Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/09/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB126 | |
| HB155 | |
| HB19 | |
| HB155 | |
| HB66 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 66 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 155 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 9, 2024
9:11 a.m.
9:11:49 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Olson called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:11 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Ken Alper, Staff, Senator Donny Olson; Representative
Stanley Wright, Sponsor; Rachael Gunn, Staff,
Representative Stanley Wright; Representative Louise
Stutes, Sponsor; Donna Fox Page, Staff, Representative
Louise Stutes; Lauree Morton, Former Executive Director,
Alaska Network Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault,
Juneau; Brenda Stanfill, Executive Director, Alaska Network
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Juneau; Sandy
Snodgrass, AK Fentanyl Response Project.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Eileen Arnold, Executive Director, Tundra Women's
Coalition, Bethel; Adam Barger, Self, Arizona; Dennis
Morner, Crisis Response Canines, Anchorage; Mandy Cole,
AWARE, Juneau; Susan Orlansky, Self, Anchorage; Michael
Garvey, Advocacy Director, ACLU Alaska, Anchorage; Teri
West, Director, Admin Services, Department of Corrections;
Keeley Olson, Executive Director, Standing Together Against
Rape, Anchorage; Serene O'Hara-Jolley, Self, Anchorage;
Terra Burns, Advocate, Community United for Safety and
Protection, Fairbanks; KC Casort, Self, Fairbanks; Maxine
Doogan, Community United for Safety and Protection,
Fairbanks; Tatiana Rothchild, Volunteer, Community United
for Safety and Protection, Rhode Island.
SUMMARY
CSHB 19(FIN)am
REGISTRATION OF BOATS: EXEMPTION
CSHB 19(FIN)am was HEARD and HELD in committee
for further consideration.
CSHB 66(FIN)am
CONTROLLED SUB;HOMICIDE;CRIMES;SENTENCING
CSHB 66(FIN)am was HEARD and HELD in committee
for further consideration.
HB 126 ASSOCIATE AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
SCS HB 126(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee
with four "do pass" recommendations and two "no
recommendation" recommendations and with one
previously published fiscal impact note: FN7
(CED); and three previously published zero fiscal
notes: FN4 (DOH), FN5 (DOH), and FN6 (DOH).
CSHB 155(FIN)am
ESTABLISH AK MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION
CSHB 155(FIN)am was HEARD and HELD in committee
for further consideration.
HOUSE BILL NO. 126
"An Act relating to the Board of Professional
Counselors; and relating to licensing of associate
counselors."
9:12:34 AM
Senator Wilson MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for
HB 126, Work Draft 33-LS0405\H (Gunther, 5/6/24).
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for DISCUSSION.
9:12:55 AM
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, explained the CS. He
stated that there was a technical error in Section 14 and
stated that the language about the location where tele-
health providers could serve had been corrected. He noted
that there was a title change resolution attached to the
bill.
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW the OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
9:14:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY WRIGHT, SPONSOR, thanked the
committee. He explained that he agreed with the changes in
the legislation. He provided a personal anecdote about his
sons therapeutic journey and the burden of the wait to get
him services. He hoped the bill would save other Alaskans
time and stress.
9:15:22 AM
RACHAEL GUNN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE STANLEY WRIGHT, thanked
the committee.
Senator Wilson MOVED to REPORT SCS HB 126(FIN) from
committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note.
There being NO OBJECTION, SCS HB 126(FIN) was REPORTED out
of committee with four "do pass" recommendations and two
"no recommendation" recommendations and with one previously
published fiscal impact note: FN7 (CED); and three
previously published zero fiscal notes: FN4 (DOH), FN5
(DOH), and FN6 (DOH).
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 155(FIN) am
"An Act establishing the Alaska Military Affairs
Commission; and relating to the duties and powers of
the Alaska Military Affairs Commission."
9:16:26 AM
AT EASE
9:16:56 AM
RECONVENED
9:17:00 AM
Senator Merrick MOVED to ADOPT the proposed Committee
Substitute (CS) for CSHB 155(FIN)am, Work Draft 33-LS0701\N
(Gunther, 5/8/24) (copy on file).
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for DISCUSSION.
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, explained the CS. He
noted that the bill had an accompanying title change
resolution.
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW the OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
9:18:20 AM
Senator Merrick MOVED to REPORT CSHB 155(FIN)am from
committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note.
There being NO OBJECTION, CSHB 155(FIN)am was REPORTED out
of committee with four "do pass" recommendations, one "no
recommendation" recommendation, and two "amend"
recommendations and with one previously published fiscal
note: FN2 (GOV).
[Note: action to move the bill from committee was later
rescinded and the bill was held in committee. See 9:42 a.m.
for detail.]
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(FIN) am
"An Act relating to the registration of commercial
vessels."
9:18:54 AM
AT EASE
9:21:47 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson asked the bill sponsor and her staff to
introduce the legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES, SPONSOR, thanked the
committee for hearing the bill. She explained that SB 92,
the derelict vessels act of 2019, aimed to provide state
and local municipalities with a searchable database
containing details of vessels and ownership to allow them
to locate derelict vessel owners; however, the database
existed for commercial fishing vessels in the Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC). The database was updated
in real time and operators were required to register
annually. The database was publicly accessible, and the
information was provided under penalty of perjury. The
information included the legal owner of the vessel and a
contact person if it was not the same person as the
applicant, a permanent and mailing address, social security
number, phone numbers, date of birth, and email address.
The bill would institute an $8 annual fee for documented
CFEC registered vessels upon renewal and issuance of a
license in lieu of the $24 fee vessel owners were required
to pay to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) every three
years.
Representative Stutes explained that the original intent of
HB 19 was to exempt the owners of active commercial fishing
vessels registered with the U.S. Coast Guard from duplicate
registration created by the passage of SB 92. She explained
that the duplicate registration included registering with
CFEC and DMV. Following an adoption of a friendly amendment
on the floor of the other body, the bill now removed the
requirement for all U.S. Coast Guard documented vessels to
register every three years with DMV. She explained that it
removed Alaska's ability to monitor the vessels owned by
individuals other than active fishermen registered with
CFEC.
Representative Stutes recommended and welcomed a CS that
would remove the amendment language and return the bill to
its original purpose to remove the duplicative requirement
for active commercial fishermen. Since the passage of SB
92, the requirement had not been enforced by the Department
of Public Safety (DPS), but if the bill did not pass in the
current year, DPS would have no choice but to cite
commercial fishermen who had not complied and would then be
required to have duplicative stickers. She stated that
Alaska's commercial fishing fleet was the backbone of one
of the state's most vital industries and vessel owners
should not be required to register every three years with
DMV at an additional expense only to provide information
that the state already had through the CFEC license renewal
process.
9:25:43 AM
DONNA FOX PAGE, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES,
recapped the details of the legislation. She explained that
HB 19 would exempt owners of CFEC registered vessels from
the requirement to register with DMV while still requiring
annual state registration through CFEC and continued
financial contributions towards a solution of the problem
of derelict vessels as well as boating safety programs. She
noted it was the change that occurred on the floor for
which a CS would be recommended. The legislation satisfied
the original intent of SB 92, which passed in 2018, without
placing an additional burden on DMV or on hardworking
fishermen. She relayed that no opposition had been
encountered on the bill in past years and the sponsor's
office had worked hard with stakeholders to ensure the bill
provided an acceptable solution to the duplicative
requirement. She thanked the committee for the opportunity
to present the bill. She offered to review the sectional
analysis.
Co-Chair Olson noted that the committee would address the
CS.
Senator Kiehl MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for
CSHB 19(FIN)am, Work Draft 33-LS0251\U (Ballard, 5/8/24).
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for DISCUSSION.
9:27:43 AM
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, explained the CS. He
stated that it returned the bill back to the version
adopted on the House floor.
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW the OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, Work Draft 33-LS0251\U was ADOPTED.
9:29:25 AM
AT EASE
9:31:32 AM
RECONVENED
CSHB 19(FIN)am was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
9:31:48 AM
AT EASE
9:42:32 AM
RECONVENED
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 155(FIN) am
"An Act establishing the Alaska Military Affairs
Commission; and relating to the duties and powers of
the Alaska Military Affairs Commission."
9:42:46 AM
Senator Bishop MOVED to RESCIND the motion to move CSHB
155(FIN)am from committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSHB 155(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 66(FIN) am
"An Act relating to homicide resulting from conduct
involving controlled substances; relating to
misconduct involving a controlled substance; relating
to sentencing; and providing for an effective date."
9:43:59 AM
AT EASE
9:46:07 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.
9:46:10 AM
LAUREE MORTON, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA NETWORK
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of the bill.
9:48:58 AM
BRENDA STANFILL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA NETWORK
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, JUNEAU, testified in
support of the bill.
9:52:45 AM
SANDY SNODGRASS, AK FENTANYL RESPONSE PROJECT, JUNEAU,
spoke in support of the bill, specifically increasing
penalties for second degree murder when fentanyl and
illicit drugs the cause of death. She shared that her son,
Bruce Snodgrass, was poisoned by fentanyl in 2003. She
believed that the legislation would stem the problem of
fentanyl deaths in the state.
9:54:45 AM
EILEEN ARNOLD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TUNDRA WOMEN'S
COALITION, BETHEL, spoke in support of the bill. She
specifically cited the changes in the court rule regarding
the Grand Jury, which she believed would protect victims
from being retraumatized. She said that in small
communities it could be hard to protect confidentiality and
the change in the legislation would protect victims from
possible community backlash and scrutiny as a result of
telling their story in Grand Jury.
9:58:40 AM
ADAM BARGER, SELF, ARIZONA, addressed some issues he had
with the bill. He testified against the legislation. He
remarked that the overdose crisis in the state should be
addressed. He felt that the legislation removed the actions
and culpability of the user from accountability. He
believed the bill would increase the prison population. He
said that people were dying form addiction and the
legislation did nothing to address the opioid epidemic in
the state.
10:01:55 AM
DENNIS MORNER, CRISIS RESPONSE CANINES, ANCHORAGE,
testified in support of the bill. He stated that he worked
with his canines to support victims of rape. He shared that
he met with victims prior to the Grand Jury process. He had
worked with females of all ages. He noted the devastating
affect of testifying before Grand Jury on victims.
10:04:28 AM
MANDY COLE, AWARE, JUNEAU, testified in support of the
bill. She relayed that she appreciated the name change form
Child Pornography to Child Sexual Abuse Material. She
added that the change allowing victims to have an assigned
proxy tell their story before the Grand Jury would be
beneficial to victims.
10:06:56 AM
SUSAN ORLANSKY, SELF, ANCHORAGE, testified in opposition to
the legislation. She cited the unintended consequences from
possibly hearsay due to Section 51. She understood that the
change was meant to protect victims but believed that the
section allowed for hearsay from all kinds of witnesses in
all kinds of cases. She noted that the testifying officer
could have only read a report of spoken to an officer
originally involved in a case. She likened the change to a
game of telephone. She felt that the change would deny
Alaskans long-time protection against unfounded charges.
She urged the committee not to pass the bill as drafted.
10:09:45 AM
MICHAEL GARVEY, ADVOCACY DIRECTOR, ACLU ALASKA, ANCHORAGE
spoke in opposition to the bill. He stressed that several
provisions in the bill would significantly erode the
constitutional rights of some Alaskans while spending state
resources on ineffective strategies. He stated that Alaska
had a long tradition increasing criminal penalties for drug
use infractions, which had not helped to curb the current
overdose epidemic. He relayed that longer sentences did not
serve as a deterrent but had the opposite effect of
incarcerating people with disorders and discouraging them
to reach out for help. He said that the drug induced
homicide provisions would require more time-consuming
prosecutions and would task the Department of Corrections
to care for more people for longer periods of time. He
contended that sate resources could be constrained by the
involuntary commitment provision of the bill. He worried
the provision would warehouse people with mental health
issues. He cited the letter written to the committee (copy
on file) and urged the committee to oppose the bill as
written.
10:12:13 AM
TERI WEST, DIRECTOR, ADMIN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS, stated that she was online to address the
fiscal note.
10:12:32 AM
Ms. West explained the fiscal note OMB component number
1381. She revealed that the DOC did not have sufficient
data to project the full impacts of the legislation on the
daily prison population; however, the department did not
anticipate any significant fiscal impact with the changes
and can absorb any increases within the current capacity
and resources based on current inmate population counts.
10:13:44 AM
KEELEY OLSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST
RAPE, ANCHORAGE testified in support of the bill. She
echoed the benefit for victims to not be forced to testify
in front of a Grand Jury and face being traumatized by
telling their story. She elaborated on the harm done to
victims who are forced to retell their story numerous
times.
10:17:04 AM
SERENE O'HARA-JOLLEY, SELF, ANCHORAGE testified against the
bill, as an omnibus bill. She believed that the bill
intended to address issues that needed scrutiny but felt
that the legislation should use a more trauma informed
approach, using data to address underlying causes. She
expressed alarm at the involuntary commitment provision in
the current legislation. She explained that often victims
of human trafficking often were charged with trafficking
themselves.
10:19:09 AM
TERRA BURNS, ADVOCATE, COMMUNITY UNITED FOR SAFETY AND
PROTECTION, FAIRBANKS spoke in opposition to the bill. She
reiterated the pervious testifiers concerns about how the
bill could harm those that were victims of human
trafficking and could keep victims from seeking help. She
criticized the process the bill had gone through, noting
that the legislation had been limited in its availability
to the public, and had been moved out of the Senate
Judiciary Committee without public input at 2am the
previous morning, and was being heard 7 hours later in
Senate Finance Committee. She added that the opportunity
for public testimony in the Senate Finance Committee had
not been noticed in a timely manner. She argued that no one
working on the legislation had reached out to sex workers
or sex trafficking survivors who had been charged and
convicted with sex trafficking in the second degree and who
would be forced to register as a sex offender under the
bill as written. She argued that bad legislation was
crafted when lawmakers did not communicate with
stakeholders. She urged the committee not to support he
bill as written.
10:21:46 AM
KC CASORT, SELF, FAIRBANKS testified against the
legislation. She echoed the concerns of previous testifiers
and expressed particular opposition to the involuntary
commitment provision citing Alaskas poor track record with
mismanagement of psychiatric facilities in the state. She
encouraged the committee to put the bill through a more
vigorous public vetting process that involved those most
impacted by the legislation.
10:23:28 AM
MAXINE DOOGAN, COMMUNITY UNITED FOR SAFETY AND PROTECTION,
FAIRBANKS spoke in opposition to the bill. She echoed the
concerns of previous testifiers.
10:27:10 AM
AMBER NICKERSON, OUTREACH COORDINATOR, COMMUNITY UNITED FOR
SAFETY AND PROTECTION, ANCHORAGE spoke against the bill.
She echoed the testimony of previous testifiers.
10:30:29 AM
TATIANA ROTHCHILD, VOLUNTEER, COMMUNITY UNITED FOR SAFETY
AND PROTECTION, RHODE ISLAND testified in opposition to the
legislation. She reiterated the previous testifiers
concerns. She expressed concern with definitions of sex
offense and sex offender outlined in the bill, as well
as the ramification for sex trafficking survivors and sex
workers.
10:32:56 AM
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.
10:33:21 AM
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, SPONSOR, appreciated the public
testimony hearing. He felt that it made sense that the
Senate Finance Committee should amend the bill that came
out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, taking into
consideration the testimony heard during the meeting.
10:34:00 AM
Co-Chair Olson remarked that there had been significant
testimony opposing the legislation.
10:34:07 AM
Senator Claman agreed that there were two areas the
opposition had spoken to, Sections 30 and 32, which no one
had spoken against in the Senate Judiciary Committee [The
Senate Judiciary did not take public testimony before
moving the bill from committee]. He said that 37 states had
similar provisions like the Grand Jury provision in the
current legislation. He said of all those states, only one
other state did not allow hearsay. He stressed that the
provision as written protected victims.
Co-Chair Olson spoke of protection for victims and possible
victims. He highlighted the number of people who had spoken
against the bill.
Senator Claman replied that people speaking for or against
legislation was part of the process.
Senator Wilson wondered about evolution of the hearsay
provision and how it had been addressed in other states
historically.
Senator Claman deferred the question to the Department of
Law.
Senator Kiehl interjected that the matter with the single
most contentious issue in the previous committee and
required further discussion.
CSHB 66(FIN)am was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
10:37:43 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 126 CS in SFin 2nd summary of changes 5-6-24.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 126 |
| HB 126(FIN)-work draft version H (corrected 2nd CS).pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 126 |
| HB 155 work draft version N.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 155 |
| HB 155 CS in SFin summary of changes 5-8-24.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 155 |
| HB 19 CS in SFin summary of changes 5-8-24.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |
| HB 19(FIN) work draft version -U.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |
| HB 19 Legal Memo Bullard 24-256mjt.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |
| HB 19 DFG CFEC 050724.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |
| HB 66 Support Letters Packet 1.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 66 |
| HB 66 Opposition Letters Packet 1.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 66 |
| HB 19 summary of changes version D 5-9-24.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |
| HB 19(FIN) work draft version -D.pdf |
SFIN 5/9/2024 9:00:00 AM |
HB 19 |