Legislature(2009 - 2010)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/08/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB221 | |
| SB270 | |
| SJR21 |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 221 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 269 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 270 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 21
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State
of Alaska relating to and increasing the number of
members of the House of Representatives to forty-eight
and the number of members of the senate to twenty-
four.
9:24:59 AM
Co-Chair Stedman turned to SJR 21.
Senator Olson, sponsor of SJR 21 and chair of Senate
Community and Regional Affairs, introduced the bill. He
requested that his staff answer questions about the
resolution.
DAVID GRAY, STAFF, CO-CHAIR HOFFMAN, shared that he has
been working on the legislation for a number of years.
Senator Olson explained that SJR 21 puts a constitutional
amendment before the voters in the 2010 general election
that would increase the size of the legislature from 40 to
48 representatives and from 20 to 24 senators. Upon voter
approval, the measure would apply to the 2012 determination
of election district boundaries.
Senator Olson provided the history of legislative
representation. In 1913, Congress established the first
territorial legislature with 8 senators and 16
representatives. The size of the legislature was increased
to 12 senators and 24 representatives in 1942. Seventeen
years later, in 1959, a constitution for the state of
Alaska was ratified further increasing the size of the
legislature to the current level.
Senator Olson related that in the first 50 years of
statehood, Alaska has not changed the size of its
legislative body. It continues to be the smallest bicameral
legislature in the nation. During this span of time, the
population of the state has more than tripled. The state's
operating budget, which was around $100 million in 1960, is
now up to $10 billion. In spite of those increases, there
has been no change to legislative representation.
Senator Olson referred to the approaching census and the
resulting need for redistricting. He noted that the 1965
Voter Rights Act will play a part in the redistricting, and
large areas containing small populations will further
complicate Alaska's apportionment process. He predicted
population distributions, as a result of the 2010 census,
that will not reconcile Article VI, section 6 requirements
of the Alaska Constitution.
9:28:54 AM
Senator Olson recalled numerous lawsuits in 2000 regarding
equal access. He related that between 1960 and 2006, 29
states have increased the size of their legislative bodies.
For the nine states that have populations similar to
Alaska's - between 500,000 and 1,500,000 people - the
average size of their legislative bodies is 134 members.
Senator Olson stressed that it was time to increase the
size of the legislature.
9:30:10 AM
Senator Olson noted that a constitutional amendment
requires a two-thirds majority in each body and then the
voters must ratify it. He emphasized that the voters would
make the ultimate decision to increase the legislature or
keep it the same. He implored the committee to support the
legislation and vote on it today.
Co-Chair Stedman understood the urgency of the legislation.
He thought there should also be time for the public and the
committee to process the bill.
Co-Chair Stedman referred to a table in the committee
members' file entitled, "Population Trend for Election
Districts in 2010" (copy on file). He commented on
population differences and requested more information about
areas where the population has increased or decreased.
Senator Olson agreed that would be valuable information. He
pointed out that there is a significant population loss in
election districts 1 - 6, which is the Southeast part of
Alaska as well as part of the Interior. There is also a
significant loss in Northwest Alaska and in Western Alaska,
which includes Bristol Bay, Bethel, Nome, Barrow, and
Kotzebue. There are population losses "in the 4000 area"
which significantly decreases the number of people in an
election district. There are also significant increases in
MatSu, Anchorage, and Kenai.
Senator Olson concluded that the effect of the resolution,
if approved by the voters, would keep the rural districts
the same in Southeast and Western Alaska. It would increase
the number of election districts in the MatSu area by 2.5,
in Fairbanks by 1, in Anchorage by 3.5, and possibly 1 in
the Kenai area.
9:35:04 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked if there has been any thought to the
physical accommodations in the legislature. Senator Olson
suggested Mr. Gray respond to the issue of population
trends and effects of new election districts, as well as
the matter of space accommodations.
Mr. Gray clarified that in some cases rural districts have
lost population, but others have not had a population
increase as fast as some urban areas. He explained that the
chart showing where new election districts would go simply
looks at population. The reapportionment board will make
the decision as to where the new election districts will be
located.
Mr. Gray addressed Co-Chair Stedman's question about
whether the legislature could physically accommodate new
members. He deferred to Legislative Affairs to answer. He
speculated that it would require some modifications.
9:37:21 AM
Co-Chair Stedman proposed a scenario where there would be a
loss of 3,700 people in Ketchikan's House District One. He
suggested that the resolution would hold the geographical
footprint constant in District 1, but allow the number of
elected representatives in the MatSu and Anchorage areas to
increase. That concept would expand to include all of
Southeast Alaska as well as Western Alaska, the Aleutian
Chain, and Kodiak.
Mr. Gray said that was correct. He added that the ideal
district should have 15,673 people in it according to the
current reapportionment plan. If the plan is changed in
2010, the ideal population per district would be 17,309. He
noted that an increase in the size of the legislature by 8
representatives would change the average population per
district to 14,424, which is closer to the required
population in the 2000 census and the possibility that the
rural districts would remain the same.
9:39:46 AM
Senator Thomas suggested that a balance of power exists in
the state and expanding the numbers would create a change
in that balance. Mr. Gray pointed out that it is a one
person, one vote state. When the population shifts there is
still equal representation. The population growth is in
urban areas, not rural areas. He maintained that the
distribution under the 48 House District scheme, has the
same balance of power.
Senator Olson stressed that power in rural Alaska will be
lost if the current distribution continues, because they
will be assimilated into more populated districts. This
legislation attempts to facilitate the balance of power.
Senator Thomas understood that the balance of power would
be lost unless a change in the number of representatives is
made.
9:44:12 AM
Senator Olson requested that Mr. Harrison address that
issue.
GORDON HARRISON, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE
RESEARCH AGENCY; FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALASKA
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, requested that the question be
repeated. Senator Thomas restated his question. Mr.
Harrison did not see how the proposal to expand the
legislature would change the distribution of electoral
power between the rural and urban areas because it is based
on population. He said the rural districts would be able to
maintain their physical size, while the urban districts
would be smaller in area. Proportionally, the relationship
between rural and urban Alaska would remain the same.
Senator Thomas pointed out that the number of
representatives is being added to urban areas, therefore
there would be more influence. Co-Chair Stedman requested
an explanation of the difference between a geographical
area and a population area. Mr. Harrison explained that
without an expansion of the legislature, there would be a
loss of three rural districts. In the expanded legislature
the rural districts would be maintained and the
relationship between rural and urban areas would stay the
same.
9:48:46 AM
Senator Olson noted valid concerns regarding physical
space. Co-Chair Stedman noted the recent purchase of a new
building for the purposes of expansion.
Co-Chair Stedman commented on the two fiscal notes. One
note is from the Division of Elections for $1.5 million to
cover the cost of printing the ballots. One note is from
the Legislature reflecting the cost of adding 12 additional
legislators beginning in FY 13 for $6,140,000. In FY 14 the
cost is estimated to decrease to $4,470,000.
SJR 21 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| NCSL Presentation on Alaska Higher Ed Task Force_SB221[1].ppt |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 221 |
| SB221 NCSL Path to a Degree - Overview[1].pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 221 |
| SB221_Sectional[1].pdf |
HEDC 3/26/2010 8:00:00 AM SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 221 |
| SB221_SponsorStatement[1].pdf |
HEDC 3/26/2010 8:00:00 AM SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 221 |
| SB 221 NCSL Path to a Degree - Engaging Students_ College Success Strategies[1].pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 221 |
| SB 221 The Path To A Degree[1].pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 221 |
| SB 269 Principal Amortization-Update (2 24 10).pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 269 |
| SB 269 2005 Resolution Borrower Loan Payments.pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 269 |
| SJR 21 Alaska Supreme Court. redistricting[1].pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM |
|
| SJR21 sponsor statement[1].pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/15/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SJR 21 |
| SJR 21 Population Trend 2010 districts[1].pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2010 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/15/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SJR 21 |