Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/30/2021 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB95 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 39 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 95 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 30, 2021
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Shower, Chair
Senator Lora Reinbold, Vice Chair (via Teams)
Senator Mia Costello (via Teams)
Senator Roger Holland (via Teams)
Senator Scott Kawasaki (via Teams)
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Alaska Police Standards Council
Jennifer L. Winkelman - Juneau
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Military Appeals Commission
John Pharr - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
SENATE BILL NO. 95
"An Act relating to the right of first refusal of a volunteer
search and rescue group with respect to surplus state property."
- MOVED CSSB 95(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 39
"An Act relating to elections; relating to voter registration;
relating to ballots and a system of tracking and accounting for
ballots; establishing an election offense hotline; designating
as a class A misdemeanor the collection of ballots from other
voters; designating as a class C felony the intentional opening
or tampering with a sealed ballot, certificate, or package of
ballots without authorization from the director of the division
of elections; and providing for an effective date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 95
SHORT TITLE: SEARCH AND RESCUE SURPLUS STATE PROPERTY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WILSON
03/03/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/03/21 (S) STA, FIN
03/16/21 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/16/21 (S) Heard & Held
03/16/21 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/30/21 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
JENNIFER WINKELMAN, Appointee
Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC)
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska Police
Standards Council (APSC).
JOHN PHARR, Appointee
Military Appeals Commission
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Military
Appeals Commission.
SENATOR DAVID WILSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 95.
JASMINE MARTIN, Staff
Senator David Wilson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT:
JAMES STOLPE, Fire Chief
Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 95.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:33:42 PM
CHAIR MIKE SHOWER called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Reinbold, Costello, Kawasaki, Holland, (all
via Teams), and Chair Shower.
He read the remote meeting protocols, including the roll call
that showed the following:
SENATOR REINBOLD, Capitol room 427, SENATOR COSTELLO, Capitol
room 119, SENATOR HOLLAND Capitol room 113, SENATOR KAWASAKI,
Capitol room 7, and CHAIR SHOWER in the Butrovich room, Capitol
205.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Alaska Police Standards Council
Military Appeals Commission
3:36:55 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of Governor Appointees
to Boards and Commissions. He stated his intention to hear from
all the nominees referred to the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee.
CHAIR SHOWER asked Jennifer Winkelman to introduce herself,
provide a brief overview, and tell the committee why she would
like to continue to serve on the Alaska Police Standards
Council.
3:37:58 PM
JENNIFER WINKELMAN, Appointee, Alaska Police Standards Council
(APSC), Department of Public Safety (DPS), Juneau, Alaska,
stated she currently serves as Director of Pretrial, Probation
and Parole in the Department of Corrections (DOC). She related
that she earned a degree in criminal justice from the University
of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She has been with the Department of
Corrections in both the field and the institution for more than
20 years. She wanted to continue to serve on the board because
it is a privilege, and because it is a little outside her
professional comfort zone. She said she recognizes the
challenges of law enforcement and appreciates the need to
maintain professionalism in training and hiring.
MS. WINKELMAN said she enjoys serving on the council because it
gives her a voice in ensuring that Alaska is operating under
best practices and allows her to play a part in restoring faith
in law enforcement. She has served on the council for a little
over two years and she believes her experience and personality
will continue to be an asset to the council. She said she has
been fair and impartial in her deliberations that impact
officers and communities.
In response to Senator Shower's general questions for
applicants, she responded that she does not have a criminal
record, conflicts of interest, or skeletons in the closet and
she has reviewed and is familiar with the state's ethics policy.
3:40:40 PM
CHAIR SHOWER noted the current strife nationwide over policing
methods and asked if she had any ideas or strategies that might
help make things better.
MS. WINKELMAN said the council is going through a substantial
review of the regulations to ensure that training and
certifications are meeting best practices. Personally, she has
been reviewing regulations to ensure they are specific where
needed and that they meet the needs of all community members who
interact with law enforcement.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if the council would generate a report on the
regulation changes so the legislature will know what changes are
made.
MS. WINKELMAN said she didn't know if there would be a report,
but the council is working on the regulation package and it is
posted on the website. The council will consider all the public
comment and work to produce the regulations that will go through
the legislature.
CHAIR SHOWER said he asked because some law enforcement officers
do not believe the information is communicated widely enough for
the public to understand the policies regarding use of force and
other issues. He asked whether the legislature could help get
the word out and ensure transparency in policing policies.
3:44:26 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND said he appreciates that she was able to step
outside her comfort zone to serve on the council initially. He
asked if she had an example of thinking outside the box.
MS. WINKELMAN answered that many things were implemented during
COVID-19 to meet the needs of those being supervised in
corrections and still enforce probation and parole conditions.
She specifically mentioned virtual supervision and meetings.
SENATOR REINBOLD said she heard from Ms. Winkelman in the
Judiciary Committee and gives her a thumbs up. "I think you're
exceptional for the position and thank you for being willing to
serve."
SENATOR KAWASAKI commented on Ms. Winkelman's distinguished
qualities.
3:47:49 PM
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on the appointment of
Jennifer Winkelman to the Alaska Police Standards Council;
finding none, he closed public testimony.
CHAIR SHOWER asked John Pharr to introduce himself, provide a
brief overview, and tell the committee why he would like to
serve on the Military Appeals Commission.
3:48:37 PM
JOHN PHARR, Appointee, Military Appeals Commission, Department
of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA), Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that he has practiced law for 43 years and regards it as a
privilege to use his skills to help people. He said his military
career developed alongside his legal career. After active duty,
he joined the reserves and entered the private practice of law.
He retired from the reserves as a lieutenant colonel after 20
years. Because the military has been such a major factor in his
life, he said he would be thrilled to give back by serving on
the Military Appeals Commission.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he had any conflicts of interest or
ethical or criminal issues that might create a problem with
service on the commission.
MR. PHARR replied he did not know of any conflicts of interest,
he had no criminal convictions, ethical issues, or skeletons in
the closet, and he had reviewed the ethics policy.
CHAIR SHOWER said he asks the questions of all nominees as part
of the due diligence.
SENATOR HOLLAND offered his belief that Mr. Pharr was a good
candidate for the Military Appeals Commission. He thanked him
for his military and legal service and for stepping up for this
service.
3:53:57 PM
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on the appointment of John
Pharr to the Military Appeals Commission; finding none, he
closed public testimony.
3:54:45 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD stated that in accordance with AS 39.05.080,
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee reviewed the
following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a
joint session for consideration:
Alaska Police Standards Council
Jennifer L. Winkelman - Juneau
Military Appeals Commission
John Pharr - Anchorage
Signing the reports regarding appointments to boards and
commissions in no way reflects individual members' approval or
disapproval of the appointees; the nominations are merely
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and the names were forwarded.
SB 95-SEARCH AND RESCUE SURPLUS STATE PROPERTY
3:55:30 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 95,
"An Act relating to the right of first refusal of a volunteer
search and rescue group with respect to surplus state property."
He noted the sponsor brought two amendments.
3:56:33 PM
CHAIR SHOWER moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 32-
LS0593\B.1, and objected for discussion purposes.
32-LS0593\B.1
Bannister
3/12/21
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE
TO: SB 95
Page 1, line 10, following "surplus":
Insert "state"
Page 1, line 13, following "surplus":
Insert "state"
3:57:06 PM
SENATOR DAVID WILSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 95, said his staff would provide a detailed
explanation of both amendments.
3:57:30 PM
JASMINE MARTIN, Staff, Senator David Wilson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that Amendment 1 adds the
word "state" following the word "surplus" on page 1, lines 10
and 13 to clarify that the bill only applies to state property.
3:58:14 PM
CHAIR SHOWER removed his objection; finding no further
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
3:58:28 PM
CHAIR SHOWER moved to adopt Amendment 2, work order 32-
LS0593\B.3, and objected for discussion purposes.
32-LS0593\B.3
Bannister
3/12/21
AMENDMENT 2
OFFERED IN THE SENATE
TO: SB 95
Page 1, line 2, following "to":
Insert "obsolete or"
3:58:41 PM
MS. MARTIN explained that Amendment 2 adds the term "obsolete
or" following the term "to" on page 1, line 2 to make the title
conform more completely with the language of the bill.
3:59:08 PM
CHAIR SHOWER removed his objection; finding no further objection
Amendment 2 passed.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if the state is required to dispose of
state property to the highest bidder.
MS. MARTIN answered that generally property goes on the online
auction site and sometimes there is a buy it now price. She
acknowledged that she did not know all the nuances.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if a search and rescue group that has
"first right of refusal" would be specifically notified of
relevant surplus property that is going to be posted on the
online auction site.
4:00:49 PM
SENATOR D. WILSON answered that the search and rescue entities
would have the right of first refusal without having to go to
the bidding process. The department expects it to be a first
come first serve situation and does not expect a large number of
entities would be competing for the equipment. The idea is to
provide the opportunity for the entities to buy the used
equipment at fair market value. Regulations will be written to
allow this.
SENATOR HOLLAND asked what criteria qualifies an entity for the
right of first refusal to purchase obsolete or surplus property.
MS. MARTIN answered that it has to be a group of volunteers that
are organized to provide search and rescue services. The idea is
to make the definition broad enough to capture the diverse
search and rescue organizations, but narrow enough to keep
random individuals from qualifying. The Department of
Administration (DOA) supports the definition.
SENATOR HOLLAND offered his understanding that the organizations
would go directly to DOA to qualify.
MS. MARTIN said that is correct.
4:04:30 PM
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 95.
4:04:45 PM
JAMES STOLPE, Fire Chief, Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department,
Petersburg, Alaska, stated wholehearted support for SB 95. This
gives groups that do not have much money an opportunity to
purchase used equipment that serves a purpose. He thanked the
sponsors and the committee for hearing the bill.
4:05:40 PM
CHAIR SHOWER closed public testimony on SB 95.
4:05:52 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD moved to report SB 95, work order 32-LS0593\B
as amended, from committee with [individual recommendations] and
attached fiscal note(s).
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and CSSB 95(STA) was reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
4:06:42 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Shower adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 4:06 p.m.
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