04/20/2018 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 214                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act   renaming  a  portion  of   the  Alaska  Safe                                                                    
     Children's Act  as Bree's Law;  relating to  Bree's Law                                                                    
     programs and Bree's Law  activities; relating to dating                                                                    
     violence   and  abuse   policy,  training,   awareness,                                                                    
     prevention,   and  notices;   and   providing  for   an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:37:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HARRIET  DRUMMOND, SPONSOR,  introduced  the                                                                    
bill.  She stated  that Bree  Moore was  a victim  of dating                                                                    
violence,  which ended  in her  murder.  She announced  that                                                                    
Alaska ranked  in the top  ten states with the  worst record                                                                    
of dating  violence and sexual  abuse. She stated  that more                                                                    
that 1000 high school  students reported dating violence one                                                                    
or  more  times  in  2017.   She  stressed  that  it  was  a                                                                    
horrifying statistic,  but was a  scary glimpse of  a future                                                                    
generation  of  Alaskans,  who  thought  it  was  normal  to                                                                    
experience  abuse in  a relationship.  She  stated that  the                                                                    
bill named  the dating violence  section of the  Alaska Safe                                                                    
Children's  Act, "Bree's  Law." She  stated that  Bree's Law                                                                    
was  already referenced  as the  informal identifier  of the                                                                    
dating  violence prevention  curriculum. She  announced that                                                                    
the passage  of HB  214 would make  it official.  She stated                                                                    
that  that  bill  passed the  other  body  unanimously.  She                                                                    
remarked  that her  office had  heard from  schools, support                                                                    
agencies, and prevention organizations  in support of naming                                                                    
the teen dating violence of  the Alaska Safe Children's Act,                                                                    
"Bree's Law."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:38:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PATRICK FITZGERALD, STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE HARRIET DRUMMOND,                                                                    
explained the sections of the bill.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:40:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:40:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BUTCH MOORE, SELF, ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference), spoke in                                                                    
support of the bill. He  stated that his daughter, Bree, was                                                                    
murdered. He shared that he  wanted to put forward education                                                                    
to prevent it from happening  to anyone else. He stated that                                                                    
there  were  some things  that  could  have been  better  in                                                                    
passing the  Alaska Safe Children's  Act. He noted  that the                                                                    
passage of that act happened  fairly quickly. He shared that                                                                    
he  and  his   wife  had  worked  with   many  agencies  and                                                                    
organizations,    including   teachers,    principals,   and                                                                    
superintendents.  He  shared  that  it was  found  that  the                                                                    
communication with the  teachers and the students  was a new                                                                    
process, so  there was a gap  in the education that  did not                                                                    
mention  the  legality of  dating  violence.  He noted  that                                                                    
there was a  realization that the students  and teachers may                                                                    
not  feel   comfortable  communicating  directly   with  one                                                                    
another. He  noted that there  should be a way  for students                                                                    
to anonymously  text, call, or  chat to talk to  someone the                                                                    
student deemed  a comfortable contact. He  shared that there                                                                    
were  35,000  posters  printed  and sent  to  all  359  high                                                                    
schools  and  middle schools  throughout  the  state with  a                                                                    
number for teachers and students  to call, text, or chat. He                                                                    
stated  that  it  was  the  National  Teen  Dating  Violence                                                                    
prevention   hotline  number   and  the   National  Domestic                                                                    
Violence hotline  number. He shared  that it was  found that                                                                    
there was  no number in  Alaska. He shared that  the Council                                                                    
on Domestic Violence and Sexual  Assault (CDVSA) was working                                                                    
on developing an  Alaskan number for help. He  noted that it                                                                    
was also found that the  identification of the education and                                                                    
the  delivery  of education  was  not  as well  received  as                                                                    
desired. He shared that when  students heard Bree's name and                                                                    
story, they might identify with her as common person.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:47:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Micciche  appreciated the efforts to  protect others                                                                    
from dating violence.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Moore thanked Senator Micciche.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:48:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRADLEY  MILLER,  SELF,  EAGLE RIVER  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
spoke in support  of the bill. He felt that  it was improper                                                                    
that  bill be  in the  committee, because  it had  no fiscal                                                                    
impact. He shared  that his daughter had been  murdered as a                                                                    
result of  dating violence.  He felt  that, had  the Alaskan                                                                    
Safe  Children's  Act  been enacted  before  his  daughter's                                                                    
murder, the murder would not have happened.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  MacKinnon  wondered  whether  Mr.  Miller  was  in                                                                    
support  of the  bill.  Mr.  Miller stated  that  he was  in                                                                    
support of the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  MacKinnon queried  a closing  thought. Mr.  Miller                                                                    
stated that his  motivation was the hope  to prevent another                                                                    
family of  living through the  nightmare of losing  a child.                                                                    
He  felt that  education should  be easily  identifiable for                                                                    
all children.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:52:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LAURA   EAKES,   SELF,   ANCHORAGE   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support of the bill.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:54:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ASHLEY  VAN HEMERT,  SELF,  ANCHORAGE (via  teleconference),                                                                    
spoke in support of the legislation.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:58:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SUZI  PEARSON, EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR,  ABUSED  WOMEN'S AID  IN                                                                    
CRISIS, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),  spoke in support of                                                                    
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:01:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICKI WALLNER, SELF,  PALMER (via teleconference), testified                                                                    
in support of  the bill. She shared that she  was the mother                                                                    
to three daughters and foster children.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:03:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CARMEN   LOWRY,  EXECUTIVE   DIRECTOR,  ALASKA   NETWORK  ON                                                                    
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE  AND SEXUAL ASSAULT,  spoke in  support of                                                                    
the bill. She offered the  condolences to the family of Bree                                                                    
Moore  for their  loss. She  shared a  personal story  about                                                                    
humanitarian work in Burma.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens wondered  what was done to  teach young men.                                                                    
Ms.  Lowry  replied  that  the curriculum  had  to  do  with                                                                    
healthy  relationships.   She  also   stated  that   it  was                                                                    
important  for  young men  to  see  what masculinity  looked                                                                    
like.  She remarked  that  there was  an  ongoing effort  to                                                                    
recognize healthy relationships.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:07:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PATTY OWEN, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of the bill.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:08:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LAUREE  MORTON, SELF,  JUNEAU, testified  in support  of the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:11:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RACHEL   CURTISS,   STUDENT,   STELLAR   SECONDARY   SCHOOL,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  spoke  in  support of  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:12:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AVERY  MOZEN, STUDENT,  STELLAR SECONDARY  SCHOOL, ANCHORAGE                                                                    
(via   teleconference),   testified   in  support   of   the                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:13:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PARKER   PICKETT,   STUDENT,   STELLAR   SECONDARY   SCHOOL,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  spoke  in  support of  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:14:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REED   WHITMORE,   PRINCIPAL,  STELLAR   SECONDARY   SCHOOL,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified  in support of the                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:15:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens  wondered whether  all the students  of both                                                                    
genders received  the lessons.  Mr. Whitmore replied  in the                                                                    
affirmative.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   MacKinnon  asked   whether   there  was   support                                                                    
available for  someone disclosed that they  needed help. Mr.                                                                    
Whitmore responded  in the affirmative.  He stated  that the                                                                    
information  would probably  go  through  the principal  and                                                                    
nurse.  There may  be  an investigation  in  the school,  or                                                                    
whether the student should return home.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair MacKinnon  queried whether there were  resources to                                                                    
the students,  besides returning home. Mr.  Whitmore replied                                                                    
that  it  was an  individualized  case  from the  Office  of                                                                    
Children's Services (OCS).                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:18:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHNNY MURDOCK,  SELF, MATSU (via teleconference),  spoke in                                                                    
support of  the bill. He  stated that domestic  violence and                                                                    
sexual  assault  was a  massive  problem  in the  state.  He                                                                    
stated that  he was a university  professor and firefighter.                                                                    
He felt  that personalizing an  issue was always  helpful in                                                                    
teaching.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:21:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNN STUHR, SELF,  ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified                                                                    
in support of the legislation.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:23:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CRIS  EICHENLAUB, SELF,  EAGLE  RIVER (via  teleconference),                                                                    
spoke in support of the bill.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:25:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RUS'EL  SAMPSON, SELF,  WASILLA (via  teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in favor of the bill.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:28:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
EDITH  GRUNWALD, SELF,  PALMER (via  teleconference), turned                                                                    
her testimony over to Ms. Mokelke.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:28:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICTORIA MOKELKE, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference),                                                                            
testified in support of the legislation.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:30:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Grunwald spoke in support of the bill.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:31:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DEBORAH BOLLINI, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),                                                                          
spoke in support of the bill.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB 214 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                              
consideration.