Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2024-03-22 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1955 HOUSE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday March 22, 2024 Sixty-seventh Day Pursuant to adjournment the House was called to order by Speaker Tilton at 10:38 a.m. Roll call showed 36 members present. Representative Baker had been excused from a call of the House today. Representatives Edgmon and D. Johnson were absent and their presence was noted later. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that Representative Armstrong be excused from today to 9:30 a.m., March 25. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The invocation was offered by the Chaplain, Reverend Aaron Spratt of Faith 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. Lord God, Heavenly Father, you have established the estate of government, that it is to uphold your good and gracious will to support families and your church. In accordance with what you establish as good, give your wisdom to the officials of this government. Help and guide them to govern with justice, compassion, and truth. May they not give into the temptations of the evil one and the lies of this world. As they create policies and legislation, cause them to defend the lives of all people –especially the unborn– and all those who cannot defend themselves. May they govern to stop and thwart all wickedness and evil in our state, may they promote virtue and 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1956 love. God you have called these men and women to a time such as this, lift them up and give them courage; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Representative Coulombe. CERTIFICATION OF THE JOURNAL Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the journal for the 66th legislative day be approved as certified by the Chief Clerk. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 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: David Paulson as a member of the State Medical Board. The report was signed by Representative Prax, Chair; and Representatives Sumner, Fields, McCormick, Saddler, and Mina. The State Affairs Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointment be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Torrence Saxe as Lieutenant Governor Successor. The report was signed by Representative Shaw, Chair; and Representatives Wright, Story, Carrick, Allard, and C. Johnson. 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1957 The State Affairs Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointment be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Bailey Stuart as a member of the Marijuana Control Board. The report was signed by Representative Shaw, Chair; and Representatives Wright, Carpenter, Story, Carrick, and C. Johnson. The State Affairs Committee reviewed the qualifications of the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Janice Hill Diane Thompson as members of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Richard Larson as a member of the State Board of Parole. Donald Handeland as a member of the Personnel Board. Jeff Brown Dusty Dumont Ron Dupee as members of the Alaska Police Standards Council. Anna Cometa as a member of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board. The report was signed by Representative Shaw, Chair; and Representatives Wright, Carpenter, Story, Carrick, Allard, and C. Johnson. 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1958 HCR 9 The Health & Social Services Committee considered: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9 Recognizing the need for parity in the provision of mental health and substance use disorder medical assistance benefits in the state; and urging the Department of Health to adopt regulations that ensure parity in the provision of mental health and substance use disorder medical assistance benefits in the state. The report was signed by Representative Prax, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (5): Fields, Ruffridge, Saddler, Mina, Prax The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, House Health & Social Services Committee HCR 9 was referred to the Rules Committee. HCR 15 The Health & Social Services Committee considered: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15 Designating May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month; and designating May 5 - 11, 2024, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The report was signed by Representative Prax, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (7): Fields, Sumner, Ruffridge, McCormick, Saddler, Mina, Prax The following fiscal note(s) apply: 1. Zero, House Health & Social Services Committee HCR 15 was referred to the Rules Committee. 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1959 REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES HB 368 The House Special Committee on Energy considered: HOUSE BILL NO. 368 "An Act relating to clean energy standards and a clean energy transferable tax credit; and providing for an effective date." and recommends it be replaced with: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 368(ENE) (same title) The report was signed by Representative Rauscher, Chair, with the following individual recommendations: Do pass (2): Baker, Rauscher Do not pass (2): Prax, McKay No recommendation (2): Armstrong, Wright Amend (1): Schrage The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 368(ENE): 1. Zero, Office of the Governor/Combined 2. Indeterminate, Dept. of Revenue 3. Fiscal, Dept. of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development HB 368 was referred to the Finance Committee. INTRODUCTION OF CITATIONS The following citations were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the calendar: 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1960 Honoring - Kodiak High School Shakesbears Drama, Debate, and Forensics Team, Division I State Champions By Representative Stutes; Senator Stevens Honoring - Matanuska-Susitna Borough 60th Anniversary By Senator Wilson; Representative Sumner **The presence of Representative Edgmon was noted. CONSIDERATION OF THE DAILY CALENDAR SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLS HB 264 The following was read the second time: HOUSE BILL NO. 264 "An Act requiring the Department of Family and Community Services to adopt a uniform screening tool; requiring shelters for runaway minors to screen minors for victimization relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation; requiring the Department of Family and Community Services to screen children in need of aid for victimization relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation; and relating to the duty of the Department of Family and Community Services to investigate the experiences of missing children in need of aid who have been located." with the: Journal Page HSS RPT CS(HSS) NEW TITLE 3DP 1AM 1651 FN1: ZERO(DFC) 1651 FN2: ZERO(DFC) 1651 **The presence of Representative D. Johnson was noted. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that the following committee substitute be adopted in lieu of the original bill: 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1961 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 264(HSS) "An Act requiring the Department of Family and Community Services to develop a shared screening methodology; requiring shelters for runaway minors to screen minors for victimization relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation; requiring the Department of Family and Community Services to screen children in need of aid for victimization relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation; and relating to the duty of the Department of Family and Community Services to investigate the experiences of missing children in need of aid who have been located." Representative Eastman objected and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, CSHB 264(HSS) was adopted. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Vance: Page 2, line 23: Delete "indicating that the child may be" Insert "that circumstances exist indicating that the child is at a heightened risk of being" Representative Vance moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Representative Eastman objected and withdrew the objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 1 was adopted. Amendment No. 2 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 2, line 26, following "department": Insert ", or a nonprofit organization designated by the department," Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 be adopted. Representative Vance objected. 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1962 Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 2. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 3 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 2, line 25: Delete "Upon" Insert "Within one week after" Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 3 be adopted. Representative Vance objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 3 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 264(HSS) am Second Reading Amendment No. 3 YEAS: 2 NAYS: 36 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Eastman, Gray Nays: Allard, Carpenter, Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, 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, Baker And so, Amendment No. 3 was not adopted. Amendment No. 4 was offered by Representative Fields: Page 1, line 3, following "trafficking," (title amendment): Insert "labor trafficking," Page 1, line 5, following "trafficking,": Insert "labor trafficking," 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1963 Page 2, line 3, following "person": Insert "; (3) "labor trafficking" means the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a child for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of subjecting the child to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery" Page 2, line 7, following "trafficking,": Insert "labor trafficking," Page 2, line 10, following "trafficking,": Insert "labor trafficking," Page 2, line 12: Delete "a new paragraph" Insert "new paragraphs" Page 2, line 15, following "person": Insert "; (5) "labor trafficking" means the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a child for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of subjecting the child to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery" Page 2, line 19, following "trafficking,": Insert "labor trafficking," Page 2, line 23, following "trafficking,": Insert "labor trafficking," Page 3, line 1, following "trafficking,": Insert "labor trafficking," Representative Fields moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 4 be adopted. Representative Vance objected. 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1964 The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 4 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 264(HSS) am Second Reading Amendment No. 4 YEAS: 17 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Carrick, Dibert, Fields, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, Josephson, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Ruffridge, Schrage, Story, Stutes, Sumner Nays: Allard, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Eastman, Edgmon, Foster, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Prax, Rauscher, Saddler, Shaw, Stapp, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Excused: Armstrong, Baker And so, Amendment No. 4 was not adopted. Representative McCabe moved and asked unanimous consent to set an amendment deadline of 11:25 a.m., today for CSHB 264(HSS) am. There was objection. The question being: "Shall an Amendment Deadline of 11:25 a.m. be set for CSHB 264(HSS) am?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 264(HSS) am Second Reading Set Amendment Deadline of 11:25 a.m. YEAS: 23 NAYS: 15 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Edgmon, Foster, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, McCormick, McKay, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Shaw, Stapp, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Nays: Carrick, Dibert, Eastman, Fields, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Schrage, Story, Stutes Excused: Armstrong, Baker 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1965 Dibert changed from "YEA" to "NAY" Ortiz changed from "YEA" to "NAY" And so, the motion passed. Amendment No. 5 was offered by Representative Gray: Page 3, following line 1: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 5. AS 11.41.434(a) is amended to read: (3) Being 18 years of age or older, the offender engages in sexual penetration with a person who is under 18 [16] years of age" Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Representative Gray moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 5 be adopted. Representative Vance objected. Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 5 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1, before line 1 of the amendment: Insert : "Page 1, line 2, following "methodology": Insert "relating to sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree;" Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 5 be adopted. There was objection. Representative McCabe rose to a point of order regarding confining remarks to the amendment before the body. The Speaker stated that the point was well taken and cautioned the member to confine remarks to the amendment. 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1966 The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 5 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 264(HSS) am Second Reading Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 5 YEAS: 23 NAYS: 15 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Carrick, Dibert, Eastman, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, D.Johnson, Josephson, McCormick, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Ruffridge, Schrage, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Sumner Nays: Allard, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, C.Johnson, McCabe, McKay, Prax, Rauscher, Saddler, Shaw, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Excused: Armstrong, Baker And so, Amendment No. 1 to Amendment No. 5 was adopted. Amendment No. 2 to Amendment No. 5 was offered by Representative Eastman: Page 1 of the amendment: Following the second occurrence of "years of age": Insert "Authority is granted to make all necessary and conforming changes." Representative Eastman moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 to Amendment No. 5 be adopted. Representative Stapp objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 2 to Amendment No. 5 as amended be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 264(HSS) am Second Reading Amendment No. 2 to Amendment No. 5 as amended YEAS: 18 NAYS: 20 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 0 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1967 Yeas: Carrick, Dibert, Eastman, Edgmon, Fields, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, Josephson, McCormick, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Foster, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McKay, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Shaw, Stapp, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright Excused: Armstrong, Baker And so, Amendment No. 2 to Amendment No. 5 as amended was not adopted. Representative Vance rose to a point of order regarding relevance of debate. The Speaker cautioned the member to confine remarks to the amendment before the body. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 5 as amended be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 264(HSS) am Second Reading Amendment No. 5 as amended YEAS: 32 NAYS: 6 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Allard, Carpenter, Carrick, Coulombe, Dibert, Eastman, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, D.Johnson, Josephson, McCabe, McCormick, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Schrage, Shaw, Stapp, Story, Stutes, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Wright Nays: Cronk, C.Johnson, McKay, Prax, Saddler, Vance Excused: Armstrong, Baker And so, Amendment No. 5 as amended was adopted. Representative Stapp moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 264(HSS) am be referred to the Finance Committee. There was objection. 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1968 Representative Stapp moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw the motion. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent that CSHB 264(HSS) am be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading, and placed on final passage. There was objection. CSHB 264(HSS) am will advance to third reading on the March 25 calendar. SECOND READING OF SENATE BILLS SB 46 The Speaker stated that, without objection, the following would be held to the March 25 calendar: SENATE BILL NO. 46 "An Act establishing the month of March as Brain Injury Awareness Month." THIRD READING OF HOUSE BILLS HB 158 The Speaker stated that, without objection, the following, which was held from the March 21 calendar (page 1949), would be held to the March 25 calendar: HOUSE BILL NO. 158 "An Act relating to the Joint Armed Services Committee; relating to judge advocates; relating to military facility zones; and providing for an effective date." HB 371 The Speaker stated that, without objection, the following, which was held from the March 21 calendar (page 1950), would be held to the March 25 calendar: 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1969 HOUSE BILL NO. 371 "An Act relating to medical review organizations; relating to the definitions of 'health care provider' and 'review organization'; and relating to the duties of the chief medical officer in the Department of Health." THIRD READING OF HOUSE RESOLUTIONS HJR 7 The Speaker stated that, without objection, the following, which was held from the March 21 calendar (page 1950), would be held to the March 25 calendar: CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7(W&M) Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the permanent fund, relating to transfers out of the permanent fund, and requiring payment of a dividend to eligible state residents. 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: Honoring - Rolland Benn-Ingles Curtis By Representative Ortiz; Senator Stedman * * * * * Representative Saddler 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 advanced to Unfinished Business. There being no objection, the House advanced to: 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1970 UNFINISHED BUSINESS HB 226 Representative Himschoot added as a cosponsor to: HOUSE BILL NO. 226 "An Act relating to the Board of Pharmacy; relating to insurance; relating to pharmacies; relating to pharmacists; relating to pharmacy benefits managers; relating to patient choice of pharmacy; and providing for an effective date." HB 264 Representative Josephson added as a cosponsor to: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 264(HSS) am "An Act requiring the Department of Family and Community Services to develop a shared screening methodology; requiring shelters for runaway minors to screen minors for victimization relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation; requiring the Department of Family and Community Services to screen children in need of aid for victimization relating to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation; and relating to the duty of the Department of Family and Community Services to investigate the experiences of missing children in need of aid who have been located." RECONSIDERATION HB 17 Representative Eastman brought up reconsideration of the vote on CSHB 17(HSS) am (page 1947). The following was before the House in third reading: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 17(HSS) am "An Act relating to insurance coverage for contraceptives and related services; relating to medical assistance coverage for contraceptives and related services; and providing for an effective date." 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1971 Representative McCabe called the previous question. There being no objection, it was so ordered. The question to be reconsidered: "Shall CSHB 17(HSS) am pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 17(HSS) am Third Reading Final Passage Reconsideration YEAS: 26 NAYS: 9 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 3 Yeas: Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, C.Johnson, Josephson, McCormick, McKay, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Prax, Ruffridge, Schrage, Story, Stutes, Sumner, Wright Nays: Carpenter, Eastman, D.Johnson, McCabe, Rauscher, Saddler, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance Excused: Armstrong, Baker Absent: Allard, Shaw, Stapp And so, CSHB 17(HSS) am passed the House on reconsideration. 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 17(HSS) am Third Reading Effective Date Reconsideration YEAS: 26 NAYS: 9 EXCUSED: 2 ABSENT: 3 Yeas: Carrick, Coulombe, Cronk, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, C.Johnson, Josephson, McCormick, McKay, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Prax, Ruffridge, Schrage, Story, Stutes, Sumner, Wright 2024-03-22 House Journal Page 1972 Nays: Carpenter, Eastman, D.Johnson, McCabe, Rauscher, Saddler, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance Excused: Armstrong, Baker Absent: Allard, Shaw, Stapp And so, lacking the required 27 votes, the effective date clause was not adopted, and the new title follows: CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 17(HSS) am(efd fld) "An Act relating to insurance coverage for contraceptives and related services; and relating to medical assistance coverage for contraceptives and related services." CSHB 17(HSS) am(efd fld) was referred to the Chief Clerk for engrossment. ENGROSSMENT HB 17 CSHB 17 (HSS) am(efd fld) 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., March 25. There being no objection, the House adjourned at 12:51 p.m. Crystaline Jones Chief Clerk