Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124

03/24/2022 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

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Audio Topic
08:02:10 AM Start
08:02:48 AM HB298
08:30:53 AM Presentation: Department of Corrections
10:02:37 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Presentation: Department of Corrections TELECONFERENCED
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 298 ALASKA FOOD STRATEGY TASK FORCE TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 298(CRA) Out of Committee
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
    HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                   
                         March 24, 2022                                                                                         
                           8:02 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Sara Hannan, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Calvin Schrage, Co-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Josiah Patkotak, Vice Chair                                                                                      
Representative Harriet Drummond                                                                                                 
Representative Mike Prax                                                                                                        
Representative Ken McCarty                                                                                                      
Representative Kevin McCabe                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 298                                                                                                              
"An Act establishing the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force; and                                                                   
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHB 298(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION:  DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 298                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA FOOD STRATEGY TASK FORCE                                                                                    
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SNYDER                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
02/04/22       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/04/22       (H)       CRA                                                                                                    
03/15/22       (H)       CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/15/22       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/15/22       (H)       MINUTE(CRA)                                                                                            
03/17/22       (H)       CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/17/22       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/17/22       (H)       MINUTE(CRA)                                                                                            
03/24/22       (H)       CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LIZ SNYDER                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, responded to questions                                                                 
during the hearing on HB 298.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff                                                                                                           
Representative Liz Snyder                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Confirmed a point made by the bill sponsor                                                               
during the hearing on HB 298.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
LAURA BROOKS, Director                                                                                                          
Division of Health and Rehab Services                                                                                           
Department of Corrections                                                                                                       
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION   STATEMENT:       Provided   information   during   the                                                             
presentation on the Department of Corrections.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
KELLY GOODE, Deputy Commissioner                                                                                                
Department of Corrections                                                                                                       
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION   STATEMENT:       Provided   information   during   the                                                             
presentation on the Department of Corrections.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MIKE MATTHEWS, Research Analyst                                                                                                 
Division of Administrative Services                                                                                             
Department of Corrections                                                                                                       
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Offered information during the presentation                                                              
on the Department of Corrections.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BRANN WADE, Chief Classification Officer                                                                                        
Division of Institutions                                                                                                        
Department of Corrections                                                                                                       
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Offered information during the presentation                                                              
on the Department of Corrections.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SIDNEY WOOD, Acting Deputy Director                                                                                             
Division of Institutions                                                                                                        
Department of Corrections                                                                                                       
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION   STATEMENT:       Provided   information   during   the                                                             
presentation on the Department of Corrections.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:02:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR CALVIN  SCHRAGE called the House  Community and Regional                                                             
Affairs  Standing  Committee  meeting   to  order  at  8:02  a.m.                                                               
Representatives Drummond, Prax, Hannan,  and Schrage were present                                                               
at  the call  to  order.   Representatives  McCabe, McCarty,  and                                                               
Patkotak arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
             HB 298-ALASKA FOOD STRATEGY TASK FORCE                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:02:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SCHRAGE  announced that  the  first  order of  business                                                               
would  be HOUSE  BILL NO.  298, "An  Act establishing  the Alaska                                                               
Food Strategy Task Force; and providing for an effective date."                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:03:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND  moved to  adopt Amendment  1 to  HB 298,                                                               
labeled 32-LS1398\A.4, Ambrose, 3/23/22, which read as follows:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 6:                                                                                                            
          Delete "two members from the senate"                                                                                  
          Insert "one member from the minority caucus of                                                                        
     the senate and one member from the majority caucus of                                                                      
     the senate"                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 8:                                                                                                            
          Delete   "two   members    from   the   house   of                                                                    
     representatives"                                                                                                           
          Insert "one member from the minority caucus of                                                                        
      the house of representatives and one member from the                                                                      
     majority caucus of the house of representatives"                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 9 - 11:                                                                                                      
          Delete ";                                                                                                             
      (C)  at least one member from the minority caucus of                                                                      
     the senate or house of representatives"                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:03:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND spoke to  Amendment 1, explaining that it                                                               
would  ensure one  member  each from  the  minority and  majority                                                               
caucus of both the House and Senate.   She said there would be no                                                               
minimum  or  maximum of  people.    She  opined that  this  equal                                                               
representation was rational.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:04:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX [withdrew] his objection to Amendment 1.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:05:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:05 a.m. to 8:06 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:06:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that there being no further                                                                          
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:06:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 298,                                                                     
labeled 32-LS1398\A.2, Foote, 3/21/22, which read as follows:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 18:                                                                                                           
          Delete "and"                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 19, following "development":                                                                                  
          Insert "; and                                                                                                         
               (6)  the commissioner of transportation and                                                                      
     public facilities"                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 2:                                                                                                            
          Delete "six"                                                                                                          
          Insert "seven"                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 9:                                                                                                            
          Delete the second occurrence of "and"                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 10, following "communities":                                                                                  
          Insert "; and                                                                                                         
               (7)     improving      transportation     and                                                                    
       infrastructure to transfer and deliver food in the                                                                       
     state"                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 11:                                                                                                           
          Delete "six"                                                                                                          
          Insert "seven"                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 18, following "needs":                                                                                        
          Insert "and storage"                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, line 21, following "system":                                                                                       
          Insert "and storage"                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, lines 25 - 26:                                                                                                     
          Delete "and food sovereignty"                                                                                         
     Insert ", food sovereignty, and local storage methods"                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:06:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE  spoke to  Amendment 2.   He said  it would                                                               
address the transportation aspect  of food security, which people                                                               
often  forget  about.   It  would  add  the commissioner  of  the                                                               
Department  of Transportation  & Public  Facilities (DOT&PF)  "to                                                               
the mix."   The increase in  focus areas from six  to seven would                                                               
serve the same purpose of  adding the focus on transportation and                                                               
infrastructure, he explained.  Further,  he highlighted the focus                                                               
on storage, which he emphasized is important.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:09:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY stated  support of Amendment 2.   He noted                                                               
that DOT&PF  is in charge  of some storage  facilities throughout                                                               
the  state, and  he suggested  some of  those buildings  could be                                                               
used for [food] storage.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:09:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND  withdrew her  objection to  Amendment 2.                                                               
There being no further objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:09:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY moved  to adopt  Amendment 3  to HB  298,                                                               
labeled 32-LS1398\A.5, Ambrose, 3/23/22, which read as follows:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 21, following "board,":                                                                                       
          Insert "with due regard for broad geographic                                                                          
     representation of the state,"                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:09:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY  spoke to Amendment  3.   He said it  is a                                                               
reminder that  the members of the  task force are to  be from all                                                               
around the state.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  HANNAN said  she had  no  objection to  the intent  but                                                               
questioned  whether the  use  of  the words  "due  regard" was  a                                                               
recommendation from Legislative Legal and Research Services.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY  confirmed it came from  Legislative Legal                                                               
and Research Services.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:11:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  HANNAN  [withdrew  her  objection.]    There  being  no                                                               
further objection, Amendment 3 was adopted.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:12:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND  moved to  adopt Amendment  4 to  HB 298,                                                               
labeled 32-LS1398\A.1, Foote, 2/13/22, which read as follows:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 16, following "includes":                                                                                     
     Insert "growing and harvesting,"                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:12:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DRUMMOND spoke  to  Amendment 4.   She  indicated                                                               
that [the purpose  for adding "growing and  harvesting"] was that                                                               
that is a necessary step before harvesting and processing.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:12:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY withdrew his objection.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:12:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  HANNAN  questioned  whether it  should  read  "growing,                                                               
harvesting" and continue with the list already in the language.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND suggested commas instead of "and" later                                                                 
in the sentence, but then said she did not have a problem with                                                                  
the way it was.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:13:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE suggested leaving the punctuation up to                                                                        
Legislative Legal and Research Services.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND said, "Let's do that."                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced there being no further objection,                                                                    
Amendment 4 was adopted.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:14:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to adopt Amendment 5 to HB 298,                                                                   
labeled 32-LS1398\A.6, Ambrose, 3/23/22, which read as follows:                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, following line 13:                                                                                                 
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
         "* Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of                                                                      
     Alaska enacted in sec. 2(c) of this Act is amended to                                                                      
     read:                                                                                                                      
          (c)  The following commissioners, or their                                                                            
     designees, serve as members of the task force:                                                                             
               (1)  the commissioner of natural resources;                                                                      
               (2)  the commissioner of fish and game;                                                                          
               (3)  the commissioner of health [AND SOCIAL                                                                      
     SERVICES];                                                                                                                 
               (4)      the    commissioner   of   commerce,                                                                    
     community, and economic development; and                                                                                   
               (5)  the commissioner of education and early                                                                     
     development."                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, line 18:                                                                                                           
          Delete "Sections 1 and 2"                                                                                             
          Insert "Sections 1 - 3"                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, following line 18:                                                                                                 
     Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                         
       "* Sec. 6. Section 3 of this Act takes effect July                                                                   
     1, 2022."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill section accordingly.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, line 19:                                                                                                           
          Delete "This"                                                                                                         
       Insert "Except as provided in sec. 6 of this Act,                                                                        
     this"                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:14:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND  spoke to  Amendment 5.   She  noted that                                                               
the current  Department of Health  and Social Services  was being                                                               
split into the Department of  Health and the Department of Social                                                               
Services, and Amendment 5 would  ensure the commissioner from the                                                               
Department of Health would be on the taskforce.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:15:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LIZ SNYDER,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor of HB  298, confirmed that Amendment 5  was following the                                                               
advice of Legislative Legal Services.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:16:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX assumed  that it  could be  anyone from  the                                                               
department, not specifically the commissioner.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER  confirmed it could be  the commissioner or                                                               
the commissioner's designee.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:17:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  HANNAN  noted that  there  was  reference made  to  the                                                               
commissioner on  page 2,  line 16, and  she queried  whether "and                                                               
Social Services" should be deleted from there, as well.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:17:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY  asked about  the  timing  of the  bill's                                                               
effective  date  along  with  the  timing of  the  split  of  the                                                               
departments.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:19:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER noted the bill  had been written as advised                                                               
by Legislative  Legal Services  in light  of the  executive order                                                               
(EO) that split the department into two departments.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:19:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ARIELLE WIGGIN,  Staff, Representative  Liz Snyder,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of Representative Snyder,  prime sponsor,                                                               
confirmed that the language was  recommended by Legislative Legal                                                               
Services  to ensure  the commissioner  of the  new Department  of                                                               
Health would be specified in the bill.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:19:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY  suggested that in addition  to the change                                                               
suggested  by  Representative Hannan  on  page  2, line  16,  the                                                               
committee could set an effective date of July 1, 2022.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:20:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE observed  that the topic on page 2,  line 16, is                                                               
not  actually  an  issue,  because   "that  will  essentially  be                                                               
replaced by this  new Section 3, which becomes  effective July 1,                                                               
2022."   He asked, "Is  it ... a  delayed effective date  of this                                                               
new Section  3, which  would override  the original  section, and                                                               
that's why we're not deleting it from the bill?"                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:21:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER  responded yes, and she  explained the idea                                                               
is to allow for a transition period.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:21:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY  questioned the  need for  expediency when                                                               
there is "this  council and the EO that is  looking at the food."                                                               
He  suggested  making the  legislation  correspond  with the  new                                                               
Department of Health by making the effective date July 1, 2022.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:23:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SNYDER explained  the idea  is for  the new  task                                                               
force to  pick up where the  governor's task force leaves  off in                                                               
the  fall.   Notwithstanding that,  she said  the formation  of a                                                               
task force takes time, and "time is of the essence."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:24:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE concurred with the  idea of getting a start                                                               
now to get a task force in place when needed.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:24:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY agreed  that  the  government process  is                                                               
slow but  reiterated his  thoughts about  the effective  date and                                                               
how it could "eliminate that  confusion."  He concluded, "But, if                                                               
there's other ways to solve this, great."                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:26:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE  withdrew his objection  to the motion  to adopt                                                               
Amendment 5.   There being no further objection,  Amendment 5 was                                                               
adopted.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:27:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:27 a.m. to 8:28 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:28:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  HANNAN moved  to  report  HB 298,  as  amended, out  of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes.   There  being  no  objection, CSHB  298(CRA)  was                                                               
reported  out  of  the  House   Community  and  Regional  Affairs                                                               
Standing Committee.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:29:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:29 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
^PRESENTATION:  Department of Corrections                                                                                       
            PRESENTATION:  Department of Corrections                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
8:30:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SCHRAGE  announced that  the  final  order of  business                                                               
would be a presentation on the Department of Corrections.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[This is the conclusion of the presentation begun on 3/22/22.]                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTER(S):                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
LAURA BROOKS                                                                                                                    
KELLY GOODE                                                                                                                     
MIKE MATTHEWS                                                                                                                   
BRANN WADE                                                                                                                      
SIDNEY WOOD                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
NOTE: The  presentation was  recorded and  log notes  were taken.                                                             
The  recording  is  available  at   the  legislature's  web  site                                                               
akleg.gov  or by  contacting the  House Records  Office at  State                                                               
Capitol,  Room   3,  Juneau,  Alaska  99801   (mailing  address),                                                               
(907)465-2214,  and after  adjournment of  the second  session of                                                               
the Thirty-Second  Alaska State Legislature this  information may                                                               
be obtained  by contacting the  Legislative Reference  Library at                                                               
(907) 465-3808.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:02:37 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Community  and Regional  Affairs Standing  Committee meeting  was                                                               
adjourned at 10:02 a.m.                                                                                                         

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
C&RA DOC Presentation 3.22.22 Final.pdf HCRA 3/24/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 298 Amendment packet.pdf HCRA 3/24/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 298
HB 298 Amendment Packet Completed.pdf HCRA 3/24/2022 8:00:00 AM
HB 298