(a) When appointing members of the legislature to serve on the committee under AS 24.60.130(b), the speaker of the house of representatives or the president of the senate, as appropriate, shall appoint an alternate member for each regular member. The alternate member shall have the same qualifications for appointment to the committee as the regular member for whom the alternate stands as alternate. The alternate member's appointment is subject to confirmation as required for appointment of the regular member.

(b) When selecting public members to serve on the committee under AS 24.60.130(b), the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court shall select one alternate public member. The alternate public member's selection is subject to ratification as required for selection of the regular public members.

(c) Subject to (d) of this section, if a regular member of the committee or a subcommittee is unable to participate in a proceeding other than a proceeding under AS 24.60.170, the chair of the committee or subcommittee that holds the proceeding shall designate the regular member's alternate to participate in place of the regular member at the proceeding, and the alternate shall participate for the duration of that proceeding unless the alternate is unable to participate.

(d) If a regular member of the committee or a subcommittee or an alternate member appointed under (a) or (b) of this section participates at the commencement of a proceeding under AS 24.60.170, the member shall participate for the duration of the proceeding unless the member is disqualified under AS 24.60.130(h) or is unable to continue participating. If the participating member is disqualified under AS 24.60.130(h) or becomes unable to participate, the chair of the committee or subcommittee that holds the proceeding shall designate the member's alternate to participate in place of the member for the duration of the proceeding unless the alternate is disqualified or is unable to participate.

(e) If both a regular legislative member and that member's alternate appointed under (a) of this section are not available to participate at the commencement of a proceeding under AS 24.60.170 because they are disqualified under AS 24.60.130(h), the presiding officer of the house in which the two members serve shall appoint from that house an alternate and designate that alternate to participate in the proceeding; however, if the two members who are not available to participate are not members of the majority organizational caucus, the leader of the minority organizational caucus with the greatest number of members shall appoint from that house an alternate and designate that alternate to participate in the proceeding.

(f) A designation under (c) - (e) of this section shall be treated as confidential to the same extent that the identity of the subject of a complaint is required to be kept confidential.