HJR 14-CONST AM: SEC. OF STATE REFERENCES  8:32:50 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business was HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14, Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska to correct obsolete references to the office of secretary of state by substituting references to the office of lieutenant governor. 8:33:20 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:33 a.m. to 8:35 a.m. 8:35:21 AM TED MADSEN, Staff, Representative Max Gruenberg, Alaska State Legislature, presented HJR 14 on behalf of Representative Gruenberg, sponsor. He explained that in 1970, the public voted in support of amending the Constitution of the State of Alaska so that the term "secretary of state" was changed to "lieutenant governor"; however, two references to secretary of state were overlooked [in Article II, Section 5, and in Article III, Section 25], and HJR 14 would correct that oversight. 8:36:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that Article II, Section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Alaska addresses disqualifications. He referred to a sentence within Section 5, which read as follows: During the term for which elected and for one year thereafter, no legislator may be nominated, elected, or appointed to any other office or position of profit which has been created, or the salary or emoluments of which have been increased, while he was a member. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked about per diems received by those serving on, for example, legislative task forces. 8:37:15 AM MR. MADSEN said he is not an expert in matters of the Constitution of the State of Alaska, and he highlighted that the purpose of the proposed resolution is only to change the remaining references to secretary of state, so that they read lieutenant governor. 8:37:34 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG offered his understanding that Representative Seaton's query is addressed in a legal case related to Nick Begich. 8:38:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he has no objection to the name change proposed in the bill, but was curious about the matter related to position of profit. 8:38:33 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON offered her belief that the purpose of a per diem is to cover expenses; therefore, it is not considered profit. 8:39:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN concurred. 8:39:09 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER observed that the resolution is not mandatory in making the Constitution of the State of Alaska understood, but is more of a housekeeping matter. 8:39:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG, in response to Representative Seaton's previous remark, read the annotations to Article II, Section 5. 8:41:02 AM CHAIR LYNN asked if there was anyone else who wished to testify. 8:41:19 AM MR. MADSEN, in response to Representative Keller's observation, said in case law "secretary of state" is understood to mean "lieutenant governor"; however, he said the correction proposed in HJR 14 would uphold the reputation of the Constitution of the State of Alaska as being one of the best state constitutions in the country. 8:41:50 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER expressed his appreciation of the narrow resolution title. 8:41:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report HJR 14 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HJR 14 was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.