Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120

04/16/2021 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

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01:05:39 PM Start
01:06:26 PM Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Violent Crimes Compensation Board
01:24:51 PM HB116
01:37:53 PM HB39
02:35:07 PM HB29
02:54:24 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Consideration of Governor's Appointees: TELECONFERENCED
- Violent Crimes Compensation Board: Gregory
Bringhurst, Anne Helzer, & Robert "Bob" Urata
-- Public Testimony --
*+ HB 39 VOTER PREREGISTRATION FOR MINORS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 116 JUVENILES: JUSTICE,FACILITES,TREATMENT TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 116 Out of Committee
+= HB 29 ELECTRIC UTILITY LIABILITY TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
            HB  39-VOTER PREREGISTRATION FOR MINORS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:37:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CLAMAN announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 39, "An  Act relating to voter preregistration for                                                               
minors at least 16 years of age."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:38:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   GRIER   HOPKINS,   Alaska   State   Legislature,                                                               
presented  HB  39 as  prime  sponsor.    He  stated that  he  had                                                               
sponsored HB 39  as part of an ongoing effort  to take a detailed                                                               
look at  ways to improve  the electoral process and  to encourage                                                               
young Alaskans to  become active and informed voters.   He stated                                                               
that he  had received interest  in the bill from  young Alaskans,                                                               
local  educators, and  fellow legislators.   He  stated that  the                                                               
main intent  of the bill is  to allow individuals at  16 years of                                                               
age  to register  [prior  to  becoming eligible  to  vote at  age                                                               
eighteen], and  that HB 39 would  not change the voting  age.  He                                                               
suggested  that  the passage  of  the  bill would  further  voter                                                               
education  and engagement  by providing  an  additional tool  for                                                               
civics educators.  He stated  that 23 states and Washington, D.C.                                                               
currently  offer some  form  of  preregistration for  individuals                                                               
under 18.   He stated  that in the  State of North  Dakota voters                                                               
are  not  required  to  register  to  vote,  and  encouraged  the                                                               
committee  to  review  the  information  contained  in  committee                                                               
packet  items   including  those  entitled,  "HB   39  Supporting                                                               
Document - Data  Excerpts 4.16.2021," "HB 39  Research Document -                                                               
Increasing  Youth Participation  The  Case for  a National  Voter                                                               
Pre-Registration Law 2012 4.16.2021," "HB  39 Research Document -                                                               
Voter  Preregistration   Programs  (Case  Study  of   Hawaii  and                                                               
Florida) 4.16.2021," and "HB 39  Research Document - Making Young                                                               
Voters   The  Impact   of   Preregistration   on  Youth   Turnout                                                               
4.16.2021", from which he cited statistics.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:43:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN introduced invited testimony.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:44:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMY  GALLAWAY,  Teacher,  2020 Teacher  of  the  Year,  testified                                                               
during the  hearing on HB  39.  She  read from a  prepared letter                                                               
[included in  the committee packet],  entitled "HB  39 Supporting                                                               
Document  - Letters  Received  as of  4.11.2021,"  which read  as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     To: Representative  Claman, Representative  Snyder, and                                                                    
     Committee Members                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     My name is Amy Gallaway. I  am a high school civics and                                                                    
     CTE teacher in the  Fairbanks Northstar Borough and the                                                                    
     2020  Alaska  Teacher of  the  year.  I am  writing  in                                                                    
     support of  HB39 "Voter  Registration Ag.    As citizen                                                                    
     legislators, you are acutely  aware of the necessity of                                                                    
     having  an informed  electorate that  is representative                                                                    
     of  the entirety  of  the state  and  not just  certain                                                                    
     demographics.   Allowing   non-partisan   early   voter                                                                    
     registration  at  16  will  empower  students  to  more                                                                    
     engaged citizens  by demystifying the  election process                                                                    
     and making  the registration process more  relevant for                                                                    
     more   students.  Academic   studies   from  NCSL   and                                                                    
     electoral analyses show that  voting behavior is habit-                                                                    
     forming.  It's important  to engage  prospective voters                                                                    
     early  on  to  create  a  habit  of  voting  and  civic                                                                    
     engagement. After  22 years of  teaching civics,  I can                                                                    
     unequivocally  state  the  research   is  spot  on.  My                                                                    
     students who vote  in their first election at  18 or 19                                                                    
     continue  to vote  throughout  their  lives whereas  my                                                                    
     students who did not, are  still trying to figure out 5                                                                    
     years  later.  Most  interestingly,   I  find  that  my                                                                    
     students who are able to  register and vote while still                                                                    
     in high school are more  engaged in our local and state                                                                    
     elections instead of only every 4 years for president.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Registration  is  a  critical step  to  protecting  the                                                                    
     integrity  of  our elections,  but  it  shouldn't be  a                                                                    
     barrier. While  some say it  is "easy", I can  tell you                                                                    
     from experience  students find voter  registration HARD                                                                    
     and most  parents don   teach  it. Many parents  do not                                                                    
     vote, especially  in local elections, so  the education                                                                    
     students  get  about  registration  and  the  electoral                                                                    
     process   comes  almost   entirely   from  the   school                                                                    
     curriculum. Schools are the perfect  place to teach how                                                                    
     to  register to  vote because  we are  already teaching                                                                    
     the power  and necessity of  the vote. By  lowering the                                                                    
     registration age,  teachers can provide the  option for                                                                    
     all  students  to  register  to  vote  alongside  their                                                                    
     civics  lessons  and   preregistration  drives  can  be                                                                    
     designed  to operate  on an  ongoing  basis, even  when                                                                    
     there  is   no  scheduled  election,   making  learning                                                                    
     relevant and  empowering students. At West  Valley High                                                                    
     School, we hold an  annual student-run local government                                                                    
     candidate forum.  It is usually  school board  or State                                                                    
     House races. As a culminating  activity, we then hold a                                                                    
     schoolwide  Kids Voting  election.  Many students  find                                                                    
     the election  childish since  it "doesn't  count", even                                                                    
     though it is important to  teach the process of getting                                                                    
     informed, election districts, and  how to interact with                                                                    
     the   ballot.   During   this  time   we   hold   voter                                                                    
     registration  drives,  but  often  only  a  handful  of                                                                    
     students qualify. With HB39 as  law, more students each                                                                    
     year could  register and feel firsthand  the importance                                                                    
     of engaging the democratic process.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     We  need  to  increase   youth  voter  turnout  so  the                                                                    
     electorate  represents all  sectors of  society better.                                                                    
     Average  voter turnout  in  annual municipal  elections                                                                    
     hovers between  15-21% and for state  elections between                                                                    
     44-48%. In  the 2018 election,  only 6% of  18-24 year-                                                                    
     olds  voted.  This is  not  just  disheartening, it  is                                                                    
     unhealthy.  Every year  I ask  students why  they think                                                                    
     people don't  vote. They say, "One  vote doesn't really                                                                    
     matter, people  don't care,  and it  is HARD  to vote".                                                                    
     Last year while teaching a  lesson on public policy and                                                                    
     voter turnout, I  had a group of  students goofing off.                                                                    
     They  were talking  about  the  basketball game,  their                                                                    
     jobs,  Snapchat, but  definitely not  voter turnout.  I                                                                    
     asked  them,  "Since  young people  vote  in  such  low                                                                    
     numbers,  should   the  voting  age  be   increased  to                                                                    
     thirty?"  I  thought this  would  outrage  them. To  my                                                                    
     surprise, at least 15 students  said, "Sure, it doesn't                                                                    
     really matter  anyway." Four  students even  offered to                                                                    
     give up  their vote  altogether; they decided  only the                                                                    
     people who  care should  vote. This  is the  reality in                                                                    
     most classrooms in Alaska.  By allowing 16-year-olds to                                                                    
     register to vote, educators can  lower one barrier- how                                                                    
     to  register. Then  use it  alongside effective  civics                                                                    
     programs like Kids Voting, We  the People, and iCivics.                                                                    
     If we  want to make elections  fully representative, we                                                                    
     need  to  make the  distribution  of  voting costs  and                                                                    
     benefits independent  of party lines.  Simplified voter                                                                    
     registration does  that. 14 states,  including Florida,                                                                    
     Louisiana,  Hawaii, and  Oregon permit  preregistration                                                                    
     beginning at 16  years old. Alaska should  be number 15                                                                    
     so our students can help save the republic.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:49:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALEX KOPLIN, Member, Kenai Peninsula  Votes, testified in support                                                               
of  HB  39.    He   explained  that  the  organization  which  he                                                               
represents is a non-partisan group  of citizens who promote voter                                                               
education and  voting.  He  suggested that  the passage of  HB 39                                                               
would result  in voters being  able to register between  the ages                                                               
of 16 and  17 and would increase voter participation.   He stated                                                               
his  understanding that  14 states  and  Washington, D.C.  permit                                                               
preregistration for  voters who are  16 years of age  [or older],                                                               
and  more states  allow  preregistration for  voters  who are  17                                                               
years  of age  [or older].    He opined  that preregistration  of                                                               
voters would allow  education in civics.  He  stated that, during                                                               
his time as a high school  teacher, he encouraged his students to                                                               
complete a voter registration form,  regardless of their age.  He                                                               
stated that, in some states, individuals  as young as 16 years of                                                               
age  may  vote in  certain  elections.    He suggested  that  the                                                               
passage of  HB 39  would strengthen civics  education.   He urged                                                               
bipartisan support for HB 39.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:52:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CLAMAN informed the committee  that staff from the Division                                                               
of Elections,  Department of  Law, and  Department of  Health and                                                               
Social Services were available to answer questions.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:52:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   KURKA  shared   with   the  committee   concerns                                                               
expressed to his  office by constituents that this  bill would be                                                               
a  precursor  to lowering  the  voting  age.   He  expressed  his                                                               
support for voter education.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOPKINS stated  that  it was  not  the intent  to                                                               
lower  the voting  age  and offered  his  understanding that  the                                                               
federal voting age remains at 18.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:54:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KURKA  recalled  his experience  of  his  parents                                                               
having brought  him into the voting  booth as part of  his civics                                                               
education.    He  asked  what  need exists  to  allow  voters  to                                                               
preregister and engage in the process [prior to age 18].                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOPKINS  recalled   prior  testimony  that,  when                                                               
students  are engaged  in the  public process,  the education  on                                                               
civics  becomes relevant  to students  beyond  memorization.   He                                                               
suggested  that   [the  lack  of  early   registration]  may  not                                                               
constitute  a  need;  however,  it   would  provide  a  tool  and                                                               
incentive to generate interest among students.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:57:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KURKA  stated his  understanding that a  voter may                                                               
preregister at age  17.  He referred to subsection  (c), on lines                                                               
13-15:                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     "When a person  has preregistered to vote  under (b) of                                                                    
     this section,  the division shall,  90 days  before the                                                                    
     person reaches 18 years of  age, register the person to                                                                    
     vote  and forward  to the  person an  acknowledgment in                                                                    
     the form of a registration card."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
He asked whether  this would allow individuals to  be eligible to                                                               
vote sooner.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:58:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS  answered that  HB 39  would allow  for an                                                               
individual  to   preregister  and  would  not   change  [when  an                                                               
individual  is eligible  to vote].    He invited  staff from  the                                                               
Department of Law to weigh in on .the question.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:59:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
THOMAS  FLYNN,  Assistant  Attorney   General,  Labor  and  State                                                               
Affairs Section,  Civil Division (Anchorage), Department  of Law,                                                               
answered  that AS  15.07.040 allows  voters to  register 90  days                                                               
preceding their  eighteenth birthday and  that HB 39  would align                                                               
preregistration with existing statute.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:59:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CLAMAN   provided  an  example  in   which  an  individual                                                               
preregistered  on  his/her  seventeenth  birthday,  then  on  the                                                               
ninetieth  day before  his/her eighteenth  birthday, registration                                                               
would be automatic.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. FLYNN  agreed with the  example provided by Chair  Claman and                                                               
referred the question to Division of Elections staff.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:00:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAROL  THOMPSON,  Operations   Manager,  Division  of  Elections,                                                               
Office of  the Lieutenant  Governor, answered  that a  person may                                                               
register to  vote 90 days  prior to his/her  eighteenth birthday.                                                               
She stated that,  should HB 39 pass, an individual  would then be                                                               
able to preregister to vote at  age 16 and would be registered to                                                               
vote 90  days prior  to his/her eighteenth  birthday.   She added                                                               
that existing  statute and the Alaska  State Constitution specify                                                               
that  a person  cannot vote  until eighteen  years of  age.   She                                                               
further explained  that the  90-day advance  registration allowed                                                               
an  individual to  register to  vote when  he/she turns  eighteen                                                               
immediately prior to an election.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:01:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KURKA   asked  whether   an  individual   who  is                                                               
registered to vote prior to  his/her eighteenth birthday may vote                                                               
before age 18.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:01:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CLAMAN  asked whether,  if  election  day is  on  November                                                               
first, and an individual registers  on October first, and his/her                                                               
[eighteenth] birthday  is December  first, that  individual would                                                               
be permitted to vote on November first.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON  answered no; due  to an internal tracking  on voter                                                               
registration rolls, an  individual's name will not  appear on the                                                               
register at a precinct until he/she is eligible to vote.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:02:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KURKA  expressed  his  concern  regarding  adding                                                               
preregistration as  a third  category in  addition to  the 90-day                                                               
preregistration  [that exists]  and asked  whether an  individual                                                               
who  is registered  to  vote but  not age  eighteen  prior to  an                                                               
election would be allowed to vote.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS.  THOMPSON  answered  that,   currently,  when  an  individual                                                               
preregisters 90  days prior to  his/her eighteenth  birthday, the                                                               
individual  appears   registered  within   the  system   but  not                                                               
published  on  precinct  registers  at the  polls  and  would  be                                                               
required to vote  on a question ballot.  She  added that [his/her                                                               
ballot] would be denied if the  individual was not eighteen on or                                                               
before election day.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:05:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. FLYNN  offered that  the proposed bill  would create  a third                                                               
category of  which there already  exist the two:   registered and                                                               
eligible to  vote and preregistered and  automatically registered                                                               
to vote  90 days  prior to election  day.  The  bill would  add a                                                               
category of  those who are  preregistered [but  not automatically                                                               
registered until 90 days prior to an election].                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:05:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KURKA asked  whether an  extension of  the 90-day                                                               
period [back] to age 16 could be a streamlined approach.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:06:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS  allowed that  an extension of  the 90-day                                                               
preregistration  deadline  could  be   a  solution  and  welcomed                                                               
further discussion.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:06:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EASTMAN asked,  under  current  statute, when  an                                                               
individual  17 years  of  age, who  preregisters  to vote,  would                                                               
receive his/her voter registration card.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:07:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON  answered that voter cards  are mailed within 2  - 4                                                               
weeks of receipt of application.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EASTMAN  asked,  should  HB 39  pass,  when  that                                                               
individual would receive his/her voter registration card.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON  anticipated that the  process would not  change; as                                                               
soon as the  90-day advance deadline was reached,  cards would be                                                               
mailed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   EASTMAN   asked   whether   Ms.   Thompson   had                                                               
encountered a  voter who had mistaken  his/her voter registration                                                               
card as [proof of] eligibility to vote.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON  answered that occasionally  an underage  voter will                                                               
attempt to vote on a question  ballot, and the ballot is rejected                                                               
and the  voter notified.   She  added that  she could  not answer                                                               
whether it  was due to  the underage voter having  a registration                                                               
card.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN  asked if an  individual was voting  for a                                                               
presidential  election only,  might a  voter be  allowed to  vote                                                               
according   to   federal   regulations   with   a   valid   voter                                                               
identification card [when the voter is ineligible].                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON answered  that, even for a  federal-only election, a                                                               
person would  still be required  to be  eighteen years of  age in                                                               
order to  vote.   She further  added that,  if they  attempted to                                                               
vote at another precinct on  an absentee ballot, the ballot would                                                               
be  reviewed and  if, after  review, it  was determined  that the                                                               
voter  was  not at  least  eighteen,  then  the ballot  would  be                                                               
rejected.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:09:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN  asked whether  there might be  benefit in                                                               
tying the registering for the  [U.S. Selective Service System] to                                                               
the registration to vote.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOPKINS  suggested  that  it would  likely  be  a                                                               
federal matter  and suggested that  the Department of  Military &                                                               
Veterans' Affairs may  be able to answer  questions regarding the                                                               
[U.S. Selective Services System] early registration.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:11:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EASTMAN  questioned  whether  preregistration  as                                                               
early as 16  would be so far in advance  [of eligibility to vote]                                                               
that  the preregistered  voter may  not remember  when he/she  is                                                               
eligible to vote.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS  recommended the  question be  answered by                                                               
Ms. Galloway.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:12:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. GALLOWAY suggested that although  individuals may be eligible                                                               
to register  at age 16, not  all students would choose  to do so.                                                               
She suggested  that it would  be at the  option of the  voter and                                                               
would  enable  students to  choose  to  participate during  their                                                               
[civics] educational  experience.  She opined  that many students                                                               
would likely  choose to  register at  age 17  or closer  to their                                                               
eighteenth birthday, in advance of an upcoming election.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:13:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DRUMMOND referred  to the  State of  Alaska Voter                                                               
Registration Application  [included in the committee  packet] and                                                               
a screenshot  of the Division  of Elections webpage  showing "Who                                                               
Can Register  and Who Can  Vote," and she asked  for confirmation                                                               
that a  voter who registers  on the  ninetieth day in  advance of                                                               
his/her eighteenth  birthday would  receive a  voter registration                                                               
card  within  3 to  4  weeks  and, if  eighteen  at  the time  of                                                               
election, would be eligible to vote.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON confirmed this as correct.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND  asked if the  card is valid  when issued                                                               
if election day is after the voter turns 18 years old.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON confirmed this as correct.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   DRUMMOND   asked   for   confirmation   of   her                                                               
understanding that,  should HB 39  pass, a voter may  register at                                                               
age  16  and  the  Division  of Elections  would  issue  a  voter                                                               
registration card  90 days in  advance of the  voter's eighteenth                                                               
birthday without additional action by the voter.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON stated her understanding to be the same.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:17:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DRUMMOND  asked  whether the  voter  registration                                                               
offered  during the  permanent  fund  dividend (PFD)  application                                                               
process  indicates  the existence  of  the  90-day [time  period]                                                               
prior to an applicant's eighteenth birthday.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON deferred the question to be answered by Mr. Flynn.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:18:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. FLYNN  answered that AS  43.23.015 indicates  that applicants                                                               
are  required to  be  eligible to  vote and  would  only then  be                                                               
automatically registered to vote.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND indicated that could be problematic.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:19:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   EASTMAN  asked   whether  information   held  on                                                               
[minors]  would  be held  separately  from  adult information  to                                                               
safeguard against [any data breach].                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:20:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS  expressed that  he would  be open  to the                                                               
possibility of  an amendment to include  additional safeguards on                                                               
minors' data  as well as  Representative Kurka's  earlier concern                                                               
of  maintaining   a  separate   list  of  individuals   who  have                                                               
registered within 90 days prior to their eighteenth birthdays.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:20:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EASTMAN  asked,  should  HB  39  pass,  how  long                                                               
information is retained on individuals  who register at age 16 to                                                               
vote and subsequently leaves the state.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON  stated that had  not been taken  into consideration                                                               
in analyzing  the proposed bill.   She explained that,  should an                                                               
individual become  registered and  not vote  or have  any contact                                                               
with the  division, the registration maintenance  logs procedures                                                               
would apply.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN  stated that  the permanent  fund dividend                                                               
application contains  a question  as to  whether an  applicant is                                                               
registered to  vote in another  state.  He expressed  his concern                                                               
that, should  HB 39 pass,  a sixteen-year-old,  who preregistered                                                               
to  vote  and  subsequently  left the  state  and  registered  in                                                               
another state, would  be registered to vote in  two states, which                                                               
could create an issue for the voter.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:23:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. THOMPSON expressed her hesitancy  to answer the question, but                                                               
offered  that,  should  the division  receive  notification  from                                                               
another state  that an  individual had  registered in  that other                                                               
state, the division would cancel  that voter's registration.  She                                                               
further added that  voter registration could be  cancelled if the                                                               
division was  contacted by  the voter  and finally,  the division                                                               
conducts  yearly  voter  registration   list  maintenance.    She                                                               
further referred the question to the Department of Law.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:24:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   CLAMAN  suggested   that   the   scenario  described   by                                                               
Representative Eastman could exist for a voter of any age.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:25:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  FLYNN stated  his agreement  with Chair  Claman's suggestion                                                               
that the  potential issues described  could exist for a  voter of                                                               
any age.  He added that preregistration is not automatic.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:25:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CLAMAN opened  public testimony  on  HB39 and  ascertained                                                               
that there  was no one who  wished to testify, and  closed public                                                               
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:26:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CLAMAN  asked  Ms. Galloway  whether  she  encourages  her                                                               
students in  the classroom to  register to vote when  they become                                                               
eligible 90 days  prior to their eighteenth birthdays.   He asked                                                               
how the  passage of HB 39  might change how students  are engaged                                                               
to register to vote.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GALLOWAY  answered that  each  classroom  is different,  and                                                               
schools   may  conduct   voter  registration   drives  close   to                                                               
graduation or close  to upcoming elections.   She explained that,                                                               
in  her  classroom,  she monitors  each  student's  birthday  and                                                               
offers a voter  registration form to a student who  is turning 18                                                               
as a  birthday present.   She  added that,  in her  school, there                                                               
exist teachers who are registrars  and provide additional support                                                               
to  students.   She suggested  that the  passage of  HB 39  would                                                               
result in more students preregistering.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:28:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CLAMAN shared his experience  while speaking to students in                                                               
classrooms  and  suggested  that,  should  HB  39  pass,  elected                                                               
officials could encourage students to vote.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:29:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  VANCE referred  to the  fiscal note  [included in                                                               
the  committee   packet],  entitled   "HB39-OOG-DOE-4-14-21"  and                                                               
suggested  that  the  analysis   contained  in  the  fiscal  note                                                               
warranted scrutiny.   She asked, if HB 39 had  been enacted prior                                                               
to  the  data   breach  that  occurred  [with   the  Division  of                                                               
Elections] prior to  the last election, what  liability would the                                                               
state be  subject to  should minors'  [protected] data  have been                                                               
breached.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. FLYNN  stated that he  could not answer what  liabilities may                                                               
exist for  the state had  HB 39 passed.   He stated  that minors'                                                               
voter registration  data would be included  in voter registration                                                               
rolls.   Alaska currently does  not have specific  protections on                                                               
data associated with  minors; all data is  protected under public                                                               
records statutes.   He  postulated that  other states  which have                                                               
preregistration  for  minors   may  have  additional  protections                                                               
pertaining specifically to minors' data.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:31:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE  referred to the fiscal  note analysis which                                                               
read:   "...regulations  would be  necessary to  clarify how  the                                                               
division  will  store this  data  and  what  parts will  be  made                                                               
available  to the  public as  well as  how individuals  (or their                                                               
legal  guardians)  would  interact   with  the  division  in  the                                                               
maintenance of the  data."  She asked  what protections currently                                                               
exist in statute pertaining to minors' information.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR.  FLYNN expressed  that  he  is not  aware  of any  individual                                                               
protections that exist specific to data of minors.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:31:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CLAMAN asked whether Representative  Vance was inquiring on                                                               
protections  that may  exist on  minors' voter  registration data                                                               
that  may  exist  in  the  90  days  prior  to  their  eighteenth                                                               
birthdays or data of minors in general.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  VANCE  specified  her inquiry  pertained  to  the                                                               
protection of data of minors in general.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CLAMAN asked whether Mr.  Flynn's previous answer pertained                                                               
to protections that may exist  on minors' voter registration data                                                               
or data of minors in general.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. FLYNN answered  that he had spoken to the  protection of data                                                               
of minors in general.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CLAMAN suggested  that some of the  discussion taking place                                                               
pertained  to voter  registration  in general  and  may be  going                                                               
beyond the scope of HB 39.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:32:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EASTMAN referred  to line  9 and  postulated that                                                               
the language would  not allow for a minor to  preregister via the                                                               
PFD  application  process and  asked  for  conversation with  the                                                               
bill's  sponsor  regarding  an  instance  where  a  parent  would                                                               
preregister his/her child to vote via that process.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOPKINS  asked whether  Representative  Eastman's                                                               
question was  whether or not  to include preregistration  as part                                                               
of the PFD application process.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EASTMAN  asked  for conversation  on  whether  to                                                               
include preregistration  as part  of the PFD  application process                                                               
of a parent on behalf of a minor.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS answered  that one of the  purposes of the                                                               
proposed legislation  would be to encourage  students' engagement                                                               
in  their  civics education.    He  opined that  automatic  voter                                                               
preregistration  through the  PFD application  process would  not                                                               
work toward that purpose.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:34:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CLAMAN announced that HB 39 was held over.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
Violent Crimes Compensation Board Appointment - Greg Bringhurst Resume 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
Violent Crimes Compensation Board Appointment - Anne Helzer Application 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
Violent Crimes Compensation Board Appointment - Robert Urata Application 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
Violent Crimes Compensation Board Appointment - Robert Urata Resume 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39 v. A 2.18.2021.PDF HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 Sponsor Statement v. A 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 Sectional Analysis v. A 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 Supporting Document - Data Excerpts 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 Supporting Document - Letters Received as of 4.11.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 Research Document - Increasing Youth Participation The Case for a National Voter Pre-Registration Law 2012 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 Research Document - Voter Preregistration Programs (Case Study of Hawaii and Florida) 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 Research Document - Making Young Voters The Impact of Preregistration on Youth Turnout 4.16.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 Fiscal Note OOG-DOE 4.14.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/21/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 39
HB 116 v. A 2.24.2021.PDF HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/12/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 116
HB 116 Sponsor Statement v. A 4.12.2021.pdf HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/12/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 116
HB 116 Sectional Analysis v. A 4.12.2021.pdf HJUD 4/12/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 116
HB 116 Supporting Document - FAQs 4.12.2021.pdf HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/12/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 116
HB 116 Supporting Document - Carey Acquittal 2017 4.12.2021.pdf HJUD 4/12/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 116
HB 116 Supporting Document - Temporary Secure Juvenile Holding Areas 4.12.2021.pdf HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/12/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 116
HB 116 Supporting Document - DJJ Letter 4.9.2021.pdf HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/12/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 116
HB 116 Additional Document - DHSS Comparison Memo for HB 116 and HB 105 (SB 91) 4.14.2021.pdf HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 105
HB 116
SB 91
HB 116 Additional Document - DHSS Comparison of HB 116 and HB 105 (SB 91) with Notes 4.14.2021.pdf HHSS 4/27/2021 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 105
HB 116
SB 91
HB 116 Fiscal Note DHSS-PS 4.9.2021.pdf HHSS 4/29/2021 3:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/12/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 116
HB 29 v. A 2.18.2021.PDF HJUD 3/22/2021 1:30:00 PM
HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Sponsor Statement 3.22.2021.pdf HJUD 3/22/2021 1:30:00 PM
HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Supporting Document - Electric Utility Liability Information 3.22.2021.pdf HJUD 3/22/2021 1:30:00 PM
HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Supporting Document - APA Letter 3.1.2021.pdf HJUD 3/22/2021 1:30:00 PM
HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Supporting Document - CVEA Letter 3.9.2021.pdf HJUD 3/22/2021 1:30:00 PM
HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Supporting Document - GVEA Letter 3.16.2021.pdf HJUD 3/22/2021 1:30:00 PM
HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Supporting Document - CVEA Vegetation Management Draft March 2021 3.22.2021.pdf HJUD 3/22/2021 1:30:00 PM
HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Additional Document - Anchorage Daily News Article (Distributed by HJUD Committee) 3.28.2021.pdf HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Opposing Document - Testimony Received by 3.29.2021.pdf HJUD 3/29/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Additional Document - Communications with American Property Casualty Insurance Association (Distributed by HJUD Committee) 4.7.2021.pdf HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Additional Document - HB 66 Utah Wildland Fire Planning and Cost Recovery Amendments (Distributed by HJUD Committee) 4.7.2021.pdf HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Additional Document - APCIA and NAMIC Joint Letter to HJUD 4.9.2021.pdf HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Additional Document - APCIA and NAMIC Draft Amendment to HB 29 (Distributed by the HJUD Committee) 4.9.2021.pdf HJUD 4/9/2021 1:00:00 PM
HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29
HB 29 Additional Document - APA Response to APCIA and NAMIC Joint Letter to HJUD 4.12.2021.pdf HJUD 4/16/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 29