House Bill 31 and House Joint Resolution 5 ("HB 31/HJR 5") were introduced to encourage broad, statewide support for the idea contained within an initiative before it gets on the ballot. By including voters from all parts of Alaska in the process, the legislation promotes awareness of initiatives to people throughout the state.

The legislation supports the letter and spirit of Article XI, Section 3, of the Alaska Constitution, which requires initiative sponsors to obtain a minimum of one signature from residents of at least two-thirds of the House Districts in the State of Alaska (27 districts). HB 31/HJR 5 proposes that initiative sponsors gather signatures from residents of at least three-quarters of House Districts (30 districts). The legislation also proposes that the total number of signatures in each of those districts amount to at least seven percent of the number of people who voted in the most recent election in that district. It does not change the constitution's requirement that the total number of signatures statewide in support of an initiative or petition amount to at least ten percent of the number of people who voted in the most recent election. The legislation would put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot, leaving it to the people of the state to decide if these changes are warranted.

Released: March 3, 2003

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