Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/11/2014 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB216 | |
| HB268 | |
| SB209 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 216 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 209 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 268 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 32 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HCR 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 11, 2014
9:07 a.m.
9:07:14 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Meyer called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:07 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Pete Kelly, Co-Chair
Senator Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Senator Anna Fairclough, Vice-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Amy Saltzman, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire; Patty Owen,
Education Specialist, Department of Education and Early
Development; Lauree Morton, Executive Director, Council on
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Department of Public
Safety; Representative Tammie Wilson; Senator Peter
Micciche.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
George Pierce, Self, Kasilof; Rowena Palomar, Executive
Director, Advocates for Victims of Violence, Valdez; Doug
Vincent-Lang, Director of Wildlife, Department of Fish and
Game, Anchorage; Grant L. Lewis, President, Tanana Valley
Sportsman's Association, Fairbanks.
SUMMARY
SB 216 SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAMS
CSSB 216(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with
a "do pass" recommendation and with previously
published fiscal impact note: FN1 (EED).
SB 209 REGULATION OF SMOKING
SB 209 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
CSHB 268(FIN)
BIG BULL MOOSE DERBIES; SNOW TOWN ICE CL.
CSHB 268(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 216
"An Act relating to sexual abuse and sexual assault
awareness and prevention efforts in public schools;
establishing a task force in the Council on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault; and providing for an
effective date."
9:08:28 AM
Vice-Chair Fairclough MOVED to ADOPT the committee
substitute for CSSB 216(FIN), Work Draft 28-LS1617\R
(Mischel, 4/10/14). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so
ordered.
AMY SALTZMAN, STAFF, SENATOR LESIL MCGUIRE, announced that
the only change in the CS was on page 1, lines 10 and 11,
and added in consultation with the Council on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault. The new section would read,
"The governing body of each school district, shall, in
consultation with the Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault adopt and implement a policy; establish a
mandatory training program for employees and students
enrolled in kindergarten and provide publications related
to sexual assault and sexual assault awareness and
prevention to parents, students, and staff. She stated that
the additions followed through to all the requirements
listed in subsection B.
PATTY OWEN, EDUCATION SPECIALIST, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, introduced herself.
LAUREE MORTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
introduced herself.
Vice-Chair Fairclough stated that there were more than 120
school districts in Alaska and over 120 different policies.
She stated that there were some discussions regarding
prevention. An education specialist was hired to work with
the students, and she wondered how the collaboration with
the council was operating. Ms. Owen replied that she had
stepped into her position three years prior to address
health and safety issues in the schools, particularly
domestic violence and sexual assault prevention. She stated
that she represented Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) on the Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault. She shared that the focus had been on the
Four R Healthy Relationships Curriculum, which was
voluntary curriculum that had broad support in the state to
develop healthy relationships among students. She stated
that she was currently expecting the results from a three-
year formal evaluation of the implementation of the
curriculum. She explained that the Four R Curriculum
addressed grades 7 through 9, and stated that there were
some efforts to add curriculum for the elementary grades.
She stressed that the curriculum did not address personal
safety education curriculum. She stated that legislation
would be the first type of health curricula in schools. The
education was encouraged, but not required.
9:15:37 AM
Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered if the adoption of the law
would be focused on K-12. Ms. Owen replied in the
affirmative.
Vice-Chair Fairclough stressed that there must be support
for the child, once the child admits their situation. She
wondered how the children would be supported. Ms. Morton
responded that there was an intention to reach out to the
smaller communities' available resources that were
identified as respectful and safe adults. The department
would work to incorporate the curricula in the communities.
Vice-Chair Fairclough stressed that the school districts
would not be immediately effective upon adoption of the
curriculum. She wondered if there would be a schedule for
implementation, to ensure that the safety network was in
place. Ms. Morton replied in the affirmative. She stated
that there was some prevention work that was already in
place, and the legislation would support and supplement the
existing programs.
Vice-Chair Fairclough stressed that the children must be
protected.
Senator Dunleavy wondered if the Department of Law had
weighed in on the legislation. Ms. Morton deferred to the
sponsor.
Senator Dunleavy wondered if the training had evolved since
an incident that took place at a preschool many years
prior. Ms. Owen replied that she was unfamiliar with the
case.
Co-Chair Meyer asked what case Senator Dunleavy was
referencing. Senator Dunleavy responded that the McMartin
Preschool case in California, which had unexpected results.
Co-Chair Meyer wondered if the Department of Law had
expressed an opinion on the bill. Ms. Saltzman replied that
the Department of Law had not weighed in on the
legislation.
Vice-Chair Fairclough MOVED to REPORT CSSB 216(FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSSB 216(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with previously published fiscal
impact note: FN1 (EED).
9:23:16 AM
AT EASE
9:25:27 AM
RECONVENED
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 268(FIN)
"An Act relating to big bull moose derbies and the
Snow Town Ice Classic; and relating to permits for
games of chance and contests of skill."
9:25:57 AM
Vice-Chair Fairclough remarked that there were many halibut
derbies. She felt that eliminated the largest game, may
affect the gene pool. She wondered if there was a concern
about restricting the opportunity for obtaining large game.
She asked if there was a different form of conducting the
derbies.
REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE WILSON, explained that there had been
discussion regarding Vice-Chair Fairclough's concerns. She
stated that there were some areas that already designated
the minimum size animals. She felt that there could be an
option to bring the size to the closest possible minimum.
She felt that it would not have a negative effect on the
competition, and would increase participation in the
derbies.
Vice-Chair Fairclough restated her concern about the
availability for breeding large animals.
Co-Chair Meyer understood that concern.
GEORGE PIERCE, SELF, KASILOF (via teleconference),
testified against the legislation. He felt that the moose
belonged to the residents of Alaska, and should not be used
to benefit non-profit organizations that were directed
toward non-residents of Alaska. He pointed out that the
King Salmon derby directed funds to non-residents. He felt
that the non-residents of Alaska did not use the meat of
the bull moose.
ROWENA PALOMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ADVOCATES FOR VICTIMS
OF VIOLENCE, VALDEZ (via teleconference), spoke in support
of the legislation. She stated that the Advocates for
Victims of Violence was eligible to receive funds from the
Snow Ice Classics, that would help reopen their office in
Glennallen, and continue its operation to better serve the
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
9:32:54 AM
Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony.
Vice-Chair Fairclough asked for information regarding the
issues of non-residents. Representative Wilson stated that
there was a misunderstanding. She stressed that non-
residents did not have different requirements than
residents. The moose would still need to go to the check
stations, and the meat would go with the person that shot
the moose, not to the non-profit. The non-profit was based
on the measurement of the size of the antlers.
Co-Chair Meyer wondered if Mr. Vincent-Lang had heard the
concerns about targeting large game.
DOUG VINCENT-LANG, DIRECTOR OF WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF FISH
AND GAME, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), understood that
the legislation allowed non-profits to have a derby to
raise funds within legal seasons and methods of means. He
announced that there was some concern regarding taking
large animals out of the population, and the affect that
could have over time. He stressed that Department of Fish
and Game (DFG) closely monitored the effects of targeting
large game.
Co-Chair Meyer RE-OPENED public testimony.
9:38:06 AM
GRANT L. LEWIS, PRESIDENT, TANANA VALLEY SPORTSMAN'S
ASSOCIATION, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in
support of the legislation. He stated that the Tanana
Valley Sportsman Association was one of the oldest
sportsman's groups in the state. He stated that the focus
of the association was on firearms safety education. The
money from the derby would help to increase those education
programs.
Co-Chair Meyer CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Meyer noted the zero fiscal note.
Senator Olson looked at the last page of the bill. He asked
about the organization referenced on Diomede Island.
Representative Wilson asked for him to restate his
question.
Senator Olson looked at line 7, page 4, and wondered what
kind of event was on Diomede Island. Representative Wilson
wondered if Senator Olson meant the Snow Town Ice Classic.
Senator Olson asked for information about the City of
Diomede. Representative Wilson replied that the reference
to the City of Diomede was already in statute, and the only
new addition was the Snow Town Ice Classic.
CSHB 268(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 209
"An Act prohibiting smoking in certain locations; and
providing for an effective date."
9:42:20 AM
SENATOR PETER MICCICHE, explained the legislation. He
stated that SB 209 was designed to provide a smoke-free
work environment for most employees in Alaska. Second hand
smoke kills more people in the United States than
automobile accidents. He stressed that, even though many
municipalities had ordinances against second hand smoke, a
large number of Alaskans may still be subject to second
hand smoke in the workplace. He remarked that the
legislation did not subtract from the rights of the smoker,
it simply protected the right of the nonsmokers from the
choices of others. He stressed that there were staggering
statistics about the exposure to second hand smoke. He
stressed that second hand smoke killed five times more
people in the U.S. each year than drunk driving and all
combined highway fatalities. He pointed out that he had to
figure out for himself if the legislation was the proper
form of government, and he felt that the regulations were a
safety concern. He added that he was a fiscal conservative,
so the legislation would help to alleviate medical costs
for people with conditions resulting from second hand
smoke.
Senator Dunleavy looked at page 3, line 5 of the bill, and
wondered if commercial fishing vessels were exempt. Senator
Micciche replied in the affirmative. He stated that they
were exempt, because the high seas in the outdoors may be
more dangerous than the second hand smoke.
Senator Dunleavy stressed that those individuals may be
subject to second hand smoke. Senator Micciche agreed, but
felt that there was a consideration of what had the
greatest health risk.
9:47:46 AM
Co-Chair Meyer queried the other exemptions that were
included in the bill. He felt that the fishing vessel
exemption was troubling. He surmised that the exemption was
a safety issue. Senator Micciche replied that the primary
concern was safety on the fishing vessel. He stressed that
the larger boats, like the ferries, made it easier for
people to smoke outside.
Co-Chair Meyer he felt that the cold weather in Fairbanks
may also be a health and safety issue. He wondered if the
local option was made through the committee process.
Senator Micciche responded in the affirmative.
Senator Dunleavy surmised that the unorganized boroughs
would be governed by the state. Senator Micciche agreed.
Senator Olson wondered if the employer could smoke in the
workplace. Senator Micciche replied that the employer could
not smoke in the workplace only if the employer had
employees.
Senator Olson asked if a smoke shop owner would be exempt.
Senator Micciche replied in the affirmative.
Senator Olson commented that he was not condoning smoking;
he was merely inquiring the exemptions.
Co-Chair Meyer stressed that he was concerned about the
health of the employees of the smoke shop.
SB 209 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
9:51:44 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:51 a.m.