Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/27/1995 09:05 AM Senate RLS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
February 27, 1995
9:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Miller, Chair
Senator Drue Pearce, Vice Chair
Senator Jim Duncan
Senator Judy Salo
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Bert Sharp
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8
Approving the revised open meetings guidelines proposed by the
Select Committee on Legislative Ethics.
SENATE BILL NO. 47
"An Act relating to the extent to which the Alaska Public Utilities
Commission may exercise its powers when regulating utilities;
establishing a regulatory cost charge on public utilities and
pipeline carriers; relating to the allocation of costs in hearings
before the Alaska Public Utilities Commission; relating to the
method by which utilities are exempted from and made subject to
regulation by the Alaska Public Utilities Commission; relating to
the monetary threshold for regulation of certain kinds of utilities
by the Alaska Public Utilities Commission; extending the Alaska
Public Utilities Commission; relating to staggered terms for
members of the Alaska Public Utilities Commission; and providing
for an effective date."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SCR 8 No previous action.
SB 47 See Labor and Commerce Committee minutes dated 2/2/95.
WITNESS REGISTER
Susie Barnett
Professional Assistant
Select Committee on Legislative Ethics
PO Box 101468
Anchorage, AK 99501-1468
POSITION STATEMENT : Available to answer questions.
Joe Donahue
Chairman
Select Committee on Legislative Ethics
P.O. Box 101468
Anchorage, AK 99501-1468
POSITION STATEMENT: Available to answer questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-2, SIDE A
SRLS - 2/27/95
SCR 8 APPROVING LEG. OPEN MEETINGS GUIDELINES
CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Senate Rules Committee meeting to order
at 9:05 a.m. He opened the meeting with a public hearing on SCR 8.
He announced Susie Barnett was on teleconference from Anchorage,
and Joe Donahue would be testifying via teleconference from Kenai.
JOE DONAHUE, Chairman of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics
(SCLE), testified in support of SCR 8. He stated SCR 8 is the
result of an 18-month process working with open meetings
guidelines, and although SCR 8 may not represent the perfect set of
guidelines for all members of the Legislature, it adequately
represents the principles of open meetings in terms of public
awareness and notice, while allowing legislators to get their work
done.
SENATOR SALO asked for clarification on the provision that allows
any 3 legislators to meet in private unless they compose a quorum
of a standing or special committee, or subcommittee. She
questioned how interactions during functions such as receptions, or
dinner, would fit. MR. DONAHUE replied incidental situations were
discussed, as well as situations where legislators were at a
function called by someone else. The SCLE decided all of those
situations would be acceptable as long as the 3 members that
constitute the quorum are not discussing the committee's business.
He commented that could cover anything from bowling together to
attending a panel discussion held by the Alaska Visitors
Association (AVA).
Number 070
SENATOR MILLER described a scenario in which 10 legislators may be
attending an AVA panel discussion, and several of the 10
legislators constituted a quorum of the Finance Committee. He
inquired how one of the Finance Committee members might respond to
a question from the AVA about its budget. MR. DONAHUE stated he
would guess if the individual member wanted to comment to the AVA
on his/her thoughts or opinions, that would be appropriate,
however, if the Finance Committee members discussed the issue or
arrived at a conclusion, that activity would be inappropriate.
SENATOR MILLER felt that is a gray area.
Number 100
MR. DONAHUE commented that many of those meetings would be public,
therefore it would not be a problem. SENATOR MILLER referred to
the SCLE' desire to change the notice for first time bill hearings
to be announced the previous Wednesday, rather than Thursday. He
indicated the House has already made that change, and speculated
the Senate will follow, but he asked whether the change would apply
to the first time a bill is heard in any committee, or just the
first committee of referral. MR. DONAHUE explained the 5-day
notice would refer to each committee of referral.
Number 138
SENATOR MILLER discussed the law that passed last year which
requires the Legislature to accept or reject the guidelines by the
45th day and asked what would happen if only part of the guidelines
were accepted. The Rules Committee requested an opinion from the
Division of Legal Services and they determined the Legislature
could do that since the law was basically silent on that point. He
asked if the SCLE would go back and review the guidelines that had
been rejected, and submit new guidelines in the next 60 days. MR.
DONAHUE replied the SCLE would review and resubmit the guidelines
if directed by the Legislature. He noted the SCLE would be
concerned, however, that since the guidelines were designed as a
total unit, changing one provision may affect others.
Number 175
SENATOR SALO referred to the provision in the revised guidelines
that requires notice of House and Senate sessions be posted the
preceding day. She asked if the SCLE had discussed joint sessions
specifically. MR. DONAHUE stated he believed the Committee had
assumed joint sessions would be covered under this provision. He
recalled stating the opinion that "no notice is not reasonable
notice" during the discussion.
SENATOR PEARCE moved SCR 8 out of committee with individual
recommendations and that it be approved for calendaring. With no
objection, so ordered.
Number 213
SRLS - 2/27/95
SB 47 APUC EXTENSION AND REGULATORY COST CHARGE
SENATOR MILLER stated the final item on the agenda was SB 47.
There being no discussion, SENATOR PEARCE moved SB 47 be approved
for calendaring. There being no ojection, so ordered.
There being no further business before the committee, SENATOR
MILLER adjourned the meeting at 9:13 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|