Legislature(2021 - 2022)
2021-09-11 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2021-09-11 House Journal Page 1497 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION Juneau, Alaska Saturday September 11, 2021 Twenty-seventh Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Stutes at 11:02 a.m. Roll call showed 32 members present. Representative Claman had been excused from a call of the House today. Representatives Carpenter, Rasmussen, and Wool were absent. Representative Kreiss- Tomkins was absent, and his presence was noted later. Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the following members be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the members were excused as noted: Representative Patkotak – today Representative Story – today Representative Nelson – from today to 7:00 p.m., September 12 The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Representative Tilton. Representative Thompson moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. I offer the following prayer respecting the religious traditions of all Alaskans: 2021-09-11 House Journal Page 1498 Before I begin, I’d ask us all to take a moment of silence in remembrance of the 2,977 Americans who died, including 344 firefighters and 71 police officers, on that fateful and tragic day 20 years ago. It was a day when unspeakable evil manifested itself. It was a day that changed this country, and the world, forever. Let us remember those who were lost on September 11th, 2001. May God continue to bless and comfort all the family and friends left behind by these terrible losses. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with important work. Work that none of us can accomplish individually and work that it seems we are sometimes unable to accomplish collectively. It is work that we can only accomplish with your wisdom, grace, and mercy. In the book of James, your word tells us, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Lord, I ask for that wisdom for every member of this body. Holy God, as you extend us grace, help us all extend grace to each other. Show us how to disagree without being disagreeable. As the New Testament tells us, Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Father, remind us often that, A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Finally, Lord, as we go about our business this day—and every day—help us to keep fresh in our minds the Preamble of our State Constitution: We the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land, in order to secure and transmit to succeeding generations our heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty within the Union of States, do ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Alaska. 2021-09-11 House Journal Page 1499 Thank you, Father God, for the blessings you’ve bestowed upon this great land and help us to be the good stewards you’ve called us to be. I ask all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Gillham. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 16th through 26th legislative days of the Third Special Session be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE A message dated September 10 was read stating the Senate passed the following, and it is transmitted for consideration: FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF SENATE BILLS SB 3006 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 3006(L&C) am by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, entitled: "An Act relating to COVID-19 immunization and proof of vaccination; relating to personal objections to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines; relating to COVID-19 immunization rights; relating to utilization review requirements; making temporary changes to state law in response to the novel coronavirus disease; relating to telemedicine and telehealth; relating to background checks; relating to certificates of need; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services Committee. 2021-09-11 House Journal Page 1500 INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 3009 HOUSE BILL NO. 3009 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: "An Act relating to utilization review requirements; making temporary changes to state law in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); relating to telemedicine and telehealth; relating to background checks; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services Committee. The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development 2. Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development 3. Zero, Dept. of Health & Social Services The Governor's transmittal letter dated September 2 follows: "Dear Speaker Stutes: Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to utilization review requirements, making temporary changes to state law in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); relating to telemedicine, telehealth, and background checks. This bill adds a new subsection to AS 21.06.080 to allow the Director of the Division of Insurance to waive certain utilization review requirements for placements. The bill also provides for the use of telemedicine and telehealth until July 1, 2022. Finally, the bill allows for the temporary suspension of certain background check requirements by the Department of Health and Social Services, provided the facility can attest to conducting said background check requirements as part of its hiring process. There is an immediate effective date. 2021-09-11 House Journal Page 1501 Passage of this legislation will enhance workforce and healthcare facility capacity, as well as accelerate the State’s ongoing response to the transmission of COVID-19. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor" **The presence of Representative Kreiss-Tomkins was noted. SENSE OF THE HOUSE The following Sense of the House was offered by Representative Eastman: "It is the sense of the House that the Nuremberg Code, adopted in 1947, following the prosecution of Nazi war crimes by the allies after World War II, remains just as valid today as when it was written in 1947." Representative Eastman moved that the Sense of the House be adopted. There was objection. The Speaker referred the Sense of the House to the State Affairs, Health & Social Services, and Judiciary Committees. Representative Eastman appealed the ruling of the Chair. The question being: "Shall the ruling of the Chair be sustained?" The roll was taken with the following result: Sense of the House Refer to STA, HSS, JUD Committees Sustain Ruling of the Chair YEAS: 17 NAYS: 16 EXCUSED: 4 ABSENT: 3 2021-09-11 House Journal Page 1502 Yeas: Drummond, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Hannan, Hopkins, Josephson, Kreiss-Tomkins, Merrick, Ortiz, Schrage, Snyder, Spohnholz, Stutes, Tarr, Tuck, Zulkosky Nays: Cronk, Eastman, Gillham, Johnson, Kaufman, Kurka, LeBon, McCabe, McCarty, McKay, Prax, Rauscher, Shaw, Thompson, Tilton, Vance Excused: Claman, Nelson, Patkotak, Story Absent: Carpenter, Rasmussen, Wool And so, the ruling of the Chair was sustained. UNFINISHED BUSINESS HB 175 Representatives Rauscher and Tilton added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 175 "An Act relating to COVID-19 immunization rights." ANNOUNCEMENTS Uniform Rule 23(d) is in effect. House committee schedules are published under separate cover. ADJOURNMENT Representative Tuck moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 1:00 p.m., September 12. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 11:51 a.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk