End-of-session schedule approved

Under an initiative petition ratified in the 2006 election, the Legislature is limited by statute to 90 days, but the constitution, which would trump statute, allows 121 days.

The most immediate time limit is Feb. 13, when the governor must submit final amendments to her fiscal year 2009 operating budget. The next date is Feb. 18, the deadline for lawmakers to introduce so-called personal bills. Bills sponsored by committees may still be introduced after that.

Feb. 18 is also the deadline for House budget subcommittees to complete their recommendations. The redrafted budget bill is scheduled for release on Feb. 21, with public testimony on the spending plan set for Feb. 22, 23 and 25.

The House Finance Committee is scheduled to finish its work on the operating budget on Feb. 28. Feb. 29 is the deadline for House members to submit amendments for the floor debate, which is scheduled for March 1-4, the 50th day of the session.

The annual Council of Energy Producing States is scheduled for March 6-8 in Washington, D.C., but the Legislature will not suspend business as it traditionally has while Alaska's council members attend the event.

March 15, the 61st day of the session, is the deadline when personal bills must be passed by their houses of origin.

The schedule indicates no deadline for the Senate Finance Committee to complete its work on the operating budget or for public testimony, but the Senate floor debate on the spending plan is scheduled from March 19-21.

Public testimony on the capital budget before the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled for March 22, the day before Easter Sunday and the day on which an operating budget conference committee is to be appointed. Once that committee is named, the Legislature's 24-hour rule takes effect, requiring only 24 hours’ notice of committee meetings.

The traditional four-day Easter break is also eliminated this year, according to the schedule.

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to complete its work on the capital budget on March 25, with the floor debate from March 26-28.

March 28, the 74th day of the session, is also the last day for House Committees to hear House bills.

Committees stop is on the schedule for April 1, indicating the deadline for committee to stop work on bills, but April 9 is also listed as the final meeting day for all committees, except the Finance Committees.

Public testimony in House Finance Committee on the capital budget is scheduled for April 5, with committee work on the bill to be completed by April 9. The House will debate the capital budget from April 9-11, the second last day of the session. That leaves one day for a conference committee on the capital budget.

A joint session on confirmation of gubernatorial appointees scheduled for April 10.

Neither the House or Senate majority members had seen the schedule before it was approved by the majority leadership.

If the Legislature adjourns on the 90th day, it would do so on April 13.