Legislature(2011 - 2012)
2011-01-28 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0109 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday January 28, 2011 Eleventh Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 10:00 a.m. The roll showed fifteen members present. Senators Hoffman, Stedman were excused from a call of the Senate. Senators Davis, Kookesh, Olson were absent. Senator Meyer moved and asked unanimous consent that Senator Davis be excused from a call of the Senate to evening plane time, on January 28. Without objection, Senator Davis was excused. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Murray Richmond. Senator Ellis moved and asked unanimous consent that the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Holy and Eternal God, You are the fount of wisdom, and the author of all knowledge, but you also gave us an intellect to use here on earth. You gave us brains because you expect us to think for ourselves. There are things we know, O Lord, and help us to act on those with wisdom. Help us to act on the courage of our convictions. And there are things we do not know. Help to open our minds to learn. 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0110 The problem, O Lord, is that we don't see our own blind spots. There are things outside of our scope of knowledge, things we don't even know that we don't know. There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our own experiences and knowledge. Help us to see our own blind spots, O Lord. Help us, O Lord, to broaden these wonderful minds that you have given us. And that is why you surround us with others, O Lord, so we can both learn from them, as well as teach others what we know. If we don't know, then it is our job to learn. If we do know, then it is our job to teach. Today, may we teach at least one new thing to one of our colleagues, and may we learn at least one new thing from one of our colleagues. Amen. Senator Ellis led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Meyer moved and asked unanimous consent that the journals for the ninth and tenth legislative days be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. The presence of Senators Kookesh, Olson was noted. Standing Committee Reports SB 31 The State Affairs Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 31 "An Act relating to the counting of write-in votes" and recommended it be replaced with CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 31(STA) "An Act relating to the counting of ballots." 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0111 Signing do pass: Senator Wielechowski, Chair; Senators Kookesh, Paskvan, Meyer, Giessel. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No.1, zero, Office of the Governor The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee. SB 33 The State Affairs Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 33 "An Act relating to the disposition of remains of a member of the military if the member dies while in a duty status" and recommended it be replaced with CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 33(STA) "An Act relating to the disposition of remains of a member of the armed forces if the member dies while in a duty status." Signing do pass: Senator Wielechowski, Chair; Senators Kookesh, Paskvan, Meyer, Giessel. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Resolutions SCR 5 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE, Proposing amendments to the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature providing that the 2010 edition of "Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure" shall implement the rules; and providing for an effective date for the amendments. was read the first time and referred to the Rules Committee. 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0112 Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 73 SENATE BILL NO. 73 BY SENATOR DAVIS, entitled: "An Act increasing the special needs funding and base student allocation for public schools, and extending the adjustment for student transportation funding; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Education and Finance Committees. SB 74 SENATE BILL NO. 74 BY SENATORS ELLIS, French, Wielechowski, entitled: "An Act requiring insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders, describing the method for establishing a covered treatment plan for those disorders, and defining the covered treatment for those disorders; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services and Labor and Commerce Committees. Consideration of the Calendar Citations Honoring - Bill Legere Senator(s) Egan, Stevens, Coghill, Davis, Dyson, Ellis, French, Giessel, Hoffman, Huggins, Kookesh, McGuire, Menard, Meyer, Olson, Paskvan, Stedman, Thomas, Wagoner, Wielechowski Representative(s) Kerttula, Munoz Honoring - 2010 Eagle Scouts Representative(s) Pruitt Senator(s) Davis, Stevens, Coghill, Dyson, Egan, Ellis, French, Giessel, Hoffman, Huggins, Kookesh, McGuire, Menard, Meyer, Olson, Paskvan, Stedman, Thomas, Wagoner, Wielechowski 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0113 Senator Meyer moved and asked unanimous consent that the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Unfinished Business Senators French, Ellis, Wagoner moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on January 31, to morning plane time. Without objection, Senators French, Ellis, Wagoner were excused. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Adjournment Senator Meyer moved and asked unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., January 31, 2011. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 10:17 a.m. Kirsten Waid Secretary of the Senate 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0114 Announcements Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD. STANDING COMMITTEES + indicates teleconference = indicates bill previously heard/scheduled COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS Feb 01 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + DCCED Overview with Commissioner Bell Denali Commission - "Sustainable Rural Communities" with Joel Neimeyer Feb 03 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Jan 28 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + SB 3 FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MEALS Jan 31 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM += SB 3 FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MEALS + SB 1 BD OF ED./EARLY DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL REPORT Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 02 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + SB 43 ALASKA PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIPS Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 04 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM += SB 43 ALASKA PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIPS Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0115 FINANCE Jan 28 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 31 Monday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Overview by Department of Revenue: State Savings Account and Budget Reserves Feb 01 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 02 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Presentation on Statewide Transportation Economic Indicators: Bill O'Leary, Chief Financial Officer for the Alaska Railroad Corp. Steve Hatter, Deputy Commissioner of Aviation, Dept. of Transportation Feb 03 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Senate Bill: AN ACT MAKING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS <Pending Introduction & Referral> Feb 04 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Jan 28 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 31 Monday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 01 Tuesday Capitol 106 3:00 PM Joint with House HSS Continuation of Dept. of Health & Social Services Overview Presentations by: - Alaska Statewide Independent Living Council - Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education - Governor's Statewide Suicide Prevention Council 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0116 HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES (continued) Feb 02 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SB 12 EXTEND BOARD OF NURSING + SB 21 EXTEND SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Presentation: Denali Family Services - Little Steps Preschool Feb 04 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Jan 28 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 31 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += SB 31 COUNTING OF WRITE-IN VOTES += SB 33 DISPOSITION OF SERVICE MEMBERS' REMAINS Feb 02 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 58 INCREASING NUMBER OF SUPERIOR CT JUDGES Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 04 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE Jan 28 Friday Barnes 124 3:15 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- Joint w/(H) Labor & Commerce Continued overviews as needed Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Department of Labor & Workforce Development Feb 01 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + EO 115: REALIGNING THE OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY OF THE ALASKA AEROSPACE CORPORATION + SB 59 EXTEND BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0117 LABOR & COMMERCE (continued) Feb 03 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 34 SMALL BUSINESS REVOLVING FUND ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES Jan 28 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM Presentation: Kevin Banks, Director: Alaska Division of Oil and Gas Jan 31 Monday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Cora Campbell, Commissioner, Department of Fish & Game Feb 02 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Follow-Up to Alaska Sustainable Energy Act (SB220, 26th Alaska State Legislature) Remarks by Senator McGuire and Senator Wielechowski -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 04 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Larry Hartig, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Feb 01 Tuesday Butrovich 205 9:00 AM + SB 39 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COMPACT + SJR 4 HONORING RONALD REAGAN Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 03 Thursday Butrovich 205 9:00 AM + SB 7 FELONS' RIGHT TO VOTE OR BE JURORS + SB 30 RETURN OF SEIZED PROPERTY Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0118 TRANSPORTATION Feb 01 Tuesday Barnes 124 1:00 PM + Joint with House Transportation 1. Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority Overview 2. Mobility Coalition Overview 3. Point McKenzie Rail Extension Overview Feb 03 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:00 PM + SB 41 SUSPENDING MOTOR FUEL TAX ---------------------------------------- FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES CORRECTIONS Feb 01 Tuesday Butrovich 205 5:00 PM + Joint with House COR Finance Subcommittee FY2012 Budget Overview ---------------------------------------- FISH & GAME Feb 10 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + Department Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 17 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + Department Budget Overview Continuation -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 24 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + **To be determined** -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 10 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + Other topics of interest to the committee not covered previously, Budget Amendments, Q&A -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 17 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + Budget Close Out -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0119 HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Feb 14 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Department Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 16 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Public Health -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 21 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Behavioral Health - System wide including implications in other areas, not just the Behavioral Health budget component, focus on API. -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 23 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Medicaid, possible Affordable Care Act and impact on Medicaid and the Division of Public Assistance, Home and Community Based Rates, Residential Psychiatric Treatment Center Rates, CMS moratorium, Division of Senior and Disability Services Corrective Action Plan -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 09 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Other topics of interest to the committee not covered previously, Q&A, Governor's Budget Amendments -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 16 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Budget Close Out -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0120 JOINT COMMITTEES ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE Feb 08 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Presentation: Update on Alaska's Military, by Lt. General Dana Atkins, Commander: Alaskan Command, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Joint Task Force Alaska, and Eleventh Air Force Maj. General Thomas Katkus, Adjutant General, Alaska National Guard: Commissioner, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Feb 03 Thursday House Finance 519 11:00 AM Agenda Forthcoming Feb 17 Thursday Tba 11:00 AM Agenda Forthcoming Mar 17 Thursday House Finance 519 11:00 AM Agenda Forthcoming Apr 07 Thursday House Finance 519 11:00 AM Agenda Forthcoming ---------------------------------------- OTHER MEETINGS JOINT SESSION Feb 24 Thursday House Chamber 11:00 AM Annual Address by the Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator Mar 09 Wednesday House Chamber 11:00 AM State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice Walter Carpeneti Mar 22 Tuesday House Chamber 11:00 AM Annual Address by the Honorable Mark Begich, U.S. Senator ---------------------------------------- 2011-01-28 Senate Journal Page 0121 MISCELLANEOUS MEETING Jan 31 Monday Senate Finance 532 1:00 PM School District Legislative Fly-in Informal Q&A Session Regarding Alaska's Public School System