Rule 1 Organization of Commission

(a) Meetings. The commission holds the following meetings:

(1) Annual. The first regularly scheduled meeting of the calendar year is the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, the commission will approve the commission’s annual report and will elect officers every two years.

(2) Regular. Other regular meetings at designated locations may be held as needed. Regular meetings may be held either in person or by teleconference.

(3) Special. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or two members of the commission upon prior written or verbal notice to all members where there is a need to meet on short notice for a special purpose. If the special agenda includes any public matter, public notice shall be given at least 24 hours before the meeting. Special meetings may be held either in person or by teleconference.

(b) Notice of Meetings. Notice of meetings is required as follows:

(1) Public. At least 14 days before a regular commission meeting, the executive director shall give public notice on the Commission’s website of the upcoming meeting. The notice shall clearly specify the date, time, and place of the commission meeting and shall also include the language of Rule 1(h) that applies to public appearances before the commission. An agenda of public matters shall also be included in the meeting notice. Notice to the Public of a Formal Hearing conducted under Rule 14 shall be given in the same manner as public notice of a regular commission meeting. Notice of the Formal Hearing shall specify the date, time, and place of the hearing. If the hearing will be held by teleconference that does not facilitate public attendance, a public audio recording of the hearing shall be made available as soon as practicable after the hearing. [Amended May 27, 2020; May 28, 2021; November 14, 2025]

(2) Members. At least 14 days before a regular commission meeting, the executive director shall give notice of the meeting to each member of the commission. The notice must contain the date, time, and place of the meeting, and a tentative meeting agenda. The commission will, in its discretion, waive notice for any meeting.

(c) Officers. The commission has the following officers:

(1) Chair. The commission will elect a chair and a vice- chair by majority vote at the annual meeting. The term of office is two years. The chair shall conduct the meetings; certify commission recommendations; direct the preparation of meeting agendas, notices, reports, and minutes; and ensure accurate record-keeping. The vice-chair shall act in the absence of the chair.

(2) Executive Committee. The chair may appoint an executive committee to perform matters of administration as from time to time are designated by the commission.

(d) Commission Office. The commission shall establish a permanent office in a building open to the public. The office must be open and staffed at regular office hours.

(e) Quorum. No dispositive action may be taken by the commission unless a quorum of at least a majority of the members serving on the commission is present, in person or telephonically, at the meeting. A quorum of the commission must include at least one judge member, one attorney member, and one public member.

(f) Voting Requirements. The following rules apply to voting on commission action:

(1) Every action of the commission requires a majority vote of the members serving on the commission at the time the action is taken.

(2) The names of commission members voting on any question shall be recorded in the minutes.

(3) Once cast, votes may be changed only during the same meeting on a motion to reconsider unless otherwise provided by these rules.

(g) Order of Business. The chair shall determine the order of business in advance of each meeting.

(h) Public Participation. The public meetings shall be ordered to encourage attendance by the public. To facilitate productive and effective meetings, any member of the public who wishes to address the Commission, shall notify Commission staff by 4:00 p.m. the day before the public meeting and have their contact information verified by staff. Comments should concern, and be limited to, public matters within the scope of the Commission's jurisdictional authority, functions and purposes under the Alaska Constitution and Alaska Statutes. Repetitive public testimony on an issue by the same speaker is not allowed and may be terminated by the Commission. Public comments shall be limited to 3 minutes per speaker, unless extended by the Commission. Written public comments concerning public matters within the scope of the Commission’s authority as described above will be accepted at any time. [Amended May 28, 2021; June 27, 2025]

(i) Electronic and Written Records. The executive director shall electronically record all commission meetings except for commission deliberations, prepare minutes of both public and closed sessions subject to approval of the commission, and maintain their permanent storage. The executive director shall preserve all documents, including tape recordings, staff notes and memoranda, transcripts of testimony before the commission, and correspondence.

(j) Commission Member Holdover. To ensure that the commission continuously fulfills its constitutional responsibilities, a commission member continues to serve as an active member after expiration of that member’s term until the vacancy is filled by the appropriate appointing authority.

(k) Complaints Against Staff. Complaints against Commission staff will be handled in the same manner as complaints against Alaska Court System employees. Complaints against staff are confidential personnel matters and may not be addressed publicly under section (h) of this Rule. Any complaint against the Executive Director must be in writing and addressed to the Chair. If the Chair determines the complaint merits investigation, the Executive Director will be given an opportunity to respond in writing. Thereafter, the Chair may: decide the matter, form a personnel committee, or present the matter to the full Commission for its consideration.