04/14/2009 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing for Joseph Schmidt as the Successor to the Alaska Lieutenant Governor. | |
| HJR10 | |
| HB14 | |
| HB156 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HJR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 156 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 14, 2009
9:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Linda Menard, Chair
Senator Kevin Meyer, Vice Chair
Senator Hollis French
Senator Albert Kookesh
Senator Joe Paskvan
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING
Joseph Schmidt, Successor to Lieutenant Governor
CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10(HSS)
Urging the United States Congress to improve health care for
veterans.
MOVED CSHJR 10(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 14(STA)
"An Act designating the Alaskan Malamute as the official state
dog."
MOVED CSHB 14(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 156
"An Act relating to municipal fees charged for disposal of waste
material from the substantial rehabilitation, renovation,
demolition, removal, or replacement of a structure on
deteriorated property."
MOVED HB 156 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 10
SHORT TITLE: VETERANS' HEALTH CARE
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) GUTTENBERG
01/30/09 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/30/09 (H) MLV, STA, HSS
02/24/09 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
02/24/09 (H) Moved CSHJR 10(MLV) Out of Committee
02/24/09 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
02/25/09 (H) MLV RPT CS(MLV) 6DP
02/25/09 (H) DP: KAWASAKI, OLSON, HARRIS, LYNN,
BUCH, GATTO
03/02/09 (H) STA REFERRAL WAIVED
03/10/09 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
03/10/09 (H) Moved CSHJR 10(HSS) Out of Committee
03/10/09 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/12/09 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 7DP
03/12/09 (H) DP: HOLMES, COGHILL, SEATON, LYNN,
CISSNA, HERRON, KELLER
03/25/09 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/25/09 (H) VERSION: CSHJR 10(HSS)
03/27/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/27/09 (S) HSS, STA
04/07/09 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211
04/07/09 (S) <Pending Referral>
04/10/09 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/10/09 (S) Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
04/11/09 (S) HSS RPT 3DP
04/11/09 (S) DP: DAVIS, DYSON, PASKVAN
04/14/09 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211
BILL: HB 14
SHORT TITLE: ALASKAN MALAMUTE AS STATE DOG
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) GARDNER
01/20/09 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/09
01/20/09 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/20/09 (H) STA
02/26/09 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
02/26/09 (H) Moved CSHB 14(STA) Out of Committee
02/26/09 (H) MINUTE(STA)
02/27/09 (H) STA RPT CS(STA) 4DP 2NR 1AM
02/27/09 (H) DP: SEATON, GRUENBERG, WILSON, PETERSEN
02/27/09 (H) NR: JOHNSON, LYNN
02/27/09 (H) AM: GATTO
04/07/09 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/07/09 (H) VERSION: CSHB 14(STA)
04/08/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/08/09 (S) STA, RES
04/14/09 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211
BILL: HB 156
SHORT TITLE: ALLOWING CERTAIN LANDFILL FEE WAIVERS
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) LYNN
02/25/09 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/25/09 (H) CRA
03/12/09 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/12/09 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
03/17/09 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/17/09 (H) Moved Out of Committee
03/17/09 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/18/09 (H) CRA RPT 1DP 4NR
03/18/09 (H) DP: KELLER
03/18/09 (H) NR: CISSNA, MILLETT, MUNOZ, HERRON
04/02/09 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/02/09 (H) VERSION: HB 156
04/03/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/03/09 (S) CRA, STA
04/09/09 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
04/09/09 (S) Moved HB 156 Out of Committee
04/09/09 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
04/10/09 (S) CRA RPT 2DP 2NR
04/10/09 (S) DP: THOMAS, MENARD
04/10/09 (S) NR: OLSON, KOOKESH
04/14/09 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HJR 10 as sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE BERTA GARDNER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 14 as sponsor.
PAIGE HILL, Second Grader
Polaris School
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 14.
CIARA BRADY, Fourth Grader
Polaris School
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 14.
SANNE CASSEE, Second Grader
Polaris School
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 14.
MAEVE WILEY, Third Grader
Polaris School
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 14.
RYAN TERRY, Fifth Grader
Polaris School
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 14.
DUNCAN WRIGHT, Fifth Grader
Polaris School
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 14.
REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 156.
MARK MARLOW, Contractor/Developer
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 156.
SHAWN EVANS, Commercial Realtor
Alaska Commercial Property
Fairbanks AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of HB 156.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:03:30 AM
CHAIR LINDA MENARD called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Senators Kookesh,
Paskvan, and Menard were present at the call to order. Senators
French and Meyer arrived later.
^Confirmation hearing for Joseph Schmidt as the successor to the
Alaska Lieutenant Governor.
9:04:10 AM
CHAIR MENARD announced the confirmation hearing for Joseph
Schmidt for the Lieutenant Governor's successor. "We did speak
to this in our committee." So she asked the committee to sign.
CHAIR MENARD said "I would like to move HJR 31, which is the
'Support Soldiers Burial Designations,' to be considered as the
Senate bill. We did already have that companion bill, Senate
Bill Resolution 18. So it's the exact one, so if it's OK with
the committee ... I'd like to waive that out of committee."
SENATOR FRENCH said it is fine with him. The others agreed.
HJR 10-VETERANS' HEALTH CARE
CHAIR MENARD announced the consideration of CSHJR 10(HSS).
9:06:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG, Alaska State Legislature, said
this resolution asks the federal government to do a better job
with veteran healthcare. Alaska veterans often have to travel,
sometimes to Seattle, to get proper care. There are a variety of
clinics across the state that are available, "but they're not
V.A. [Veterans Administration]." HJR 10 asks the federal
government to have V.A. benefits "follow the vet" instead of be
anchored in a facility. It will strengthen the local economy by
keeping the money in communities, and it will allow veterans to
get better health care closer to where they live.
SENATOR FRENCH moved to report CS for HJR 10 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, CSHJR 10(HSS) moved from committee.
The committee took a brief at-ease.
HB 14-ALASKAN MALAMUTE AS STATE DOG
9:10:26 AM
CHAIR MENARD announced the consideration of HB 14. [CSHB 14(STA)
was before the committee.]
REPRESENTATIVE BERTA GARDNER, Alaska State Legislature, said HB
14 was brought to her by students of Polaris K-12 School. It was
entirely their idea. "Everything in here was written by them or
elicited by those kids." They did the sponsor statement, the
request for hearing, and all of the testimony. She asked the
students why they chose the Malamute as the state dog. They
persuaded her with their answers.
9:12:21 AM
CHAIR MENARD said she has been in the school system for a long
time, and this group of students has articulated their position
well. She loves the idea of having a state dog. Alaska is young
and, doesn't have the traditions and "the symbolic things that I
would like to see in our state." Some states have 180 different
things on their calendar. About 20 percent of Alaska's
population is in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students get
excited about celebrating state dog day or Seward's Day. It
stimulates history discussions with teachers.
9:14:45 AM
PAIGE HILL, second grade, Polaris School, Anchorage, said her
grandmother from North Carolina visited Ms. Hill when she was in
kindergarten. Her grandmother went to her classroom and said
North Carolina had a state dog. Ms. Hill then learned that
Alaska didn't have one. This is where it all began. The teacher
helped her students investigate how to get a state dog. After
lots of discussion, the students narrowed the dog down to two
types: husky and Malamute. They voted for the Alaska Malamute.
It has been in Alaska for thousands of years and is one of the
12 ancient breeds. It is the only dog native to the United
States. Two other classes joined her class in researching the
Malamute. Once people understand this dog's history, they will
realize it should be the official state dog. "Thank you for
taking our bill seriously."
CIARA BRADY, fourth grade, Polaris School, said some people feel
that the Alaska husky should be the state dog, but all the
students were convinced that it should be the Malamute. The
Malamute was developed for a particular purpose. Arctic settlers
as long ago as 5,000 years or more had heavy sleds loaded with
supplies. Arctic explorers could travel for weeks on end.
Malamutes helped during the gold rush. Throughout Alaska's
history people have needed animals to help. "They got all that
and more from the Alaska Malamute." They are smart, loyal, and
work well with people. They were treated as part of the family,
and often helped raise the children. Theoretically, today's
Malamutes can do the same job as their ancestors. They continue
to be the same amazing dogs. The Malamute represents the Alaskan
character: proud, independent, and sometimes even stubborn. The
Malamute is huge, just like Alaska.
9:19:05 AM
SANNE CASSEE, second grade, Polaris School, said the Malamute is
named after the Malamute tribe from the shores of Kotzebue
Sound. Archeologists have found ancient bone and ivory carvings
showing the Malamute from up to 20,000 years ago. Recent DNA
analysis confirms that the Alaska Malamute is one of the oldest
breeds of dogs. It is the only one out of 150 breeds that is
native to the United States. The Alaska Malamute was used for
pulling thousands of pounds and not as a racing dog. The Inuit
used them for hunting seals and tracking polar bears. The
Malamute was so widely respected that Eskimos who lived inland
traveled to Kotzebue Sound to trade furs for the dogs. This is
how the Alaska Malamute found its way to other regions of
Alaska. Gold miners wanted big dogs to freight their supplies,
and no other dog, no matter how big, could come close to the
strength and ability of the Alaska Malamute.
9:21:59 AM
MAEVE WILEY, third grade, Polaris School, said the Alaska
Malamute babysat children while their Inuit parents were out
hunting. This is one of the reasons they make good pets, unlike
many other northern breeds. They are so gentle human babies
snuggled up with puppies. This partnership was used for
survival. Malamutes helped with hunting and hauling supplies
between camps. They looked out for bears and guarded caribou
herds. Russian and European explorers saw this amazing
connection between the people and their dogs. Malamutes have
affectionate dispositions. Early explorers often reported this
superior type of dog. They were easy going and capable of an
enormous amount of work. When Captain Cook was looking for a
trading route, he was very impressed by the hard-working
Malamute that got along with humans. Prospectors would pay $500
for one. Many dogs were being brought to Alaska during the gold
rush. In an effort to make them bigger and stronger, miners
crossed them with Malamutes. The breed was almost lost during
that era, but a few enthusiasts did their best to save the
breed. By 1908 dog racing was becoming popular. The Siberian
husky was imported in 1908. In an effort to get faster dogs
people continued to mix them. The concept of the Alaska husky
emerged. Dog mushing with huskies is the official state sport.
Huskies are already recognized by this, but the husky cannot
match the long history of the Malamute.
9:26:30 AM
RYAN TERRY, fifth grade, Polaris School, said long after the
gold rush the Malamute was still valued for hauling freight.
They were easy to care for and could carry heavy loads. They
helped haul mail and bush supplies. Native and white Alaskans
continued use them for travel, hunting, and mail delivery. When
ships couldn't reach Alaska's harbors in winter, dog teams
carried mail through 1,000 miles of Alaskan terrain in relays of
300 miles each. Malamutes were the Big Mac trucks of their day.
During the 1925 serum run to Nome, about 150 sled dogs relayed
diphtheria antitoxin 674 miles in a record-breaking 5.5 days,
saving Nome from a terrible epidemic. In World War I, the
Malamute was called into service by the French government. The
Nome kennel club shipped 450 Alaska Malamutes, sleds, harnesses,
and two tons of dried salmon to France where the dogs easily
tackled the harsh conditions and moved troops that were cut off
from mountain passes in far reaching outposts. The dogs pulled
weapons across frozen ground. They served as search and rescue
dogs and sniffed out mines. The military tried to use them as
guard dogs but they failed that test because they just liked
people too much to attack someone.
9:29:30 AM
DUNCAN WRIGHT, fifth grade, Polaris School, asked people to set
aside biases about their favorite breed of dog and consider the
intent behind HB 14. The Alaska Malamute has been here for 5,000
years, representing the entire history of Alaska. It has been
here since the first people arrived. They survived and thrived
in one of the harshest environments on earth. The Malamute lived
as part of their human family, helping to hunt, haul, and care
for children. He read of Malamutes snuggling and sleeping with
children to keep them warm and sometimes staying back to babysit
the children when adults went to hunt. The Malamute went on to
impress explorers, settlers, and miners. They participated in
Arctic and Antarctic explorations, were heroes in the world
wars, helped in the serum run, and hauled massive amounts of
freight and mail to remote parts of Alaska. The Malamute has
been involved in Alaska's history every step of the way. Huskies
were bred by outsiders and came mostly from outside stock. Thank
goodness that a few good people saved the Malamute breed. The
legacy of the Alaska Malamute speaks for itself.
9:33:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER said it tickled her when Representative
Joule from Kotzebue said people in Bethel called him a Malamute,
an ancient name of some of the Inuit people. So the term is
still used.
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report HB 14 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER clarified that there is a CS from the
House State Affairs committee. It capitalizes Malamute.
SENATOR FRENCH moved to rescind the action to move HB 14 from
committee. There was no objection.
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report CS for HB 14 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, CSHB 14(STA) moved out of committee.
HB 156-ALLOWING CERTAIN LANDFILL FEE WAIVERS
CHAIR MENARD announced the consideration of HB 156.
9:39:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN, Alaska State Legislature, Sponsor, said
HB 156 amends Alaska statute to permit -- not require - a
municipality to waive the tipping fee at landfills for materials
from renovating deteriorated properties. It is good public
policy and won't cost the state a dime. It will make it more
economically feasible to renovate dilapidated properties to the
benefit of communities.
MARK MARLOW, Contractor/Developer, Anchorage, said the genesis
of HB 156 was a local ordinance in the Fairbanks North Star
Borough to assist in a renovation of a deteriorated downtown
property. The local assembly passed an ordinance for a tipping
fee waiver, but it may have been challengeable. The solution was
"to define deteriorated property in AS 29.35 as it's defined in
AS 29.45 to create a class of property that is eligible to
receive these waivers." Municipalities aren't obligated to
extend this benefit but will be able to with this bill.
9:43:37 AM
SHAWN EVANS, Realtor, Alaska Commercial Property, Fairbanks,
urged the passage of HB 156. It makes projects like this a
little more feasible. The Polaris Hotel has been a blight on the
city of Fairbanks; it is an eyesore and has vagrants. The bill
will help generate a little more life into downtown Fairbanks.
It will not cost the state anything.
CHAIR MENARD asked if the municipality would lose revenue.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said obviously they would lose the tipping
fee, but they will be renovating property so he assumes, by
adding to the tax roll, it will be positive in the end.
CHAIR MENARD asked if a homeowner can get a waiver.
9:46:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said the bill precludes homeowners; it is
limited to deteriorated commercial property.
CHAIR MENARD noted that in Canada property taxes are reduced
when someone improves their property. It is frustrating that
Alaska increases the assessment when improvements are made.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said the bill includes commercial property
and residential buildings with at least eight units, and it must
meet one of the following requirements: within the last five
years it has been subject to environmental remediation; the
property is vacated, condemned, or demolished; the structure is
not less than 15 years old; or is located in a deteriorating
area as determined by the municipality.
CHAIR MENARD said Senator Paskvan provided her with the statute
that has a clear definition of deteriorated property.
SENATOR FRENCH said he supports the bill, but the definition is
somewhat remarkable. "It basically means all commercial
property, no matter what its state of construction. It could
have been built yesterday." It refers to "real property that is
commercial property not used for residential purposes."
SENATOR PASKVAN said the language goes on to list certain
requirements, [which Representative Lynn just listed.]
9:49:47 AM
SENATOR FRENCH said he thinks it refers to all commercial
property. Then he said he could read it another way. "I'm
tending now to see it Senator Paskvan's way."
SENATOR PASKVAN said it defines an eight-plex (or more) as
commercial. Within that category of commercial property the
building needs to meet those requirements.
CHAIR MENARD said she appreciates that a building has to be at
least five years old.
SENATOR PASKVAN said it refers to having been subject to an
order in the last five years - meaning that it is condemned,
demolished, or vacated. It can't be less than 15 years old.
9:51:38 AM
SENATOR FRENCH moved to report HB 156 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, HB 156 moved out of committee.
9:52:38 AM.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 a.m.
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