Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
03/15/2022 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB396 | |
| HB291 | |
| HB218 | |
| HB316 | |
| HB309 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 396 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 291 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 218 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 316 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 309 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 291-EXTENDING COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
3:53:15 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 291, "An Act extending the termination
date of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; and
providing for an effective date." [Before the committee,
adopted as the working draft on 3/8/22, was proposed committee
substitute (CS), labeled 32-LS1425\G, Radford, 3/2/22 ("Version
G").]
3:54:00 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
3:54:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE moved to adopt Amendment 1, [labeled 32-
LS1425\G.1, Radford, 3/12/22], which read:
Page 1, lines 8 - 9:
Delete "and one of whom shall be a member of an
Alaska Native organization"
Page 2, lines 15 - 18:
Delete all material.
Page 2, line 19:
Delete "(2)"
Delete "7,500"
Insert "3,500 [7,500]"
Page 2, lines 20 - 21:
Delete "or with a population of 3,500 or less
that is connected by road or rail to Anchorage or
Fairbanks"
Insert "[OR WITH A POPULATION OF 3,500 OR LESS
THAT IS CONNECTED BY ROAD OR RAIL TO ANCHORAGE OR
FAIRBANKS]"
REPRESENTATIVE TARR, prime sponsor of HB 291, objected.
3:54:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE expressed her concern about the requirement
for one appointment to be a member of an Alaska Native
organization. She indicated that her intent was to avoid
designation based on race or ethnicity. Nonetheless, she
concurred with the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault's (CDVSA's) desire to have an Alaska Native woman on the
council. Consequently, Amendment 1 would further define "rural
Alaska" to only include a population of 3,500 or less that is
connected by road or rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks. She
believed that would capture the Bush Alaska perspective that was
needed on the board.
3:56:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY was unsure how redefining "rural Alaska"
would guarantee Alaska Native representation; further, she
opined that prescriptive language would be helpful in this case,
as it was apparent that the council was lacking specific
representation.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said she was comfortable with the language
in Version G that advised the governor to consult the Alaska
Network on Domestic violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) and the
Alaska Native Women's Resource Center. She opined that from a
broader policy perspective, designating appointments based on
race or ethnicity could be dangerous. She reiterated that her
preference was to base eligibility on regionality.
3:58:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked whether Version G represented the
CDVSA's recommendations.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR answered yes.
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN appreciated the intent of the proposed
amendment; nonetheless, he expressed his desire to trust the
board's recommendations. He believed that obtaining a Alaska
Native voice on the board was critical. For those reasons, he
expressed his opposition to Amendment 1.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR noted that a review of current boards and
commissions found 18 with a specific seat that was designated
for an Alaska Native representative. Further, a handful of
recently convened taskforces formed by the governor included the
same position. She stated her opposition to the Amendment 1,
explaining that the existing language, which called for a member
from a rural area, did not result in an Alaska Native
representative on the board. She believed that Amendment 1
would have the same result and reiterated the need for more
specific language.
4:02:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN opined that advising the governor to
consult with the Native organizations was a big enough ask and
went far enough in expressing the legislature's recommendations.
He expressed his concern about designation based on race or
ethnicity.
4:03:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR maintained her objection.
4:04:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE pointed out that not all the boards and
commissions that called for Alaska Native representation had
been through the legislative process. She argued that although
the Equal Protection Clause had not been challenged, it could
come up in the future.
4:05:40 PM]
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Vance, Kaufman, and
Eastman voted in favor of the adoption of Amendment 1.
Representatives Tarr, Story, Claman, and Kreiss-Tomkins voted
against it. Therefore, Amendment 1 failed by a vote of 3-4.
4:06:18 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS invited final comments on HB 291.
4:06:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her appreciation for the council
and the work that they do.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS aligned himself with Representative Story's
comments.
4:07:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved to report CSHB 291, Version 32-
LS1425\G, Radford, 3/2/22, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHB 291(STA) was moved from the House State
Affairs Standing Committee.