Legislature(2001 - 2002)
2001-01-09 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0025 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE -- FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Tuesday January 9, 2001 Second Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Halford at 11:05 a.m. The roll showed twenty members present. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, The Reverend William Elkinton, Elder of the Wesleyan Church. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent that the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. "Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done" in this hall and in each of our lives. I thank You for the clarity of the proclamation that You are "not willing that any should perish". We are also told that God wills that we attain oneness with Him. Thanks that You provide the means whereby we may also experience unity with one another. Indeed there is a high degree of correlation. We now come to You with our requests. May our requests be expressions of our need, not our greed. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as You told us to do, and for the areas of our world which are in serious conflicts. Even closer to most of us are conflicts within our communities, and perhaps even within our families. Help us to seek oneness with You and with each other. 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0026 I pray that Your love and mercy will be extended to each member of this body, and each staff person, and to each member of our families. Teach us to love, "for love is of God", and pure love honors God for "God is love". For those whose families are in Juneau with them, I pray that You will help in the housing, schooling, and other major adjustments. Some are separated from their families for a week or more at a time. For them I pray for Your protection, the strengthening of their love, and the prevention of errors in judgment between the urgent and the important. May our values not fluctuate wildly as does the market. Help us to be like YOU. (I John 3:2 & 3) Amen. Senator Austerman led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Communications The following Budget and Audit Reports were received from Pat Davidson, Legislative Auditor, in accordance with AS 24.20.311 and are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: State of Alaska, Single Audit for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1999 Survey of the Current Status on Prior Audit Recommendations, September 18, 2000 Department of Community and Economic Development: Alaska Energy Authority, Four Dam Pool, May 18, 2000 State Board of Accountancy, October 20, 2000 (Sunset) State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors, October 20, 2000 (Sunset) 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0027 Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, October 20, 2000 (Sunset) State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board, October 20, 2000 (Sunset) Board of Veterinary Examiners, October 20, 2000 (Sunset) Department of Corrections, Alaska Correctional Industries, October 19, 2000 Departments of Education and Early Development and Labor and Workforce Development, Little Davis-Bacon Act, Wage Notices in School Construction Bidding, June 12, 2000 Department of Environmental Conservation, Board of Storage Tank Assistance, September 27, 2000 (Sunset) Department of Fish and Game, Board of Fisheries Selected Operational Practices, August 4, 2000 Office of the Governor, Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, Select Operational Issues, May 19, 2000 Department of Natural Resources, for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2000 Department of Revenue: Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Housing Assistance Loan Fund, September 25, 2000 Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Disposition of Buildings in the Spruce Park Housing Project, October 15, 2000 Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Alaska Marine Highway System Fund, Schedule of Unrestricted Revenues, For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2000 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0028 Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 19 SENATE BILL NO. 19 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act repealing the termination date of changes made by ch. 87, SLA 1997 and ch. 132, SLA 1998 regarding child support enforcement and related programs; repealing the nonseverability provision of ch. 132, SLA 1998; repealing certain requirements for applicants for hunting and sport fishing licenses or tags, and for certain hunting permits, to provide social security numbers for child support enforcement purposes; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources, Health, Education and Social Services and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Revenue. Governor's transmittal letter dated January 8: Dear President Halford: Alaska's Child Support Enforcement Division collected and distributed a record $85 million in Fiscal Year 2000 and is headed toward a new record this year. This bill I transmit today guarantees the state can retain the tools that enabled this success in helping thousands of children receive the financial support they need. It also keeps Alaska in compliance with federal welfare reform laws and eligible for nearly $80 million in annual federal funding to operate Alaska's family assistance and child support programs. This bill continues the state program begun in 1997 and 1998 as part of Alaska's compliance with federal welfare reform which has reduced dependence on government-funded public assistance programs by increasing child support collections. The Alaska legislature chose to sunset those compliance measures on July 1, 2001. 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0029 This bill is important to the lives of the children and parents who make up the nearly 48,000 child support cases in Alaska. It will keep in place those successful provisions of the 1997 and 1998 legislation which have improved child support collections, including: · Enhanced due process protections in paternity proceedings. · Requirements that all employers report newly hired employees to the child support agency. · Authorization to use financial institution data matches to locate assets of delinquent parents. · Immunity from civil liability for employers and financial institutions that comply with child support income- withholding orders. · Prohibitions against disclosing identifying information of a parent or child when there is evidence of domestic violence. · Requirements for Social Security numbers on certain vital statistics and court records, and on applications for some state licenses. To protect an individual's privacy, the numbers are not required on the actual licenses but only on the applications. · Authorization for the child support agency to obtain orders requiring delinquent parents to seek work and orders to set aside a parent's fraudulent transfer of property if it was done to avoid a child support obligation. · Improved access to records of other government agencies and financial institutions to locate delinquent parents and their assets. I also want to point out that this bill repeals one controversial part of the earlier legislation. Alaska recently received a waiver from the federal requirement to collect Social Security numbers on applications for sport fishing and hunting licenses, allowing us to remove that requirement from law. 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0030 In the years since passage of the 1997 and 1998 legislation, the state has found the provisions of those bills effective at ensuring children receive the support they need from both parents. Failure to adopt this bill would jeopardize several years of progress in helping Alaska's families. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor SB 20 SENATE BILL NO. 20 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act providing for the revocation of driving privileges by a court for a driver convicted of a violation of traffic laws in connection with a fatal motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle accident; amending Rules 43 and 43.1, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Law Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Administration Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Administration Governor's transmittal letter dated January 8: Dear President Halford: It may be surprising, but true, that many traffic accidents leading to deaths carry no criminal punishment. The driver may be guilty of a simple traffic violation carrying a maximum fine of $300. At least 10 deaths a year on our state highways can fall into this category. Perhaps the driver fell asleep at the wheel or skidded on ice, and the consequences are deadly to a passing motorist or pedestrian. 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0031 Regardless of whether their conduct is criminal, drivers whose traffic violations contribute to a fatal accident pose a risk to people on the highways and cause much suffering to family and friends of their victims. I am re-introducing this bill that takes seriously these tragic deaths by requiring, under certain circumstances, revocation of driving privileges of a driver involved in a fatal traffic accident. This bill requires the court to revoke for one year the driving privileges of a person who violated traffic laws which contributed to an accident that resulted in a death. The license revocation applies to drivers of all vehicles, including those for commercial use. The court would be allowed to grant limited license privileges if it determines driving is critical to the person's livelihood and will not pose a danger to the public. When people drive in an unsafe way and cause the death of another, their privilege to drive should be revoked to protect other drivers, their passengers, and pedestrians on the roadways. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor Consideration of the Calendar Citations Honoring - Robert "Bob" Larson Senator(s) Halford, Ward, Wilken, Pearce, Green, Kelly, Taylor, Lincoln, Elton, Leman, Davis Senator Leman moved and asked unanimous consent that the citation be adopted. Without objection, the citation was adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0032 Unfinished Business Senator Austerman moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, January 11 through afternoon plane time, January 14. Without objection, Senator Austerman was excused. Senator Green moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on January 18, 19 and through morning plane time on January 22. Without objection, Senator Green was excused. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Adjournment Senator Leman moved and asked unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., January 10, 2001. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:17 a.m. Heidi Vogel Acting Secretary of the Senate January 2001 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0033 Announcements Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD. SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES + indicates teleconference = indicates bill previously heard/scheduled FINANCE SENATE FINANCE 532 Jan 10 Wednesday 9:00 AM Budget Overview- David Teal, Director, Legislative Finance Jan 12 Friday 9:00 AM Overview- Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE BELTZ 211 Jan 09 Tuesday 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 11 Thursday 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 16 Tuesday 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Jan 18 Thursday 1:30 PM -- Agenda to be Announced -- 2001-01-09 Senate Journal Page 0034 JOINT COMMITTEES SELECT CMTE ON LEGISLATIVE ETHICS Juneau Jan 17 Wednesday 1:00 PM Room number to be announced Discussion of Open Meetings, Legislation, Procedures, Budget, and Administrator Position ---------------------------------------- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUTROVICH 205 Jan 11 Thursday 3:00 PM Organizational Meeting OTHER MEETINGS JOINT SESSION HOUSE CHAMBER Jan 10 Wednesday 7:00 PM Combined State of the State and State of the Budget Address Honorable Tony Knowles, Governor