Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2023-02-17 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0275 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday February 17, 2023 Thirty-second Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 9:30 a.m. The roll showed seventeen members present. Senators Hughes, Merrick, Shower were absent. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, First Vice President Jackie Pata, Central Council Tlingit and Haida Tribes. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Haa Shagéinyaa Dikée Aankáawu Haa Shagóon. Haa Shuká. Gunalchéesh yáa yagiyee ka yáa kustí haa jeet yeeteeyí. Alaska Senate kaa shaadéi nákx’i yáax' yei has yatee. Has du yá kei jisataan. Has du tundataaní g ak'éiyít, ka yaa has kukg asgéiyit. Has du yá kei jisataan. Haa shagóoni has du latseení haa tóo yéi ng atee wooch een yéi jinax tooneiyít. Woosh x 'éide kunax toos.aax Yá yeedát ya tl’átgi kát wutoo.áadi aa uhwáan haa tuwáa sigoo wtushagóogu aade ya tl’átgi káa has kuwstéeyin yé haa shagóoni has; wooch yáx yadál ldakát át. Gunalchéesh. Gunalchéesh, ho, ho. Haa Shagéinyaa. 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0276 English translation provided by the Chaplain: Our Creator Heavenly Father Everything We Have Been, Are, and Will Be. Our Ancestors. Thank you for giving us this day and this life. The Alaska Senate house leaders are here. Bless them. So that their way of thinking is good, and so they are wise. Bless them. We call upon our Protecting Power to instill in us the strength to do our work. Let’s listen to each other. We who now walk this land seek to learn the ways of our Ancestors, to live in harmony and balance on this land. We are thankful. We are very thankful. Our Protecting Power. Senator Olson led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journals for the thirtieth and thirty-first legislative days, Senate Journal Supplement No. 2 and House and Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 5 be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Myers moved and asked unanimous consent Senators Hughes, Shower be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senators Hughes, Shower were excused. 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0277 Messages from the Governor Letter dated February 15 was read stating on January 31, 2023, in accordance with Article III, Sections 26 and 27 of the Alaska Constitution and Alaska Statute 39.05.080, I submitted a list of appointees for confirmation. Having already been confirmed, the following appointees are withdrawn from consideration, effective immediately: Board of Game Beatrice “Ruth” Cusack Allen “Al” Barrette Board of Fisheries Thomas Carpenter Standing Committee Reports SB 33 The Resources Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 33 "An Act relating to the renewable energy grant fund and recommendation program; and providing for an effective date." Signing do pass: Senators Giessel, Bishop, Cochairs; Senators Dunbar, Kaufman, Claman, Wielechowski. Signing amend: Senator Kawasaki. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. SB 58 The Health and Social Services Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 58 "An Act relating to Medicaid eligibility; expanding eligibility for postpartum mothers; conditioning the expansion of eligibility on approval by the United States Department of Health and Human Services; and providing for an effective date." 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0278 Signing do pass: Senator Wilson, Chair; Senators Giessel, Dunbar. Signing no recommendation: Senator Kaufman. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Health The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. SB 70 President Stevens added a Judiciary Committee referral to SENATE BILL NO. 70 "An Act relating to coverage for additional insureds under owner and contractor controlled insurance programs; and providing for an effective date." The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 72 SENATE BILL NO. 72 BY SENATOR GIESSEL, entitled: "An Act relating to designation of state water as outstanding national resource water; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Resources Committee. SB 73 SENATE BILL NO. 73 BY SENATOR CLAMAN, entitled: "An Act relating to registered interior designers and interior design; establishing requirements for the practice of registered interior design; renaming the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors the State Board of Registration for Design Professionals; relating to the State Board of Registration for Design Professionals; relating to liens for labor or materials furnished; relating to the procurement of interior design services; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees. 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0279 SB 74 SENATE BILL NO. 74 BY SENATOR WILSON, entitled: "An Act relating to an interstate physical therapy licensure compact; relating to the licensure of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists, and occupational therapy assistants; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees. SB 75 SENATE BILL NO. 75 BY SENATOR WILSON, entitled: "An Act relating to an audiology and speech- language interstate compact; relating to the practice of audiology and the practice of speech-language pathology; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees. Unfinished Business Senator Wielechowski moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on February 20 to 1:30 p.m. Without objection, Senator Wielechowski was excused. Senator Dunbar moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, February 23 through evening plane time, February 26. Without objection, Senator Dunbar was excused. 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0280 Recess Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in recess to the Joint Session. Without objection, the Senate recessed at 9:38 a.m. After Recess Joint Session in the House Speaker Tilton called the House to order and in accordance with Uniform Rule 51 turned the gavel over to President Stevens, who called the Joint Session to order at 10:01 a.m. The purpose of the Joint Session was to hear an address by the Honorable Mary Sattler Peltola, U.S. Representative. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the roll call of the Senate be waived and all members be shown as present. Without objection, it was so ordered. Representative Saddler moved and asked unanimous consent the roll call of the House be waived and all members be shown as present. Without objection, it was so ordered. President Stevens appointed Senator Tobin and Representative McCormick to escort U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola to the Joint Session. The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, Matt Simpson, announced the Honorable Mary Sattler Peltola’s entrance to the House Chamber. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola was escorted to the rostrum and welcomed by President Stevens and Speaker Tilton. 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0281 Representative Peltola delivered her address. This address appears in Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 6. Following her address, there was a question and answer period. Representative Peltola received a standing ovation and was escorted from the chamber by Representative McCormick and Senator Tobin. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Joint Session stand in adjournment. Without objection, President Stevens adjourned the Joint Session at 10:34 a.m. After Recess In the Senate The Senate reconvened at 10:37 a.m. Senator Claman moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate return to Unfinished Business. Without objection, the Senate returned to: Unfinished Business (continued) Senator Claman moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from morning plane time, March 2 through morning plane time, March 6. Without objection, Senator Claman was excused. Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Merrick be excused from a call of the Senate today through February 22. Without objection, Senator Merrick was excused. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0282 Adjournment Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., February 20, 2023. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 10:39 a.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0283 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 21 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 23 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 63 LIMITATIONS ON FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Feb 17 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 20 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM Overview: University of Alaska by University of Alaska President Pat Pitney Paul Layer, Vice President of Academics, Students and Research Deborah Craig, Dean of the College of Health Tonia Dousay, Dean of the School of Education Chad Hutchison, Director of State Relations + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0284 EDUCATION (continued) Feb 22 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + SB 29 CIVICS EDUCATION; EST AK CVCS ED COMM + SB 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 24 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- FINANCE 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 Feb 20 Monday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Overview of Governor's Budget Amendments Neil Steininger, Director, Office of Management and Budget += SB 40 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUND; SUPP += SB 41 APPROP: CAPITAL/SUPPLEMENTAL += SB 42 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET += SB 54 APPROP: SUPPLEMENTAL; REAPPROP; AMENDING + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 21 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Fiscal Position with Governor's Budget Amendments Alexei Painter, Director, Legislative Finance Division += SB 40 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUND; SUPP += SB 41 APPROP: CAPITAL/SUPPLEMENTAL += SB 42 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET += SB 54 APPROP: SUPPLEMENTAL; REAPPROP; AMENDING + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0285 FINANCE (continued) Feb 22 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 23 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM PERS/TRS Tier Comparisons Ajay Desai, Director, Division of Retirement and Benefits Kevin Worley, Chief Finance Officer, Division of Retirement and Benefits + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 24 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Update on Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) in Alaska Thomas Lochner, Director, Alaska Broadband Office + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Feb 21 Tuesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 53 FIVE-YEAR INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- += SB 8 REPEAL CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROGRAM -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled += SB 45 DIRECT HEALTH AGREEMENT: NOT INSURANCE Feb 23 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 44 NATUROPATHS: LICENSING; PRACTICE -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled += SB 45 DIRECT HEALTH AGREEMENT: NOT INSURANCE ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY 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 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0286 JUDICIARY (continued) Feb 20 Monday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 22 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Alaska Police Standards Council Bryan Barlow – Anchorage -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Presentation: Proposal for Alaska-specific Police Policy Manual by Chief Steve Dutra, President, Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Feb 24 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE 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** Feb 20 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- 80th Percentile Presentation from Lori Wing-Heier Director, Division of Insurance + SB 70 OWNER & CONTRACTOR CONTROLLED INSURANCE -- Invited and Public Testimony -- <Time Limit May Be Set> += SB 55 EXTEND STATE MEDICAL BOARD + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0287 LABOR & COMMERCE (continued) Feb 22 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Workforce Challenges from the Oil and Gas, Resource Development and Tourism Industry Perspective Presentations by: Kara Moriarty, Executive Director, Alaska Oil & Gas Association Leila Kimbrell, Executive Director, Resource Development Council Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director, Alaska Miners Association and other industry representatives to be announced. **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 24 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Workforce Challenges in Alaska Presenteres to be announced. **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES Feb 17 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SJR 7 NAT'L PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Uniform Rule 23(a) Waived + Presentation: Outstanding Federal Lawsuits by Deputy Attorney General Cory Mills, Department of Law Assistant Attorneys General Julie Pack, Cody Doig, Ron Opshal, and Thad Atkins, Department of Law -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0288 RESOURCES (continued) Feb 20 Monday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM Presentation: Carbon Offset: Forestry Panel by Helge Eng, Director of Forestry and Alaska State Forester, Department of Natural Resources Brian Kleinhenz, President of Terra Vera Nathan Lojewski, Forestry Manager of Chugachmiut Chris Maisch, President of Society of American Foresters Josh Strauss, Senior Vice President of Natural Climate Solutions -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 22 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM Presentation: Carbon Offset: Financial Questions by Dr. Melanie Werdon, Minerals Resources Section Chief, Department of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Department of Natural Resources Sean Carney, President of Finite Carbon Anthony Mallott, President of Sealaska Aaron Schutt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Doyon, Limited -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 24 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 48 CARBON OFFSET PROGRAM ON STATE LAND -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0289 STATE AFFAIRS Feb 21 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Feb 23 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + SB 28 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 31 SELECTION AND REVIEW OF JUDGES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 32 CHOKEHOLD BAN -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Feb 21 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Presentation: Roads, Highways, & Bridges by Department of Transportation & Public Facilities -- Teleconference <Listen Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Feb 23 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- 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 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0290 ADMINISTRATION (continued) Mar 15 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Administration Budget ---------------------------------------- COMMERCE, COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEV Mar 07 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 12:30 PM + Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Budget **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION & EARLY DEVELOPMENT Mar 08 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 1:00 PM + Department of Education and Early Development Budget **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0291 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 22 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 5:15 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- Department of Law Budget ---------------------------------------- PUBLIC SAFETY Feb 22 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 5:15 PM + General Department Overview ---------------------------------------- REVENUE Feb 24 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 12:00 PM + Overview: Dept. of Revenue Budget 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0292 JOINT COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Feb 21 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 5:30 PM + I. Call to Order II. Committee Organization a. Election of the Chair b. Election of the Vice Chair III. Committee Policies a. Quorum and Voting Requirements b. Alternate Members c. Sanctioning Charity Events d. Subcommittees IV. Approval of Minutes a. December 19, 2022 V. Ratification of Charity Events a. Governor’s Inaugural Celebration JUNEAU – January 20, 2023 b. Governor’s Inaugural Celebration FAIRBANKS – January 28, 2023 c. Governor’s Inaugural Celebration ANCHORAGE – February 18, 2023 VI. Committee Business a. 2023 Manual of Legislative Drafting b. Office of Victims' Rights Compensation c. 2023 Revisor's Bill d. FY22 Legislature Audit e. FY24 Legislative Council Budget VII. Adjourn **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- 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 2023-02-17 Senate Journal Page 0293 MISCELLANEOUS MEETINGS Feb 23 Thursday Butrovich 205 12:00 PM Lunch & Learn Presentation: Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation: History, Structure, Investment, and Use of the Fund Presented by APFC Executive Director, Deven Mitchell *This event is not catered, welcome to bring your own lunch.* New Staff and Legislators are Encouraged to Attend Hosted by Joint Rules Chairs-Senator Wielechowski & Representative Craig Johnson