03/15/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:06:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman explained  that SJR  21 is  proposed as  a                                                                    
constitutional   amendment  to   increase   the  number   of                                                                    
legislators.  He  pointed out  that  today's  is the  second                                                                    
hearing on the  resolution. He noted that  the first hearing                                                                    
was March  8, 2010. He  intends to receive comment  from the                                                                    
committee on the resolution.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson introduced his staff.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
TIM   BENINTENDI,  STAFF,   SENATOR  OLSON   introduced  the                                                                    
resolution  to increase  the size  of  the legislature.  The                                                                    
bill states  that the  senate would  expand by  four members                                                                    
and  the  house  by  eight members.  He  believed  that  the                                                                    
population  discussion was  the  basis  of the  conversation                                                                    
during the bill's former hearing.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  mentioned two fiscal notes  reflecting the                                                                    
cost; one  from the division  of elections for  $1.5 million                                                                    
to cover the  cost of printing a balance  and one reflecting                                                                    
the cost  of adding  12 additional legislators  beginning in                                                                    
FY13, estimated at  $6 million and decreasing  to $4 million                                                                    
in FY14.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson MOVED  to report SJR 21 out  of Committee with                                                                    
individual  recommendations  and   the  accompanying  fiscal                                                                    
notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SJR  21 was  REPORTED  out  of Committee  with  a "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation and  with previously published  fiscal impact                                                                    
notes: FN1 (LAA); FN2 (OOG).