Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
04/12/2012 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB53 | |
| SCR24 | |
| SB179 | |
| SJR11 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 179 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SCR 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 53 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 53-COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
8:08:45 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was CS FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 53(FIN), "An Act reestablishing the Alaska
Commission on the Status of Women; and relating to the purpose
and powers of the Alaska Human Relations Commission."
8:08:59 AM
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor,
introduced SB 53.
8:09:19 AM
CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 53 on behalf of Senator Davis,
sponsor. She stated that the intent of bill is to reestablish
the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women to improve the
status of women in Alaska. She said the need for the commission
is supported by startling statistics. She offered to answer
questions from the committee.
8:10:22 AM
HILLARY A. MORGAN, CEO, Young Women's Christian Association
(YWCA) Alaska, testified in support of SB 53. She stated that
there is a need for a state agency to address the needs of women
throughout the state. She said Governor Parnell's Choose
Respect Campaign has demonstrated that issues of sexual assault
and domestic violence affecting Alaska's women and girls need
statewide oversight. She said the establishment of the
commission would fulfill that function and give the message to
Alaska's women and girls that finding solutions to issues
affecting them would continue long after the Choose Respect
Campaign. She stated that Alaska has some of the highest rates
per capita for sexual assault and domestic violence. She
indicated that $500,000 would bring that lasting message to the
women and girls of Alaska.
CHAIR LYNN remarked that men and boys are also victims of sexual
abuse.
8:12:49 AM
MARIE DARLING, AARP, testifying in support of SB 53, pointed to
a letter from AARP, included in the committee packet, which
lists the reasons AARP supports the proposed legislation. She
highlighted the following reasons: women are at a higher risk
of poverty as they age; and women currently earn 77 cents on the
dollar for every dollar men earn. She said there are
improvements to be made that need the support of the commission.
She said a vast majority of women are caregivers and a lot of
them are grandparents. She said AARP urges the legislature's
support of SB 53. She further encouraged the committee to read
a version of Trends.
8:14:49 AM
CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony.
8:15:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said as a father of three girls, the
proposed legislation is important to him. He posited that a
lack of confidence results in women being in positions they
don't need to be in. He stated support for SB 53.
8:16:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON said she thinks the proposed bill is a
step in right direction, but "not enough." She opined that the
men in the state need to be reached, although she said she does
not know how. She suggested that a commission on the status of
men would be a good idea, because men will not listen to women
as well as to other men.
8:17:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he does not disagree with
Representative P. Wilson, but said he does not want his
daughters to wait around for a man to tell them when they should
get out of a situation. He said, "I want them to be able to
stand up and not have to worry about it and walk out of a
situation without worrying about changing the mind of a man. I
think that's the whole point."
8:18:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSSB 53(FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 53(FIN) was
reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.