Legislature(2005 - 2006)SENATE FINANCE 532
11/19/2006 05:00 PM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB4001 | |
| HB4002 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| = | SB4001 | ||
| HB4001 | |||
| HB4002 | |||
MINUTES
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Fourth Special Session
November 19, 2006
5:08 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Lyda Green convened the meeting at approximately
5:08:37 PM.
PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Co-Chair
Senator Con Bunde, Vice Chair
Senator Fred Dyson
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Bert Stedman
Also Attending: SCOTT NORDSTRAND, Commissioner, Department of
Administration;
Attending via Teleconference: From an offnet location: JAN
DEYOUNG, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Statewide Section
Supervisor, Labor & State Affairs Section, Civil Division,
Department of Law.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
SB 4001-STATE EMPLOYEE SAME-SEX PARTNER BENEFITS
This bill was scheduled but not heard.
HB 4001-PROHIBIT SAME-SEX EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT REG
The Committee heard from the Department of Administration and
the Department of Law. The bill reported from Committee.
HB 4002-ADV. VOTE: SAME-SEX PARTNER EMP. BENEFITS
The Committee heard from the Department of Administration. The
bill reported from Committee.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 4001(FIN) am(efd fld)
"An Act prohibiting the commissioner of administration from
adopting, allowing to become law, or implementing
regulations that grant or extend employment-related
benefits to same-sex partners of state employees and
members of the state retirement systems unless expressly
authorized by statute."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
SCOTT NORDSTRAND, Commissioner, Department of Administration,
compared the Senate Finance Committee substitute for SB 4001 and
the House Finance Committee substitute for HB 4001. He commented
that the current committee substitutes diverged greatly from
Governor Murkowski's original bill, and explained that the
Senate Finance Committee substitute would prohibit the
commissioner of the Department of Administration, the position
he currently holds, from issuing a regulation to provide
retirement or health benefits to the same-sex partner of a State
employee. He continued that the implementation of such a
regulation would be punishable as a class b misdemeanor under
this bill.
Commissioner Nordstrand reported that the Senate Finance
Committee substitute also provides for a retroactivity date of
June 1, 2006. That is the date the Alaska Supreme Court issued
an order requiring the State to provide benefits to same-sex
partners of State employees.
Commissioner Nordstrand summarized the House Finance Committee
substitute as a "shorter, simplified version" of the Senate
bill. The committee substitute for HB 4001 would remove the
criminal penalties designated in CS SB 4001(FIN), and contains
more concise language.
5:12:37 PM
Commissioner Nordstrand stressed that CS HB 4001(FIN) did not
contain a retroactivity provision. He considered that
"important", as regulations to provide same-sex partner benefits
were issued by the Department of Administration on October 13,
2006. The Senate committee substitute would criminalize this
act, whereas CS HB 4001 would not.
5:13:04 PM
JAN DEYOUNG, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Statewide Section
Supervisor, Labor & State Affairs Section, Civil Division,
Department of Law, was available via teleconference to respond
to legal questions.
Senator Stedman moved to report the bill from Committee with
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.
Senator Bunde objected.
A roll call was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Senator Hoffman, Senator Stedman, Senator Dyson, and
Co-Chair Green
OPPOSED: Senator Bunde
ABSENT: Senator Olson and Co-Chair Wilken
The motion PASSED (4-1)
CS HB 4001(FIN)am(efd fld) was REPORTED from Committee with zero
fiscal note #1 from the Department of Administration and
indeterminate fiscal note #2 from the Department of Law.
5:14:35 PM
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 4002(FIN)(efd fld)
"An Act authorizing an advisory vote on employment benefits
for same-sex partners of public employees and same-sex
partners of public employee retirees."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
SCOTT NORDSTRAND, Commissioner, Department of Administration,
explained that the bill would fund a special election for a
state-wide advisory vote on April 3, 2007 to allow voters the
opportunity to indicate their preferences on a potential
constitutional amendment prohibiting the State from extending
benefits to same-sex couples. If the advisory vote demonstrated
support for the proposed amendment, it would appear on the 2008
general election ballot. He understood the advisory vote would
coincide with the Municipality of Anchorage's election in an
attempt to minimize the costs of the special election.
5:16:08 PM
Senator Hoffman voiced concern that voter turnout for special
elections was historically low, and voters in Anchorage may have
more incentive to participate on election day if there are other
issues on the ballot. He was concerned Anchorage may be
disproportionately represented in the election results.
5:16:49 PM
Commissioner Nordstrand replied that the Division of Elections
may be able to address Senator Hoffman's concern. He added that
other municipal elections could also be held on that day to
encourage voters in other areas to take part in the election.
5:17:30 PM
Senator Stedman moved to report the bill from Committee with
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, CS HB 4002(FIN)(efd fld) was REPORTED
from Committee with fiscal note #1 in the amount of $1,156,300
from the Division of Elections.
ADJOURNMENT
Co-Chair Lyda Green adjourned the meeting at 5:18:01 PM
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