02/26/2015 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB47 | |
| HCR1 | |
| HJR3 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 47 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HCR 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 26, 2015
8:11 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Cathy Tilton, Chair
Representative Paul Seaton, Vice Chair
Representative Shelley Hughes
Representative Dan Ortiz
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Benjamin Nageak
Representative Lora Reinbold
Representative Harriet Drummond
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 47
"An Act requiring each municipality with a population that
decreased by more than 25 percent between 2000 and 2010 that
participates in the defined benefit retirement plan of the
Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska to contribute to
the system an amount calculated by applying a rate of 22 percent
of the total of all base salaries paid by the municipality to
employees of the municipality who are active members of the
system during a payroll period; reducing the rate of interest
payable by a municipality with a population that decreased by
more than 25 percent between 2000 and 2010 that is delinquent in
transmitting employee and employer contributions to the defined
benefit retirement plan of the Public Employees' Retirement
System of Alaska; giving retrospective effect to the substantive
provisions of the Act; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1
Urging the Governor to acknowledge officially the sovereignty of
Alaska tribal governments, to create clear and consistent
policies for increased state collaboration and partnership with
tribes, and to direct the attorney general to conduct a complete
review of the state's litigation against Alaska Native tribes;
urging the Governor to acknowledge the inherent criminal
jurisdiction of Alaska tribal governments over tribal members
within the boundaries of their villages; urging the Governor to
cooperate with tribes' efforts to transfer Native land to trust;
and urging the Governor to support multilateral negotiations
between tribal governments, nontribal municipalities, and the
state government to delineate clearly tribal geographical
jurisdictions.
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3
Urging members of the Alaska delegation to the United States
Congress to introduce substantially similar legislation to the
Alaska Safe Families and Villages Act of 2013; urging the United
States Congress to affirm the criminal jurisdiction of Alaska
tribal governments over tribal members within the boundaries of
their villages; urging the United States Congress to cooperate
with tribes' efforts to transfer Native land to trust; and
supporting multilateral negotiations between tribal governments,
nontribal municipalities, and the state and federal governments
to delineate clearly tribal geographical jurisdictions.
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 47
SHORT TITLE: PERS CONTRIBUTIONS BY MUNICIPALITIES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) FOSTER
01/21/15 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/15
01/21/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/15 (H) CRA, L&C
02/10/15 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/10/15 (H) Heard & Held
02/10/15 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/17/15 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/17/15 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/21/15 (H) CRA AT 10:00 AM BARNES 124
02/21/15 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/26/15 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: HCR 1
SHORT TITLE: GOVERNOR:TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND JURIS.
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) EDGMON
01/21/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/15 (H) CRA, JUD
02/19/15 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/19/15 (H) Heard & Held
02/19/15 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/26/15 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: HJR 3
SHORT TITLE: CONGRESS:NATIVE TRIBAL JURIS. & AUTHORITY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) EDGMON
01/21/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/15 (H) CRA, JUD
02/19/15 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/19/15 (H) Heard & Held
02/19/15 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/26/15 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as the sponsor of HB 47.
PAUL LABOLLE, Staff
Representative Neal Foster
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of the sponsor, Representative
Foster, explained the changes embodied in CSHB 47, Version E.
SHANDA HUNTINGTON, City Manager/City Clerk
City of Galena
Galena, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During hearing of HB 47, answered
questions.
TIM CLARK, Staff
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of the sponsor, Representative
Edgmon, explained the changes embodied in CSHCR 1, Version H.
TIM CLARK, Staff
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of the sponsor, Representative
Edgmon, explained the changes embodied in CSHJR 3, Version E.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:11:39 AM
CHAIR CATHY TILTON called the House Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:11 a.m.
Representatives Seaton, Hughes, Ortiz, and Tilton were present
at the call to order.
HB 47-PERS CONTRIBUTIONS BY MUNICIPALITIES
8:11:58 AM
CHAIR TILTON announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 47, "An Act requiring each municipality with a
population that decreased by more than 25 percent between 2000
and 2010 that participates in the defined benefit retirement
plan of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska to
contribute to the system an amount calculated by applying a rate
of 22 percent of the total of all base salaries paid by the
municipality to employees of the municipality who are active
members of the system during a payroll period; reducing the rate
of interest payable by a municipality with a population that
decreased by more than 25 percent between 2000 and 2010 that is
delinquent in transmitting employee and employer contributions
to the defined benefit retirement plan of the Public Employees'
Retirement System of Alaska; giving retrospective effect to the
substantive provisions of the Act; and providing for an
effective date."
8:12:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt CSHB 47, Version 29-
LS0285\E, Wayne, 2/20/15, as the working document.
CHAIR TILTON objected for purposes of discussion.
8:12:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER, Alaska State Legislature, speaking
as the sponsor of HB 47, introduced his staff who would explain
Version E.
8:12:45 AM
PAUL LABOLLE, Staff, Representative Neal Foster, Alaska State
Legislature, speaking on behalf of the sponsor, Representative
Foster, directed attention to the change in Section 1 of Version
E that addresses the village of Atka, which has experienced an
increase in its payroll despite a population loss. He explained
that if the floor had been applied as previously crafted, Atka's
floor would have increased over fiscal year (FY) 2008 and placed
the community in penalty mode as some of its payments would be
below that of FY 12. Therefore, the change in Section 1
provides for an exclusion such that in order to reset the floor,
a community would have to have both a population loss of 25
percent or more and FY 12 salaries would have to be below the FY
08 salaries. He then directed attention to the change in
Section 2, which changes the calculation method on interest from
being based on the discount rate plus 4 percent to being based
on the actuarially assessed rate of the Public Employees'
Retirement System (PERS) fund, which is 8 percent. Therefore,
an employer paying at the floor level has an 8 percent interest
rate for penalties, which makes the system whole. However, for
an employer paying above the FY 08 floor the interest rate
penalty is 12 percent.
8:15:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if, from Galena's perspective, there
is anything that is detrimental to Galena in Version E.
8:15:20 AM
SHANDA HUNTINGTON, City Manager/City Clerk, City of Galena,
replied no.
8:15:26 AM
CHAIR TILTON, upon determining no one else wished to testify,
closed public testimony.
8:15:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON opined that the changes in Version E keep
the state whole and [levels the playing field] for all the
cities at the floor while keeping the state whole.
8:16:28 AM
CHAIR TILTON withdrew her objection. There being no further
objection, CSHB 47, Version E was adopted. She then announced
that HB 47 would be held over.
HCR 1-GOVERNOR:TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND JURIS.
8:17:09 AM
CHAIR TILTON announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1, Urging the Governor to
acknowledge officially the sovereignty of Alaska tribal
governments, to create clear and consistent policies for
increased state collaboration and partnership with tribes, and
to direct the attorney general to conduct a complete review of
the state's litigation against Alaska Native tribes; urging the
Governor to acknowledge the inherent criminal jurisdiction of
Alaska tribal governments over tribal members within the
boundaries of their villages; urging the Governor to cooperate
with tribes' efforts to transfer Native land to trust; and
urging the Governor to support multilateral negotiations between
tribal governments, nontribal municipalities, and the state
government to delineate clearly tribal geographical
jurisdictions.
8:17:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt CSHCR 1, Version 29-
LS0353\H, Wallace/Martin, 2/19/15, as the working document.
CHAIR TILTON objected for discussion purposes.
8:17:39 AM
TIM CLARK, Staff, Representative Bryce Edgmon, Alaska State
Legislature, speaking on behalf of Representative Edgmon,
sponsor, explained that Version H removes resolves related to
the proclamation of tribal sovereignty; inherent criminal
jurisdiction within Alaska Native villages; transfer of land
into trust; and negotiation of tribal geographical jurisdiction.
The revised resolves, he further explained, urge the governor to
establish clear and consistent policies across state agencies
for increased collaboration and partnership with tribes. He
pointed out that a new resolve encourages the governor to
negotiate agreements with Alaska Native tribes that increase
their authority, responsibility, and capacity to enforce certain
state laws and deliver justice at the local level. He pointed
out that the third resolve urges the governor to direct the
attorney general to review the state's litigation against Alaska
Native tribes. Mr. Clark then reviewed the specific location of
the aforementioned changes embodied in Version H.
8:20:08 AM
The committee took a brief at ease.
8:20:57 AM
CHAIR TILTON withdrew her objection. There being no further
objection, Version H was adopted. Upon determining no one else
wished to testify, Chair Tilton then closed public testimony and
announced that HCR 1 would be held over.
HJR 3-CONGRESS:NATIVE TRIBAL JURIS. & AUTHORITY
8:22:05 AM
CHAIR TILTON announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3, Urging members of the Alaska
delegation to the United States Congress to introduce
substantially similar legislation to the Alaska Safe Families
and Villages Act of 2013; urging the United States Congress to
affirm the criminal jurisdiction of Alaska tribal governments
over tribal members within the boundaries of their villages;
urging the United States Congress to cooperate with tribes'
efforts to transfer Native land to trust; and supporting
multilateral negotiations between tribal governments, nontribal
municipalities, and the state and federal governments to
delineate clearly tribal geographical jurisdictions.
8:22:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt CSHJR 3, Version 29-
LS0354\W, Wallace/Martin, 2/19/15, as the working document.
CHAIR TILTON objected for discussion purposes.
8:22:35 AM
TIM CLARK, Staff, Representative Bryce Edgmon, Alaska State
Legislature, speaking on behalf of the sponsor, Representative
Edgmon, explained that the language on page 2, lines 20-31 of
HJR 3 is not included in Version W and the title has been
amended accordingly. Furthermore, Version W does not include
the final three resolves of HJR 3 that addressed the inherent
criminal jurisdiction in Alaska Native villages, transfer of
lands into trust, and negotiation of tribal geographical
jurisdictions. In the sponsor's view, the complexity and
controversy associated with the deleted provision somewhat
obscured the core goal of the resolution, which is to encourage
the Alaska Congressional delegation to introduce federal
legislation to improve public safety and wellbeing in Alaska
Native communities, primarily through strengthening tribal
authority to keep the peace and deliver justice at the local
level.
8:23:53 AM
CHAIR TILTON withdrew her objection. There being no further
objection, Version W was adopted. Upon determining no one else
wished to testify, Chair Tilton then closed public testimony and
announced that HJR 3 would be held over.
8:24:36 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 8:24 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HCR 1 Draft Committee Substitute.pdf |
HCRA 2/26/2015 8:00:00 AM |
HCR 1 |
| HCR 1 Explanation of Changes in CSHCR1(CRA).pdf |
HCRA 2/26/2015 8:00:00 AM |
HCR 1 |
| HJR 3 Draft Committee Substitute.pdf |
HCRA 2/26/2015 8:00:00 AM |
HJR 3 |
| HJR 3 Explanation of Changes in CSHJR3(CRA).pdf |
HCRA 2/26/2015 8:00:00 AM |
HJR 3 |
| HB 47 Version E.pdf |
HCRA 2/26/2015 8:00:00 AM |
HB 47 |