03/20/1996 10:30 AM Senate HES

    SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE                     
                         March 20, 1996                                        
                           10:30 a.m.                                          
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
 Senator Lyda Green, Chairman                                                  
 Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman                                            
 Senator Mike Miller                                                           
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Johnny Ellis                                                          
 Senator Judy Salo                                                             
                                                                               
 COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                            
                                                                               
 SENATE BILL NO. 308                                                           
 "An Act clarifying a statute relating to persons who may legally              
 marry; relating to same-sex marriages; and providing for an                   
 effective date."                                                              
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                             
                                                                               
 SB 308 - See Senate Health, Education & Social Services minutes               
          dated 3/18/96.                                                       
                                                                               
 WITNESS REGISTER                                                              
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
 TAPE 96-21, SIDE A                                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               
               SB 308 PROHIBIT SAME SEX MARRIAGES                             
                                                                              
 Number 001                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social                 
 Services (HESS) Committee to order at 10:30 a.m. and introduced               
 SB 308  as the first order of business before the committee.                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN noted that a number of people had been heard on this            
 issue.  He conlcuded that SB 308 is important and maintains the               
 status quo in Alaska which he believed the majority of Alaskans               
 support.  SB 308 is not gay bashing as some would suggest.                    
 Alaska's social policy should not be dictated by as few as three              
 judges in Hawaii.  Senator Leman believed that Alaska should                  
 support an established social order.  He strongly supported SB 308.           
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved that SB 308 be moved out of committee with               
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objections, it was so                 
 ordered.                                                                      
                                                                               
 There being no further business before the committee, the meeting             
 was adjourned at 10:32 a.m.