SB 49: YEAR-END CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS Number 020 CHAIRMAN VEZEY announced he would hold the confirmation hearing on Colonel Sigurd E. Murphy when Col. Murphy checked into the teleconference network. He then read the title to SB 49 and called for a sponsor statement on it. Number 051 TIM SULLIVAN, LEGISLATIVE AIDE TO SENATOR TIM KELLY, PRIME SPONSOR OF SB 49, explained how SB 49 makes several changes in the current campaign reporting law, most notably closing the two day gap between the seven day pre-election reporting period and the 24 hour reports. Senate Bill 49 also changes the deadline for year-end reports from December 31 of a campaign year to February 15 of the following year. He noted this would allow candidates, parties, and political action committees to use December bank statements in their reports. He also stated this could cut down on the number of fines issued by the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Number 098 REPRESENTATIVE FRAN ULMER noted SB 49 had already passed the Senate. Number 106 CHAIRMAN VEZEY noted Col. Murphy had joined the teleconference net and suspended debate on SB 49. He then called on Col. Murphy to give any statement he wished to make. Number 123 COLONEL SIGURD E. MURPHY, NOMINEE FOR ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL, ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD testified by teleconference from Anchorage, and told the committee his participation in the Guard was an extension of the work he had previously done. He noted his work with the needy in founding the Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage, and said the Guard's mission of protecting the property and lives of Alaskans led him to the service. He stated his Guard duty had led him to almost every village and small town in the state, and he would like to continue his work in ending alcohol and drug use among Native youth as part of the Assistant Adjutant General's office. Number 201 CHAIRMAN VEZEY thanked Col. Murphy for his comments and solicited questions from the committee. Seeing none, he called a five minute at ease to allow General Mitch Aboud to call into the teleconference net. He also noted the late arrival of Representative Bettye Davis. Number 259 CHAIRMAN VEZEY called the committee back to order at 8:19 a.m., explaining that the teleconference operator told him General Aboud was having trouble making a connection. Chairman Vezey then elected to return to testimony on SB 49. CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked why the Campaign Disclosure Act had not been amended in more than ten years. Number 267 BROOKE MILES OF THE ALASKA PUBLIC OFFICES COMMISSION (APOC), stated many legislators did not want to open the entire statute up to amend such a small area, but the amendment was needed. Number 279 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked what the motivation for such a narrowly drawn bill as SB 49 would be. Number 283 MS. MILES stated SB 49 is a non-controversial "housekeeping" bill that would not fall under the label of campaign finance reform. She stated the intent of SB 49 was simply to close the two day window previously stated by the bill's sponsor, Senator Kelly, and the other provision setting February 15 as the year end reporting day would eliminate several needless actions by the APOC. She also stated the APOC would be charged with mailing out delinquency forms to groups who had not filed their reports in time. Number 308 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked if mailing those delinquency reports would not have a fiscal impact on the APOC. Number 320 MS. MILES stated it would cost staff time and money to send the reports, but that figure would be mitigated by the amount of time not spent on arbitrating fines that had been appealed under the old system. Number 328 CHAIRMAN VEZEY didn't know why a simple misdemeanor fine wasn't applied to such violations. He stated it might be in the legislature's interest to also tie campaign finance violations to the dollar amounts in violation as opposed to the time period, as is done now. Number 360 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER perceived the chairman was concerned with SB 49, and suggested a subcommittee might be formed to look at SB 49 in more detail. Number 367 CHAIRMAN VEZEY felt the statute being modified by SB 49, AS 15.13, is in need of repair. He stated SB 49 should be considered a major bill, and asked committee members to take a long look at it before it was scheduled again. He then deferred action on SB 49.