04/12/1999 01:40 PM Senate JUD

              SJR 14-ELECTION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JERRY WARD, sponsor of SJR 14, explained that the proposed                                                              
work draft contains a prohibition against a person elected Attorney                                                             
General from becoming Governor or Lieutenant Governor until at                                                                  
least one term intervenes. He stated he supports the change.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 516                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HALFORD moved the adoption of the work draft. Without                                                                   
objection, the work draft was adopted.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DONLEY asked if the election of the Attorney General would                                                              
occur at the same time the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are                                                                 
elected. SENATOR WARD replied yes, they would be elected                                                                        
independently (not as a part of a ticket) at this time.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HALFORD noted that under SJR 14, the only qualifications                                                                
for a candidate seeking the office of Attorney General is that they                                                             
be 30 years old. He asked if there was a residency requirement for                                                              
a person to be elected Attorney General. He asked what the                                                                      
residency requirement for the office of Governor is. CHAIRMAN                                                                   
TAYLOR said the requirement is seven years. SENATOR HALFORD asked                                                               
if the sponsor would object to a seven year residency requirement.                                                              
SENATOR WARD said he would not. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if the                                                                    
sponsor would object to a requirement that the person actually be                                                               
an attorney. SENATOR WARD remarked that would preclude him or                                                                   
SENATOR HALFORD from holding the position, but he would not object.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Number 540                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HALFORD moved conceptual Amendment 1: that the bill contain                                                             
the same residency requirement for an elected Attorney General as                                                               
is currently required to hold the office of Governor, and that an                                                               
Attorney General be an attorney who has passed the Bar exam,                                                                    
licenced for at least five years in Alaska. Without objection,                                                                  
conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR stated the bill would be brought up again.