HB 206: ELECTIONS AND ELECTRIC COOP ELECTIONS Number 129 CHAIRMAN VEZEY read the title to HB 206 and called for its sponsor to deliver his statement. Number 135 REPRESENTATIVE ELDON MULDER, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 206, summarized HB 206 and its intent to regulate utility cooperative board elections under the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC). He stated telephone and electric cooperative elections have changed dramatically in the past few years, from a time in which candidates spent money directly from their pockets, and in smaller amounts, to the present in which thousands of dollars are spent without accountability to the public. He noted the lack of a monitor or tracking mechanism for election to a board that controls policy for literally thousands of Alaskans. REPRESENTATIVE MULDER stated HB 206 would waive monitoring of cooperatives of ten thousand customers or less, and asked the committee to pass the bill. REPRESENTATIVE ULMER noted the existence of three versions of HB 206, including a State Affairs Committee Substitute, and asked the sponsor what the differences were. Number 182 REPRESENTATIVE MULDER stated the first version had no threshold for monitoring, where version 2, drawn up in the Community and Regional Affairs Committee, created the ten thousand customer threshold, and the latest version of HB 206 further tightened the qualifications of identifying a candidate for office. Number 208 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked how the latest version of HB 206 was drawn up. Number 215 REPRESENTATIVE OLBERG stated the previous committee noted a lack of a provision for identifying a candidate, and asked that such a provision be drawn in. Number 228 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked the sponsor for a clarification between versions "R" and "U" of HB 206. He noted the arrival of Representative Bettye Davis at 8:17 a.m., 13 minutes after the meeting was called to order. Number 232 REPRESENTATIVE MULDER outlined the qualifications for a candidate that included filing paperwork with APOC. Number 248 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER wanted to hear more from other witnesses. Number 262 BROOKE MILES, JUNEAU BRANCH ADMINISTRATOR, ALASKA PUBLIC OFFICES COMMISSION (APOC), stated the APOC is neutral on HB 206, but did provide information to the sponsor during its creation. She stated HB 206 provided an avenue to monitor contributions to co-op candidates by specifying how and where candidates would file campaign finance reports. Under current finance laws, candidates file statements with municipal clerks. House Bill 206 provides language for co- op candidates to provide their statements to APOC. Number 284 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER MOVED for ADOPTION of CSHB 206 (STA). There was no objection, and CSHB 206 WAS ADOPTED. Number 294 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER MOVED PASSAGE of CSHB 206 (STA) from committee and asked for unanimous consent. There was no objection, and IT SO MOVED.