SB 161-POLITICAL PARTY DEFINITION  2:15:18 PM CHAIR CLAMAN announced that the final order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 161(JUD), "An Act relating to the definition of 'political party'; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was HCS CSSB 161(STA).] CHAIR CLAMAN explained that members of the committee had expressed interest in an amendment that would undo an amendment adopted by the House State Affairs Standing Committee. However, research indicated that an identical version of the bill cannot be introduced as a new version of the same bill. 2:16:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND [made clear the committee's intent to work from the Senate version of the bill: CSSB 161(JUD)]. 2:18:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN moved to adopt Amendment 1 to CSSB 161(JUD), labeled 32-LS1361\I.3, Bullard, 5/4/22, which read: Page 1, line 6: Delete "registered voters" Insert "members who declared an affiliation with  that organized group when registering to vote" CHAIR CLAMAN objected. 2:18:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE requested the definition of "members." REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN explained that Amendment 1 defined members as those who declared an affiliation with an organized group when registering to vote. He welcomed the bill sponsor's thoughts on the proposed amendment, and questioned the legal significance should it be adopted. 2:19:49 PM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of CSSB 161(JUD), expressed concern that should Amendment 1 pass, a political party could unilaterally decide not to have someone's political party placed next to the individual's name on the ballot. He cited AS 15.15.030, which indicated that the candidate shall decide which political party is listed on the ballot. He added that Legislative Legal Services verified that there was a "freedom of association" issue with Amendment 1. 2:21:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE VANCE sought confirmation that should Amendment 1 pass, the candidate would determine the political party. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI confirmed that's correct. For that reason, he shared his belief that Amendment 1 was unnecessary, as it was duplicative of existing law. He reiterated that Legislative Legal Services had indicated that a party cannot determine a person's political affiliation. He emphasized that it was the candidate's choice, adding that if a person had registered as a Democrat, he/she would be on the ballot as a Democrat. 2:22:53 PM CHAIR CLAMAN asked whether the proposed amendment would change existing law. REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN shared his understanding that it would not. Further, he opined that the proposed amendment may not be needed. 2:24:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE KURKA shared his understanding that upon registering to vote, a political affiliation was declared. If the political affiliation or group did not meet the threshold of 5,000 [members], he asked whether the language in Amendment 1 would be needed. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI explained that if a candidate was registered as affiliated with a political party or group, the affiliation may be designated on the ballot after the name of the candidate by request of the candidate. He reiterated that under existing law, the party with which the candidate registered would be placed on the ballot. He opined that Amendment 1 was unnecessary, as the concept was already established under state law. 2:27:22 PM REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN withdrew Amendment 1. 2:27:44 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 2:27 p.m. 2:27:57 PM CHAIR CLAMAN sought final comments from committee members. 2:28:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN recalled the discussion in the House State Affairs Standing Committee regarding membership threshold, opining that the threshold could be substantially reduced. Ultimately, he opined that a threshold of 5,000 was an improvement; however, he believed that the change may be immaterial to many Alaskans. 2:30:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to report CSSB 161(JUD) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 161(JUD) was reported from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.