Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106
03/24/2015 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB77 | |
| HB142 | |
| HCR7 | |
| HJR14|| HCR4 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 77 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 142 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HCR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HCR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HCR 7-CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
9:07:37 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business was HOUSE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7, Proclaiming April 2015 as Child
Abuse Prevention Month; and proclaiming April 3, 2015, as Go
Blue Friday.
9:08:28 AM
RAY FRIEDLANDER, Staff, Representative Geran Tarr, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HCR 7 on behalf of Representative Tarr,
prime sponsor. She said the proposed concurrent resolution
would make April 2015 Child Abuse Prevention Month and proclaim
April 3, 2015, as "Go Blue Friday." She explained that blue was
the color to represent child abuse prevention, and she indicated
that the wearing of blue would show solidarity in putting an end
to violence against children.
MS. FRIEDLANDER related that for the first time last year, the
legislature had passed legislation making April [2014] Child
Prevention Month, and then Governor Sean Parnell issued a
proclamation for April as Child Abuse and Awareness Month. In
2015, Governor Bill Walker did the same. She stated, "We
believe by speaking up and raising awareness, we can be a part
of the preventative efforts in ending child abuse in Alaska."
MS. FRIEDLANDER said that under the Reagan Administration in
1983, the U.S. Congress proclaimed April to be the first
National Child Abuse Prevention Month as a way to show
commitment to finding solutions to end child abuse. Each year,
states and their prospective governors used April as a month to
stand strong for our children.
MS. FRIEDLANDER stated that according to the Child Welfare
League of America, Alaska had one of the five highest rates of
child abuse in the U.S. In 2014, the Office of Children's
Services received more than 40,000 allegations of harm involving
tens of thousands of children. She said tragically children
subject to abuse are likely to become abusers themselves, engage
in criminal activity, and have a whole spread of psychological
and physiological issues. Ms. Friedlander stated, "Every child
deserves a loving family, a safe home, and the opportunity to
grow into an outstanding and responsible member of society ...."
She encouraged the committee to support the proposed
legislation.
9:11:07 AM
CHAIR LYNN asked Ms. Friedlander to explain what changes would
be made under a proposed committee substitute for HCR 7.
MS. FRIEDLANDER answered that because the issue already had
statewide support, there were organizations working toward "Go
Blue Friday" on April 10. The bill sponsor had originally
intended April 3 as the day; therefore, the proposed committee
substitute would change it to April 10, in order to match
statewide efforts.
9:11:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER noted that according to Wikipedia, the
color blue is a symbol of twenty different items, but child
abuse was not one of them. He asked if there was anything else
besides child abuse that "Go Blue Friday" would represent.
MS. FRIEDLANDER responded that she could not speak to any other
holidays that incorporated blue, but said she knew that
organizations had been working for the past few years on using
blue as the color of child abuse prevention. In response to
Representative Keller, she indicated that the Alaska Children's
Trust was the impetus for bringing forward a committee
substitute.
9:13:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HCR 7, Version 29-LS0684\H, Glover, 3/19/15,
as a work draft. There being no objection, Version H was before
the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he was aware of "Go Blue Friday"
and expressed appreciation for the sponsor's support of it.
MS. FRIEDLANDER, in response to a question from Representative
Keller, reconfirmed that the term, "Go Blue Friday," as used
under HCR 7, was related specifically to child abuse prevention.
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER reiterated that he had been intrigued by
all the other things he read were symbolized by the color blue.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG emphasized that the use of the color
blue was being used very particularly for "Go Blue Friday,"
which he indicated was a national campaign.
CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony on HCR 7.
9:16:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSHCR 7, Version 29-
LS0684\H, Glover, 3/19/15, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being
no objection, CSHCR 7(STA) was reported out of the House State
Affairs Standing Committee.