Sponsor Statement for HB 304
"Legislative Move"
By Representatives Joe Green and Norman Rokeberg
House Bill 304 calls for the legislature to convene in the Municipality of Anchorage beginning in 2001. HB 304 does not propose to move the capital; it only addresses where the legislature meets.
The majority of Alaska's population lives well away from the committee hearings, floor sessions, and daily business of the legislature. Access to legislators is limited only to those Alaskans who can afford the expensive and irregular travel to Juneau. Special interest groups, lobbyists, and individuals with the financial means can access the legislature in its current remote location, but representative government demands that legislators hear from all citizens, not just the wealthy. The statewide teleconforence system is a necessary improvement, but insufficient solution, to this problem.
The Anchorage area offers the advantages of access, including superior transportation access by rail, road, or air; superior commercial office space available at competitive rates; larger and more varied residential space for legislators and staff; and a larger labor pool from which to draw professional and clerical staff. There are also outstanding visitor facilities for individuals and groups doing business with the legislature. Both the private and public section will realize savings from such a move.
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 provide adequate access for the disabled community, 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. The dimensions of the current House chamber are 60 feet by 52 feet; space is readily available in the Anchorage 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.
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 Executive branch of government could fill those jobs. In the short term, the economy in Juneau may feel the effects of a legislative move, but a majority of Alaskans would benefit during the long term.
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.
We have both recently asked our constituents in House Districts 10 and 11: "Should legislative sessions be held in Anchorage rather than in Juneau?". Overwhelming, they said "yes."
Moving the legislature to Anchorage would:
We would appreciate your support of this bill.