Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/15/1994 03:15 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 15, 1994
3:15 p.m.
TAPE HFC 94-34, Side 1, #000 - 445.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Larson called the House Finance Committee to order
at 3:15 a.m.
PRESENT
Co-Chair Larson Representative Martin
Vice-Chair Hanley Representative Navarre
Representative Brown Representative Parnell
Representative Foster Representative Therriault
Representative Grussendorf
Co-Chair MacLean and Representative Hoffman were not
present for the vote.
ALSO PRESENT
Representative Jeannette James; Tom Anderson, Staff,
Representative Martin.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
HB 49 "An Act relating to facsimile absentee ballot
application and facsimile absentee voting."
CSHB 49 (JUD) was assigned to a subcommittee
consisting of Representative Parnell as Chair and
Representatives Martin and Brown.
HB 184 "An Act making a special appropriation to the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
to determine the cost of acquiring real property
within the right-of-way of the proposed extension
of the Alaska Railroad from Eielson Air Force Base
to the Alaska-Canada border; and providing for an
effective date."
CSSSHB 184 (FIN) was reported out of Committee
with a "do pass" recommendation.
HOUSE BILL NO. 184
"An Act making a special appropriation to the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to
determine the cost of acquiring real property within
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the right-of-way of the proposed extension of the
Alaska Railroad from Eielson Air Force Base to the
Alaska-Canada border; and providing for an effective
date."
REPRESENTATIVE JEANNETTE JAMES stressed that the legislation
would determine the cost of acquiring property rights within
the right-of-way of the proposed extension of the Alaska
Railroad from Eielson Air Force Base to the Canadian border.
Representative James provided members with AMENDMENT 1 (copy
on file). She explained the Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities requested that the following language
be changed; delete ", a road, an oil, natural gas, or coal
slurry pipeline, or an electrical transmission line" and
insert "or construction of a transportation, communication,
or transmission facility".
Representative Foster MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 1. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Brown asked why the railroad is not paying
for the study. Representative James explained that the
corridor would not be just for the railroad. She emphasized
that construction of a transportation, communication, or
transmission facility would be included in the study.
In response to a question by Representative Parnell,
Representative James clarified that the corridor is state
owned.
Representative Brown noted that the legislation would only
authorize the study. Representative James agreed that the
cost of acquiring the private interest in the existing
corridor will be studied.
Representative Therriault MOVED to report CSHB 184 (FIN) out
of Committee with individual recommendations.
CSSSHB 184 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation.
HOUSE BILL NO. 49
"An Act relating to facsimile absentee ballot
application and facsimile absentee voting."
TOM ANDERSON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN explained that
the legislation would allow the Division of Elections to
issue a facsimile ballot to an individual residing outside
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of the state of Alaska. The voter would then return their
ballot by mail. If the voter is residing out of the United
States they could receive and return their ballot by
facsimile.
Mr. Anderson noted that during the 1988 presidential
election, 200,000 military personnel, who tried to vote
absentee were unable to do so because they didn't receive
their ballot on time or at all. He observed that seven
states permit ballots by electronic transmission. He added
that 140 individuals voted by facsimile during the 1992
election.
Mr. Anderson stressed that the intent of CSHB 49 (JUD) is to
accommodate those absentee voters who may not be afforded
the same expeditious response that local voters receive, due
to postal service limitations.
Mr. Anderson observed that a waiver of privacy would need to
be signed by those voting via facsimile. He clarified that
the legislation is not applicable to municipal elections.
Members were provided with AMENDMENT 1 (copy on file). Mr.
Anderson stressed that the amendment would assure that the
legislation does not apply to any state-run election for
regional educational attendance area boards, coastal
resource service area boards or state-run local option
elections.
In response to a question by Representative Brown, Mr.
Anderson reiterated that a voter residing out of the United
States could receive and return their ballot by facsimile,
while a voter residing out-of-state could only receive their
ballot by facsimile.
Representative Brown asked for further clarification of the
privacy provision. Mr. Anderson expounded that privacy
waivers would be addressed through regulation.
JOE SWANSON, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ELECTIONS, OFFICE OF THE
GOVERNOR testified in support of CSHB 49 (JUD). He referred
to the Division's fiscal note. He noted that the Division
has reevaluation the need for a temporary position. The
Division has decided to resubmit their fiscal note minus the
$7.7 thousand dollar request for a temporary position.
Representative Brown expressed concern that voting by
facsimile be protected from fraudulent practices. Mr.
Swanson stressed that there is no way that the Division can
guarantee that a vote will not be seen by the person
removing it from the facsimile machine. He anticipated that
the privacy waiver would be sent with the ballot. He did
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not think that ballots by facsimile would be more
susceptible to fraud than other voting processes. He
clarified that ballots are traced by number until they are
placed in the ballot box.
Representative Parnell tried to demonstrate that it would be
possible to request and return fraudulent absentee ballots.
Mr. Swanson acknowledged that it is impossible to guarantee
that there are no fraudulent absentee ballots. He stressed
that in-state fraud is more likely to occur.
Representative Martin pointed out that electronic
transmission
of absentee ballot application has previously taken place
through emergency regulations.
Representative Brown questioned if "electronic
transmissions" should be replaced with more specific
language. Mr. Anderson observed that the House State
Affairs Committee changed "facsimile" to "electronic
transmission". Mr. Swanson noted that "electronic
transmission" would allow the Division to respond to new
technology.
Co-Chair Larson assigned CSHB 49 (JUD) to a subcommittee
consisting of Representative Parnell as Chair and
Representatives Brown and Martin.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
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