Legislature(2007 - 2008)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/20/2007 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB120 | |
| HB1 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 120 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 120
An Act extending the Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault; and providing for an effective date.
REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, SPONSOR, explained that the
same bill presented and passed by the House body in the last
legislative session, but the Senate failed to take action.
The mission of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault (CDVSA) is to "reduce the causes and incidents and
to alleviate the effects of domestic violence and sexual
assault."
Unfortunately Alaska has had the distinction of being in the
top three states in the nation for incidents of domestic
violence and sexual assault during the past decade.
Representative Fairclough advised that "time is of the
essence" in order to ensure that CDVSA is reauthorized.
st
Effective March 1 the Council begins a closeout process.
Reauthorization of CDVSA would ensure that Alaska receives
its share of federal funding to combat interpersonal
violence and to continue to educate the State on issues of
domestic violence and sexual assault, while coordinating
prevention and response services.
1:36:40 PM
Vice Chair Stoltze asked to be a cosponsor on the bill.
Representative Hawker pointed out that during a previous
legislative session, there had been a floor amendment moving
the date to 2014. He believed that 2014 was the
recommendation made by the Legislative Audit Committee.
Representative Fairclough noted that 2011 had been a
compromise that she believed would be accepted on the Senate
side.
Vice Chair Stoltze inquired if locations had been carefully
checked to make sure that most recipients of the funding
were outside of Juneau. He thought that a change to the
current system would increase the hiring pool and provide
more stability to that organization. Representative
Fairclough informed members that she had served as the
Executive Director of Standing Together Against Rape before
being elected to the State House. She acknowledged that the
issue was personal and was involved in working with victims
of domestic violence and sexual assault for the past four
years. There has been on going debate during that time
regarding the Department of Public Safety versus Department
of Health and Social Services.
Vice Chair Stoltze clarified his query regarding the choice
to have the Council housed in Juneau rather than Anchorage.
Representative Fairclough thought that should be a choice of
the legislative body and admitted there would be future
dialogue regarding the effectiveness of the location for
implementation of a strategic plan. Vice Chair Stoltze
wanted to know that the location had been considered in how
best to serve victims needing services.
1:40:21 PM
Representative Fairclough advised that the Network on
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is located in Juneau,
which makes for good "cross pollination" of ideas. She
agreed there is a larger pool for employment opportunities
in other locations. The bill before the Committee is an
opportunity to extend the Council's date to 2011. The
intent is to guarantee that there is a Council in place for
domestic violence victims.
Vice Chair Stoltze reiterated that the constituency of the
Board is quite broad and believed that there is a much
larger pool in areas outside of Juneau from which to find
employees in a more competitive process. Representative
Fairclough said the Commissioner is supportive of the
program and that there has been discussions regarding how to
make it better. Vice Chair Stoltze offered to help.
1:42:22 PM
Representative Hawker was concerned about the proposed
extension date. He advised that the Senate had passed a
bill with the 2014 date. He questioned if the bill would be
"in trouble" with the extended date. Representative
Fairclough thought that in the end, there could be a Senate
argument with some of the legislative audit findings. She
stressed the need to get the legislation passed so that the
Council does not go away.
Representative Hawker pointed out that the House has never
hesitated to do battle with the Senate. He strongly
supported confirmation with the recommendations made by the
Legislative Auditor. Representative Fairclough supported
the date of that determination.
1:44:55 PM
Vice Chair Stoltze mentioned certain existing problems and
worried about not having a review for more than 5-years if
the 2014 date was used.
Representative Fairclough advised that the Senate Affairs
Committee had just amended their version of the bill to
2011. She noted that the bill had been streamlined in order
to guarantee agreement for passage. There are issues
needing to be addressed. She was encouraged to drop a bill,
addressing those issues & offered to carry HB 120. She
noted she would be speaking to the audit findings & and
issues of location.
1:47:18 PM
Co-Chair Meyer agreed with Representative Hawker that the
Committee should not be hamstringed by decisions in the
Senate; however, he did prefer the 2011 date.
Representative Gara echoed sentiments that the Body not make
choices because of what the Senate might do and that any
legislation should be discussed on the matter of best
policy. He questioned if there had been a reason for the
audit findings. Representative Fairclough commented that
the audit had found some points which she disagreed with and
that is why she chose 2011 as the compromise date.
1:50:51 PM
Representative Joule inquired if there would be additional
testimony.
CHRIS ASHENBRENNER, COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT (CDVSA), JUNEAU, offered to answer questions of the
Committee.
1:52:28 PM
Representative Hawker MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1, which
would change the date from 2011 to 2014, consistent with the
Legislative Audit findings. Representative Kelly OBJECTED.
Representative Hawker explained that he did not see anything
that was a critical problem with the credible function or
services provided by the Council and thought it should be a
policy call of the Legislature.
Co-Chair Meyer interjected that he preferred the 2011 date.
1:56:20 PM
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Foster, Gara, Hawker, Joule, Thomas, Crawford
OPPOSED: Kelly, Stoltze, Meyer, Chenault
Representative Nelson was not present for the vote.
The MOTION PASSED (6-4).
1:57:17 PM
Co-Chair Meyer pointed out the two new indeterminate notes
by the House Finance Committee replacing the ones by the
Department of Public Safety.
1:57:56 PM
Representative Foster MOVED to REPORT CS HB 120 (FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and with the new
fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CS HB 120 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with two new indeterminate notes by
the House Finance Committee.
1:58:26 PM
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