Legislature(2011 - 2012)SENATE FINANCE 532
01/20/2012 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB51 | |
| SB53 | |
| SB103 | |
| SB68 | |
| SB30 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 51 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 53 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 68 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 53
"An Act reestablishing the Alaska Commission on the
Status of Women; and relating to the purpose and
powers of the Alaska Human Relations Commission."
9:17:39 AM
KATYA WASSILLIE, INTERN, SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, introduced
herself.
CELESTE HODGE, STAFF, SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, explained the
intent of SB 53, and referred to the Sponsor Statement
(copy on file). She stated that SB 53 would re-establish
the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women. The Alaska
Legislature established the Alaska Commission on the Status
of Women in 1978. The Commission was tasked with
implementing the recommendations contained in the
preliminary study on the status of women. The Commission
aimed to improve the status of women in the state by
conducting research, serving as a referral service for
information and education on existing resources for women,
and making and implementing recommendations on the
opportunities, needs, problems, and contributions of women
in Alaska. The Commission was dedicated to the achievement
of equal legal, economic, social and political status
specifically for women in Alaska and was a statewide
network for study and action on a variety of issues. In
1983, the Commission was renewed and renamed the Alaska
Women's Commission.
Ms. Hodge stated that the Commission conducted many public
hearings and trainings, developed manuals on violence
against women, education and welfare, conducted research to
help women avail themselves of existing resources to meet
their needs and implemented recommendations on the
opportunities, needs, problems and contributions of women
in the areas of education, homemaking, civil and legal
rights, and labor and employment. The Commission developed
a comprehensive statewide plan that identified the needs of
children and youth and made recommendations to enhance the
quality of life for women and children, as well as produced
annual reports on the status of women and children in
Alaska. The Alaska Women's Commission merged with the
Alaska Human Relations Commission in 1993. The Alaska Human
Relations Commission was declared inactive in 1996.
Ms. Hodge declared that in the several decades prior, the
participation and roles of women in the workforce had
changed dramatically. Women were employed in more varied
occupations and were more likely to work year-round than
they had in the past. In addition, women had attained
higher levels of education, and received the majority of
bachelor degrees granted. More mothers were part of the
workforce, and thus, a women's contribution to family
incomes had increased and was often critical for families'
economic well-being. In 2008, working wives contributed 29
percent of their families' incomes, up from 24 percent in
1988. Nonetheless, even though more women were currently
in the workforce than ever before, the difference in wages
men and women received for their work remained substantial.
The gender wage gap persisted in Alaska, and across a wide
spectrum of occupations and industries.
Ms. Hodge stated that women and children continued to be
the most common victims of domestic abuse. Women in Alaska
lead the nation as victims of sexual assaults. Alaska had a
struggling foster child system and Alaska's high school
students, both male and female, were dropping out at
alarming rates. Alaska had one of the lowest percentages of
students entering and completing higher education programs
and Alaska had a significant economic divide between our
urban and rural communities, which negatively impacted all
of the state.
Ms. Hodge furthered that Alaska with its unique culture,
history and challenges, combined with its large size and
small population, called for innovative forward thinking to
deal with many of the difficult issues that faced women and
children throughout Alaska. Reestablishing the Alaska
Commission on the Status of Women would allow Alaskans to
focus attention on the critical issues that had negatively
impacted women and children.
Co-Chair Hoffman queried some of the highlights of the old
program before it was abolished. Ms. Hodge responded that
there were many major accomplishments such as various
events, conference sponsorships to address suicide, and it
dealt with many educational issues. Senator Davis furthered
that some of the testifiers would be able to address more
topics, because they had served on the Commission. She
pointed out that the Commission was abolished because it
was combined with another Commission that never received
the necessary funding. She stressed that there had always
been a need for the Commission on the Status of Women.
9:22:16 AM
Co-Chair Stedman pointed out a new fiscal note from the
Governor's Office that showed the cost to re-establish the
Commission was $515,400 in General Funds for travel, per
diem, and a three-person staff.
ROSE STOKES, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53.
JANE ANGVIK, GIRLS SCOUTS OF ALASKA (via teleconference),
spoke in favor of SB 53.
DORIS ROBBINS, SELF (via teleconference), spoke in favor of
SB 53.
9:28:49 AM
AT EASE
9:30:15 AM
RECONVENED
9:30:37 AM
TAMI JERUE, ALASKA NATIVE WOMANS COALITION (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53.
ROSALIE NADEAU, SELF (via teleconference), spoke in favor
of SB 53. She noted the excessive rate of alcoholism and
its negative effects on woman.
GAREN TARR, ACHORAGE WOMENS COALITION (via teleconference),
spoke in favor of SB 53.
9:36:34 AM
BARBARA BELKNAP, JUNEAU, spoke in favor of SB 53. She
remembered when the Alaska Women's Commission shut its
doors during Governor Hickel's administration. Governor
Hickel replaced it with the Alaska Family Commission. A few
months later, in March 1996, there was a women's conference
in Centennial Hall and hundreds of women came from around
the state. Governor Parnell had made reducing violence
against Alaskan women one of his top priorities with the
Choose Respect Campaign. She pointed out that it was
against federal law to pay a woman less than a man for the
same job, but women all over Alaska made less money than
men in the same jobs. She hoped that military service was
the exception, but was unsure if that was the case. She
noted that the Juneau Economic Development Council's 2011
report on Juneau and Southeast Economic Indicators laid out
the wage disparity in every civilian field and every
education level. The report stated that nationally, men
earned 29 percent more than their female counterparts in
2009. In Alaska, men earned 37 percent more for full-time
year-round employment. In Juneau, men earned 42 percent
more than their female counterparts.
Ms. Belknap stressed that too many women earn less than men
for the same jobs in Alaska, which was illegal. She also
emphasized that Alaska led the country in violence by men
against women. The cost of living in Alaska was high, and
low income women could get stuck in dangerous relationships
because they might not afford to take care of themselves
and their children.
9:44:05 AM
MARIE DARLIN, ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS,
testified in support of SB 53. She referred to a letter of
support from the Alaska Association of Retired Persons
(copy on file). She agreed with Ms. Belknap's testimony
CAREN ROBINSON, ALASKA WOMEN'S LOBBY, spoke in strong
support of SB 53.
Senator Ellis Queried whether the re-establishment of the
Commission could be a complement to the governor's Choose
Respect Campaign. Ms. Robinson responded that the Council
on Domestic Violence would be part of the team, and would
be a complement the Commission.
9:50:55 AM
Senator McGuire asked about page 1 of the bill. She noticed
that the Commission would consist of two members of the
executive branch and seven public members. She noticed that
only one public member would be a person that manages their
own household that included a spouse and at least one child
and who is not otherwise employed. She remarked that the
data included in the bill highlighted that women who were
unmarried heads-of-household lived at 22.6 percent below
poverty level. She wondered why the bill did not state
specifically that there should be one of those types of
women on the commission. Ms. Robinson responded that she
would consider that addition to the Commission. She
stressed that the importance of representing those who
needed to be served. She added that the number Commission
members be kept to a minimum.
OUIDA MORRISON, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
favor of SB 53. She noted that diversity in Alaska had
changed since the 1980's, and it was important for current
issues to be addressed.
9:55:17 AM
ARLISS STURGULEWSKI, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in favor of SB 53.
Co-Chair Stedman closed the public testimony portion of the
SB 53.
Senator Davis stressed that SB 53 was important, and was
willing to work with the Committee to address changes to
the bill.
Co-Chair Hoffman noted that the meeting locations of the
Commission were too generic, and requested more specific
language regarding the meeting places.
10:00:03 AM
Senator McGuire remarked that memberships were referenced
twice in bill, and she noticed that there was only one area
of a specific appointment: at least one public member would
essentially be a "housewife." She wondered why that person
is specific, when the data showed that the area with the
most concern was a "female head-of-household." She stressed
the importance of including a female head-of-household in
the Commission.
SB 53 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
10:03:16 AM
AT EASE
10:04:02 AM
RECONVENED