05/13/2021 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

                     SB 119-OATH OF OFFICE                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:09:27 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES announced  the consideration of SENATE  BILL NO. 119                                                               
"An  Act  relating  to  oaths of  office;  and  requiring  public                                                               
officers  to  read the  state  constitution,  the Declaration  of                                                               
Independence, and the United States Constitution."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
[CSSB 119(EDC) was before the committee.]                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:09:40 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:10:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  HUGHES reconvened  the meeting  and asked  the sponsor  to                                                               
introduce the bill.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:10:17 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR LORA REINBOLD, Alaska  State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,                                                               
sponsor of  SB 119, stated the  purpose of the bill  is to ensure                                                               
the  founding  documents  of  this  country  are  not  taken  for                                                               
granted.   It   requires   Alaskans  who   are   statutorily   or                                                               
constitutionally required to take an  oath of office in the state                                                               
to  sign a  statement  that  they have  read  the Declaration  of                                                               
Independence, the U.S. Constitution,  and the Constitution of the                                                               
State of Alaska.  These sworn statements would be  filed with the                                                               
municipal clerk in the appropriate jurisdiction.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
She suggested Senator Hughes may  want to discuss the change made                                                               
in the Education Committee.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:11:36 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  HUGHES   explained  that  school  boards   were  initially                                                               
included  and  the  previous   committee  determined  that  other                                                               
municipal officials should be included.  For that reason the bill                                                               
picked up a referral to this committee.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:12:02 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES  opened public  testimony on  SB 119;  finding none,                                                               
she closed  public testimony. She advised  that written testimony                                                               
would be accepted at scra@akleg.gov.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:12:35 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MYERS  asked if she  believes people are not  reading and                                                               
paying attention  to these foundational  documents or if it  is a                                                               
matter of differing interpretations.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  REINBOLD offered  her belief  that  all students  should                                                               
read the Declaration  of Independence in order  to understand all                                                               
the  grievances in  the early  days of  this country.  She opined                                                               
that   understanding   the    grievances   provides   a   greater                                                               
appreciation for civil  liberties and the Bill of  Rights. At the                                                               
very least, it is a good refresher, she said.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:13:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES solicited the will of the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:14:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MYERS  moved to  report SB  119, work  order 32-LS0163\G,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:14:18 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WILSON  objected  to  ask  if the  intent  was  for  the                                                               
relevant  individuals  to  read  the constitution  with  all  the                                                               
amendments or just the original constitution.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:14:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR REINBOLD  replied the  intent is  for the  individuals to                                                               
read   the  entire   U.S.   Constitution,   the  Declaration   of                                                               
Independence, and  the Constitution of  the State of  Alaska. She                                                               
noted that the statutes for  the different officials were written                                                               
at different times and SB 119 conforms the platform.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   HUGHES  offered   her  understanding   that  the   common                                                               
definition  of  the state  and  U.S.  constitutions includes  the                                                               
amendments. In response to Senator  Myers' question, she surmised                                                               
that some  people do not  read these  documents but they  will if                                                               
they  have to  sign that  they did  so. She  noted that  the next                                                               
committee of referral was the Judiciary Committee.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:15:51 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WILSON removed his objection.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:15:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES  found no  further objection  and CSSB  119(EDC) was                                                               
reported from the Senate Community  and Regional Affairs Standing                                                               
Committee.