15-REPUBLICAN MINORITY DISSENTS
The House voted on the conference committee State Operating Budget, but the Senate has adjourned for the day and will take up the vote on House Bill 39 on Monday at 11 am; Sen. Tom Begich and Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson were missing from Juneau today.
After the vote is taken in the Senate, presuming it passes, the operating budget will go to the governor’s desk for his action. In Alaska, once a bill has passed both houses, it is sent to the Legislative Affairs Agency, Legal Services for checking of accuracy, and the bill is then signed by the Senate President, House Speaker and House Chief Clerk.
The governor has 15 days, Sundays excluded, to act on a bill if the Legislature is in session, or 20 days if the Legislature is adjourned. Typically, the governor will have his staff and the Department of Law pore over it and the governor can sign the bill, or veto items through his line-item veto.
If there are vetoes, the bill would go back to the House and Senate, and they may call themselves into special session to override the vetoes.
It takes a combined vote of three-fourths to override an appropriation veto.
The House is now debating issues relating to the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend.
