Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/18/2004 01:34 PM Senate CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 227-MUNI INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM ELECTIONS
CHAIR BERT STEDMAN announced SB 227 to be up for consideration
and asked Senator Gary Stevens to introduce his bill.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS paraphrased the sponsor statement:
SB 227 was introduced specifically to help local
governments avoid costly special initiative elections
and referendums brought forward by voters. In many
cases, these measures are not so pressing in nature
that they could not wait for the regular municipal
election.
Special elections are costly and generally result in a
lower voter turnout than the regular election.
Recently, the Fairbanks North Star Borough had over 46
petitions filed in a period of 4 months. Although
these petitions resulted in only one special election
- at a cost of $35,000 -, there was a potential for
many more special elections at great cost to the
municipality.
This bill could result in cost savings to
municipalities that could choose to wait until the
next regular election, typically in October, to
consider an issue. This legislation would give the
municipal governing body the option of calling a
special election if the council or assembly wished to
have the initiative and referendum considered in a
more timely manner.
The Alaska Municipal League, the Fairbanks North Star
Borough, the Kenai Peninsula Borough, and the Alaska
Association of Municipal Clerks support this bill.
SENATOR KIM ELTON said he read the bill and didn't see the
provision that gave municipalities the option to hold a special
election and wondered whether that is in another provision of
law that isn't covered in the bill.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS said that is correct, they already have the
option to hold a special election and this allows them to
postpone the election if they believe that is prudent.
SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN reviewed the letters in support of
the issue and asked whether Anchorage had responded.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS said they didn't solicit a comment from
Anchorage and didn't receive one.
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if they solicited a response from
Fairbanks.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS conceded they had not. The request came
from the clerk's association and they received the letters of
support without solicitation.
CHAIR STEDMAN opened the hearing to public participation.
LINDA MURPHY, clerk of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, testified
via teleconference and advised that she has administered local
elections for more than 20 years. To address Senator Lincoln's
question, she explained that in Title 29 this provision isn't a
home rule limitation so Anchorage wouldn't be affected because
it is a home rule municipality.
With increasing competition for decreasing funds, many
municipalities are facing grave financial difficulties and can't
afford unbudgeted special elections, she said. The most
important point is that special elections attract very few
voters, which increases the likelihood that the election results
won't reflect the true will of the community. She encouraged
members to pass the bill.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS asked her to respond to Senator Elton's
question about municipalities' ability to call special elections
if they choose to do so.
MS. MURPHY explained that Alaska Statutes provide that the
governing body may call special elections any time as long as
they properly notice the election. She saw nothing in SB 227
that would affect that ability.
CHAIR STEDMAN noted there was no further testimony. He asked for
a motion.
SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER motioned to pass SB 227 from committee
with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note.
There being no objection, it was so ordered.
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