Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/05/2002 03:02 PM House RLS
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RULES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 5, 2002
3:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Pete Kott, Chair
Representative Brian Porter
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Lesil McGuire
Representative Reggie Joule
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Carl Morgan
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR RON SOMERVILLE
- CONTRACT APPROVED
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
TED POPLEY
Senate/House Majority Legal Office
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 116
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information regarding Mr.
Somerville's work.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 02-1, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR PETE KOTT called the House Rules Standing Committee
meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. Representatives Kott, Porter,
Kohring, and Joule were present at the call to order.
Representative McGuire arrived as the meeting was in progress.
[Note that the counter numbers indicate the elapsed time.]
CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR RON SOMERVILLE
TED POPLEY, Senate/House Majority Legal Office, noted that he is
the Project Director for the contract with Mr. Somerville, who
has been on contract with the legislature for some time now.
Before the committee is the extension of Mr. Somerville's
contract by one year. Mr. Somerville's work primarily deals
with state and federal resource issues for the House. Mr.
Somerville's work is fairly widespread in that he advises
committees, individual legislators, Mr. Popley, and the Speaker
of the House on matters relating to access issues, rights-of-
way, water rights, the submerged lands issues, navigability
determinations, and many other issues.
MR. POPLEY explained that Mr. Somerville is a paid consultant
that works on an hourly basis. Mr. Somerville reports directly
to Mr. Popley, the chair of the [House] Rules Standing
Committee, and the Speaker of the House. Mr. Popley informed
the committee that Mr. Somerville generally bills less time than
the contract allows. Mr. Somerville's contract expired January
20, 2002, and thus the [contract] before the committee would
extend Mr. Somerville's contract through the remainder of the
calendar year.
02.2
CHAIR KOTT recalled that [Mr. Somerville] generates a report
that is sent to Mr. Popley and the Speaker regarding Mr.
Somerville's projects. Chair Kott pointed out that the amended
contract amount is not to exceed [$50,000].
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE related his understanding that this
contract would be extended to 2003.
MR. POPLEY explained that the contract amount would [not exceed]
$50,000 between January 20, 2002, and January 2003.
03.7
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE inquired as to what Mr. Somerville would be
working on this year.
MR. POPLEY informed the committee that Mr. Somerville is
currently working on a variety issues with the [House] Resources
Standing Committee as well as with House Majority members. Mr.
Somerville is working on water rights legislation and submerged
lands issues, including a navigability commission that would be
a joint federal [and state] commission to better establish a
list of navigable waters within the state. Currently, Mr.
Somerville is working on access-related issues such as those
lands involved in ANCSA [Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act]
17(b) easement issues and R.S.2477 rights-of-way issues.
Additionally, session always brings surprises and thus he was
confident that there would be many resource issues arising that
Mr. Somerville would also be assigned between now and the end of
session.
05.1
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE recalled last year's meeting on Mr.
Somerville's contract during which the question regarding who
Mr. Somerville works for, the Majority or the legislature, was
posed. He recalled that the answer was that Mr. Somerville
works for the legislature.
MR. POPLEY answered that technically Mr. Somerville does work
for the legislature.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE recalled the testimony that Mr. Somerville
is working on certain items for the Majority. Therefore,
Representative Joule wondered if those [not in] the Majority
would be able to view those items because they may have interest
in them as well.
MR. POPLEY replied yes, and stated that Mr. Somerville is
available to any member seeking his consulting skills. In the
past, Mr. Somerville has provided periodic reports to the
Minority leader and provided summaries and work descriptions for
some of the issues he is working on as well. Mr. Popley
emphasized that Mr. Somerville is available, available upon
request.
06.3
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE turned to the issue of subsistence.
MR. POPLEY acknowledged that subsistence is an issue that will
inevitably arise again. He noted that he would turn to Mr.
Somerville for advise and council on subsistence, and he was
sure that other members of the House would do so as well.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE inquired as to why this contract is before
the House Rules Standing Committee rather than the Joint
Committee on Legislative Council.
CHAIR KOTT related his understanding that anything beyond
$25,000 has to be [approved] by House Rules Standing Committee.
07.2
REPRESENTATIVE PORTER moved that the committee approve the
contract extension for Mr. Somerville.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE objected. Representative Joule noted that
he has never asked Mr. Somerville to do anything. Therefore, he
remarked that perhaps he would have to just do so at some point.
CHAIR KOTT pointed out that if this contract isn't adopted,
Representative Joule wouldn't have the opportunity to request
Mr. Somerville's services.
08.8
REPRESENTATIVE PORTER informed the committee that Mr. Somerville
is our point person in trying to establish a joint commission on
navigable waters and submerged lands. The resolution of this
issue is of great significance for the state. Representative
Porter said, "I assure you that regardless or Mr. Somerville's
opinion on any particular point ... he's very good at following
direction." He pointed to the subsistence amendment that the
House passed while Mr. Somerville was on contract. Mr.
Somerville's advice on the law in that area [was helpful].
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE related his belief that [the legislature]
is going to address [subsistence] again. He noted that he is
thinking about upcoming opportunities.
The committee took an at-ease from 3:17 p.m. to 3:18 p.m.
12.0
CHAIR KOTT inquired as to whether Representative Joule
maintained his objection.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE announced that although he recognized that
he could maintain his objection, he would withdraw it.
Therefore, there being no objection, Mr. Somerville's amended
contract was approved.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Rules Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
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