01/28/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR7 | |
| SB31 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SJR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 31 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
January 28, 2025
3:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Scott Kawasaki, Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Vice Chair
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Robert Yundt
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7
Urging the President of the United States and the United States
Secretary of the Interior to maintain Denali as the official
name for the tallest mountain in North America.
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 31
"An Act relating to the duties of the Department of
Administration; creating an address confidentiality program; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 7
SHORT TITLE: RES. TO MAINTAIN DENALI AS OFFICIAL NAME
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KAWASAKI
01/24/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/25 (S) STA
01/28/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 31
SHORT TITLE: ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KIEHL
01/10/25 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
01/22/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (S) STA, FIN
01/28/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
SALLY RAFSON, Staff
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the summary of changes from
version A to N for SJR 7.
SARAH SNOWBERGER, Staff
Representative Maxine Dibert
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on SJR 7.
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, District 31
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 7.
ED MARTIN, representing self
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 7.
SENATOR JESSE KIEHL, District B
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 31.
ELLA ADKISON, Staff
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for SB 31.
RANDY MCLELLAN, President
Alaska Correctional Officers Association (ACOA)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 31.
KEELEY OLSON, Executive Director
Standing Together Against Rape (STAR)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 31.
BRAD EWING, Director
Shared Services of Alaska
Department of Administration (DOA)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on SB 31.
ED MARTIN, representing Self
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on SB 31.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:34 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Bjorkman, Wielechowski, Gray-Jackson, Yundt
and Chair Kawasaki.
SJR 7-RES. TO MAINTAIN DENALI AS OFFICIAL NAME
3:32:49 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 7 Urging the President of the United States and
the United States Secretary of the Interior to maintain Denali
as the official name for the tallest mountain in North America.
3:33:06 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited a motion.
3:33:12 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS)
for SJR 7, work order 34-LS0443\N, as the working document.
3:33:55 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI objected for purposes of discussion.
3:34:14 PM
SALLY RAFSON, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the summary of changes
from version A to N for SJR 7 as follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Explanation of Changes: SJR 7, Version A to N
All deletions reference page and line numbers from the
route version A, while all additions reference page
and line numbers from the Rules Committee substitute,
version N
Page 1, lines 2-4 of version N: The title was amended
to reflect the addition of new "resolve" language on
Page 2, lines 26-27, as well as lines 29-32.
Page 1, lines 4-5 of version A: Deleted "whereas"
language from the previous version.
Page 1, line 15 through Page 2, line 1 of version N:
Added the following language: "WHEREAS on June 7,
1913, Walter Harper, a 20-year-old man of Athabaskan
descent, became the first person to stand on the
summit of the mountain."
Page 2, lines 19-24 of version A: Deleted "whereas"
language from the previous version.
Page 2, lines 22-24 of version N: Added the following
language "WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature
supports efforts to recognize the heritage of the
state's Alaska Native peoples and the continuing
importance of the mountain to Alaska Native culture."
Page 2, lines 26-27 of version N: Added the "United
States Board on Geographic Names" to the list of
entities in the resolutions request.
Page 2, lines 29-31 of version N: Added additional
"resolve" language requesting Alaska's congressional
delegation to advocate on behalf of, and work to
preserve, Denali as the official name for the tallest
mountain in North America.
Page 3, lines 1-7 of version N: Replaced previous
reference to "United States Secretary of the Interior"
with the "Honorable Walter Cruickshank, Acting United
States Secretary of the Interior" for cleanup
purposes. Added the following to the list of
individuals and entities copied on the resolution: the
"Domestic Names Committee," the "United States Board
on Geographic Names," the "Honorable Lisa Murkowski,"
the "Honorable Dan Sullivan," and the "Honorable Nick
Begich."
3:36:55 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked what the process is for renaming a
mountain, whether the name is officially changed, or if there is
still a formal process to go through, such as public input
through the Department of the Interior.
3:37:05 PM
MS. RAFSON replied she was unsure.
3:37:08 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI referred the question to the sponsor of the House
companion resolution.
3:37:21 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no further objection and CSSJR 7 was
adopted as the working document.
3:38:17 PM
SARAH SNOWBERGER, Staff, Representative Maxine Dibert, Juneau,
Alaska answered questions about the process of renaming Denali.
She shared her understanding of the renaming process stating
through executive order the President of the United States
directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a geographic
naming board made up of seven members from various agencies who
review all the name changes. Public input is generally not part
of the process. She stated in the past, name changes could be
delayed if a member of Congress had an active bill concerning
the name, as was the case with Mount McKinley. She stated the
delay ended in 2015 when President Obama and the Interior
Secretary overrode the congressional hold, allowing the mountain
to be officially renamed Denali.
3:40:17 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether [the federal government] had
officially changed the name back to Mt. McKinley.
SARAH SNOWBERGER agreed it has not been named yet.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if this is Alaska's opportunity to
weigh in on the renaming of Denali.
SARAH SNOWBERGER answered yes. She stated that is partly the
reason for reaching out to Alaska's congressional delegation.
They have the power to step in and make changes. SJR 7 directs
the President of the United States, the Secretary of the
Interior, and Alaska's congressional representatives will
receive copies of the resolution.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if a member of Alaska's congressional
delegation filed a bill to name the mountain Denali that would
stop the process [of the naming board].
SARAH SNOWBERGER answered yes.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there is any indication Alaska's
congressional delegation has filed a bill to stop the process.
SARAH SNOWBERGER responded Representative Dibert's office
contacted the offices of Senators Murkowski and Senator Sullivan
with no response yet. She stated both senators have publicly
supported keeping the name Denali, but their next steps are
unknown. That's why the resolution also goes to them.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if it would be beneficial to put
language in the resolve urging Alaska's delegation to file
legislation to rename the mountain Denali.
SARAH SNOWBERGER replied Alaska's delegation is aware of the
option. However, the resolution could incorporate that language.
3:42:48 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI invited Representative Dibert to begin her
presentation on SJR 7.
3:43:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, District 31, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SJR 7 as
follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
There is something truly special about seeing Mount
Denali in our home state. Even a brief glimpse of the
highest peak in North America fills Alaskans with a
sense of pride. The towering giant, in all its glory,
stands as a symbol of our state's majesty. Denali has
been known by its true name for thousands of years,
and that name is Denali. It's not just a name-it's a
symbol of history, culture, and respect. The name
comes from the Koyukon Athabascan language, meaning
"The Tall One."
As many of you know, the journey to formally recognize
this name has not been an easy one. It took 40 years
from the time the Alaska State Legislature passed its
1975 resolution for the federal government to
officially adopt the name Denali. This hard-fought
victory exemplifies the determination of the people of
Alaska, who never wavered in advocating for a name
that truly represents our identity. In 2015, the U.S.
Board on Geographic Names finally acknowledged Denali,
a decision celebrated statewide for its recognition of
the mountain's cultural and historical importance not
just to Native Alaskans but to everyone who calls this
state home.
I urge you, members of the Senate State Affairs
Committee, to support Senate Joint Resolution 7.
Denali is more than a mountain it is a cornerstone of
Alaska's history, a tribute to our diverse culture,
and a testament to the people who have cherished this
land for millennia. If the federal government moves to
change the name again, it is an affront to our state
sovereignty. To officially change the name would not
only dishonor those who have fought to protect Denai's
legacy but also dismiss the voices of the Native
communities whose roots are intertwined with this
land.
Let us preserve the name Denali-the name that embodies
the majesty of the tallest peak in North America, the
name that bridges our past and our future, and the
name that continues to inspire pride in all Alaskans.
3:46:17 PM
SARAH SNOWBERGER stated a note was received from legislative
legal services suggesting the resolve; avoid specifying members
of Alaska's delegation introduce legislation. She stated instead
it was recommended to keep SJR 7 broad, allowing for options.
3:47:13 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SJR 7.
3:47:47 PM
ED MARTIN, representing self, Kenai, Alaska, testified in
support of SJR 7. He stated he remembers the mountain being
called Mt. McKinley but if it's in the best interest of Alaska
to keep it Denali, that's all he cares about.
3:50:38 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI closed public testimony on SJR 7.
3:51:21 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether the state has ever officially
recognized or designated the mountain as Denali for geographic
naming purposes.
3:51:34 PM
SARAH SNOWBERGER replied she would collect the information and
share it with the committee.
3:51:39 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI expressed his understanding that the state
has done this but would like confirmation.
3:51:45 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI stated his belief that Denali is officially
referenced in statute. He said the federal government changed
Denali to Mt. McKinley in 1917. However, three to four thousand
years prior, the mountain's name was Denali.
3:52:54 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SJR 7 in committee.
3:53:02 PM
At ease.
SB 31-ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM
3:53:47 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SB 31 SENATE BILL NO. 31 "An Act relating to
the duties of the Department of Administration; creating an
address confidentiality program; and providing for an effective
date."
3:54:04 PM
SENATOR JESSE KIEHL, District B, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, summarized SB 31 as the sponsor of the bill
explained SB 31 establishes an address protection program within
the Department of Administration. SB 31 was inspired by a story
of a domestic violence survivor who, despite taking all
necessary precautions, nearly encountered her abuser at a post
office. He stated SB 31 aims to help survivors, as well as
public safety professionals, by offering a confidential mail
forwarding service through a state-issued post office box.
Unlike similar programs, this bill also allows peace officers
and correctional officers to participate for their safety. He
said the program ensures privacy, allowing individuals to
rebuild their lives without fear of being tracked.
3:58:35 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked if the PO BOX service would have a
fee.
3:58:52 PM
SENATOR KIEHL responded no. SB 31 is designed so the department
cannot charge a fee. The State of Alaska would manage additional
mail through a designated post office box for the program. The
program administrator would forward the mail to the
participant's confidential address, thereby incurring no extra
cost to the participant.
3:59:37 PM
ELLA ADKISON, Staff, Senator Jesse Kiehl, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis
for SB 31.
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 31: Address Protection
Sectional Analysis
Sec.1:Puts the program in the Department of
Administration.
Sec.2:Creates the program.
(b) requires a Post Office Box as a substitute
mailing address for enrollees and instructs the
department to forward mail to participants. It
charges the department with protecting
confidentiality and requires regulations to
govern enrollment and withdrawal.
(c) describes eligible participants as people
sheltered by a protective order and their
parents, guardians, children, and household
members. It also admits peace officers and
correctional officers.
(d) prevents registered sex offenders from
enrolling in the program.
(e) requires state and municipal agencies to
accept the P.O. Box.
(f) describes the eligibility period.
(g) prevents the department from charging a fee.
(h) allows access to confidential addresses
subject to a search warrant.
(i) establishes penalties for unlawfully
revealing a protected individual's address.
(j) defines certain terms.
Sec.3:Establishes a transition period for the
department to adopt regulations to implement the
program.
Sec.4:Lets the department begin its regulation process
immediately.
Sec. 5:Sets an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026 for the
rest of the bill.
4:00:53 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced invited testimony and opened public
testimony on SB 31.
4:01:17 PM
RANDY MCLELLAN, President, Alaska Correctional Officers
Association (ACOA), Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation
on SB 31. He stated correctional officers' work in dangerous
environments, dealing with aggressive offenders convicted of
serious crimes. They are the barrier between offenders and the
public, often facing threats to themselves, their families, and
property. He stated he personally experienced this after a
prisoner accessed his personal information and threatened his
family. SB 31 is crucial as correctional officers are frequently
called to testify in court, and their personal information is
often exposed during legal proceedings, putting them at risk.
4:04:00 PM
KEELEY OLSON, Executive Director, Standing Together Against Rape
(STAR), Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 31 as
follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Prior to working at STAR, I was a Victim Advocate with
a Prosecuting Attorney's Office in Washington State
and managed a Domestic Violence Shelter program in
Montana. Both states had Address Confidentiality
Programs, which were essential tools used by Victim
Advocates to assist someone with stalking or high
lethality risk to be safer. Combined with
comprehensive safety planning and an emergency
relocation plan, the Address Confidentiality Programs
helped save lives and helped survivors cope with the
constant fear of their address being compromised.
Address Confidentiality Programs are available in at
least forty states. The programs I have experience
with were accessible, easy to use, and inexpensive.
Out of curiosity, I contacted Montana's Program
Administrator to ask about their program. It began in
2006 with an initial startup cost of $50,000. Over the
last 17 years, the program cost Montana around $22,000
a year to operate, with 68 participants enrolled. Main
costs of the program were to pay a small portion of
the Program Administrator and her assistant's
salaries.
I applaud making the program accessible to law
enforcement. I have worked with those in law
enforcement who have placed their homes in a spouse or
family member's name to protect their addresses, so I
can appreciate the need for their inclusion in this
bill.
4:08:34 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN asked how the estimate of 60 pieces of mail per
year per enrollee in the program was determined.
4:08:56 PM
BRAD EWING, Director, Shared Services of Alaska, Department of
Administration (DOA), Juneau, Alaska, answered questions
regarding SB 31. He stated the DOA contacted several states
running similar programs, and based on feedback, we arrived at
the average amount of mail sent annually.
SENATOR BJORKMAN opined 60 felt high given what the bill sponsor
described. He asked if it is for a range 23 program manager to
oversee just one employee.
MR. EWING replied the program is unique in the Division of
Shared Services of Alaska. The division has a central mail
program with five carriers, but this is a separate initiative.
He stated that based on talks with other states, for example
Arizona, one range 22 program manager and an administrative
assistant would be the right setup for a program of this size in
Alaska. Normally, our supervisors have more than one direct
report.
SENATOR BJORKMAN asked how the Division might implement the
program efficiently given the current fiscal constraints of the
state. He said he's open to funding the necessary positions to
support this essential service but is curious about the assigned
salary ranges and the inclusion of annual travel to conferences
and other items in the fiscal note.
4:11:45 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI shared some concerns about the fiscal note and
knows the finance committee will take a close look at it. He said
Arizona has a population of about 7.5 million, roughly 10 times
the population of Alaska and doubts Arizona spends $4 million on
its program. He opined that the cost seems high.
4:12:21 PM
MR.EWING replied he would work with the bill's sponsor to be as
financially efficient as possible.
4:13:02 PM
ED MARTIN, representing self, Kenai, Alaska, testified with
concerns on SB 31. He stated SB 31 is a good bill and could
really help people but wondered the effectiveness considered the
amount of information available online. He stated anyone can
google an address. The program might not fully protect people if
it cannot limit what is already public on search engines.
4:15:10 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI stated he has more questions about the fiscal
note, but will hold off and let the finance committee work
through the fiscal note.
4:15:24 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI noted that the Division of Elections keeps a list
of where people live to determine their voting districts. It
also has mailing addresses, which can differ from physical ones.
He stated that while it releases data regularly, residential
addresses are not released when a box to keep private is
checked. He commented that the effort to check a keep private
box shouldn't cost as much as the fiscal note suggests. He
opined that managing a list like this through the department
should have some cost, but it shouldn't be overly expensive.
4:16:16 PM
SENATOR KIEHL stated that although many states place address
confidentiality programs within the division of elections, after
working with the executive branch, it was decided Alaska's
program should be in the Department of Administration due to its
centralized mail system. The Division of Elections expressed
concerns about managing the program. He stated that where it's
housed isn't as important as getting the service to Alaskans.
Election officials and clerks already follow confidentiality
rules for voters who check the privacy box, and those rules
would still apply for participants using the protected address.
Regarding online privacy, he said no program can erase someone
from the internet. He said SB 31 helps those restarting their
lives or in public safety careers by giving them a safe address
to use in records, reducing their exposure online.
4:19:38 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI kept public testimony open for SB 31.
4:20:22 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 31 in committee.
4:21:29 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kawasaki adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 4:21 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 31 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SB 31 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SB 31 Fiscal note DPS.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SB 31 Fiscal note DOA2.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SB 31 Fiscal note DOA.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SB 31 Fiscal note DPS2 (1).pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| CS SJR 7 N.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 7 |
| SJR 7 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 7 |
| SB0031A.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SJR 7 fiscal note.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 7 |
| 2025-01-27 ACOA Letter in Support of SB 31.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |
| SB 31 LOS Address Confidentiality Program 1.25.pdf |
SSTA 1/28/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 31 |