Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/26/2009 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB63 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 63 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 26, 2009
2:11 p.m.
2:11:19 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stoltze called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 2:11 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Thomas Jr., Vice-Chair
Representative Allan Austerman
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Les Gara
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Woodie Salmon
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Mike Hawker, Co-Chair
Representative Richard Foster
ALSO PRESENT
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
SUMMARY
HB 63 "An Act relating to the Council on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault."
CSHB 63 (FIN) was REPORTED OUT of Committee with a
"do pass" recommendation and a new zero fiscal
note from the Department of Health and Social
Services and two previously published fiscal
notes: FN1 (DOC), FN2 (DPS).
2:11:35 PM
HOUSE BILL NO. 63
"An Act relating to the Council on Domestic Violence
and Sexual Assault."
Representative Fairclough introduced herself as the former
Executive Director of Standing Together Against Rape. She
expressed her passion to help those who often can not speak
for themselves. Alaska has the dishonorable distinction of
being number one in the nation for sexual violence against
women for 28 out of the last 30 years. Ninety-eight percent
of the victims are women; ninety-eight percent of the
perpetrators are men. Last year's rape statistics for
Anchorage moved from number nine to number four in the
nation. The Council for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
deals with domestic violence, sexual assault, and child
abuse in Alaska. In 2007, the legislature formed a task
force with recommendations to oversee the Council. House
Bill 63 does not implement every recommendation because some
recommendations required a large fiscal note. Representative
Fairclough signified that HB 63 changes the number of
council members from seven to nine, adding one additional
public member and one from the Department of Corrections.
2:14:36 PM
Representative Fairclough explained that one public member
must be from a rural community. House Bill 63 changes the
public member's term of office from two to three years. The
bill also changes language from "shall" to "may" in regards
to the Governor's consultation with the Alaska Network on
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) in the
appointment of a public member to the Council. House Bill 63
also clarifies that public members may not be State of
Alaska employees.
2:17:09 PM
Representative Fairclough continued that HB 63 modifies the
requirements for a quorum from four to five members. Staff
positions are also changed to non-exempt.
2:17:48 PM
Representative Austerman requested clarification that of the
nine council members, four would be public and five would be
government employees. Representative Fairclough agreed that
was correct. Representative Austerman asked why the bill
sets up fewer public members and more state employees.
Representative Fairclough responded that it maintains the
current balance.
2:19:30 PM
Vice-Chair Thomas quoted that the written definition of a
rural area contains the language "not connected by road or
rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks" (page 2, line 17-19). He
observed that Haines and Skagway are connected by road, but
pass through a foreign country. He wanted to know how this
was being addressed in the definition of a rural area.
Representative Fairclough responded that legislative legal
gave the rural definition specific to this bill to ensure no
community is left out of serving as a public member of the
council.
2:21:17 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze mentioned that, in addition to Haines and
Skagway, the small community of Hyder is connected by road.
2:21:48 PM
Representative Salmon cited two meetings where he received
information on alcohol and drug abuse in the communities of
Alaska which gave him a new awareness and belief that
domestic violence is an acute problem in the state and this
bill moves in the right direction. He stressed that more
information and funding on this subject needs to be
delivered to the villages. He remarked that another problem
is the small number of state troopers assigned to the
villages.
2:25:10 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze agreed that it is very positive to have
members from the Department of Public Safety and the
Department of Corrections on this council.
Representative Fairclough encouraged support for HB 63.
Co-Chair Stoltze closed public testimony.
2:26:09 PM
Representative Fairclough MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1, 26-
LS0138\C.1, Bullard:
Page 1, line 8, following "the"
Insert "Alaska"
Page 2, line 17:
Delete "5,500"
Insert "7,500"
Page 2, line 19:
Delete "1,500"
Insert "3,500"
Co-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED for discussion.
Representative Fairclough reported that inserting "Alaska"
before "Network" would match the actual title of the
network. The population threshold for a rural community
would rise from 5,500 to 7,500; small communities connected
by roads would have the population base moved from 1,500 to
3,500.
Co-Chair Stoltze WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
2:27:43 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze referred to the zero fiscal notes from the
Department of Health and Social Services and the Department
of Public Safety. The Department of Corrections fiscal note
for $7,900 reflected travel costs for new members to attend
four meetings per year. Representative Fairclough announced
she checked the Department of Correction's travel budget to
confirm this amount was not being duplicated. Co-Chair
Stoltze mentioned this amount was below minimum.
2:29:14 PM
Representative Fairclough MOVED to report CSHB 63 (FIN) out
of Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION it was
so ordered.
CSHB 63 (FIN) was REPORTED OUT of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and a new zero fiscal note from the
Department of Health and Social Services and two previously
published fiscal notes: FN1 (DOC), FN2 (DPS).
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| ANDVSALETTER.pdf |
HFIN 2/26/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 63 |
| Amendmetn 1 C.1.pdf |
HFIN 2/26/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 63 |
| CDVSATASKFORCE.pdf |
HFIN 2/26/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 63 |
| CouncilDVSA LETTER.pdf |
HFIN 2/26/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 63 |
| CSHB63 Sectional Analysis - Electronic.doc |
HFIN 2/26/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 63 |
| CSHB63 Sponsor Statement - Electronic.doc |
HFIN 2/26/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 63 |