03/08/2011 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB92 | |
| HB18 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 92 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 8, 2011
8:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bob Lynn, Chair
Representative Wes Keller, Vice Chair
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Max Gruenberg
Representative Pete Petersen
Representative Kyle Johansen
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 92
"An Act relating to special request Lao veteran registration
plates; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 92(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 18
"An Act establishing Alaska Public Garden Day on the Saturday
immediately preceding Memorial Day each year."
- MOVED CSHB 18(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 92
SHORT TITLE: LAO VETERANS LICENSE PLATES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) PETERSEN
01/18/11 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/14/11
01/18/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/11 (H) STA, FIN
02/15/11 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
02/15/11 (H) Heard & Held
02/15/11 (H) MINUTE(STA)
03/08/11 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 18
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA PUBLIC GARDENS DAY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KERTTULA
01/18/11 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/11
01/18/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/11 (H) STA
03/08/11 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
DAVE BREMER, Staff
Representative Petersen
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 92 on behalf of Representative
Petersen, sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of HB 18.
PETER FROEHLICH, Charter Member
Jensen Olsen Arboretum Advisory Board
Jensen Olsen Arboretum
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
PAT HARRIS, Chair
Jensen Olsen Arboretum Advisory Board
Jensen Olsen Arboretum
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
ED BUYARSKI, Owner/Operator
Ed's Edible Landscaping;
Past President, Master Gardeners;
Past President, American Primrose Society;
Board Member, Jensen Olsen Arboretum
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
JULIANNE MCGUINNESS, Executive Director
Alaska Botanical Garden
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
KATHERINE "KATIE" DiCRISTINA, Horticulturist
Georgeson Botanical Garden
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
PATRICIA HOLLOWAY, Director
Georgeson Botanical Garden
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 18.
DONNA DINSMORE, President
Georgeson Botanical Garden Society
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 18.
GRANT MATHEKE, Employee
Georgeson Botanical Garden
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 18l.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:04:58 AM
CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House State Affairs Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. Representatives Keller, Seaton,
Wilson, Johansen, Petersen, and Lynn were present at the call to
order. Representative Gruenberg arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
HB 92-LAO VETERANS LICENSE PLATES
8:05:15 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE
BILL NO. 92, "An Act relating to special request Lao veteran
registration plates; and providing for an effective date."
8:05:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to adopt the committee substitute
(CS) for HB 92, Version 27-LS0375\B, Luckhaupt, 2/28/11, as a
work draft.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON objected for discussion purposes.
8:05:58 AM
DAVE BREMER, Staff, Representative Petersen, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HB 92 on behalf of Representative
Petersen, sponsor. He said the proposed bill would create a
special license plate for Lao veterans. He said Version B would
make the following changes: allow for U.S. and non-U.S.
veterans to request plates, as long as they served in Laos
[sometime between 2/28/61 to 5/15/75]; change "combat" to
"military operations" to include those who may have served
without bearing arms; and change "Hmong" to "Southeast Asian" to
accommodate all ethnic groups in military operations in Laos
during the aforementioned period.
MR. BREMER addressed concerns that had been brought up by the
committee during the previous hearing on HB 92. He directed
attention to the word "evidence", on page 1, line 11, and noted
that the bill drafter said that requirement is not used in any
other license plate legislation. Another concern had to do with
whether or not people who lease cars would still be able to get
the special request plates, and he said the answer from
Legislative Legal and Research Services is yes, because the
person leasing the vehicle would be the registered owner.
8:08:04 AM
MR. BREMER, in response to Chair Lynn, listed guidelines set up
by the federal government by which former citizens of Laos who
moved to the U.S. could prove that they fought on the side of
the U.S. during the war.
8:10:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON withdrew his objection to the motion to
adopt the committee substitute (CS) for HB 92, Version 27-
LS0375\B, Luckhaupt, 2/28/11, as a work draft. There being no
further objection, Version B was before the committee.
8:11:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSHB 92, Version 27-
LS0375\B, Luckhaupt, 2/28/11, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHB 92(STA) was reported from the House State
Affairs Standing Committee.
HB 18-ALASKA PUBLIC GARDENS DAY
8:11:50 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business was HOUSE
BILL NO. 18, "An Act establishing Alaska Public Garden Day on
the Saturday immediately preceding Memorial Day each year."
8:12:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to adopt the committee substitute
(CS) for HB 18, Version 27-LS0139\B, Luckhaupt, 2/17/11, as a
work draft.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON objected for discussion purposes.
8:12:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor of
HB 18, explained that the sole change in Version B is a change
from "garden" to "gardens".
8:13:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON withdrew his objection. There being no
further objection, Version B before the committee.
8:13:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA explained that growing season is shorter
in Alaska, which makes National Gardens Day, on May 6th, too
early for Alaska's season. She said a constituent requested
legislation to set up a day later in the season to recognize
gardens in Alaska. Under HB 18, Alaska Public Gardens Day would
be recognized on the Saturday preceding Memorial Day each year.
8:14:51 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
8:15:10 AM
PETER FROEHLICH, Charter Member, Jensen Olsen Arboretum Advisory
Board, Jensen Olsen Arboretum, testified in support of HB 18.
He noted that the Jensen Olsen Arboretum is a public garden in
Juneau, Alaska. He offered his understanding that there are
representatives of other public garden who also support the
proposed legislation.
8:16:58 AM
PAT HARRIS, Chair, Jensen Olsen Arboretum Advisory Board, Jensen
Olsen Arboretum, echoed Mr. Froehlich's statement of support for
HB 18. She said it is a wonderful endorsement of public
gardens. In response to Chair Lynn, she said the Jensen Olsen
Arboretum doesn't use much if any pesticide, and offered her
understanding that the Alaska Botanical Garden uses no
pesticides. She said there is a move toward diminishing
pesticide use.
8:18:05 AM
ED BUYARSKI, Owner/Operator, Ed's Edible Landscaping; Past
President, Master Gardeners; Past President, American Primrose
Society; Board Member, Jensen Olsen Arboretum, invited everyone
to the Jensen Olsen Arboretum. He said local nurseries around
the state benefit from public gardens, because people who visit
those gardens inquire as to where they can buy the plants they
see there. He emphasized the importance of the educational
component of public gardens.
8:21:22 AM
MR. FROEHLICH noted that the public gardens are free of charge.
8:21:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG stated his support of HB 18 and his
intent to co-sponsor the bill. He related that he had donated
the stakes from his leftover campaign signs to the Alaska
Botanical Garden, and he said they are being used as tomato
stakes. He mentioned legislation a few years ago regarding
noxious weeds, and he encouraged those present to let the
committee know if other legislation is needed. He talked about
the community gardens in his community and expressed his hope
for more of such.
8:24:19 AM
MR. BUYARSKI acknowledged that there are other gardens that
exist aside from the three aforementioned public gardens;
however, he said they are not specifically recognized.
MR. FROEHLICH explained that the distinction is that the Jensen
Olsen Arboretum, the Georgeson Botanical Gardens, and the Alaska
Botanical Garden are members of the American Public Garden
Association. He said there are also private gardens, which
people pay a fee to view, such as [Jewel Gardens] in Skagway.
MR. HARRIS relayed that she is a member of the Juneau Community
Garden Board. She said the Juneau Community Garden welcomes
visitors, and she said she anticipates it would celebrate Alaska
Public Gardens Day. She said she would like to interpret the
proposed day as "a wonderful celebration for all gardeners and
all gardening spots."
8:27:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that the bill does not recognize any
particular organization, and said he wants to ensure the
committee's understanding [is correct] that all communities will
be equally able to celebrate "the role gardens play in promoting
environmental stewardship, education, plant conservation,
recreation, and research."
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA confirmed that HB 18 is not exclusive
legislation.
8:28:44 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN expressed his support of HB 18, and said
he plans to be co-sponsor. He said visitors to Alaska are often
surprised to find gardens in the state.
8:29:51 AM
JULIANNE MCGUINNESS, Executive Director, Alaska Botanical
Garden, stated that garden tourism is one of the fastest growing
sectors of tourism, with some visitors coming to Alaska
specifically to see its agricultural industry. Another aspect
of gardening includes education and public awareness. She said
public gardens in the state have programs for youth, as well as
workforce development programs, which impart skills related to
horticulture and agriculture development in the state. She
talked about public outreach to schools, churches, agencies, and
individuals. She imparted that over 6,500 school children
participate in the Junior Master Gardener program in the summer.
8:32:20 AM
CHAIR LYNN recalled Victory Gardens during World War II.
8:32:49 AM
KATHERINE "KATIE" DiCRISTINA, Horticulturist, Georgeson
Botanical Garden, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), stated
that public gardens are places of beauty and of learning. She
said creating a day to celebrate public gardens would increase
awareness of the existence of public gardens and the many roles
they play. She related her experience watching children learn
about plants. Ms. DiCristina opined that having a day to
celebrate Alaska gardens on a date later than the National
Public Garden Day is important because of Alaska's climate
difference.
8:34:39 AM
PATRICIA HOLLOWAY, Director, Georgeson Botanical Garden,
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), expressed appreciation for
the efforts made to celebrate Alaska public gardens. She said
there are "little pockets of beauty and education" around the
state. She said there are many reasons that people come to
public gardens. She opined that one reason to support HB 18 is
for the state to affirm that public gardens play a significant
role in education and research in northern plant cultivation and
conservation. She echoed Ms. McGuiness' statement that Alaska
gardens contribute to the tourist industry. She said UAF began
a peony growing enterprise, and she related a story about peony
growers from New Zealand who were surprised to find peonies
growing in Alaska and have since shared their expertise to help
the fledgling industry. She ventured that Alaska Public Gardens
Day would be a tool that public gardens could use to promote
their missions, increase public awareness of gardens, and
showcase the importance of native and introduced plants. She
said the Day would provide the opportunity for people to make
more connections and would provide greater educational benefits
to Alaskans.
8:38:29 AM
DONNA DINSMORE, President, Georgeson Botanical Garden Society,
explained that the society supports the Georgeson Botanical
Garden. She said growing in Alaska is challenging, but the
industry is growing. She said Alaska public gardens provide the
opportunity for education, plant conservation, recreation, and
research. She emphasized the importance of a colorful garden
after a long winter. She related tourists' comments on gardens,
and urged support of HB 18.
8:40:25 AM
CHAIR LYNN relayed that he is an amateur photographer, and some
of his best photographs are of flowers grown in Alaska.
8:40:45 AM
GRANT MATHEKE, Employee, Georgeson Botanical Garden, University
of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), stated that he has the best job in
town. He said it is frustrating for him to hear people say they
did not know Georgeson Botanical Garden exists, and he ventured
that establishing "Alaska Public Gardens Day" would bring an
awareness of existing gardens to people.
8:42:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that included in the committee
packet is a letter from Victoria Naegele, the executive director
of Alaska Agriculture in the Classroom, who indicated that the
state had previously established Alaska Agriculture Day.
Representative Gruenberg said that day was established under AS
44.12.105, which read as follows:
Sec. 44.12.105. Alaska Agriculture Day.
Alaska Agriculture Day is established on the first
Tuesday in May each year in order to recognize the
many contributions of the agricultural industry in
Alaska. Alaska Agriculture Day may be observed by
celebratory events, projects, and activities directed
at or involving people of all ages to increase their
awareness and appreciation of Alaska agriculture and
agriculture in general.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG posited, "This goes nicely with that."
8:43:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA thanked the committee.
8:43:55 AM
CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony.
8:44:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON noted that there is a community garden
in a park in Wrangell. She further noted that there are
beautiful flower gardens surrounding the Sitka Pioneer Home.
She said visitors to Alaska comment about the flowers around
town, and HB 18 will bring an added awareness of Alaska's
gardens.
8:45:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON mentioned that Homer has garden tours, and
he related the improvements he made to his own garden last year
to participate as one of the tour destinations. He said there
were approximately 380 people who took the tour, and quite a few
people from Outside plan their trips to Alaska with
consideration to seeing its gardens.
8:46:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said there is an active group of
gardeners in Ketchikan. He noted that testifiers had mentioned
the positive effects of the bill on the economy and food
sources, and said he would work to get that information
highlighted in the bill language.
8:47:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSHB 18, Version 27-
LS0139\B, Luckhaupt, 2/17/11, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHB 18(STA) was reported from the committee.
8:48:17 AM
MR. FROEHLICH issued an invitation to the arboretum.
8:49:49 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 8:49
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 01 HB18 CS Version B Alaska Public Gardens Day.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| 02 HB 18 Version A.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| 03 HB 18 Changes to CS Alaska Public Gardens Day.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| 05 HB 18 Letters of Support.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| 06 HB 18 Alaska Public Gardens Day National Public Garden Day Info.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| 07 HB 18 Governor Parnell Executive Proclamation.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| 08 HB18 CBJ Proclamation Alaska Public Gardens Day Jensen.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| -10 CS for HB 92 Version B.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 92 |
| -11 Changes in CS for HB92.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 92 |
| 09 HB 18 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| 10 HB018-DOA-FAC-3-2-11.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |
| 04 HB 18 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 3/8/2011 8:00:00 AM |
HB 18 |