HOUSE BILL NO. 157                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act requiring  the disclosure  of the  identity of                                                                    
     certain  persons, groups,  and  nongroup entities  that                                                                    
     expend  money in  support  of or  in  opposition to  an                                                                    
     application  filed for  a  state  referendum or  recall                                                                    
     election; and providing for an effective date."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:21:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SARA  RASMUSSEN, SPONSOR, explained  that the                                                                    
bill  would realign  reporting requirements  for the  Alaska                                                                    
Public Offices  Commission (APOC).  She explained  there was                                                                    
currently disparity between  the recall referendum reporting                                                                    
requirements and  the initiative  process. The  bill aligned                                                                    
the timelines in order to provide increased transparency                                                                        
for the public in all processes.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:21:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CRYSTAL KOENEMAN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE SARA RASMUSSEN,                                                                         
provided a sectional analysis (copy on file):                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 1: AS 15.13.010(b)    Applicability related to                                                                    
     State  Election  Campaigns.  Adds language  related  to                                                                    
     initiative    proposal,    referendum,    and    recall                                                                    
     applications.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  2:  AS  15.13.050(a)     Registration  before                                                                    
     expenditure.  Adds language  related to  referendum and                                                                    
     recall applications.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  3:  AS  15.13.065(c)     Contributions.  Adds                                                                    
     language    related    to   referendum    and    recall                                                                    
     applications.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  4:  AS  15.13.110(e)     Filing  of  Reports.                                                                    
     Rewrites  the language  related to  those receiving  or                                                                    
     making expenditures  to support or  oppose referendums.                                                                    
     This language  is identical  to the  language contained                                                                    
     in  AS 15.13.040(k)  for  ballot proposition  reporting                                                                    
     requirements and AS  15.13.110(g) for ballot initiative                                                                    
     reporting requirements.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 5:  AS 15.13.110    Filing of Reports.  Adds a                                                                    
     new  subsection  (k)  for  those  receiving  or  making                                                                    
     expenditures  to  support  or  oppose  a  recall.  This                                                                    
     language is identical to Section  4 of this bill and AS                                                                    
     15.13.040(k)    for   ballot    proposition   reporting                                                                    
     requirements and AS  15.13.110(g) for ballot initiative                                                                    
     reporting requirements.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  6: AS  15.13.400(4)    Definitions.  Modifies                                                                    
     the  definition of  "contributions"  to include  groups                                                                    
     and referendum and recall applications.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Sections  7: AS  15.13.400(7)    Definitions.  Modifies                                                                    
     the definition of  "expenditures" to include referendum                                                                    
     and recall applications.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 8: AS 15.13.400(7)  Definitions. Modifies                                                                         
     the definition of "group" to include referendum and                                                                        
     recall applications.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 9: Uncodified law. States that this Act                                                                           
     applies only to referendums or recalls that are filed                                                                      
     on or after the effective date of this Act.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Sections 10: Provides for a January 1, 2022 effective                                                                      
     date.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:24:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Rasmussen noted  that there  was a  current,                                                                    
very public  recall for the  governor. She relayed  that the                                                                    
legislation had  support from one of  the attorneys involved                                                                    
in the recall,  one of her constituents,  Mr. Scott Kendall.                                                                    
She  noted a  letter of  support included  in members'  bill                                                                    
packets. She  highlighted there was a  legal memo indicating                                                                    
the  legislation   should  not  see  any   legal  challenges                                                                    
regarding the First Amendment.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB  157  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Merrick  reviewed  the agenda  for  the  following                                                                    
morning.