Alaska Legislative Leaders Approve Retroactive Allowances

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Thursday, June 17th, 2021 3:53pm

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House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, listens during the House Floor session Tuesday night at the state Capitol.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska legislative leaders have agreed to allow lawmakers to collect retroactively an allowance for the special session now nearing its end.

  On Wednesday, shortly after the Legislature passed an operating budget, the Legislative Council, composed of House and Senate leaders, met to approve the payment of retroactive allowances dating to May 20, the start of the special session. 

  In 2018, the Legislature passed a law stating that if an operating budget is not passed by the 121st day the Legislature is in session, lawmakers cannot collect the allowance, or per diem, until the budget passes. The state constitution allows regular sessions of up to 121 days.

  This is the second time since the law passed that the council has authorized retroactive allowances. In 2019, retroactive allowances were authorized for lawmakers requesting them for days they were in Juneau for the special session before the budget passed.

  Sen. Lora Reinbold, the council vice-chair and an Eagle River Republican, on Wednesday unsuccessfully proposed limiting the payments to days when legislators were physically present in Juneau, where the special session is being held. 

  She said by text message Thursday her intent was to limit the allowance for members physically in Juneau or on their way to or from the state capital.

  Reinbold was the only one of the 10 members voting who opposed authorizing retroactive payments. 

  House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, said when legislators return to their districts, it doesn’t mean they aren’t conducting legislative business. 

  This year’s allowance has been $293 a day. 

  Jessica Geary, executive director of the Legislative Affairs Agency, said by email Thursday that the way the motion passed legislators “are eligible to claim per diem for any day the legislature is in special session, regardless of where they were physically located.”

  The special session is due to expire Friday.

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