04/19/2004 09:05 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 3                                                                                                    
     Relating to commemoration of Senator Frank R. Ferguson and                                                                 
     other distinguished Senators.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken  stated that this  bill would allow a commemorative                                                             
panel to  be placed  outside the  Senate Finance  Committee Room  in                                                            
honor of Senators  who are specially recognized by  the Alaska State                                                            
Senate. Furthermore, he  continued, it would allow for the inclusion                                                            
of Senator Frank Ferguson's name on the panel.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson,  the bill's sponsor,  shared that this bill  is being                                                            
introduced  for  two  purposes:  the first  would  be  to  recognize                                                            
recently decreased Senator  Frank Ferguson, "one of the State's most                                                            
skilled  legislators,"  for his contribution  to  the State and  its                                                            
citizens;  and  secondly,  to  acknowledge   that  the  options  for                                                            
honoring  individuals such  as naming  meeting rooms  after them  is                                                            
limited  in the  Capitol  building.  Therefore, he  continued,  this                                                            
resolution  would allow  for  a large plague  to  be displayed  that                                                            
would recognize  distinguished senators who have contributed  to the                                                            
State.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson displayed  an example of the proposed plague [copy not                                                            
provided].                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken, noting  that the bill has a zero fiscal note, asked                                                            
whether the individuals  would pay for the inclusion  of their name.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson stated  that  either  that or  private contributions                                                             
would provide the necessary funding.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #2:  This amendment deletes "on" and inserts  "at" on page                                                            
two,  line  24,  and  deletes  "wall  outside   the  Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee Room"  and inserts "place inside the Capitol  Building" on                                                            
page two, line 24.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson offered Amendment #2.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken objected for discussion.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson reviewed how the language would read.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken removed his objection.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
There being no further objection, Amendment #2 was ADOPTED.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #1: This amendment  inserts the following language on page                                                            
two, following line 22.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "WHEREAS the Alaska  State Senate has had a significant role in                                                            
     the rich history of  the state and the progress of its citizens                                                            
     through  the  individual  and collective  achievements  of  its                                                            
     members;                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     WHEREAS other senators also merit special recognition for past                                                             
     accomplishments;                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson moved for the adoption of Amendment #1.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken objected for discussion.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson read the proposed language.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken removed his objection.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
There being no further objection, Amendment #1 was ADOPTED.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Green  asked whether a resolution would be  required to add                                                            
Senators' names  in the future or would they would  be automatically                                                            
added upon their death.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  responded that  the intent  is that additional  names                                                            
would be furthered via a Legislative Resolution.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Green understood,  therefore, that  a resolution  would be                                                            
required in order to add another name to the plague.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  considered it to be  "unfair" to automatically  add a                                                            
Senator's name  upon their death,  as he argued, the purpose  of the                                                            
plague,  rather  than being  all-encompassing,   is to  honor  those                                                            
considered to have had distinguished service.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken qualified the question to be, how would one's name                                                              
be included on the plague.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bunde asked whether the inclusion would be posthumously.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken stated that further qualifying language should be                                                               
determined.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken ordered the bill HELD in Committee.