Legislature(2021 - 2022)
2021-09-02 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1393 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION Juneau, Alaska Thursday September 2, 2021 Eighteenth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Micciche at 11:04 a.m. The roll showed eleven members present. Senators Olson, Stedman, von Imhof were excused from a call of the Senate. Senators Bishop, Costello, Reinbold, Revak, Shower, Wielechowski were absent. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent Senators Bishop, Costello, Reinbold, Revak, Shower be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senators Bishop, Costello, Reinbold, Revak, Shower were excused. Senator Begich moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Wielechowski be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senator Wielechowski was excused. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Kayla Epstein, staff to Senator Begich. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Creator, I saw a miracle. Well, a photo of a miracle. It has been called the photograph of the century. It is a photo of a lioness and an elephant walking side by side across a dusty road. The elephant is gently carrying a cub in its trunk. The photographer told the story behind the scene. It was hot and dry and the cub couldn’t keep up with its mother, but if they couldn’t 2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1394 find water soon, the cub would die. The elephant saw the situation, picked up the fading cub, and carried it to a lake where it left mother and child. I was blown away. What has happened to our country? It is torn in two. We cannot listen with respect to one another and we attack, not the facts as we see them, but by degrading those who do not agree with us. Our national leaders abandon us for political and personal advantage. I feel like that cub abandoned on a dusty savannah. Some of those leaders abandon us by mistrust of each other and displaced loyalties. But in this room I see hope and not despair. I see women and men of good intentions striving to do good while respecting each other. The pundits said it will take a miracle for anything to come out of this special session. I say in this building good can prevail. Creator of Peace, who made that elephant and that lioness, we thank you for giving us leaders who are willing to work together to find solutions to the benefit of Alaskans. And together we say, Amen. Senator Myers led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the journal for the seventeenth legislative day be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. 2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1395 Messages from the House Message dated September 1 was read stating the House passed and transmitted for consideration: First Reading and Reference of House Bills HB 3003 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 3003(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld) BY THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; making capital appropriations and supplemental appropriations; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. Standing Committee Reports SB 3002 President Micciche added a Resources Committee referral to SENATE BILL NO. 3002 "An Act establishing an income tax on certain entities in the state; relating to the motor fuel tax; relating to nontransferable tax credits against the oil and gas production tax; and providing for an effective date." The bill was referred to the Resources, then Finance Committees. Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 3004 SENATE BILL NO. 3004 BY SENATOR KIEHL, entitled: "An Act relating to use of income of the Alaska permanent fund; relating to the amount of the permanent fund dividend; relating to the duties of the commissioner of revenue; and providing for an effective date." 2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1396 was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. SB 3005 SENATE BILL NO. 3005 BY SENATOR KIEHL, entitled: "An Act relating to the taxation of income of individuals, partners, shareholders in S corporations, trusts, and estates; relating to a credit against the individual income tax; repealing tax credits applied against the tax on individuals under the Alaska Net Income Tax Act; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate return to Messages from the Governor. Without objection, the Senate returned to: Messages from the Governor Recess Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in recess to a call of the Chair. Without objection, the Senate recessed at 11:11 a.m. After Recess The Senate reconvened at 2:49 p.m. Messages from the Governor (continued) Executive Proclamation Under the authority of Article II, Section 9, and Article III, Section 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska, and in the public interest, I hereby amend my proclamation of August 19, 2021, calling the Thirty-Second Legislature of the State of Alaska into special session as follows: 2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1397 The Thirty-Second Legislature of the State of Alaska is called into its third special session at Juneau, Alaska, in the legislative chambers, on August 16, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., to consider the following subjects: • HJR 6, SJR 5, or similar resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to an appropriation limit; and relating to the Constitutional Budget Reserve fund; • HJR 7 or SJR 6, proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the Alaska Permanent Fund, appropriations from the Alaska Permanent Fund, the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, and power cost equalization; • An act or acts relating to measures to increase state revenues; • An act making appropriations, including appropriation for a 2021 Permanent Fund Dividend for eligible Alaskans, and for certain postsecondary education funds; • HB 83, SB 67, or similar acts relating to the licensure of nursing professionals; • An act or acts relating to Telemedicine and Telehealth, health care capacity, and workforce improvements that will accelerate the State's ongoing response to COVID-19. Dated: September 2, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor 2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1398 Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills (continued) SB 3006 SENATE BILL NO. 3006 BY THE SENATE 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 Labor and Commerce Committee. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Health and Social Services Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Governor's transmittal letter dated September 2: Dear President Micciche: 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. 2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1399 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 Unfinished Business Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from September 28 through October 13. Without objection, Senator Hughes was excused. Announcements Rule 23(d) of the Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules is currently in effect. Announcements are at the end of the journal. Adjournment Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 10:30 a.m., September 3, 2021. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 2:58 p.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1400 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 JUDICIARY Sep 03 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SJR301 CONST. AM: APPROP LIMIT **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Sep 08 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += SJR301 CONST. AM: APPROP LIMIT -- Public Testimony -- + SJR302 CONST. AM: PFD/SUSTAINABLE DIVIDEND/PCE **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Sep 09 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += SJR301 CONST. AM: APPROP LIMIT + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE Sep 07 Tuesday Location TBA 1:30 PM + SB3006 HEALTH CARE REQS; COVID-19; TELEHEALTH -- Invited & Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Sep 08 Wednesday Location TBA 1:30 PM += SB3006 HEALTH CARE REQS; COVID-19; TELEHEALTH -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2021-09-02 Senate Journal Page 1401 LABOR & COMMERCE (continued) Sep 09 Thursday Location TBA 1:30 PM += SB3006 HEALTH CARE REQS; COVID-19; TELEHEALTH -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- JOINT COMMITTEES REDISTRICTING BOARD Sep 07 Tuesday Anch Lio Denali Rm 9:00 AM + Map Drawing Work Session; Discussion & Adoption of Draft Plan(s) -- Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Sep 08 Wednesday Anch Lio Denali Rm 9:00 AM + Map Drawing Work Session; Discussion & Adoption of Draft Plan(s) -- Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Sep 09 Thursday Anch Lio Denali Rm 9:00 AM + Map Drawing Work Session; Discussion & Adoption of Draft Plan(s) -- Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Sep 10 Friday Anch Lio Denali Rm 9:00 AM + Map Drawing Work Session; Discussion & Adoption of Draft Plan(s) -- Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv**