02/03/1993 03:00 PM House HES

  HB 88:  MAY 1 IS FAMILY DAY/MAY IS FAMILY MONTH                              
                                                                               
  REP. CON BUNDE, SPONSOR OF HB 88, spoke on the history of                    
  the bill.  He said Massoud Shadzad, a sociologist and                        
  promoter of a family day holiday, had approached him to                      
  express concern about the troubled state of the American                     
  family and his hope that a "Family Day" holiday, like                        
  Mother's Day or Father's Day, might draw attention to the                    
  problems, challenges and importance of families.                             
                                                                               
  REP. BUNDE continued, noting possible concerns that such a                   
  bill might better take the form of a resolution, which lasts                 
  but one year.  Such a resolution had been introduced last                    
  year, but Mr. Shadzad had sought a more permanent, possibly                  
  a national holiday, Rep. Bunde said.  Several states have                    
  already passed such bills, he noted, and it would not cost                   
  the state any money, nor set a precedent that might obligate                 
  the state to create a legal day off from work.                               
                                                                               
  Number 104                                                                   
                                                                               
  MASSOUD SHADZAD, PRESIDENT OF PROMPT FOUNDATION, INC, For                    
  Preservation of Family, and Prevention of Domestic Violence                  
  and Child Abuse, testified in favor of HB 88.  (His written                  
  testimony is herein incorporated and identified as                           
  Attachment 1.)  He said he has in 25 years of observation                    
  and research watched the America family disintegrate under                   
  assault from poverty, unemployment, violence, apathy, abuse,                 
  self-centeredness and other ills.  He proposed setting aside                 
  May 1 as "Family Day" and May as "Preservation of the Family                 
  Month" as a reminder of the family's importance, and as an                   
  opportunity to do good for individuals, families and                         
  communities.                                                                 
                                                                               
  The committee discussed the origin of the expression                         
  "Mayday" as a distress signal.                                               
                                                                               
  Number 250                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. BETTYE DAVIS asked how news of such a day would be                      
  promulgated if there were no funds appropriated, and what                    
  department of state government would administer such a                       
  holiday.                                                                     
                                                                               
  REP. BUNDE answered that he believed volunteer advocates and                 
  the press would spread awareness of the day, possibly with                   
  assistance from merchants.                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. B. DAVIS speculated as to whether Family Day would                      
  become a commercial holiday, akin to Mothers or Fathers                      
  Days, which are the occasion for theme sales and commercial                  
  promotions.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Number 275                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. SHADZAD said that six other states have passed similar                   
  bills, at no cost to them.  He stated that he has borne much                 
  of the costs.  He stated President Bill Clinton signed such                  
  a bill while governor of Arkansas.                                           
                                                                               
  REP. GARY DAVIS expressed concern over establishing a                        
  precedent by establishing a commemorative memorial day such                  
  as Family Day in statute instead of via resolution.  He                      
  asked for information about whether HB 88 would establish a                  
  precedent.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 305                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. SHADZAD recalled starting his efforts to create a                        
  national, possibly international, holiday in Oregon in 1989.                 
  He expressed the hope that such a holiday might encourage                    
  scholars and politicians to encourage self-supporting                        
  programs to aid communities as larger families.                              
                                                                               
  Number 322                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. BUNDE said Alaska statutes already designate four or                    
  five other commemorative days.  He stated that, in a broad                   
  sense, it was the intent of HB 88 to establish a precedent                   
  in support of national recognition of Family Day.  He said                   
  he introduced the measure as a bill, not a resolution,                       
  because resolutions last only a year.                                        
                                                                               
  Number 330                                                                   
                                                                               
  REP. G. DAVIS said he would prefer to delay action on HB 88,                 
  but indicated a willingness to bow to the committee's                        
  wishes.                                                                      
                                                                               
  REP. HARLEY OLBERG questioned whether such measures as                       
  creation of a holiday are not accomplished by governor's                     
  proclamation.                                                                
                                                                               
  REP. BUNDE repeated that the governor had signed such a                      
  proclamation last year, but it had expired after a year.                     
                                                                               
  Number 344                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR TOOHEY called a brief at-ease at 3:25 p.m.  She called                 
  the meeting back to order at 3:27 p.m.                                       
                                                                               
  REP. BUNDE read from the Alaska Statutes, starting with                      
  44.12.030, listing Wickersham Day, Anthony J. Dimond Day,                    
  Ernest Gruening Day, Bob Bartlett Day, William A. Egan Day,                  
  and Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.                                               
                                                                               
  CHAIR TOOHEY asked the will of the committee.                                
                                                                               
  REP. BUNDE moved passage without objection.                                  
                                                                               
  REP. IRENE NICHOLIA asked for time to discuss HB 88.                         
                                                                               
  CHAIR TOOHEY called a brief at-ease, then called the meeting                 
  back to order two minutes later.  She announced passage of                   
  HB 88 from the committee with individual recommendations.