SB 186-VOTER REGISTRATION & PFD APP REGISTRATION  4:30:01 PM CHAIR MEYER called the committee back to order and announced the consideration of Senate Bill 186 (SB 186). He noted that at the previous meeting the committee adopted an amendment from Senator Coghill which made the bill an opt-in rather than an opt-out. He said his office has come back with a committee substitute (CS). 4:30:37 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the CS for SB 186, version 30- GS2097\D as the working document. CHAIR MEYER objected for discussion purposes. 4:31:02 PM CHRITINE MARASIGAN, Staff, Senator Meyer, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that version D incorporates the amendment that Senator Coghill offered in the previous meeting into the bill. She noted that at the same meeting there had been a second amendment that was a technical amendment to the bill, but the amendment needed to be reworked considering the changes that Senator Coghill's amendment made to the original bill. She said the CS makes the voting option opt- in versus an opt-out. CHAIR MEYER asked if there was an amendment from the Division of Elections that was included or is forth coming. MR. MARASIGAN replied that there was a revised amendment. CHAIR MEYER removed his objection to the CS and announced that the CS, version D, was adopted. 4:32:34 PM JOSE BAHNKE, Director, Alaska Division of Elections, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Juneau, Alaska, announced her availability to address the division's amendment for SB 186. 4:32:49 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved Amendment 1 dated March 26, 2018. AMENDMENT 1  OFFERED IN THE SENATE TO: CSSB 186(STA) Page 2, line 16, following "treat": Delete "an eligible" Insert "a" Page 2, line 26: Delete "registration of the applicant's  registration status" Insert "voter registration" Page 3, line 23, following "(9)": Insert "under the procedures established by the  director of the division of elections under AS  15.07.070(k)" 4:33:02 PM SENATOR COGHILL objected to review the amendment. 4:33:07 PM At ease. 4:33:35 PM CHAIR MEYER called the committee back to order. MS. BAHNKE specified that the amendment makes three technical changes. She noted that the first change made on page 2, line 16, "an eligible" to "a" was done because the division does not know if a person is eligible at the time, they apply for the permanent fund dividend (PFD). She explained that the second technical change on page 2, line 26, was made because of Senator Coghill's amendment to provide conformity by adding reference to the PFD statute and clarity relating to voter registration. She said the third technical change on page 3, line 23, allows the division director to adopt regulations. CHAIR MEYER asked if committee members had questions for Ms. Bahnke regarding Amendment 1. SENATOR COGHILL stated that he had no objection. SENATOR MEYER asked if the CS will reduce the division's workload related to sending out cards. 4:36:15 PM MS. BAHNKE explained that the intent for the bill was threefold: make necessary legal changes to enhance efficiency, harmonize the interaction between the division and the Permanent Fund Division, and reduce expenditures by avoiding the opt-out mailer from the PFD registration process. She summarized that the amendment will make the harmonizing changes and enhance efficiency, but mailing will still be required as part of the division's work. SENATOR GIESSEL addressed the third paragraph of the third fiscal note and pointed out the sentence, "Reoccurring costs of $360,000 will be needed to hire temporary workers to process notices." She asked if the division is willing to absorb the cost. MS. BAHNKE answered correct. CHAIR MEYER removed his objection and announced that Amendment 1 is adopted. 4:38:19 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report CSSB 186(STA), version 30- GS2097\D as amended from committee with individual recommendations and pending zero fiscal notes. 4:38:33 PM CHAIR MEYER announced that there being no objection, the motion carried.