Save Program participant account.
Section 4 Establishes the Alaska Work and Save Program
under the Department of Revenue and establishes the
Alaska Retirement Savings Board to administrate the
program.
• New AS 44.25.400 is the language of the program:
o (b) states that an employer that does not
offer a qualified retirement plan shall
facilitate participation of their employees
in the program.
o (c) states that under the program,
square4 An eligible employee is automatically
enrolled in the program. Their default
contribution rate increases at a rate
established by the board
square4 An employee can opt out of the program
or set different contribution rates
square4 Any person who earns compensation in
Alaska can voluntarily enroll in the
program.
o (d) Specific rates of return are not
guaranteed. The state is not liable for loss
from participation in the program
o (e) Employers may still set up their own
retirement plans.
• New AS 44.25.410 establishes the Alaska
Retirement Savings Board in the Department of
Revenue to administer the Alaska Work and Save
Program.
o The board consists of nine trustees
• New AS 44.25.420 establishes powers and duties of
the Alaska Retirement Savings board.
o Subsection (a) establishes the bounds of what
will be required of the board
o Subsection (b) establishes what the board may
or may not do
• New AS 44.25.430 establishes:
• The Attorney General shall provide legal
counsel for the board
• New AS 44.25.440 establishes:
• Trustee's shall be compensated for each day and
given a travel per diem
• New AS 44.25.450 establishes:
• The department shall provide staff for the
board
• New AS 44.25.460 establishes:
• Individual information shall be confidential
• New AS 44.25.470 establishes:
• The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce
Development will accept complaints and issue fines for
employers not participating in the program
• New AS 44.25.490 provides definitions
Section 5 Establishes the initial appointments and
terms of the Alaska Retirement Savings Board trustees
other than the Commissioners of Revenue and Labor.
Section 6 Sets an effective date for the bill on
January 1, 2025.
1:42:27 PM
Co-Chair Stedman requested further clarification on what
the bill would do.
1:42:45 PM
Senator Wielechowski replied that the bill applied to
businesses that did not offer a retirement plan. The plan
would be "opt-out" for employees and would require no
employer match. He said that employees could withdraw the
funds if they change jobs. He said that the bill would make
it easier for small businesses to set up retirement style
savings accounts for employees.
1:45:26 PM
Co-Chair Stedman understood that when the employer cut the
employee's paycheck a certain amount would be sent to the
trust account.
1:45:36 PM
Mr. Lottsfeldt replied in the affirmative. The action would
be a small addition to the monthly payroll of employers.
1:46:36 PM
Co-Chair Stedman thought that an employer could do an
enlarged IRA for their employees without instituting a plan
as significant as the bill suggested. He expressed concern
with burdening the employer with more paperwork.
1:47:17 PM
Senator Wielechowski stated that 64 percent of employers
did not currently offer any kind of similar plan.
1:47:44 PM
Senator Merrick wondered whether thought had been given to
making the plan optional for employer participation.
1:47:55 PM
Senator Wielechowski replied in the affirmative. He
lamented that without a mandate, employers would not choose
to provide a plan for employees.
1:48:16 PM
Mr. Lottsfeldt furthered that the bill was also meant to
motivate small and private businesses to offer plans to
employees.
1:48:59 PM
Senator Kiehl wondered whether the plan would be tax
advantaged like a 401k.
1:49:09 PM
Senator Wielechowski replied that it would have the same
tax advantages as a 401k.
1:49:34 PM
Senator Kiehl commented that a program like what the bill
proposed would have been attractive to him when he was
young and starting out.
SB 135 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 28(FIN)
"An Act restricting the release of certain records of
convictions; and providing for an effective date."
1:50:49 PM
Senator Kiehl MOVED Amendment 1:
Page 3, following line 4:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"*Sect.4. AS 12.62.160(f)(4) is repealed to January
1, 2028."
Renumber the following bill section accordingly.
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.
Senator Kiehl discussed Amendment 1.
Co-Chair Olson REMOVED the OBJECTION. There being no
further OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was adopted.
Senator Kiehl MOVED SCS CSHB 28(FIN), 33-LS0271\R, as
amended, from committee with individual recommendations and
forthcoming fiscal notes.
There being no OBJECTION it was so ordered.
SCS CSHB 28(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with four
"do pass" recommendations, three "no recommendations"; and
with one new zero fiscal note from the Alaska Judiciary
System, and one new fiscal note from the Department of
Public Safety.
1:52:07 PM
RECESS to the CALL OF THE CHAIR
2:40:58 PM
RECONVENED
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 129(JUD)
"An Act relating to voter registration; and providing
for an effective date."
2:41:03 PM
SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, CHAIR, SENATE STATE AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE, noted that the committee would find the bill
familiar.
DAVID DUNSMORE, STAFF, SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, explained
the changes from the original version to the current
version of the bill. He read from the Summary of Changes
HB 129 version S to CS HB 129 version R" (copy on file). He
stated the Senate State Affairs Committee had added several
provisions that had previously found in other legislation.
The following provisions were added from previous
legislation:
• Requires DOE to develop procedures for risk limiting
audits (SB 138)
• Allows voters to update their registration within 30
days of an election (SB 138)
• Requires DOE to develop a cybersecurity program (SB 1)
(SB 138)
• Allow ballot curing (SB 1) (SB 19) (SB 138)
• Repeals witness signature requirement for absentee
ballots (SB 138)
• Prevent special needs ballots from being rejected
because of poll worker or representative errors (SB
138)
• Requires disclosure statement form campaign related
deepfakes (SB 177)
• Allow campaign legal funds (SB 246)
2:45:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE, SPONSOR, introduced the
legislation. She said that the bill was intended to "clean
up" the state's voter registration rolls.
Senator Bishop asked about Section 13 of the bill. He
wondered whether there had been any problems reported from
the voter registration data breach several years ago.
Representative Vance replied that 113,000 Alaska's data had
been breached. She could not speak of any malfeasance due
to the breach.
2:49:00 PM
JAKE ALMEIDA, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE, added that
a letter was sent to all Alaskans who had had their
information compromised. He shared that his personal data
had been breached.
Senator Bishop asked whether Mr. Almedia had had any issues
from his data being breached.
Mr. Almeida replied in the negative.
Senator Wilson commented that most data breaches that
happened in the state was for the purpose of falsely
applying for the Permanent Fund Dividend.
Representative Vance said that the purpose of the bill was
to instill voter confidence and retain the integrity of the
system.
Senator Kiehl felt that removing name from the rolls after
only two years was a substantial change. He wondered
whether people would have to continually renew their name
on the roll every two years.
Representative Vance replied that it would pertain to
people who had not voted or maintained communication with
the division. She said that if a person was moved to
inactive status all they would need to do is vote and they
would be moved back to active status.
Senator Kiehl appreciated the forwardable status flier but
questioned the shift from two general election to every
other year.
Mr. Almeida offered a timeline on how the process would
work. He shared that current law provided 8 years before a
person would be removed from the voter rolls due to
inaction. The bill would change that to 6 years, at which
time a mailer would be sent. If the mailer was not
responded to then the person would be inactivated and
removed from the rolls.
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.
2:55:11 PM
Senator Wilson asked a question about Section 23. He
wondered about "deepfakes" and the definition given on page
15, line 20, that stated that deepfake did not apply to
satire or parody.
Mr. Dunsmore stated that the State Affairs Committee
Chair's Office was working on potential refinements on the
deepfakes section. He understood that the intent was to
require disclosure for communication that the satire or
parody was not intended to be taken as a legitimate
political advertisement.
Senator Wilson referred to page 15, line 29, which
discussed manipulated images or audio. He asked whether any
filtered picture of a candidate could be considered a
deepfake.
Mr. Dunsmore believed that the intent was not to include a
"normally filtered image."
2:59:31 PM
AT EASE
3:00:45 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson HANDED the GAVEL to Senator Bishop.
Senator Wilson revealed that there would be new language
coming before the committee. He expressed concern for
deepfake imagery and though that the language in the
section should be more specific.
Senator Bishop wondered about page 10, line 1. He asked
Representative Vance what the process would be if an audit
of an election resulted in a problem.
Representative Vance replied that the risk limiting audits
had not been part of the original bill. She wondered what
kind of problem Co-Chair Bishop was referring to.
Senator Bishop wondered what the risks were that the audit
would be needed.
Mr. Dunsmore stated that the risk limiting audits were
intended to identify and issues that could lead to an
incorrect result in an election.
Senator Wilson thought that the division currently did a
random sampling of ballots to test for anomalies.
Senator Bishop agreed.
Representative Vance said that the random precinct audits
did currently occur in each district. She said that the
risk limiting audits were completely different from the
current practice.
3:04:28 PM
Senator Bishop REOPENED public testimony.
3:06:20 PM
MIKE SHOWER, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke to the legislation and
answered questions from the committee.
Senator Bishop CLOSED public testimony.
CSHB 129(JUD) was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
(3:10:30)
RECESS TO THE CALL OF THE CHAIR
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 202(EDC)
"An Act relating to the availability and
administration of opioid overdose drugs in public
schools."
CSHB 202(EDC) was SCHEDULED but NOT HEARD.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 347(CRA) am
"An Act relating to assessment of property, boards of
equalization, and certification of assessors; and
providing for an effective date."
CSHB 347(CRA)am was SCHEDULED but NOT HEARD.
ADJOURNMENT
3:10:40 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 3:53 p.m.