HANDBOOK ON ALASKA STATE GOVERNMENT State of Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency April 2021 - 1 - FOREWARD The Handbook on Alaska State Government is one of several publications produced by the Legislative Affairs Agency and outlines the functions of the various state agencies and their divisions. The Handbook was first published in 1960. This edition reflects statutory and administrative changes that have taken place since the last printing in 2011. Additional copies of this handbook may be obtained from any Legislative Information Office, or on the internet at www.akleg.gov Many departments have provided information for this publication and we appreciate all those who have helped update the Handbook. - 2 - Page Intentionally left blank - 3 - Table of Contents FOREWARD ..................................................................................................................... - 2 - State of Alaska Organizational Chart ................................................................................ - 5 - Executive Officers of the State of Alaska .......................................................................... - 6 - Office of the Governor ...................................................................................................... - 8 - Office of the Lieutenant Governor ................................................................................... - 10 - Department of Administration ......................................................................................... - 11 - Department of Commerce, Community, Economic Development ................................... - 17 - Department of Corrections .............................................................................................. - 27 - Department of Education & Early Development .............................................................. - 31 - Department of Environmental Conservation ................................................................... - 37 - Department of Fish and Game........................................................................................ - 41 - Department of Health and Social Services ..................................................................... - 46 - Department of Labor & Workforce Development ............................................................ - 50 - Department of Law ......................................................................................................... - 54 - Department of Military and Veterans Affairs ................................................................... - 58 - Department of Natural Resource .................................................................................... - 62 - Department of Public Safety ........................................................................................... - 75 - Department of Revenue .................................................................................................. - 78 - Department of Transportation and Public Facilities ......................................................... - 82 - University of Alaska ........................................................................................................ - 86 - Legislative Branch .......................................................................................................... - 89 - Judicial Branch ............................................................................................................... - 95 - - 4 - State of Alaska Organizational Chart BORDER LEGEND ELECTED BY POPULAR VOTE (includes Lt. Governor, elected on same ticket as Governor) Justices & Judges nominated by Judicial Council, selected by Governor & thereafter subject to voter approval Department heads (italicized) appointed by the Governor & confirmed by the Legislature * SEE METHOD OF APPOINTMENT FOR DEPARTMENT IN TABLE ON NEXT PAGE VOTERS OF ALASKA LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL BRANCH BRANCH BRANCH SENATE Governor COURT SYSTEM Senate President & 20 members Lt. Governor Supreme Court Elected every 4 years, Elected on same ticket, Appellate Court staggered terms 4 year term Superior Court District Court HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES Chief Justice Speaker of the House Judicial Council 40 members Commission on Judicial Elected every 2 years OFFICE of the GOVERNOR Conduct Chief of Staff ADMINISTRATION COMMERCE, COMMUNITY & CORRECTIONS Commissioner ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Commissioner Commissioner EDUCATION & EARLY ENVIRONMENTAL FISH & GAME DEVELOPMENT CONSERVATION *Commissioner *Commissioner Commissioner HEALTH & SOCIAL LABOR & WORKPLACE LAW SERVICES DEVELOPMENT Attorney General Commissioner Commissioner MILITARY & VETERANS NATURAL RESOURCES PUBLIC SAFETY AFFAIRS Commissioner Commissioner Adjutant General REVENUE TRANSPORTATION & Commissioner PUBLIC FACILITIES Commissioner UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA Article VII of the AK Constitution establishes the University system Board of Regents - 5 - Executive Officers of the State of Alaska Office Method of Selection Qualifications Term of Office Governor Elected by greatest 30 years of age; 4 years (limited number of voters in a 7-year state to 2 consecutive general election resident; 7-year terms) U.S. citizen; qualified state voter Lieutenant Governor Elected on same Same as Concurrent with ticket as Governor Governor Governor Commissioner of Appointed by U.S. citizen Serves at Administration Governor, must be pleasure of confirmed by Governor Legislature in joint session Commissioner of Same as above Same as above Same as above Commerce, Community, & Economic Development Commissioner of Same as above Same as above Same as above Corrections *Commissioner of Appointed by Board of Master’s degree Serves at Education & Early Education; approved plus 5 years pleasure of the Development by the Governor. Not experience Board confirmed by legislature Commissioner of Appointed by U.S. Citizen Serves at Environmental Governor; must be pleasure of Conservation confirmed by Governor Legislature in joint session *Commissioner of Appointed by Same as above Serves at the Fish & Game Governor from list by pleasure of the Boards of Fish and Governor, Game; must be Boards may confirmed by request removal Legislature in joint by resolution to session Governor - 6 - Commissioner of Appointed by U.S. Citizen Serves at the Health & Social Governor; must be pleasure of the Services confirmed by Governor Legislature in joint session Commissioner of Same as above Same as above Same as above Labor & Workforce Development Attorney General Same as above Same as above Same as above Department of Law Adjutant General Same as above Same as above Same as above Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner of Same as above Same as above Same as above Natural Resources Commissioner of Same as above Same as above Same as above Public Safety Commissioner of Same as above Same as above Same as above Revenue Commissioner of Same as above Same as above Same as above Transportation & Public Facilities The annual salary of the governor is $145,000 (AS 39.20.010). The annual salary of the lieutenant governor is $115,000 (AS 39.20.030). The monthly salary of the head of each principal executive department of the state shall be in accordance with AS 39.23. Currently that salary level set by the salary Commission is $135,000. - 7 - Office of the Governor www.gov.alaska.gov OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Governor is the chief executive officer of the State of Alaska (Article III, Constitution of the State and the commander-in-chief of the state’s armed forces. The of Alaska, AS 44.19, AS 37.07.020, AS 37.07.062) functions of the Governor are set out in the Constitution and in the Alaska Statutes. The Governor is responsible for enforcing STATE COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (AS 18.80) compliance with the law through appropriate court actions, granting pardons, commutations and reprieves, and OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET (AS 44.19.141, AS suspending or remitting fines and forfeitures. As the chief 37.07.040) executive officer of state government, the Governor must • Office of the Director supervise each principal department and has the responsibility (AS 44.19.142) of changing the organization or reassigning functions for AS = Alaska Statute efficient administration of the executive branch. The Governor is also responsible for appointments of members for regulatory, quasi-judicial, and advisory boards. The Governor appoints District, Superior and Supreme Court judges and non- attorney members of the Judicial Council. The Governor must inform the Legislature on the affairs of the State and submit a budget for each fiscal year, a general appropriations bill, and a bill covering recommendations for new or additional revenues. The Governor may convene the Legislature in special session. The Governor's Office operates a Washington, D.C., branch office and offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks, as well as the main office in Juneau. There are approximately 122 state councils, commissions and boards. The Governor appoints members to serve on a board, or commission. The annual salary of the governor is $145,000 (AS 39.20.010). The annual salary of the lieutenant governor is $115,000 (AS 39.20.030). The monthly salary of the head of each principal executive department of the state shall be in accordance with AS 39.23. Currently that salary level set by the salary Commission is $135,000. State Commission for Human Rights The State Commission for Human Rights conducts investigations, conciliation conferences, and hearings (with powers to subpoena witnesses, administer