04/28/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

          SB  49-WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
            [CSSB 49(STA) was before the committee.]                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:43:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of CS FOR SENATE  BILL NO. 49(STA) "An Act relating                                                               
to  workplace violence  protective orders;  relating to  attorney                                                               
fees;  relating to  the crime  of violating  a protective  order;                                                               
relating  to  the  powers of  district  judges  and  magistrates;                                                               
amending Rules  4 and  65, Alaska Rules  of Civil  Procedure, and                                                               
Rule  9, Alaska  Rules of  Administration; and  providing for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:43:43 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MATT  CLAMAN,  District  H,  Alaska  State  Legislature,                                                               
Juneau,  Alaska, sponsor  of SB  49  provided a  brief recap  and                                                               
stated  that  the  bill  creates  workplace  violence  protective                                                               
orders  modeled  after domestic  violence  orders.  He said  this                                                               
allows businesses  facing credible  threats to  obtain protection                                                               
through  a faster,  less costly  process  than traditional  civil                                                               
actions.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:44:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 49.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:45:07 PM                                                                                                                    
RANDI BREAGER, Executive Director,  Abused Women's Aide in Crisis                                                               
(AWAIC), Anchorage,  Alaska, testified  in support  of SB  49 and                                                               
stated  that the  legislation is  crucial for  protecting shelter                                                               
residents  and staff  from violent  threats. Victims  in shelters                                                               
often fear  reporting incidents  due to  confidentiality concerns                                                               
or  retaliation,  and threats  against  one  person can  endanger                                                               
everyone. She  said recent incidents involved  abusers showing up                                                               
armed or  attempting to break  into shelters, with  limited legal                                                               
recourse  available. SB  49 allows  organizations  like AWAIC  to                                                               
petition for  workplace violence  protective orders on  behalf of                                                               
residents  and  staff, providing  a  faster,  more accurate,  and                                                               
effective tool to address threats and improve safety.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:48:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 49.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:48:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:48:18 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON moved  to report  CSSB 49(STA),  work order                                                               
34-LS0186\I, from  committee with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:48:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN found  no objection and CSSB  49(STA) was reported                                                               
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.