Session: State Capitol, Room 102 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Toll Free: (877) 465-3719 Phone: (907) 465-3719 Fax: (907) 465-3258 Personal Web Site: www.johncoghill.com Interim: 119 N Cushman Street, Suite 211 Fairbanks, AK 99701 Phone: (907) 456-5081 Fax: (907) 456-8245

Sponsor Statement for HB 237
Filling a Vacancy in US Senate

An Act relating to filling a vacancy in the office of United States senator.

The United States Constitution gives exclusive authority to state legislatures to set the terms of temporary appointments to fill vacancies in the U.S. Senate. If the vacated U.S. Senate term is longer than 30 months, the appointment of a U.S. Senator is temporary until a special election can be held.

If the vacated term is less than 30 months, however, the appointee serves out the term. Under current state law, if a United States Senate seat for Alaska becomes vacant, the governor must fill that position with an individual within thirty days. The only requirement of the governor is that he must select someone who has been registered as a qualified voter from the political party of the individual vacating the seat for six months.

House Bill 237 takes this right to association by a political party one step further. This legislation provides that if a political party nominated the predecessor to the Senate seat, that political party will have fifteen days after the vacancy to submit the names of three party nominees to succeed to the vacant seat. The governor will be required to select his appointment from the three names submitted by the party.

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