Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2024-04-03 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2063 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION Juneau, Alaska Wednesday April 3, 2024 Seventy-ninth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Stevens at 11:11 a.m. The roll showed nineteen members present. Senator Shower was absent. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Father Patrick Casey, Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. God of the covenant you pledged your commitment to us into all your creation continue to keep us in your loving care and help us to care for each other as you hear the prayers we make for ourselves and each other to the source of our salvation. Amen. Senator Dunbar led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Certification Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the journal for the seventy-eighth legislative day be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2064 Messages from the House Concur Messages SB 46 Message dated March 27 was read stating the House passed and returned for consideration SENATE BILL NO. 46 "An Act establishing the month of March as Brain Injury Awareness Month" with the following amendment(s): HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 46(STA) "An Act establishing the month of March as Brain Injury Awareness Month; and providing for an effective date." (technical title change) Senator Giessel moved the Senate concur in the House amendment(s). The question being: "Shall the Senate concur in the House amendment(s)?" The roll was taken with the following result: HCS SB 46(STA) Shall the Senate Concur in the House Amendment to SB 46? Effective Date(s) YEAS: 19 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Bishop, Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Hughes, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Merrick, Myers, Olson, Stedman, Stevens, Tobin, Wielechowski, Wilson Absent: Shower and so, the Senate concurred in the House amendment(s), thus adopting HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 46(STA) "An Act establishing the month of March as Brain Injury Awareness Month; and providing for an effective date." Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on concurrence be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered. 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2065 The Secretary was requested to notify the House. The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment. Senator Myers moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Shower be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senator Shower was excused. Communications The following reports are on file in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate: Alaska Railroad Corporation 2023 Annual Report in accordance with AS 42.40.260 Department of Revenue Alaska Retirement Management Board (ARMB) Financial Condition of State's Retirement System in accordance with AS 37.10.220 Disclosure letters received from the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, in accordance with AS 24.60, will be published in Senate Journal Supplement No. 8 and House and Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 17. Standing Committee Reports Report dated April 2 was read stating: In accordance with AS 39.05.080, the State Affairs 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. Alaska Police Standards Council Ron Dupee Dusty Dumont Jeff Brown 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2066 Signing the report: Senator Kawasaki, Chair; Senators Wielechowski, Claman, Merrick, Bjorkman. HB 344 The Health and Social Services Committee considered HOUSE BILL NO. 344 "An Act relating to medical assistance demonstration projects established by the Department of Health." 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, zero, Department of Health The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. Introduction and Reference of Senate Resolutions SJR 20 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20 BY THE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, Urging the United States Congress to address outages of Automated Weather Observing System stations and Automated Surface Observing System stations occurring in the state. was read the first time and referred to the Community and Regional Affairs Committee. Consideration of the Calendar Third Reading of Senate Bills SB 154 SENATE BILL NO. 154 "An Act relating to bidder preferences in state procurement" was read the third time. 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2067 The question being: "Shall SENATE BILL NO. 154 "An Act relating to bidder preferences in state procurement" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SB 154 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. 154 passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. SB 179 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 179(CRA) "An Act prohibiting municipalities from levying a tax on the transfer of real property; prohibiting the state from levying a tax on the transfer of real property; and relating to municipal taxation of mobile telecommunications services" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 179(CRA) "An Act prohibiting municipalities from levying a tax on the transfer of real property; prohibiting the state from levying a tax on the transfer of real property; and relating to municipal taxation of mobile telecommunications services" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 179(CRA) Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 16 NAYS: 3 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Bishop, Bjorkman, Claman, Dunbar, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Hughes, Kaufman, Kawasaki, Merrick, Myers, Stedman, Stevens, Wielechowski, Wilson Nays: Kiehl, Olson, Tobin Excused: Shower 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2068 and so, CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 179(CRA) passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. Senate Resolutions in Second Reading SCR 9 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9 Recognizing the need for parity in the provision of mental health and substance use disorder medical assistance benefits in the state; and urging the Department of Health to adopt regulations that ensure parity in the provision of mental health and substance use disorder medical assistance benefits in the state, which had been read the second time (page 2051) was before the Senate on final passage. The question being: "Shall SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9 Recognizing the need for parity in the provision of mental health and substance use disorder medical assistance benefits in the state; and urging the Department of Health to adopt regulations that ensure parity in the provision of mental health and substance use disorder medical assistance benefits in the state, pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCR 9 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 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9 passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. Citations Honoring - Joseph Hickel Senator(s) Giessel, Claman Representative(s) Armstrong 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2069 Honoring - Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Representative(s) Stapp, Dibert Senator(s) Bishop Honoring - Arctic Light Elementary School Representative(s) Stapp Honoring - Fairview Inn 100th Anniversary Representative(s) McCabe In Memoriam - James "Jim" Bradley Tweto Representative(s) Foster, D. Johnson 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 citations be made a special order of business. Without objection, it was so ordered. Special Order of Business Honoring - Learn Grant Writing Representative(s) Armstrong Honoring - Service High School Boys' Basketball Team 2024 Ice Jam Tournament Champions Representative(s) Coulombe Honoring - Richard "Dick" Shultz and Leilla Shultz Representative(s) Cronk Senator Giessel moved and asked unanimous consent the citations be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2070 Unfinished Business Senator Tobin moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from morning plane time, April 5 through evening plane time, April 5. Without objection, Senator Tobin was excused. SB 154 Senators Kawasaki, Tobin, Gray-Jackson, Claman, Myers moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cosponsors on SENATE BILL NO. 154 "An Act relating to bidder preferences in state procurement." Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent to amend a prior excusal (page 1618) in order to be excused from a call of the Senate from May 9 through May 12. Without objection, Senator Hughes was excused. Senator Dunbar moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate from afternoon plane time, April 11 through evening plane time, April 14. Without objection, Senator Dunbar was excused. Announcements Announcements are at the end of the journal. Engrossment SB 154 SENATE BILL NO. 154 "An Act relating to bidder preferences in state procurement" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration. 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2071 SB 179 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 179(CRA) "An Act prohibiting municipalities from levying a tax on the transfer of real property; prohibiting the state from levying a tax on the transfer of real property; and relating to municipal taxation of mobile telecommunications services" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration. SCR 9 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9 Recognizing the need for parity in the provision of mental health and substance use disorder medical assistance benefits in the state; and urging the Department of Health to adopt regulations that ensure parity in the provision of mental health and substance use disorder medical assistance benefits in the state, 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., April 4, 2024. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 11:43 a.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2072 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 Apr 04 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM Presentation: Local Boundary Commission += HCR 8 HONORING VIETNAM WAR VETERANS + SB 252 ARBOR DAY <Above Item Removed from Agenda> + SB 174 HONOR & REMEMBER/HONOR & SACRIFICE FLAGS Uniform Rule 23(a) Waived + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION Apr 03 Wednesday Davis 106 8:00 AM -- Please Note Time & Location Change -- Meeting Jointly with the House Education Committee + Presentation: Alaska Board of Education and Early Development by James Fields, State Board Chair DEED Commissioner Deena Bishop Members of the State Board of Education and Early Development + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2073 EDUCATION (continued) Apr 03 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM + Presentation: Summary of the Implementation of the Federal 'Maintenance of Equity' by Austin Reid, Senior Legislative Director for Federal Education Policy, National Conference of State Legislatures -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- Legislative Finance Division **Streamed live on AKL.tv** + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Apr 05 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- FINANCE Apr 03 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + SB 28 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 181 CHILD PLACEMENT; DILIGENT SEARCH -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + SB 228 EXTEND BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPISTS -- Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + SB 234 EXTEND MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD -- Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Apr 04 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM SB 187 APPROP: CAP; REAPPROP <Bill Hearing Canceled> + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += SB 234 EXTEND MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD -- Invited & Public Testimony -- += SB 243 ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY GOVERNANCE += SB 228 EXTEND BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPISTS 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2074 FINANCE (continued) Apr 04 Thursday Senate Finance 532 1:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- -- Please Note Time Change -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Apr 05 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM += SB 187 APPROP: CAP; REAPPROP + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES Apr 04 Thursday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Eric Nimmo, State Medical Board -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Presentation: Department of Health - Child Care Task Force -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += HB 89 CHILD CARE: TAX CREDITS/ASSISTANCE/GRANTS <Above Item Removed from Agenda> += HB 57 EMERGENCY MED. SVCS: REVIEW ORGANIZATIONS += SB 240 SCHOOL DISTRICT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Apr 03 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM + HB 238 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 3RD DEGREE -- Invited & Public Testimony -- += SB 165 DEFENSE OF PUB. OFFICER: ETHICS COMPLAINT + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Apr 05 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += SB 134 INS. DATA SECURITY; INFO. SECURITY PRGRMS + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2075 LABOR & COMMERCE Apr 03 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM += SB 204 CERT. OF FITNESS: PLUMBERS/ELECTRICIANS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- += SB 44 NATUROPATHS: LICENSING; PRACTICE -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 05 Friday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += SB 115 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCOPE OF PRACTICE -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- += SB 135 AK WORK & SAVE PROGRM; RETIRE. SAVINGS BD -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- += SB 257 ELECTRIC UTILITY REGULATION -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES Apr 03 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Commissioner, Department of Environment Conservation: Emma Pokon Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission: Michael Porcaro <Above Appointee Removed from Agenda> -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + Presentation: Graphite Creek Project Update by Kevin Torpy, Vice President of Mining, Graphite One Inc. (Continued on Next Page) 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2076 RESOURCES (continued) (Continued from Previous Page) + Presentation: Donlin Project Update by Kristina Woolston, External Affairs Manager, Donlin Gold + SB 253 DNR BIG GAME HUNTING PRGRM/PILOT PROJECT <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Testimony <Invitation Only> -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Apr 05 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM + Presentation: Achieving an 80% Renewable Portfolio in Alaska's Railbelt by Paul Denholm, Senior Research Fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS Apr 04 Thursday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM += SB 201 OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY -- Public Testimony -- += SB 177 AI, DEEPFAKES, CYBERSECURITY, DATA XFERS + SB 262 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TASK FORCE Consideration of Governor’s Appointees: Donald Handeland <Above Item Rescheduled from 4/2/24> -- Public Testimony -- + Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2077 TRANSPORTATION Apr 04 Thursday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM += HJR 19 PORT MACKENZIE & NORTHERN RAIL EXTENSIONS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- SENATE BILL: ROADS & HIGHWAYS ADVISORY BOARD AND THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN <Pending Introduction & Referral> ---------------------------------------- FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES ADMINISTRATION Apr 11 Thursday Butrovich 205 5:30 PM + Budget Closeout ---------------------------------------- CORRECTIONS Apr 11 Thursday Butrovich 205 5:45 PM + Budget Closeout ---------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Apr 10 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 12:00 PM + Overview: Department of Environmental Conservation Senate Finance Subcommittee Closeout ---------------------------------------- JUDICIARY Apr 11 Thursday Butrovich 205 5:15 PM + Budget Closeout 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2078 FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEES (continued) LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Apr 11 Thursday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + FY25 Budget Closeout ---------------------------------------- MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS Apr 10 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 12:20 PM + Overview: Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs Senate Finance Subcommittee Closeout ---------------------------------------- NATURAL RESOURCES Apr 04 Thursday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + FY25 Budget Closeout ---------------------------------------- REVENUE Apr 10 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 12:40 PM + Overview: Department of Revenue Senate Finance Subcommittee Closeout ---------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES Apr 09 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 7:30 AM + FY25 Closeout 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2079 JOINT COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT Apr 04 Thursday Adams 519 5:00 PM + I. Approval of Minutes a. March 6, 2024 II. Executive Session (Audit) a. Preliminary Release of the FY23 State Single Audit (Procurement) b. Consideration of Contract Award Juneau (907) 586-9085, Anchorage (907) 563-9085 All other 844-586-9085 ---------------------------------------- SELECT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE ETHICS Apr 04 Thursday Barnes 124 9:00 AM -- Please Note Time Change -- + I. Update on Committee Member Nominees/Welcome Members + II. Approval of the Agenda + III. Approval of the Minutes a. House Subcommittee - November 29, 2023 IV. Public Comment + V. Chairs/Staff Reports a. Revised Staff Report - February 16, 2024 b. Staff Report - Informal Advice + VI. Budget + VII. Advisory Opinion a. AO 24-01 b. AO 24-02 Confidentiality Waived by Representative Eastman VIII. Executive Session IX. Public Session X. Other Business (Public Segment of the Meeting will be Teleconferenced) Anchorage Only: 907-563-9085 Juneau Only: 907-586-9085 Outside Anchorage or Juneau: 1-844-586-9085 2024-04-03 Senate Journal Page 2080 OTHER MEETINGS MISCELLANEOUS MEETINGS Apr 03 Wednesday Butrovich 205 12:00 PM + Lunch & Learn Presentation: The Presentation will Explore the Shared Commercial Kitchen "Incubator" Model by Kirk Rose, CEO of Anchorage Community Land Trust Sponsored by Senator Dunbar & Representative Mina