Alaska State Legislature
From Ballotpedia
| Alaska State Legislature | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | January 17, 2012 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Gary Stevens, (R) |
| House Speaker: | Mike Chenault, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Kevin Meyer (R) (Senate), Alan Austerman (R) (House) |
| Minority leader: | John Coghill (D) (Senate), Beth Kerttula (D) (House) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 20 (Senate), 40 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art II, Alaska Constitution |
| Salary: | $50,400/year + per diem |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 10 seats (Senate) 40 seats (House) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 10 seats (Senate) 40 seats (House) |
| Redistricting: | Alaska Redistricting Board |
Meeting place: | |
Contents |
The Alaska Legislature meets in the State Capitol building in Juneau.[1]
Sessions
Section 8 of Article II of the Alaska Constitution contains provisions relating to the timing and length of sessions. However, the provisions related to the convening date of the Legislature have been changed by law, and the provisions limiting the length of legislative sessions have been changed by the Alaska 90-Day Legislative Session Amendment. This amendment was passed in a 2006 ballot initiative, and it limits the regular sessions of the Legislature to ninety days.
Section 9 of Article II allows for special sessions to be called by the Governor of Alaska or by a two-thirds vote of the legislators. Special sessions are limited to 30 days.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Legislature was in regular session from January 17 to April 15. It was in special session from April 15 to April 30.[2]
Major issues
Legislators will be taking up Governor Sean Parnell's (R) suggestion to decrease the oil tax in order to increase economic growth. They are also expected to consider a ban on texting while driving, education funding, the state's unfunded pension liability, and whether to extend the legislative session from 90 to 120 days.[3]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the Legislature was in session from January 18 to April 17. Lawmakers remained in Juneau from April 18 to May 14 to resolve ongoing disagreements over the state's operating budget; the final compromise included money for a new in-state natural gas pipeline and a $20 million payout to the state's schools.[4]
A second special session was held from June 27 to 28 to discuss reauthorization of the state's Coastal Management Program, which was set to expire June 30. Measures to reauthorize the program failed during the regular session. [5] The program ended on schedule after the House failed to pass a Senate proposal to save it.[6]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the Legislature was in session from January 19th to April 18th.
Non-professional Legislature
Unlike other state legislatures with longer sessions, the comparatively short Alaska session allows many lawmakers to retain outside employment, especially in the state's many seasonal industries, such as fishing and tourism. In this, the Alaska Legislature retains some of the volunteer nature that characterized most state legislatures until the middle of the 20th century. This has led to recurring but minor controversy around the potential for conflict of interest inherent in legislators' outside employment.
Legislators
Salaries
In keeping with the section above, many lawmakers retain employment outside of the legislature. However, Alaska's Constitution requires that legislators be paid a salary from the state and allows for a per diem and other allowances. Legislators receive a salary of $50,400 dollars as recommended by the State Officers Compensation Commission. In addition to the salary, presiding officers (the Senate President and Speaker of the House) receive another $500. [7]
The per diem rate used corresponds to the federal standard rate. An annual allowance is appropriated for secretarial services, postage, and stationery. Moving expenses are covered by the state. [8] [9]
When sworn in
The terms of Alaska legislators begin on the 4th Monday of the January following a November election.
Role in State Budget
- Main article: Alaska state budget
By December 15th of each year, the Legislature of Alaska receives an annual budget proposal from the Governor. The budget proposal is for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1st. The Legislature then revises the budget proposal over the course of the next couple of months. In April, the Legislature votes on a budget. For a budget to pass, a majority of legislators must vote in support of it.[10]
In the midst of economic hard times, the Legislature of Alaska has failed to pass a balanced budget. And for the fiscal year 2010, Alaska faced a $1.3 billion budget gap.[11] Alaska’s estimated fiscal 2011 shortfall is reportedly $677 million.[12] The steep decline in oil prices, the state’s dominant source of revenue, ended their historical annual surplus requiring dipping into its special reserve fund of approximately $8 billion.[13]
The tight economic climate in 2010 also prompted the Legislative Finance Division to complete the Budget Clarification Project, which involved rolling $750 million in "other funds" in to the General Operating Fund in an effort to promote transparency and prevent unnecessary earmark spending.[14] As a result of the project, the Division discovered several State departments had been routinely siphoning money from the Alaska State Permanent Fund to pay for departmental expenses.[15]
Senate
The Alaska Senate is the upper house in the Alaska Legislature. The Senate consists of 20 members. Each member represents an average of 35,512 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[16] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 31,347.[17] Senators serve four-year terms, without term limits. Half of the Alaska Senate is up for re-election every two years. With just 20 Senators, the Alaska Senate is the smallest legislative chamber in the United States.
Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 10 | |
| Republican Party | 10 | |
| Total | 20 | |
House of Representatives
The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature. The House is composed of 40 members. Each member represents an average of 17,756 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[18] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 15,673.[19] Members serve two-year terms without term limits. With 40 Representatives, the Alaskan House is the smallest state legislative lower house in the United States.
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 16 | |
| Republican Party | 24 | |
| Total | 40 | |
Joint legislative committees
The Alaska State Legislature has seven joint standing committees and one joint select committee:
- Alaska Northern Waters Task Force Committee, Alaska Legislature
- Administrative Regulation Review Committee, Alaska Legislature
- Armed Services Committee, Alaska Legislature
- Education Funding District Cost Factor Committee, Alaska Legislature
- Higher Education/Career Readiness Task Force Committee, Alaska Legislature
- Legislative Budget and Audit Committee, Alaska Legislature
- Legislative Council Committee, Alaska Legislature
- Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, Alaska Legislature
References
- ↑ Session dates for Alaska legislature, 2010
- ↑ StateScape, Session schedules, accessed April 30, 2012
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "Lingering issues to test Legislature," January 16, 2012
- ↑ Juneau Empire, "Operating budget agreement helps clear way to end of session," May 4, 2011.
- ↑ StateScape.com, Session Updates, accessed June 28, 2011
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "House votes down bill to save coastal management program," June 28, 2011.
- ↑ State Officers Compensation Commission "Findings and Recommendations" January 10, 2009
- ↑ US General Services Administration Domestic Per Diem Rates
- ↑ The Alaska State Legislature "Legislative Branch: Compensation"
- ↑ National Association of State Budget Offices, 2008 Budget Processes in the States, Pages 4-5
- ↑ Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, "New Fiscal Year Brings No Relief From Unprecedented State Budget Problems," September 3, 2009
- ↑ Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, "New Fiscal Year Brings No Relief From Unprecedented State Budget Problems," September 3, 2009
- ↑ Alaska Journal of Commerce, “Parnell says he'll tackle state budget planning with care,” September 18, 2009
- ↑ Alaska Watchdog, "State rolls millions in to general fund"
- ↑ Alaska Watchdog, "State takes millions from Permanent Fund"
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
External links
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