03/29/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 284                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to state election campaigns, the                                                                          
     duties of the Alaska Public Offices Commission, the                                                                        
     reporting   and   disclosure    of   expenditures   and                                                                    
     independent expenditures, the filing of reports, and                                                                       
     the identification of certain communications in state                                                                      
     election campaigns; and providing for an effective                                                                         
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:17:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 6, lines 3-4:                                                                                                         
     Delete "apply only to the extent permitted by federal                                                                      
     law"                                                                                                                       
     Insert "prohibit a foreign national from making a                                                                          
     contribution or expenditure in connection with a state                                                                     
     election only to the extent                                                                                                
     (1) that federal law prohibits a foreign national                                                                          
          from making a contribution or expenditure in                                                                          
          connection with a state election; and                                                                                 
     (2) permitted by federal law"                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion purposes.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins explained that  the amendment was clarifying                                                                    
language.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HOLLIS FRENCH,  SPONSOR, stated  that he  supported                                                                    
the amendment.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Stedman  WITHDREW   his  OBJECTION   to  adopting                                                                    
Amendment 1.  There being  NO further  OBJECTION, it  was so                                                                    
ordered.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:18:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator French  explained that the  bill makes  certain that                                                                    
there is disclosure to the  Alaska Public Offices Commission                                                                    
(APOC)  of the  independent  expenditures made  in the  next                                                                    
election cycle by corporations and  unions that are now free                                                                    
to participate  in elections due  to a recent  Supreme Court                                                                    
decision. It  also provides  for disclaimers  in advertising                                                                    
on the radio,  on television, and in the  newspapers so that                                                                    
Alaskans know who is speaking to them about the elections.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman noted  the fiscal  notes; one  zero fiscal                                                                    
note from the  Governor and a fiscal note  by the Department                                                                    
of Administration  requesting one additional  staff position                                                                    
for APOC for $131,200 in general funds.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:19:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman MOVED  to  report CSSB  284  (FIN) out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal  note. There being NO  OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB  284 (FIN)  was REPORTED  out of  Committee with  a "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendation and  with zero  FN  1 (GOV)  and FN  2                                                                    
(ADM).