Legislature(2009 - 2010)
2009-02-17 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0255 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Tuesday February 17, 2009 Twenty-ninth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 11:02 a.m. The roll showed twelve members present. Senators Bunde, French, Paskvan, Thomas were excused from a call of the Senate. Senators Ellis, McGuire, Therriault, Wagoner were absent. Senator Huggins, Acting Majority Leader, moved and asked unanimous consent that Senators Ellis, McGuire, Therriault, Wagoner be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senators Ellis, McGuire, Therriault, Wagoner were excused. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Gary Waterhouse of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Juneau and Sitka. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent that the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Today, O Lord, we come before you as your servants and servants of the people of our great land of Alaska. Thank you for safe journeys to bring us together in these chambers today. Do bless these men and women as they take up their duties. May they each work with humble, kind, and gentle hearts. Thank you for the cooperative spirit that pervades these walls. We pray now for guidance as they assimilate all the information and statistics and testimonies and then somehow must wisely translate this into 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0256 workable legislation that will stand the test of time and the scrutiny of our constitution. It is a tremendous mission entrusted to them. May these senators each be found worthy of that high calling. Amen. Senator Meyer led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Huggins, Acting Majority Leader, moved and asked unanimous consent that the journals for the twenty-third though twenty-eighth legislative days and Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 3 be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Messages from the House Message dated February 13 was read stating the House passed and transmitted for consideration: First Reading and Reference of House Bills HB 100 HOUSE BILL NO. 100 BY REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN, entitled: "An Act relating to the Joseph C. Williams, Sr., Coastal Trail." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 108 SENATE BILL NO. 108 BY SENATOR THOMAS, entitled: 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0257 "An Act creating the Stampede State Recreation Area." was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance Committees. SB 109 SENATE BILL NO. 109 BY SENATOR DAVIS, entitled: "An Act repealing the secondary student competency examination and related requirements; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Education, Community and Regional Affairs and Finance Committees. SB 110 SENATE BILL NO. 110 BY SENATOR FRENCH, entitled: "An Act relating to the preservation of evidence." was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance Committees. SB 111 SENATE BILL NO. 111 BY SENATOR OLSON, entitled: "An Act relating to the duration of a certificate of compliance for an intrastate air service provider; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation Committee. SB 112 SENATE BILL NO. 112 BY THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act providing for the establishment of a statewide early childhood education plan and guidelines." 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0258 was read the first time and referred to the Education, Community and Regional Affairs and Finance Committees. Unfinished Business Senator Kookesh moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, February 20 through evening plane time, February 22; and from plane time, February 26 through plane time, February 28. Without objection, Senator Kookesh was excused. Senator Olson moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from March 4 through afternoon plane time, March 8. Without objection, Senator Olson was excused. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Adjournment Senator Huggins, Acting Majority Leader, moved and asked unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment until 10:45 a.m., February 19, 2009. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:17 a.m. Kirsten Waid Secretary of the Senate 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0259 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. STANDING COMMITTEES + indicates teleconference = indicates bill previously heard/scheduled COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS Feb 17 Tuesday Beltz 211 3:30 PM += SB 85 ALCOHOL: LOCAL OPTION/LICENSING/MINORS Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 19 Thursday Beltz 211 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Feb 18 Wednesday Barnes 124 8:00 AM -- Please Note Location -- Joint w/(H) EDUCATION + University of Alaska Report, required by SB 241 passed in 2008 on its efforts to attract, train, and retain public school teachers. Feb 20 Friday Beltz 211 8:00 AM + Overview: Moore v. State Feb 20 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Joint w/Senate Finance + Presentation by the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission ---------------------------------------- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0260 FINANCE Feb 17 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Overview: Legislative Finance of FY10 Operating Budget -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 18 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Constitutional Budget Reserve Performance Review (continued from 02/11/09) -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 95 SUPPLEMENTAL/CAPITAL/OTHER APPROPRIATIONS <Above Bill Hearing Postponed> -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 19 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Overview: Department of Transportation Statewide Capital Projects and STIP Process -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 20 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Joint w/ Senate Education Cmte + Presentations: Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission by Dr. John Aho, Chair -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Feb 17 Tuesday Capitol 106 3:00 PM Joint w/(H) Health & Social Services + Presentation by U.S. Preventative Medicine 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0261 HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES (continued) Feb 18 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SB 10 MEDICAID/INS FOR CANCER CLINICAL TRIALS + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 20 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Presentation by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Feb 18 Wednesday Beltz 211 1:30 PM + Overview: Containment Model of Offender Management Anthony M. Mander, PH.D., Statewide Clinical Consultant -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 20 Friday Capitol 120 1:30 PM + Joint w/(H) Judiciary Confirmation Hearings: Board of Governors of the Alaska Bar Commission on Judicial Conduct Alaska Judicial Council Violent Crimes Compensation Board ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE Feb 17 Tuesday Beltz 211 1:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- += SB 1 ALASKA MINIMUM WAGE + SB 84 AIDEA: BONDING LIMITS; CONFIDENTIALITY + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 19 Thursday Beltz 211 1:30 PM += SB 23 REPEAL DEFINED CONTRIB RETIREMENT PLANS + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0262 RESOURCES Feb 18 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Overviews: Alaska Energy Efficiency Program and Policy Recommendations John Davies, Research Dir, Cold Climate Housing Research Center Cady Lister, Senior Consultant, Information Insights + Performance Contracting for Energy Efficiency Ken Bauer, Siemens Building Technologies Feb 20 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Overview: Securing a New Supply of Natural Gas for Southcentral and Interior Alaska (Bullet Line, Spur Line) Palin Administration Harold Heinz, ANGDA Enstar Natural Gas Company ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Feb 17 Tuesday Beltz 211 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 19 Thursday Beltz 211 9:00 AM + SB 72 CHILD SAFETY SEATS & SEAT BELTS + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled += SB 79 MED BENEFITS OF DISABLED PEACE OFFICERS ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Feb 17 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:00 PM SB 59 LOW- SPEED MOTOR VEHICLES Feb 19 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:00 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0263 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES ADMINISTRATION Feb 18 Wednesday Beltz 211 3:30 PM Department Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 25 Wednesday Beltz 211 3:30 PM Division/Program Reviews -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 09 Monday Beltz 211 3:30 PM Division/Program Reviews -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 11 Wednesday Beltz 211 3:30 PM Residual Issues/Close-out -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 13 Friday Beltz 211 3:30 PM Close-out -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- COMMERCE, COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEV Feb 18 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 3:30 PM Alaska Travel Industry Association Regulatory Commission of Alaska Alaska Energy Authority Alaska Industrial Developmental & Export Authority ---------------------------------------- CORRECTIONS Feb 20 Friday Beltz 211 11:00 AM Overview Mar 13 Friday Beltz 211 11:00 AM Overview 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0264 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES (continued) CORRECTIONS (continued) Mar 16 Monday Beltz 211 3:00 PM Close-out ---------------------------------------- COURT SYSTEM Feb 26 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 4:00 PM + Court System Budget Mar 10 Tuesday Fahrenkamp 203 4:00 PM + Court System Budget ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION & EARLY DEVELOPMENT Feb 25 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 5:00 PM + EED Budget Mar 12 Thursday Butrovich 205 4:00 PM + EED Budget ---------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Mar 12 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 3:30 PM Overview Mar 16 Monday Beltz 211 5:00 PM Close-out ---------------------------------------- FISH & GAME Feb 19 Thursday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM Department Overview Feb 23 Monday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM Overview 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0265 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES (continued) FISH & GAME (continued) Mar 19 Thursday Senate Finance 532 8:00 AM Department Close-out ---------------------------------------- GOVERNOR Feb 20 Friday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM Overview Mar 20 Friday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM Close-out ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Feb 17 Tuesday Fahrenkamp 203 8:00 AM + Office of Children's Services, Bring the Kids Home -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 19 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 8:00 AM + Division of Public Assistance, including Heating Assistance -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 03 Tuesday Fahrenkamp 203 8:00 AM + Public Health Initiatives -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 05 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 8:00 AM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + Governor's Amendments, Q & A -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 10 Tuesday Butrovich 205 3:00 PM + Governor's Amendments, Q & A -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0266 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES (continued) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES (continued) Mar 19 Thursday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM + Budget Close-out -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- LAW Feb 24 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM Budget Overview: Dept of Law Mar 03 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM Budget Detail Mar 10 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM Budget Detail Mar 17 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM Subcommittee Close-out ---------------------------------------- LEGISLATURE Mar 20 Friday Senate Finance 532 3:30 PM Close-out ---------------------------------------- MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS Feb 19 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 4:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + Budget Close-out -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0267 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES (continued) NATURAL RESOURCES Feb 17 Tuesday Fahrenkamp 203 3:15 PM + Continuation of Departmental Overview: Division of Mining, Land, and Water; Division of Geological and Geophysical Survey; Division of Oil and Gas -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 20 Friday Fahrenkamp 203 1:00 PM + Continuation of Departmental Overview: Division of Agriculture; Division of Forestry -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Feb 24 Tuesday Fahrenkamp 203 4:00 PM + Continuation of Departmental Overview: Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation; State Pipeline Coordinator's Office; Division of Coastal and Ocean Management -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- PUBLIC SAFETY Feb 19 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 1:00 PM + Status of VPSO Program & Recruitment Efforts for Them and the State Troopers -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 03 Tuesday Fahrenkamp 203 1:30 PM + Governor's Amendments - Q & A Session -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 17 Tuesday Fahrenkamp 203 1:00 PM + Budget Close-out -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0268 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES (continued) REVENUE Feb 26 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 1:30 PM Budget Overview: Dept of Revenue Mar 12 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 1:30 PM Budget Detail Mar 19 Thursday Fahrenkamp 203 1:30 PM Subcommittee Close-out ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES Feb 24 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 8:00 PM Budget Overview: Dept. of Transportation Mar 03 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 8:00 PM Budget Detail Mar 10 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 8:00 AM Budget Detail Mar 17 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 8:00 PM Subcommittee Close-out ---------------------------------------- UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA Feb 19 Thursday Senate Finance 532 8:00 AM Overview Mar 18 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 8:00 AM Close-out ---------------------------------------- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0269 SPECIAL COMMITTEES ENERGY Feb 17 Tuesday Butrovich 205 11:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 19 Thursday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM -- Meeting Postponed to 02/26/09-- Joint w/(H) ENERGY Work Session: Comprehensive Energy Plan Presenters: Gwen Holdman, Dir., Alaska Center for Energy and Power; David Hobbs and Jim Meitl, Cambridge Energy Research Associates; Darrell Smith, Black Lion Energae Feb 26 Thursday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM Joint w/(H) ENERGY Work Session: Comprehensive Energy Plan Presenters: Gwen Holdman, Dir., Alaska Center for Energy and Power; David Hobbs and Jim Meitl, Cambridge Energy Research Associates; Darrell Smith, Black Lion Energae ---------------------------------------- WORLD TRADE, TECH, INNOVATIONS Feb 18 Wednesday Butrovich 205 5:15 PM + Workforce Development in Alaska Invited Presenters: Fran Ulmer, Chancellor, University of Alaska Anchorage; Commissioner Larry Ledoux, Dept of Education & Early Dev; Terrance Harris, Charter College; Fred Esposito, Alaska Vocational Technical Center/Alaska Dept of Labor and Workforce Development ---------------------------------------- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0270 JOINT COMMITTEES ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION REVIEW Feb 18 Wednesday Capitol 17 3:00 PM + Overview of Regulations by the Dept of Law and Legislative Legal ---------------------------------------- LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT Feb 17 Tuesday House Finance 519 5:00 PM + RPL #08-09-0137-Renewable Energy Projects Other Committee Business -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE ETHICS Feb 24 Tuesday Butrovich 205 9:00 AM Full Committee: Open Session Election of Chairs Public Comment Chair/Staff Report Budget Sanctioned Charity Events Exempt Positions 2009 Suggested Legislation Advisory Opinion 08-05 State Facilities Advisory Opinion 09-01 Newsletters Executive Session Advisory Opinion 09-02 Public Session Other Business ---------------------------------------- OTHER MEETINGS FISH CAUCUS Feb 19 Thursday Capitol 106 12:00 PM + The Community Development Quota Program: Transforming Western Alaska Communities Brown Bag Lunch ---------------------------------------- 2009-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0271 JOINT SESSION Feb 19 Thursday House Chamber 11:00 AM Annual Address by the Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator Apr 07 Tuesday House Chamber 11:00 AM Annual Address by the Honorable Mark Begich, U.S. Senator