Legislature(2013 - 2014)BUTROVICH 205

02/28/2013 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS


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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ SB 44 ELECTION PROCEDURES; REAA ADVISORY BOARDS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
*+ SB 45 FEE/TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
            SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                           
                       February 28, 2013                                                                                        
                           9:02 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Fred Dyson, Chair                                                                                                       
Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair                                                                                               
Senator John Coghill                                                                                                            
Senator Bill Wielechowski                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bert Stedman                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 45                                                                                                              
"An Act setting special registration fees for alternative fuel                                                                  
vehicles; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 44                                                                                                              
"An Act  relating to election practices  and procedures; relating                                                               
to  the  election of  an  advisory  school  board in  a  regional                                                               
educational  attendance  area;  and providing  for  an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 44                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: ELECTION PROCEDURES; REAA ADVISORY BOARDS                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/06/13       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/06/13       (S)       STA                                                                                                    
02/28/13       (S)       STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 45                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: FEE/TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES                                                                             
SPONSOR(s): MCGUIRE                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
02/06/13       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/06/13       (S)       STA, FIN                                                                                               
02/28/13       (S)       STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
GENEVIEVE WOJTUSIK, staff                                                                                                       
Senator Lesil McGuire                                                                                                           
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on SB 45 on behalf of                                                               
the sponsor.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMY ERICKSON, Director                                                                                                          
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)                                                                                                
Department of Administration                                                                                                    
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 45.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
GAIL FENUMIAI, Director                                                                                                         
Division of Elections                                                                                                           
Office of the Lieutenant Governor                                                                                               
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on SB 44.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT STINSON, Policy Analyst                                                                                                   
Federal Voting Assistance Program                                                                                               
Department of Defense                                                                                                           
Washington, D.C.                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 44.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
KATHIE WASSERMAN, Executive Director                                                                                            
Alaska Municipal League                                                                                                         
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed concerns regarding SB 44.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:02:05 AM                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR  FRED  DYSON  called  the  Senate  State  Affairs  Standing                                                             
Committee meeting  to order at 9:02  a.m. Present at the  call to                                                               
order  were  Senators  Giessel, Wielechowski,  and  Chair  Dyson.                                                               
Senator Coghill arrived shortly thereafter.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
          SB 45-FEE/TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:02:37 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON announced  that the first order of  business would be                                                               
SB 45                                                                                                                           
.                                                                                                                               
GENEVIEVE WOJTUSIK,  staff to  Senator Lesil  McGuire, introduced                                                               
SB 45 on behalf of the sponsor.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL  moved to  adopt SB  45, labeled  28-LS0411\A, as                                                               
the  working  document  before  the  committee.  There  being  no                                                               
objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  WOJTUSIK explained  the  SB  45 is  an  Act setting  special                                                               
registration  fees for  alternative fuel  vehicles and  providing                                                               
for an effective date. It  is a progressive approach to providing                                                               
incentives to  the public for  this new technology. It  will help                                                               
air  quality  issues  and promote  additional  jobs  through  the                                                               
application  of  this  new  technology   and  line  of  products.                                                               
Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles  will also help to displace                                                               
petroleum and  reduce emissions.  They can help  Alaska diversify                                                               
energy requirements  and help insulate  the state  from potential                                                               
shocks to the state's oil supply.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
She said promoting the sale  of CNG vehicles will lower operating                                                               
costs  for consumers  at  a  time when  fuel  costs represent  an                                                               
increasing portion of Alaskan family  and small business budgets.                                                               
This  bill reduces  registration costs  from $100  bi-annually to                                                               
$20 for  electric, CNG, liquid  natural gas,  liquefied petroleum                                                               
gas, and hydrogen vehicles.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he supports  the concept of alternative                                                               
fuel vehicles. He wondered if saving  $75 would have a big impact                                                               
on someone planning  to buy an electric car.   He asked about the                                                               
high programming costs found in  the fiscal note. It provides for                                                               
an  estimated 250  hours of  programming at  $143 per  hour, plus                                                               
$25,000 every year. He surmised that  the cost to the state would                                                               
be more than the savings incurred to the population.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS.  WOJTUSIK deferred  to the  Department of  Motor Vehicles  to                                                               
answer.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
AMY  ERICKSON,  Director,  Division   of  Motor  Vehicles  (DMV),                                                               
Department of Administration, stated  that there were programming                                                               
costs in  the fiscal note due  to the need to  create several new                                                               
fields in DMV's  database. The initial cost for  the VIN decoding                                                               
software is  $75,000. The recurring subscription  is $25,000. She                                                               
explained that  DMV does not  currently track fuel types  and the                                                               
VIN decoder would be necessary to do so.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:06:22 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DYSON complimented  the DMV  on how  well they  administer                                                               
services to the public.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. ERICKSON said thank you.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DYSON stated  that  he  has been  following  the issue  of                                                               
alternative fuel  vehicles for a  long time. He thought  the bill                                                               
may be  a bit premature,  but it is part  of a plan  to encourage                                                               
the  use of  alternative fuel  vehicles. He  suggested there  may                                                               
need to be  more discussion if it triggers  continuing high costs                                                               
on the part of DMV.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:07:41 AM                                                                                                                    
MS.  WOJTUSIK agreed.  She hoped  the costs  would even  out over                                                               
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON  asked for more  information about the timing  of the                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. WOJTUSIK offered to find out.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DYSON  said  he  plans  to  hold  the  bill  pending  that                                                               
information.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL shared  a concern  about electric  cars and  the                                                               
need  for  batteries in  cold  climates  such as  Fairbanks.  She                                                               
wondered how realistic  the technology is for  Alaska. She termed                                                               
it a big expenditure for  something that may not be implementable                                                               
for a long time.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS.   WOJTUSIK  noted   that  Juneau   is  currently   trying  an                                                               
experimental  program  through AEL&P  that  allows  ten users  to                                                               
drive electric cars with meter readers.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COGHILL  asked if dual fuel  would be in the  same coding                                                               
range.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. ERICKSON said yes.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:09:48 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON suggested a conceptual  amendment on page 1, line 14,                                                               
to  add  after (2)  "power  train  and  fuel  supply may  not  be                                                               
modified".  He did  not want  someone to  add modifications  that                                                               
negatively affect the efficiency of alternative fuels.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON held SB 45 in committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
        SB 44-ELECTION PROCEDURES; REAA ADVISORY BOARDS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:10:51 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON announced the consideration of SB 44.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL  moved to  adopt the  CS for  SB 44,  labeled 28-                                                               
GS1983\U, as the working draft  before the committee. There being                                                               
no objection, version U was before the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
GAIL  FENUMIAI, Director,  Division of  Elections, Office  of the                                                               
Lieutenant Governor,  explained the  changes in  the new  CS from                                                               
the original version of the bill.  The first change is in Section                                                               
3  where an  amendment was  added by  Representative Lynn  in the                                                               
House State Affairs Committee. It  would require poll watchers to                                                               
be registered voters in the state of Alaska.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
She   said   Section  4   is   another   amendment  proposed   by                                                               
Representative Lynn  that would require  people who serve  on the                                                               
state ballot  counting review  board to  be registered  voters in                                                               
the state of Alaska. She noted that is a current requirement.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
She   said   Section  5   is   another   amendment  proposed   by                                                               
Representative  Lynn.  It states,  if  a  name  of a  person  who                                                               
requests  an  advisory opinion  from  the  Alaska Public  Offices                                                               
Commission (APOC)  is redacted, that  opinion is released  to the                                                               
public. The name of the person is not released to the public.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
She stated that the last change  is found in Section 20, which is                                                               
a section that relates to  election pamphlets. It states that for                                                               
the  primary  election,  candidate   information  such  as  their                                                               
statement,  biography, and  photograph will  be published  on the                                                               
division's web site  not later than 15 days  before each election                                                               
in  which the  candidate  would appear  on the  ballot.  It is  a                                                               
practice the  division started in 2010.  Representative Lynn felt                                                               
it would be good to put it into statute.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:13:04 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON requested  that MS. Fenumiai explain  the whole bill,                                                               
beginning with the solutions to problems the bill solves.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI related that bill  serves several purposes. The main                                                               
purpose is to ensure that the  Division of Elections can meet the                                                               
federal  mandate  of mailing  ballots  to  military and  overseas                                                               
voters at least 45 days prior  to each election. The division has                                                               
been able to meet that deadline, but it has been very tight.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
She explained  that some  of the provisions  in the  bill provide                                                               
for the  ability to  change dates,  such as  candidacy withdrawal                                                               
deadlines and  the primary  election date.  It moves  the primary                                                               
election date  two weeks earlier  than it currently is.  She said                                                               
it  is not  as difficult  for the  division to  meet the  primary                                                               
election date;  however, the  post-primary process  encroaches on                                                               
the  deadline  for mailing  military  and  overseas ballots.  The                                                               
provisions in  the bill  would harmonize  state law  with federal                                                               
law and  make things easier  for the  division to continue  to be                                                               
successful.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:15:01 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked why  Alaska's primary was  in August.                                                               
Many other states have their primary in February.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI did not have that history.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI  related information about the  sectionals. She said                                                               
Section 1  states that the  division may conduct  advisory school                                                               
board elections in regional  educational attendance areas (REAA).                                                               
The division currently conducts elections  for REAA's in 19 areas                                                               
of the  state. This  provision would state  that the  state would                                                               
also conduct  an advisory school  board election as part  of that                                                               
REAA.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:16:14 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON asked  for clarification of "advisory."   He wondered                                                               
if  the school  boards did  not  have policy  authority and  only                                                               
serve to advise.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI  explained that each  REAA has an advisory  board in                                                               
the  community.  She  assumed  that they  serve  as  an  advisory                                                               
capacity to the school board.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI   asked  what   the  current   practice  is                                                               
regarding REAA's.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI  explained the advisory  school board  elections are                                                               
currently conducted  by the  school board  and they  usually take                                                               
place on  the same day  on which  the division conducts  the REAA                                                               
elections. The division was asked  to also do the advisory school                                                               
board elections, but did not have statutory authority to do so.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI   asked  for  a  definition   of  the  REAA                                                               
election.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS.  FENUMIAI   replied  that   they  are   regional  educational                                                               
attendance area  elections of school boards  in unorganized areas                                                               
of the state.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  assumed there would be  no additional costs                                                               
for Section 1.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI said that was correct.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI stated that Section 2  would allow a child who turns                                                               
18,  while  residing outside  of  the  United States  with  their                                                               
parents,  and/or   guardian,  whose  parents  or   guardian  were                                                               
previously  domiciled  in  Alaska   before  moving  overseas  for                                                               
purposes of  serving in the  military, work, living  overseas, to                                                               
vote absentee  in federal elections. Currently,  those voters are                                                               
not allowed to register to vote in Alaska.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI inquired  if they  are allowed  to vote  in                                                               
state elections.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI clarified that the  provision in statute is aimed at                                                               
federal elections only.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if it  could apply to state elections,                                                               
also.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  FENUMIAI replied  that it  would be  up to  the will  of the                                                               
committee.  The division  would have  no objections.  She pointed                                                               
out  that  there  is  a  group of  voters  that  are  permanently                                                               
domiciled overseas  known as "federal overseas  voters." They are                                                               
allowed  to be  registered in  Alaska  and vote  only in  federal                                                               
elections.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON  addressed Senator Wielechowski's question  about the                                                               
statute applying to  state elections. He said he  assumed that it                                                               
would  be a  problem  because  the state  would  not  be able  to                                                               
identify an overseas voter's state residency.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI  agreed. The overseas  voters were domiciled  in the                                                               
state  but were  never  registered  to vote  in  Alaska prior  to                                                               
leaving the state.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said there are  many who move outside and no                                                               
longer have an Alaska address but are allowed to vote.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI said  that was correct. If a voter  is registered in                                                               
the  state of  Alaska,  and leaves  the state,  as  long as  they                                                               
maintain intent  to return,  they are  allowed to  maintain their                                                               
voter registration in Alaska.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI gave  an  example of  someone  who has  not                                                               
lived at  an address for  ten years,  but is still  registered at                                                               
that address.  He did not  understand the  policy differentiation                                                               
between allowing  people to vote  who lived here, moved  out, and                                                               
maintain  no ties  with the  district,  versus a  student who  is                                                               
turning 18.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI offered to think about that.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
She explained  that the statutes  Section 2 would amend  apply to                                                               
those who reside  outside the United States who  want to register                                                               
and vote absentee because they  were not previously registered to                                                               
vote in Alaska prior to leaving.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:21:04 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DYSON  asked  if  the  assumption is  that  if  they  were                                                               
registered  to vote  in Alaska  and moved  out, they  continue to                                                               
have the  right to vote in  the district they were  registered in                                                               
when they move back.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI said that was correct.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:21:54 AM                                                                                                                    
SCOTT   STINSON,  Policy   Analyst,  Federal   Voting  Assistance                                                               
Program, Department of Defense, said  his office was charged with                                                               
assisting  members   of  the  uniformed  services   and  citizens                                                               
overseas with absentee voting for U.S. elections.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DYSON explained  that it  is  a policy  decision to  allow                                                               
someone who  has been  registered to vote  in Alaska,  has moved,                                                               
and is allowed  to vote in state and local  elections, based upon                                                               
the area  in which they registered.  He asked if Mr.  Stinson has                                                               
dealt with that issue.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STINSON reported  that  his  office has  a  form called  the                                                               
Federal Coast  Guard Application,  which is a  voter registration                                                               
form -  an absentee  ballot request for  members of  the services                                                               
and citizens  living overseas. One  of the questions on  the form                                                               
for the  overseas citizens  is if they  intend to  return. States                                                               
determine whether  the citizen  gets a  federal-only ballot  or a                                                               
full ballot  with state  and local  offices on  it. States  do it                                                               
differently and it is a policy decision made at the state level.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS.  FENUMIAI  said  she  would  look  into  the  history  of  AS                                                               
15.05.011 and find out why it was crafted the way it was.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  assumed students  attending college  out of                                                               
Alaska  have  parents  who  live in  Alaska.  He  suggested  that                                                               
students be registered at their parents' address.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  FENUMIAI said  that  is how  it works  now.  She noted  that                                                               
looking  at  AS  15.05.011,  if  the  child  was  not  previously                                                               
domiciled  in  Alaska  before  leaving,  the  provisions  of  the                                                               
federal  overseas statute  would apply.  She gave  an example  of                                                               
parents  who   live  in,  and   are  registered   in,  Anchorage,                                                               
transferred to  Texas where their  child was born, and  then they                                                               
moved overseas. Section 2 of SB 44 addresses that situation.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked if  the child  was born  overseas and                                                               
lived overseas for 18 years.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI reiterated  the previous example and  said Section 2                                                               
would allow the child to vote in federal elections.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:26:23 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON  raised the question as  to how long a  person can be                                                               
gone from Alaska and still be qualified to vote as an Alaskan.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI replied  that the statute does not  address that; it                                                               
only references a voter's intent to return to the state.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI gave an example  of someone who continues to                                                               
vote even  though they  have not  lived in  Alaska for  years. He                                                               
asked if there  are ways other states deal with  that, similar to                                                               
how the permanent fund is dealt with.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI did not have  information on how other states handle                                                               
"intent to return"  voter registration laws. The  state does have                                                               
a procedure that is guided by  federal law. Prior to the National                                                               
Voter  Registration  Act,  voters  were removed  solely  for  the                                                               
purposes of not voting, which is  no longer the case. She said if                                                               
the division  has had  no contact  with a  voter for  four years,                                                               
they are  sent a  notice. If a  notice comes  back undeliverable,                                                               
with  a forwarding  addressed, the  notice is  mailed to  the new                                                               
address. If the division does not  hear back from the voter, they                                                               
become inactivated. If  they do not vote in the  next two general                                                               
elections, they are dropped off the roles.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:28:12 AM                                                                                                                    
MS. FENUMIAI related  that she has covered Sections 3,  4, and 5.                                                               
She said  Section 6  allows the  division to  designate municipal                                                               
clerks as absentee  voting officials in locations  where there is                                                               
not an absentee voting station.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
She explained  that Section 7  clarifies that voters,  other than                                                               
uniformed service officers  and overseas voters, who  wish to get                                                               
their ballot  by electronic  transmission are  not able  to apply                                                               
for  that ballot  until 15  days  before the  election, which  is                                                               
current  law.  The  change  is that  the  military  and  overseas                                                               
voters, as allowed by federal law,  may apply any time during the                                                               
calendar year to get their ballots sent to them electronically.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
She said  Section 8  clarifies and  harmonizes with  federal law,                                                               
that military and  overseas voters will be sent  their ballots no                                                               
later than  45 days  prior to  an election.  Section 9  removes a                                                               
reference  to   receipt  of   by-mail  ballots   postmarked  from                                                               
overseas. The  current statute has that  set at 15 days,  and the                                                               
proposal is to  have the cutoff the same for  all voters, 10 days                                                               
following the election.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI  said that Section  10 is harmonizing  language with                                                               
federal law  regarding the ballot mailing  deadlines for military                                                               
and overseas voters.  Section 11 removes the reference  to the 15                                                               
days post-election receipt of ballots postmarked from overseas.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
She  said  that  Section  12  changes the  date  of  the  primary                                                               
election to the second Tuesday  in August. Section 13 changes the                                                               
withdrawal date for primary election candidates.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:30:08 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  about possible  impacts to  students                                                               
and rural Alaskans from changing the date in Section 12.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI explained that there  was some discussion with rural                                                               
voters who did not feel that  shifting the date two weeks earlier                                                               
would  have  a  substantial  impact. Students  who  are  away  in                                                               
college also have an absentee-by-mail option.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  noted  school  starts the  third  week  of                                                               
August  in  Anchorage.  He  pointed  out  that  primary  election                                                               
turnout is at  only 25 percent or less. He  suggested holding the                                                               
primary election  earlier might  suppress the voter  turnout even                                                               
more.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI said she did not  know how to predict voting trends.                                                               
She noted that other voting  options are available to voters. She                                                               
opined  that  voting  is  a  very person  choice  and  if  it  is                                                               
important to  a person, they will  find a way to  make it happen.                                                               
Shifting it  two weeks would not  have such a negative  impact on                                                               
the lives of Alaskans.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COGHILL  suggested  there   might  be  reporting  issues                                                               
between  the  end of  the  legislative  session and  the  primary                                                               
election.  He  noted  that  there   are  certain  APOC  reporting                                                               
requirements and restrictions on  mailouts to constituents. Also,                                                               
there could be an impact on ballot measures.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  agreed with Senator Coghill.  He added that                                                               
there  were often  special legislative  sessions to  consider. He                                                               
suggested analyzing all situations.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS.  FENUMIAI  reported  that  she   has  no  knowledge  of  APOC                                                               
standards,  but offered  to put  in a  request to  APOC for  that                                                               
information.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COGHILL agreed it would be a good idea.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON discussed the next meeting schedule.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:35:36 AM                                                                                                                    
MS.  FENUMIAI continued  with the  sectional  analysis. She  said                                                               
that Sections  13 to 18  all have  to do with  changing candidate                                                               
withdrawal deadlines.  Section 19 addresses  judicial candidates.                                                               
Section 20 was previously mentioned.  Section 21 adds the federal                                                               
definition  of absentee  uniformed services  voters and  overseas                                                               
voters.  Section 22  adjusts  language  in Title  29  to make  it                                                               
harmonious with  Title 15 language  allowing municipal  clerks to                                                               
serve as absentee voting officials.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
She said Section 23 is  the "repealer section", which repeals the                                                               
provision of receipt of ballots  with overseas postmarks, repeals                                                               
the  allowance  for  an absentee  application  from  a  uniformed                                                               
military  overseas  citizen  currently set  for  two  consecutive                                                               
elections, and  repeals the requirement to  send special absentee                                                               
ballots  now that  ballots are  available  45 days  prior to  the                                                               
election.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:37:17 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DYSON  wondered what  happens if  a candidate  has survived                                                               
the primary and then withdraws.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. FENUMIAI replied that the  party can replace the candidate if                                                               
the candidate  withdraws by  the deadline set  in statute.  SB 44                                                               
does not change that provision.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON asked what the time period is.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  FENUMIAI said  currently it  is 48  days before  the general                                                               
election;  SB 44  proposes to  change it  to 64  days before  the                                                               
election.  She  said that  is  to  allow  adequate time  for  the                                                               
division to start printing ballots.  Currently, there is a three-                                                               
day  window between  day 48  before the  election and  day 45  in                                                               
which ballots  have to be  printed and  in the mail  to uniformed                                                               
overseas voters.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON opened public testimony.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:39:01 AM                                                                                                                    
KATHIE  WASSERMAN, Executive  Director, Alaska  Municipal League,                                                               
voiced concerns  about Sections 18  and 3, which  allow municipal                                                               
clerks to serve  absentee votes. She reminded  the committee that                                                               
agencies   must  tighten   their   belts,  and   this  bill   has                                                               
ramifications of  providing more  work for municipal  clerks. She                                                               
did not agree with the  word "allow" to describe having municipal                                                               
clerks  assume  more  job  tasks. She  cautioned  that  in  small                                                               
communities the  municipal clerk is  often the only  employee and                                                               
may not even be paid full time.  She suggested this bill may be a                                                               
burden on  the clerks.  She offered  to do  more research  on the                                                               
subject.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:40:27 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  said he  was  curious  to hear  how  rural                                                               
villages are impacted by this bill.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. WASSERMAN opined  that it is a  problem. Most municipalities,                                                               
other than Anchorage,  have their local elections  in October and                                                               
the federal election  is in November. Now there  would be another                                                               
one to prepare for in August.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON said some people in Anchorage would agree.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
He noted  that the state  will be  running the elections  for the                                                               
local  REAA advisory  boards,  which might  relieve  some of  the                                                               
local burden.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. WASSERMAN replied  that the people who are on  the ground are                                                               
always  the local  people; the  state will  not be  in the  rural                                                               
areas doing the work.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON held SB 44 in committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:42:36 AM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Dyson adjourned the Senate State Affairs Committee at 9:42                                                                
a.m.                                                                                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 44 - Sponsor Statement Governor.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 44
SB 44 - Sectional Analysis.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 44
SB0044A.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 44
SB 44 - Fiscal Note Div Elections.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 44
SB 44 - Fiscal Note DEED.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 44
SB 45 - Sponsor Statement.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 45
SB0045A.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 45
SB 45 - Fiscal Note DOA-DMV-2-23-13.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 45
SB 44 - Committee Substitute SB 44U.pdf SSTA 2/28/2013 9:00:00 AM
SB 44