Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2023-02-13 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0239 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday February 13, 2023 Twenty-eighth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 11:03 a.m. The roll showed nineteen members present. Senator Hoffman was excused from a call of the Senate. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Pastor Karen Perkins, Resurrection Lutheran Church. Senator Olson moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. O God of unity and healing, I come to you as a weak mortal who believes we can accomplish nothing without you. Encourage this community. Turn all hearts toward you and guide our leaders, so that their choices may be lifegiving for all. When reconciliation seems impossible, empower peacemakers with your Spirit. Help us to see and understand the things we ought to do and give us grace and power to do them. In your most holy name, Amen. Senator Merrick led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journals for the twenty-fifth through twenty-seventh legislative days be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0240 Messages from the House Message dated February 10 was read stating: The House of Representatives respectfully invites the Senate to a Joint Session of the Thirty-third Alaska Legislature at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 17 for the purpose of hearing an address by U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola in the House Chambers. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate accept the House invitation to meet in Joint Session. Without objection, it was so ordered. The Secretary was requested to notify the House. Standing Committee Reports Report dated February 10 was read stating: In accordance with AS 39.05.080, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the following appointee(s). A signature on this report does not reflect an intent by any of the members to vote for or against the confirmation of the individual(s) during any further sessions. Commissioner, Department of Corrections Jen Winkelman Signing the report: Senator Claman, Chair; Senators Kiehl, Tobin, Giessel, Kaufman. SB 10 The Resources Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 10 "An Act providing for trapping licenses for active members of the Alaska National Guard and military reserves without charge; making sport fishing, hunting, and trapping permanent identification cards available to certain disabled veterans without charge; and providing for an effective date." 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0241 Signing do pass: Senators Bishop, Giessel, Cochairs; Senators Dunbar, Kaufman, Wielechowski, Claman. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Fish and Game The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. Consideration of the Calendar Citations Honoring - Joseph W. Ralston Alaska Aviation Museum Hall of Fame Senator(s) Olson Honoring - Richard Wien Alaska Aviation Museum Hall of Fame Senator(s) Olson Honoring - Sigurd "Sig" Wien Alaska Aviation Museum Hall of Fame Senator(s) Olson Honoring - Orin Seybert Alaska Aviation Museum Hall of Fame Senator(s) Olson Honoring - Soldotna High School Stars State Hockey Champions Senator(s) Bjorkman Representative(s) Ruffridge Honoring - Point Hope Harpoonerettes 2022 2A State Basketball Champions Representative(s) Patkotak In Memoriam - Samuel Lindsay Clyde Senator(s) Bjorkman Representative(s) Ruffridge 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0242 Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were 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 - Christine Jenkins Senator(s) Wielechowski, Stedman Representative(s) Ortiz Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citation be adopted. Without objection, the citation was adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Adjournment Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., February 15, 2023. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:40 a.m. Gina Spartz Deputy Senate Secretary 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0243 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 Feb 14 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 16 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + Overview: Alaska Office of Broadband by Thomas Lochner, Director **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Feb 13 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Presentation: School Bond Debt, Regional Educational Attendance Areas, and Major Maintenance by Representatives from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development + Presentation: Alaska Reads Act Regulations by Heidi Teshner, Acting DEED Commissioner Susan McKenzie, Director of Innovation and Educational Excellence + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0244 EDUCATION (continued) Feb 15 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Presentation: Update on Alaska's Educational Assessments byRepresentatives from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 17 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- FINANCE Feb 13 Monday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation - Deven Mitchell, CEO Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 14 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Alaska Retirement Management Board - Pam Leary, Treasury Director - Bob Williams, ARM Board Chair + PRS / TRS Update - Ajay Desai, Director of Division of Retirement & Benefits - Kevin Worley, Chief Financial Officer - Betsy Wood, Chief Health Administrator + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 15 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Federal Infrastructure Funding in Alaska - Mike Anderson, Acting Infrastructure Investment Coordinator - Katherine Keith, Deputy Commissioner DOT + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 16 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Callan - Capital Markets & Permanent Fund Sustainability - Greg Allen, CEO & Chief Research Officer - Steven Center, Senior Vice President + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0245 FINANCE (continued) Feb 17 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + Update on Broadband Equity, Access, & Deployment (BEAD) in Alaska - Thomas Lochner, Director of the Alaska Broadband Office + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Feb 14 Tuesday Davis 106 3:30 PM Joint Meeting with House Health and Social Services -- Please Note Location Change -- -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Presentation: Alaska's Citizen Review Panel + Presentation: Office of Children's Services Response + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled += SB 58 MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY: POSTPARTUM MOTHERS **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 16 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 8 REPEAL CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROGRAM + Presentation: Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education **Streamed live on AKL.tv** + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Feb 13 Monday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0246 JUDICIARY (continued) Feb 15 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Presentation: Department of Law Criminal Division Overview by John Skidmore, Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Law + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 17 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Presentation: Public Defender Agency Overview by Samantha Cherot, Public Defender, Public Defender Agency + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE Feb 13 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Workforce Challenges in Alaska from the Perspective of Public Education Presenters: - Dr. Lisa Parady, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School Administrators - Tom Klaameyer, President, NEA-Alaska - Lon Garrison, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School Boards **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 15 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Workforce Challenges in Alaska From the Perspective of Labor Unions Presenters: - Joelle Hall, Executive President, AFL-CIO - Shannon Adamson, Vice-President, Masters, Mates and Pilots, Retired - Jordan Adams, Business Manager, Public Employees Local 71 **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0247 LABOR & COMMERCE (continued) Feb 17 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Workforce Challenges in Alaska from the Perspective of Alaska Municipal League Presentation from Nils Andreassen, Executive Director + SB 55 EXTEND STATE MEDICAL BOARD -- Invited & Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES Feb 13 Monday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 33 RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Presentation: Department of Environmental Conservation: Dept. Overview and 404 Primacy Feasibility Study by Commissioner Jason Brune, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Randy Bates, Director of Water, DEC Shannon Miller, 404 Program Manager, DEC Julie Pack, Department of Law + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 15 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 33 RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT FUND -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- Overview: Statehood Defense by Commissioner-Designee John Boyle, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Jason Brune, Department of Environmental Conservation Deputy Commissioner Ben Mulligan, Department of Fish and Game Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills, Department of Law + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0248 RESOURCES (continued) Feb 17 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Outstanding Federal Lawsuits by Deputy Attorney General Cory Mills, Department of Law Assistant Attorney Generals Julie Pack, Cody Doig, Ron Opshal, and Thad Atkins, Department of Law -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Feb 14 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM += SB 26 LICENSE PLATES: FALLEN PEACE OFFICERS -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- + SB 22 PROCLAIM JUNETEENTH DAY A HOLIDAY -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Feb 16 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Feb 14 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM -- Teleconference -- Presentation: Planning Data in Transportation by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 16 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM -- Teleconference -- + SB 62 ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0249 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES ADMINISTRATION Feb 22 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 6:30 PM -- Teleconference -- + Administration Budget Mar 01 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 6:30 PM -- Teleconference -- + Administration Budget Mar 08 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Administration Budget Mar 15 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Administration Budget ---------------------------------------- CORRECTIONS Feb 23 Thursday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Corrections Budget Mar 02 Thursday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Corrections Budget Mar 09 Thursday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Corrections Budget Mar 16 Thursday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Corrections Budget 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0250 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Feb 14 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 8:00 AM + Overview: Department of Environmental Conservation Budget by Commissioner Jason Brune & ASD Meg Kohler ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Feb 20 Monday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Judiciary Budget Feb 27 Monday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Judiciary Budget Mar 06 Monday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Judiciary Budget Mar 13 Monday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Judiciary Budget ---------------------------------------- LAW Feb 16 Thursday Senate Finance 532 5:15 PM Department of Law Budget Feb 22 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 5:15 PM Department of Law Budget 2023-02-13 Senate Journal Page 0251 MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS Feb 14 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 12:30 PM + Overview: Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs Budget by Deputy Commissioner Craig Christenson and ASD Bob Ernisse ---------------------------------------- OTHER MEETINGS JOINT SESSION Feb 17 Friday House Chamber 10:00 AM + Address by Mary Sattler Peltola, U.S. Representative Feb 22 Wednesday House Chamber 11:00 AM Annual Address by Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator