Legislature(2023 - 2024)

2024-02-23 House Journal

Full Journal pdf

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1621
                                                                                                                                
                             HOUSE JOURNAL                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                       ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                       THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                            SECOND SESSION                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska Friday February 23, 2024                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                           Thirty-ninth Day                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker                                                                
Tilton at 10:36 a.m.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Roll call showed 38 members present.  Representative Armstrong was                                                              
absent and later excused (page 1624).                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that                                                                   
Representative Shaw be excused from a call of the House today. There                                                            
being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Deacon Charles                                                                      
Rohrbacher of Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.                                                             
Representative Vance moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                                 
invocation be spread on the journal.  There being no objection, it was                                                          
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
       Thank you for inviting me here to lead you in prayer this                                                               
        morning as you take up your important task of upholding                                                                
    human dignity and working together for the common good.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     If you so desire, please join your prayer with the Prayer Of                                                              
    St. Francis:                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:                                                                                  
    where there is hatred, let me sow love;                                                                                     
    where there is injury, pardon;                                                                                              
    where there is doubt, faith;                                                                                                
    where there is despair, hope;                                                                                               
    where there is darkness, light;                                                                                             
    where there is sadness, joy.                                                                                                

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1622
    O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek                                                                          
    to be consoled as to console,                                                                                               
    to be understood as to understand,                                                                                          
    to be loved as to love.                                                                                                     
    For it is in giving that we receive,                                                                                        
    it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,                                                                                    
    and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Stapp.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                     CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
journal for the 38th legislative day be approved as certified by the                                                            
Chief Clerk.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                               * * * * *                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Carpenter introduced Maranatha and Joy Henderson,                                                                
Guest Pages, from Nikiski.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                    REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The Health & Social Services Committee reviewed the qualifications                                                              
of the following and recommends the appointment be forwarded to a                                                               
joint session for consideration:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                              Ethan Arndt                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
as a member of the Board of Examiners in Optometry.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative Prax, Chair; and                                                                        
Representatives Fields, Ruffridge, McCormick, Saddler, and Mina.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HB 279                                                                                                                        
The Community & Regional Affairs Committee considered:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 279                                                                                                          
    "An Act relating to the Local Boundary Commission; and                                                                      
    providing for an effective date."                                                                                           

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1623
and recommends it be replaced with:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
    CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 279(CRA)                                                                                              
    (same title)                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The report was signed by Representative McCormick, Chair, with the                                                              
following individual recommendations:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Do pass (3):  Baker, Himschoot, Ruffridge                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
No recommendation (3):  Mears, McCabe, McCormick                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 279(CRA):                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB 279 was referred to the Rules Committee.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                       INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The following citations were introduced and taken up later as a Special                                                         
Order of Business:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - Jirdes Winther Baxter                                                                                                
By Senator Kiehl; Representatives Hannan, Story                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - 50th Anniversary of the Festival of Native Arts                                                                      
By Senators Kawasaki, Bishop; Representative Dibert                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules                                                               
Committee for placement on the calendar:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Sara Lynn Cebulski                                                                                                
By Senators Kawasaki, Myers                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Betty Ruth "Bruth" George                                                                                         
By Senators Bishop, Kawasaki                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Bryce Clinton Ray                                                                                                 
By Senator Hughes; Representative D. Johnson                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - David Elbert Austin                                                                                               
By Senators Hughes, Stedman                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1624
                       SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
notice and publication requirements be waived and the citations,                                                                
Honoring - Jirdes Winther Baxter and 50th Anniversary of the Festival                                                           
of Native Arts, 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 - Jirdes Winther Baxter                                                                                                
By Senator Kiehl; Representatives Hannan, Story                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Honoring - 50th Anniversary of the Festival of Native Arts                                                                      
By Senators Kawasaki, Bishop; Representative Dibert                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                               * * * * *                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that                                                                   
Representative Armstrong be excused from a call of the House today.                                                             
There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                  CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                     SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
HB 148                                                                                                                        
The following was read the second time:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 148                                                                                                          
    "An Act relating to the Alaska performance scholarship program."                                                            
                                                                                                                                
with the:                                                  Journal Page                                                         
                                                                                                                                
 EDC RPT CS(EDC) 6DP 797                                                                                                        
 FN1: ZERO(EED) 797                                                                                                             
 FN2: (EED) 797                                                                                                                 
 FN3: (EED) 797                                                                                                                 

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1625
 FIN RPT CS(FIN) 10DP 1NR 1491                                                                                                  
 FN4: (EED) 1491                                                                                                                
 FN5: (EED) 1491                                                                                                                
 FN6: (EED) 1491                                                                                                                
 FN7: (EED) 1491                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
following committee substitute be adopted in lieu of the original bill:                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 148(FIN)                                                                                              
    (same title)                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Eastman objected and withdrew the objection.  There                                                              
being no further objection, CSHB 148(FIN) was adopted.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Amendment No. 1 was offered  by Representative Eastman:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Page 1, line 1, following "program" (title amendment):                                                                        
    Insert "; and relating to the Alaska Police Standards Council"                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Page 6, following line 1:                                                                                                       
    Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                          
"* Sec. 8. AS 18.65.220 is amended by adding a new subsection to                                                              
read:                                                                                                                           
         (b)  The councilmay not establish standards for employment                                                             
    under (a)(2) of this section or reject an applicant for admission to                                                        
    a police training program, or otherwise treat a person differently,                                                         
    solely because of the source of the person's high school diploma                                                            
    or equivalent credential. Nothing in this subsection prohibits the                                                          
    council from inquiring into the content of a secondary educational                                                          
    program to determine whether a person meets qualifications                                                                  
    required for employment or for admission to a police training                                                               
    program."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that                                                                   
Amendment No. 1 be adopted.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ruffridge objected.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1626
Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to                                                                     
withdraw Amendment No. 1.  There being no objection, it was so                                                                  
ordered.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that                                                                   
CSHB 148(FIN) be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading,                                                               
and placed on final passage.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
There was objection.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 148(FIN) will advance to third reading on the February 26                                                                  
calendar.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                     THIRD READING OF HOUSE BILLS                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HB 143                                                                                                                        
The following, which was held from the February 22 calendar                                                                     
(page 1616), was read the third time:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
    CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 143(RES)                                                                                              
    "An Act relating to the Department of Environmental                                                                         
    Conservation; relating to advanced recycling and advanced                                                                   
    recycling facilities; relating to waste; and providing for an                                                               
    effective date."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The question being:  "Shall CSHB 143(RES) pass the House?"  The                                                                 
roll was taken with the following result:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 143(RES)                                                                                                                   
Third Reading                                                                                                                   
Final Passage                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:  23   NAYS:  13   EXCUSED:  2   ABSENT:  2                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Yeas:  Allard, Baker, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Edgmon, Foster,                                                               
C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Ortiz, Prax,                                                                    
Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Stapp, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski,                                                               
Vance, Wright                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Nays:  Carrick, Dibert, Eastman, Fields, Gray, Groh, Himschoot,                                                                 
Josephson, Mears, Mina, Schrage, Story, Stutes                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1627
Excused:  Armstrong, Shaw                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Absent:  Galvin, Hannan                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
And so, CSHB 143(RES) passed the House.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved the effective date clause.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The question being:  "Shall the effective date clause be adopted?"  The                                                         
roll was taken with the following result:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 143(RES)                                                                                                                   
Third Reading                                                                                                                   
Effective Date                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:  34   NAYS:  2   EXCUSED:  2   ABSENT:  2                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Yeas:  Allard, Baker, Carpenter, Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert,                                                              
Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Gray, Groh, Himschoot, C.Johnson,                                                                       
D.Johnson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Prax,                                                                  
Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Schrage, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Sumner,                                                            
Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Nays:  Eastman, Josephson                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Excused:  Armstrong, Shaw                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Absent:  Galvin, Hannan                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
And so, the effective date clause was adopted.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 143(RES) was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The Speaker stated that the House would stand at ease; and so, the                                                              
House stood at ease at 11:35 a.m.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                             AFTER AT EASE                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The Speaker called the House back to order at 12:12 p.m.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
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:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1628
Representative Galvin – today                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan – from today to 2:00 p.m., February 25                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz – from today to 10:00 p.m., February 25                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                  SECOND READING OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HJR 7                                                                                                                         
The Speaker stated that, without objection, the following, which was                                                            
held from the February 22 calendar (page 1616), would be held to the                                                            
February 26 calendar:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7                                                                                                
    Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska                                                             
    requiring payment of a dividend to eligible state residents.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          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 Vance – from 2:00 p.m., March 1 to 10:00 p.m.,                                                                   
March 3                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Allard – from 6:00 a.m., February 24 to 11:00 a.m.,                                                              
February 25                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mears – from 6:00 a.m., February 24 to 10:00 p.m.,                                                               
February 25                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative C. Johnson moved and asked unanimous consent that                                                                
the House revert to Introduction of Guests. There being no objection,                                                           
it was so ordered.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the                                                               
House advance to Committee Announcements. There being no                                                                        
objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                

2024-02-23                     House Journal                      Page 1629
                          UNFINISHED BUSINESS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HJR 20                                                                                                                        
Representative Armstrong added as a cosponsor to:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20                                                                                               
    Urging withdrawal of proposed Bureau of Land Management                                                                     
    regulations affecting the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska;                                                             
    and urging meaningful engagement with tribes, local                                                                         
    governments, and affected communities.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HB 147                                                                                                                        
Representative McCormick added as a cosponsor to:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
    HOUSE BILL NO. 147                                                                                                          
    "An Act relating to teacher certificates for retired teachers."                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                              ENGROSSMENT                                                                                    
HB 143                                                                                                                        
CSHB 143(RES) was engrossed, signed by the Speaker and Chief                                                                    
Clerk, and transmitted to the Senate for consideration.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                             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., February 26. There being no                                                                     
objection, the House adjourned at 12:21 p.m.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                           Crystaline Jones                                                                     
                                           Chief Clerk