Legislature(1999 - 2000)
02/22/2000 03:38 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
February 22, 2000
3:38 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jerry Ward, Chairman
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Gary Wilken
Senator Randy Phillips
Senator Kim Elton
MEMBERS ABSENT
All Members Present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 231
"An Act naming the Alaska Native Veterans' Honor Bridge."
-MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS HOUSE BILL NO. 192 (JUD)
"An Act relating to reciting the pledge of allegiance by public
school students."
-MOVED SCS FOR CS FOR HB 192 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 236
"An Act establishing Prisoners of War and Missing in Action
Recognition Days and Women Veterans Day; and providing for an
effective date."
-SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 231 - No Previous Senate Action
HB 192 - No Previous Senate Action
WITNESS REGISTER
Ms. Denny Weathers
P.O. Box 1791
Cordova AK, 99547
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports HB 192
Senator Georgianna Lincoln
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 231
Ms. Shirley Demientieff
229 Second Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 231, and HB 192
Mr. Benno Cleveland
Vice President of Alaska Native Veterans Association
1006 22nd Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 231, and HB 192
Mr. Dennis Poshard
Legislative Liaison/Special Assistant
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, AK 99801-7898
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 231
Mr. Richard Franks
President of Alaska Native Veterans Association
General Delivery
Minto, AK 99758
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 231
Representative Jeanette James
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 192
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 00-02, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN WARD called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order at
3:38 p.m. Present were Senators Ward, Phillips, Elton, Wilken, and
Green. The first order of business to come before the committee
was SB 231.
SB 231-NAMING AK NATIVE VETERANS' HONOR BRIDGE
SENATOR LINCOLN, sponsor of SB 231, stated SB 231 was requested by
the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), Nenana City Council, and
Nenana Village Council. This bill will name the bridge that spans
the Tanana River at Nenana the "Alaska Native Veterans Honor
Bridge," in honor of the many Alaska Native veterans who served
this state and country.
The bridge at mile 305 on the George Parks Highway was chosen due
to its size and location. The south footing is on Municipality of
Nenana land, and the north footing is on Nenana Native Village
land.
SB 231 recognizes Alaska Native and American Indian veterans. The
Department of Defense held a ceremony in 1998 to honor these
individuals. AFN chose to honor Alaska Native veterans that same
year by dedicating the annual convention to them.
Alaska Natives have an extremely high per capita record of service.
They have protected our country. Their heroic service for this
state and country are deserving of a monument dedicated in their
honor.
Number 293
MS. SHIRLEY DEMIENTIEFF stated she was a part of an effort to start
a veterans group in Fairbanks. The bridge chosen for honoring the
veterans is owned by the City of Nenana on one side, and owned by
the Native tribe of Nenana. The bridge is perfect for honoring the
Alaska Natives who served because the bridge symbolizes that we
live in two separate worlds and people who serve our country bridge
those two worlds.
MR. RICHARD FRANK, President of Alaska Native Veterans Association,
replied he is a veteran of WWII and it is important to honor
veterans of all wars. Alaska Natives have served in every major
war that the U.S. has been involved in, and some are still
currently active. It is an honor to have this bridge named for
Alaska Native veterans.
Number 737
MR. BENNO CLEVELAND, Vice President of Alaska Native Veterans
Association, replied SB 231 is a good way to give thanks to all the
Alaska Natives who served in the past and the future.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked if other landmarks were chosen to honor the
Alaska Native veterans.
SENATOR LINCOLN replied the City of Nenana and the Village of
Nenana wanted to recognize the veterans by naming the bridge. The
Alaska Native Veterans Association said they were honored to have
the bridge named for their service.
SENATOR PHILLIPS stated that a monument should be constructed for
the veterans along the Parks Highway. He believes veterans should
be recognized more than a bridge name to remind the present
generations of what past generations sacrificed.
Number 968
SENATOR LINCOLN stated a zero fiscal note was attached to SB 231 so
it would pass easily. She thanked Senator Phillips for that idea.
SENATOR PHILLIPS referred to the Ft. Richardson Memorial that was
recently constructed.
Number 1094
SENATOR GREEN asked if the area designated had any military
significance.
SENATOR LINCOLN said no.
CHAIRMAN WARD stated he belongs to Native Vietnam Veterans of
Alaska (NVVA). NVVA is working with VFWs across the State to
construct a memorial to honor Native veterans at Byers Lake. There
are efforts under way across the State to honor veterans of war.
SENATOR GREEN asked if any other monument at Byers Lake was race or
ethnic based.
CHAIRMAN WARD answered the Eskimo Scouts.
Number 1292
SENATOR WILKEN said there is a Native burial site located on the
hill, and a historical site.
SENATOR LINCOLN stated it is a wonderful recognition of Natives and
Alaskans to have a site honored after them. The bridge would be a
reminder for future generations of the sacrifice those veterans
made while serving Alaska and the country.
MR. DENNIS POSHARD, Legislative Liaison, Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities, stated the department supports
SB 231. A zero fiscal note was submitted because the cost of
securing two signs is approximately $600. Sign maintenance is a
growing problem because the budget is decreased every year. The
Department of Transportation would be willing to work with Senator
Lincoln on a roadside memorial.
SENATOR PHILLIPS stated that the signs on the bridge are full of
bullet holes and need to be replaced.
MR. POSHARD agreed that is a growing problem, especially in the
rural areas.
SENATOR ELTON moved SB 231 with individual recommendations and
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objections, it was so
ordered.
HB 192-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Number 1618
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES, sponsor of HB 192, stated the flag salute is
an important part of patriotism in our country. The goal is to
require public schools to conduct regular flag exercises, which
include the pledge of allegiance. No one will be compelled to
recite the pledge against their conscience or belief system.
Students who object to reciting the pledge on grounds of conscience
or belief are asked to maintain a respectful silence. In proposed
Senate CS (1-LS0837\I) for CS for HB 192 "regularly" on line 7, has
been deleted.
SENATOR GREEN moved to adopts SCS for CS for HB 192(STA)(1-
LS0837\I)as the working version of the committee. There being no
objection, it was so ordered.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said there is a proposed amendment to delete
"as determined by the governing body."
SENATOR ELTON stated other things such as time and classes could be
determined by the governing body.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES stated the amendment is up to the committee.
SENATOR GREEN moved the amendment, Senator Wilken objected.
SENATOR WILKEN stated keeping "the governing body" allows the
school board latitude to determine how the pledge is recited daily.
If the amendment passes, the school board will be removed from the
equation.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES agreed. She thought "the governing body"
didn't need to be in the bill because there is no problem with
leaving the language.
Number 1820
CHAIRMAN WARD stated the motion has been withdrawn.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if input has been made by school districts
around the State on CS for HB 192 (JUD).
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said they have heard from some school
districts, they support CS for HB 192 (JUD) because it sets a
standard across the State.
SENATOR PHILLIPS said the school districts need to explain why
certain children maintain silence during the pledge to avoid
scrutiny from other children.
SENATOR ELTON asked if CS for HB 192 (JUD) excluded private
schools.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES stated that was correct.
Number 2044
MS. DENNY WEATHERS said the government requires children to attend
school and chooses the type of education the children learn.
Children should be taught to respect others, even children who do
not recite the pledge. HB 192 is very important to Alaska and our
country. Ms. Weathers recited the history of the flag, and the
pledge of allegiance.
MS. DEMIENTIEFF stated there are certain values missing in children
today. The pledge of allegiance is a core value that should be
welcomed back into the schools. We should celebrate things that
unify our nation, the pledge being one of them.
MR. CLEVELAND said many different cultures live within our country
and the pledge should be something the public sees eye-to-eye on.
SENATOR GREEN moved SCS for CS for HB 192 (STA) with individual
recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. There being no
objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business to come before the Senate State
Affairs Committee, Chairman Ward adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
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