02/01/2024 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

          HB 259-COUNCIL ON HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:46:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 259,  "An Act establishing  the Council  on Human                                                               
and  Sex Trafficking;  and relating  to the  Council on  Domestic                                                               
Violence and Sexual Assault."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:47:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH  VANCE, Alaska  State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor,  presented   HB  259.    She   paraphrased  the  sponsor                                                               
statement  [included  in the  committee  packet],  which read  as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     House  Bill  259  emerges  as  a  critical  initiative,                                                                  
     proposing to establish the Alaska  Council on Human and                                                                    
     Sex Trafficking permanently  through State Statute. The                                                                    
     Council,  established  by   Administrative  Order  328,                                                                    
     plays a  pivotal role in combating  the exploitation of                                                                    
     Alaskans. By formalizing its  existence in statute, the                                                                    
     commitment  to addressing  the multifaceted  challenges                                                                    
     posed by human trafficking is strengthened.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The Alaska  Council on Human and  Sex Trafficking plays                                                                    
     a  vital  role  in  the ongoing  battle  against  human                                                                    
     trafficking,  a  heinous   crime  driven  by  coercion,                                                                    
     force,  and fraud.  This council  operates on  multiple                                                                    
     fronts,  starting  with  the crucial  task  of  raising                                                                    
     awareness   about   the   pervasive  issue   of   human                                                                    
     trafficking.  By   shedding  light  on   the  deceptive                                                                    
     tactics employed  by traffickers,  the council  aims to                                                                    
     empower  communities with  the  knowledge to  recognize                                                                    
     and combat this form of exploitation.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Additionally,   the   council  engages   in   extensive                                                                    
     research  to  provide   comprehensive  reports  on  the                                                                    
     prevalence of trafficking  in Alaska, offering valuable                                                                    
     insights into the diverse  forms of exploitation. These                                                                    
     reports serve  as a  foundation for  informed decision-                                                                    
     making   and  strategic   planning.  Importantly,   the                                                                    
     council  doesn't stop  at  awareness  and research;  it                                                                    
     actively  proposes  solutions  to protect  victims.  By                                                                    
     identifying  and  advocating   for  measures  that  can                                                                    
     disrupt  the  operations  of  traffickers  and  provide                                                                    
     support   to   survivors,   the   council   contributes                                                                    
     significantly to the fight against human trafficking.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Human trafficking,  a significantly  troubling concern,                                                                    
     often goes  unnoticed in Alaska and  the United States.                                                                    
     According  to  a  2017  study, one  in  four  women  at                                                                    
     Anchorage  Covenant's  House  had been  trafficked  for                                                                    
     sex,  with 42%  being  Alaska  Natives. However,  human                                                                    
     trafficking is  significantly underreported due  to the                                                                    
     intense trauma victims  experience, hindering them from                                                                    
     seeking help.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     House Bill 259 not  only recognizes the pervasive issue                                                                    
     of   human  trafficking   but  also   acknowledges  the                                                                    
     critical  role  the  Council  plays  in  combating  it.                                                                    
     Ensuring the Council's  permanence in statute signifies                                                                    
     a   long-term    commitment   to    eradicating   human                                                                    
     trafficking   in  Alaska.   The  Council's   continuous                                                                    
     presence will enhance  the coordination, resources, and                                                                    
     strategies necessary for an  effective response to this                                                                    
     complex problem. By  addressing the ever-present threat                                                                    
         of human trafficking, House Bill 259 reaffirms                                                                         
     Alaska's dedication to safeguarding the well-being and                                                                     
     rights of all its residents.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:54:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK  asked how the  work of the  council would                                                               
overlap with the  duties of the Council on  Domestic Violence and                                                               
Sexual Assault (CDVSA).  She  further offered her belief that the                                                               
councils shared a director.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  VANCE  explained  that  the idea  of  sharing  an                                                               
executive  director  came  from  the Alcohol  and  Marijuana  and                                                               
Control Office  Board.  She  clarified that the  CDVSA's capacity                                                               
was not to be diminished by establishing the new council.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:58:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY referenced the  fiscal note and the creation                                                               
of two  positions.  She  asked how  the director would  use their                                                               
time as the head of both councils  with the amount of work at the                                                               
CDVSA.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE provided background  on the decision, adding                                                               
that  the executive  director should  be able  to retain  both as                                                               
long  as  there   is  "cushion"  over  the  next   year  for  the                                                               
transition.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:02:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY asked  how  many CDVSA  staff the  director                                                               
would supervise.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE deferred to Deputy Commissioner Barlow.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:03:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRYAN BARLOW,  Deputy Commissioner, Department of  Public Safety,                                                               
addressed Representative  Story and stated  that he did  not know                                                               
the answer  as to the number  that would be supervised.   He said                                                               
that the  staff level of CDVSA  is at capacity for  what they can                                                               
do, and the effectiveness of CDVSA was taken into account.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:05:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  expressed concern about the  council's size                                                               
and asked  whether each person  had a role  to play.   She shared                                                               
her belief that sometimes smaller councils were more effective.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE reported that there were  10 positions at CDVSA and 4                                                               
were vacant.   Regarding the size of the council,  she said there                                                               
were subcommittees which helped divide the workload.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:09:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARRICK expressed  curiosity about  the breakdown                                                               
of  specific positions  at CDVSA.   She  inquired about  a faith-                                                               
based position  and why  there was discrepancy  in the  number of                                                               
positions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE responded that she  was unfamiliar with the specifics                                                               
of CDVSA.   For the membership  listed in the bill,  she said, it                                                               
was mirrored after the governor's administrative order.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:11:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STORY  directed   attention  to   the  list   of                                                               
recommendations on page  3, lines 17-20 of HB 259  and shared her                                                               
belief  that   policy  recommendations  might  be   something  to                                                               
consider.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE agreed.  She highlighted page 4, lines 12-                                                                 
16, which  would require  annual reporting to  the governor.   In                                                               
addition,  she noted  that two  ex-officio members  were to  help                                                               
with policy.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:14:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW announced that HB 259 was held over.