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Dear Neighbors,
This year, in the second session of the 24th Alaska State Legislature, we hit the ground running. Senate Bill 87, my primary seat belt bill, was passed out of the House in the second week of session. The Governor has signed the bill, and it will go into effect May 1st, earning the State of Alaska $3.8 million in National Transportation Safety grants and saving many of our citizens from death, injury, and the burden of associated expenses.
Over the interim, I responded to statewide and local needs that could be positively affected or resolved through new legislation. I also attend to other issues as they arise, for example, the "bridge money," safety issues on the Seward Highway, and the question of oil revenue "surplus." This year, my legislation reaches across district lines, and affects communities around the state. My priority legislation includes:
Senate Bill 193 - The Homestead Bill
In response to constituents from District P and other areas becoming financially distressed with rising property taxes, I introduced SB 193, a "homestead bill." This legislation allows municipalities to adopt a local ordinance permitting individuals who live below the federal poverty guidelines and have occupied a primary residence for at least 10 years to defer their property taxes until the sale of their home or death. This ensures that senior citizens and other individuals living on a fixed income cannot be "taxed out of their home" and allows for true home ownership in Alaska.
Senate Bill 218 - The Sex Offender Bill
Another piece of important legislation is SB 218. This proposes increasing sentencing times for the most egregious Unclassified and Class A sexual felonies to a minimum sentence of 25 years and increasing the sentencing for crimes charged at the lower levels of Class B and Class C sexual offenses. SB 218 requires polygraph testing for sex offenders on probation and implements needed changes in sex offender registering and reporting. I have worked with other legislators as well as the Department of Law and the Department of Corrections in developing this legislation. With SB 218, Alaska joins the national effort to curb sexual abuse and violence against children, and will also combat the ever-increasing sexual assault rates in our state.
Senate Bill 112 - The Head Tax
I am continuing my efforts to pass SB 112, which requires adult residents of Regional Education Attendance Areas to financially contribute to their local schools. I feel it is important, not only for the financial health of our state's schools, but also for all residents to support their local schools. I'm working with my colleagues to pass SB 112 in the Senate; however, this legislation will likely face a fight in the House of Representatives where legislators from rural areas may block this law requiring their constituents to help pay for their local schools.
I continue to be Chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and the Vice-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. I also Chair the Senate Finance Subcommittees for the departments of Fish and Game, Labor and Workforce Development and Natural Resources. Hot topics for this session include:
Senate Bill 136 - Unemployment Compensation
The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee held its first meeting this session on January 19, 2006 with a hearing on SB 136; Unemployment Compensation. This bill would raise the maximum Unemployment Insurance benefit amount from the current $246 to $300 per week. The last 2 increases in unemployment benefits occurred in 1992 and 1997. Passage of this bill would move the state of Alaska from its ranking of 48th in the nation to somewhere in the middle of the pack. This legislation has been introduced the past four sessions and has been stalled over issues such as the length of time one can receive benefits, the length of the waiting period, and requirements to find suitable work after layoff. With Alaska facing massive construction projects in the near future, the impacts of sufficient/insufficient UI benefits to Alaska workers is being even more acutely scrutinized through this bill.
Senate Bill 222 - Protection of Personal Information
Another important bill being considered is SB 222, Protection of Personal Information. This bipartisan-sponsored legislation addresses the looming problem of identity theft, use of social security numbers and consumer protection issues that are ever-present in this age of technology. This bill covers a lot of area and is a work-in-progress as the sponsors gather additional input from the public. We will be bringing it back before the Labor and Commerce Committee in the very near future.
Legislative Updates
Every week or so, I send a Legislative Update by email with information about issues of interest to Senate District P. Not on our mailing list? Changed your email address lately? If you're not already receiving the update, and would like to, please print your name and email address on the next page.
As always, I am eager to hear your views on legislation and issues that concern you or our district and our state. Remember, if you contact me before your concerns come to a vote, it is easier to influence the outcome. I invite you to keep in touch by mail, email, or by calling our toll-free number (1-800-892-4843). I look forward to hearing from you.
What Budget "Surplus?"
One of the big topics in Juneau this year is what to do with the "surplus" money that we will receive due to high oil prices. With the PERS and TRS systems having nearly a $6 billion shortfall and the State having borrowed over $5 billion from the Constitutional Budget Reserve over the years to balance our budget, I don't view the current increase in oil revenues as a "surplus."
The budget that has been proposed by the governor for Fiscal Year 07 is approximately $3.6 billion. Our general fund income for the next year is estimated to be $3.1 billion. If we were to pass the Governor's proposed budget, we would have a $500 million deficit in Fiscal Year 08 that would take almost half of the "surplus." Some of the increases in the budget are due to fixed costs, but others are from expansions of existing programs or the creation of new ones. While examining the operating budget, we need to take a close look at these new expenditures, remembering that these increases will continue to add to our deficit in the future.
While some may feel that the $1.2 billion is a "surplus," I look at the money as a temporary increase in cash flow that should not be spent in one year. We need to save it for future needs of the state.
Sincerely,
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