Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/09/1999 03:31 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SJR 8-FAIR AND ACCURATE CENSUS
MARK HODGINS, legislative aide to Chairman Ward, sponsor of SJR 8,
explained the measure as follows. SJR 8 urges Congress and the
Bureau of the Census to conduct the year 2000 census consistent
with the ruling in the Department of Commerce v. United States
House, and with the Constitution of the United States. The Bureau
of the Census plans on using random sampling techniques or other
statistical methods instead of an actual physical headcount of the
population. A random sampling technique will dilute and violate
the one person/one vote legal protection, and could expose the
State to protracted and costly litigation, resulting in a court
ruling invalidating the redistricting plan.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked if a random sampling technique has been used
in any previous census. MR. HODGINS said it has. He explained the
case he previously referred to, Department of Commerce v. United
States House, was about the use of a random sampling technique.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked when that occurred. MR. HODGINS was unsure
but stated in that case, the court determined the random sampling
technique used was acceptable, however the current concern is that
a random sampling technique could prompt the Legislature to
artificially change district boundaries based on statistics, rather
than a headcount, during the reapportionment process. He stated
ten moose could be spotted in one square mile in Alaska, however
one cannot assume that number is representative of thousands of
square miles.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if Alaska's congressional delegation favors
this legislation. MR. HODGINS said it does.
CHAIRMAN WARD stated this issue is not partisan, and that most
people do not favor the random sampling technique.
CHRIS MILLER, Research and Analysis Section of the Department of
Labor (DOL), stated DOL has taken no position on SJR 8, but he
asked the committee to consider the following information. A
pending legal decision may make this issue moot. A group out of
Alabama is likely to sue the Census Bureau to force it to do the
same thing for state census information as it does for the
national census. DOL, as the census liaison, does not know the
details of the statistical sampling process the Census Bureau plans
to use for the year 2000.
Number 149
CHAIRMAN WARD asked Mr. Miller if he was suggesting the Legislature
introduce an accompanying bill containing precise language as to
how a census count should be conducted. MR. MILLER replied he
would prefer to wait to see what the Census Bureau proposes. The
1990 census process began with a statistical quality control check
conducted on a regional level across the country. The regional
statistics were then applied to each state. DOL does not believe
that method improved the numbers for Alaska.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked if DOL has been notified by the Census Bureau
that Alaska is being used as a test site, in which an ongoing
population count would occur.
MR. MILLER stated at one point, Anchorage was going to be a test
site, but that is no longer the case. He explained the Census
Bureau is developing a new process in which it will collect data
over an eight-year period. By the eighth year, the statistics will
be abundant enough to provide detailed data on small geographic
areas. That process might be used in the 2010 census, but a lot of
testing still needs to be done.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked if the entire State of Alaska has been chosen
as a test site for that ongoing procedure. MR. MILLER replied the
program will be applied nationwide, and it is not a test per se.
The program will occur simultaneously with the 2000 census, and the
sample will be used as a base for comparison.
Number 206
SENATOR ELTON asked if out-of-state military members are counted
using a statistical sampling method. MR. MILLER replied the Census
Bureau contracted to do a head count of out-of-state military
members.
SENATOR ELTON asked if enumerators from other states would go to
bases overseas and in the lower 48. MR. MILLER said that was his
understanding, however he would verify that information.
SENATOR ELTON asked about DOL's experience with census population
counts in areas of the state in which the population is very
mobile, and whether that experience has led DOL to believe that
statistical sampling can provide an accurate count.
Number 229
MR. MILLER said DOL is working closely with the Census Bureau to
ensure the Census Bureau has good information about where housing
units are located. The census in Alaska will be done in two ways.
In urban areas, surveys will be mailed to residents and census
workers will go door-to-door. In rural Alaska, the Bureau will
contract with local people to go door-to-door to collect the
information. Because "break-up" occurs when the census will be
taken, the door-to-door method will be used to count residents of
rural areas of Alaska, and will take longer. DOL is fairly
confident that the Census Bureau is "counting noses" in an
efficient manner. Post-enumeration surveys are conducted after the
census is complete. A 1995 post-enumeration survey was a secondary
survey used for statistical purposes. It was also used as a
quality control check on the 1990 census.
There being no further discussion, SENATOR PHILLIPS moved SJR 8 out
of committee with individual recommendations. SENATOR ELTON
objected. The motion carried with Senators Phillips, Green,
Wilken, and Ward voting "yea," and Senator Elton voting "nay."
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