Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
02/17/2011 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB98 | |
| HB111 | |
| HB74 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 98 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 111 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 74 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 98-HANDLING OF STATE FLAG
8:05:48 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE
BILL NO. 98, "An Act relating to display, folding, presentment,
and retirement of the state flag."
8:06:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB
98 as sponsor. He stated that the idea for the bill was
generated by the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
(JROTC), whose members pointed out that there are no rules
designating the proper way to display, fold, and store the
Alaska flag. The proposed legislation would address the issue
and show respect for the state's flag. Furthermore, HB 98 would
outline the proper way to dispose of the flag. He said he is
not proposing that Alaska do anything that other states do not
do or that is not already done for the country's flag.
8:10:13 AM
CHAIR LYNN opined that a flag of a sovereign state deserves
respect, and he expressed appreciation for the bill.
8:10:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON directed attention to page 2, line 11, and
asked for a definition of an "official flag of the state".
8:11:41 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said he does not think "official flag" is
designated, but said he thinks that term would include any state
flag that flies over a subdivision of the state, such as at the
capitol building and public schools. He said there is no
language in the bill that would impose a penalty for a citizen
who does not display or store the flag in the manner proposed in
HB 98.
8:13:52 AM
BIANCA ARMSTRONG, A.J. Dimond High School U.S. Army Junior
Reserve Officers' Training Corps ("Dimond JROTC"), indicated
that she was part of the group of JROTC members who started a
project two years ago wherein they observed that the Alaska flag
was being displayed in various directions. The group discovered
that Title 4 addressed the retirement of only the U.S. flag, not
the Alaska flag.
8:15:02 AM
ROBERT HELZER, Lieutenant Commander, A.J. Dimond High School
U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps ("Dimond
JROTC"), stated that another part of the Dimond JROTC's project
involved designing a way in which the Alaska flag should be
folded. After some discussion, the group decided unanimously
that the flag should be folded in a rectangle with the North
Star showing on top. He introduced a video, which showed the
folding process.
8:17:40 AM
[The video was shown.]
8:23:16 AM
JEANNE OSTNES, Staff, Representative Carl Johnson, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Johnson, sponsor,
related a way to remember the folding method just shown in the
video.
8:24:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER expressed pride in the Alaska flag and
being an Alaskan.
8:25:43 AM
CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else to
testify, closed public testimony.
8:25:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON related that when he was on a trip to
Idaho and to Minnesota, he never saw their respective flags. He
said he thinks Alaskans feel more strongly about their flag. He
further noted that in other states, people he asked were hard
pressed to describe what their flag looks like. He said most
places in Alaska there will be a flag flown.
8:27:54 AM
CHAIR LYNN added that Alaska is one of few states where people
actually stand when the Alaska Flag song is played.
8:28:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN asked if HB 98 would make the proper
flag folding instructions part of statute, and whether
instructions would be given out with the purchase of a flag.
8:28:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said the sale of flags is a private
enterprise, in which he does not want to get involved. He drew
attention to a publication in the committee packet entitled,
"Alaska's Flag Etiquette," which he said will not be copyrighted
and would be available on the Internet for anyone who wanted to
make a copy.
8:30:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, in response to Representative Seaton,
reiterated that under HB 98 there would be no penalty to anyone
who did not follow the guidelines put forth in the bill.
8:31:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report HB 98 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 98 was reported out of the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.