HB 5-HOLD LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IN ANCHORAGE  8:03:05 AM CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 5, "An Act relating to convening the legislature in Anchorage; relating to the regulation of lobbying; relating to annual student guests of the legislature; relating to locations of sessions of the legislature; relating to the Legislative Ethics Act; relating to the relocation of functions of state government; and providing for an effective date." 8:03:15 AM The committee took a brief at-ease. 8:03:44 AM REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature, prime sponsor, presented HB 5. He shared the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: House bill 5 would bring the legislative session to a place where most Alaskans could participate. Currently, with the legislative session being held in Juneau, it is incredibly expensive for a constituent to participate in person. And while there are options to view meetings online, moving the legislative session to Anchorage would provide Alaskans with a way to participate in the legislative process in person, like is done in most other states. In addition to making sessions more accessible to Alaskans, moving the legislative session to Anchorage would also help reduce the huge cost involved in moving all 60 legislators and staff to and from Juneau each year. Furthermore, with the session being held in Anchorage, a good portion of those legislators and staff would also not requiring housing. House Bill 5 will help bring down the cost of legislative session while giving the public an opportunity to participate in the legislative process without having to spend large amounts of money. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER listed the financial benefits of holding the legislative session in Anchorage, including per diem and travel for legislators, constituents, and lobbyists. 8:08:57 AM RYAN MCKEE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Rauscher, prime sponsor of HB 5, presented the sectional analysis [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Section 1: AS 15.13.072(d) This would change the location where a legislator or legislative employee may not solicit or accept a contribution unless it occurs in a place other than the Municipality of Anchorage, replacing the Capital city, during regular or special legislative session. Section 2: AS 15.13.072(g) This would change the location from the Capital city to Municipality of Anchorage where a candidate or individual who incurs election related expenses for election or reelection to the office of the governor or lieutenant governor may not solicit or accept contributions. Section 3: AS 24.05.090 This would change the location of the legislative session to convene in the Municipality of Anchorage, not the Capital. Section 4: AS 24.05.100(b) This would change the location of a special session if the governor designates a location other than the Municipality of Anchorage. Section 5: AS 24.10.030 This would change the location for the chief clerk and senate secretary to serve their duties at the location of the session until the completion of their work relating to that session. Section 6: AS 24.10.130(a) This would change the location of the legislative session to the Municipality of Anchorage when handling the member's reimbursement of travel expenses from their place of residence. Section 7: AS 24.45.041(b) This would change a lobbyist's requirement to provide the temporary residential and business address in the location of the session instead of the state capital. Section 8: AS 24.45.041(e) This would change the location where the lobbyist directory shall be made available to the legislative chambers in the Municipality of Anchorage. Section 9: AS 24.50.010 This would change the location where annual students guests may stay to the Municipality of Anchorage. Section 10: AS 24.50.040 This would change the location of the essay contest to the location of the session and adds that each legislative guest "hosted under AS 24.50.010" to further define the annual student guests. Section 11: AS 24.60.030(a) This would change the location where a legislator or legislative employee may not solicit or benefit other than official compensation or use public funds, facilities, equipment, services, or other government asset or resource for nonlegislative purposes in the primary location of the session. Section 12: AS 24.60.031(a) This would change the location, from the capital city to Municipality of Anchorage, where an employee may or may not solicit or accept a contribution or promise or pledge to make a contribution. Section 13: AS 24.60.031(b) This would change the location, from the capital city to Municipality of Anchorage, where a legislator may or may not solicit or accept a contribution or promise. Section 14: AS 24.60.080(c) This would change the location, from the capital city to Municipality of Anchorage, in relation to gifts. Section 15: AS 44.99.007 This would specify the location where the governor shall declare proclamation an emergency temporary location or locations for the seat of government or for the session. Section 16: AS 44.06.050, 44.06.055, and 44.06.060 are repealed. Section 17: sets an effective date. 8:13:48 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER reiterated the bill would only relocate the legislative session, not move the capital city. He said he did not understand the associated fiscal note and presumed that staff could be re-hired in the Anchorage area. CHAIR MCCORMICK sought questions from committee members. 8:14:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether any other state held the legislative session in a city other than its capital. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER offered to follow up with the requested information. 8:15:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY opined that the capital is already effectively in Anchorage, as the governor and most commissioners spend most of their time in Anchorage. 8:16:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked whether the bill sponsor knew of any other state capital that is inaccessible to constituents by road. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER shared his belief that no other U.S. capitals are inaccessible by road. CHAIR MCCORMICK shared that he met a representative who lived in the Los Angeles area who had to fly to Sacramento because of the long drive. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER corrected his last statement, as the capital of Hawaii is on an island. He recalled that citizens had voted to move the capital more than once; however, it never happened because of the expense. He asserted that the bill would save money and make the legislators more accessible to constituents during session. 8:17:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE said this was a highly requested topic from his constituents. He suggested holding one half of the two-year legislative session in Anchorage and the other half in Juneau. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER said he had not considered that. He pointed out that if half of session were to be held in Juneau, the savings proposed in HB 5 would not materialize for the year spent in Juneau. He said the major change would be the 40 support staff who work for the legislature that would need to either relocate or the position would be filled by someone in Anchorage. 8:21:26 AM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT opined that the playing field in Juneau is level because all but three legislators are away from their families. She said the city of Juneau has done a lot to accommodate the legislature, adding that she would need to think about this proposal further. CHAIR MCCORMICK acknowledged the issue of equity and wondered what he could do for the villages he represents who are left out of the equation. 8:24:04 AM CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that HB 5 would be held over.