03/17/2000 11:32 AM Senate RLS

                                                                                                                                
        SB 269-DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF MONETARY TERMS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PEARCE, sponsor of SB 269, moved to adopt CSSB 269(RLS).                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS objected and asked for an explanation of that                                                                     
version.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PEARCE stated last fall the Alaska Supreme Court issued a                                                               
decision on whether the University of Alaska had to pay the raises                                                              
negotiated under its collective bargaining agreements when the                                                                  
Legislature had not specifically approved those agreements.  The                                                                
court said that unless the Legislature specifically appropriated                                                                
money for the purpose of fulfilling the monetary terms of the                                                                   
contracts, the contracts have not been accepted so the State cannot                                                             
not use other monies to pay for the contracts.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PEARCE remarked that Alaska's present statutes are                                                                      
confusing in regard to the procedure the Legislature must use to                                                                
approve contracts.  She pointed out that last year, the Legislature                                                             
did not approve the state employee collective bargaining agreements                                                             
but there was some question about whether the Legislature acted                                                                 
correctly.  It passed a resolution but took no action in the                                                                    
budget.  CSSB 269 (RLS) clarifies and follows the court decision                                                                
exactly as to what the Legislature's responsibility is when                                                                     
approving contracts.  Language in Section 1(a) describes how the                                                                
Legislature must act to approve the contracts while Section 2 does                                                              
what her original bill did - it requires the agreement be submitted                                                             
to the Legislature no later than the 45th day of the session in                                                                 
order to be considered during that session.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN KELLY added the reason for Section 2 is that today is the                                                              
67th day of the session, and the Legislature has not yet received                                                               
all completed contracts from the Administration.  The same thing                                                                
will happen three years from now because all of the contracts are                                                               
for a three year duration.  The Legislature needs time to review                                                                
and analyze those contracts.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS removed his objection.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN KELLY announced CSSB 269(RLS) was adopted.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LEMAN moved to calendar all versions of SB 269 with                                                                     
individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.  There being                                                              
no objection, it was so ordered.