Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/18/1999 03:35 PM Senate STA
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SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
March 18, 1999
3:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jerry Ward, Chairman
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Gary Wilken
Senator Randy Phillips
Senator Kim Elton
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska
relating to the election and the duties of the attorney general.
-MOVED SJR 14 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 8
"An Act relating to the number of toilets in women's restrooms in
certain facilities."
-MOVED CSSB 8(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SJR 14 - No previous Senate action.
SB 8 - See State Affairs minutes dated 3/9/99.
WITNESS REGISTER
Mark Hodgins, Legislative Aide
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 14
Senator Dave Donley
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed changes in CSSB 8(STA)
Dwight Perkins, Special Assistant
Department of Labor
PO Box 21149
Juneau, AK 99802-1149
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions and supports CSSB 8(STA)
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 99-6, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN WARD called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order at
3:36 p.m. All committee members were present. The first order of
business to come before the committee was SJR 14.
SJR 14-ELECTION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
Mark Hodgins, legislative aide to Senator Ward, sponsor of SJR 14,
explained this measure asks voters to decide whether the attorney
general should be elected by the people or appointed by the
Governor. SJR 14 is similar to SB 69: SB 69 calls for an advisory
vote of the people; SJR 14 allows the voters to amend the Alaska
Constitution to require that the attorney general be elected. Most
states elect their attorneys general. In the six or seven states
that do not, some are appointed by the legislatures, some are
appointed by the governors.
There being no further testimony or questions, SENATOR GREEN moved
SJR 14 from committee with individual recommendations.
SENATOR ELTON objected and said SJR 14 will create unnecessary
friction with the Executive Branch. If similar legislation were
applied to a Fortune 500 company, the CEO would be unable to hire
counsel to advise the CEO, corporate officers and board and
instead, the shareholders would hire counsel. He said he prefers
to have the person who is ultimately responsible be the Governor,
and that person should be answerable for his/her Cabinet
appointees. An elected attorney general will have a separate
political agenda, and a portion of his/her duties will be
determined based on the politics of election or re-election.
The motion to pass SJR 14 from committee carried with Senators
Green, Phillips, Wilken and Chairman Ward voting "yea," and Senator
Elton voting "nay."
SB 8-MINIMUM REQUIRED PLUMBING FACILITIES
SENATOR PHILLIPS moved to adopt CSSB 8(STA) in lieu of the original
bill. There being no objection, the motion carried.
SENATOR DAVE DONLEY, sponsor of SB 8, discussed the changes made in
the committee substitute. CSSB 8(STA) incorporates the most recent
standards for men's plumbing facilities in assembly places. It
reduces, from the original legislation, the number of toilets in
women's facilities. The number of toilets was decreased from 8 to
4 for the 1-50 occupancy level; from 10 to 6 for the 51-100
occupancy level; and from 12 to 10 for the 101-200 occupancy level.
CSSB 8(STA) also adopts a different system whereby two more toilets
are added for each additional 125 people up to 400. That system is
consistent with the Uniform Building Code Table 4.1.
SENATOR GREEN asked whether it is consistent after the 400
occupancy level.
SENATOR DONLEY explained it follows the same formula but instead of
requiring one toilet per each 125 people, it requires two. The
bill then uses the formula for lavatories suggested by the
Department of Labor (DOL) which requires one lavatory for each
water closet up to four, and one for each two additional water
closets beyond four.
SENATOR DONLEY referred to a previous question from committee
members about the effect of the bill on remodel projects, and said
if a building is being remodeled but the remodel will not expand
the capacity of the building, the bill will not apply. If the
building is being expanded to increase the occupancy, the bill will
apply.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked if CSSB 8(STA) only applies to new construction
or remodels which increase the occupancy level. SENATOR DONLEY
said that is correct.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if that is how existing code is applied.
SENATOR DONLEY answered it is.
Number 145
DWIGHT PERKINS, Special Assistant to DOL, clarified that CSSB
8(STA) will "grandfather," under existing code, remodel projects
that do not increase a building's occupancy capacity.
SENATOR WILKEN moved CSSB 8(STA) from committee with individual
recommendations. There being no objection, the motion carried.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
CHAIRMAN WARD adjourned the meeting at 3:45 p.m.
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