Sponsor Statement for HB 15

House Bill 15 is an act relating to the location of the convening of the legislature in regular session; repealing provisions relating to student guests of the legislature; and providing for an effective date.

This bill would call for the legislature to convene at a location within the Municipality of Anchorage during each legislative session. It will not move the capital of Alaska; it will just move the location of holding legislative sessions.

The majority of Alaska's population lives well away from the current location of legislative sessions in Juneau. Access to legislators, committee hearings, floor sessions, and daily business of the legislature is limited to the average Alaskan. Many everyday citizens of the State cannot afford the monetary costs to come to Juneau. Physical access to Juneau is limited to either flying into the capital city or coming by ferry or a road and ferry trip. Special interest groups, lobbyists, and individuals with the financial ability can access the legislature in its current location but legislators need to hear more from all citizens of Alaska, not just a particular set of Alaskans.

Many will say that the teleconference network is available for use by the legislator; however, while this may be an acceptable method of accepting testimony from state officials, it does not provide the bulk of Alaska's citizens with face-to-face access to his or her legislator. Teleconferencing does not have the same impact as the personal contact and communication with the witness or public-spirited citizen.

Yearly savings would also be seen under this bill. Anchorage is more centrally located than Juneau and has more access. Many different airlines provide dependable service in and out of Anchorage from all areas of the state thus providing competitive rates. Road access is available for those living in the Railbelt and Central areas of the state. All in all, the costs would be lower and the access higher, particularly for the general public.

Weather can be and sometimes is a problem in Juneau. It is not uncommon for the Juneau airport to be closed because of weather conditions. Last month hundreds of people, including many legislators, spent time in Sitka because of over flights of Juneau. Only by arranging transport via a catamaran ferry through a private business could 150 of these individuals, including legislators and legislative staff, return to Juneau from trips "home" over that weekend. In point of fact, no business could be conducted that Monday because of a lack of members on both the House and Senate floors due to members not being able to reach Juneau. (See House Journal for Monday, February 17; and Senate Journal for Monday, February 17).

There is concern regarding the potential loss of jobs in Juneau. This could be offset by Juneau's economy becoming more dependent on private businesses: tourism, timber, fishing, mining, etc., together with the continued presence of the Administrative branch of government. While Juneau's economy might be impacted for the short term, the state and a majority of its citizens would benefit during the long term.

The Anchorage area offers the advantages of access by a majority of the population; superior transportation access by rail, road, or air; suitable commercial office space available at competitive rates; larger and more varied rentals for legislators and staff; and a larger labor pool to draw from when selecting professional and clerical staff. There are also outstanding visitor facilities for individuals and groups doing business with the legislature.

The legislature is presently housed in an obsolete building, constructed in 1931. The State Capitol and surrounding parking, are grossly inadequate and were not constructed for the primary purpose of conducting today's legislative activities. The building is clearly unsafe as it violates numerous life-safety and building codes. It does not have an automatic sprinkler system for fire suppression, has antiquated electrical service, fails to meet structural requirements for earthquakes, contains countless fire code violations, does not contain adequate bathroom facilities, and is inefficiently laid out and expensive to maintain and operate.

In Anchorage, where the bulk of the legislators are from and where they conduct their business during the legislative interim, a leased building provides year-round offices for 19 House members, 10 Senate members, the Ethics Committee, and the Anchorage Legislative Information office. It contains five conference rooms and various other rooms used by the Legislature. All in all, the Legislature leases 22,792 square feet in this building at the rate of $1.63 per foot or a total cost during FY '97 of $444,841.33. The Legislature's lease expires on May 31, 1998, and the lease has five 1-year renewal options.

Suitable premises for the chambers and associated office premises are readily available in the Anchorage commercial real estate market. A minimum of cost would be necessary to refit the premises, and given current market conditions could be bargained for as part of the leasehold obligation. Additionally, the need for larger office space and chamber space would also allow the legislature to relocate what are now the offices of the Anchorage Legislative Information office and the associated interim offices. Economies of scale could be gained by this.

Session per diem rates would be impacted as well as the legislature's travel budget. With more than three legislators being paid at the lower per diem rate and with less moving costs for the Anchorage-based legislators, savings could definitely be accomplished. Currently, the Municipality of Anchorage is home to approximately 9 senators and 15 representatives.

I recently asked voters in House District 11: "Should legislative sessions be held in Anchorage rather than in Juneau?". Overwhelming support for this concept was indicated by those returning the questionnaire (619 questionnaires returned. 457 in favor of Anchorage; 134 opposed to changing legislative session location).

Moving the legislature to Anchorage would: (1) save money and (2) increase citizen access.

I would appreciate your support of this bill.

Ed1:3/18/97