03/23/2006 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB274 | |
| SCR21 | |
| SB214 | |
| SB215 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SCR 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | SB 274 | ||
| = | SB 214 | ||
| = | SB 215 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 23, 2006
3:38 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gene Therriault, Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Bettye Davis
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Thomas Wagoner, Vice Chair
Senator Kim Elton
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 274
"An Act relating to the disposition of surplus firearms by the
state."
MOVED CSSB 274(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21
Relating to the Vietnam War, to veterans, and to the Vietnam War
memorial entitled "The Moving Wall."
MOVED CSSCR 21(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 214
"An Act making appropriations for energy assistance and
weatherization; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED SB 214 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 215
"An Act relating to the energy dividend for 2005; and providing
for an effective date."
MOVED SB 215 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 274
SHORT TITLE: STATE FIREARM DISPOSAL AND INVENTORY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DYSON
02/09/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/09/06 (S) STA, FIN
02/14/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/14/06 (S) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 2/23/06>
02/23/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
02/23/06 (S) Heard & Held
02/23/06 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/06/06 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/06/06 (S) Heard & Held
03/06/06 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/23/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
BILL: SCR 21
SHORT TITLE: VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL:MOVING WALL
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) HUGGINS
02/14/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/14/06 (S) STA
03/23/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
BILL: SB 214
SHORT TITLE: APPROP FOR ENERGY DIVIDEND & ASSISTANCE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) THERRIAULT, KOOKESH
01/09/06 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 12/30/05
01/09/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/09/06 (S) STA, FIN
01/26/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
01/26/06 (S) Heard & Held
01/26/06 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/23/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
BILL: SB 215
SHORT TITLE: ENERGY DIVIDEND: INCREASE 2005 PFD
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) THERRIAULT, KOOKESH
01/09/06 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 12/30/05
01/09/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/09/06 (S) STA, FIN
01/26/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
01/26/06 (S) Heard & Held
01/26/06 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/23/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Fred Dyson
Alaska State Legislature
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor of SB 274, explained Version X
and answered questions.
Wes Keller, Staff
Senator Fred Dyson
Alaska State Legislature
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered a question on SB 274, Version X.
James Helgoe, Lieutenant
Division of Alaska State Troopers
Department of Public Safety
5700 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99507-1225
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 274, Version X.
Josh Tempel, Staff
to Senator Charlie Huggins
Alaska State Legislature
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SCR 21 on behalf of the sponsor.
Representative Bill Thomas
Alaska State Legislature
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SCR 21, Version G,
and suggested an amendment.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR GENE THERRIAULT called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:38:30 PM. Present were Senators
Charlie Huggins, Bettye Davis, and Chair Gene Therriault. He
noted that the remaining members were in another meeting.
SB 274-STATE FIREARM DISPOSAL AND INVENTORY
CHAIR GENE THERRIAULT announced SB 274 to be up for discussion.
3:39:14 PM
SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS), Version X [labeled 24-LS1636\X, Bannister,
3/22/06], as a work draft. Without objection, it was so ordered
and Version X was before the committee.
3:39:39 PM
SENATOR FRED DYSON, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB 274,
characterized Version X as a much more polished version that he
believes the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Department
of Administration, and the attorneys are comfortable with. It
clarifies there is no liability for the state to dispose of
firearms. For guns that the general population cannot legally
own, such as sawed-off shotguns and fully automatic weapons, it
makes provisions for them to be sold to a Class 3 dealer. The
few weapons that are illegal to own - such as those with defaced
serial numbers - can be disassembled, the illegal parts can be
thrown away, and the remaining parts can be made available to
whoever wants them. Furthermore, DPS must report yearly to the
finance committee what firearms it traded in.
[Due to technical difficulties, there is no audio recording for
the time period 3:41:06 PM to 3:43:18 PM.]
3:41:06 PM
CHAIR THERRIAULT referred to page 2, subsection (d), which talks
about a part of a surplus firearm. He asked whether that
includes ammunition.
WES KELLER, Staff to Senator Fred Dyson, pointed out that
"surplus firearm" [page 3, line 3, in the definitions section]
means a firearm or ammunition.
3:43:23 PM
SENATOR DYSON, in response to Senator Huggins, referred to page
2, line 2, saying this makes it clear that the state is still
able to trade firearms in.
3:44:06 PM
JAMES HELGOE, Lieutenant, Division of Alaska State Troopers,
Department of Public Safety, informed members that DPS supports
the bill in its current version, which gives DPS the flexibility
to dispose of firearms that come into state possession.
3:44:52 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to report CS for SB 274, Version X [24-
LS1636\X, Bannister, 3/22/06] from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). Without objection,
CSSB 274(STA) was reported from the Senate State Affairs
Standing Committee.
SCR 21-VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL:MOVING WALL
CHAIR GENE THERRIAULT announced SCR 21 to be up for discussion.
He noted that a proposed committee substitute (CS), Version G
was in the packets.
3:45:11 PM
JOSH TEMPEL, Staff to Senator Charlie Huggins, presented SCR 21.
He explained that this issue is a big one for numerous veterans
across the state. The memorial will go to seven cities, and
people are ecstatic. Noting that many of Alaska's veterans have
seen extreme combat, Mr. Tempel suggested this memorial will
provide a chance for closure.
He said this will be educational, not just about the Vietnam
War, but also about America's veterans in general and what
they've given for our country. Although the memorial came to
Alaska about a decade ago, this time it will go to communities
where it has never been, including Bethel and Cordova.
Mr. Tempe offered his belief that Cordova has the highest
percentage of any city in the nation of fallen Vietnam veterans.
He explained that in honoring veterans across the state, it was
thought an appropriate title for this summer would be "a summer
of honor and a season of gratitude." He expressed hope that the
state would adopt that title for this summer.
3:47:57 PM
SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS, sponsor, added that Vietnam War
veterans, including himself, are now the majority of veterans,
since those who served in World War II are passing away.
Unfortunately, there are many scars from the Vietnam era, both
physical and mental. Thus he believes the wall will be
therapeutic. For some, it will bring closure, while others will
see it as a harsh reminder. What SCR 21 requests is a voice
from the Senate in recognition that the wall is going to
communities where it hasn't yet been, including the Matanuska-
Susitna area, Eagle River, Kodiak, and other places.
He mentioned teleconferencing with various communities about how
to make it happen. Senator Huggins surmised it will be a grand
occasion, though a somber one. He expressed pride in being a
small part of this, and commended Representative Thomas for
having a big part on behalf of Southeast Alaska. He concluded
by saying this is well deserved by veterans.
3:50:18 PM
CHAIR THERRIAULT asked for a motion to adopt the \G Version.
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS moved [to adopt the proposed CS, Version G,
labeled 24-LS1682\G, Bannister, 3/14/06, as the work document].
Without objection, it was so ordered.
3:50:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BILL THOMAS informed members that he is a Vietnam
veteran from 1968. He thanked Senator Huggins and
Representative Stoltze for helping him get the memorial to
Cordova, where people were overwhelmed when they found out about
this; four of them were classmates with three young men whose
names are on the wall. Representative Thomas expressed great
pleasure that this is happening, agreeing there is a lot of
emotional scarring.
3:51:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS suggested a conceptual amendment [page 2,
line 3], to replace "a" with "the" after "2006"; thus the title
for the time period would begin "the summer of honor". He
offered his belief that this would be stronger language, and
asked if Senator Huggins agreed.
SENATOR HUGGINS concurred.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS expressed support for the resolution. He
said he's also working on getting the names on a citation, which
could be taken to each community. He noted that the platoon
sergeant for one young man who is listed on the memorial wall
lives in Skagway, and two soldiers in Haines and Sitka had
served with the young men he'd mentioned. Representative Thomas
said he is trying to find a way to take them to Cordova, where
the memorial will be on June 23. He thanked Senator Huggins and
Representative Stoltze for their assistance in Southeast Alaska.
3:53:01 PM
CHAIR THERRIAULT moved to adopt Amendment 1, on page 2, line 3,
after "2006", to change "a" to "the". Thus it would read: "the
summer of honor and a season of gratitude". He added that the
drafters would be asked to put it into whatever form is
necessary to clarify that the observance is to be given that
title. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
3:54:00 PM
SENATOR DAVIS moved to report CS for SCR 21, Version G [24-
LS1682\G, Bannister, 3/14/06], as amended, from committee [with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s)].
Without objection, CSSCR 21(STA) was reported from the Senate
State Affairs Standing Committee.
SB 214-APPROP FOR ENERGY DIVIDEND & ASSISTANCE
3:54:25 PM
SB 215-ENERGY DIVIDEND: INCREASE 2005 PFD
3:54:25 PM
CHAIR GENE THERRIAULT announced SB 214 and SB 215 to be up for
discussion. As one of the bills' sponsors, he explained that
this is energy-dividend legislation. He noted that he had
touched base with committee members and asked them to consider
passing the bill on to the Senate Finance Committee. He
reminded members that the bills propose a dividend to help cover
increased energy costs for Alaskans, with additional money to
make up a difference for power cost equalization (PCE) in the
current fiscal year. They also propose a $10 million
appropriation for multiple-year use for weatherization for low-
income people.
He pointed out that when it comes to PCE for the current fiscal
year and the following one, the issue ultimately will be dealt
with in the Senate Finance Committee. He suggested the
likelihood that funding would continue for weatherization for
low-income people, and said he'd like the Senate Finance
Committee to consider a multiyear appropriation.
3:56:25 PM
SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS moved to report SB 214 and SB 215 from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s). Without objection, SB 214 and SB 215 were reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Therriault adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 3:56:52 PM.
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