SB 18-DURATION OF REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS    9:08:22 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced SB 18 to be the next item for consideration. SENATOR GARY STEVENS, sponsor of SB 18, said the state constitution says the legislature shall meet for 120 consecutive calendar days. The public voted to shorten this to 90 days. Many legislators feel they cannot get the job done in 90 days, and the public is not being adequately heard. More than 20 bills have been introduced over the years to reduce the length of legislative sessions. None of them have passed. Some legislators prefer the 90 day session for selfish reasons. The shorter session is convenient for many people; however, the shorter session gives more power to the governor and the administration, and takes away power from the legislature. Many members feel it is not working. Last year in the resources committee the public was limited to two minutes of testimony each. Senator Stevens stressed that the legislature's job is to do the right thing for the public, not what is convenient for the legislature. He further noted that Governor Parnell opposes returning to 120 day sessions, and emphasized that legislators need to keep an eye on the administration. Also, a legislator knows his or her home district better than the administration or the governor. The 90 day session is not working, and the legislature is weakened because of it. 9:15:03 AM SENATOR MEYER asked how the 120 day session length was arrived at, since originally there was no limit. SENATOR STEVENS responded the constitution says the legislature shall adjourn not later than 120 consecutive calendar days from the date it convenes. SENATOR MEYER wondered how the drafters of the constitution arrived at that figure. SENATOR STEVENS noted that the legislature could just convene, and stop when things get done, but an open-ended session would make it hard to reach a conclusion. Sometimes it is necessary to have a 10-day extension, which the constitution allows. 9:17:08 AM TIM LAMKIN, staff to Senator Gary Stevens, said that originally there was no limit to the length of sessions. In the early years of statehood, sessions lasted an average of 70 calendar days. Once the pipeline arrived, in the early 1970s, the average length went up to 170 and even 180 days. In 1984 a constitutional amendment was passed limiting the length of sessions to 120 days. MR. LAMKIN also pointed out that the 90-day session limit was passed by 3,843 votes. Statewide there were 6,800 people who took ballots but did not vote on that question. Perhaps those voters felt that this decision was best left up to the legislature itself. He further noted that 27 other states have sessions shorter than Alaska. He explained there is a difference between calendar days and legislative days. Alaska is in the middle in terms of average annual calendar days. Mr. Lamkin also noted how other states set limits; most use the constitution. Alaska uses the constitution and statutes. Some states use an indirect method, by limiting per diem. Loss of per diem pay motivates legislatures to end on time. In conclusion, he said that SB 18 is a compromise. 9:23:02 AM SENATOR PASKVAN asked Mr. Lamkin to explain the difference between legislative days and calendar days. MR. LAMKIN answered that a legislative day is when the Senate or House is actually on the floor, but the session length itself is counted in calendar days. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted there was a CS for SB 18. 9:24:32 AM SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for SB 18, labeled 27-LS0122\B as the working document. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes. MR. LAMKIN said that version B corrects a drafting oversight, to change the effective date to 2012. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI removed his objection and version B was before the committee. 9:25:19 AM SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CSSB 18, version B, from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted there were two proposed amendments. 9:25:32 AM MR. LAMKIN said that amendment B.1 would change the date when the legislature convenes, and would restore an earlier provision to convene the first session on the third Tuesday in January, and the second session on the second Tuesday in January. Amendment B.2 would make the change to convene every year on the second Tuesday in January. 9:27:02 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI clarified the amendments. SENATOR MEYER asked why there are staggered start dates. MR. LAMKIN said the start date has changed over the years, most recently to start on Tuesday rather than Monday. The staggered start dates are also in consideration of gubernatorial election years. 9:28:59 AM SENATOR PASKVAN asked if the sponsor had a preference between the two amendments. SENATOR STEVENS said he preferred the first amendment. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI clarified that was amendment B.1. 9:30:26 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI moved to adopt Amendment [27-LS0122\B.1] and objected for discussion purposes. AMENDMENT B.1  OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR STEVENS TO CSSB 18(...), DRAFT VERSION "B" Page 1, following line 3: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Section 1. AS 24.05.090 is amended to read: Sec. 24.05.090. Duration of legislature;  sessions. [THE LEGISLATURE SHALL CONVENE AT THE CAPITAL EACH YEAR ON THE THIRD TUESDAY IN JANUARY AT 1:00 p.m.] Each legislature has a duration of two years and consists of a "First Regular Session" that meets in the odd-numbered years, and a "Second Regular Session" that meets in the even-numbered years, and any special session that the governor or legislature calls. The legislature shall convene a First Regular  Session at the capital on the third Tuesday in January  at 1:00 p.m. and shall convene a Second Regular  Session at the capital on the second Tuesday in  January at 1:00 p.m." Page 1, line 4: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 2, line 1: Delete "Section 1 of this Act takes" Insert "Sections 1 and 2 of this Act take" Page 2, line 2: Delete "Section 2" Insert "Section 3" CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI removed his objection and closed public testimony. 9:30:51 AM SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CS for SB 18, version B as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced that without objection, CSSB 18(STA) moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.