PO Box 20891
Juneau, AK
99802-089

Weekly Legislative Update 2010

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Session Two of the 26^th Legislature runs January 19-April 18, 2010.

The Senate Finance Committee passed the operating and mental health budgets out of committee, Friday, March 26^th.  They are scheduled for floor debate on Monday, the 29^th.

After the budget bills pass the Senate and the House refuses to accept the changes made in the Senate, the Budget Conference Committee will be appointed.  Three Senators and three Representatives will work through the budget and come to agreement on items that differ between the two bodies.  As soon as the Conference Committee is appointed the legislature will be under the 24-hour rule.  The 24-hour rule allows bills to be scheduled to be heard in committees without the normal week’s notice.

Legislative Committee Assignments: 

Go to BASIS committee assignments list:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/commbr_info.asp?session=26

NEW BILLS: Look here for legislation introduced during the previous week.  Click on the bill number to access the bill.

Bill:                  SB 308

Sponsor:          CRA

Title:                Community Revenue Sharing Program

Referrals:         CRA

Content:           Companion to HB 418 introduced last week.  Changes the process for determining the population of an area by removing the use of permanent fund dividend recipients as a measure and by stating the population determination for a municipality or reserve may not be less than the latest annual estimate of the local population by the United States Bureau of the Census.

UPDATES:  Look here to track bills of interest

HB 50, Limit Overtime for Nurses sponsored by P. Wilson passed the House and was referred to FIN in the Senate

HB 282, Naturopaths sponsored by Munoz passed L&C and was referred to HSS

HCR 20, Sexual Assault Awareness Month sponsored by Fairclough passed S STA and is scheduled for the Floor on Monday, the 29^th

HJR 48, Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act sponsored by Kerttula passed the House and is referred to JUD in the Senate

SB 238 Medicaid for Medical & Intermediate Care sponsored by Davis passed the Senate and is referred to HSS, FIN in the House

SB 246, Increasing Number of Superior Ct Judges sponsored by RLS by request passed the Senate and is referred to FIN in the House

SB 247, Extending Board of Pharmacy sponsored by Olson passed the Senate and is referred to L&C, FIN in the House

SB 262, Extend Board of Social Work Examiners sponsored by RLS by request passed the Senate and is referred to L&C, FIN in the House

SB 307, Shelters for Runaway Minors sponsored by S HSS passed the Senate and is referred to HSS in the House

COMMITTEE SCHEDULE:  Look here for committee meetings for the coming week.  Bill hearings OFTEN change.  If you are planning to testify it is a good idea to check the committee calendar the day of the hearing.  Go to BASIS Committee schedules:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/hearing_form.asp?session=26

Monday, March 29^th

9:00 am           S FIN  SB 219 Traumatic Brain Injury: Program/Medicaid

                                    SB 284, Campaign Expenditures

Tuesday, March 30^th

8:00 am           H CRA FY 2011 Community Services Block Grant State Plan

3:00 pm           H HSS SB 307, Shelters for Runaway Minors

                                    HB 25, Health Reform Policy Commission

                                    HB 277, Certify Emergency Use of Epinephrine

Wednesday, March 31st

9:00 am           S FIN  SB 139, Incentives for Certain Medical Providers

                                    SB 174, Prof Student Exchange Loan Forgiveness

11:00 am         Joint Session—Senator Mark Begich

1:30 pm           H FIN HB 316 Post-Conviction DNA Testing: Evidence

Thursday, April 1^st

8:00 am           H STA SB 244 Governor’s Duty Station/Travel Allowances

9:00 am           S FIN Capital Budget

1:30 pm           S L&C SB 38, Pharmacy Benefits Managers

3:00 pm           H HSS SB 238, Medicaid for Medical & Intermediate Care

                                    HB 282, Naturopaths

Friday, April 2^nd

1:30 pm           S JUD SB 241, Post-Conviction DNA Testing: Evidence

Download legislators contact information:

http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/whoswho.pdf

Governor’s Corner:

View the FY11 Budget

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/11_omb/budget/index_FY11_Operating.htm

Read the Governor’s state of the state address

http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell/press-room/full-press-release.html?pr=5246

The Governor launched a new page on his website, Choose Respect, covering the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault.  To visit the site go to:

http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell/priorities/choose-respect.html

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Legislative Fly-Ins

March 30 & 31 Alaska Pharmacist's Association