Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
05/04/2021 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB163 | |
| SB28 | |
| HJR7 | |
| HB73 | |
| HB124 | |
| HB142 | |
| HB5 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 28 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 73 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 142 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 163 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 28-EST. APRIL 24 ALASKA CONSTITUTION DAY
3:08:09 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business
would be SENATE BILL NO. 28, "An Act establishing April 24 of
each year as Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill Constitution of the
State of Alaska Day; and providing for an effective date."
[before the committee was CSSB 28(STA).]
3:08:30 PM
SENATOR TOM BEGICH, Alaska State Legislature, prime sponsor,
introduced SB 28. He informed the committee that the proposed
legislation would establish "Alaska Constitution Day," further
noting that the bill was composed of only two sections. Section
1 denoted April 24 as a commemorated holiday and Section 2
established an effective date of July 1, 2021. He presented the
sponsor statement [included in the committee packet, which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
On April 24, 1956, the citizens of Alaska ratified the
Constitution of the State of Alaska, "guaranteeing
that the individual will always be in-charge," and
enshrining our State's [sic] values of individual
freedom, local control, and personal autonomy at the
core of our Statehood. The purpose of our Constitution
was to, "transmit to succeeding generations our
heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty
within the United of States."
Over the past 65 years, the laws and policies of our
state have remained relevant and true. Those 55
delegates, so long ago, provided a visionary template
for guided governance that has served this state well.
Now is the time to recognize the persistence of our
Constitution by establishing an annual reminder and
celebration of the continuity of our state's values.
Senate Bill 28 provides a bridge from the past to the
future by establishing the Vic Fischer and Jack
Coghill Constitution of the State of Alaska Day. If we
know where we have come from, we will better attend to
where we are going. As Alaska grapples with an
unprecedented pandemic and increasing fiscal
instability, let us all take a moment to remember the
actions and efforts that shaped the state we are today
and focus on the state we wish to become.
SENATOR BEGICH explained that Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill were
being honored because despite their different political
perspectives, they were able to work together on the shared goal
of bettering the state. He welcomed questions from the
committee.
3:12:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN pointed out that the bill would recognize
2 of the 55 constitutional delegates. He asked whether the bill
sponsor would object to including "a recommendation to the
state" to honor all 55 delegates.
SENATOR BEGICH pointed out that the bill had prompted senators
to acknowledge the other 53 delegates by name on the Senate
floor and in committee. He believed that the proposed
legislation would encourage further questions and discussion
about Alaska's constitutional delegates. He said he understood
the intent of Representative Eastman's question; however, the
statute would not lay out provisions for how to execute or
celebrate this holiday - it would simply name the commemorative
day. He encouraged the representatives to recognize the other
53 delegates by name should the bill arrive on the House floor.
3:14:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN questioned why Jack Coghill and Vic
Fisher were specifically named.
SENATOR BEGICH reiterated that both individuals came from very
different perspectives. Nonetheless, because of their shared
experienced with the Constitution of the State of Alaska, they
exemplified how two people with different ideologies could work
together.
3:15:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether Alaska Constitution Day would
be a commemorative or legal holiday and how it would affect
state employees.
SENATOR BEGICH explained that CSSB 28(STA) ensured that April 24
would be a commemorative holiday, as opposed to a legal holiday.
He believed that establishing a commemorative holiday was
critical due to the fiscal impact of legal holidays. He further
noted that commemorative holidays were identified under AS
44.12.
3:17:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to
CSSB 28(STA), such that "and all of Alaska's constitutional
delegates" would be inserted after "Vic Fischer" on page 1, line
7.
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN objected for the purpose of discussion.
3:18:20 PM
SENATOR BEGICH suggested adding a comma in between "Vic Fischer"
and "and all of Alaska's constitutional delegates"; thus reading
"Vic Fischer, and all of Alaska's constitutional delegates". He
believed that the conceptual amendment captured the spirit of
the bill's intent and encouraged the committee to consider it.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN agreed on the insertion of the comma.
3:19:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN withdrew his objection and suggested
leaving the grammatical decisions to Legislative Legal Services.
Without further objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS echoed Representative Claman's comments
regarding Legislative Legal Services having the prerogative to
incorporate the necessary conforming changes into bill.
SENATOR BEGICH noted the significance of debating a conceptual
amendment and a comma while sitting in the committee room named
after Max Gruenberg.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS concurred.
3:20:31 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened invited testimony.
3:20:49 PM
VICTOR FISHER said SB 28 was a good bill that would serve an
important purpose. He recalled speaking about the constitution
to many high school and college students throughout his
lifetime. He believed that the proposed legislation would
encourage people to understand their constitutional rights. He
reiterated his strong support for the bill and commended the
committee for promoting the idea.
3:23:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN thanked Mr. Fischer for his continued
participation in the democratic process and his long commitment
to Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY thanked Mr. Fischer for his work years ago,
which still lived on today. She said it was an honor to hear
him testify before the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR noted how special it was for legislation to
receive recognition from someone who helped frame Alaska's
constitution. She thanked Mr. Fischer for testifying.
SENATOR BEGICH shared that Mr. Fischer was one of his mentors.
He recalled working for him on campaign finance reform work in
1983. Personally, he said, this came "full circle."
3:24:54 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS noted the importance of having one of
Alaska's founding fathers share his perspective. Additionally,
he acknowledged the extraordinary life Mr. Fischer had lived.
He opened public testimony. After ascertaining that no one
wished to testify, he closed public testimony.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN noted that on April 24, the people of
Alaska voted to approve the constitution; therefore, he believed
that selecting April 24 as a commemorative holiday was an
appropriate choice in their honor - not to take away from the
hard work of the delegates.
3:27:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved to report CSSB 28(STA), as amended,
out of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. Without objection, HCS CSSB 28(STA)
was moved from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.