SCR 1 LEGSL. COMMITTEE MEETINGS OUTSIDE JUNEAU  SENATOR DUNCAN , sponsor of SCR 1, explained the measure requires the Legislature to take a ten day recess between the 60th and 70th day of the session, so that various standing committees can hold hearings and take action on select pieces of legislation in other areas of the state thereby increasing public access and input. SCR 1 requires notification of committee hearings to be published by the 50th day of the session. The 50th legislative day was chosen because the major issues of the session should be identified by that time. Senator Duncan believes the Legislature recognizes its responsibility to do everything possible to involve the public in the legislative process. Although the Legislature has provided a good audio teleconferencing system and is expanding to a two-way video conferencing system, and Gavel to Gavel is available, SCR 1 takes one more step. SCR 1 allows legislators to visit communities and make contact with residents outside of their districts and helps to open up the legislative process at a minimal cost. The Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA) has prepared a fiscal note with a cost of $98,000 but the cost will vary depending on the number of committees traveling, the number of communities visited, and which major issues are selected for hearing. Number 360 PAMELA VARNI , Executive Director of the LAA, addressed the fiscal note. In determining the costs associated with committee travel, several assumptions were made, and costs were minimized by coordinating meetings and advertising costs. The fiscal note accounts for staff travel, however the number of staff traveling will actually be decided by the presiding officers. Advertising costs will vary depending on how many advertisements can be consolidated. The fiscal note does not allow for the collection of per diem on a claim system; the decision to do so could be made by the presiding officers. SENATOR PARNELL asked Ms. Varni to specify which staff would be traveling. MS. VARNI replied the estimate was calculated based on the travel costs of one staff person per committee. LAA assumed if no staff is traveling, the Legislative Information Office, if its schedule permits, could assist committees. Number 387 SENATOR PARNELL questioned whether teleconference costs would remain the same if committee hearings were held elsewhere. MS. VARNI responded the costs would remain the same. Number 393 MAYOR DENNIS EGAN , City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), stated the community of Juneau takes its role and responsibility as Alaska's capital city very seriously. Mayor Egan and the Juneau Assembly are very open to ideas and initiatives that are advanced to enhance public satisfaction with Juneau as Alaska's capital city. By definition, a "capital" is, among other key functions, a place where a legislature meets, however that does not preclude committees of a legislature from holding hearings in all regions of the state. To the extent that SCR 1 further enables bringing the legislative process to various regions of this vast state, he supports the amendment to the Uniform Rules. Moreover, SCR 1 fits well with the recent set of initiatives that the CBJ has undertaken to improve access to the government process. CBJ actively supports statewide Gavel to Gavel television coverage of the legislative session, enhanced audio and video teleconferencing of legislative and executive branch meetings, and access to government through the internet and other telecommunications improvements. These initiatives augment the excellent job that the 21 statewide Legislative Information Offices are doing in providing essential information and assistance to the general public. Furthermore, passage of SCR 1 would also be building on these initiatives by giving legislators, regardless of their home district location, a greater opportunity to learn about the unique circumstances and challenges of Alaska's many communities and regions. For all of these reasons, he and the CBJ Assembly support the passage of SCR 1. Number 419 CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked whether SCR 1 conflicts with any of the legislative time constraints set out in the Alaska Constitution, such as the 45 day limit to address Boundary Commission matters. SENATOR DUNCAN affirmed the Legislature has 45 days to address Boundary Commission matters and 60 days to deal with Executive Orders, so those matters would not be available for committee consideration during the recess. SENATOR PEARCE clarified the Boundary Commission report must be received within 45 days of the first day of the legislative session. Number 432 CHAIRMAN TAYLOR questioned how a recess between the 60th and 70th day of the session would be impacted by legislative action affecting those matters. SENATOR DUNCAN noted the recess could begin on the 61st day to accommodate those constitutional deadlines. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR indicated passage of SCR 1 would create a Uniform Rule mandating a recess. SENATOR DUNCAN stated Section 2 requires the Legislature to consider the question of concurrence in a recess in excess of three days; it does not mandate the recess. Number 449 SENATOR PARNELL asked why SCR 1 contains a ten-day time limit for a recess. SENATOR DUNCAN replied ten days seemed like a reasonable amount of time for committees to travel to two or three communities throughout the state and hold hearings. SENATOR PARNELL asked Senator Duncan whether he envisioned a standing committee, such as the Judiciary Committee, meeting in two or three different locations. SENATOR DUNCAN said that would be up to the committee chair; however, if tort reform was the issue, the committee might want to travel to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kodiak and Nome to hold hearings. The Administration set up a public process that gave people the opportunity to testify directly to a committee on that major piece of legislation. He envisioned using this process for critical pieces of legislation that attract broad public attention in order to provide greater public participation. SENATOR PARNELL commented that each Senator sits on several standing committees; therefore, it might be a nightmare to attend several committee hearings in different locations within ten days. SENATOR DUNCAN replied that ten days is not a magic number; his intent is to try to open up the process to more people. Number 475 CHAIRMAN TAYLOR added some might find the concept of SCR 1 bizarre; however, the Senate Judiciary Committee did hold hearings on the tort reform legislation in Sitka, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Kotzebue. Had the committee been able to do so during the session itself, more attention may have been focussed on those hearings. SENATOR DUNCAN commented that the Senate Judiciary Committee held the hearings during the interim, therefore could not take formal action on legislation. SCR 1 would allow people to see committees revise and take action on legislation. SENATOR MILLER moved SCR 1 out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, the motion carried.