SB 66-MEMBERS LEG COUNCIL; LEG BUDGET & AUDIT  3:45:38 PM CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 66 "An Act relating to the membership of the legislative council; and relating to the membership of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee." He noted that the bill was first heard on 3/16/21. At that time he objected to adopting the committee substitute (CS) version B for discussion purposes. 3:45:55 PM CHAIR SHOWER removed his objection and version B was adopted. He asked the sponsor to refresh the committee's recall of the bill. 3:46:04 PM SENATOR TOM BEGICH, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor or SB 66, recapped that SB 66 seeks to ensure meaningful minority membership on the very important Legislative Council and Legislative Budget and Audit committees. He said he appreciated Senator Reinbold's comments during the previous hearing when she acknowledged that the representation was unfair due to a quirk in the law. SENATOR BEGICH explained that the law says these committees shall have at least one member from each of the two major political parties in each house. However, that provision ignores the fact that bipartisan and other coalitions have formed in the past, effectively denying the organized minority seats on these committees. Following up on a previous question, he explained that in the last decade this has consistently happened in the Senate. A member of the majority whose party designation is different from most members of the majority has been appointed to the minority seat. Explicitly in the last two years, he said that has left the minority with no representation on either Legislative Council or Legislative Budget and Audit. SENATOR BEGICH emphasized that SB 66 would not take effect until after the 32nd Legislature so it would not change the current membership on the committee. It simply honors the minority voice and gives the minority, regardless of party, a seat on these key legislative committees. To demonstrate the importance, he highlighted that the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee may consider over $3.2 billion through the RPL process and his caucus would have no voice. CHAIR SHOWER noted that he received no amendments. SENATOR REINBOLD expressed appreciation for the bill because the minority voice needs to be heard. She also spoke of her disagreement with the RPL process and bottlenecks in certain committees in the other body. 3:51:31 PM SENATOR BEGICH responded that he shares the desire for RPL reform because the process is abused. To the second point, he said he would do what he could. 3:52:10 PM SENATOR COSTELLO asked: 1) if the designee is a legislator or somebody who is not elected; 2) how that is different than an alternate; and 3) whether the minority leader would be the only member on the committee to have a designee. SENATOR BEGICH replied the designee would need to be an elected member of the minority caucus. SENATOR COSTELLO asked if only the minority leader would have the ability to have a designee, should the bill pass. SENATOR BEGICH answered yes because the minority would have just one seat and the minority leader's schedule may conflict with these committee meetings. The majority has more seats on each of those committees so it is always represented. SENATOR COSTELLO pressed the point that just the minority would have a designee and the bill does not indicate whether the designee is permanent or if the minority leader could send a minority member in their stead. The majority only has an alternate. She described the language as ambiguous. 3:55:33 PM SENATOR BEGICH suggested a simple solution would be to amend the language on page 1, lines 6-7; page 1, lines 8-9; and page 2, lines 6-7 by deleting "or the senate minority leader's designee". He cautioned that it removes the flexibility of the minority from selecting someone other than the minority leader to sit on these committees. For example, he would be appointed to the seat since he is minority leader but it would be a disservice to the caucus. His preference would be to have the ability to designate one of the five minority members who are far more knowledgeable in finance matters. He said he understands the concern, but he hopes she would see that the intent is simply to provide flexibility. 3:57:17 PM At ease 4:00:08 PM CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and advised that the discussion was about ensuring there is both a designee and flexibility. He noted that the sponsor proposed a solution. 4:00:27 PM SENATOR BEGICH suggested replacing the word "designee" with the word "alternate" on page 1, line 7; page 1, line 9; page 2, line 6; and page 2, line 7. 4:00:56 PM SENATOR KAWASAKI moved Conceptual Amendment 1. CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1 TO SB 66  Page 1, line 7: Delete "designee" Insert "alternate" Page 1, line 9: Delete "designee" Insert "alternate" Page 2, line 6 Delete "designee" Insert "alternate" Page 2 line 7 Delete "designee" Insert "alternate" CHAIR SHOWER objected for discussion purposes. He asked if there were questions or comments and there were none. 4:01:39 PM CHAIR SHOWER removed his objection. Finding no further objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 to SB 66 passed. 4:02:06 PM CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 66; finding none, he closed public testimony. SENATOR BEGICH thanked the committee for improving the bill. CHAIR SHOWER solicited the will of the committee. 4:02:55 PM SENATOR REINBOLD moved to report SB 66, work order 32-LS0410\A, with individual recommendations, attached fiscal note(s), conceptual amendment, and accompanying documents from committee and give Legislative Legal permission to make technical or conforming changes as necessary. 4:03:25 PM SENATOR KAWASAKI objected to point out that version B was the working document. He then withdrew his objection. CHAIR SHOWER asked Senator Reinbold to restate the motion. 4:03:58 PM SENATOR REINBOLD moved SB 66, work order 32-LS0410\B, with individual recommendations, attached fiscal note(s), the conceptual amendment and accompanying documents from State Affairs and authorize Legislative Legal Services to make any necessary technical or conforming changes. CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and CSSB 66(STA) was reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.