Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2023-03-13 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0471 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday March 13, 2023 Fifty-sixth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 11:02 a.m. The roll showed twenty members present. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Reverend Guy Crockroft, Executive Director of Love In The Name of Christ. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for this day and for this body, the Alaska Senate, as they meet together to do the people’s business. Bless them as they serve and grant them the ability to love each other, even when they have differences of opinion. As we read in I Corinthians 13 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Lord, in accordance with your unconditional love, may you help each Senator as they work together today. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Senator Dunbar led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0472 Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journals for the fifty-third through fifty-fifth legislative days be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Standing Committee Reports SB 38 The Finance Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 38 "An Act establishing the crime of interference with emergency communications." Signing do pass: Senator Olson, Cochair; Senators Wilson, Merrick. Signing no recommendation: Senator Kiehl. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 6, zero, Department of Administration Fiscal Note No. 7, zero, Department of Administration The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Corrections Fiscal Note No. 4, zero, Department of Law Fiscal Note No. 5, zero, Department of Public Safety The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Resolutions SJR 10 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10 BY SENATOR GIESSEL, Encouraging Alaska's Congressional delegation and the federal government to raise Medicare reimbursement rates to meet the actual cost of care for the state's senior citizens. was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services Committee. 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0473 Consideration of the Calendar Second Reading of Senate Bills SB 80 SENATE BILL NO. 80 "An Act making corrective amendments to the Alaska Statutes as recommended by the revisor of statutes; and providing for an effective date" was read the second time. President Stevens stated SENATE BILL NO. 80 will advance to third reading on the March 15 calendar. Citations Honoring - Theresa Bannister Senator(s) Kiehl Representative(s) Story, Hannan Honoring - Nick Carpenter Senator(s) Wielechowski Representative(s) Mears Honoring - Salome Hanauer Senator(s) Myers Honoring - Lathrop High School Football Team, 2022 Alaska State Champions Senator(s) Kawasaki Representative(s) Tomaszewski, Dibert Honoring - Richard "Dick" Olson Senator(s) Myers Honoring - Michael Armstrong Representative(s) Vance Senator(s) Stevens In Memoriam - Timothy McKay Senator(s) Myers 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0474 In Memoriam - Ruth May Senator(s) Myers In Memoriam - Dr. Fredric M. Husby Senator(s) Myers In Memoriam - John Edward Ellis Senator(s) Myers Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Unfinished Business SJR 10 Senators Gray-Jackson, Wielechowski, Tobin, Dunbar, Claman moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10 Encouraging Alaska's Congressional delegation and the federal government to raise Medicare reimbursement rates to meet the actual cost of care for the state's senior citizens. Without objection, it was so ordered. SB 67 Senator Wielechowski moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE BILL NO. 67 "An Act relating to firefighting substances; and providing for an effective date." Without objection, it was so ordered. SB 99 Senator Myers moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE BILL NO. 99 "An Act establishing a financial literacy education course for public schools; and providing for an effective date." Without objection, it was so ordered. 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0475 Announcements Senator Tobin, Chair, moved and asked unanimous consent Uniform Rule 23 be waived for the Education Committee meeting on March 15. Without objection, it was so ordered. 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., March 15, 2023. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:24 a.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0476 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 Mar 14 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 16 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 77 MUNI PROP TAX EXEMPTION/TAX BLIGHTED PROP -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Presentation: Housing Alaskans - A Public Private Partnership by Preston Simmons, DSc. Chair Michele Brown, Senior Fellow, Rasmusson Foundation + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Mar 13 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + SB 13 UNIVERSITY: TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS COST -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Dr. Paul Layer, Vice President: Academics, Students & Research, University of Alaska System; Michael Ciri, Vice Chancellor for Administration, UAS; Denise Runge, Provost, UAA Presentation: Public Education Funding in Alaska: Constitutional Requirements and Legal Precedents by Howard Trickey, Schwabe, (Continued on Next Page) 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0477 EDUCATION (continued) (Continued from Previous Page) Williamson & Wyatt Presentation: Pupil Transportation by Alaska Department of EED + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 15 Wednesday Davis 106 8:30 AM -- Please Note Time & Location Change -- Uniform Rule 23(a) Waived Joint meeting with the House Education Committee Presentation: Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development by James Fields, State Board Chair; Heidi Teshner, DEED Acting Commissioner + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 17 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- FINANCE Mar 13 Monday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 14 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + SB 81 OFFICE OF VICTIMS' RIGHTS: COMPENSATION -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- <Time Limit May Be Set> -- + SB 29 CIVICS EDUCATION; EST AK CVCS ED COMM -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- <Time Limit May Be Set> -- + SB 98 POWER COST EQUALIZATION ENDOWMENT FUND -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- <Time Limit May Be Set> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 15 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Presentation: Alaska Industrial Development & Export Authority by Randy Ruaro, Ex. Director + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0478 FINANCE (continued) Mar 16 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Presentation: Alaska's Economy by Dan Robinson, Research Chief, Dept. of Labor; Brett Watson ISER + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 17 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Presentation: 404 Primacy - Clean Water Act Permitting by Randy Bates, Dept of Environmental Conservation + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Mar 14 Tuesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Commissioner-Designee Kim Kovol, Department of Family and Community Services -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 16 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Mar 13 Monday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SB 61 US PRESIDENT ELECT. POPULAR VOTE COMPACT -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 15 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += SB 53 FIVE-YEAR INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- += SB 12 ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 17 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0479 LABOR & COMMERCE Mar 13 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 88 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 15 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 88 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 17 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += SB 70 OWNER & CONTRACTOR CONTROLLED INSURANCE -- Public Testimony -- + SB 88 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- <Time Limit May Be Set> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES Mar 13 Monday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + HJR 5 ALASKA FISHERIES; TROLL FISHERIES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Amy Daugherty, Executive Director, Alaska Trollers Association; Tim O'Connor, Craig Mayor; Dani Evenson, ADF&G, Alaska Treaty Coordinator += SB 67 PFAS USE FIREFIGHTING -- Public Testimony -- += SB 49 CARBON STORAGE Kevin Connors, Assistant Director for Regulatory Compliance and Energy Policy with the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0480 RESOURCES (continued) Mar 15 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 68 PUBLIC NOTICE FOR WATER RIGHTS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Christy Colles, Director, Dept. of Mining Land and Water (DNR); Tom Barrett, Section Chief of Water, DMLW, DNR + SB 34 CITIZEN ADVISORY COMM ON FEDERAL AREAS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Tina Cunning, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Expert; Ted Spraker, President, Safari Club International, Kenai + SB 87 LUMBER GRADING PROGRAM -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Jeremy Douse, Northern Region Forester, DNR Division of Forestry and Fire Protection; Helge Eng, Director, DNR Division of Forestry and Fire Protection + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 17 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 72 NATL. RES. WATER NOMINATION/DESIGNATION -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Randy Bates, Director, Division of Water, (DEC) Presentation: Heavy Oil Recovery by Abhijit Dandekar, Ph.D, Professor and Chair, Department of Petroleum Engineering, UAF College of Engineering and Mines + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Mar 14 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + SB 46 BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 21 STRATEGIC PLANS FOR STATE AGENCIES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 9 ALASKA SUNSET COMMISSION -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0481 STATE AFFAIRS (continued) Mar 16 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Mar 14 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM Presentation: Advanced Air Mobility by Nick Adkins, Deputy Director of Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, UAF Ryan Marlow, CMS, UAS Program Coordinator, DOTP&F Statewide Aviation -- Teleconference <Listen Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 16 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM Presentation: Alaska Railroad Corporation Overview by Bill O'Leary, President & CEO, Alaska Railroad Corporation -- Teleconference <Listen Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES ADMINISTRATION Mar 15 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Administration Budget ---------------------------------------- CORRECTIONS Mar 16 Thursday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- Teleconference -- + Corrections Budget 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0482 FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES Mar 14 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 5:30 PM + Department of Family & Community Services Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 28 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 5:30 PM + Department of Family & Community Services Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- FISH & GAME Mar 16 Thursday Senate Finance 532 11:00 AM -- Rescheduled from 03/09/23 -- Budget Overview Mar 21 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 11:00 AM Budget Overview ---------------------------------------- HEALTH Mar 15 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 5:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + Department of Health Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 16 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM -- Please Note Time Change -- + Department of Health Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Mar 27 Monday Senate Finance 532 5:30 PM + Department of Health Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- 2023-03-13 Senate Journal Page 0483 JUDICIARY Mar 13 Monday Butrovich 205 6:00 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- -- Teleconference -- + Judiciary Budget ---------------------------------------- NATURAL RESOURCES Mar 16 Thursday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + FY24 Budget Overview ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES Mar 14 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + FY24 Highways & Roads Mar 21 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + FY24 Airports & Aviation Mar 28 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + FY24 Marine Highways Apr 04 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + Closeout