Committee asks Sealaska for details on proposed multi-year internship program

The Legislative Ethics Committee took up a request from Sealaska for a revolving internship program that would place multiple interns with the legislature during session. Committee members agreed the committee needs more information about the scope, accountability and how interns would be assigned before granting ongoing approval.

Kevin Reeve summarized that past approvals have generally been for single interns and noted the committee’s June 2009 delegation giving staff authority to approve internships in consultation with the chair. Reeve and other members said the rules and past advisory opinions mention the university internship pathway and that non-university internships historically have been reviewed by the ethics committee.

Several members recalled the First Alaskans Institute as a prior example of a non-university program that received committee approval after presenting criteria and accountability measures. Representative Kevin McCabe said he was “pretty comfortable” with Sealaska’s proposal and would like to see a presentation, while Chair Joyce Anderson and others asked Sealaska to provide details on duration, selection criteria, and whether interns would be affiliated with particular legislative offices.

The committee directed staff to request a written scope and to invite Sealaska to present at a future committee meeting; members also discussed whether the matter should be handled by staff under the prior delegation or scheduled for full committee review. No formal vote was taken; staff said they will follow up with Sealaska and may schedule a presentation or handle approval through existing staff authority depending on the information provided.