Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2024-02-07 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1443 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday February 7, 2024 Twenty-third Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Tilton at 10:32 a.m. Roll call showed 40 members present. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Reverend Karen Perkins of Resurrection Lutheran 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 the deepest respect for the religious beliefs of all Alaskans, I offer the following prayer: Eternal and Gracious God, your word brought forth creation, and your spirit brings order out of chaos and confusion. You breathe upon us, and we are able to hear one another with language we can understand. Pour out your spirit upon us now, that even when we disagree on the way forward, we may remain confident all are accepted with a single love. Nourish each of our Representatives, that they do their work in a spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice. Inspire them to use their authority to serve in such a way that all people enjoy a peaceful and just society. Grant that our life in the public realm be grounded in love for our neighbors, care for the most vulnerable in our midst, and respect for the common life we share. Amen. 2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1444 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 21st and 22nd legislative days be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. * * * * * Representative Mears introduced Wyatt and William Schaber, Guest Pages, from Anchorage. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE A message dated February 5 was read stating the Senate passed the following, and it is transmitted for consideration: FIRST READING AND REFERENCE OF SENATE BILLS SB 129 SENATE BILL NO. 129 by Senator Myers, entitled: "An Act naming the Matt Glover Bike Path." was read the first time and referred to the Transportation Committee. The Speaker stated that, without objection, the House would stand at ease to allow members of the Senate to enter the House Chamber; and so, the House stood at ease at 10:48 a.m. AFTER EASE The Speaker called the House back to order at 11:08 a.m. JOINT SESSION IN THE HOUSE In accordance with Uniform Rule 51, Speaker Tilton turned the gavel over to President Stevens who called the joint session to order at 11:08 a.m. 2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1445 The purpose of the joint session was to hear the State of the Judiciary Address by the Honorable Peter J. Maassen, Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent that the roll call of the Senate be waived and all members be shown as present. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the roll call of the House be waived and all members be shown as present. There being no objection, it was so ordered. President Stevens appointed Representative Carpenter and Senator Kiehl to escort the Honorable Peter J. Maassen to the joint session. The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms announced the Chief Justice's entrance into the House Chamber. The Chief Justice was escorted to the rostrum and welcomed by President Stevens and Speaker Tilton. The Chief Justice delivered his address, and it is published in Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 13. The Chief Justice received a standing ovation. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent that the joint session adjourn. There being no objection, President Stevens adjourned the joint session at 11:42 a.m. The Speaker ordered the House at ease to allow members of the Senate to leave the Chamber. IN THE HOUSE The Speaker called the House back to order at 11:50 a.m. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and taken up later as a Special Order of Business: 2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1446 Honoring - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Psi Omega Chapter, 40th Anniversary By Representative Wright; Senators Tobin, Gray-Jackson In Memoriam - Eugene R. "Buzzy" Peltola, Jr. By Senators Hoffman, Kawasaki; Representative McCormick The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: Honoring - Gregory Andrew Patsey By Senator Bishop Honoring - Matt Wilson By Senator Bjorkman; Representative Ruffridge Honoring - Brice Incorporated By Senator Bishop In Memoriam - Dennis Albert Bell By Representatives Hannan, Prax; Senator Kiehl In Memoriam - Hannah Louise Bundschuh By Senator Bishop In Memoriam - Heath Joseph Woellert By Senator Bishop In Memoriam - Richard James Morris By Senators Bishop, Kawasaki In Memoriam - Delores Marion Sloan By Senator Bishop In Memoriam - Thomas Francis Keane By Senator Bishop In Memoriam - Theresa Marie Brice By Senator Bishop 2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1447 In Memoriam - Rosemary Wingerter By Senator Bishop; Representative Carrick In Memoriam - Alfred Forest Wright By Senator Bishop In Memoriam - Representative Kurt E. Olson By Senator Bjorkman; Representatives C. Johnson, Ruffridge In Memoriam - Len Malmquist By Senator Bjorkman In Memoriam - William "Bill" Field By Senator Bjorkman In Memoriam - Paul Gebhardt By Senator Bjorkman In Memoriam - Mary Beth Copple By Senator Bjorkman SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the notice and publication requirements be waived and the citations, Honoring - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Psi Omega Chapter, 40th Anniversary and In Memoriam - Eugene R. "Buzzy" Peltola, Jr., 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 citations. There being no objection, the following citations were approved and sent to enrolling: Honoring - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Psi Omega Chapter, 40th Anniversary By Representative Wright; Senators Tobin, Gray-Jackson In Memoriam - Eugene R. "Buzzy" Peltola, Jr. By Senators Hoffman, Kawasaki; Representative McCormick 2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1448 INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, AND REFERENCE OF HOUSE BILLS HB 309 HOUSE BILL NO. 309 by Representative Ruffridge, entitled: "An Act relating to the practice of optometry; and relating to the delegation of routine services of optometry." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Labor & Commerce Committees. HB 310 HOUSE BILL NO. 310 by Representative Carrick, entitled: "An Act relating to schools; and relating to children with disabilities." was read the first time and referred to the Health & Social Services and Education Committees. HB 311 HOUSE BILL NO. 311 by Representative Eastman, entitled: "An Act relating to the relationship between employees, including public employees, and labor organizations; relating to the relationship between employers and labor organizations; prohibiting collective bargaining contracts that require employees to join a labor or employee organization; relating to the deduction of labor or employee organization dues, fees, and other employee benefits from the pay of certain public employees; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Labor & Commerce, and Judiciary Committees. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR LEGISLATIVE CITATIONS Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House approve the citation on the calendar. There being no objection, the following citation was approved and sent to enrolling: 2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1449 Honoring - Norman "Norm" Regis By Senator Stevens; Representative Stutes 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 Ruffridge – from 9:00 a.m., February 8 to 10:00 p.m., February 10 Representative Tomaszewski – from 5:00 p.m., February 15 to 10:00 a.m., February 19 Representative Wright – from: 1:00 p.m., February 9 to 10:00 p.m, February 11 1:00 p.m., February 16 to 10:00 p.m., February 18 1:00 p.m., March 8 to 10:00 p.m., March 10 Representative Baker – from 7:00 a.m., February 15 to 10:00 p.m., February 18 Representative C. Johnson – from: 12:30 p.m., February 16 to 11:00 p.m., February 18 1:00 p.m., March 22 to 10:00 a.m., March 25 Representative Coulombe – from 7:00 p.m., February 9 to 10:00 p.m., February 11 Representative Tilton – from 1:30 p.m., February 9 to 1:00 p.m., February 11 HJR 17 Representatives Gray and Dibert added as cosponsors to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17 Urging the United States Congress to pass the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. 2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1450 HJR 18 Representative Dibert added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18 Urging the United States Congress to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset of the Social Security Act. HB 229 Representative Dibert added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 229 "An Act establishing Alaska Veterans' Poppy Day; and providing for an effective date." HB 234 Representative Gray added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 234 "An Act relating to police officer training; establishing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Review Commission; relating to missing and murdered indigenous persons; relating to the duties of the Department of Public Safety; and providing for an effective date." HB 235 Representatives Gray and Dibert added as cosponsors to: HOUSE BILL NO. 235 "An Act relating to the duty of law enforcement agencies to report missing persons; and relating to missing persons." HB 242 Representative Dibert added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 242 "An Act extending the Alaska senior benefits payment program; and providing for an effective date." 2024-02-07 House Journal Page 1451 HB 246 Representative Dibert added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 246 "An Act relating to voter preregistration for minors at least 16 years of age." HB 304 Representative Sumner added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 304 "An Act relating to the location of legislative sessions; and relating to the emergency relocation of functions of state government." SB 22 Representatives Hannan, Galvin, and Josephson added as cross sponsors to: SENATE BILL NO. 22 "An Act establishing Juneteenth Day as a legal holiday." Representative Schrage 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 Announcements, and so the House advanced to: ANNOUNCEMENTS House committee schedules are published under separate cover. ADJOURNMENT Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the House adjourn until 10:30 a.m., February 9. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 12:14 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk