Legislature(2019 - 2020)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/16/2020 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB76 | |
| SB8 | |
| SJR13 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 76 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 13-CONST. AM: PROHIBIT ABORTION/FUNDING
2:46:01 PM
CHAIR COGHILL announced that the final order of business would
be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13, Proposing an amendment to the
Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to abortion.
CHAIR COGHILL announced that public testimony was opened at the
last hearing.
2:46:48 PM
KAREN LEWIS, Pro Life Alaska, Wasilla, Alaska, spoke in support
of SJR 13. She stated that Thomas Jefferson said that the care
of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the
first and only legitimate object of good government. She quoted
the Declaration of Independence and the Bible to illustrate her
point. She related her daughter's decision to continue with an
unwed pregnancy and posited that young women can have children
and attend school at the same time.
2:49:32 PM
CATHY LAW, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, spoke in
support of SJR 13, which would add language to the Constitution
of the State of Alaska that says, "To protect human life,
nothing in this constitution may be construed to secure or
protect a right to an abortion or require the State to fund an
abortion." The resolution would ensure that there is no right to
an abortion in the Constitution of the State of Alaska. It would
allow Alaskans to establish laws on abortion that reflect
Alaskans' values. She offered her view that the Alaska Supreme
Court decisions invented the right. It was illegal in Alaska
from statehood until the Court decided otherwise.
2:51:06 PM
SERENA O'HARA-JOLLEY, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska,
spoke in opposition to SJR 13. She said that Alaskans value
their independence and individual choices. An overwhelming
number of Alaskans support the right to access safe and legal
abortions. She found amending the Constitution of the State of
Alaska to change the right to privacy unacceptable. Legislators
took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the State of Alaska,
but not to amend it to suit their moral values., she said.
2:53:12 PM
MARCI HAWKINS, representing self, Sutton, Alaska, said she
opposes SJR 13. She expressed concern that this would lead to
criminalizing abortion. She supports women being able to make
their own medical decisions.
2:55:05 PM
WENDY PERKINS, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, spoke in
support of SJR 13. She argued against using a privacy argument
regarding abortion. She does not want one branch of government
to be too strong. She said that it is dangerous for the judicial
branch to interpret the right to privacy to extend to abortion.
2:57:00 PM
CHERYL KAJDAN, representing self, Palmer, Alaska, spoke in
support of SJR 13. She said that as a nation, the U.S. fights
for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The changes in
peoples' moral stances have degraded general civil behavior. Dr.
Mildred Jefferson, cofounder of the national Right to Life,
warned people that abortions would be used to target the African
American community. She also warned that abortion access for
poor women would be used to justify keeping abortion legal. She
gave statistics to support her view. She asked members to allow
Alaskans to have a voice on this issue, not the Alaska Supreme
Court.
CHAIR COGHILL held SJR 13 in committee with public testimony
open.
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