Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2023-03-17 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0505 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION Juneau, Alaska Friday March 17, 2023 Sixtieth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 10:33 a.m. The roll showed nineteen members present. Senator Shower was absent. 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 new day and the honor and privilege of being here in the Alaska Senate. The Apostle Paul encouraged us that “petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Lord, I pray that you would bless each Senator and give them wisdom, compassion, and humility as they work together to help all Alaskans. Help them to do justly, and to love mercy; and for those who believe in you and follow you, to walk humbly with you, Lord Jesus, as they perform their duties in this place and across this great State. 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0506 In the words of the Prophet Amos, “Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen. Senator Gray-Jackson led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journals for the fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth legislative days, Senate Journal Supplement No. 3 and Senate and House Joint Journal Supplement No. 8 be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Wilson moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Shower be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senator Shower was excused. Messages from the House Message dated March 15 was read stating pursuant to AS 24.60.130 the House has ratified the following public members to the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics: Deborah Fancher Gerald A. McBeath Communications The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: Department of Natural Resources Board of Forestry 2022 Annual Report to the Governor in accordance with AS 41.17.047 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0507 Department of Revenue Annual Report on the Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund Calendar Year 2022 in accordance with AS 37.10.430 Department of Administration Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission Amended Final Findings and Recommendations March 16, 2023 in accordance with AS 39.23.540 Alaska Court System Appellate and Trial Courts 2022 Time-to-Disposition Reports in accordance with AS 22.20.310 Travel for Justices, Judges, and Magistrate Judges & Affidavit Information 2022 in accordance with AS 22.20.310 Standing Committee Reports SB 12 The Judiciary Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 12 "An Act relating to confidentiality of information; relating to the duties of the Department of Administration; creating an address confidentiality program; and providing for an effective date" and recommended it be replaced with CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 12(JUD) "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Administration; creating an address confidentiality program; and providing for an effective date." Signing do pass: Senator Claman, Chair; Senators Tobin, Kiehl. Signing amend: Senator Kaufman. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Administration The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0508 Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 106 SENATE BILL NO. 106 BY SENATOR GIESSEL, entitled: "An Act relating to home- and community-based services under the medical assistance program; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Health and Social Services Committee. SB 107 SENATE BILL NO. 107 BY THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, entitled: "An Act relating to the Alaska permanent fund; relating to income of the Alaska permanent fund; relating to the amount available for appropriation and appropriations from the earnings reserve account; relating to the permanent fund dividend; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. SB 108 SENATE BILL NO. 108 BY SENATOR KAWASAKI, entitled: "An Act relating to and prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and State Affairs Committees. 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0509 Consideration of the Calendar Third Reading of Senate Bills SB 38 SENATE BILL NO. 38 "An Act establishing the crime of interference with emergency communications" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall SENATE BILL NO. 38 "An Act establishing the crime of interference with emergency communications" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SB 38 Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 19 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bishop, Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Hughes, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Myers, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Shower and so, SENATE BILL NO. 38 passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. Second Reading of House Resolutions HJR 5 CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5(FSH) Urging the United States Secretary of Commerce, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and other federal and state agencies to defend the state's fisheries, including the Southeast Alaska troll fishery, was read the second time. President Stevens stated CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5(FSH) will advance to third on the March 20 calendar. 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0510 Citations Honoring - 2023 Homer Mariners Boys Nordic Ski Team Division II State Champions Senator(s) Stevens Representative(s) Vance Honoring - Daisy Lee Bitter Senator(s) Stevens Representative(s) Vance Honoring - The Alaska Journal of Commerce 2023 Top 40 under 40 Recipients Senator(s) Kawasaki, Tobin Representative(s) Schrage Honoring - Harlee Harvey Representative(s) Tilton, Patkotak Honoring - John Renner Representative(s) Stutes Senator(s) Stevens Honoring - Joseph "Joey" Selby Representative(s) Johnson Senator(s) Giessel Honoring - Dr. Vera Alexander Representative(s) Carrick Honoring - MatSu Food Bank Representative(s) Eastman In Memoriam - Michael Auvern "Mike" Isaacson Representative(s) Carrick Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0511 Unfinished Business Motion to Authorize Amicus Curiae Brief Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Alaska Legislature participate in an Amicus brief in support of the Willow Project, consistent with CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6(RES) am, and the Legislative Council, in consultation with the presiding officers of each house, be delegated the authority to direct the Alaska Legislature's continued participation in that Amicus brief. There being no objection, the motion was adopted. SB 106 Senator Gray-Jackson moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE BILL NO. 106 "An Act relating to home- and community-based services under the medical assistance program; and providing for an effective date." Without objection, it was so ordered. SB 108 Senators Gray-Jackson, Tobin, Kiehl, Wielechowski, Claman, Dunbar moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL NO. 108 "An Act relating to and prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression." Without objection, it was so ordered. HJR 5 Senators Kiehl, Giessel, Dunbar, Gray-Jackson, Bishop, Stedman, Claman, Wielechowski, Stevens moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cross sponsors on CS FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5(FSH) Urging the United States Secretary of Commerce, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and other federal and state agencies to defend the state's fisheries, including the Southeast Alaska troll fishery. Without objection, it was so ordered. 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0512 SJR 5 Senator Myers moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5 Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the duration of regular sessions of the legislature. Without objection, it was so ordered. SB 99 Senator Kaufman 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. SB 94 Senator Wielechowski moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cosponsor on SENATE BILL NO. 94 "An Act relating to the Board of Pharmacy; relating to the practice of pharmacy; relating to pharmacies; relating to prescription drug manufacturers; relating to prescriptions for epinephrine; relating to the administration of epinephrine; and providing for an effective date." Without objection, it was so ordered. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Engrossment SB 38 SENATE BILL NO. 38 "An Act establishing the crime of interference with emergency communications" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration. Adjournment Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., March 20, 2023. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 10:55 a.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0513 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 21 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += SB 23 LAW ENFORCEMENT: REGISTRY; USE OF FORCE += SB 63 LIMITATIONS ON FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 23 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += SB 77 MUNI PROP TAX EXEMPTION/TAX BLIGHTED PROP + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Mar 17 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 20 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM += SB 13 UNIVERSITY: TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS COST -- Public Testimony -- Presentation: The Class of 2005 - Where these high school grads landed by Joshua Warren, Economist with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Presentation: Tribal Compacting and Alaska Native Education by Joel Isaak, Director of Tribal Affairs, Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Presentation: Alaska Native Knowledge Network + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0514 EDUCATION (continued) Mar 22 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 24 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM Consideration of Governor’s Appointees for the University of Alaska Board of Regents: Dennis Michel, Bethany Marcum, Joey Crum, Paula Harrison Consideration of Governor’s Appointees for the Professional Teaching Practices Commission: Mary Carlson + SB 97 TEACHER RECRUITMENT; LUMP SUM PAYMENT -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Susan McKenzie, Director of Innovation and Education Excellence SENATE BILL: LEGISLATION TO EXTEND THE ALASKA EDUCATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM <Pending Introduction & Referral> + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- FINANCE Mar 17 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Presentation: 404 Primacy - Clean Water Act Permitting by Randy Bates, Dept. of Environmental Conservation += SB 25 REPEALING FUNDS, ACCOUNTS, AND PROGRAMS += SB 81 OFFICE OF VICTIMS' RIGHTS: COMPENSATION + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 20 Monday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled Mar 21 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + SB 107 PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND; POMV SPLIT + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 22 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Presentation: Spring Revenue Forecast by Department of Revenue + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0515 FINANCE (continued) Mar 23 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Presentation: Willow Project Update by Department of Natural Resources Department of Revenue + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 24 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Presentation: Fiscal Summary Update & Fiscal Scenarios by Division of Legislative Finance + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Mar 21 Tuesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 91 TELEHEALTH: MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAM -- Invited & Public Testimony -- <Time Limit May Be Set> + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 23 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION -- Invited & Public Testimony -- <Time Limit May Be Set> + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Mar 17 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 20 Monday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM Presentation: Discussion of Court Rules and Grand Jury by Nancy Meade, General Counsel, Alaska Court System; John Skidmore Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Division Department of Law -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 104 CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUND -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0516 JUDICIARY (continued) Mar 22 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + SB 64 CONTROLLED SUB.; HOMICIDE; GOOD TIME DEDUC. -- Invited & Public Testimony -- += SB 37 CRIME COUNTERFEIT/NONFUNCTIONING AIRBAG -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 24 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM Presentation: Alaska Victimization Survey by Dr. Ingrid Johnson, Assistant Professor, Justice Center, University of Alaska Anchorage -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE 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** Mar 20 Monday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += SB 88 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Invited and Public Testimony -- <Time Limit May Be Set> All Off Net callers must hang up immediately after testifying to keep lines open **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 22 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += SB 88 RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. -- Invited and Public Testimony -- <Time Limit May Be Set> All off net callers must hang up immediately after testifying to keep lines open **Streamed live on AKL.tv** + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0517 LABOR & COMMERCE (continued) Mar 24 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM + SB 89 AGE FOR TOBACCO/NICOTINE/E-CIG; TAX E-CIG -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- + SB 51 CONTROLLED SUB. DATA: EXEMPT VETERINARIAN -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- + SB 93 FISHERMEN'S FUND: VESSEL OWNER CLAIMS -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled -- Invited & Public Testimony -- ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES 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** Mar 20 Monday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SJR 8 NAT'L PARK SERVICE; HUNTING IN PRESERVES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + HJR 10 NAT'L PARK SERVICE; HUNTING IN PRESERVES <Pending Referral> -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources: John Boyle Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: Brett Huber, Greg Wilson Regulatory Commission of Alaska: Robert Doyle -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0518 RESOURCES (continued) Mar 22 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + SB 90 EXTEND ALASKA MINERALS COMMISSION -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Enrique Fernandez, Chairman, Alaska Minerals Commission += SB 49 CARBON STORAGE -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Kevin Connors, Assistant Director, Regulatory Compliance and Energy Policy, Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) Presentation: Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) Update by Commissioner-Designee John Boyle, Department of Natural Resources -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Mar 24 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM += SB 68 PUBLIC NOTICE FOR WATER RIGHTS -- Public Testimony -- + SB 90 EXTEND ALASKA MINERALS COMMISSION -- Public Testimony -- += SB 34 CITIZEN ADVISORY COMM ON FEDERAL AREAS -- Public Testimony -- += SB 87 LUMBER GRADING PROGRAM -- Public Testimony -- += SB 72 NATL. RES. WATER NOMINATION/DESIGNATION -- Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Mar 21 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Alaska Police Standards Council Rebecca Hamon - King Salmon Steve Dutra - North Pole Daniel Carothers Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Lieutenant Governor Successor DEC Commissioner Jason Brune **Streamed live on AKL.tv** -- Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0519 STATE AFFAIRS (continued) Mar 23 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM += SB 46 BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- += SB 28 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION Mar 21 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: James Cunningham, Board of Marine Pilots + SB 105 RAILROAD CORP. FINANCING -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- -- Teleconference <Listen Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Mar 23 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled -- Teleconference <Listen Only> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES Mar 28 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 5:30 PM + Department of Family & Community Services Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- FISH & GAME Mar 21 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 11:00 AM Budget Overview 2023-03-17 Senate Journal Page 0520 HEALTH Mar 27 Monday Senate Finance 532 5:30 PM + Department of Health Budget Overview -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES 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 ---------------------------------------- OTHER MEETINGS MISCELLANEOUS MEETINGS Mar 21 Tuesday Butrovich 205 12:00 PM + Lunch & Learn Presentation: Healtheconnect and Alaska eHealth Network presentation on "Alaska's Statewide Health Information Exchange" by Dr. Gene Quinn Sponsored by Senator David Wilson Mar 22 Wednesday Butrovich 205 12:00 PM Lunch and Learn Presentation: Red Cross of Alaska Sharing the Impact of Red Cross Volunteers and Employees Across the State by: Buddy Custard, Red Cross of Alaska Board Chair Sponsored by Senator Olson