The Center for Human Development
Partners in Policymaking
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE OVERVIEW
Composition
 The Legislative Branch is responsible for enacting
the laws of the State of Alaska and appropriating the
money necessary to operate the government.
 Alaska has a bicameral Legislature, two bodies,
composed of the House of Representatives
and the Senate.
 The House of Representatives is composed of 40
members elected from 40 election districts for two
year terms.
Composition
 The Senate has 20 members elected from 20 senate
districts for four year terms, with one half of the
membership standing for election every two years.
 House and Senate election districts are determined
on the basis of population. Under the State
Constitution, redistricting is accomplished every 10
years after the reporting of the decennial federal
census. An advisory reapportionment board is
appointed by and assists the Governor in
redistricting the state.
Sessions
 A Legislature consists of two regular sessions which
ordinarily convene annually on the third Tuesday in
January.
 A Legislature must adjourn from a regular session no
later than 90 consecutive calendars days from the
day it convenes, except the session may be extended
once for up to 10 days by a 2/3 vote of each
body.
Organization
 When each body convenes for the first of its two
regular sessions, it elects its officers and selects its
employees in accordance with the provisions of the
Uniform Rules.
 The presiding officer of the Senate is called the
President, and the presiding officer of the House of
Representatives is called the Speaker.
 As part of the formal organization of each body, the
major political parties elect their floor and caucus
leaders in party caucus.
Committees
 When each house organizes, the presiding officer
appoints a Committee on Committees to meet and
report its nominations for assignments to the new
standing committees in conformity with the Uniform
Rules.
Committees…
 The standing committees are:
Community and Regional Affairs
 Finance
 Health, Education and Social Services
 Judiciary
 Labor and Commerce
 Resources
 Rules
 State Affairs
 Transportation

Committees
 The membership on each committee must total an
odd number and there must be at least one minority
member on each committee.
 The Rules Committee of each body schedules the
order in which bills and resolutions will be placed
and published on the daily calendar for second and
third reading, considers parliamentary questions
referred to it, and is responsible for the immediate
supervision of the staff of each body.
Bill (Proposed Legislation)
 The most important form of legislative expression is
a bill – a proposed law. Most bills are introduced by
members, acting individually or with others. A bill
requested by a constituent or other person or
organization but not necessarily having the personal
endorsement of the member will carry the member’s
name followed by the note “by request”.
Bill (Proposed Legislation)
 Bills introduced in the first legislative session may be
acted upon in the second session. No bills may be
passed in the interim between sessions unless a
special session is called.
The Idea
 The idea for a bill, or proposed legislation, may come
from a legislator, a legislative committee, a group of
legislators, a state or local agency, a business,
professional or fraternal group, an individual citizen,
a lobbyist, the Governor, and so on. The idea must be
communicated to a legislator, legislative committee
or the Governor for further action, as all bills must
be introduced by a legislator, several legislators, a
legislative committee, or the Governor.
STILL JUST A BILL ON CAPITAL HILL
 The bill is read across the floor of the respective body
[First Reading] and assigned to committees for
review.
STILL JUST A BILL….
 There may be what is called a ‘companion bill’, the
identical bill introduced in both the Senate and the
House. Whichever bill is passed by the respective
body first becomes ‘the vehicle’. It then passes over
to the other body and goes through the same process.
STILL JUST A BILL….
 If the other body has made changes to the bill during
the process, it has to return to the body of origin,
which may concur with the changes or reject them. If
they reject them, a Conference Committee is
appointed to work out the differences.
Role of the Governor
 The Governor has fifteen days, Sundays excluded, to
act on a bill if the Legislature is in session. If the
Legislature has adjourned, the Governor has twenty
days, excluding Sundays.
Role of the Governor
 By constitutional mandate, the Governor must sign
the bill, veto the bill or let it become law without
his/her signature. If the Governor vetoes a bill or
reduces or vetoes an appropriation item (line item
veto), the Governor must return it with a statement
of his/her reasons for vetoing it and do so within the
constitutional time limits.
ROLE OF ADVOCACY
 Legislation can be the result of direct advocacy. Any
person or a group can bring an issue to a Legislator
or the Governor, who may then introduce a bill. Even
if they don’t necessarily agree on the issue, they can
introduce it ‘by request’.
 The Key Coalition is an excellent example. Started
25 years ago by a group of less than 50, it has grown
to over 300 who participate in the Juneau campaign.
ROLE OF ADVOCACY
 Every Legislator receives a visit from two or three
constituents to advocate for the Key Platform.
 The Key Priorities for 2014 were the Complex Behavior
Collaborative, Continue to Eradicate the Wait List, Task
Force on direct support professional wages and benefits,
and the ‘safe student’ legislation.
 You do not need to wait for Session to advocate. Get to
know the Legislators during the interim, when they have
more time.
EDUCATE!
EDUCATE!
EDUCATE!
 Approach your Legislators as partners, not
opponents.
 Legislators want to help, but they do not know
everything about issues that affect your life. It is your
job to educate them so they make good decisions.
EDUCATE!
EDUCATE!
EDUCATE!
 Shape your message with three main points:
 What is important to you.

How this issue affects your life and the lives of others.

The action or results you are seeking.
Make your voice HEARD!
 You CAN make a difference! It’s simple.
 Don’t be afraid of the process. Remember, they
represent US!
 They’re waiting to hear from YOU.
 Your voice/thoughts are welcome and needed.
Make your voice HEARD!
 Call. Write a letter. Send an email. Staff keeps track
of it.
 Help them help US. That’s why we sent them there!
They care and have sworn to serve US.