Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2023-05-17 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1155 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday May 17, 2023 One Hundred Twenty-first Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Tilton at 7:51 p.m. Roll call showed 40 members present. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Representative Cronk. Representative Vance moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. With the greatest respect for the diversity of beliefs of all the Alaskans we represent, I offer the following prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, We come to you today a needy people. I ask that you bless us with understanding, the ability to see past our own needs and to understand others. Bless us with silence. We live in a noisy world. Allow us the clarity to let our minds clear and to make better decisions. Bless us with persistence. Allow us to not grow weary of doing good, for we will reap, if we do not give up. Bless us with unity. The ability to work together despite our differences. 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1156 Bless us with kindness. When our times here are tough and frustrating, that is when we need to exhibit kindness and compassion for each other. Bless us with gratitude. Gratitude for the honor to serve in this body. Gratitude to not only serve you Lord, but to serve every person in every district of this Great State of Alaska that we call home. Gratitude to let every Alaskan's voice be heard. Lord, bless each of us here today. Bless this body we serve in. Bless our leadership, both the majority and minority and give them the wisdom to guide us with passion, integrity, commitment, honesty, and empathy. Lord, bless all the people of this great state. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Gray. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 120th legislative day be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR A Declaration of Disaster Emergency dated May 13 and accompanying letter dated May 16, regarding the flooding at Alaska Gateway, Yukon Flats, Copper River, and Kuskpuk Regional Education Attendance Areas were received. The declaration and accompanying letter were copied to the Finance Committee Co-chairs and are on file in the Chief Clerk's office. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE HB 141 A message dated May 16 was read stating the Senate passed: 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1157 HOUSE BILL NO. 141 "An Act establishing June 9 of each year as Don Young Day." HB 141 was referred to the Chief Clerk for enrollment. HB 39 A message received at 6:43 p.m., May 17 was read stating the Senate passed: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 39(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; repealing appropriations; amending appropriations; making reappropriations; and making supplemental appropriations." with the following amendment, and it is transmitted for consideration: SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 39(FIN) am S "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; repealing appropriations; amending appropriations; making capital appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and reappropriations; and providing for an effective date." (SCR 6 - title change resolution) The message further stated that under Uniform Rule 43(b), engrossment had been waived and certified amendment Nos. 26, 27, 30, 31, 35, and 37 were attached. In the event the House fails to concur in the Senate amendments, the President has appointed the following members to a conference committee to meet with a like conference committee from the House to consider the bills: Senator Stedman, Chair Senator Hoffman Senator Olson 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1158 CSHB 39(FIN) am (brf sup maj fld)(efd fld) is under Unfinished Business. HB 41 A message received at 6:43 p.m., May 17 was read stating the Senate passed CSHB 41(FIN) am with the following amendment, and it is transmitted for consideration: SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 41(FIN) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." CSHB 41(FIN) am is under Unfinished Business. HB 51 A message dated May 16 was read stating the Senate passed: HOUSE BILL NO. 51 "An Act relating to refrigerants designated as acceptable for use under federal law." with the following amendment, and it is transmitted for consideration: HOUSE BILL NO. 51 am S(efd add S) "An Act relating to refrigerants designated as acceptable for use under federal law; relating to firefighting substances; and providing for an effective date." (SCR 7 - title change resolution) HB 51 is under Unfinished Business. HB 61 A message dated May 16 was read stating the Senate passed CSHB 61(STA) with the following amendment, and it is transmitted for consideration: SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 61(JUD) am S "An Act relating to restrictions on firearms and other weapons." 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1159 CSHB 61(STA) is under Unfinished Business. A message dated May 17 was read stating the Senate passed the following, and it is transmitted for consideration: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF SENATE RESOLUTIONS SCR 6 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6 by the Senate Finance Committee: Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 39, making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; repealing appropriations; amending appropriations; making reappropriations; and making supplemental appropriations. was read the first time. * * * * * In accordance with Uniform Rule 30(c), the Speaker announced that reconsideration was not available today. In accordance with Uniform Rule 43(b), the Speaker announced that engrossment may be waived on the bills on today's calendar. CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS HB 51 Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House consider the Senate message (page 1158) on the following: HOUSE BILL NO. 51 "An Act relating to refrigerants designated as acceptable for use under federal law." 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1160 and HOUSE BILL NO. 51 am S(efd add S) "An Act relating to refrigerants designated as acceptable for use under federal law; relating to firefighting substances; and providing for an effective date." (SCR 7 - title change resolution) There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Saddler moved that the House concur in the Senate amendment and recommended that the members vote yes. The question being: "Shall the House concur in the Senate amendment?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 51 am S(efd add S) Concur YEAS: 38 NAYS: 2 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Armstrong, Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Patkotak, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Shaw, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Nays: Carpenter, Eastman And so, the House concurred in the Senate amendment, thus adopting HB 51 am S(efd add S). Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the roll call on the passage of the bill be considered the roll call on the effective date clause. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The Chief Clerk notified the Senate. The bill was referred to the Chief Clerk for enrollment. 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1161 SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS SCR 7 Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the following by Senator Kiehl be taken up as a Special Order of Business: SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 51, relating to refrigerants designated as acceptable for use under federal law. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The question being: "Shall SCR 7 pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCR 7 Special Order of Business YEAS: 38 NAYS: 2 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Armstrong, Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Patkotak, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Shaw, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Nays: Carpenter, Eastman And so, SCR 7 passed the House, was signed by the Speaker and Chief Clerk, and returned to the Senate. CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS HB 61 Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House consider the Senate message (page 1158) on the following: 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1162 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 61(STA) "An Act relating to restrictions on firearms and other weapons." and SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 61(JUD) am S (same title) There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Saddler moved that the House concur in the Senate amendment and recommended that the members vote yes. The question being: "Shall the House concur in the Senate amendment?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 61(JUD) am S Concur YEAS: 28 NAYS: 12 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Edgmon, Foster, Groh, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Ortiz, Patkotak, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Shaw, Stapp, Stutes, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Nays: Armstrong, Carrick, Eastman, Fields, Galvin, Gray, Hannan, Himschoot, Josephson, Mears, Mina, Story And so, the House concurred in the Senate amendment, thus adopting SCS CSHB 61(JUD) am S. The Chief Clerk notified the Senate. The bill was referred to the Chief Clerk for enrollment. HB 39 HB 41 Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House waive Uniform Rule 41(c) to take up CSHB 39(FIN) am (brf sup maj fld)(efd fld) (page 1157) and CSHB 41(FIN) am (page 1158). 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1163 There was objection. The Speaker stated that the House would stand at ease for 15 min; and so, the House stood at ease at 8:45 p.m. AFTER AT EASE The Speaker called the House back to order at 9:13 p.m. CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS HB 39 HB 41 The motion to waive Uniform Rule 41(c) was before the House. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw the motion. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The House adjourned. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS HB 17 The following was not taken up this legislative day and will be on the January 16, 2024, calendar: HOUSE BILL NO. 17 "An Act relating to insurance coverage for contraceptives and related services; relating to medical assistance coverage for contraceptives and related services; and providing for an effective date." SECOND READING OF SENATE BILLS SB 45 The following was not taken up this legislative day and will be on the January 16, 2024, calendar: 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1164 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 45(L&C) am "An Act relating to insurance; relating to direct health care agreements; relating to the duties of the director of the division of insurance in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; and providing for an effective date." LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS The following citations were not taken up this legislative day: Honoring – The Good Friday Agreement, 25th Anniversary By Representatives Shaw, Josephson Honoring – Clyde D. Peterson By Senator Bjorkman Honoring – The Fairbanks Red Hackle Pipe Band, 50th Anniversary By Senator Kawasaki In Memoriam – Lourdes "Lo" Linato-Crawford By Representatives Fields, Mina; Senator Tobin In Memoriam – Mae Demidoff By Representative Vance; Senator Stevens In Memoriam – Keith Ferris By Senators Wielechowski, Dunbar; Representative Gray UNFINISHED BUSINESS HB 51 Representative Galvin added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 51 am S(efd add S) "An Act relating to refrigerants designated as acceptable for use under federal law; relating to firefighting substances; and providing for an effective date." 2023-05-17 House Journal Page 1165 SJR 10 Representative Story added as a cross sponsor to: SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10 Encouraging Alaska's Congressional delegation and the federal government to raise Medicare reimbursement rates to meet the actual cost of care for the state's senior citizens. ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published under separate cover. ADJOURNMENT Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn (page 1163). There was objection. The question being: "Shall the House adjourn?" The roll was taken with the following result: Adjourn YEAS: 22 NAYS: 18 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Edgmon, Foster, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Patkotak, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Shaw, Stapp, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Nays: Armstrong, Carrick, Dibert, Eastman, Fields, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, Josephson, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Schrage, Story, Stutes, Sumner And so, the House adjourned at 9:13 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk