Legislature(2023 - 2024)

2023-01-25 Senate Journal

Full Journal pdf

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0087
                                                                                                                                
                                SENATE JOURNAL                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                           ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                           THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                FIRST SESSION                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                   Wednesday                 January 25, 2023                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                  Ninth Day                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President                                                             
Stevens at 11:01 a.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The roll showed eighteen members present. Senator Gray-Jackson was                                                              
excused from a call of the Senate. Senator Shower was absent.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Major Shane Halverson,                                                                  
Salvation Army. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous                                                                       
consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
          Lord, we are thankful for another day. We dedicate                                                                    
          this day of work to you, to the State of Alaska and to                                                                
          the good of its citizens. We pray for a spirit of unity                                                               
          in our Senate. We pray that their goals would be                                                                      
          attainable, bringing into existence new ideas or laws                                                                 
          that will help keep our people safe, defend the weak,                                                                 
          heal the broken, and enable our citizens to achieve                                                                   
          their full potential.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
          Lord, raise up strong leaders in the Senate, keep their                                                               
          focus on the most important issues and may they                                                                       
          work hard to promote peace, fairness, and justice for                                                                 
          all. Open their eyes to your form of policymaking.                                                                    
          I pray that your angel of protection would surround                                                                   
          them and their families. Grant them good, healthy,                                                                    
               and rich relationships. In Jesus’ name,   Amen.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Dunbar led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0088
Senator Myers moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Shower                                                                  
be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senator                                                          
Shower was excused.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                Certification                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journals for                                                              
the seventh and eighth legislative days and Senate and House Joint                                                              
Journal Supplement No. 2 be approved as certified by the Secretary.                                                             
Without objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                Communications                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the                                                         
Senate:                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Department of Health and                                                                                                        
Department of Corrections                                                                                                       
Recidivism Reduction Joint Annual Report                                                                                        
Fiscal Year 2022                                                                                                                
in accordance with AS 47.38.100                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Department of Corrections                                                                                                       
Offender Case Plan Summary                                                                                                      
January 23, 2023                                                                                                                
in accordance with AS 33.30.011                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
A memorandum dated January 24 from the Senate Rules Committee                                                                   
stating pursuant to Uniform Rule 18, the rules and responsibilities of                                                          
preparing the daily calendar, including scheduling of bills for the floor,                                                      
are delegated to the Chair for the entirety of the Thirty-third                                                                 
Legislature. Signing the memorandum: Senator, Wielechowski, Chair;                                                              
Senator Stedman, Vice Chair; Senators Stevens, Giessel, Hoffman.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Letter dated January 19 from Daniel E. Winfree, Chief Justice of the                                                            
Alaska Supreme Court stating in accordance with AS 24.60.131(b),                                                                
the following public member has been nominated for reappointment to                                                             
the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Gerald (Jerry) A. McBeath                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0089
            Select Committee on Legislative Ethics – Ratification                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent Gerald (Jerry)                                                                
A. McBeath be ratified as a public member to the Select Committee on                                                            
Legislative Ethics.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The question being: "Shall Gerald (Jerry) A. McBeath be ratified as a                                                           
public member to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?" The                                                               
roll was taken with the following result:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Shall Gerald (Jerry) McBeath be ratified as a Public Member                                                                     
to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics?                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:  18   NAYS:  0   EXCUSED:  2   ABSENT:  0                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Yeas:  Bishop, Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Hoffman,                                                                      
Hughes, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Myers, Olson, Stedman,                                                               
Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Wilson                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Excused:  Gray-Jackson, Shower                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
and so, Gerald (Jerry) McBeath was ratified by the Senate.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
The Secretary was requested to notify the House.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                  Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SB 44                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 44 BY SENATOR GIESSEL BY REQUEST,                                                                               
entitled:                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to the practice of naturopathy;                                                                      
          establishing the Naturopathy Advisory Board;                                                                          
          relating to the licensure of naturopaths; relating to                                                                 
          disciplinary sanctions for naturopaths; relating to the                                                               
          Department of Commerce, Community, and                                                                                
          Economic Development; and providing for an                                                                            
          effective date."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services,                                                         
Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0090
SB 45                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 45 BY SENATOR WILSON, entitled:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
           "An Act relating to insurance; relating to direct health                                                            
                care agreements; and relating to unfair trade                                                                  
          practices."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services                                                          
and Labor and Commerce Committees.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB 46                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 46 BY SENATOR TOBIN, entitled:                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
               "An Act establishing the month of March as Brain                                                                
          Injury Awareness Month."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs Committee.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                        Consideration of the Calendar                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                  Citations                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Joseph Edward Homme                                                                                               
Representative(s) Rauscher                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citation be                                                               
adopted. Without objection, the citation was adopted and referred to                                                            
the Secretary for transmittal.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the following                                                                 
citation be made a special order of business. Without objection, it was                                                         
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          Special Order of Business                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
In Memoriam - Lisa Levang                                                                                                       
Representative(s) Allard, Groh                                                                                                  
Senator(s) Wielechowski                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0091
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citation be                                                               
adopted. Without objection, the citation was adopted and referred to                                                            
the Secretary for transmittal.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                             Unfinished Business                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SB 45                                                                                                                         
Senators Hughes, Myers moved and asked unanimous consent to be                                                                  
shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL NO. 45 "An Act relating to                                                                   
insurance; relating to direct health care agreements; and relating to                                                           
unfair trade practices." Without objection, it was so ordered.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SB 44                                                                                                                         
Senators Kawasaki, Myers moved and asked unanimous consent to be                                                                
shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL NO. 44 "An Act relating to                                                                   
the practice of naturopathy; establishing the Naturopathy Advisory                                                              
Board; relating to the licensure of naturopaths; relating to disciplinary                                                       
sanctions for naturopaths; relating to the Department of Commerce,                                                              
Community, and Economic Development; and providing for an                                                                       
effective date." Without objection, it was so ordered.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Myers moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused                                                                   
from a call of the Senate from morning plane time, February 21                                                                  
through evening plane time, February 27. Without objection, Senator                                                             
Myers was excused.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski moved and asked unanimous consent to be                                                                    
excused from a call of the Senate on January 27. Without objection,                                                             
Senator Wielechowski was excused.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stedman moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused                                                                 
from a call of the Senate from January 25 to plane time January 29.                                                             
Without objection, Senator Stedman was excused.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                Announcements                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Announcements are at the end of the journal.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0092
                          Engrossment and Enrollment                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SR 1                                                                                                                          
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 Establishing a Senate Special                                                                           
Committee on World Trade, was engrossed and enrolled, signed by the                                                             
President and Secretary, and the engrossed and enrolled copies                                                                  
transmitted to the Office of the Governor at 2:10 p.m.,                                                                         
January 24, 2023.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Memorandum from the Division of Legal and Research Services,                                                                    
Legislative Affairs Agency, reporting the following manifest error in                                                           
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1, which has been corrected in                                                                            
enrolling:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Page 2, line 2, following "First":                                                                                              
          Insert "Regular"                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                             Senate Resolve No. 1                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                 Adjournment                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand                                                              
in adjournment until 10:30 a.m., January 27, 2023. Without objection,                                                           
the Senate adjourned at 11:16 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                    Liz Clark                                                   
                                                     Secretary of the Senate                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0093
                                Announcements                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require                                                  
special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access                                                            
committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the                                                          
Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance                                                           
notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the                                                  
ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                             STANDING COMMITTEES                                                                             
+ indicates teleconference                                                                                                      
= indicates bill previously heard/scheduled                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                         COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Jan 26        Thursday                    Beltz 105 (tsbldg)          1:30 PM                                                 
              No Meeting Scheduled                                                                                              
                   ----------------------------------------                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                  EDUCATION                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Jan 25        Wednesday                   Beltz 105 (tsbldg)          3:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Presentation: Public Education in Alaska Fiscal                                                                   
              Challenges and Solutions by                                                                                       
              Alaska Council of School Administrators                                                                           
              Executive Director Dr. Lisa Parady                                                                                
              Coalition for Education Equity Executive                                                                          
              Director Sarah Sledge                                                                                             
              Association of Alaska School Boards Executive                                                                     
              Director Lon Garrison                                                                                             
              NEA Alaska President Tom Klaameyer                                                                                
              **Streamed live on AKL.tv**                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0094
                            EDUCATION (continued)                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Jan 27        Friday                      Beltz 105 (tsbldg)          3:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Presentation: Public Education - A Rural                                                                          
              Perspective by                                                                                                    
              Kenai Peninsula Borough School District                                                                           
              Superintendent Clayton Holland                                                                                    
              Northwest Arctic Borough School District                                                                          
              Superintendent Terri Walker                                                                                       
              Presentation: How much does Alaska spend on                                                                       
              K-12 Education? by                                                                                                
              Dayna Jean DeFeo, Director of the Center for                                                                      
              Alaska Education Policy Research (CAEPR),                                                                         
  Institute of Social and Economic Research                                                                                     
  Matthew Berman, Professor of Economics,                                                                                       
  Institute of Social and Economic Research                                                                                     
              **Streamed live on AKL.tv**                                                                                       
                   ----------------------------------------                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                   FINANCE                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Jan 25        Wednesday                 Senate Finance 532            9:00 AM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Alaska Mental Health Authority                                                                                    
              - Steve Williams, CEO                                                                                             
              - Anita Halterman, Board Chair                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Jan 26        Thursday                  Senate Finance 532            9:00 AM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+ SB  41 APPROP: CAPITAL/SUPPLEMENTAL                                                                                           
              - Office of Management & Budget                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Jan 27        Friday                    Senate Finance 532            9:00 AM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Deferred Maintenance                                                                                              
              - Office of Management & Budget                                                                                   
              - Department of Transportation                                                                                    
              - University of Alaska                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0095
                           HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Jan 26        Thursday                        Butrovich 205           3:30 PM                                                 
+             Department of Family and Community Services -                                                                     
              Overview                                                                                                          
                   ----------------------------------------                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                  JUDICIARY                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Jan 25        Wednesday                       Butrovich 205           1:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Presentation: Report on Alaska Court System                                                                       
              Operations by                                                                                                     
              Nancy Meade, General Counsel, Alaska Court                                                                        
              System                                                                                                            
              Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Jan 27        Friday                          Butrovich 205           1:30 PM                                                 
+ SB  37 CRIME COUNTERFEIT/NONFUNCTIONING AIRBAG                                                                                
              -- Invited & Public Testimony --                                                                                  
              Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled                                                                                  
                   ----------------------------------------                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                               LABOR & COMMERCE                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Jan 25        Wednesday                   Beltz 105 (tsbldg)          1:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Workforce Overview from the Medical Industry                                                                      
              Perspective                                                                                                       
              Presentation: Alaska State Hospital and Nursing                                                                   
              Home Association by Jared Kosin, President & CEO                                                                  
              Presentation: South Central Foundation by Karen                                                                   
              McIntire, VP of Workforce                                                                                         
              Additional Presenters TBA                                                                                         
              **Streamed live on AKL.tv**                                                                                       
              -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0096
                         LABOR & COMMERCE (continued)                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Jan 27        Friday                      Beltz 105 (tsbldg)          1:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Workforce Overview from the Vocational/Technical                                                                  
              Education Perspective                                                                                             
              Presentation: AVTEC-Alaska Vocational Technical                                                                   
              Center by Cathy LeCompte, Director                                                                                
              Presentation: NACTEC by Doug Walrath, Director                                                                    
              Additional Presenters TBA                                                                                         
              **Streamed live on AKL.tv**                                                                                       
              -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --                                                                                 
                   ----------------------------------------                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                  RESOURCES                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Jan 25        Wednesday                       Butrovich 205           3:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Presentation: Introducing the Frontiers                                                                           
              Collaboration by Idaho National Laboratory  by                                                                    
              Dr. Steven Aumeier, Senior Advisor, Strategic                                                                     
              Programs;                                                                                                         
              Paul Kjellander, Senior Advisor, Regulatory                                                                       
              Policy; and                                                                                                       
              Marcio Paes Barreto, Director of Industrial                                                                       
              Development, Wyoming Energy Authority                                                                             
              -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --                                                                                 
              **Streamed live on AKL.tv**                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Jan 27        Friday                          Butrovich 205           3:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
              Presentation: Yukon and Kuskokwim Fisheries                                                                       
              Collapse Update  by                                                                                               
              Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner                                                                   
              Doug Vincent-Lang                                                                                                 
              -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --                                                                                 
+ SB  10 HUNTING/TRAPPING/FISHING: DISABLED VETS                                                                                
              -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --                                                                                 
              John Sturgeon, President of Safari Club                                                                           
                International Alaska                                                                                            
              Troy Eck, Commander Alaska VFW                                                                                    
              **Streamed live on AKL.tv**                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0097
                                STATE AFFAIRS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Jan 26        Thursday                    Beltz 105 (tsbldg)          3:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconferenced --                                                                                             
+             Presentation: 2022 Elections Recap by                                                                             
              Michaela Thompson (Acting Director, Division of                                                                   
              Elections)                                                                                                        
              Julie Husmann (Regional Supervisor, Division of                                                                   
              Elections)                                                                                                        
              Carol Thompson (Division Operations Manager,                                                                      
              Division of Elections)                                                                                            
              Presentation: 2022 Elections Recap/Rural Voting                                                                   
              Challenges by                                                                                                     
              Michelle (Macuar) Sparck (Director of Strategic                                                                   
              Initiatives, Cook Inlet Tribal Council:                                                                           
              Get Out the Native Vote)                                                                                          
              -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --                                                                                 
                   ----------------------------------------                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                TRANSPORTATION                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Jan 26        Thursday                        Butrovich 205           1:30 PM                                                 
              -- Teleconference <Listen Only> --                                                                                
+             Presentation: Overview: DOT&PF Structure,                                                                         
              Organization, & Direction by                                                                                      
              Ryan Anderson, Commissioner                                                                                       
              John Binder, Deputy Commissioner                                                                                  
              Katherine Keith, Deputy Commissioner                                                                              
              Joe Kemp, Acting Northern Region Director                                                                         
              Wolfgang Junge, Central Region Director                                                                           
              Lance Mearig, Southcoast Region Director                                                                          
              -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --                                                                                 
              **Streamed live on AKL.tv**                                                                                       
                   ----------------------------------------                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                OTHER MEETINGS                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                JOINT SESSION                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Feb 01        Wednesday                    House Chamber            11:00 AM                                                  
              State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice                                                                   
              Daniel E. Winfree                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Feb 07        Tuesday                      House Chamber            11:00 AM                                                  
              U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan's Annual Address                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2023-01-25                     Senate Journal                      Page 0098
                            MISCELLANEOUS MEETINGS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Jan 26        Thursday                        Butrovich 205          12:00 PM                                                 
              Lunch & Learn Presentation:                                                                                       
              Services offered by the UA Alumni Association by:                                                                 
              - Marybeth Loewen, President UAF Alumni Assn.                                                                     
              Board of Directors                                                                                                
              -Katie Bender, President UAA Alumni Assn. Board                                                                   
              of Directors                                                                                                      
              Sponsored by Senator Bishop, Senator Kawasaki and                                                                 
              Representative Carrick                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Feb 03        Friday                          Butrovich 205          12:00 PM                                                 
              -- Rescheduled to 02/06/2023 --                                                                                   
              Lunch & Learn Presentation:                                                                                       
              University of Alaska Ted Stevens Internship                                                                       
              Program                                                                                                           
              Sponsored by Senator Kiehl                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Feb 06        Monday                          Butrovich 205          12:00 PM                                                 
              -- Rescheduled from 02/03/2023 --                                                                                 
              Lunch & Learn Presentation:                                                                                       
              University of Alaska Ted Stevens Internship                                                                       
              Program                                                                                                           
              Sponsored by Senator Kiehl