Legislature(1997 - 1998)
01/29/1997 01:38 PM Senate JUD
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SCR 1 LEGSL. COMMITTEE MEETINGS OUTSIDE JUNEAU
SENATOR DUNCAN , sponsor of SCR 1, explained the measure requires
the Legislature to take a ten day recess between the 60th and 70th
day of the session, so that various standing committees can hold
hearings and take action on select pieces of legislation in other
areas of the state thereby increasing public access and input. SCR
1 requires notification of committee hearings to be published by
the 50th day of the session. The 50th legislative day was chosen
because the major issues of the session should be identified by
that time. Senator Duncan believes the Legislature recognizes its
responsibility to do everything possible to involve the public in
the legislative process. Although the Legislature has provided a
good audio teleconferencing system and is expanding to a two-way
video conferencing system, and Gavel to Gavel is available, SCR 1
takes one more step. SCR 1 allows legislators to visit communities
and make contact with residents outside of their districts and
helps to open up the legislative process at a minimal cost. The
Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA) has prepared a fiscal note with a
cost of $98,000 but the cost will vary depending on the number of
committees traveling, the number of communities visited, and which
major issues are selected for hearing.
Number 360
PAMELA VARNI , Executive Director of the LAA, addressed the fiscal
note. In determining the costs associated with committee travel,
several assumptions were made, and costs were minimized by
coordinating meetings and advertising costs. The fiscal note
accounts for staff travel, however the number of staff traveling
will actually be decided by the presiding officers. Advertising
costs will vary depending on how many advertisements can be
consolidated. The fiscal note does not allow for the collection of
per diem on a claim system; the decision to do so could be made by
the presiding officers.
SENATOR PARNELL asked Ms. Varni to specify which staff would be
traveling. MS. VARNI replied the estimate was calculated based on
the travel costs of one staff person per committee. LAA assumed if
no staff is traveling, the Legislative Information Office, if its
schedule permits, could assist committees.
Number 387
SENATOR PARNELL questioned whether teleconference costs would
remain the same if committee hearings were held elsewhere. MS.
VARNI responded the costs would remain the same.
Number 393
MAYOR DENNIS EGAN , City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), stated the
community of Juneau takes its role and responsibility as Alaska's
capital city very seriously. Mayor Egan and the Juneau Assembly
are very open to ideas and initiatives that are advanced to enhance
public satisfaction with Juneau as Alaska's capital city. By
definition, a "capital" is, among other key functions, a place
where a legislature meets, however that does not preclude
committees of a legislature from holding hearings in all regions of
the state. To the extent that SCR 1 further enables bringing the
legislative process to various regions of this vast state, he
supports the amendment to the Uniform Rules. Moreover, SCR 1 fits
well with the recent set of initiatives that the CBJ has undertaken
to improve access to the government process. CBJ actively supports
statewide Gavel to Gavel television coverage of the legislative
session, enhanced audio and video teleconferencing of legislative
and executive branch meetings, and access to government through the
internet and other telecommunications improvements. These
initiatives augment the excellent job that the 21 statewide
Legislative Information Offices are doing in providing essential
information and assistance to the general public. Furthermore,
passage of SCR 1 would also be building on these initiatives by
giving legislators, regardless of their home district location, a
greater opportunity to learn about the unique circumstances and
challenges of Alaska's many communities and regions. For all of
these reasons, he and the CBJ Assembly support the passage of SCR
1.
Number 419
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked whether SCR 1 conflicts with any of the
legislative time constraints set out in the Alaska Constitution,
such as the 45 day limit to address Boundary Commission matters.
SENATOR DUNCAN affirmed the Legislature has 45 days to address
Boundary Commission matters and 60 days to deal with Executive
Orders, so those matters would not be available for committee
consideration during the recess.
SENATOR PEARCE clarified the Boundary Commission report must be
received within 45 days of the first day of the legislative
session.
Number 432
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR questioned how a recess between the 60th and 70th
day of the session would be impacted by legislative action
affecting those matters. SENATOR DUNCAN noted the recess could
begin on the 61st day to accommodate those constitutional
deadlines.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR indicated passage of SCR 1 would create a Uniform
Rule mandating a recess. SENATOR DUNCAN stated Section 2 requires
the Legislature to consider the question of concurrence in a recess
in excess of three days; it does not mandate the recess.
Number 449
SENATOR PARNELL asked why SCR 1 contains a ten-day time limit for
a recess. SENATOR DUNCAN replied ten days seemed like a reasonable
amount of time for committees to travel to two or three communities
throughout the state and hold hearings.
SENATOR PARNELL asked Senator Duncan whether he envisioned a
standing committee, such as the Judiciary Committee, meeting in two
or three different locations. SENATOR DUNCAN said that would be up
to the committee chair; however, if tort reform was the issue, the
committee might want to travel to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kodiak and
Nome to hold hearings. The Administration set up a public process
that gave people the opportunity to testify directly to a committee
on that major piece of legislation. He envisioned using this
process for critical pieces of legislation that attract broad
public attention in order to provide greater public participation.
SENATOR PARNELL commented that each Senator sits on several
standing committees; therefore, it might be a nightmare to attend
several committee hearings in different locations within ten days.
SENATOR DUNCAN replied that ten days is not a magic number; his
intent is to try to open up the process to more people.
Number 475
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR added some might find the concept of SCR 1 bizarre;
however, the Senate Judiciary Committee did hold hearings on the
tort reform legislation in Sitka, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and
Kotzebue. Had the committee been able to do so during the session
itself, more attention may have been focussed on those hearings.
SENATOR DUNCAN commented that the Senate Judiciary Committee held
the hearings during the interim, therefore could not take formal
action on legislation. SCR 1 would allow people to see committees
revise and take action on legislation.
SENATOR MILLER moved SCR 1 out of committee with individual
recommendations. There being no objection, the motion carried.
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