Carol Beecher

The committee discussed and adopted Alaska's state plan for HAVA, which will be available for public comment. The Department of Justice waived pre-clearance requirements on HAVA plans for the five states that are required to pre-clear. The elections bill bringing the Division into compliance with HAVA will be introduced in the Legislature within the next few days and that it must be passed this year. The Division will send e-mails to Committee members when the plan is in final form. 10 DREs are currently included in the Division's capital request.

The meeting focused on the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and its implications for Alaska. Discussions covered the allocation of funds under Titles I and III of the Act, the setup of a toll-free system for complaints, and the placement of DREs in polling places. The committee reviewed the preliminary plan, addressing topics such as DRE storage, waivers for placing units in precincts without disabled voters, and the use of DREs for by-mail elections. Training for registrars and election workers was also discussed, with a focus on improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The committee also touched on the establishment of the HAVA Election Fund, performance goals, and the state-based administrative complaint procedure.

The State of Alaska's HAVA State Plan focuses on improving election administration to comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Key areas include upgrading voting systems, enhancing voter registration processes, and expanding voter education and training programs. The plan details the transition from punch-card systems to optical-scan and direct recording electronic (DRE) systems, ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and maintaining a statewide voter registration database. It also addresses provisional voting, alternative language accessibility, and uniform voting standards. The plan outlines budget allocations, performance goals, and complaint procedures to ensure effective implementation and compliance with HAVA requirements.

Key discussion topics include Health Reimbursement Arrangement Accounts associated with Defined Contribution Healthcare, Distribution Counseling, Payroll Growth Assumption, and Outside Counsel Legal Expertise Support for Specialized Private Investments.

The Alaska Retirement Management Board (ARMB) approved several resolutions. These resolutions addressed TRS and PERS eligibility requirements and medical benefits, including 12-month employment and years of service requirements. The ARMB also approved resolutions renaming investment funds and changing their descriptions, updating the actuarial amortization policy, and adopting 5-year smoothing for Employer group waiver plans (EGWP). Additionally, a resolution was adopted repealing Resolution 2012-32. The ARMB directed staff to invest in several new investment strategies, including domestic small-cap mandates and non-US and US large-cap strategies.