HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE March 25, 1993 3:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Rep. Bill Hudson, Chairman Rep. Joe Green, Vice Chairman Rep. Brian Porter Rep. Eldon Mulder Rep. Bill Williams Rep. Jerry Mackie Rep. Joe Sitton MEMBERS ABSENT None COMMITTEE CALENDAR *HB 96: "An Act extending the termination date of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board." MOVED FROM COMMITTEE *HB 139: "An Act establishing a loan guarantee and interest rate subsidy program for assistive technology." MOVED FROM COMMITTEE *HB 190: "An Act relating to grants awarded by the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation." MOVED FROM COMMITTEE *SB 53: "An Act relating to payment for abortions under Medicaid and general relief medical assistance; annulling changes made by certain regulations adopted by the Department of Health and Social Services relating to funding of abortion services under the general relief medical program." MOVED FROM COMMITTEE (* First public hearing.) WITNESS REGISTER REP. JERRY SANDERS Alaska State Legislature State Capitol Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182 465-4945 Position Statement: Prime Sponsor of HB 96 DAN LABROUSE Deaf Community Services 1405 Cowan Street Fairbanks, Alaska 99501 456-5913 Position Statement: Testified in support of HB 139 PAULA SMITH, Facilities Coordinator Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Department of Education 801 West 10th Juneau, Alaska 99801 465-2814 Position Statement: Supported HB 139 MARY VOLLENDORF, Staff Rep. Terry Martin Alaska State Legislature State Capitol Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182 465-3783 Position Statement: Read sponsor statement on HB 190 MICHAEL DAVIS Southeast Alaska Independent Living 8800 Glacier Highway, 236 Juneau, Alaska 99801 789-9665 Position Statement: Supported HB 139 REP. JOHN DAVIES Alaska State Legislature State Capitol Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182 465-4457 Position Statement: Prime Sponsor of HB 139 TOM TORVIE ACCESS Alaska P.O. Box 83951 Fairbanks, Alaska 99501 474-8436 Position Statement: Supported HB 139 JOHN SIBERT, Executive Director Alaska Science and Technology Foundation 550 W. 7th Ave. Anchorage, Alaska 99501 272-4333 Position Statement: Presented statement on HB 190 and answered questions TED DEATS P.O. Box 87 Juneau, Alaska 99802 463-3262 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 RITA COX 825 B St. Juneau, Alaska 99801 463-3160 Position Statement: Supported SB 53 BILL BURK P.O. BOX 240742 Douglas, Alaska 99824 780-6019 Position Statement: Supported SB 53 JOHN MONAGLE P.O. BOX 210527 Auke Bay, Alaska 99821 789-5910 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 SID HEIDERSDORF P.O. Box 020658 Juneau, Alaska 99802 789-9858 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 KATHY DENNIS P.O. Box 020533 Juneau, Alaska 99801 463-3546 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 CHRISTINA KAY SMITH 2865 Mendenhall Loop Rd., D-12 Juneau, Alaska 99802 789-9324 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 MICHAEL CROAN 4435 Columbia Blvd. Juneau, Alaska 99801 789-2695 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 HAROLD NEVERS 8148 Pinewood Drive Juneau, Alaska 99802 789-9853 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 SHERRIE GOLL Alaska Women's Lobby P.O. Box 22156 Juneau, Alaska 99802 463-6744 Position Statement: Supported SB 53 RICHARD SHUTT P.O. Box 34941 Juneau, Alaska 99803 789-1823 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 KEN MATTSON 1125 Slim Williams Way Juneau, Alaska 99801 789-5224 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 ROBIN STEVENS P.O. Box 33637 Juneau, Alaska 99801 463-5131 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 DALE ANDERSON 9040 Glacier Highway Juneau, Alaska 99801 790-3253 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 JULIE WARD 9225 Gee St. Juneau, Alaska 99801 789-2711 Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 KATHY POLK P.O. Box 020196 Juneau, Alaska 99801 463-4846 Position Statement: Supported SB 53 AL JUDSON No address or phone number given Position Statement: Opposed SB 53 IDA BARNUCK Alaskans for Life, Inc. P.O. Box 32186 Juneau, Alaska 99803-2186 Position Statement: Opposed to SB 53 GREG MIDDAY 643 Sunset Drive North Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 225-2290 Position Statement: Supported SB 53 JUDY JENKINSON, Vice-Chair Democratic Party of Ketchikan P.O. Box 5342 Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 225-5839 Position Statement: Supported SB 53 PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: HB 96 SHORT TITLE: EXTEND ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) SANDERS,Green TITLE: "An Act extending the termination date of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 01/29/93 177 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 01/29/93 177 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE 02/03/93 224 (H) COSPONSOR(S): GREEN 03/18/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17 03/25/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 124 BILL: HB 139 SHORT TITLE: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LOAN GUARANTEES BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) DAVIES,Brice,Brown,B.Davis, Grussendorf,James,Larson,Nordlund,Sitton,Ulmer,Menard,Hudson TITLE: "An Act establishing a loan guarantee and interest rate subsidy program for assistive technology." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 02/08/93 254 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 02/08/93 254 (H) LABOR &COMMERCE, HES, JUDICIARY, FINANCE 03/25/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 124 BILL: HB 190 SHORT TITLE: AK SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION GRANTS BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MARTIN TITLE: "An Act relating to grants awarded by the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 03/01/93 493 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/01/93 493 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE, HES 03/25/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 124 BILL: SB 53 SHORT TITLE: ANNULLING ABORTION FUNDING REGULATIONS BILL VERSION: CSSB 53(FIN) AM(EFD FLD) SPONSOR(S): HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES TITLE: "An Act relating to payment for abortions under Medicaid and general relief medical assistance; annulling changes made by certain regulations adopted by the Department of Health and Social Services relating to funding of abortion services under the general relief medical program." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 01/22/93 122 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 01/22/93 122 (S) HES, JUD, FINANCE 01/27/93 (S) HES AT 01:30 PM BUTROVICH ROOM 205 01/27/93 (S) MINUTE(HES) 01/29/93 187 (S) HES RPT 4DP 1NR 1DNP 01/29/93 187 (S) FISCAL NOTES PUBLISHED (DHSS-5) 02/10/93 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211 02/10/93 (S) MINUTE(JUD) 02/24/93 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ ROOM 211 02/24/93 (S) MINUTE(JUD) 02/25/93 481 (S) JUD RPT 1DP 2DP W/AM 2DNP 02/25/93 481 (S) PREVIOUS FNS (DHSS-5) 02/25/93 487 (S) FIN WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE 23 02/26/93 499 (S) FIN RPT CS 4DP 2DNP NEW TITLE 02/26/93 499 (S) PREVIOUS FNS APPLY TO CS (DHSS-5) 02/26/93 (S) FIN AT 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE ROOM 518 02/26/93 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 02/26/93 (S) RLS AT 01:15 PM FAHRENKAMP ROOM 203 02/26/93 (S) MINUTE(RLS) 03/02/93 575 (S) MOTION TO CALENDAR 3/3/93 FLD Y8 N11 E1 03/03/93 589 (S) RULES RPT 2/CALENDAR 1/OTHER REC 3/3/93 03/03/93 590 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME 03/03/93 591 (S) FIN CS ADOPTED Y13 N5 E1 A1 03/03/93 592 (S) AM NO 1 ADOPTED Y11 N8 E1 03/03/93 592 (S) ADVANCE TO 3RD RDG FAILED Y13 N6 E1 03/03/93 592 (S) THIRD READING 3/5 CALENDAR 03/05/93 634 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 53(FIN) AM 03/05/93 635 (S) PASSED Y12 N6 E2 03/05/93 635 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE FAILED Y12 N6 E2 03/05/93 635 (S) Duncan NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION 03/08/93 658 (S) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD READING 03/08/93 659 (S) PLACED AT BOTTOM OF CALENDAR UNAN CONS 03/08/93 672 (S) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y13 N6 E1 03/08/93 672 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE FAILED Y13 N6 E1 03/08/93 677 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 03/10/93 582 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/10/93 582 (H) L&C, HES, JUDICIARY, FINANCE 03/23/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 124 03/25/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 124 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 93-24, SIDE A Number 001 CHAIRMAN HUDSON called the meeting to order at 3:20 p.m., March 25, 1993. Members present were Reps. Hudson, Green, Porter, Williams, Mulder, Mackie and Sitton. HB 96 - EXTENSION OF THE ABC BOARD REP. JERRY SANDERS, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 96, read a sponsor statement. Rep. Sanders stated that the purpose of HB 96 is to extend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from June 30, 1994, (when it currently sunsets) to June 30, 1998. Number 049 REP. SITTON moved for passage of HB 96 with a zero fiscal note and asked unanimous consent. No objections were heard; it was so ordered. Number 057 HB 139 - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LOAN GUARANTEES REP. JOHN DAVIES, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 139, read a sponsor statement. Rep. Davies explained that HB 139 is a "jobs bill" that will help people experiencing disabilities improve their ability to get and keep a job or live independently. Number 124 CHAIRMAN HUDSON inquired if the $100,000.00 referenced in the bill was available now. REP. DAVIES answered that it was. Number 141 DAN LABROUSE, DEAF COMMUNITY SERVICES, testified via teleconference in support of HB 139. Mr. LaBrouse stated that in his experience assistive technology would be of benefit to many Alaskans. Mr. Labrouse noted that assistive technology would be helpful in providing the means for some people to lead a more productive life, including the opportunity for more meaningful jobs. Number 168 TOM TORVIE, ACCESS ALASKA, testified via teleconference in support of HB 139. Mr. Torvie echoed the comments of Mr. LaBrouse. Number 229 PAULA SMITH, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, testified in favor of HB 139. Ms. Smith noted that the Department of Education supports this bill. It would meet an identified need by a group of individuals in the State of Alaska which is not now being addressed. It is recommended that the mechanics of the loan guarantee and interest subsidies be clarified. Other than student loans by the Commission on Post Secondary Education, the Department is not in the loan business, and does not have the infrastructure to support significant responsibilities in this area. This would best be handled by banking institutions. Number 270 REP. MULDER asked if the state would in effect be the co- signer of a loan provided. MS. SMITH responded that it would and noted that the program would guarantee 90 percent of a loan from another institution. Discussion ensued as to the mechanics of the loan program. Number 346 REP. MULDER moved to delete "and" on page 2, line 16, and renumber accordingly. REP. GREEN moved to add a friendly amendment to Rep. Mulder's amendment. No objections were noted; it was so ordered. REP. GREEN asked what collateral would be asked for. MS. SMITH replied that the program would require collateral. REP. DAVIES added that all of the loans would go through the standard banking scrutiny. Number 462 MICHAEL DAVIS, SOUTHEAST ALASKA INDEPENDENT LIVING, testified in support of the bill and listed three primary reasons: 1) He has seen many people who couldn't otherwise get the assistance needed to purchase the assistive technology. 2) The bill allows for the parents of persons needing this technology to obtain it for their children. 3) It allows disabled citizens the dignity to apply for loans themselves. Number 510 REP. DAVIES noted that the banking industry is supportive of the program. REP. MULDER moved for passage of CSHB 139(L&C) with a zero fiscal note. No objections were heard; it was so ordered. Number 559 HB 190 - ALASKA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION GRANTS MARY VOLLENDORF, STAFFER, REP. MARTIN'S OFFICE, read a sponsor statement and answered questions on HB 190. Ms. Vollendorf stated that the purpose of HB 190 is to clarify existing statutes by adding the word "university" to AS 37.17090(h). Rep. Martin believes the university would receive a preference they are not currently benefiting from. Number 575 REP. MULDER noted that he visited with the chairman of the Science and Technology Foundation and was informed that the bill was not needed. Rep. Mulder asked for further clarification. Number 580 MS. VOLLENDORF reiterated the reasoning in the sponsor statement. Number 595 REP. SITTON noted that the current definition is broad enough to include the university. Number 617 JOHN SIBERT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION, testified that he understood the reason for the legislation, but he didn't feel it was necessary. Number 652 CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked if there was any harm in the legislation. He also asked if the foundation funded any programs or projects outside of Alaska. Number 668 MR. SIBERT replied that he didn't see any harm in the legislation, and on very few occasions has the foundation funded programs or projects from outside the state. TAPE 93-24, SIDE B Number 012 MR. SIBERT went into some detail as to the types of research the foundation funds. Number 066 REP. MULDER moved for passage of HB 190 with a zero fiscal note and asked unanimous consent. REP. MACKIE objected, noting that he had asked that this bill be assigned to a subcommittee. CHAIRMAN HUDSON called for a roll call vote. HUDSON YES GREEN YES WILLIAMS YES MULDER YES PORTER NO SITTON NO MACKIE NO HB 190 was moved out of committee. SB 53 - ANNULLING ABORTION REGULATIONS Number 173 TED DEATS, representing himself and his family, testified against the bill. Mr. Deats stated that these children should be allowed to live and take their rightful place as Alaskan citizens. Mr. Deats also handed out replicas of the feet of a 10 week old fetus. Number 203 RITA COX, representing the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN (AAUW), read a position paper by Marcia Lynn McKenzie, Chair, Campaign for Choice. Ms. Cox stated the American Association of University Women support's a woman's right to self determination in her reproductive life. The AAUW therefore, urges prompt passage of CSSB 53(fin)am(efd fld) which will annul the recent amendments to regulations which determine the availability of General Relief Medical Assistance funding of abortion services. MS. COX noted that she was also representing herself and spoke in favor of the bill. Number 285 REP. TERRY MARTIN testified against the bill. Rep. Martin said that he was adamantly opposed to abortion in any way shape or form. He noted that his own mother gave him up and he would be eternally grateful she let him live. Rep. Martin noted that SB 53 leaves the door wide open for any and all abortions with no parental consent and funds could be used for gender selection. He further noted that there are no provisions for the pregnant woman to be informed of the extent of the medical procedure. Number 340 REP. MARTIN expressed his great concern that the fiscal notes prepared note a savings if the unborn children are aborted. Rep. Martin asked where this logic would end up if we started using a concept of "Life devoid of value." He asked if our senior citizens be next. Rep. Martin also questioned who would make these determinations. Number 475 BILL BURK, representing himself, testified in support of SB 53 and strongly urged passage. Mr. Burk also pointed out that this country was founded upon the separation of church and state, freedom of choice, and one's individual rights. MR. BURK pointed out that there are several religions in our world that believe that a child's life does not begin until the mother gives birth. MR. BURK noted that he has worked as a social worker for many years, and as such, has seen the results of unwanted pregnancies. The beatings, child abuse, both physical and mental, are devastating. Number 520 JOHN MONAGLE, representing himself and his family, strongly opposed SB 53. Mr. Monagle stated that Rep. Martin was his hero. Mr. Monagle specifically opposed the state being in the position of killing children. Number 532 SID HEIDERSDORF, representing himself, provided some statistics from Alaskans for Life on the petitions and testimony given during the regulation process. Mr. Heidersdorf noted that the results were significantly different than those previously published by the League of Women Voters. Number 550 MR. HEIDERSDORF stated that their results showed that 58.5 percent of the submissions were pro-life and 41.0 percent were pro-choice. Number 560 MR. HEIDERSDORF noted that he believes abortion advocates discuss the issue of abortion without bringing in the aspect of the child and he compared that to discussing slavery without talking about slaves. MR. HEIDERSDORF questioned why the state would take the position of not fully informing women concerning abortion if they are going to pay for this elective surgery. Number 655 KATHY DENNIS stated that she was once pro-choice, but now she is pro-life. Ms. Dennis said that she is alarmed at the increasing level of abortions in the Native community. MS. DENNIS testified that she was faced with the decision of abortion versus life and chose life eight years earlier and now she has a fine son sitting in the committee room. TAPE 93-25, SIDE A Number 024 CHRISTINA KAY SMITH testified against SB 53 and read a written statement. Ms. Smith noted that there is much done regarding the rights of women recently but nothing is said about the rights of men. Ms. Smith stated that she believes that saying yes to a woman's right to choose we are saying no to a man's right to speak up for his own unborn child. MS. SMITH added that this issue is not just about money its about home, marriage, sons and daughters and the future of the State of Alaska. Number 270 MICHAEL CROAN, representing himself and his family, spoke against SB 53. Mr. Croan believed that the legislature has the moral responsibility to legislate morals as they have been doing since the day the country began. MR. CROAN added that having an abortion is a lifelong hurt. MR. CROAN also stated that there is a separation of church and state, but there isn't one between morality and state. Number 400 HAROLD NEVERS, representing himself, spoke against the bill. Mr. Nevers stated that everyone should be responsible for their actions and if a person makes a mistake and gets pregnant at an inconvenient time, then they have to suffer the consequences. MR. NEVERS added that parents should be informed of their children's pregnancies. Number 437 SHERRIE GOLL, representing the ALASKA WOMEN'S LOBBY, testified in favor of the SB 53. She stated that there is nothing in the bill that expands eligibility as previously stated. Ms. Goll added that the bill does not make abortion funding a priority over general relief medical funding. MS. GOLL testified that abortions have been provided for poor women in this state since before statehood without restriction. MS. GOLL pointed out that several pro-choice groups have sued the state over these regulations. Number 477 ROBIN STEVENS, represented self, testified against SB 53. He believed that the state should not be in the business of funding abortions, and if the state has extra money it should be spent funding crisis pregnancy centers. MR. STEVENS also believed pro-choice starts before sex. Number 515 RICHARD SHUTT, representing himself and his family, testified against the bill. He believed this bill would fund the taking of human life. MR. SHUTT observed that the pro-choice argument of being poor was a bad one as growing up poor is not the worst thing in the world. He added that being wanted was not a guarantee of a good life with good parents, just as being born as a result of an unplanned pregnancy was not a sentence of child abuse. Number 570 KEN MATTSON, representing himself, testified against SB 53. He believed it was not right to take the life of a child simply because it was an inconvenience. Mr. Mattson asked the committee to at least amend the bill if they must pass it out to give some parental and spousal rights. Number 667 DALE ANDERSON, representing himself and his family, testified against SB 53. Mr. Anderson read a statement outlining his position. Mr. Anderson stated that he stands adamantly opposed to SB 53 which obliterates the efforts made by Governor Hickel to stop utilizing state dollars to fund abortions. TAPE 93-25, SIDE B JULIE WARD, representing herself and husband, testified against SB 53. Ms. Ward echoed the statements above. Number 234 KATHY POLK, represented herself, testified against SB 53. Ms. Polk read a statement into the record. Ms. Polk stated that the code of ethics this country was built upon protects the unborn as well as the born. Number 402 AL JUDSON, representing himself, testified against SB 53 and reiterated the above testimony. Number 447 IDA BARNUCK, ALASKANS FOR LIFE, INC., testified against SB 53 and read a statement into the record. Ms. Barnuck stated that the primary goal of her organization is the respect for human life and believes that innocent human life must be protected by government. Number 500 GREG MIDDAY, representing himself, testified in support of SB 53. Mr. Midday echoed the statements given earlier in support of the bill. Number 550 JUDY JENKINSON, representing herself, testified in support of SB 53 and reiterated the statements given in support. TAPE 93-26, SIDE A REP. GREEN asked if the committee would hold the bill for a week to allow him time to prepare an amendment regarding parental and spousal rights. CHAIRMAN HUDSON said that the bill would go next to the Health, Education and Social Services Committee, where it could be amended. REP. WILLIAMS moved for passage of SB 53 with fiscal notes and asked unanimous consent. There was objection. A roll call vote was taken, with results as follows: MULDER NO WILLIAMS YES GREEN NO PORTER YES SITTON YES MACKIE YES HUDSON YES SB 53 was moved from the committee. CHAIR HUDSON adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.