Legislature(2003 - 2004)
05/13/2003 08:07 AM Senate JUD
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SJR 6-CONST AM: 90 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION
SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS, sponsor of SJR 6, explained to members
that SJR 6 proposes an amendment to the Alaska Constitution to
limit the legislative session to 90 days. She believes the
legislature can complete its work in 90 days, but doing so would
require some structural and operational changes. She said after
three-years in the legislature, she has seen a 60-day gestation
period, and then the policy work is done during the second 60
days. She said shortening the gestation period to 30 days
is reasonable. She said that prior to 1984, legislative session
time period was unlimited. After that time, the sessions were
limited to 120 days. The same number of laws has passed during
the shorter sessions. She believes the public process can be
accomplished and business completed in 90 days.
SENATOR FRENCH noted that this year, legislators were "hung up"
waiting for the Governor's budget. He said that is when the real
work begins. He said he believes 90 days is plenty of time to
get the work done but he is interested in tying the beginning of
the legislative session to receipt of the Governor's budget.
SENATOR GUESS said this year was an anomaly. Normally the budget
is prepared by December 15. She said the question of tying the
session to the budget dates is appropriate. She asked Ms.
Neilsen to address whether the House has discussed that
question.
MS. SARA NEILSEN, staff to Representative Samuels, told members
that question did not come up in House committees but they have
discussed starting the legislative session later, possibly in
March.
SENATOR GUESS said a big trigger mechanism to the legislature's
work is the budget forecast and it needs to be a driving force.
VICE-CHAIR OGAN announced that Senator Therriault had joined the
committee.
VICE-CHAIR OGAN pointed out that he co-sponsored this
legislation. He said the legislature has the ability, under
existing constitutional language, to change the month and date
of the beginning of the legislative session by law. He would
object to starting as late as March but he would agree to begin
at the end of January. He said he hopes that a shorter session
will result in fewer laws being passed.
VICE-CHAIR OGAN noted that no one had signed up to testify. He
then asked Senator Therriault, as a former Finance Committee
chair, how he envisions a 90-day session working.
SENATOR THERRIAULT said a 90-day limit could be a problem. He
asked members to keep in mind the balance of power between the
legislative and executive branches. This legislature is working
better with this Administration than it did with the previous
administration but, even now, the legislature must often wait
for information and legal opinions. He said that members of the
House get elected every two years and new members have a steep
learning curve. They need a certain amount of time to understand
the budget process and play a meaningful role. He said he does
not oppose a 90-day session but believes the consequences must
be studied in depth. He pointed out that a piece of legislation
on the floor today was introduced at the beginning of the
session and people are saying it was rushed through the process.
He asked what people will think if legislation gets passed in
90-day sessions.
SENATOR GUESS commented that Senator Therriault brought up some
good points that need to be thought through. She said the
legislature will have to think through when its organization and
orientation will take place, as well as the budget and election
year issues. She said she feels, as a public servant, she would
have to do more preparation work prior to the start of the
session. She said in her mind, shortening the session to 90 days
is a policy call as to whether legislators believe they can do
the work in 90 days and what kind of structure will be necessary
to ensure a good public process.
8:49 a.m.
SENATOR THERRIAULT noted that he recently had a conversation
with a freshman legislator who said it was difficult to start
the first day of session with no staff. A discussion about
swearing in newly elected legislators earlier has been taking
place. Perhaps consideration should be given to swearing in
legislators on the same day the Governor is sworn in. He said a
shorter session would also require that more work be done during
the interim. He said in his experience, half of the legislators
have full-time jobs so committees with specific interim
requirements would need members with flexible employment
situations. In addition, that would drive up the cost during the
interim.
SENATOR GUESS said the cost of work done during the interim is
less than the cost of work done during session. She said from
her personal experience as a citizen legislator with a full-time
job, if there is predictability in the schedule, she could work
around it.
VICE-CHAIR OGAN said he has spent a lot of time in the
contracting business; his philosophy is that a job takes as long
as one is given to do it. He felt that Senator Therriault's
concerns are legitimate and the legislature might need to look
at providing committees with authority to take action on
legislation during the interim. He said his phone rang
constantly when he was first elected. He had no staff and
constant demands on him although he was not sworn in for two
months. He said another consideration is that right before
session begins, many people take vacations during the holidays.
CHAIR SEEKINS said his main concern was that after he was
elected, he felt handcuffed by not having any staff. He said
that problem should be addressed if the legislature wants to
shorten the session. He said he would look favorably upon this
legislation with a few modifications.
SENATOR GUESS stated that the concerns that have been raised are
good ones. She agreed that orientation needs improvement,
regardless of whether this legislation moves forward.
SENATOR ELLIS asked the date of the spring revenue forecast.
SENATOR SEEKINS said it is usually released in the first part of
April.
SENATOR ELLIS asked if the Governor's budget was released on
March 5.
SENATOR GUESS said she believes that is correct. She then asked
that the committee hold this bill for further work on the
structure of a 90-day session.
CHAIR SEEKINS announced he would hold the bill in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|