03/09/2017 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB16 | |
| SCR4 | |
| SB48 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SCR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 48 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 9, 2017
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair
Senator David Wilson
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator John Coghill
Senator Dennis Egan
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 16
"An Act relating to training regarding disabilities for police
officers, probation officers, parole officers, correctional
officers, and village public safety officers; relating to
guidelines for drivers when encountering or being stopped by a
peace officer; relating to driver's license examinations; and
relating to a voluntary disability designation on a state
identification card and a driver's license."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4
Relating to the Task Force on Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
- MOVED CSSCR 4(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 48
"An Act creating a fund in the Department of Public Safety;
providing for payment of certain medical insurance premiums for
surviving dependents of certain police officers or firefighters
who die in the line of duty; and providing for an effective
date."
- MOVED CSSB 48(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 16
SHORT TITLE: DRIV. LICENSE REQ; DISABILITY: ID & TRAINING
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) THOMPSON
01/18/17 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/17
01/18/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/17 (H) STA, FIN
01/24/17 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
01/24/17 (H) Heard & Held
01/24/17 (H) MINUTE(STA)
01/26/17 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
01/26/17 (H) Moved HB 16 Out of Committee
01/26/17 (H) MINUTE(STA)
01/27/17 (H) STA RPT 7DP
01/27/17 (H) DP: JOHNSON, WOOL, LEDOUX, KNOPP,
BIRCH, TUCK, KREISS-TOMKINS
02/01/17 (H) FIN REFERRAL WAIVED
02/08/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
02/08/17 (H) VERSION: HB 16
02/10/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/10/17 (S) STA, FIN
03/09/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SCR 4
SHORT TITLE: TASK FORCE ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) HUGHES
02/22/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/22/17 (S) STA
03/09/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 48
SHORT TITLE: INS. FOR DEPENDS. OF DECEASED FIRE/POLICE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) COGHILL
02/03/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/03/17 (S) STA, FIN
02/14/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/14/17 (S) Heard & Held
02/14/17 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/02/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/02/17 (S) Heard & Held
03/02/17 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/09/17 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 16.
ART DELAUNE, representative
Wall-Busters Advocacy Group
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.
JUANITA WEBB, advocate
Wall-Busters Advocacy Group
Fox, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.
CATHY GERBY, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.
DERRALL MCBIRNEY, advocate
Wall-Busters Advocacy Group
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.
RICHARD WEBB, advocate
Wall-Busters Advocacy Group
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.
SENATOR SHELLEY HUGHES
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SCR 4.
STEVE COLLIGAN, member
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed questions regarding SCR 4.
BUDDY WHITT, Staff
Senator Hughes
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed Amendment 1 for SCR 4.
CHRISTA MCDONALD, Staff
BRANDY JOHNSON, representing self and others
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 48.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:34 PM
CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Wilson, Giessel, Coghill, Egan, and Chair
Dunleavy.
HB 16-DRIV. LICENSE REQ; DISABILITY: ID & TRAINING
3:31:17 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of House Bill 16.
3:31:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, provided his sponsor's statement of HB 16 as follows:
House Bill 16 came about several years ago when we had
the disabled community in Fairbanks came to us and
said that they had some concerns of some not good
outcomes of relations and interfacing with public
safety officials and misunderstandings because of
hidden disabilities, non-apparent disabilities; we had
some bad outcomes around the State of Alaska because
from things like this.
The purpose of the bill is to improve communications
between law enforcement and public-safety officials
and people with these non-apparent and hidden
disabilities.
The bill has three major components. First is the
training for Alaska peace officers, corrections
officers and other officers who interact directly with
the public. The second part is the [Division] of Motor
Vehicles' (DMV) handbook to include a section about
drivers' responsibilities when interacting with
officers in a traffic stop; this will increase safety
for officers and the public. The third part is the
statewide, voluntary identification system placed on
Alaska IDs or drivers' licenses to indicate a hidden
disability, and this would be a purely voluntary if
somebody didn't want that insignia on their drivers'
license they would not have to have it.
We've spent about four years on this bill so far and
the state troopers are now including in their training
at the state trooper academy training for people to
recognize people with disabilities and how they should
be handled. The other part was the motor vehicle
driver's license handbook. There was about a dozen of
us sitting around the table discussing all of these
problems, the disabled community was represented with
non-disabled people that were sitting there and we
talked about how a person with a non-apparent
disability would be stopped by a police officer and
they don't know what to do when they get rather
nervous and it will exasperate maybe their problem.
So, what do we do? How do we train those people so
they know what to do and how to react? Well, 12 people
around the table that didn't have disabilities said,
"Well, what are you supposed to do?" and all 12-people
said, "I haven't got a clue." So, we talked about
this, we talked to the [Division] of Motor Vehicles
and they said, "There are multiple states that have a
section in their drivers' manuals that tells you what
your responsibility or what you are supposed to do if
you are stopped by a police officer or you have an
interaction with the public-safety people; it just
made sense and they said they have no problem or no
cost to put that into the driver's manual, so that was
another part. Then there was an international symbol
that would go on the driver's license if somebody
wants to have it on there; again, this is purely
voluntary.
3:34:57 PM
SENATOR WILSON noted that he has concerns with the voluntary
elements of the bill. He asked if he has addressed the
vulnerable population of disabled that may be coerced into doing
the identification program by conservators or medical providers.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON emphasized that the program is totally
voluntary and explained the process as follows:
If somebody is advised by the disabled community that
the Governor's Commission on Disabilities puts the
word out to these people, they would have to go to
their medical provider and get a letter stating what
their disability is, they would have to take it to the
[Division] of Motor Vehicles and say, "I do have this
problem and I would like to have this on my license."
I didn't think there would be any coercion as far as
forcing them to. If somebody was in a conservatorship,
I don't know if they would be eligible to have a
driver's license; but, this is also to have it on any
state ID in case they didn't have a driver's license
or even any kind of identification that might come
from a village corporation or something if that is
their only form of identification that they would have
the ability with proof that they have a problem, it
would be available to them to put on their
identification.
3:37:09 PM
SENATOR COGHILL asked that the protocol be explained in
establishing information being placed into a driver's manual by
DMV as well as training development for the state troopers and
police academies in Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON replied that the training has online
accessibility for what to do when encountering an insignia on an
individual's identification. He said the training protocol is
set up, but distribution is not statewide. He noted that most
larger police departments do go through the state trooper
training or the academy to receive certification.
SENATOR COGHILL pointed out that there are two sides during a
traffic stop: the right as a citizen to assert their right and
the right of public safety to stop and deal with somebody. He
noted that Representative Thompson also addressed establishing
something that would go into a driver's test and manual. He
asked if DMV has provided input.
3:39:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON answered that his office has spoken with
DMV several times. He noted that other states have gone through
the same process regarding what to put into their drivers'
manuals and their explanations have been simplified. He asserted
that the addition information in the drivers' manuals is for the
safety of the police officer as well as the safety for the
person.
He noted that one example of what a driver should not do when
pulled over for a traffic stop is to, "start digging in your
glovebox," because an officer might think the driver is getting
a gun. He addressed additional traffic-stop suggestions for
drivers as follows:
· Acknowledge the officer's presence by turning on your
right-turn signal or your left;
· Move vehicle to the right shoulder of the road;
· End cellphone conversation;
· Turnoff radio;
· Remain inside vehicle unless otherwise directed by the
officer;
· Place your hands in clear view including all passengers'
hands such as on the steering wheel or on top of your lap.
He said the previously noted examples were put into some state's
drivers' manuals such as: Montana, Texas, Pennsylvania and
several others. He said knowing what to do during a traffic stop
is a good thing because a lot of people get an anxiety attack
when they see a light flashing in their rearview mirror.
SENATOR GIESSEL recalled that an exemplary incident occurred in
Fairbanks a few years back that illustrated the importance of
the legislation. She asked Representative Thompson if he
recalled the incident that she referenced.
3:41:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON replied that he has heard of several
incidences, but was not sure if the incident Senator Giessel
referenced was the one that he recalls. He explained that there
was an incident in Fairbanks where an individual was thought to
have been inebriated but was not. He noted that an incident
occurred in Kodiak last year where a police officer used a taser
due to a misunderstanding with an individual with a handicap. He
stated that the incidents he described are events that the
legislation is trying to prevent from happening.
SENATOR GIESSEL addressed an argument for possibly placing the
hidden-disability designation on a vehicle's license plate.
3:43:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON explained that the identification on the
driver's license plate is for somebody that has a mobility
disability that gives them permission to park in a handicap
spot. He said he did not think that a hidden disability would
qualify for somebody getting a handicap-license plate. He opined
that a lot of people with an undetectable handicap would
probably not want a designation on their license plate because
they do not think they are handicapped.
SENATOR GIESSEL noted that she was a sponsor of the Achieving a
Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act and pointed out that there are
many able-bodied individuals who have other types of
disabilities that do not regard themselves as physically
impaired for mobility purposes.
She noted that Representative Thompson commented that the bill
has gone through the Legislature. She asked what level of
support did the bill have the previous year and what was the
impediment to the bill passing.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON detailed that the previous bill passed
the House 40-0. He added that the bill passed through two
committees in the Senate, but never got to the Senate floor.
SENATOR EGAN disclosed that he has a disability that qualifies
him for a handicap-parking sticker, but does not want the
identification on his license plate.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON pointed out that Senator Egan's comment
was exactly what was brought up by several people that have
handicaps where they did not want their handicap pointed out;
however, he noted that some people wanted a license plate
identification to avoid a bad interaction with public safety.
3:46:09 PM
SENATOR WILSON stated that he was surprised by the list for
hidden disabilities. He noted that the long list included
allergies, chronic pain, and diabetes. He said he was worried
about someone abusing the list for hidden disabilities. He added
that he was also concerned about people being discriminated
against due to their hidden-disability identification. He
summarized that he was for the curriculum requirements, but was
concerned about getting into labeling sub-populations.
3:48:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON replied that he was shocked at the list
received from the disabled community and admitted that some
should not qualify for having the identification on their
driver's license. He admitted that he is not a medical doctor or
a person that could determine which should qualify. He said he
did not know if a doctor or the DMV would be able to address the
qualification list.
SENATOR GIESSEL reiterated that the indicator on the driver's
license is voluntary.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON answered correct.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if an individual with seasonal allergies
would have the option not to have the indicator on their
driver's license.
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON answered correct.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that the committee will hear invited
testimony on HB 16.
3:50:18 PM
ART DELAUNE, representative, Wall-Busters Advocacy Group,
Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in support of HB 16. He disclosed
that he is also a member of the Governor's Council on
Disabilities and Special Education.
3:51:01 PM
JUANITA WEBB, advocate, Wall-Busters Advocacy Group, Fox,
Alaska, testified in support of HB 16. She thanked
Representative Thompson for sponsoring HB 16 and "going on the
journey with Wall-Busters." She said she submitted a personal
letter of support to the committee that explained how the bill
could have potentially made a difference to her. She asserted
that HB 16 has always been about safety and standardized
education at the academy level to provide a more complete
understanding of disabilities. She summarized that having a
discreet, voluntary icon on a driver's license or ID will alert
officers to potential further-communication needs for a better
outcome.
3:53:08 PM
CATHY GERBY, representing herself, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 16. She disclosed that she is a licensed social
worker with 29 years of experience working with clients who have
experienced a vast array of hidden disabilities. She shared
experiences with the committee regarding individuals with hidden
disabilities as well as with first responders. She set forth
that HB 16 is about empowering people with hidden disabilities
to be supported in identifying themselves under times of duress
to first responders. She noted that HB 16 has no fiscal note and
the state trooper training academy has already amended their
training program to incorporate a more robust training regarding
disabilities.
3:57:39 PM
DERRALL MCBIRNEY, advocate, Wall-Busters Advocacy Group,
Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in support of HB 16. He suggested
that law enforcement have access to a database that identifies
an individual with a hidden disability prior to the initial
personal encounter during a traffic stop.
3:59:26 PM
RICHARD WEBB, advocate, Wall-Busters Advocacy Group, Fairbanks,
Alaska, testified in support of HB 16. He said training will
allow law enforcement to understand that some people do not
communicate or comprehend in the majority way.
4:01:18 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony on HB 16.
4:01:34 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony on HB 16.
4:01:44 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held HB 16 in committee.
4:01:50 PM
At ease.
SCR 4-TASK FORCE ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
4:02:37 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called the committee back to order and announced
the consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 4.
4:02:59 PM
SENATOR SHELLEY HUGHES, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of SCR 4, disclosed that her constituents have
voiced concern about privacy and asked for legislation to ban
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). She noted that during her
research on UAVs, she has come to realize that UAVs could be
useful tools if the operator had good intentions.
She divulged that she has been the co-chair for the Unmanned
Aircraft Systems Task Force since 2013. She opined that the task
force has done a lot of good work with a team of volunteers that
are not compensate for their work and pay for their own
expenses. She asserted that the task force has helped educate
the public about UAV safety and privacy guidelines while
promoting the aviation industry to the many cost savings and
life savings uses for UAVs.
She conceded that the issue of privacy is a subject that the
task force continues to struggle with. She said the task force
is notified of privacy instances and has had discussions with
law enforcement about the issue. She noted that the task force
has come up with different ideas but has run up against the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules. She revealed that
the FAA controls, "The air right above the blade of grass in
your backyard."
She said the task force continues to look at the issue of
privacy and has ideas to explore, but the task force is going to
term-out June 30. She set forth that the task force has
determined a need to stay in existence until the state gets
through the UAV transition time due to its evolving technology.
She summarized that SCR 4 re-ups the task force's term.
4:06:58 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that Senator Hughes said, "The space above
your yard or your grass doesn't belong to us, it belongs to
them." He asked what would happen if a drone flying just above
the ground is taken down on the land that you own.
SENATOR HUGHES clarified that the FAA has jurisdiction over your
land. She revealed that the most frequent question asked by her
constituents is whether a federal violation would occur if a
homeowner shoots down a drone that flies over their house. She
confirmed that shooting down a drone would be a violation of
federal law. She said knowing the FAA's rules regarding drones
is a reason why education is important.
4:08:51 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked what the rules are if a drone is being
thoroughly disruptive.
SENATOR HUGHES noted that other testifiers will provide input.
She suggested that a person waive the drone away because the
craft has cameras that can see when a person does not want them
there.
SENATOR GIESSEL noted that UAVs were used to count sea lions in
the Aleutians. She disclosed that sealions are very sensitive
animals to any kind of disruption. She asked how successful the
animal counts have been with UAVs for sealions and other
creatures.
SENATOR HUGHES disclosed that the University of Alaska-Fairbanks
was involved in the sealion count and they were getting more
accurate counts because the UAVs work better than manned
aircraft.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that SCR 4 has a zero-fiscal note.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony on SCR 4. He addressed
Senator Hughes' statement that the FAA controls the space above
a landowner's property and asked what the harassment laws are
for a UAV.
4:11:45 PM
STEVE COLLIGAN, member, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force,
Wasilla, Alaska, explained that the FAA controls the airspace,
nationwide. He pointed out that a UAV is classified by the FAA
as an aircraft just like a full-sized aircraft. He explained
that harassment or perceived level of privacy does not depend on
whether an aircraft or even a smartphone is used, it is the act
itself and not the device that is used. He concurred with
Senator Hughes that the FAA has determined UAVs to be aircraft
and shooting them down has repercussions. He noted that
Anchorage is considering a UAV ordinance to limit at 50 feet
above somebody's property, but the ordinance would conflict with
some of the FAA's airspace rules.
He opined that the reality is public safety and people need some
devices to be able to protect the public if somebody is behaving
poorly; again, that does not matter whether the device is a
drone or some other device. He pointed out that there are
Peeping Tom laws on the books that cover voyeurism. He opined
that what has been great about the task force has been the
review of privacy and public safety. He said the task force has
worked with the state attorney general to review the state's
existing laws. He disclosed that the task force has addressed
the idea of a law that defines loitering over somebody's
property that allows public safety to address with a UAV
operator whether the individual is misbehaving.
4:15:24 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that manned aircraft have visible numbers
for identification and asked Mr. Colligan to address UAV
identification that allows people to report illegal activity or
form of harassment.
MR. COLLIGAN answered that UAVs over 250 grams must have a
visible registration number, but conceded that the aircraft's
size may be an issue. He noted that electronic means exist where
identification numbers may be broadcast by the UAV.
4:17:28 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony on SCR 4.
4:17:41 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY moved Amendment 1 for SCR 4:
30-LS0360\A.1
Mischel
3/9/17
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR DUNLEAVY
TO: SCR 4
Page 3, line 29:
Delete "public and industry"
4:17:45 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL objected for purposes of discussion.
4:17:55 PM
BUDDY WHITT, Staff, Senator Shelley Hughes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, addressed Amendment 1 for SCR 4 and
specified that on page 3, lines 29-31, "public and industry"
would be deleted to make all members of the task force exempt
from compensation or per diem. He noted that the amendment
results in a fiscal note that would otherwise be indeterminate.
4:19:01 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL removed her objection.
4:19:04 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that seeing no other objection,
Amendment 1 was adopted.
4:19:22 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SCR 4, 30-LS0360\A [as amended],
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
4:19:29 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that seeing no objection, CSSCR 4(STA)
moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
4:19:42 PM
At ease.
SB 48-INS. FOR DEPENDS. OF DECEASED FIRE/POLICE
4:21:17 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called the committee back to order and announced
the consideration of Senate Bill (SB) 48.
4:21:36 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the work draft committee
substitute (CS) for SB 48, version 30-LS0108\U as the working
document.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY objected for discussion purposes.
4:21:52 PM
CHRISTA MCDONALD, Staff, Senator Mike Dunleavy, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that the CS makes two
changes:
1. Page 2, lines 25-29, new language was added to AS
39.60.040(a) that requires an application be submitted to
the commissioner, but presumes the eligibility of the
surviving dependent; this was language that was requested
by the Department of Law just to make sure the application
process is smooth while allowing the application to be on
file.
2. Page 6, lines 16-17, reworded for clarification to read,
"'Surviving spouse' means a person who was married to an
employee at the time of the employee's death;" this doesn't
change the meaning, just cleaned up the wording.
4:22:49 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY removed his objection and announced that the CS
was adopted.
4:23:11 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony on SB 48.
4:23:24 PM
BRANDY JOHNSON, representing self and others, Fairbanks, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 48 as follows:
I am testifying in support of Senate Bill 48 on behalf
of myself, my three daughters, my deceased husband,
Scott Johnson, surviving families of past and future
line-of-duty deaths for state troopers as well as law
enforcement officers in the State of Alaska. On May 1,
2014 my husband Scott Johnson and Gabe Rich were
murdered while in performance of their job as Alaska
State Trooper in Tanana, Alaska.
The recent committee substitute to Senate Bill 48
currently limits the health coverage to surviving
spouses to 10 years on page 3, line 20. I was
wondering if the 10-year limit on spousal coverage was
retroactive to the death of the employee or if the 10-
year limit begins when the legislation would take
effect? I would also like information on what the
reasoning is behind the limit. Why is the limit 10
years and not 5 or even 15, etc.? Is the language
coming from similar language from what another state
may be doing?
Usually when a family purchases health-care coverage
or the coverage is part of an employee benefit, it is
a family package, the parents' coverage usually covers
the children. Me being the sole-surviving parent, it
is my responsibility to take care of my family. The
limiting language does not make sense to me. I am
hearing it is more important to take care of the
children rather than the family unit.
When a law-enforcement officer is killed in the line
of duty, the surviving families are at all different
stages in life, some families are very young while
others are older. Also, if the 10-year language
remains, I would like to know what the additional cost
would be to cover the remaining surviving parent after
10-year limit expires.
Currently there are two surviving spouses of Alaska
State Trooper employees who have been killed in the
line of duty and one surviving spouse of a municipal
employee that was killed in the line of duty. I would
think the State of Alaska would want to take care of
the sole-surviving parent so that that parent can take
care of their family.
Thank you for the special invitation today to testify
on behalf of this committee substitute and address my
concerns.
4:26:01 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony on SB 48.
SENATOR COGHILL, sponsor of SB 48, commented that Mrs. Johnson
brings up a good point regarding the 10-year limitation. He
agreed that the 10-year period was arbitrary, but noted that the
administration and the Department of Law came up with the time.
He said there is no common way in dealing with the time when
looking at other states, but 10 years was a number that came up
most often. He conceded that the benefit is not life-long, but
opined that the 10 years is generous. He pointed out that an
effort was made to ensure the children receive the benefit up to
age 26 unless there was some other benefit available to them. He
said he did not have any better answer, but was open to a
discussion.
4:28:20 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL thanked Mrs. Johnson for supporting the bill and
for her significant sacrifice to the State of Alaska. She asked
Senator Coghill if the benefit to the surviving children up to
age 26 is in line with the standard health insurance that
legislators receive for their children.
SENATOR COGHILL answered the insurance benefit falls within the
reasonable limit of what the Legislature is doing. He reiterated
that the proposed policy does have a contingency where the
benefit is available until age 26 unless a comparable insurance
policy becomes available, a reason why a reporting mechanism is
included in the legislation.
4:29:51 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report the CS for SB 48, version 30-
LS0108\U, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
4:30:02 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that seeing no objection, CSSB 48(STA)
moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
4:30:15 PM
At ease.
4:31:18 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called the committee back to order.
4:31:56 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Dunleavy adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee at 4:31 p.m.