Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
03/07/2024 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB5 | |
| HB317 | |
| SJR13 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 317 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 5-HOLD LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IN ANCHORAGE
8:03:05 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 5, "An Act relating to convening the
legislature in Anchorage; relating to the regulation of
lobbying; relating to annual student guests of the legislature;
relating to locations of sessions of the legislature; relating
to the Legislative Ethics Act; relating to the relocation of
functions of state government; and providing for an effective
date."
8:03:15 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
8:03:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature, prime
sponsor, presented HB 5. He shared the sponsor statement
[included in the committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
House bill 5 would bring the legislative session to a
place where most Alaskans could participate.
Currently, with the legislative session being held in
Juneau, it is incredibly expensive for a constituent
to participate in person. And while there are options
to view meetings online, moving the legislative
session to Anchorage would provide Alaskans with a way
to participate in the legislative process in person,
like is done in most other states.
In addition to making sessions more accessible to
Alaskans, moving the legislative session to Anchorage
would also help reduce the huge cost involved in
moving all 60 legislators and staff to and from Juneau
each year. Furthermore, with the session being held in
Anchorage, a good portion of those legislators and
staff would also not requiring housing. House Bill 5
will help bring down the cost of legislative session
while giving the public an opportunity to participate
in the legislative process without having to spend
large amounts of money.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER listed the financial benefits of holding
the legislative session in Anchorage, including per diem and
travel for legislators, constituents, and lobbyists.
8:08:57 AM
RYAN MCKEE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Rauscher, prime sponsor
of HB 5, presented the sectional analysis [included in the
committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Section 1: AS 15.13.072(d) This would change the
location where a legislator or legislative employee
may not solicit or accept a contribution unless it
occurs in a place other than the Municipality of
Anchorage, replacing the Capital city, during regular
or special legislative session.
Section 2: AS 15.13.072(g) This would change the
location from the Capital city to Municipality of
Anchorage where a candidate or individual who incurs
election related expenses for election or reelection
to the office of the governor or lieutenant governor
may not solicit or accept contributions.
Section 3: AS 24.05.090 This would change the location
of the legislative session to convene in the
Municipality of Anchorage, not the Capital.
Section 4: AS 24.05.100(b) This would change the
location of a special session if the governor
designates a location other than the Municipality of
Anchorage.
Section 5: AS 24.10.030 This would change the location
for the chief clerk and senate secretary to serve
their duties at the location of the session until the
completion of their work relating to that session.
Section 6: AS 24.10.130(a) This would change the
location of the legislative session to the
Municipality of Anchorage when handling the member's
reimbursement of travel expenses from their place of
residence.
Section 7: AS 24.45.041(b) This would change a
lobbyist's requirement to provide the temporary
residential and business address in the location of
the session instead of the state capital.
Section 8: AS 24.45.041(e) This would change the
location where the lobbyist directory shall be made
available to the legislative chambers in the
Municipality of Anchorage.
Section 9: AS 24.50.010 This would change the location
where annual students guests may stay to the
Municipality of Anchorage.
Section 10: AS 24.50.040 This would change the
location of the essay contest to the location of the
session and adds that each legislative guest "hosted
under AS 24.50.010" to further define the annual
student guests.
Section 11: AS 24.60.030(a) This would change the
location where a legislator or legislative employee
may not solicit or benefit other than official
compensation or use public funds, facilities,
equipment, services, or other government asset or
resource for nonlegislative purposes in the primary
location of the session.
Section 12: AS 24.60.031(a) This would change the
location, from the capital city to Municipality of
Anchorage, where an employee may or may not solicit or
accept a contribution or promise or pledge to make a
contribution.
Section 13: AS 24.60.031(b) This would change the
location, from the capital city to Municipality of
Anchorage, where a legislator may or may not solicit
or accept a contribution or promise.
Section 14: AS 24.60.080(c) This would change the
location, from the capital city to Municipality of
Anchorage, in relation to gifts.
Section 15: AS 44.99.007 This would specify the
location where the governor shall declare proclamation
an emergency temporary location or locations for the
seat of government or for the session. Section 16: AS
44.06.050, 44.06.055, and 44.06.060 are repealed.
Section 17: sets an effective date.
8:13:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER reiterated the bill would only relocate
the legislative session, not move the capital city. He said he
did not understand the associated fiscal note and presumed that
staff could be re-hired in the Anchorage area.
CHAIR MCCORMICK sought questions from committee members.
8:14:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether any other state held the
legislative session in a city other than its capital.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER offered to follow up with the requested
information.
8:15:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY opined that the capital is already
effectively in Anchorage, as the governor and most commissioners
spend most of their time in Anchorage.
8:16:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked whether the bill sponsor knew of any
other state capital that is inaccessible to constituents by
road.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER shared his belief that no other U.S.
capitals are inaccessible by road.
CHAIR MCCORMICK shared that he met a representative who lived in
the Los Angeles area who had to fly to Sacramento because of the
long drive.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER corrected his last statement, as the
capital of Hawaii is on an island. He recalled that citizens
had voted to move the capital more than once; however, it never
happened because of the expense. He asserted that the bill
would save money and make the legislators more accessible to
constituents during session.
8:17:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE said this was a highly requested topic
from his constituents. He suggested holding one half of the
two-year legislative session in Anchorage and the other half in
Juneau.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER said he had not considered that. He
pointed out that if half of session were to be held in Juneau,
the savings proposed in HB 5 would not materialize for the year
spent in Juneau. He said the major change would be the 40
support staff who work for the legislature that would need to
either relocate or the position would be filled by someone in
Anchorage.
8:21:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT opined that the playing field in Juneau
is level because all but three legislators are away from their
families. She said the city of Juneau has done a lot to
accommodate the legislature, adding that she would need to think
about this proposal further.
CHAIR MCCORMICK acknowledged the issue of equity and wondered
what he could do for the villages he represents who are left out
of the equation.
8:24:04 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that HB 5 would be held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 5 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 5 |
| HB 5 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 5 |
| HB 5 Version A.PDF |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 5 |
| HB 317 Sectional Analysis - Version A.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 317 |
| HB 317 Sponsor Statement - Version A.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 317 |
| HB 317 Version A.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 317 |
| SJR 13 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 13 |
| SJR 13 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 13 |
| SJR 13 MLT Presentation to SCRA 2023-04-20.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 13 |
| SJR 13 Support Documents Received by 1.30.2024.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 13 |
| SJR 13 Version A.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 13 |
| HB317 Presentation 3.7.24.pdf |
HCRA 3/7/2024 8:00:00 AM |
HB 317 |