03/15/2024 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB358 | |
| HB254 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 358 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 254 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
March 15, 2024
1:05 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sarah Vance, Chair
Representative Jamie Allard, Vice Chair
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Andrew Gray
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Jesse Sumner
Representative Cliff Groh
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 358
"An Act relating to use of artificial intelligence to create or
alter a representation of the voice or likeness of an
individual."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 254
"An Act relating to liability for publishing or distributing
pornography to minors on the Internet."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 358
SHORT TITLE: PROHIBIT AI-ALTERED REPRESENTATIONS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRONK
02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/24 (H) JUD
03/13/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/13/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/24 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
03/15/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 254
SHORT TITLE: PROHIBIT PORNOGRAPHY TO MINORS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) VANCE
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) L&C, JUD
01/31/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
01/31/24 (H) Heard & Held
01/31/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/06/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/06/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/06/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/11/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/11/24 (H) Moved HB 254 Out of Committee
03/11/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/13/24 (H) L&C RPT 1DP 1DNP 3NR 1AM
03/13/24 (H) DP: SADDLER
03/13/24 (H) DNP: CARRICK
03/13/24 (H) NR: PRAX, WRIGHT, RUFFRIDGE
03/13/24 (H) AM: FIELDS
03/13/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/13/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/24 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
03/15/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
ERIC FALER, representing self
Cleveland, Ohio
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 254.
SAVANNAH SLY, representing self
Burlington, Vermont
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 254.
MANDY SALLEY, Chief Operating Officer
Woodhull Freedom Foundation
New York City, New York
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 254.
TERRA BURNS, Advocate
Community United for Safety and Protection
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 254.
SHARON BYRNE, Executive Director
Women's Liberation Front
New York City, New York
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 254.
MAXINE DOOGAN, President
Community United for Safety and Protection
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 254.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:05:57 PM
CHAIR VANCE called the House Judiciary Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Representatives C. Johnson, Gray,
Allard, and Vance were present at the call to order.
HB 358-PROHIBIT AI-ALTERED REPRESENTATIONS
1:06:45 PM
CHAIR VANCE announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 358, "An Act relating to use of artificial
intelligence to create or alter a representation of the voice or
likeness of an individual."
CHAIR VANCE opened public testimony on HB 358. After
ascertaining that no one wished to testify, she closed public
testimony.
1:07:32 PM
CHAIR VANCE announced that HB 358 would be held over.
HB 254-PROHIBIT PORNOGRAPHY TO MINORS
1:07:51 PM
CHAIR VANCE announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 254, "An Act relating to liability for publishing
or distributing pornography to minors on the Internet."
CHAIR VANCE opened public testimony on HB 254.
1:08:32 PM
ERIC FALER, representing self, testified in support of HB 254.
He shared a personal anecdote and reported that 71 percent of
teenagers aged 13-17 come across pornography without looking for
it, and children aged 11-13 are the most likely to say that it
was unintentional. He reiterated his support for the bill.
1:10:00 PM
SAVANNAH SLY, representing self, testified in opposition to HB
254. She expressed concern about the privacy risk that the bill
posed for Alaskans; in addition, she said it might be
ineffective in preventing minors from accessing adult material.
She expressed further concern that requiring Alaskans to upload
their identification (ID) could create a highly sensitive,
stigmatized data bank that would entice hackers. She believed
that there are better ways to accomplish the goal of preventing
minors from accessing adult material. She recommended more
holistic prevention measures, such as the installation of adult
controls and filters on devices used by minors.
1:11:54 PM
MANDY SALLEY, Chief Operating Officer, Woodhull Freedom
Foundation, testified in opposition to HB 254. She said she
agreed with the goal of keeping children from age-inappropriate
material; however, similar bills in Utah, Texas, and Louisiana
raise significant privacy risks for consumers and violate First
Amendment protections. Not only are these bills
unconstitutional and a danger to consumer privacy, but they are
also ineffective at preventing minors from accessing adult
content and easily evaded through the use of virtual private
networks (VPN). She pointed out that compliance with HB 254
would require users to transmit sensitive data, such as
digitized copies of their government issued ID, to age-
verification software providers, which would open them up to the
risk of data breaches. If passed, she said HB 254 would violate
Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
1:14:00 PM
TERRA BURNS, Advocate, Community United for Safety and
Protection, testified in opposition to HB 254. As an adult
content creator in Alaska, she believed that the bill would
increase her income by preventing the free sharing of
pornography online. Further, she opined that the definition of
pornography in HB 254 would be too broad to enforce. She
expressed concern that if the bill were to pass, she could be
sued for the actions of someone stealing and distributing her
content.
1:16:41 PM
SHARON BYRNE, Executive Director, Women's Liberation Front,
testified in support of HB 254. She reported that Texas,
Louisiana, and Utah withstood legal challenges by Pornhub on
similar legislation. She described pornography as a form of
economic violence against women and said too many young people
are exposed to violent content at a young age. She opined that
anything to limit the exploitative nature of pornography against
women should be done.
1:18:12 PM
MAXINE DOOGAN, President, Community United for Safety and
Protection, testified in opposition to HB 254. She stated that
the civil litigations implemented by HB 254 would not match the
problems presented by the bill sponsor. She shared her belief
that parents who are exposing their children to adult content
should learn how to use parental controls. Further, she opined
that allowing content creators to be targeted in civil
litigation would be inappropriate.
CHAIR VANCE closed public testimony on HB 254.
1:19:49 PM
[HB 254 was held over.]
1:20:05 PM
CHAIR VANCE clarified a misstatement made on the record during
the confirmation hearing for Joyce Anderson to the Select
Committee on Legislative Ethics [on 3/8/24]. She relayed that
Ms. Anderson had never been registered as a democrat or a
republican in any state. Ms. Anderson registered to vote when
she moved to Alaska in 1999 as nonpartisan. Prior to moving to
Alaska, Ms. Anderson lived in Minnesota, which did not require
party affiliation to register to vote. As director of elections
and voter registration for Minneapolis for 14 years, Ms.
Anderson remained apolitical and nonpartisan. Chair Vance noted
that this statement from Ms. Anderson did not constitute
agreement or disagreement by any members, and that her
confirmation would be taken up on the House floor.
1:21:53 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:21 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 358 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/25/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 358 |
| HB 358 - v.A.pdf |
HFSH 3/25/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 358 |
| HB 358 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/25/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 358 |
| HB 358 - Statement of Zero Fiscal Impact.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/25/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 358 |
| HB 358 - Alaska Broadcasters Association - Support of Policy.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/25/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 358 |
| HB 358 - Backup Document Articles & Research.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/25/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 358 |
| HB 254 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 254 |
| HB 254 - v.A.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 254 |
| HB 254 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 254 |
| HB 254 - Slideshow Presentation.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 254 |
| HB 254 - Letters of Support.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 254 |
| HB 254 - Top 13 Age Verification APIs in 2023.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 254 |
| HB 254 - Age Verfication Petition.pdf |
HJUD 3/13/2024 1:00:00 PM HJUD 3/15/2024 1:00:00 PM |
HB 254 |