Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/29/2021 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB16 | |
| HB11 | |
| HB16 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 29, 2021
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. 16
"An Act relating to the right of first refusal of a volunteer
search and rescue group with respect to surplus state property."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 11
"An Act relating to assault in the third and fourth degrees; and
relating to reckless endangerment."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 16
SHORT TITLE: SEARCH AND RESCUE SURPLUS STATE PROPERTY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOHNSON
02/18/21 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/21
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) CRA, STA
04/27/21 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/27/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/27/21 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/29/21 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 11
SHORT TITLE: DEFENSIVE DISPLAY OF FIREARM
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RAUSCHER
02/18/21 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/21
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) CRA, STA, JUD
04/27/21 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/27/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/27/21 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/29/21 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
GEOFF LARSON, President
Southeast Alaska Dogs Organized for Ground Search (SEADOGS)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.
AOIBHEANN CLINE, ESQ, Alaska State Director
National Rifle Association
Fairfax, Virginia
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 11.
JOYANNE BLOOM, Volunteer
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Alaska Chapter
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 11.
LUANN MCVEY, Volunteer
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Alaska Chapter
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 11.
MIKE COONS
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 11.
ROCHELLE PARKER, Volunteer
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Alaska Chapter
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 11.
POLLY CARR
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 11.
PATTY OWEN, Volunteer
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Alaska Chapter
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 11.
ROZLYN WYCHT
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 11.
LISA IDELL-SASSI
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 11.
LOUIE FLORA
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 11.
ARI SASSI
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 11.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:02:07 AM
CO-CHAIR CALVIN SCHRAGE called the House Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:02 a.m.
Representatives McCabe, Drummond, Patkotak, Hannan, and Schrage
were present at the call to order. Representatives McCarty and
Prax arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 16-SEARCH AND RESCUE SURPLUS STATE PROPERTY
8:02:50 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 16, "An Act relating to the right of
first refusal of a volunteer search and rescue group with
respect to surplus state property." [Before the committee was
the proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 16, Version 32-
LS0128\B, Bannister, 4/19/21, ("Version B"), adopted as a work
draft on 4/27/21.]
8:02:53 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE opened public testimony on HB 16.
8:03:05 AM
GEOFF LARSON, President, Southeast Alaska Dogs Organized for
Ground Search (SEADOGS), said SEADOGS has existed for
approximately 40 years; it is an all-volunteer team utilizing
dogs "to search and recover lost and missing." He said SEADOGS
are called out by the Alaska State Troopers. He stated support
for HB 16, which he said would aid teams like SEADOGS in the
efforts to support the Alaska State Troopers when called. Mr.
Larson stated that access to obsolete or surplus state property
would serve as a tool in SEADOGS' quest "to always be ready for
the call." Currently, he said, SEADOGS uses its own boats and
equipment in searches, which means equipment is often in the
field being used by another team member and, thus, not readily
accessible. Further, he noted that many of the team members are
commercial fisherman, who need their boats during fishing
season. If possible, SEADOGS would keep available equipment
ready for search and rescue missions. He expressed that SEADOGS
sees value in HB 16 and urges committee members to pass the bill
out of committee.
8:05:58 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE, after ascertaining that there was no one else
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 16.
[HB 16 was set aside and brought back before the committee later
in the meeting.]
HB 11-DEFENSIVE DISPLAY OF FIREARM
8:06:06 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 11, "An Act relating to assault in the third
and fourth degrees; and relating to reckless endangerment."
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE opened public testimony on HB 11.
8:06:32 AM
AOIBHEANN CLINE, ESQ, Alaska State Director, National Rifle
Association, testified in support of HB 11. She said the
proposed legislation would clarify Alaska law to allow Alaskans
"to protect themselves in situations" by allowing them to
"defensively display a firearm." She said self-defense
situations are not "cut and dry," and HB 11 would provide
Alaskans with "resources and tools to display and thwart
attacks." She said defensive display of firearms laws exist in
Arizona, Iowa, Montana, and Oklahoma. She said Oklahoma is
enhancing language in 2021 "to allow law-abiding citizens to
protect themselves." She opined that it is time for Alaska to
allow its citizens to do the same "in self-defense situations."
She urged the committee to support HB 11.
8:07:47 AM
JOYANNE BLOOM, Volunteer, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in
America, Alaska Chapter, said at the sight of a gun, she
changes, because "something bad is going to happen" regardless
of her choice between flight or fight. She opined that HB 11 is
a bad idea, "a dangerous free pass to use and brandish firearms
recklessly and for the purpose of intimidation with no
consequences." She said, "This is not how responsible gun
owners behave, and it should not be allowed in Alaska." Ms.
Bloom said Alaska has the highest rate of gun deaths in the
U.S., and HB 11 does nothing to address that issue. She likened
that to adding dry kindling to a fire. She expressed that as a
woman, mother, and grandmother, she is afraid, and she does not
want to see guns in her neighborhood or for her offspring to see
guns "carried in the open in threatening ways." She advocated
for responsible gun owners to continue "to keep their guns
locked, away from children, and out of sight."
8:09:34 AM
LUANN MCVEY, Volunteer, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in
America, Alaska Chapter, testified in opposition to HB 11. She
stated that the presence of firearms often exacerbates conflict;
guns are often too quickly used to cause devastating harm that
could be avoided by deescalating a situation through mutual
respect and negotiation. She shared a situation in which her
neighbor set off fireworks, resulting in a fire in front of her
house. She said angry words were exchanged, and a day later a
resolution had been reached. She speculated as to a more lethal
result if she had brought a firearm into the exchange instead of
addressing the issue verbally. Ms. McVey opined that HB 11 is
unnecessary, because Alaska law already protects people with "an
authentic reason to defend themselves." She added, "Most people
are not likely to be in a situation where they need to use a gun
to defend themselves." She urged the committee not to pass HB
11 out of committee.
8:11:31 AM
MIKE COONS testified in support of HB 11. He said the previous
speaker would have been arrested if she had brought a firearm
into the situation she described. He related that he has
presented a firearm four times to stop criminal action that put
his own life and the lives of others in danger, and he described
instances where the presence of his firearm deescalated
situations. He said he has never had to pull the trigger, but
use of a weapon has stopped life-threatening situations. He
said he carries a concealed weapon, has undergone [firearms]
training, and is aware of the law. He opined that it is wrong
to arrest a person for displaying a weapon when in fear of
his/her life. He asked the committee to pass [HB 11] out of
committee.
8:14:10 AM
ROCHELLE PARKER, Volunteer, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in
America, Alaska Chapter, testified in opposition to HB 11. She
said the proposed legislation would state that displaying a
firearm can never be considered reckless conduct or categorized
as a third or fourth degree assault. She said this would allow
gun owners to brandish firearms carelessly for the purpose of
intimidation and with no consequences. Ms. Parker said
introducing a firearm, whether fired or not, rarely deescalates
a volatile situation; conversely, research shows that displaying
firearms makes people more aggressive, which could create
substantial risk of injury. She said that under HB 11, an angry
driver could waive a firearm during a traffic dispute, which
could cause a collision. A person could display a firearm in a
crowd, resulting in panic ending in injury or tragedy. Ms.
Parker said roughly 4.5 million women alive today have been
threatened with a gun by an intimate partner, which has lead to
those women experiencing more severe psychological symptoms.
She opined that considering the frequency of mass shootings
reported in the news, it is reckless and unsafe to give gun
owners the right to irresponsibly exhibit their firearms in
public or private spaces.
8:16:11 AM
POLLY CARR testified in opposition to HB 11, calling it
legislation that would normalize the use of guns for
intimidation purposes. She said as a mother she does not want
to see people displaying firearms at events to which she brings
her 10-year-old daughter. She said she thinks it is "a direct
threat to safety of all." She relayed that intimidation tactics
with guns have been used both historically and currently to
threaten people, particularly people of color, at events. She
said this happened in Anchorage and Palmer during peaceful
"Black Lives Matter" rallies, at which others showed up with
rifles and semi-automatic weapons, the effect of which was
"chilling and psychologically terrifying for many." She said
she views HB 11 as another attempt to suppress civic engagement.
She said HB 11 would allow a person to display a firearm to
dissuade a threatening person. She stated, "The current
political climate has been made increasingly violent as an
outcome of years of public manipulation by partisan media and
certain political figures." She said many believe that those
who disagree with those people are perceived as a threat. She
referred to the events of January 6, 2021, at the White House.
She said HB 11 has the potential to increase violence at public
events, is "a solution in search of a problem," and, if passed,
would create severe impacts to democracy, public safety, and
society. She asked the committee not to pass HB 11 out of
committee.
8:18:20 AM
PATTY OWEN, Volunteer, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in
America, Alaska Chapter, testified in opposition to HB 11. She
opined, "No responsible gun owner should have to think twice
about the danger involved in waiving a gun in the air." She
questioned why anyone would think it was okay to brandish a gun
in a state where aggravated assaults with a gun have increased
by an average of 65 percent a year since 2003 and fire arms are
the leading cause of death among children and teenagers. She
said brandishing a gun endangers all who are in the vicinity,
including the person with the gun, especially considering
Alaska's "Stand Your Ground" law. Ms. Owen said that in a state
with no apparent gun safety laws, it is no wonder that Alaska
has the highest rate of gun deaths in the country. She said
Alaska's gun laws have become more lenient, while the rate of
gun deaths has increased by almost 20 percent. As an example,
she noted Alaska once required a permit for concealed carry but
now allows a person to carry concealed without a permit or
training. She talked about protecting Alaskans from gun deaths
and injuries, which she said are preventable. She concluded
that "doing nothing is the slippery slope to increase tragedy."
8:20:21 AM
ROZLYN WYCHT stated that she was testifying as a Black woman in
opposition to HB 11. She noted the number of Black relatives
and friends she has and spoke to recent actions being taken in
America and expressed that there is "a lot of fear going on."
She said she was at the Black Lives Matter rally in Palmer and
expressed there was fear resulting from the men, most of them
White, walking around carrying guns. She said she listened to
President Biden and learned that over 50 women are killed each
month by guns. She said she knows that domestic violence is
"huge" in Alaska. She questioned who is not at risk from
someone brandishing a weapon, including her children, who may be
walking home from the store and be in fear from a neighbor who
walks outside wearing a gun, and things "go south" because of
fear. Ms. Wycht explained she is not against guns but thinks
"we need to think this through and have more conversation on
it."
8:22:36 AM
LISA IDELL-SASSI testified in support of HB 11. She said she
thinks it is "our constitutional right to protect ourselves,"
and most people who carry a gun have a lot of training, acquire
a concealed carry permit, and are responsible gun owners. She
said opposing HB 11 would result in more guns carried by
criminals on the street and penalize law-abiding citizens.
8:23:21 AM
LOUIE FLORA noted that although he is director of Government
Affairs for the Alaska Center, he was testifying on his own
behalf as "gun owner, parent, and lifelong Alaskan." He stated
opposition to HB 11 in the context of the current political
environment, as "it appears to increase the use of guns as both
political statement and actual threat to the life and safety of
political opponents." He stated he also opposes HB 11 because
Alaska leads the nation in the number of gun deaths per capita,
and he predicted the proposed legislation would make that
statistic worse. He stated a further reason for his opposition
to HB 11 was because "the display of guns is associated with
voter suppression - especially voter suppression against people
of color." Mr. Flora also pointed out that HB 11 had not been
analyzed by state and local public safety agencies to determine
how its passage could impact law enforcement activities.
8:24:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked Mr. Flora to name his source for the
statistic about Alaska leading the nation in gun deaths, and he
asked for information regarding the types of crime the gun
deaths included.
MR. FLORA answered that he had done research on the Internet
yesterday and found the information on Bloomberg. He indicated
it was in the context of Alaska's high epidemic of suicide. He
said he would send the information to the committee.
8:25:34 AM
ARI SASSI testified that as a proponent of concealed and open
carry and someone who has done both, he supported HB 11. He
indicated that he has not heard any corroborating evidence to
support the statements made by some of the previous speakers,
including the issue of the number of gun deaths in Alaska.
8:26:31 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE, after ascertaining that there was no one else
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 11.
[HB 11 was held over.]
8:26:38 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:26 a.m. to 8:29 a.m.
HB 16-SEARCH AND RESCUE SURPLUS STATE PROPERTY
8:28:58 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that the final order of business
would be a return to HOUSE BILL NO. 16, "An Act relating to the
right of first refusal of a volunteer search and rescue group
with respect to surplus state property." [Before the committee
was CS for HB 16, Version 32-LS0128\B, Bannister, 4/19/21,
("Version B").]
8:29:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 16,
Version B, which read as follows:
Page 1, lines 4 - 6:
Delete all material.
Page 1, line 7:
Delete "Sec. 2"
Insert "Section 1"
8:29:18 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE objected for discussion purposes.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE spoke to Amendment 1. He said it would
remove a reference to a short title, which he said was not
appropriate in HB 16 and should probably have been removed
before the bill was offered.
8:30:17 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE removed his objection to the motion to adopt
Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was
adopted.
[HB 16 was held over.]
8:30:35 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 8:31 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 4.23.2021 HB 16 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HCRA 4/27/2021 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 16 |
| 4.23.2021 HB16 Ver. A.PDF |
HCRA 4/27/2021 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 16 |
| 2021.4.27 HB 16 CS ver. B.pdf |
HCRA 4/27/2021 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 16 |
| 4.23.2021 HB 16 Sectional.pdf |
HCRA 4/27/2021 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 16 |
| 2021.4.29 HB 16 Am. 1 Adopted.pdf |
HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 16 |
| 2021.4.27 HB 16 DOA Fiscal Note.pdf |
HCRA 4/27/2021 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 16 |
| 4.23.2021HB 11 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HCRA 4/27/2021 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 11 |
| 4.23.2021 HB 11 ver A.PDF |
HCRA 4/27/2021 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 11 |
| 4.23.2021 HB 11 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HCRA 4/27/2021 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/29/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 11 |