Alaska Statutes Title 29. Municipal Government § 29.20.080. Assembly recomposition and reapportionment

(a) Not later than two months after adoption of a final state redistricting plan under art. VI, sec. 10, Constitution of the State of Alaska, the assembly shall determine and declare by resolution whether the existing apportionment of the assembly meets the standards of AS 29.20.060. If the assembly submits to the voters a form of representation that includes election of assembly members under AS 29.20.070(b)(2) or (3), the assembly shall submit with the proposition a proposed plan of apportionment that corresponds to the form of representation proposed. The assembly shall describe the plan of apportionment in the ballot proposition, and may present the plan in any manner that it believes accurately describes the apportionment that is proposed under the form of representation. If the assembly determines that its existing apportionment meets the standards of AS 29.20.060, the assembly may include the existing apportionment as a proposed plan of apportionment of assembly seats that corresponds to a form of representation that is proposed.

(b) The assembly shall provide, by ordinance, for a change in an existing apportionment of the assembly whenever it determines that the apportionment does not meet the standards of AS 29.20.060. The assembly may provide, by ordinance, for a change in an existing apportionment of the assembly whenever a final state redistricting plan is changed as a result of federal or court action. At the same time a change in apportionment is provided for under this subsection, the assembly may, by ordinance, change the composition of the assembly.

(c) If a petition signed by not less than 50 voters requests the assembly to determine whether the existing apportionment meets the standards for apportionment in AS 29.20.060, and the petition contains evidence that the existing apportionment does not meet those standards, the assembly may make the determination requested. The assembly shall make a determination required by this subsection within two months of receipt of a petition that meets the requirements of this subsection.

(d) An ordinance adopted by the assembly under (b) or (c) of this section shall be submitted to the voters for approval. In order for the ordinance to be approved it must receive the approval of a majority of the votes cast.

(e) Within six months after a determination by the assembly under (b) or (c) of this section that the current apportionment should be changed the assembly shall adopt an ordinance providing for reapportionment and submit the ordinance to the voters. If, at the end of the six-month time period, an ordinance providing for reapportionment has not been approved by the voters and if the current apportionment does not meet the standards of AS 29.20.060, the commissioner shall provide for the reapportionment in accordance with the standards of AS 29.20.060 by preparing an order of reapportionment and delivering the order to the borough mayor.