Austin Baird

While the Finance and Resource committees take the lead on debate over the state's oil tax structure and a proposed in-state natural gas pipeline, a lot of Alaska lawmakers are idling and looking for ways to pass time.

The lawyer of a man found guilty of manslaughter Friday says she may challenge the conviction. She is concerned the jurors found her client guilty because they misunderstood self-defense law.

A state employee who oversees the Legislature's finances says it is still too early to determine the cost of the special session, but the early estimate is "up to $30,000 a day."

Alaska lawmakers have unanimously passed a bill stiffening penalties for sex trafficking, removing the label of "prostitute" from victims and changing court procedures as an effort to expedite justice and make the process easier on victims.

Alaska lawmakers are expected to spend most of the special session addressing concerns about the state's tax on oil industry and discussing the elusive in-state gas pipeline, but Gov. Sean Parnell also is directing attention to a third issue: human trafficking.

Education leaders are satisfied with but not exuberant about a deal brokered during the legislative session to provide a $90.7-million increase in K-12 school funding next year.

Rep. Wes Keller still sees flaws in a bill that extends insurance coverage to some children for treatment of autism, but the chairman of the House Health and Social Services Committee said Friday that he plans to let the widely supported proposal move out of his committee.

House Finance Co-Chair Bill Thomas said that an increase to education funding will likely focus on a plan that would give districts extra money targeted at transportation costs.

A proposal requiring Alaska teachers and school staff to receive training for suicide awareness and prevention cleared the House Finance Committee on Thursday.

A bill that would strengthen penalties for people convicted of sex trafficking and remove the label of prostitute from victims of that crime has passed the House unanimously.

The Legislature has passed a resolution that celebrates contributions of Girl Scouts to Alaska and names 2012 the "Year of the Girl." The measure attracted national attention last week when Rep. Wes Keller said he needed to investigate information "floating around the Internet" suggesting a connection between Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood.

House lawmakers have paid their respects to the late Rep. Carl Gatto, turning his desk on the House floor into a memorial.

Rep. Carl Gatto, a Palmer Republican who was chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, died Tuesday at age 74 from complications of prostate cancer. Gatto was first elected to the House in 2002.

A House committee has advanced a bill that would give Alaska mobile home owners the same access to low-interest mortgages that owners of other types of homes have.

A bill that would back community foundations with state cash has passed the Alaska House.