HB 109-DISCLOSURES & ETHICS 8:05:57 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 109, "An Act relating to the requirement for candidates, groups, legislators, public officials, and other persons to submit reports electronically to the Alaska Public Offices Commission; relating to disclosures by legislators, public members of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, legislative directors, public officials, and certain candidates for public office concerning services performed for compensation and concerning certain income, gifts, and other financial matters; requiring legislators, public members of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, legislative directors, public officials, and municipal officers to make certain financial disclosures when they leave office; relating to insignificant ownership interest in a business and to gifts from lobbyists for purposes of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act; relating to certain restrictions on employment after leaving state service for purposes of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act; and providing for an effective date." 8:06:05 AM JOHN BITNEY, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Governor, introduced HB 109 on behalf of Governor Sarah Palin. He said the bill was crafted for the purpose of fulfilling the governor's campaign promises, including: filing political campaign reports electronically, asking for more detail in terms of financial disclosure, banning gifts from lobbyists, and tightening restrictions regarding who can become a lobbyist after working for the legislature. MR. BITNEY explained that the bill would require lawmakers paid more than $1,000 for work to specify how much they were paid, how many hours they worked, and describe in detail what kind of work they did to earn that money. The bill also would require those lawmakers leaving office to report all financial and business interests within 90 days upon leaving office. MR. BITNEY stated that under the bill, those who work for the executive branch would have standards defining when the value of their stock or ownership interest in a business is significant. The bill would set the amount at $5,000. Regarding the ban on gifts from lobbyists, he noted that gifts from immediate family or a neighbor at Christmas time, for example, where there is no intent to influence, would not come under this language. MR. BITNEY said the bill tightens the restriction regarding who can become a lobbyist after leaving service. He drew attention to Sections 10 and 11. Section 10 addresses whether or not someone can go to work for compensation after leaving service, and where the conflict may exist in terms of where that person is allowed to work. Current language in state law makes an exception for those who worked on consideration of matters for legislative bills, resolutions, or regulations, while in public service. The proposed legislation would not make that exception. Mr. Bitney noted that current law prohibits certain officials going into lobbying for up to one year after service, and he said Section 11 would add the following positions to that prohibition: deputy commissioners and employees of the governor who are in a policy-making position. He stated that both [Sections 10 and 11] are designed to create more confidence in the public that those in office are looking out for the best interest of the state and its citizens. 8:14:58 AM MR. BITNEY noted that the effective date would be July 1, 2007, for electronic filing, in order to give the Division of Elections time to implement the system. 8:15:41 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN, regarding Section 11, stated his concern that the definition of lobbyist and consultant is a grey area. [HB 109 was heard and held.]