Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
04/18/2023 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB77 | |
| HB99 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 77 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 99 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 99-DISCRIMINATION: GENDER ID.;SEXUAL ORIENT.
8:56:34 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 99, "An Act relating to and prohibiting
discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or
expression."
8:56:56 AM
JENNIE ARMSTRONG, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor,
presented HB 99. She stressed that the bill would make sure
that sex means the same thing across all the subject areas. She
noted there is not one community of people that would have a
special or protected class; the bill would encompass all [based
on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression]
to be treated the same.
8:58:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE requested more of a description of what
"gender expression" means.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG replied that as defined in the bill,
and confirmed with Legislative Legal Services, "gender identity
or expression" means having or being perceived as having or
expressing a gender, self-image, appearance, or behavior,
regardless of whether that gender, self-image, appearance, or
behavior is different from that traditionally associated with
the sex assigned to that person at birth. She reiterated an
example from the last hearing regarding different perceptions of
what it is to be "feminine" or " masculine," and the idea that
gender is not something that can be used as a way to
discriminate against anyone.
9:01:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE brought up a scenario on someone's
appearance hindering them from buying a house and the resulting
lawsuits it could create. He stated his concern that [the
definitions in the bill] are not "narrow" enough.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG replied that half of the state is
already under non-discrimination ordinances, and she stressed
there is a very high bar for proof in such a scenario.
9:03:06 AM
TRISTAN WALSH, Staff, Representative Jennie Armstrong, Alaska
State Legislature, expanded on the answer to Representative
McCabe and referenced [Bostock v. Clayton County] regarding
gender identity.
9:04:46 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK welcomed invited testimony on HB 99.
9:05:22 AM
HAYLEE WILSON, representing self, provided invited testimony in
support of HB 99. She gave a background of her career as a
health clinician and explained her experience working directly
with Alaska residents thus giving her the opportunity to see
people from various demographics throughout the state. She
described the impact discrimination has on the labor force and
stated that workplace moral impacts mental health. She stated
that HB 99 would not only positively impact the workplace and
mental health of the lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, queer,
plus (LBGTQ+) community but also reduce the economic burden of
those whom legislation had previously not protected.
9:10:39 AM
JOSH SMITH, representing self, gave invited testimony in support
of HB 99 and provided his background as a tenured U.S. Air Force
veteran, where he had enlisted under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
(DADT) policy. He described the emotional turmoil and
discrimination he experienced both personally and professionally
before the culture shifted. He explained while there were some
developing workplace regulations addressing discrimination on
the base, none existed outside. He became concerned about
"bigger events in his life," such as when he purchased a home.
He opined that it is time for the state government to recognize
that discrimination has no place in Alaska, and language
matters.
9:15:21 AM
MICHAEL FLINT provided invited testimony in support of HB 99.
He described one of his experiences with discrimination when
purchasing a home with his VA Home Loan with his husband, and
the banker tried several times to convince him to remove his
husband from the loan. He ended up going with a national bank
for the loan. He stressed that the message should be that all
are welcome in Alaska, and the LBGTQ+ community just wants the
same protections as anyone else.
9:19:17 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK opened public testimony on HB 99.
9:19:41 AM
MORGAN LIM, Planned Parenthood, testified in support of HB 99.
He thanked the committee members for their leadership in
addressing this issue and urged them to pass the bill.
9:22:01 AM
CRYSTAL HOWARD, representing self, testified in support of HB
99, noting the state does not currently have a civil rights law
that explicitly includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
9:23:39 AM
RANDY GRIFFIN, representing self, testified in opposition to HB
99, describing the bill as a "sneaky" law, changing the
definition of sex; it should just say "sexual orientation." He
stated he is against all anti-discrimination laws directed at
the private sector.
9:26:12 AM
SHAWN GARDNER, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
She noted Alaska being at the forefront of civil rights, and she
posited that the state should keep following that path.
9:27:50 AM
KC CASORT, representing self, testified in support of HB 99, and
she stated she would be "overjoyed" if it passed this year.
9:29:58 AM
MENEKA THIRU, representing self, testified in support of HB 99,
and she expressed concern about discrimination against
unprotected communities.
9:31:21 AM
ROSE O'HARA, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
She stated the LGBTQ community is not asking for extra, just
equal, and she urged support for HB 99.
9:33:32 AM
REBECCA BERNARD, representing self, testified in support of HB
99 and expressed her view that this is a commonsense bill that
would extend legal protections from discrimination to people who
are not already covered.
9:35:23 AM
BRYAN MULKERN, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
He stated there is no logical reason to continue to permit
discrimination that is arbitrary against Alaska citizens, and
Alaska law should protect all of Alaska.
9:38:26 AM
MICHAEL GARVEY, Alaska Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), testified
in support of HB 99. He expressed his belief that HB 99 would
put LGBTQ people in a better position to have what anyone else
wants: a home, economic security, and to feel welcome in their
community.
9:40:13 AM
THEA SCALISE, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
She stated she echoed the testifier statements of support that
preceded hers.
9:41:17 AM
LIV SWONGER, representing self, testified in support of HB 99
and stated the bill is "truly a beacon of hope and light."
9:43:11 AM
ALEX PETKANAS, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
He stated all LGTBQ+ Alaskans deserve explicit protection from
discrimination.
9:45:20 AM
RICK ANDERSON, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
He stated he would like to see the state provide all citizens a
safe place to live.
9:45:57 AM
KATE VEH, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
9:47:43 AM
KARINA KOWALSKI, representing self, testified in support of HB
99, not only for herself but for her children's safety.
9:49:01 AM
PHILLIP MOSER, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
9:51:32 AM
BROOK BEVERIDGE, representing self, testified in support of HB
99.
9:53:02 AM
JESSICA ROZATO, representing self, testified in support of HB 99
and voiced her support for human rights for all of Alaska.
9:53:54 AM
DAN POLSEN, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
He stated groups left vulnerable to discrimination would also
magnify economic harm, and if the bill passed, it would bring
Alaska law in harmony with federal law.
9:56:38 AM
EARL WILLIAMS JR., representing self, testified in support of HB
99.
9:57:06 AM
JACOB POWEL, representing self, testified in support of HB 99,
and stated his belief that the bill is part of a fiscal plan for
Alaska.
9:59:34 AM
DOUG KOESTER, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
10:00:45 AM
JESSICA PHILLIPS, representing self, testified in support of HB
99, and stated if there is a way to stop discrimination, then it
should be done.
10:01:09 AM
VIKKI JO KENNEDY, representing self, testified in support of HB
99. She stated the bill should finally be passed so "we" can
"move on."
10:02:53 AM
ED MARTIN, representing self, testified in opposition to HB 99.
He referenced the Alaska constitution and pointed out the
various rights already in place.
10:05:29 AM
MOIRA PYHALA, representing self, testified in support of HB 99,
because, she opined, it is "morally correct."
10:07:42 AM
HANNAH WARREN, representing self, testified in support of HB 99.
10:08:14 AM
JOHN HESSERT, representing self, testified during the hearing on
HB 99.
10:10:30 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK noted the email address public testifiers are to
use if they were unable to testify today and still wished to do
so.
10:10:55 AM
CHAIR MCCORMICK closed public testimony on HB 99.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 99 Letters of Opposition as of 0930 4.17.23.pdf |
HCRA 4/18/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 99 |
| HB 99 Letters of Support as of 0930 4.17.23.pdf |
HCRA 4/18/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 99 |
| SB 77 Letter of Opposition as of 0930 4.17.23.pdf |
HCRA 4/18/2023 8:00:00 AM |
SB 77 |
| SB 77 Letters of Support as of 0930 4.17.23.pdf |
HCRA 4/18/2023 8:00:00 AM |
SB 77 |
| SB 77 Amendment S.A.3.pdf |
HCRA 4/18/2023 8:00:00 AM |
SB 77 |
| HB 99 Amendment B.4.pdf |
HCRA 4/18/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 99 |
| SB 77 Conceptual Amendment to Amendment 1.pdf |
HCRA 4/18/2023 8:00:00 AM |
SB 77 |