Legislature(2011 - 2012)
2011-03-23 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0589 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday March 23, 2011 Sixty-fifth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 11:01 a.m. The roll showed twenty members present. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Father Simeon Johnson of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent that the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Monday I mentioned that the summation of Orthodox spirituality was to acquire the spirit of peace. Today I will share a brief quotation from one of what we call "the Desert Fathers" a group of monks in the desert of fourth century Egypt: A brother asked abba Poemen, "How should I behave... in the place where I am living?" [Poemen] replied, "Behave as if you were a stranger, and wherever you are, do not expect your words to have an influence and you will be at peace." Today's prayer, referred to as "O heavenly King" is a prayer to the Holy Spirit that we use at the beginning of most of our services. I will sing the traditional Russian melody that is used at Vespers on Saturday Evenings: 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0590 O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: Come and abide in us; and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One. Senator Menard led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Meyer moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the sixty-fourth legislative day and Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 5 be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Standing Committee Reports SB 70 The Labor and Commerce Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 70 "An Act establishing the Alaska Health Benefit Exchange; and providing for an effective date" and recommended it be replaced with CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 70(L&C) Signing do pass: Senator Egan, Chair; Senators Davis, Paskvan, Menard. Signing no recommendation: Senator Giessel. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Administration Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Health and Social Services Fiscal Note No. 4, zero, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0591 SB 94 The State Affairs Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 94 "An Act adding a second verse to the official Alaska state song" and recommended the adoption of the following State Affairs Committee Letter of Intent: Letter of Intent It is the intent of the Alaska State Legislature that no additional funds be spent to re-print state publications simply to include the second verse of the Alaska State Song. Instead, re-printing of publications should occur on the schedule it would otherwise have occurred had the second verse not been adopted. Signing do pass: Senator Wielechowski, Chair; Senators Meyer, Paskvan, Kookesh. Signing no recommendation: Senator Giessel. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Senate State Affairs Committee President Stevens removed the Finance committee referral from the bill. The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. SB 96 The Community and Regional Affairs Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 96 "An Act relating to the Village Safe Water Act" and recommended it be replaced with CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 96(CRA) Signing do pass: Senator Olson, Chair; Senators Kookesh, Menard, Ellis. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Environmental Conservation The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0592 HB 28 The State Affairs Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 28(FIN) "An Act relating to temporary courtesy licenses for certain nonresident professionals and to a temporary exemption from fees and other licensing requirements for active duty members of the armed forces" and recommended it be replaced with SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 28(STA) Signing do pass: Senator Wielechowski, Chair; Senators Kookesh, Paskvan, Meyer, Giessel. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development The bill was referred to the Labor and Commerce Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Resolutions SJR 8 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8 BY SENATOR MCGUIRE, Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska creating and relating to the gas revenue endowment fund, relating to deposits to the fund, limiting appropriations from the fund based on an averaged percent of the fund market value, relating to deposits to the permanent fund, and relating to deposits to the budget reserve fund. was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. SR 3 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 3 BY SENATOR WAGONER, 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0593 Urging the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to amend the groundfish fisheries management plan for the Gulf of Alaska to allow for an annually adjusted cap of prohibited species catch based on an abundance of bycatch species, and expeditiously to implement a Chinook bycatch cap to limit the number of Chinook salmon harvested as bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska. was read the first time and held on the Secretary's desk. Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 111 SENATE BILL NO. 111 BY SENATOR THOMAS, entitled: "An Act authorizing the transfer of land from the State of Alaska and the Alaska Railroad Corporation to property owners along the Eielson Spur Line; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Community and Regional Affairs and Labor and Commerce Committees. SB 112 SENATE BILL NO. 112 BY SENATOR DYSON, entitled: "An Act relating to a credit against the oil and gas production tax for drilling certain exploration wells using a jack-up rig in the Cook Inlet sedimentary basin." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. SB 113 SENATE BILL NO. 113 BY SENATOR MCGUIRE, entitled: 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0594 "An Act authorizing an advisory vote on the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the construction of an in-state gas pipeline and related facilities; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. Consideration of the Calendar Second Reading of House Bills HB 98 HOUSE BILL NO. 98 "An Act relating to display, folding, presentment, and retirement of the state flag" was read the second time. Senator Wielechowski, Chair, moved and asked unanimous consent for the adoption of the State Affairs Senate Committee Substitute offered on page 539. Without objection, SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 98(STA) was adopted. Senator Meyer moved and asked unanimous consent that the bill be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Without objection, it was so ordered. SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 98(STA) was read the third time. Senators Davis, Olson, Paskvan moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cross sponsors on the bill. Without objection, it was so ordered. The question being: "Shall SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 98(STA) "An Act relating to display, folding, presentment, and retirement of the state flag" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0595 SCS HB 98(STA) Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 20 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Coghill, Davis, Dyson, Egan, Ellis, French, Giessel, Hoffman, Huggins, Kookesh, McGuire, Menard, Meyer, Olson, Paskvan, Stedman, Stevens, Thomas, Wagoner, Wielechowski and so, SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 98(STA) passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. Citations Honoring - Credit Union 1 Representative(s) Gruenberg Senator(s) Wielechowski, Stevens, Davis, Dyson, Egan, Ellis, Giessel, Hoffman, Huggins, Kookesh, McGuire, Menard, Meyer, Olson, Paskvan, Stedman, Thomas, Wagoner Honoring - Chanlyut Representative(s) Gruenberg Senator(s) Wielechowski, Stevens, Coghill, Davis, Dyson, Egan, Ellis, Giessel, Hoffman, Huggins, Kookesh, McGuire, Menard, Meyer, Olson, Paskvan, Stedman, Thomas, Wagoner In Memoriam - Teresa (Terry) Kathleen Hamilton Dean Senator(s) Kookesh, Stevens, Coghill, Davis, Dyson, Egan, Ellis, Giessel, Hoffman, Huggins, McGuire, Menard, Meyer, Olson, Paskvan, Stedman, Thomas, Wagoner, Wielechowski Representative(s) Thomas In Memoriam - Karl H. Greenewald Sr. Senator(s) Kookesh, Stevens, Coghill, Davis, Dyson, Egan, Ellis, Giessel, Hoffman, Huggins, McGuire, Menard, Meyer, Olson, Paskvan, Stedman, Thomas, Wagoner, Wielechowski Representative(s) Thomas 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. 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0596 Unfinished Business Senator Kookesh moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from morning plane time, through evening plane time, on April 1. Without objection, Senator Kookesh was excused. Senator Thomas moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, March 29 through morning plane time, March 31. Without objection, Senator Thomas was excused. Senator Huggins moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, March 25 through evening plane time, March 27. Without objection, Senator Huggins was excused. Senator McGuire moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, March 23 through evening plane time, March 26. Without objection, Senator McGuire was excused. SB 62 Senators Paskvan, Wielechowski, Menard moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL NO. 62 "An Act allowing appropriations to the civil legal services fund from court filing fees." Without objection, it was so ordered. SCR 7 Senators Hoffman, McGuire, Menard, Paskvan, Davis, Egan, Kookesh, French, Wagoner, Dyson, Ellis moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7 Proclaiming September 9, 2011, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day. Without objection, it was so ordered. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0597 Engrossment HB 98 SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 98(STA) "An Act relating to display, folding, presentment, and retirement of the state flag" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. Adjournment Senator Meyer moved and asked unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment until 10:00 a.m., March 25, 2011. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:38 a.m. Kirsten Waid Secretary of the Senate 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0598 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 Mar 24 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:00 PM + Planning for Alaska's Regional Ports and Harbors Mar 29 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM -- Note Time Change -- + Price of Oil's Impact to State and Municipal Governments <Above Item Removed from Agenda> + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 31 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Confirmation Hearing: Susan Bell, Commissioner, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Mar 23 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Presentation Mar 25 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM += SB 6 PREKINDERGARTEN SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0599 FINANCE Mar 23 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 8:30 AM -- Note Meeting Time -- += HB 108 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS += HB 109 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET Statewide Public Testimony Public Testimony 2 Minute Limit (Testifiers should be signed in no later than 15 minutes prior to the end of their allotted time period) 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. Juneau 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Kenai, Valdez, Kodiak, Seward, Mat-Su, Glennallen, Tok 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. Anchorage 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. Fairbanks 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg, Homer, Dillingham, Cordova 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. Bethel, Kotzebue, Barrow, Nome, Delta Junction, Unalaska, Offnets Mar 24 Thursday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM -- Meeting Postponed from 9 am to 3 pm -- += HB 108 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS += HB 109 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 25 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Department of Transportation Overview: Roads to Resources Uniform Rule 23 Waived += HB 108 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS += HB 109 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Mar 23 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += SB 5 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 25 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0600 JUDICIARY Mar 23 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Board Confirmations: Violent Crimes Compensation Board Alaska Police Standards Council Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct Alaska Judicial Council + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 25 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += HB 7 SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS + SB 101 ENTITY TRANSACTIONS ACT + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE Mar 24 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 2:00 PM -- Note: Meeting Time -- + Presentation: Economic Security for Women in AK by Portia Wu VP National Partnership for Women & Families + SB 32 APPROP: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY REV. LOAN FUND + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled += HB 28 TEMP LICENSE/FEE WAIVER FOR PROFESSIONALS <Bill Hearing Rescheduled from 3/22/11> ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES Mar 23 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Confirmation Hearings: Cora Campbell, Commissioner, DF&G Dan Sullivan, Commissioner, DNR Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 25 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SJR 2 LIMIT FEDERAL INTERVENTION IN STATE += SB 85 TAX CREDIT FOR NEW OIL & GAS DEVELOPMENT Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0601 STATE AFFAIRS Mar 24 Thursday Butrovich 205 9:00 AM + SB 53 COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN + HCR 6 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH + Confirmation Hearing: Bryan Butcher, Commissioner Designee for the Department of Revenue Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Mar 24 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:00 PM += SB 95 FRANK PALMER FERRY TERMINAL Uniform Rule 23 Waived ---------------------------------------- JOINT COMMITTEES HIGHER EDUC/CAREER READINESS TASK FORCE Mar 26 Saturday Capitol 106 9:00 AM + Final Meeting Draft Final Recommendations -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT Mar 29 Tuesday House Finance 519 8:00 AM Audits: Executive Session + Other Committee Business -- Teleconference <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Apr 07 Thursday House Finance 519 11:00 AM Agenda Forthcoming ---------------------------------------- 2011-03-23 Senate Journal Page 0602 OTHER MEETINGS BUSH CAUCUS Mar 24 Thursday H Conf Rm 102 Tsb 12:00 PM Legislature and Staff are Invited to a Demonstration of Digital Learning Via the iPad. Participants Will Enjoy Hands-On Demonstrations of Learning Opportunities through Applications and Digital Content on an iPad in a Very Learner-Friendly Format. Coordinators: Assn of Alaska School Boards through the Consortium for Digital Learning ---------------------------------------- FISH CAUCUS Mar 29 Tuesday Capitol 106 12:00 PM + "The Graying of the Fleet" Paula Cullenberg and Glenn Haight A Discussion Related to the Commercial Fishing Fleets Demographics ---------------------------------------- JOINT LEGISLATIVE HEALTH CAUCUS Mar 24 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 12:00 PM + Highways to Health Transportation from Alaska