Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

05/18/2021 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 46 LAW ENFORCEMENT: REGISTRY; USE OF FORCE TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 46(CRA) Out of Committee
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+= SB 136 LIMITATIONS ON FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 136(CRA) Out of Committee
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
          SB 136-LIMITATIONS ON FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:35:47 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES announced  the consideration of SENATE  BILL NO. 136                                                               
"An Act relating to firearms and other weapons restrictions."                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:36:15 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MYERS,  speaking as sponsor  of SB 136, stated  the point                                                               
of  the bill  is to  protect rights  regarding firearms  during a                                                               
disaster declaration. He added,  "Especially during a time period                                                               
when we  may need  our firearms to  put food on  the table  or to                                                               
defend ourselves, depending on the situation."                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  HUGHES  commented on  the  need  to rebalance  legislative                                                               
power during a disaster declaration.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
She asked if he had an amendment to offer.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:37:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MYERS moved Amendment 1.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:37:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES objected for discussion purposes.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:37:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   MYERS  explained   Amendment   1  provides   clarifying                                                               
language. The  Court System and other  entities expressed concern                                                               
that  the bill  would apply  both during  and outside  a disaster                                                               
declaration because of the use  of the term "notwithstanding." He                                                               
said  the  bill is  intended  to  apply  only during  a  disaster                                                               
declaration; there is  no intention to change  firearm rules when                                                               
there is  not a disaster  declaration. Rather, the bill  seeks to                                                               
prevent the state  or a municipality from  altering firearm rules                                                               
by executive fiat and without legislative oversight.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Amendment  1  changes  the  phrase  "notwithstanding  a  disaster                                                               
declaration"  to  "during  a disaster  declaration".  The  phrase                                                               
"state or municipal agency" is  reworded to say, "the governor, a                                                               
state agency, or a municipality".                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:39:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  stated she  does not  support the  bill but                                                               
she  would  support   the  amendment  out  of   respect  for  her                                                               
colleague.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:40:32 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   HUGHES  removed   her  objection.   Finding  no   further                                                               
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
She asked the sponsor if he had closing remarks.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:41:00 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MYERS  stated the point  of SB  136 is to  ensure firearm                                                               
rights  are not  violated  by executive  fiat  during a  disaster                                                               
declaration.  The intent  is  for  people to  be  able to  defend                                                               
themselves,  provide  for  their  families, and  do  things  they                                                               
expect to be able to do with their firearm rights.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES recalled early in  the pandemic Alaskans were unsure                                                               
about  the Port  of Seattle  and how  the food  supply to  Alaska                                                               
might  be affected.  She appreciated  that she  lived in  a state                                                               
that had abundant hunting and fishing resources.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
She asked the will of the committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:42:42 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MYERS moved  to report SB 136, work  order 32-LS0856\A as                                                               
amended,  from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:42:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES  found no objection  and CSSB 136(CRA)  was reported                                                               
from  the   Senate  Community   and  Regional   Affairs  Standing                                                               
Committee.                                                                                                                      

Document Name Date/Time Subjects