04/06/2012 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY

        SB 224-EVIDENCE RULES: UNION/EMPLOYEE PRIVILEGE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:38:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  FRENCH announced  the  consideration of  SB  224, "An  Act                                                               
making  privileged certain  communications between  employees and                                                               
employee union  representatives; and  amending Rule 402  and Rule                                                               
501, Alaska  Rules of Evidence." He  asked for a motion  to adopt                                                               
the proposed committee substitute (CS).                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:38:21 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR PASKVAN  moved to  bring the  work draft  CS for  SB 224,                                                               
labeled 27-LS1427\M, before the committee for discussion.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  FRENCH announced  that without  objection,  version M  was                                                               
before the committee.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:38:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DANA OWEN, aide to the  Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, said                                                               
the L&C  committee supports the  changes contained in the  CS for                                                               
SB 224. He explained the following:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
All instances  of the word  "individual" and one instance  of the                                                               
word "person"  were replaced with  the word "advocate,"  which is                                                               
defined in  Section 2 [on page  2, lines 27-29.] Also  in Section                                                               
2, provisions  in Sec.  23.40.065(b)(1) and  (2) were  changed to                                                               
more  closely  track  the  language   of  similar  provisions  in                                                               
existing privileges under Court Rules.  Paragraph (3) [on page 2,                                                               
line  17,] was  added to  clarify  that no  privilege exists  for                                                               
matters of workplace safety.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR FRENCH  found no  questions or discussion  and asked  for a                                                               
motion.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:40:12 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  moved to report  CS for SB 224,  version M,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  FRENCH announced  that  without  objection, CSSB  224(JUD)                                                               
moved from Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.