Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2023-03-13 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0367 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday March 13, 2023 Fifty-sixth Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Tilton at 11:01 a.m. Roll call showed 40 members present. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Reverend Dr. Keith Hamilton, Founding President of Alaska Christian College. Representative Vance moved and asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Thanks for allowing me the privilege of being among you today. There are so many great friends over the years in this room today and I am humbled. I want to share with you what Ben Franklin said personally to President George Washington nearly 250 years ago, That henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business. As it was then, it is still today, that we come before the Lord in prayer before your work begins. Let's pray: Lord, today all gather in this capitol building to ask for guidance and direction for the elected leaders sitting in this mighty chamber. Each of them has been given a great responsibility to uphold the constitution, to be fair in all matters, and seek what is best for all the citizens of our great 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0368 state. Their jobs can be hard, stressful, and at times can cause difficulty in their personal lives. They have been chosen for, and have been elected to serve, all of our residents and that is an enormous task. So, this day, again I pray for our great leaders Dan, Cathy, Calvin, Jamie, Jenny, Ben, Ashley, Julie, Mike, and Maxine as they will have decisions to make that impact each of us. Use their wisdom to provide the best possible answers for Alaska's future. Thanks for the hard work that David, Bryce, Zach, Neal, Alyse, Andrew, Cliff, Sara, Rebecca, and Craig and their teams do every day in this building to propel us forward as a state. They serve us well. We are grateful for the powerful leadership of Delena, Andy J., Kevin, CJ, Tom, Donna, Genevieve, Dan, Josiah, and George in their places of influence as they are respected for the tasks before them…and finally for Justin, Laddie, Will, Andi, Mike, Louise, Jesse, Frank, Sarah, and Stanley who strive to do all they can to serve all Alaskans through the many roles that they have been called to. I know our Legislature and Governor are working overtime to bring us a budget that serves our state best as well as many other critical issues, too numerous to mention. I pray for holy wisdom, incredible discernment, honest evaluation, and a strong sense of unity which is sometimes very difficult in these hallowed halls that results in what is best for their constituents and us all as they deliberate these issues. So, bring peace, Lord, to the legislative process today. Also, Lord, as I have prayed many times before, protect each of our service men and women that come from our great state from harm as they have gone before us, in our places, to protect our country, our values, and our homes. All this I ask in the name of your son Jesus, Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative McKay. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 51st through the 55th legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0369 Representative Ruffridge introduced Scott Bieber, Guest Page, from Soldotna. Representative Carpenter introduced his daughters, Melanie Carpenter and Eunseo Cho, Guest Pages, from Nikiski and Korea. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR A letter dated March 9 was read stating that, in accordance with AS 39.05.080 and art. III, secs. 26 and 27, Constitution of the State of Alaska, the Governor submits the following names for legislative confirmation of appointment to the positions noted. The Speaker referred the following to the Health & Social Services Committee: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees John Morris – Anchorage Appointed: 3/8/2023 Term Expires: 3/1/2028 The Speaker referred the following to the Labor & Commerce Committee: Board of Social Work Examiners Stacy Stone – Anchorage Appointed: 3/8/2023 Term Expires: 3/1/2027 The Speaker referred the following to the Resources Committee: Big Game Commercial Services Board Michael Flores – Anchorage Appointed: 5/11/2020 Term Expired: 3/1/2023 Reappointed: 3/8/2023 Term Expires: 3/1/2027 The Speaker referred the following to the State Affairs Committee: State Commission for Human Rights Shiela Cernich – Anchorage Appointed: 3/8/2023 Term Expires: 3/1/2028 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0370 Alaska Public Offices Commission Eric Feige – Chickaloon Appointed: 3/8/2023 Term Expires: 3/1/2028 Resumes for the appointments are on file in the Chief Clerk's office. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE SB 10 A message dated March 8 was read stating the Senate concurred in the House amendment to SB 10, thus adopting: SENATE BILL NO. 10 am H "An Act providing for trapping licenses for active members of the Alaska National Guard and military reserves without charge; making sport fishing, hunting, and trapping permanent identification cards available to certain disabled veterans without charge; and providing for an effective date." COMMUNICATIONS The following were received: Dept. of Natural Resources Board of Forestry 2022 Annual Report to the Governor (as required by AS 41.17.047) Dept. of Natural Resources Determination to Take Oil and Gas Royalty In-Value March 7, 2023 (as required by AS 38.05.182) Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board Report to the Legislature March 8, 2023 (as required by Chapter No. 20, SLA 21) 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0371 REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES The Judiciary Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to the House for ratifiction: Deborah Fancher Gerald "Jerry" McBeath as public members of the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics. The report was signed by Representative Vance, Chair; and Representatives C. Johnson, Groh, Eastman, and Allard. HB 50 The Resources Committee considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 50 "An Act relating to the geologic storage of carbon dioxide; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 50(RES) "An Act relating to carbon storage on state land; relating to the powers and duties of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission; relating to carbon storage exploration licenses; relating to carbon storage leases; relating to carbon storage operator permits; relating to enhanced oil or gas recovery; relating to carbon oxide sequestration tax credits; relating to the duties of the Department of Natural Resources; relating to carbon dioxide pipelines; and providing for an effective date." The report was signed by Representative McKay, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (6): Armstrong, Dibert, McCabe, Saddler, Wright, McKay No recommendation (1): Patkotak 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0372 Amend (1): Mears The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 50(RES): 5. Zero, Dept. of Environmental Conservation 6. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development 7. Fiscal, Dept. of Natural Resources 8. Fiscal, Dept. of Revenue HB 50 was referred to the Finance Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and taken up as Special Orders of Business: Honoring – Chris Etzwiler By Senator Stevens; Representative Vance Honoring – Theresa Bannister By Senator Kiehl; Representatives Hannan, Story The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring – Nick Carpenter By Senator Wielechowski; Representative Mears Honoring – Richard "Dick" Olson By Senator Myers Honoring – Lathrop High School Football Team, 2022 Alaska State Champions By Senator Kawasaki; Representatives Tomaszewski, Dibert Honoring – The Tanana Valley Farmers Market Fiftieth Anniversary By Senators Kawasaki, Bishop; Representative Carrick 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0373 SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the notice and publication requirements be waived and the citations, Honoring – Chris Etzwiler and Theresa Bannister, be taken up as Special Orders of Business. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citations. Representative Hannan objected to the citation Honoring – Theresa Bannister, offered remarks, and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, the following citations were approved and sent to enrolling: Honoring – Chris Etzwiler By Senator Stevens; Representative Vance Honoring – Theresa Bannister By Senator Kiehl; Representatives Hannan, Story INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 107 HOUSE BILL NO. 107 by Representative McCabe, entitled: "An Act relating to criminal law definitions." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Judiciary Committees. HB 108 HOUSE BILL NO. 108 by Representative McCabe, entitled: "An Act relating to a health care insurance policy incentive program; relating to health care services; and providing for an effective date." 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0374 was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Labor & Commerce Committees. HB 109 HOUSE BILL NO. 109 by Representative Carpenter, entitled: "An Act reducing the corporate net income tax rate; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Ways & Means and the Finance Committee. HB 110 HOUSE BILL NO. 110 by Representative Carpenter, entitled: "An Act relating to the Alaska permanent fund; relating to permanent fund dividends and the dividend fund; transferring the dividend program from the Department of Revenue to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation; relating to the duties of the Department of Revenue; relating to the duties of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Ways & Means and the Finance Committee. HB 111 HOUSE BILL NO. 111 by Representative Allard, entitled: "An Act relating to public school students who are deaf or have a hearing impairment." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Education Committees. HB 112 HOUSE BILL NO. 112 by Representative Ruffridge, entitled: "An Act relating to the Board of Pharmacy; relating to the practice of pharmacy; relating to pharmacies; relating to prescription drug manufacturers; relating to prescriptions for epinephrine; relating to 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0375 the administration of epinephrine; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Labor & Commerce Committees. HB 113 HOUSE BILL NO. 113 by Representative McKay, entitled: "An Act reserving to the state the authority to regulate pesticides; restricting the authority of local governments to regulate pesticides; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional Affairs and Labor & Commerce Committees. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citations on the calendar. There being no objection, the following citations were approved and sent to enrolling: Honoring – Michael Armstrong By Representative Vance; Senator Stevens Honoring – Salome Hanauer By Senator Myers In Memoriam – Connie Louise Ford By Representative Groh; Senators Wielechowski, Tobin In Memoriam – Timothy McKay By Senator Myers In Memoriam – Ruth May By Senator Myers 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0376 In Memoriam – Dr. Fredric M. Husby By Senator Myers In Memoriam – John Edward Ellis By Senator Myers UNFINISHED BUSINESS Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the following members be excused from a call of the House. There being no objection, the members were excused as noted: Representative Patkotak – from 5:00 p.m., March 13 to 5:00 p.m., March 15 Representative Sumner – from 6:00 p.m., April 19 to 11:30 a.m., April 25 Representative Shaw – from 1:00 p.m., March 23 to 9:30 p.m., March 26 Representative Edgmon – from 7:00 a.m., March 17 to 7:00 p.m., March 19 Representative Stutes – from noon, March 15 to 10:00 p.m., March 18 * * * * * Representative Allard, Co-chair of the Education Committee, moved and asked unanimous consent that Uniform Rule 23 be waived so the Education Committee can move its hearing from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., March 15. There being no objection, it was so ordered. HJR 10 Representative Rauscher added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10 Disapproving the proposed rule by the National Park Service limiting non-subsistence hunting methods; and urging the National Park Service to withdraw the rule. 2023-03-13 House Journal Page 0377 HJR 11 Representatives D. Johnson, Ruffridge, and Sumner added as cosponsors to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 Urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency to develop a woodstove certification program that addresses the threat to clean and healthy winter air in Fairbanks; and urging the state Department of Environmental Conservation to develop an economically and legally defensible state implementation plan for the Fairbanks North Star Borough nonattainment area. HB 56 Representatives Ortiz, Stapp, and Tomaszewski added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 56 "An Act exempting controlled substances prescribed or dispensed by a veterinarian to treat an animal from the requirements of the controlled substance prescription database." HB 84 Representatives Coulombe and McCabe added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 84 "An Act relating to municipal property tax; and providing for an effective date." ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published under separate cover. ADJOURNMENT Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 11:00 a.m., March 15. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 12:07 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk