2020-03-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 2188
SB 241                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 241 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act extending the March 11, 2020, governor's                                                                      
          declaration of a public health disaster emergency in                                                                  
          response to the COVID-19 pandemic; relating to the                                                                    
          powers of the director of insurance; relating to                                                                      
          standing orders issued by the chief medical officer;                                                                  
          relating to professional licensing; relating to                                                                       
          telemedicine and telehealth; relating to board of                                                                     
          nursing fingerprint requirements; relating to the 2020                                                                
          primary and general elections; relating to permanent                                                                  
          fund dividend applications; relating to automatic                                                                     
          voter registration; relating to tax; relating to                                                                      
          shareholder meetings; and providing for an effective                                                                  
          date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Rules Committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                

2020-03-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 2189
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Office of the Governor                                                                                
 Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Office of the Governor                                                                                
 Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Health and Social Services                                                              
 Fiscal Note No. 4, zero, Department of Health and Social Services                                                              
 Fiscal Note No. 5, indeterminate, Department of Military and                                                                   
          Veterans’ Affairs                                                                                                     
 Fiscal Note No. 6, zero, Department of Public Safety                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 7, Department of Revenue                                                                                       
 Fiscal Note No. 8, zero, Department of Commerce, Community,                                                                    
          and Economic Development                                                                                              
 Fiscal Note No. 9, zero, Department of Commerce, Community,                                                                    
          and Economic Development                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated March 20:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Giessel:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to an extension of my                                                           
March 11, 2020, public health disaster emergency declaration.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
On March 11, 2020, the commissioner of the Department of Health                                                                 
and Social Services certified that a credible threat exists of an                                                               
imminent outbreak of disease due to the worldwide spread of the novel                                                           
coronavirus disease COVID-19. Accordingly, on March 12, 2020, I                                                                 
declared a public health disaster emergency to initiate a unified                                                               
command structure between the Department of Health and Social                                                                   
Services and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to                                                                 
implement statutory powers to address the public health emergency                                                               
and keep Alaskans safe. This bill allows for an extension of this                                                               
declaration until March 12, 2021. I have proposed a one year                                                                    
extension due to the uncertainty and unknown duration of the global                                                             
pandemic. The bill further provides for necessary actions to protect                                                            
public health, safety, and general welfare to address the effects of the                                                        
COVID-19 outbreak.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2020-03-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 2190
We understand from solid public health evidence and the experiences                                                             
of other countries that major, long-term measures will be needed to                                                             
address this pandemic. I urge your prompt support to safeguard the                                                              
health and wellbeing of all Alaskans.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor