03/08/2022 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SR3 | |
| SJR20 | |
| SB152 | |
| SB92 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SR 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 152 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 92 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 8, 2022
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Shower, Chair
Senator Lora Reinbold, Vice Chair
Senator Roger Holland
Senator Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mia Costello
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 3
Relating to nonprofit, nongovernmental organization support for
veterans in Alaska.
- MOVED SR 3 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20
Urging the United States Congress to pass the Hearing Protection
Act.
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 152
"An Act relating to the convening of the legislature at the
capital and in the Municipality of Anchorage; relating to the
location of legislative sessions; and relating to the emergency
relocation of functions of state government."
- MOVED CSSB 152(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 92
"An Act relating to missing persons under 21 years of age."
- MOVED SB 92 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SR 3
SHORT TITLE: NGO SUPPORT FOR STATE VETERANS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) SHOWER
02/04/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/04/22 (S) STA
03/01/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/01/22 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/03/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/03/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/03/22 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/08/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 152
SHORT TITLE: LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IN ANCHORAGE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) SHOWER
01/18/22 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/22
01/18/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/22 (S) STA, FIN
02/15/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/15/22 (S) Heard & Held
02/15/22 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/03/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/03/22 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/08/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SJR 20
SHORT TITLE: URGE PASSAGE OF HEARING PROTECTION ACT
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) REVAK
01/18/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/22 (S) STA
02/17/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/17/22 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/01/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/01/22 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/03/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/03/22 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/08/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 92
SHORT TITLE: MISSING PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS OLD
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
02/22/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/22/21 (S) HSS, STA
03/23/21 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/23/21 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/30/21 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/30/21 (S) Heard & Held
03/30/21 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
04/06/21 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/06/21 (S) Moved SB 92 Out of Committee
04/06/21 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
04/07/21 (S) HSS RPT 2DP 1NR
04/07/21 (S) DP: WILSON, BEGICH
04/07/21 (S) NR: REINBOLD
04/27/21 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/27/21 (S) Heard & Held
04/27/21 (S) MINUTE(STA)
02/10/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/10/22 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
02/15/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/15/22 (S) Heard & Held
02/15/22 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/01/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/01/22 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/03/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/03/22 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/08/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
TYLER NEWCOMBE, Staff
Senator Josh Revak
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SJR 20 on behalf of the sponsor.
KNOX WILLIAMS, President & Executive Director
American Suppressor Association
Atlanta, Georgia
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation in support of SJR
20.
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff
Senator Josh Revak
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on SJR
20.
JENNIFER YUHAF, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation in support of SJR
20.
JESSICA GEARY, Executive Director
Legislative Affairs Agency
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about the fiscal note for
SB 152.
SCOTT OGAN, Staff
Senator Mike Shower
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided his perspective during the hearing
on SB 152.
KELLY HOWELL, Special Assistant
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supporting testimony on SB 92.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:33:05 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 Holland, Reinbold, and Chair Shower. Senator
Kawasaki arrived soon thereafter.
SR 3-NGO SUPPORT FOR STATE VETERANS
3:34:00 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE RESOLUTION
NO. 3 Relating to nonprofit, nongovernmental organization
support for veterans in Alaska.
[This is the second hearing and public testimony is closed]
CHAIR SHOWER asked if there were any questions or comments.
Finding none, he solicited the will of the committee.
3:34:25 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD moved to report SR 3, work order 32-LS1447\B,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
3:34:47 PM
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and SR 3 was reported from the
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
3:34:51 PM
At ease
SENATOR KAWASAKI joined the committee.
3:36:41 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting.
SJR 20-URGE PASSAGE OF HEARING PROTECTION ACT
3:36:54 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 20 Urging the United States Congress to pass the
Hearing Protection Act.
3:37:26 PM
TYLER NEWCOMBE, Staff, Senator Josh Revak, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SJR 20 on behalf of the
sponsor, speaking to the sponsor statement,
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus are
significant health problems among adults across the
United States. Despite the widespread availability of
traditional hearing protection devices like earplugs
and earmuffs, these preventable hearing conditions are
often the result of firearm noise exposure. When they
do occur, they can cause a significant negative impact
in the quality of life to those affected by them.
Studies from the CDC and NIOSH have shown that the use
of noise suppressors on firearms can help protect
against hearing loss. That is why the National Hearing
Conservation Association recommends their use as a
tool to mitigate the risk of hearing damage.
For safety and sporting purposes, the majority of
hunters do not want to sacrifice their auditory
situational awareness by wearing traditional hearing
protection devices in the field. Suppressors are the
only tool that reduces the noise at the source, making
the concussion of a gunshot less dangerous for the
hunter and everyone around them. This is especially
true for hunting dogs, whose ears are far more
sensitive than their human counterparts and all the
more important for younger hunters and guides who are
accompanying a hunter in the field.
While the words silencer and suppressor are often used
interchangeably, it is important to note that nothing
can completely silence gunshots. The quietest
"silenced" gunshot is still as loud as a jackhammer
striking concrete. However, a firearm suppressor can
reduce the sound signature by an average of 20 to 35
dB, roughly the same as earplugs or earmuffs.
The Hearing Protection Act was first introduced in the
U.S. House of Representatives in 2015 and in the
Senate in 2017. If enacted, it would remove
suppressors from the purview of the National Firearms
Act and reclassify them as Title 1 firearms. Doing so
would eliminate the superfluous barriers to entry that
in no way enhance public safety, while still requiring
purchasers to submit a Form 4473 and pass an FBI
background check when purchasing through a dealer.
Its passage would also result in the largest increase
of Pittman-Robertson funding in decades, adding tens
of millions of dollars to the aggregate budgets of our
nation's state wildlife agencies for the management of
wildlife resources.
SJR 20 urges congress to enact the Hearing Protection
Act and enable the 100+ million law-abiding gunowners
across our country to take an extra preventative
measure for their health without endangering the
safety of the general public
3:39:19 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND asked if those purchasing a suppressor must
submit Form 4473 because they're buying a suppresser or a
firearm.
MR. NEWCOMBE deferred the question to Knox Williams.
SENATOR HOLLAND said he was curious whether purchasing a
suppressor elicited a level of paperwork.
CHAIR SHOWER offered his experience that purchasing a suppressor
was a more detailed process than buying a firearm.
3:40:33 PM
KNOX WILLIAMS, President & Executive Director, American
Suppressor Association, Atlanta, Georgia, testified by
invitation in support of SJR 20. He paraphrased his prepared
testimony, which read as follows:
It is important to note that no device can silence the
sound of a gunshot. They are simply too loud. However,
suppressors can reduce the noise to safer levels.
That's why the CDC, the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, and the National
Hearing Conservation Association all recommend the use
of suppressors as a tool to mitigate preventable
hearing damage.
Suppressors are legal to own in 42 states and are
legal to hunt with in 40, Alaska being one of them.
That said, under the current regulatory structure of
the National Firearms Act, they are one of the most
heavily regulated items available to consumers. To
legally purchase one, buyers must send in an
application to ATF that includes fingerprint cards,
passport style photos, pay a $200 transfer tax, notify
their chief law enforcement officer, and wait an
average of six to 18 months for ATF and FBI conduct a
background check and process the application.
The Hearing Protection Act would fix this, replacing
the complicated and costly antiquated process with the
same process used to buy a rifle or shotgun. Customers
and dealers would fill out a Form 4473 and still have
to pass the same FBI background check.
The use of suppressors by criminals is a near
statistical anomaly because a) they don't actually
silence anything and b) suppressed guns are harder to
conceal and there are some severe and strict federal
penalties. According to Ronald Turk in his official
capacity as the former number two at ATF, "Silencers
are very rarely used in criminal shootings. Given the
lack of criminality associated with silencers, it is
reasonable to conclude that they should not be viewed
as a threat to public safety."
Passage of the Hearing Protection Act would also
result in the largest increase in Pittman Roberts
funding in decades, adding tens of millions of dollars
to the pool of money that is divided by our nation's
state and wildlife agency.
For these reasons we urge you to pass Senator Revak's
resolution.
3:42:37 PM
MR. WILLIAMS asked whether his testimony answered the question
about Form 4473.
SENATOR HOLLAND asked if this makes it easier for individuals to
purchase noise suppressor devices to protect their hearing.
MR. WILLIAMS answered yes, it would be easier for law-abiding
citizens to purchase these devices. He added that the $200
transfer tax would not be required and an individual would be
able to visit a dealer, fill out Form 4473, and pass a
background check the same day. That currently takes 6-18 months.
He noted an electronic transfer system launched last December
and if it works as promised it will reduce wait times to about
90 days.
CHAIR SHOWER asked him to describe the penalties if someone is
stopped by law enforcement and does not have the required
paperwork.
MR. WILLIAMS stated that the use of a suppressor in the
commission of a crime carries a 5 year and $250,000 penalty
CHAIR SHOWER added that the possession of a suppressor is tied
to a person and that person must have the paperwork in their
possession when using the suppressor.
3:45:01 PM
CHAIR SHOWER asked whether the [Hearing Protection] Act changes
the way somebody could sell a suppresser or if it stays the same
as selling a firearm.
MR. WILLIAMS answered that should the Hearing Protection Act
pass, the way fees are transferred would change. In addition,
suppressors would be removed from the federal registry that
maintains the database on anybody who has purchased a National
Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) item and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) would be required to
destroy those personal records. Suppressors would be
reclassified as firearms so the same rules for transfer would
apply as for a firearm.
CHAIR SHOWER recapped the current and said he also wanted to
dispel the myth about real suppressors. They are not small; the
sound is only reduced, not silenced; and they are expensive.
3:47:57 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked why suppressors were originally placed in
the National Firearms Act.
MR. WILLIAMS replied the history is not clear, although there
are several conjectures. What is clear is that the silencer
provision in the National Firearms Act was never part of the
congressional debate.
3:50:27 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked what the $200 transfer tax goes to.
MR. WILLIAMS replied ATF sees none of that money; it goes into
the general fund of the US Treasury.
CHAIR SHOWER highlighted that $200 was a lot of money when the
transfer tax was initiated and few people could afford it. He
asked Mr. Williams to comment.
MR. WILLIAMS explained that President Franklin D. Roosevelt and
his attorney general Homer Cummings wanted to ban guns, but they
knew they didn't have the statutory authority to do so. The
solution was to levy a tax that was cost prohibitive. The cost
of a suppressor was $5-7 and the added $200 tax effectively
killed the suppressor industry for the next 50-60 years.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if there was any additional invited
testimony.
3:53:23 PM
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff, Senator Josh Revak, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said Jennifer Yuhaf was probably on
line if there were any questions.
CHAIR SHOWER asked Ms. Yuhaf if she had anything to add.
3:53:51 PM
JENNIFER YUHAF, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified
by invitation in support of SJR 20. She stated that she is a
firearms safety instructor who teaches basic pistol, rife, and
home firearms safety. She stated that SJR 20 is about safety and
revenue. As a safety instructor she questions why it should be
more difficult to obtain a safety device for a firearm than to
obtain a firearm. Clearly, it should not. Part of safety is
protecting one's hearing and part is being proficient with
firearms. She opined that allowing easier access to a safety
device for hearing will encourage other safety practices. The
second piece is that being able to purchase these safety devices
for firearms will generate revenue for the state budget.
3:55:51 PM
CHAIR SHOWER held SJR 20 in committee.
SB 152-LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS IN ANCHORAGE
3:56:10 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 152
"An Act relating to the convening of the legislature at the
capital and in the Municipality of Anchorage; relating to the
location of legislative sessions; and relating to the emergency
relocation of functions of state government."
CHAIR SHOWER solicited a motion to adopt the proposed committee
substitute.
3:56:55 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS)
for SB 152, work order 32-LS1306\I, as the working document.
CHAIR SHOWER objected for purposes of discussion.
CHAIR SHOWER, speaking as sponsor of SB 152, explained the CS
seeks to address the concern that deleting the phrase "if the
legislature is convened in a municipality other than the capital
city" in several places throughout the bill might be interpreted
as an intent to move the capital from Juneau. The CS addresses
that to clarify that the bill is only talking about legislative
sessions and the intent is to move the session every other year.
SENATOR REINBOLD stated that she plans to be a co-sponsor.
3:59:42 PM
CHAIR SHOWER removed his objection; finding no further
objection, the CS for SB 152 was adopted.
SENATOR KAWASAKI noted that the fiscal note is indeterminate. He
said he read the analysis and it raised some questions.
4:00:32 PM
JESSICA GEARY, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency,
Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that the
analysis reflects the challenge to quantify the costs when there
are no specifics in the bill about the policy decisions that
need to be made.
4:01:26 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI referenced the second paragraph of the fiscal
note analysis.
This fiscal note is indeterminate as several policy
decisions are necessary to estimate the fiscal impact
of this legislation, such as:
He asked if she had any cost estimates for the two special
sessions under Governor Palin and Governor Walker that were held
outside the capital city.
MS. GEARY said yes, but it is not an apples to apples
comparison. Special sessions are limited in duration and scope
and the upfront costs are spread over just a few days whereas
for a regular session the upfront costs are spread over a much
longer timeframe.
The cost for the two day special session in Anchorage under
Governor Palin was in the neighborhood of $78,000 per day while
the general estimate for a special session in Juneau is about
$30,000 per day. In regular sessions the range of topics covered
is much broader, more staff is needed, and more bills are
drafted, all of which makes a comparison difficult. She offered
to provide the historical cost information she had if that would
be useful to the committee.
SENATOR KAWASAKI said he believes that information is necessary
to provide a baseline.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked the sponsor whether a facility in the
Municipality of Anchorage had been identified that potentially
had 10 committee rooms, 60 legislative offices with adequate
space for partisan staff as well as staff for legislative
finance, legal services, information technology, security, and
printing and documents, all with adequate parking.
4:05:07 PM
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he was requesting the cost estimates.
SENATOR KAWASAKI answered yes. He acknowledged he was not
familiar with the availability of buildings in the Municipality
of Anchorage that could accommodate the legislature during a
regular session but he wondered whether a new building was
envisioned. He asked if that was the intent.
4:06:03 PM
CHAIR SHOWER said buildings have been identified in the past
that would serve the purpose, but at this point the concept is
at the 30 thousand foot level. He added that he did not care one
way or the other whether legislative sessions were held in
Juneau or elsewhere but he did know that others had very strong
feelings about more access to their legislators during regular
sessions. He agreed that there would be associated costs, but
pointed out that there would be savings as well on per diem. He
described the bill as a balanced bridge approach that responds
to the will of the people. He also predicted that the bill would
die in finance without getting a hearing.
He committed to get the requested information from Ms. Geary to
add to the broad discussion. He opined that it wouldn't matter,
but he still wanted to move the bill from committee.
4:08:30 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI said the information matters if the committee
intends to move the bill. He asked the sponsor to comment on the
statement about per diem in the fiscal note.
Per Diem. This bill would result in a savings for
legislator per diem due to approximately 24 fewer
legislators being eligible; however, overall, per diem
cost would increase significantly as a result of
approximately 40 non-partisan staff relocating to
Anchorage a net increase of 16 individuals eligible
to receive per diem. Further, the Anchorage per diem
rate is traditionally higher than the Juneau per diem
rate. Relocation. This bill would result in minimal
savings f
CHAIR SHOWER said Ms. Geary would need to expand the discussion
in the fiscal note, but he recalled that rates in Anchorage
during regular sessions are cheaper than in Juneau. Further, it
would actually be 33 legislators plus their staff who would not
be eligible for per diem because legislators from the MatSu
Valley fall into the 50-mile radius. He restated that the bill
offers a balanced approach.
4:10:22 PM
MS. GEARY agreed that per current rules, members within the 50-
mile radius of the regular session would not be eligible for per
diem. She said the per diem rate for Anchorage is $354 year
round whereas the Juneau rate is set by Legislative Council
policy and does not change throughout the session. Currently the
rate is $307 per day, but if that were adjusted seasonally the
summer rate would be $367 per day.
CHAIR SHOWER asked whether Legislative Council could set the
same policy for a regular session in Anchorage.
MS. GEARY answered yes; that is within the purview of
Legislative Council.
CHAIR SHOWER opined that rather than saying the Anchorage rate
is higher, it would be more accurate to say that the rate would
be whatever Legislative Council wanted it to be.
4:11:58 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD commented on how tight things were when the
capitol building was being remodeled and pointed out that
multiple special sessions had been held in the gymnasium. She
said the point is that legislators do not need fancy facilities.
She opined that the bill would reduce per diem, give legislators
more access to the people, and expand the pool of people who
would run for office. She also pointed out that per diem for
staff is just one percent of what legislators receive because
they receive salaries year round. She urged legislators to be
creative in putting forward ideas for potential sites to hold
regular legislative sessions.
CHAIR SHOWER requested his staff provide clarifying comments.
4:13:35 PM
SCOTT OGAN, Staff, Senator Mike Shower, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that what has not been
discussed is the cost savings the bill represents to the
administration because most directors and commissioners are paid
per diem when they travel from Anchorage to testify on
legislation.
CHAIR SHOWER said he had not thought to discuss that point.
SENATOR REINBOLD said people learned to work remotely over the
last two years so Legislative Legal Services and other staff
should be able to stay in Juneau and work remotely if a regular
session were held in Anchorage. She further suggested that VPSOs
could provide security and pages could come from the local
community. She thanked the sponsor for bringing the bill
forward.
CHAIR SHOWER clarified that the point is not to move the
capital. Rather, the driving point is increased access and
getting people more involved in government. He agreed with the
point that working remotely is much easier today than it was two
years ago.
4:16:47 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND agreed there is a clamor to make the legislature
more accessible by putting it on the road system. He described
SB 152 as a good bill.
CHAIR SHOWER commented on the high cost to stay in Juneau.
4:18:32 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI noted that the language in Section 3 confines
the second legislative session to the Municipality of Anchorage
so it could not be held in Fairbanks, for example.
CHAIR SHOWER agreed that is how the bill was drafted.
SENATOR KAWASAKI said he was responding to Senator Reinbold's
comment about moving legislative sessions to different locations
when the bill clearly identifies the Municipality of Anchorage.
SENATOR REINBOLD said she understands that but believes that
other options should be considered, particularly for special
sessions.
4:19:33 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI referenced Mr. Ogan's point about potential
cost savings to the administration and asked if that means those
agencies have not been consulted and asked to submit fiscal
notes.
MR. OGAN offered his understanding that the administration had
not submitted a fiscal note.
CHAIR SHOWER clarified that the answer was no.
4:20:12 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI highlighted the points in the fiscal note
analysis that discusses infrastructure.
Infrastructure. Video, audio, and hi-speed internet
capabilities as well as network support would need to
be installed in leased or new space to replicate
existing capabilities for committee rooms, chambers,
and offices. Specifically, electronic voting boards
and audio system in the chambers;
teleconference/videoconference capable systems
installed in committee rooms; security camera system
for the building; as well as specialized equipment for
the Offices of the Chief Clerk and Senate Secretary;
commercial copiers; etc. Additionally, per KTOO, Gavel
TV does not have the resources to support sessions in
a location outside the capital. If similar coverage
was desired, either another entity or the Legislature
would need to provide professional production quality
coverage previously provided by Gavel TV, including
camera/audio infrastructure as well as pro
He state that Gavel Alaska is extremely important to his mother
and the people of Alaska, all of whom would lose that benefit if
sessions were held outside Juneau. He asked how the bill
envisions offsetting that loss.
4:21:07 PM
MR. OGAN said he imagines a transition period before a
legislative session is moved to set up a functional replacement
system. Anchorage was selected because most legislators live in
the vicinity, he said.
4:22:34 PM
CHAIR SHOWER pointed out that most bills provide intent but do
not tell people how to do something, and the same applies to SB
152. It is a reasonable compromise to provide people more access
to their legislators. There is a solution to all the problems
that might be raised because every problem has a solution.
CHAIR SHOWER requested a list of all the questions and committed
to get answers from Ms. Geary and the other agencies. He said
the committee will receive a copy and that information will be
in the bill packet.
CHAIR SHOWER asked for final questions or comments.
4:25:16 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI said he asked the questions because the bill is
an important policy decision and for complete transparency it's
important to know how it will work. He said he didn't know that
legislators would receive more input from the people if
[legislative sessions] were moved but he could say that when he
participated in the special session in the Egan Center in
downtown Anchorage, almost no guests attended the floor sessions
other than family of legislators. In the special session in
2015, the attendance was stronger but it was largely confined to
the organized groups speaking on the budget. Individual citizens
did not show up. He also mentioned poorly attended townhalls.
SENATOR KAWASAKI said the legislature's work is in Juneau and
without additional information about the policy decisions that
will make this a bill that will improve transparency and access
to the public, he couldn't support it.
CHAIR SHOWER responded that it's not possible to know whether
the bill will increase access until it's tried. He opined that
plenty of people will show up, depending on the issue. He said
he was in Wasilla in 2019 and was swamped, and all townhalls in
the MatSu are standing room only and there is a desire for more.
He maintained that the work can be wherever legislators want it
to be. He restated that he was trying to find a solution that
would be satisfactory to both sides of the debate.
SENATOR REINBOLD commented that the listening sessions and
townhalls she had hosted usually were very busy because they
were about issues that affected people's lives.
4:31:06 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND commented that facilities come and go but there
was plenty of availability in Anchorage.
4:31:22 PM
At ease
4:31:38 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting.
SENATOR HOLLAND continued to say that this is something the
people of Alaska want to see happen.
CHAIR SHOWER emphasized that this bill is not about moving the
capital; rather, it is about moving every other legislative
session to the Municipality of Anchorage.
4:32:56 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI said his recommendation on the committee report
will be "do not pass" because he needs more information on the
policy decisions, but he appreciates that the sponsor will move
through that.
CHAIR SHOWER restated his commitment to work through the policy
decisions.
Finding no further questions or comments, he solicited a motion.
4:33:31 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD moved to report CSSB 152, work order 32-
lS1306\I, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
4:33:43 PM
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and CSSB 152(STA) was reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee
4:34:00 PM
At ease
SB 92-MISSING PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS OLD
4:36:19 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 92 "An Act relating to missing
persons under 21 years of age."
He noted the bill was previously heard and public testimony was
closed. He asked Ms. Howell if she had final comments.
4:36:52 PM
KELLY HOWELL, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Public Safety (DPS), stated that SB 92 codifies
what is in federal law and is current practice, which is to
enter reports of missing children under age 21 into the Alaska
Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) and the National Crime
Information Center (NCIC) within two hours. The bill is
noncontroversial and will help locate children more quickly.
CHAIR SHOWER commented on how important early reporting can be.
SENATOR HOLLAND described SB 92 as an excellent, short bill.
CHAIR SHOWER found no additional questions or comments and
solicited a motion.
4:38:09 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD moved to report SB 92, work order 32-GS1581\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and SB 92 was reported from the
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
4:38:44 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Shower adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 4:38 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 152 FN.pdf |
SSTA 3/8/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 152 |
| SB 152 CS.pdf |
SSTA 3/8/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 152 |
| SB92 FN FCS.pdf |
SSTA 3/8/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 92 |
| SB92 FN DPS.pdf |
SSTA 3/8/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 92 |