Legislature(2023 - 2024)

2023-03-15 House Journal

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2023-03-15                     House Journal                      Page 0381
                                                                                                                                
                             HOUSE JOURNAL                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                       ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                       THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                             FIRST SESSION                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                 Wednesday               March 15, 2023                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                           Fifty-eighth Day                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker                                                                
Tilton at 11:00 a.m.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Roll call showed 38 members present.  Representative Patkotak had                                                               
been excused from a call of the House today.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
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 Himschoot – from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., today                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Armstrong – today                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Reverend Nancy                                                                      
Campbell of White Fields Church.  Representative Vance moved and                                                                
asked unanimous consent that the invocation be spread on the journal.                                                           
There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
    With respect for the beliefs of each person here, I offer this                                                             
    prayer:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
    Dear Heavenly Father,                                                                                                       
       Blessed be your name. In you, O Lord, I put my trust. Bow                                                               
    down your ear to me now and hear my prayer.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
       Let your presence be here in the House as the legislators                                                               
    consider their agenda for this day.                                                                                         

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     Lead and guide them in their decisions as they work together                                                              
    for the good of our state.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Grant them insight into the matters brought before them and a                                                             
     hearing ear as they listen to one another and consider their                                                              
    path forward.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Bring your healing touch to any who are ailing and keep them                                                              
        in the palm of your hand, watching over them with your                                                                 
    unfailing love and mercy.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Bless the representatives, now, and their families. In Jesus'                                                             
    name, Amen.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Mears.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                     CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
journal for the 56th and 57th legislative days be approved as certified                                                         
by the Chief Clerk.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                               * * * * *                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan introduced Kate and Callie Stickel, Guest                                                                 
Pages, from Juneau.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Himschoot introduced Waylon Jones, Guest Page,                                                                   
from Petersburg.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                            COMMUNICATIONS                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Letters of disclosure received from the Select Committee on                                                                     
Legislative Ethics, as required by AS 24.60, were published in House                                                            
Journal Supplement No. 3 and Senate and House Joint Journal                                                                     
Supplement No. 8.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-03-15                     House Journal                      Page 0383
                    REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The Community & Regional Affairs Committee reviewed the                                                                         
qualifications of the following and recommends the appointment be                                                               
forwarded to a joint session for consideration:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                             Robert Doyle                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
as a member of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative McCormick, Chair; and                                                                   
Representatives McCabe, Ruffridge, Himschoot, McKay, and Mears.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
HJR 10                                                                                                                        
The Resources Committee considered:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
    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.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative McKay, Chair, with the                                                                  
following individual recommendations:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (9):  Mears, Armstrong, Dibert, McCabe, Rauscher, Patkotak,                                                             
Wright, Saddler, McKay                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, House Resources Committee                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HJR 10 was referred to the Rules Committee.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB 47                                                                                                                         
The Health & Social Services Committee considered:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 47                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to insurance; relating to direct health care                                                               
    agreements; and relating to unfair trade practices."                                                                        
                                                                                                                                

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The report was signed by Representative Prax, Chair, with the                                                                   
following individual recommendations:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (3):  Sumner, Ruffridge, Prax                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
No recommendation (3):  McCormick, Saddler, Mina                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB 47 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
HB 56                                                                                                                         
The Health & Social Services Committee considered:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
    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."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative Prax, Chair, with the                                                                   
following individual recommendations:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (6):  Sumner, Ruffridge, McCormick, Saddler, Mina, Prax                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB 56 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                     REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
HB 92                                                                                                                         
The House Special Committee on Fisheries considered:                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 92                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to claims against protection and indemnity                                                                 
    insurance policies of vessel owners."                                                                                       

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and recommends it be replaced with:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
    CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 92(FSH)                                                                                               
    "An Act relating to claims for injury, disability, or heart attack                                                          
    payable from the fishermen's fund; and relating to claims against                                                           
    protection and indemnity insurance policies of vessel owners."                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative Vance, Chair, with the                                                                  
following individual recommendations:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (6):  Himschoot, McCormick, Carpenter, Stutes, McCabe,                                                                  
Vance                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
No recommendation (1):  C. Johnson                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 92(FSH):                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HB 92 was referred to the Labor & Commerce Committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                       INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The following citation was introduced and taken up as a Special Order                                                           
of Business:                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Honoring – Georgianna Lincoln                                                                                                   
By Senator Bishop; Representative Cronk                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules                                                               
Committee for placement on the calendar:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - John Renner                                                                                                          
By Representative Stutes; Senator Stevens                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Joseph "Joey" Selby                                                                                                  
By Representative C. Johnson; Senator Giessel                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Harlee Harvey                                                                                                        
By Representatives Tilton, Patkotak                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Dr. Vera Alexander                                                                                                   
By Representative Carrick                                                                                                       

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Honoring - MatSu Food Bank                                                                                                      
By Representative Eastman                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Daisy Lee Bitter                                                                                                     
By Senator Stevens; Representative Vance                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - 2023 Homer Mariners Boys Nordic Ski Team, Division II                                                                
State Champions                                                                                                                 
By Senator Stevens; Representative Vance                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - The Alaska Journal of Commerce 2023 Top 40 Under 40                                                                  
Recipients                                                                                                                      
By Senators Kawasaki, Tobin; Representative Schrage                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Michael Auvern "Mike" Isaacson                                                                                    
By Representative Carrick                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                       SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
notice and publication requirements be waived and the citation,                                                                 
Honoring – Georgianna Lincoln, be taken up as a Special Order of                                                                
Business.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
House approve the citation.  There being no objection, the following                                                            
citation was approved and sent to enrolling:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Honoring – Georgianna Lincoln                                                                                                   
By Senator Bishop; Representative Cronk                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
              INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE                                                                     
                            OF HOUSE BILLS                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
HB 114                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 114 by Representative McCabe, entitled:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to the definition of 'village' in the Village Safe                                                         
    Water Act."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional                                                                
Affairs Committee.                                                                                                              

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                  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 – Nick Carpenter                                                                                                       
By Senator Wielechowski; Representative Mears                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Honoring – Richard "Dick" Olson                                                                                                 
By Senator Myers; Representative Prax                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
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                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                          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 McCormick – from 8:00 p.m., March 22 to 8:00 a.m.,                                                               
March 30                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mina – from 6:30 a.m., March 25 to 10:00 p.m.,                                                                   
March 26                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB 74                                                                                                                         
The Speaker removed the Resources Committee referral and added a                                                                
Finance Committee referral for the following:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 74                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to geothermal resources; relating to the definition                                                        
   of 'geothermal resources'; and providing for an effective date."                                                            
                                                                                                                                

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HB 74 was referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
House ratify the appointment of Deborah Fancher to the Select                                                                   
Committee on Legislative Ethics.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The question being:  "Shall the House ratify the appointment of                                                                 
Deborah Fancher to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?"  The                                                            
roll was taken with the following result:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Select Committee on Legislative Ethics                                                                                          
Ratify - Deborah Fancher                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:  38   NAYS:  0   EXCUSED:  2   ABSENT:  0                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Yeas:  Allard, Carpenter, Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Eastman,                                                            
Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot,                                                                  
C.Johnson, D.Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay,                                                                      
Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage,                                                                
Shaw, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance,                                                                 
Wright                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Excused:  Armstrong, Patkotak                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
And so, the appointment was ratified.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The Senate ratified the appointment (page 110).                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The Chief Clerk notified the Senate.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
House ratify the appointment of Gerald A. McBeath to the Select                                                                 
Committee on Legislative Ethics.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The question being:  "Shall the House ratify the appointment of Gerald                                                          
A. McBeath to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?"  The roll                                                            
was taken with the following result:                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Select Committee on Legislative Ethics                                                                                          
Ratify - Gerald A. McBeath                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:  38   NAYS:  0   EXCUSED:  2   ABSENT:  0                                                                               
                                                                                                                                

2023-03-15                     House Journal                      Page 0389
Yeas:  Allard, Carpenter, Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Eastman,                                                            
Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot,                                                                  
C.Johnson, D.Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay,                                                                      
Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage,                                                                
Shaw, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance,                                                                 
Wright                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Excused:  Armstrong, Patkotak                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
And so, the appointment was ratified.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The Senate ratified the appointment (pages 84-85).                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The Chief Clerk notified the Senate.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
**Representative Himschoot, who was excused (page 381), left the                                                                
Chamber.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                
House revert to Introduction of Guests.  There being no objection, it                                                           
was so ordered.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The Speaker stated that, without objection, the House would advance                                                             
to Unfinished Business, and so the House advanced to:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                          UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HJR 9                                                                                                                         
Representative Story added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9                                                                                                
    Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska                                                             
    relating to the Alaska permanent fund and to appropriations from                                                            
    the Alaska permanent fund.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HJR 10                                                                                                                        
Representative C. Johnson 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.                                                                                 

2023-03-15                     House Journal                      Page 0390
HB 15                                                                                                                         
Representative Fields added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 15                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to peer support counseling programs for law                                                                
    enforcement agencies, emergency service providers, and the                                                                  
    Department of Corrections."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
HB 43                                                                                                                         
Representative McCormick added as a cosponsor to:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 43                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to professional and occupational licensing; and                                                            
    relating to treatment to change the sexual orientations or gender                                                           
    identities of children and vulnerable adults."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
HB 53                                                                                                                         
Representative Schrage added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 53                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to state identifications and driver's licenses for                                                         
    persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections; relating                                                           
    to the duties of the commissioner of corrections; and providing for                                                         
    an effective date."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
HB 62                                                                                                                         
Representatives McCormick and Foster added as cosponsors to:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 62                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund and                                                                     
     recommendation program; and providing for an effective date."                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HB 83                                                                                                                         
Representative Cronk added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 83                                                                                                           
    "An Act reestablishing the Citizens' Advisory Commission on                                                                 
    Federal Management Areas in Alaska; and providing for an                                                                    
    effective date."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                

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HB 89                                                                                                                         
Representatives McCormick and Schrage added as cosponsors to:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 89                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to the day care assistance program and the child                                                           
    care grant program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
HB 93                                                                                                                         
Representatives Schrage, Tomaszewski, and Himschoot added as                                                                    
cosponsors to:                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 93                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to a lumber grading training program and lumber                                                            
    grading certificates; relating to use of lumber graded and certified                                                        
    by a person holding a lumber grading training program certificate;                                                          
    and providing for an effective date."                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB 99                                                                                                                         
Representative Schrage added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 99                                                                                                           
    "An Act relating to and prohibiting discrimination based on sexual                                                          
    orientation or gender identity or expression."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
HB 100                                                                                                                        
Representative Schrage added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 100                                                                                                          
    "An Act relating to teacher and public employee leave."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB 104                                                                                                                        
Representative Sumner added as a cosponsor to:                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 104                                                                                                          
    "An Act relating to expedited timber sales."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                             ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
House committee schedules are published under separate cover.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-03-15                     House Journal                      Page 0392
                              ADJOURNMENT                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
House adjourn until 10:30 a.m., March 17.  There being no objection,                                                            
the House adjourned at 11:42 a.m.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                           Crystaline Jones                                                                     
                                           Chief Clerk