ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  April 12, 2012 8:08 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bob Lynn, Chair Representative Wes Keller, Vice Chair Representative Paul Seaton Representative Peggy Wilson Representative Max Gruenberg Representative Pete Petersen Representative Kyle Johansen MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 53(FIN) "An Act reestablishing the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women; and relating to the purpose and powers of the Alaska Human Relations Commission." - MOVED CSSB 53(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24 Establishing the Alaska Legislative Celebration Commission to organize events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first convening of the legislative branch of government in Alaska. - MOVED SCR 24 OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 179 "An Act relating to missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plans." - MOVED HCS SB 179(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 AM Urging members of the Alaska delegation in Congress to support efforts by the National Women's History Museum to secure property in Washington, D.C., near the National Mall, as a permanent location for the National Women's History Museum. - MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 53 SHORT TITLE: COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS 01/19/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/19/11 (S) STA, FIN 03/24/11 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 03/24/11 (S) Heard & Held 03/24/11 (S) MINUTE(STA) 03/29/11 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 03/29/11 (S) Moved SB 53 Out of Committee 03/29/11 (S) MINUTE(STA) 03/30/11 (S) STA RPT 3DP 1DNP 1NR 03/30/11 (S) DP: WIELECHOWSKI, KOOKESH, PASKVAN 03/30/11 (S) DNP: GIESSEL 03/30/11 (S) NR: MEYER 01/20/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 01/20/12 (S) Heard & Held 01/20/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 02/02/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 02/02/12 (S) Moved CSSB 53(FIN) Out of Committee 02/02/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 02/03/12 (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 2NR SAME TITLE 02/03/12 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, THOMAS, EGAN, MCGUIRE, ELLIS 02/03/12 (S) NR: STEDMAN, OLSON 02/22/12 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 02/22/12 (S) VERSION: CSSB 53(FIN) 02/24/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/24/12 (H) STA, FIN 04/03/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 04/03/12 (H) Heard & Held 04/03/12 (H) MINUTE(STA) 04/05/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 04/05/12 (H) Heard & Held 04/05/12 (H) MINUTE(STA) 04/12/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 BILL: SCR 24 SHORT TITLE: COMMISSION ON 100TH ANNIV. OF LEGISLATURE SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST 03/12/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/12/12 (S) FIN 04/02/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 04/02/12 (S) 04/02/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 04/03/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 04/03/12 (S) Heard & Held 04/03/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 04/04/12 (S) FIN RPT 7DP 04/04/12 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, STEDMAN, THOMAS, EGAN, MCGUIRE, OLSON, ELLIS 04/04/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 04/04/12 (S) Moved SCR 24 Out of Committee 04/04/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 04/06/12 (S) BEFORE THE SENATE ON FINAL PASSAGE 04/06/12 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 04/06/12 (S) VERSION: SCR 24 04/09/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/09/12 (H) STA, FIN 04/11/12 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 04/11/12 (H) 04/12/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 04/12/12 (H) FIN AT 9:00 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519 BILL: SB 179 SHORT TITLE: MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT RESPONSE PLAN SPONSOR(s): DAVIS 01/27/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/27/12 (S) STA, FIN 02/09/12 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 02/09/12 (S) Heard & Held 02/09/12 (S) MINUTE(STA) 02/16/12 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 02/16/12 (S) Moved SB 179 Out of Committee 02/16/12 (S) MINUTE(STA) 02/17/12 (S) STA RPT 3DP 02/17/12 (S) DP: WIELECHOWSKI, MEYER, GIESSEL 04/02/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 04/02/12 (S) Heard & Held 04/02/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 04/03/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532 04/03/12 (S) Moved SB 179 Out of Committee 04/03/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN) 04/04/12 (S) FIN RPT 6DP 1NR 04/04/12 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, STEDMAN, THOMAS, EGAN, MCGUIRE, ELLIS 04/04/12 (S) NR: OLSON 04/04/12 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 04/04/12 (S) VERSION: SB 179 04/05/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/05/12 (H) STA, JUD 04/12/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 BILL: SJR 11 SHORT TITLE: NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM SPONSOR(s): DAVIS 01/17/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/17/12 (S) STA 02/07/12 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 02/07/12 (S) Moved SJR 11 Out of Committee 02/07/12 (S) MINUTE(STA) 02/08/12 (S) STA RPT 5DP 02/08/12 (S) DP: WIELECHOWSKI, KOOKESH, PASKVAN, MEYER, GIESSEL 03/23/12 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 03/23/12 (S) VERSION: SJR 11 AM 03/26/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/26/12 (H) STA 04/12/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 WITNESS REGISTER SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, introduced SB 53. CELESTE HODGE, Staff Senator Bettye Davis Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 53 on behalf of Senator Davis, sponsor. HILLARY A. MORGAN, CEO Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Alaska Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 53. MARIE DARLING AARP Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 53. TIM LAMKIN, Staff Senator Gary Stevens Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a PowerPoint presentation during the hearing on SCR 24, on behalf of the Senate Rules Standing Committee, on which Senator Stevens is a member. STEVE HAYCOX, Professor of History University of Alaska, Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SCR 24. CLAUS M. NASKE, Professor Emeritus University of Alaska, Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SCR 24. MARIE DARLIN Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on SCR 24. SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, introduced SB 179. CELESTE HODGE, Staff Senator Bettye Davis Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 179 on behalf of Senator Davis, sponsor. MICHAEL O'HARE, Deputy Director Division of Homeland Security/Emergency Management Department of Military & Veterans Affairs Ft. Richardson, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on SB 179. PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, Associate Professor of Social Work College of Health University of Alaska Anchorage; Member Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska Board Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 179. RODNEY DIAL, Lieutenant Alaska State Troopers Ketchikan, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on SB 179. MARIE DARLIN AARP Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 179. SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, introduced SJR 11. CELESTE HODGE, Staff Senator Bettye Davis Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 11 on behalf of Senator Davis, sponsor. ROBIN REED, President/CEO National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL); Member National Women's History Museum board (No address provided) POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on SJR 11. ACTION NARRATIVE 8:08:25 AM CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House State Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:08 a.m. Representatives Keller, Seaton, P. Wilson, Johansen, Petersen, Gruenberg, and Lynn were present at the call to order. SB 53-COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN  8:08:45 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 53(FIN), "An Act reestablishing the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women; and relating to the purpose and powers of the Alaska Human Relations Commission." 8:08:59 AM SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor, introduced SB 53. 8:09:19 AM CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State Legislature, presented SB 53 on behalf of Senator Davis, sponsor. She stated that the intent of bill is to reestablish the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women to improve the status of women in Alaska. She said the need for the commission is supported by startling statistics. She offered to answer questions from the committee. 8:10:22 AM HILLARY A. MORGAN, CEO, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Alaska, testified in support of SB 53. She stated that there is a need for a state agency to address the needs of women throughout the state. She said Governor Parnell's Choose Respect Campaign has demonstrated that issues of sexual assault and domestic violence affecting Alaska's women and girls need statewide oversight. She said the establishment of the commission would fulfill that function and give the message to Alaska's women and girls that finding solutions to issues affecting them would continue long after the Choose Respect Campaign. She stated that Alaska has some of the highest rates per capita for sexual assault and domestic violence. She indicated that $500,000 would bring that lasting message to the women and girls of Alaska. CHAIR LYNN remarked that men and boys are also victims of sexual abuse. 8:12:49 AM MARIE DARLING, AARP, testifying in support of SB 53, pointed to a letter from AARP, included in the committee packet, which lists the reasons AARP supports the proposed legislation. She highlighted the following reasons: women are at a higher risk of poverty as they age; and women currently earn 77 cents on the dollar for every dollar men earn. She said there are improvements to be made that need the support of the commission. She said a vast majority of women are caregivers and a lot of them are grandparents. She said AARP urges the legislature's support of SB 53. She further encouraged the committee to read a version of Trends. 8:14:49 AM CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony. 8:15:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said as a father of three girls, the proposed legislation is important to him. He posited that a lack of confidence results in women being in positions they don't need to be in. He stated support for SB 53. 8:16:09 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON said she thinks the proposed bill is a step in right direction, but "not enough." She opined that the men in the state need to be reached, although she said she does not know how. She suggested that a commission on the status of men would be a good idea, because men will not listen to women as well as to other men. 8:17:28 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he does not disagree with Representative P. Wilson, but said he does not want his daughters to wait around for a man to tell them when they should get out of a situation. He said, "I want them to be able to stand up and not have to worry about it and walk out of a situation without worrying about changing the mind of a man. I think that's the whole point." 8:18:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSSB 53(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 53(FIN) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee. 8:18:28 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:18 a.m. to 8:21 a.m. SCR 24-COMMISSION ON 100TH ANNIV. OF LEGISLATURE  8:21:02 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business was SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24, Establishing the Alaska Legislative Celebration Commission to organize events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first convening of the legislative branch of government in Alaska. 8:21:15 AM TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State Legislature, gave a PowerPoint presentation on behalf of the Senate Rules Standing Committee, on which Senator Stevens is a member. He said the convening of the first Alaska Territorial Legislature was 45 years in the making and took place on March 3, 1913. He showed a photograph of Juneau in 1905 and noted that the usable land then was just where the mountains met the sea. In 1911, U.S. Congress authorized the funds for the Alaska [territorial] capitol; however, because of a lack of land and the advent of WW1, construction was not started until September 1929. The building, then known as the Federal and Territorial Building, was completed in February 1931. Mr. Lamkin showed a photograph of the first [Territorial] House of Representatives, dated Spring 1913. He noted that the House was comprised entirely of men at the time; the first female representative was elected in 1923. He said the initial gatherings of the Territorial Senate were held in the Elks Lodge, but related that he had been unable to get confirmation regarding the early gathering place of the House members, other than that it met in "various halls." 8:25:11 AM MR. LAMKIN indicated that from 1913 to 1947, the Alaska Territorial House had 16 members serving 15 committees. In response to a question, he said the Senate was comprised of 8 people. He indicated that in one particular 60-day session, 84 bills were passed. He offered examples of the legislation that was passed, and he noted that the first bill to pass gave women the right to vote. Mr. Lamkin pointed to a member of the Alaska Territorial Legislature, depicted in a photograph, and noted that the man's name was Elwood Bruner (ph), whom Mr. Lamkin discovered was a distant cousin. 8:29:21 AM MR. LAMKIN said SCR 24 is a rare opportunity to pay tribute to Alaska's history. He noted that there were some historians available to testify. 8:30:00 AM CHAIR LYNN noted that some of the laws passed by the Alaska Territorial Legislature are still in effect, and he ventured that it would be interesting to look through some of the old laws. 8:30:20 AM STEVE HAYCOX, Professor of History, testified in support of SCR 24. He expressed his hope that the legislature would see the proposed concurrent resolution not only as an act of commemoration of the first legislature, but also an act of education for the citizens of Alaska - particularly students. He said SCR 24 represents the beginning of self-government for Alaska. He stated James Wickersham, the principal champion of the bill that created the legislature, was committed to democracy and government by consent of the governed. He talked about the long road from territorial government to statehood and the lesson that provides young Alaskans regarding the importance of perseverance. He ventured that the commission would not need to spend much money, because people could use "on line and electronic technology" to do "what needs to be done fairly reasonably." He suggested having a half-day public session on March 3. 8:32:41 AM CLAUS M. NASKE, Professor Emeritus, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, remarked upon the interesting manner in which legislators arrived in Juneau during territorial days, including some by foot. Regarding the work done by the territorial legislature, he said one of the constraints had to do with taxation. He mentioned an influential lobbyist who represented fishermen. Mr. Naske said the Alaska Territorial Legislature met every other year and established devices intended to circumscribe the federally appointed governor. He echoed Mr. Haycox' remark that not much money needs to be spent, but opined that it is worthwhile to remind people of Alaska's colorful history. He stated his support of SCR 24. 8:35:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON stated her support of SCR 14. She asked Mr. Naske what the first budget was and how many bills were passed that year. MR. NASKE said he has that information in his books, but does not know off hand. Notwithstanding that, he said the budget amounted to about $2 million at one point. He said there was not much money available to spend; taxation and the powers of the legislation were limited. He said the first state budget was just about $40 million, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the current budgets of several billion dollars. 8:36:38 AM MR. LAMKIN stated that the budget in 1913 was $200,000. 8:37:18 AM MARIE DARLIN specified that she was testifying on behalf of herself. She said she is a walking tour guide. She said considerable research has been done and she would like to see more done. She explained the reason the Alaska Territorial Legislators met in the Elks Lodge was because that organization offered the space for the least amount of money. Following that the legislature met in the Goldstein building, which she indicated was erected in 1913-1914. Regarding a building that was referred to as the governor's house, she explained that it was used as offices; the governor actually lived across the street. She confirmed that Mr. Wickersham was the one responsible for getting a territorial legislature. She said there was a person who took six weeks to get to Juneau to serve in the legislature, because he traveled through Interior Alaska by dog team and from Valdez on a steamship. She said one of the reasons that he may have taken so long to arrive in Juneau is that back then the steamships often traveled first from Valdez to Seattle before heading back north to Juneau. She echoed previous testimony that the legislature met every other year, and she said U.S. Congress put many stipulations on what the legislature could do. She said Mr. Wickersham bought the house on Seventh Street in 1928. She explained that the women in the photos of the earliest legislature were staff to legislators. She offered her understanding that the first woman to serve on the legislature was not elected, but took the place of her husband; the second female legislator was elected. She pointed out that the Alaska Territorial Legislature gave women the right to vote seven years before U.S. Congress did. 8:42:29 AM MS. DARLIN, in response to Representative Gruenberg, offered her understanding that Henry Rodin at one time was the territorial treasurer. 8:42:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN, regarding the aforementioned period when Alaska's governance had to be approved by U.S. Congress, remarked upon the great distance between the East Coast and Alaska and the challenges that must have presented. 8:43:26 AM CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony. 8:43:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that the date the Alaska Territorial Legislature first convened - March 3, 1913 - is shown on page 2, line 8. He expressed his hope that the proposed commission would recommend that schools might observe that historical event on that date, and that legislative members could visit schools on that date. 8:44:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report SCR 24 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SCR 24 was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee. CHAIR LYNN commended the committee for its work, said this may be the last meeting of regular session, and handed the gavel to Vice Chair Keller. 8:45:49 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:46 a.m. to 8: 47 a.m. SB 179-MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT RESPONSE PLAN  8:47:05 AM VICE CHAIR KELLER announced that the next order of business was SENATE BILL NO. 179, "An Act relating to missing vulnerable adult prompt response and notification plans." 8:47:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for SB 179, Version 27-LS1250\M, Gardner, 4/11/12, as a work draft. There being no objection, Version M was before the committee. 8:47:33 AM SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor, introduced SB 179. She said Version M made one change. She deferred to her staff for further explanation. 8:47:54 AM CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State Legislature, presented SB 179 on behalf of Senator Davis, sponsor. She said the change occurs in Section 2, on page 2, line 21, where "or an officer or employee of the law enforcement agency" was added following "a law enforcement agency". She said that change was recommended by the Department of Law to further protect both the law enforcement agency and individual officers, thereby encouraging more participation in the program by the agency. 8:48:52 AM MS. HODGE explained that SB 179 would create a new statewide alert system to help find vulnerable missing adults. She said the system, which is similar to the nationwide Amber Alert program, would help local law enforcement notify the public when a mentally or physically impaired Alaskan goes missing. She said Alaska has the fastest growing senior population and cannot afford to ignore this problem any longer. She reported that according to the Alaska Commission on Aging, there were approximately 7,785 Alaskans suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia in 2010, and that number is expected to grow to more than 17,000 by 2030. She said in Fairbanks, a woman 63 years of age suffering from Alzheimer's Disease froze to death after becoming disoriented while driving, running out of gas, and trying to walk several miles to seek help. Ms. Hodge said that incident illustrates the need for a system to assist in the search for missing vulnerable adults. She said when a vulnerable adult goes missing, his/her best chance of survival is to be found within 24-48 hours. MS. HODGE said the proposed legislation calls for the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the Department of Public Safety to create and implement prompt response and notification plans that would use a voluntary network of statewide and local newspapers, as well as radio and television stations to rapidly alert the public that a vulnerable adult is missing. Further, under SB 179, both departments would establish standards on what triggers an alert and when a vulnerable adult would be considered missing. She said the proposed legislation would ensure that the search for Alaska's most vulnerable citizens happens promptly. Ms. Hodge noted that currently there are 28 states that have implemented or will implement the silver alert program - 10 more states than took part since the National Association of States United for Aging and Disability's last report. She related that the administration supports the bill. She stated that the fiscal note indicates that compliance with SB 179 would have no fiscal impact. 8:51:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN related a time when his uncle, who since died from Alzheimer's disease, got lost because he did not remember how to get home in a town of 700 people. He said he can see how much worse it would be for someone in that situation who lived in a larger community. He said he thinks SB 179 is a good bill. 8:53:13 AM MICHAEL O'HARE, Deputy Director, Division of Homeland Security/Emergency Management, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, stated support for the intent of SB 179. In response to a question by Representative P. Wilson, he explained that the department's new emergency management network has the flexibility that will allow for a systematic approach to sending out alerts. He said the department currently works with the Department of Public Safety to send out alerts on missing persons, so there would be no issues in working together. He confirmed that there would be no fiscal impact under SB 179. He encouraged the committee to pass the proposed legislation. In response to a follow-up question, he explained that the department's responsibility would be to make certain the alert gets out through the emergency network through relay messages to broadcast media. He indicated that the department would collaborate on a plan to look for vulnerable adults, as required under SB 179. 8:56:21 AM MR. O'HARE, in response to a question from Representative Gruenberg, said the Amber Alert system is used in Alaska. 8:57:44 AM PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, Associate Professor of Social Work, College of Health, University of Alaska Anchorage; Member, Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska Board, testified in support of SB 179. He said a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease is a tendency for the person to wander and leave his/her residence, putting him/her at risk. If that occurs, the alert system under SB 179 would increase the opportunity of finding the person before any harm occurs. He said other vulnerable adults are those experiencing mental illness, traumatic brain injury, or other forms of disability. He urged the committee to support SB 179. 8:58:57 AM RODNEY DIAL, Lieutenant, Alaska State Troopers, stated that the department has no concerns regarding SB 179. He said he agrees with most of what Mr. O'Hare said, and he offered to answer questions. 8:59:41 AM MARIE DARLIN, AARP, testified in support of SB 179. She said she thinks the bill would prevent "some of the problems we've had in the last couple of years." 9:00:18 AM VICE CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony. 9:00:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said AS 47.24.900 is cited in the last line of SB 179 as containing the definition of "vulnerable adult". Representative Gruenberg read the definition as follows: "vulnerable adult" means a person 18 years of age or older who, because of physical or mental impairment, is unable to meet the person's own needs or to seek help without assistance. 9:01:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON moved to report HCS SB 179, Version 27- LS1250\M, Gardner, 4/11/12, with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCS CSSB 179(STA) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee. 9:01:44 AM The committee took an at-ease from 9:02 a.m. to 9:04 a.m. SJR 11-NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM  9:03:40 AM VICE CHAIR KELLER announced that the final order of business was SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 am, Urging members of the Alaska delegation in Congress to support efforts by the National Women's History Museum to secure property in Washington, D.C., near the National Mall, as a permanent location for the National Women's History Museum. 9:03:49 AM SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor, introduced SJR 11. She noted that the late Senator Ted Stevens, while serving in U.S. Congress, worked to bring a bust out of storage and have it displayed. She deferred to her staff to present an overview of the proposed joint resolution. 9:05:16 AM CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State Legislature, paraphrased from the first four paragraphs of the sponsor statement, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 urges members of the Alaska delegation in Congress to support efforts by the National Women's History Museum to secure property in Washington DC near the National Mall as a permanent location for the National Women's History Museum. Women played and continue to play essential roles in many movements that helped shape the society we value so highly today. Such movements include the Labor Movement, the Women's Suffrage Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Rights Movement, and the Environmental Movement. Women have long struggled to gain ground in a society largely dominated by men. Unfortunately, women achievements were marginalized and credit for their work and discoveries went to their male colleagues. Too often women were unsung heroes and their contributions went unnoticed. The displacement of women's history from the consciousness of the general public is indicated by the absence of women's history from K-12 curriculum. The achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was and is as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well. In the 1970's, that began to change as a movement to celebrate women's history gained momentum - a momentum we now feel each March during Women's History Month as we pay tribute to the millions of women who sacrificed so much to help create a better society and world. Since its founding in 1996, the National Women's History Museum Institution, with the support of the National Foundation for women legislators, has been working toward obtaining a permanent site near the National Mall for its building. The construction of a museum that exhibits the rich history of women and their many contributions to society is long overdue. Furthermore, a location among the prestigious museums in and around the National Mall is fitting for an institution that would depict such an integral and transformative aspect of our nation's history which has for too long been obscured. MS. HODGE noted: Of the 210 statues in the Capitol Building, only nine are of women; of the 2,400 National Historical Landmarks in the country, only 5 percent document women's accomplishments. She indicated that there are national museums dedicated to airplanes, buildings, and postage stamps, but no single building dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of women, who comprise over half the country's population. She urged the committee to pass SJR 11. 9:08:23 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN directed attention to mention of a National Women's History Museum on page 2, line 4. SENATOR DAVIS said it is an institute. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN offered his understanding that that means if he took his girls to Washington, D.C., [that museum] would not exist. He then asked if SJR 11 is a coordinated effort with other states. SENATOR DAVIS answered yes. She said the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) is a national foundation of state legislators, which works closely with all the states and is cosponsoring an effort to get the money for the building. 9:09:24 AM ROBIN REED, President/CEO, National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL); member, National Women's History Museum board, said there are museums honoring Native Americans, African Americans, Latin Americans, buildings, slides, textiles, and space, but no museum honoring women. She said the National Women's History Museum would not cost U.S. Congress one penny; it is the only museum that is not asking for an appropriation. She said the museum is asking only for permission to buy the property. She said the first bill Alaska passed is women's suffrage, which is a point that could be celebrated in a women's museum. She indicated that the efforts have come close to fruition, but were stopped last year in the U.S. Senate. Ms. Reed relayed that as the closest living relative of Susan B. Anthony, she has a vested interested in this issue. She said Susan B. Anthony is the person depicted in the aforementioned bust, which Senator Stevens tried to have displayed. In response to Representative Gruenberg, she said the bust was in the basement for 20 years before Senator Ted Stevens' efforts got it displayed. She said the spokesperson for the proposed museum is Meryl Streep, who remarked that it is unbelievable that the museum is not asking for money but has to get permission to be built. 9:13:22 AM MS. REED, in response to Representative Johansen, said many sites have been selected and all have been refused. She said the Latin American Museum was given a site in just three weeks. She said one of the buildings the museum requested was a glass building next to the old U.S. Post Office, used for storing snow machines, but the request was not granted. She said the museum has raised several million [dollars] already. She said, "We thought if the state could push state by state by state that they might kind of get the idea that not everybody's a chauvinist." In response to a follow-up question, she clarified that the entities saying no have been alternately the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. She said one time a legislator added the issue to his bill in order to have the overall cost of his bill lower, because the museum is not asking for any money; however, his bill failed. 9:16:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON related that 12 years ago, a then legislator asked her if she had asked her husband how she should vote. She said that upset her, and she said it shows that "we" have to try harder. MS. REED said, "For us to be able to do all these things we just need a few good men, I think, on your committee right now. And when we got the right to vote, it was a man that gave us the right to vote, as you remember." She reiterated that the museum has the wherewithal to pay for itself. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said, "That testimony is so sad." 9:18:30 AM VICE CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony. 9:18:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON moved to report SJR 11 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG objected to ask that the motion be made with a request for unanimous consent. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN ventured that everyone on the committee supports the proposed legislation. VICE CHAIR KELLER asked Representative Gruenberg, "If you would withdraw your objection I would appreciate it, and I think that it'll go just fine." REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG responded, "That's fine." VICE CHAIR KELLER announced that Representative Gruenberg's objection was withdrawn and [there being no further objection] SJR 11am was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee. 9:20:23 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:20 a.m.