05/08/2003 03:35 PM Senate STA

           SJR  6-CONST AM: 90 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS stated her  contention that the Legislature                                                              
could do the people's business in 90 days.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SARA  NIELSEN, Staff  to Representative  Ralph  Samuels, said  the                                                              
1956 minutes show there was much  debate regarding the length of a                                                              
legislative   session.  Initially  they   decided  not   to  limit                                                              
themselves.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JOHN  COWDERY asked whether  there was anything  about the                                                              
Uniform Rules in the 1956 minutes.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. NIELSEN said  the minutes addressed the Uniform  Rules and how                                                              
they would conduct  business. She opined that  if the Constitution                                                              
were changed the Uniform Rules would  likely need to be changed as                                                              
well.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY commented  it would  take teamwork  to make  this                                                              
work.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRED  DYSON asked  what this  would do  to the balance  of                                                              
power between the legislative and executive branches.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. NIELSEN  replied she  has read no  published articles  on that                                                              
particular aspect of the change.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GUESS added  there is no research in the  area. She opined                                                              
it would tip the balance.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY asked what the benefit  would be other than in the                                                              
people's eyes.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GUESS  replied  the ultimate  advantage  is  when  people                                                              
believe their government  is working better and  more efficiently.                                                              
There certainly  would be a  cost savings and citizen  legislators                                                              
are certainly preferable.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY  asked  if  the existing  staff  could  handle  a                                                              
shorter session.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GUESS said  everyone would  have a  different opinion  on                                                              
that, but it's  likely everyone would have to  do more preparation                                                              
before arriving in Juneau.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
She added this is an idea that will take thought.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOFFMAN  stated it  is his belief  that a shorter  session                                                              
would  result in  more special  sessions, which  would cause  more                                                              
disruption.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY  STEVENS said  he couldn't  imagine working  any harder                                                              
than he  is currently. He  isn't in favor  of the legislation  and                                                              
believes the public would suffer.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY  stated he agrees  with the concept, but  the bill                                                              
needs more work.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DYSON  made a  motion to  move SJR  6 from committee  with                                                              
individual recommendations.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY objected.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked for a roll call vote. Senators Hoffman,                                                                
Dyson and Guess voted yea and Senator Cowdery and Chair Gary                                                                    
Stevens voted nay.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SJR 6 moved from committee.