Session: State Capitol, Room 121 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4797 Fax: (907) 465-3884 Interim: post office: 119 N. Cushman, Suite 101 Fairbanks, AK 99701-2879 location: 3340 Badger Road. North Pole, AK 99705 Phone: (907) 488-0857 Fax: (907) 488-4271

Sponsor Statement for SB 370
Constitutional Convention

An Act establishing procedures relating to constitutional conventions.

Under article XIII, section 3, there is a requirement that at least once each decade the voters be given an opportunity to call a constitutional convention. That call will appear on the November 5, 2002 general election ballot. If a majority of the voters cast their ballots in favor of the constitutional call, the same section of the constitution directs that delegates be selected at the next general election. It also places the duties of issuing the call on the shoulders of the lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor is required to issue the call as closely as possible to the original call for the Alaska Constitutional Convention of 1955-unless other provisions are made by law. Senate Bill 370 makes minimal provisions for the issuance of the call.

The bill restricts the lieutenant governor from issuing the call before October 1 of the year following the year in which the question of holding a constitutional convention was placed on the ballot. By delaying the date of the call, the next legislature will be permitted to hold public hearings and gather expert testimony on how best to issue the call. If they are unable to reach agreement on provisions for the call, the remaining provisions provided for by SB 370 will apply. Those provisions are:

• two delegates shall be elected from each house district, for a total of 80 delegates to the convention.
• The provisions of AS 15.13 (campaign contribution limits and prohibitions) that apply to candidates for State House also apply to candidates for delegate.
• The convention will be held at the campus of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.

In all other respects, the call will be issued as closely to the original call as possible.

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