Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

03/01/2024 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 173 AUTHORIZE HANDGUNS SCHOOL EMPLOYEE/VOLUNT TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 173(L&C) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
*+ SB 211 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS/LOANS/SALES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
        SB 173-AUTHORIZE HANDGUNS SCHOOL EMPLOYEE/VOLUNT                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:43:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN announced  the consideration  of SENATE  BILL NO.                                                               
173  "An  Act  requiring  school  districts  to  grant  qualified                                                               
persons an assigned  duty to carry a concealed  handgun on school                                                               
grounds   under  certain   conditions;  relating   to  standards,                                                               
training,  and  continuing  education in  firearms  training  for                                                               
qualified persons granted  an assigned duty to  carry a concealed                                                               
handgun on  school grounds; relating  to communication  of school                                                               
districts with state  and local law enforcement;  and relating to                                                               
school crisis response plans."                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:43:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGHES, District  M, Alaska  State Legislature,  Juneau,                                                               
Alaska, sponsor  of SB  173, explained that  the bill  provides a                                                               
back-end  stopgap  in  the  event of  an  active  school  shooter                                                               
incident.  While schools  work  hard to  prevent these  incidents                                                               
with  a  variety of  front-end  measures  (e.g. providing  mental                                                               
health  support,  locks  on  doors, etc.),  this  does  not  keep                                                               
shooters  from  entering  schools.   After  a  series  of  school                                                               
shooting incidents  across the country,  she was approached  by a                                                               
retired teacher  who suggested that  arming teachers  would deter                                                               
shooters  from  entering  school  grounds. She  noted  that  this                                                               
teacher was working  in Bethel in 1997, when  a shooting occurred                                                               
at  Bethel  High School.  She  pointed  out that  several  states                                                               
across the country have similar laws  in place and said that more                                                               
school shooters  are stopped  by armed  school personnel  than by                                                               
law enforcement. This is because  it takes law enforcement longer                                                               
to arrive  at the  school. She emphasized  that in  Alaska, where                                                               
many villages  do not have  armed law enforcement and/or  are not                                                               
on the  road system, it can  take troopers anywhere from  an hour                                                               
to five days to respond to an emergency call.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGHES  asserted that SB  173 is a  precautionary measure                                                               
that  will  save   the  lives  of  students   and  teachers.  She                                                               
acknowledged  that there  is opposition  to arming  school staff.                                                               
However, she  has received  more messages in  support of  than in                                                               
opposition to  SB 173. She  suggested that  this is because  of a                                                               
shared goal  to protect  children and  school staff.  She pointed                                                               
out that,  while there is  concern about having guns  in schools,                                                               
there is  little risk  of a negligent  discharge (ND)  when staff                                                               
are  highly  trained. Additionally,  the  guns  would be  carried                                                               
rather  than left  in a  desk drawer,  which further  reduces the                                                               
risk of ND.  It is not feasible to have  School Resource Officers                                                               
(SRO) at every school. She asserted  that the only person who can                                                               
save a  child in an  active shooter situation is  someone on-site                                                               
who is  able to respond immediately.  She added that this  is not                                                               
about  whether people  are  pro-gun or  anti-gun;  rather, it  is                                                               
about keeping  children safe.  She said that  she has  asked both                                                               
anti-gun and pro-gun  parents if they would  want someone on-site                                                               
who could  stop an  active shooter from  hurting their  child. No                                                               
one has replied "no". Referring to  an incident when a moose on a                                                               
playground could  have harmed children, she  added that biometric                                                               
lockers  or keeping  a rifle  at school  are additional  measures                                                               
that can be taken.  She opined that, if SB 173  is not passed and                                                               
there is a school shooting, the  state will regret not having put                                                               
these added safeguards in place.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:49:20 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   HUGHES   briefly   summarized  the   requirements   for                                                               
individuals  to fill  the  role put  forth the  by  SB 173  which                                                               
include [firearm]  training, passing the Alaska  Police Standards                                                               
psychological  assessment  and  medical  screening,  and  ongoing                                                               
training that  would be determined  by individual  school boards.                                                               
She  stated  that she  is  in  support  of  the State  of  Alaska                                                               
covering the  costs incurred  as a  result of  implementing these                                                               
changes.  Additionally, school  districts  would coordinate  with                                                               
local law enforcement to ensure  that law enforcement is aware of                                                               
which school personnel are armed.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:50:13 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  referred to  a  petition  provided to  the                                                               
committee in  support of SB  173 and  pointed out that  more than                                                               
half  of the  signees  are not  from Alaska.  She  asked how  the                                                               
petition was generated.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:50:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES answered that the  petition was posted online. She                                                               
stated that  the majority of  signatures are from  Alaskans while                                                               
some are  from other states.  She surmised that the  latter group                                                               
heard  about [SB  173]  and were  interested  in supporting  this                                                               
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:52:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 173.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:52:28 PM                                                                                                                    
JOHN  CLOUGH, Representing  self,  Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition  to SB  173. He  said he  has lived  in Alaska  for 50                                                               
years and has  children and grandchildren who live  in the state.                                                               
He  stated  that  he  owns  multiple firearms  and  in  1983,  he                                                               
apprehended  two armed  and dangerous  felons using  his personal                                                               
handgun.  He received  recognition from  the Legislature  and the                                                               
Alaska  Peace  Officers  Association  (APOA)  for  this  act.  He                                                               
asserted  that SB  173 has  many flaws.  First, it  is mandatory.                                                               
Local  school  districts,  teachers, parents,  etc.  should  have                                                               
input.  What works  for one  district may  not work  for another.                                                               
Second,  it  is  not  funded.  There is  a  crisis  in  education                                                               
funding; schools will not be  able to hire full-time employees to                                                               
hold this  position. He expressed  concern that this  will result                                                               
in  volunteers filling  these  positions.  Finally, the  training                                                               
requirements  are  grossly  inadequate. He  emphasized  that  the                                                               
issue  is  not  whether  a  person knows  how  to  load,  unload,                                                               
operate,  and lock  up a  firearm; rather,  the issue  is whether                                                               
they  are  able to  discern  when  the  use  of deadly  force  is                                                               
appropriate, especially when working  around children. He pointed                                                               
out  that  police officers  in  Juneau,  Alaska are  required  to                                                               
complete 17 weeks of training  at the State Trooper Academy. This                                                               
training   includes  firing   range,  classroom   work,  computer                                                               
simulations,  and  live-action  training exercises.  He  insisted                                                               
that  this type  of training  is what  is needed  before allowing                                                               
someone  with  a  concealed  weapon in  Auke  Bay  Elementary  in                                                               
Juneau, Alaska  where his grandchildren attend  school. Referring                                                               
to  his own  experience  apprehending  dangerous individuals,  he                                                               
explained  that he  can discern  the  difference between  knowing                                                               
"how" to use a gun and knowing "when" to use a gun.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:54:48 PM                                                                                                                    
MIKE  COONS,  Representing  self, Palmer,  Alaska,  Testified  in                                                               
support of SB 173.  He said he is a member  of the National Rifle                                                               
Association (NRA) and has taught  hunter safety for several years                                                               
to help young  people become safe firearm owners. He  said SB 173                                                               
enables school employees to take  personal responsibility for the                                                               
safety  of their  fellow staff  and  the students  who are  under                                                               
their care.  He challenged  those who oppose  guns to  only enter                                                               
buildings that do  not allow firearms. He stated that,  if he had                                                               
children in school, he would gladly  enroll them in a school that                                                               
addresses immediate safety concerns.  He invited those who oppose                                                               
SB 173  to enroll their  children in gun-free schools.  He opined                                                               
that in this  case, [parents and school staff] are  taking on the                                                               
responsibility for  the harm  caused by  an active  shooter while                                                               
waiting for law enforcement to arrive.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:57:22 PM                                                                                                                    
ANN  GIFFORD, Representing  self,  Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to SB 173. She said  she is a parent of three children                                                               
who went to Juneau schools, worked  as a school volunteer, and is                                                               
a retired school  attorney. She spent over 25  years working with                                                               
Alaska school  districts. Drawing on this  experience, she warned                                                               
that  SB 173  would make  schools more  dangerous, not  less. She                                                               
explained  that  school  personnel  do  not  have  the  extensive                                                               
training and experience required to  successfully use a gun in an                                                               
active-shooter  scenario. She  pointed to  the Parkland,  Florida                                                               
and Uvalde,  Texas shootings and  commented that even  the police                                                               
did not  have the appropriate  training to properly  handle these                                                               
incidents.  She  said  that assigning  minimally  trained  school                                                               
personnel  to carry  guns is  "a recipe  for disaster."  Possible                                                               
everyday  scenarios  include   accidental  weapon  discharge  and                                                               
curious  students   getting  access  to  guns.   Possible  crisis                                                               
scenarios include  school staff  accidentally shooting  the wrong                                                               
person and school staff being  mistaken for the active shooter by                                                               
law  enforcement. She  pointed out  that  current statute  allows                                                               
school  districts to  authorize staff  members to  conceal-carry;                                                               
therefore, SB 173 is not needed.  She urged the committee to vote                                                               
no.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:59:35 PM                                                                                                                    
TOM  BOUTIN,  Representing  self, Juneau,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
support  of  SB  173.  He  referred to  a  variety  of  statewide                                                               
economic  and   social  issues,   suggesting  that   these  could                                                               
potentially drive some individuals  to become school shooters. He                                                               
opined  that  SB  173  provides   an  "honest  and  constructive"                                                               
response  to  this  concern.  He   contrasted  the  current  laws                                                               
disallowing weapons  in schools  to the  past, when  weapons were                                                               
allowed.  SB   173  addresses  the   changing  educational/social                                                               
landscape.  He  said, "no  one  wants  the  task of  telling  the                                                               
families of  murdered students  that we looked  at the  risks and                                                               
saw that nothing could be done."                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:01:49 PM                                                                                                                    
FRANK BERGSTROM, Representing self,  Juneau, Alaska, testified in                                                               
support of  SB 173.  He said  this is  not about  arming teachers                                                               
with  "scary  guns"  but "empowering  defenders."  He  defined  a                                                               
"defender"  as  "someone  who  is  willing  and  able  to  defend                                                               
themselves  and  others -  especially  those  that are  in  their                                                               
protection,  i.e.  children."  He outlined  the  following  three                                                               
aspects of  a defender: a  defender's attitude and the  desire to                                                               
be  a  defender; the  skills,  training,  and tools  required  to                                                               
perform  the job  of  a defender;  and  to have  a  plan for  all                                                               
situations in which  a defender might find  themselves. He opined                                                               
that  SB 173  does all  these things.  He commented  that SB  173                                                               
empowers individuals who have the  desire to defend those in need                                                               
of protection.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:03:14 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID  HANNA, Representing  self,  Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support of SB  173. He commented that SB 173  is well thought out                                                               
and addresses  the concerns  that have  been raised.  He asserted                                                               
that  all  measures to  protect  children  must be  embraced.  He                                                               
surmised  that an  accidental weapon  discharge  is unlikely  and                                                               
contrasted  this  with the  increasing  possibility  of a  school                                                               
shooting.  He indicated  that this  is  evidence that  SB 173  is                                                               
needed. He  added that, in  the event  of a school  shooting, law                                                               
enforcement would  likely arrive too  late. He posited  that [the                                                               
state] should  enable responsible individuals who  are willing to                                                               
take on the duty of protecting students.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:04:24 PM                                                                                                                    
SALLY DONALDSON, Representing self,  Juneau, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition to SB  173. She expressed concern that  SB 173 creates                                                               
a mandate.  She questioned  whether the  training included  in SB
173  would be  adequate  and opined  that  it is  too  much of  a                                                               
responsibility to charge school  staff with confronting an active                                                               
shooter. She added  that arming staff would increase  the risk of                                                               
students and fellow staff being  harmed. She suggested that there                                                               
are other ways to make  communities safer. She clarified that she                                                               
is not  denouncing guns; however,  she believes that  having guns                                                               
in school is not the right solution.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:06:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHARLIE  FRANZ, Representing  self, Homer,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support of SB 173. He said  he supports SB 173. He emphasized the                                                               
importance of  addressing the issue  of school  shootings, rather                                                               
than ignoring the problem in the hope that it will go away.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:06:50 PM                                                                                                                    
HEATHER BENNET,  Representing self, Juneau, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support  of SB  173. She  commented that  gun-free schools  leave                                                               
students unprotected  and pointed out that  children trust adults                                                               
to keep  them safe. She reasoned  that staff want to  protect the                                                               
students  but cannot  and  indicated the  SB  173 enables  school                                                               
staff to  better protect students. She  emphasized the importance                                                               
of  training armed  personnel who  must be  mentally prepared  to                                                               
[take a  life]. She  surmised that,  even with  a concealed-carry                                                               
permit,  most individuals  do  not  want to  [take  a life].  She                                                               
suggested that the only reason someone  would be willing to do so                                                               
is to protect those who are vulnerable.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:08:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHRISTINE  EVERETT,   Representing  self,  North   Pole,  Alaska,                                                               
testified in opposition  to SB 173. She said she  is a mother and                                                               
a  grandmother  who  has  lived  in  Alaska  for  36  years.  She                                                               
expressed  concern that  SB  173 creates  a  mandate rather  than                                                               
allowing local  districts to determine whether  it is appropriate                                                               
for them. She pointed out that  SB 173 is not funded, which would                                                               
add  to  the   financial  strain  that  schools   in  Alaska  are                                                               
experiencing. She asserted that SB  173 does not contain adequate                                                               
training requirements. She  drew attention to the  language in SB
173 that  provides immunity to  program participants,  unless the                                                               
standard of  "gross negligence" has  been met. She  reasoned that                                                               
this  would  result  in  program   participants  not  being  held                                                               
accountable in the  event of an accident that  results in injury.                                                               
She  opined  that  this  lack  of  accountability  will  lead  to                                                               
increased  risk  of  accidents.  She drew  attention  to  HB  164                                                               
(Misconduct  Involving   Weapons)  and   HB  162   (Gun  Violence                                                               
Protective Orders).                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:11:03 PM                                                                                                                    
PATTY  OWEN,  Representing  self, Juneau,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
opposition to  SB 173.  She is a  lifelong Alaskan  with children                                                               
and grandchildren in  the state. She is also a  school health and                                                               
safety advocate.  She noted  that she  is not  anti-gun; however,                                                               
she  does not  believe that  arming teachers  or volunteers  will                                                               
increase  school safety.  Even  if they  receive training,  these                                                               
individuals  will  not  serve  as  an  adequate  replacement  for                                                               
trained law enforcement.  She said that, across  the country, law                                                               
enforcement  agencies  oppose  arming  school  personnel,  as  it                                                               
creates   confusion  for   first  responders   as  they   try  to                                                               
distinguish  between   the  active   shooter  and   armed  school                                                               
personnel. She commented  that there is no evidence  to show that                                                               
arming school personnel would reduce school violence.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. OWEN pointed out that an  estimated two out of three children                                                               
in  Alaska have  experienced trauma  -  and one  quarter of  high                                                               
school students  consider suicide.  She suggested  that lawmakers                                                               
seek a more  comprehensive approach to school  safety. This would                                                               
include  supporting   and  funding   school  health   and  safety                                                               
coordinators,   additional  school   counselors,  mental   health                                                               
services in  schools, school social  workers, and  school nurses.                                                               
It   would  also   include  training   staff  in   trauma-engaged                                                               
practices,  providing  suicide  prevention  programs  and  mental                                                               
health  education, as  well  as  developing emergency  operations                                                               
plans and  providing funding for  school security  equipment. She                                                               
remarked that suicide by gun is  common in Alaska and opined that                                                               
there are more "common sense"  gun violence prevention strategies                                                               
available. Examples  of these include  safe-storage laws  and the                                                               
Extreme  Risk  Protective Order  (ERPO)  law  enacted in  Florida                                                               
following the Parkland shooting.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:13:12 PM                                                                                                                    
ROBERT  MATTHEWS,  Representing  self,  Delta  Junction,  Alaska,                                                               
testified in support of SB 173.  He said he is a retired military                                                               
police  officer  who  currently  works with  a  police  force  to                                                               
develop  response plans  and procedures.  With respect  to school                                                               
response plans,  he stated  that the police  will never  be there                                                               
when the  shooter starts. He  surmised that an armed  and trained                                                               
individual who  is present in  the school  would be able  to deal                                                               
with the shooter before the police arrive.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:14:15 PM                                                                                                                    
ODETTE  EDGAR, Representing  self, Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to  SB 173. She  stated that  she has lived  in Alaska                                                               
for  54  years  and  her parents  were  teachers.  She  currently                                                               
volunteers  at   community  schools  teaching  folk   dance.  She                                                               
contrasted  the  training proposed  in  SB  173 to  the  training                                                               
received  by law  enforcement. Referring  to Special  Weapons and                                                               
Tactics (SWAT)  team training, she stated  that these individuals                                                               
are  professionals who  are intensively  trained  in tactics  and                                                               
marksmanship. Additionally,  SWAT teams depend on  key leaders to                                                               
strategize and  coordinate efforts. School staff  are unlikely to                                                               
have this  level of training  or strategic support.  She surmised                                                               
that they  also lack  the conditioning  required to  override the                                                               
body's  natural response  when  confronting  extreme danger.  She                                                               
explained  that  these  reactions can  include  heavy  adrenaline                                                               
rushes; tunnel  vision; impaired  hearing and speech;  shaky arms                                                               
and  hands;  and  physical  paralysis. She  opined  that  SB  173                                                               
creates a scenario  that is likely to fail and  has the potential                                                               
for  tragic  consequences.  She   expressed  agreement  with  the                                                               
sponsor's statement, "if we want  to prevent the deaths of school                                                               
children in Alaska,  we need to act." She urged  the committee to                                                               
adopt "front-end"  methods which  are proven to  protect children                                                               
in  the place  where  they are  most at-risk:  in  the home.  She                                                               
recommended  endorsing  safe gun  storage  laws  such as  HB  164                                                               
(Misconduct  Involving   Weapons)  and   SB  229   (Gun  Violence                                                               
Protective  Orders), which  address  the most  common sources  of                                                               
child gun  deaths in  Alaska. She added  that states  where these                                                               
types of laws  have been implemented have seen a  decrease in the                                                               
number of child death and injury.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:16:27 PM                                                                                                                    
RYAN PETTY,  Representing self,  Parkland, Florida,  testified in                                                               
support of SB  173. He said he  is the Vice Chair  of the Florida                                                               
State  Board of  Education  and a  Commissioner  on the  Marjorie                                                               
Stoneman  Douglas  High  School  Public  Safety  Commission.  The                                                               
latter  has  been tasked  with  investigating  the shooting  that                                                               
occurred at  Marjorie Stoneman Douglas  High School  in Parkland,                                                               
Florida  (Parkland  shooting).  He  explained that  his  path  to                                                               
offering testimony  on SB 173  is marked by  the loss of  his 14-                                                               
year-old  daughter,  Alaina,  who  was  killed  in  the  Parkland                                                               
shooting. He described  the ways in which this  loss has impacted                                                               
his life  and directed his  path toward a "relentless  pursuit of                                                               
ensuring the safety and security  of [children] in schools across                                                               
the nation."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  PETTY stated  that his  support of  SB 173  is based  on the                                                               
success  of  the [Coach  Aaron  Feis  Guardian Program]  (Florida                                                               
Guardian Program).  He explained  that he  is familiar  with this                                                               
program,  having  experienced its  impact  first-hand.  He is  an                                                               
honorary Florida  school guardian and has  completed the training                                                               
required by the  program. He explained that  the Florida Guardian                                                               
Program  was  created  in  response  to  the  pressing  need  for                                                               
increased security in schools and  to reduce response time during                                                               
active-shooter incidents. He pointed  out that response times are                                                               
critical during active-shooter events  and SB 173 addresses this.                                                               
He stated that,  when faced with an active  shooter, an immediate                                                               
response  is  crucial  to  minimize   harm  and  save  lives.  He                                                               
acknowledged  that,  in  Florida,  there  was  concern  that  the                                                               
presence of firearms on school  campuses would make students less                                                               
safe;  however,  these   fears  have  not  been   borne  out.  He                                                               
emphasized that the Florida Guardian  Program has been a success.                                                               
He reasoned that the program serves  as both a deterrent to - and                                                               
a way to stop - an active shooter.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:18:50 PM                                                                                                                    
JOHN  SONIN, Representing  self,  Douglas,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
opposition to SB  173. He cautioned against  binary thinking with                                                               
respect to the  issue of guns and gun violence.  He reasoned that                                                               
one does not need to be  "anti-gun" to be "anti-gun violence." He                                                               
suggested  that SB  173 would  lead to  "Wild West"  thinking. He                                                               
opined that  everyone having  guns does  not create  equality. He                                                               
asserted that  more guns in  schools would destroy the  minds [of                                                               
youth], thereby making a peaceful  and tranquil future impossible                                                               
and urged legislators to consider the consequences of SB 173.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:21:10 PM                                                                                                                    
JIM  IRVINE, Co-Director,  FASTER Saves  Lives, Cleveland,  Ohio,                                                               
stated  FASTER Saves  Lives was  mentioned in  SB 173  and he  is                                                               
available to answer questions.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:21:40 PM                                                                                                                    
JOYANNE BLOOM,  Representing self,  Juneau, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to  SB 173.  She stated  that she is  a gun  owner and                                                               
offered  additional  facts  to   provide  more  context  for  the                                                               
discussion.  She stated  that according  to advocacy  research by                                                               
Save Our  Schools a  student has  a 0.2  percent chance  of being                                                               
involved in  a school shooting  during their entire  K-12 career.                                                               
She outlined  the various areas  of study covered by  the 17-week                                                               
Alaska law enforcement  training and contrasted this  with the 3-                                                               
day training  offered by the  FASTER program. She stated  that SB
173  is unnecessary,  adding  that the  state  should be  working                                                               
harder  to keep  guns away  from children  and those  who exhibit                                                               
dangerous tendencies.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:23:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SHANNAN GREENE,  Representing self, Juneau, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
support of SB  173. She is the mother of  three children who have                                                               
attended K-12  in Juneau, Alaska  and a retired  32-year military                                                               
first responder.  She emphasized the importance  of response time                                                               
in an emergency.  She commented that the changes put  forth in SB
173   are   a   "responsible   offensive   posture   in   today's                                                               
environment."  Without  these   changes,  students  are  "sitting                                                               
ducks."  She pointed  out that  senior  government officials  and                                                               
celebrities are  among those  who rely  on armed  protection. She                                                               
stated  that  responsible  school  staff are  the  first  stopgap                                                               
measure and defenders in an  active shooter incident, adding that                                                               
there  are active  shooter training  teams available.  She shared                                                               
her  belief  that  SB  173  is a  better  option  than  expecting                                                               
teachers to defend students with chairs and tables.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:25:43 PM                                                                                                                    
JOEL  SIGMAN, Representing  self, Wasilla,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support of  SB 173.  He opined  that more  guns in  schools would                                                               
increase school  safety by deterring  shooters from  entering the                                                               
building.  He pointed  out  that  the rules  related  to guns  in                                                               
schools  have  changed over  time  and  reiterated that  allowing                                                               
trained  teachers  to  carry  guns   would  deter  any  potential                                                               
threats.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:26:51 PM                                                                                                                    
DOUG WALRATH,  Director, Northwestern  Alaska Career  & Technical                                                               
Center, Nome,  Alaska, testified  in support of  SB 173.  He said                                                               
that he is  the parent of two children in  middle school and that                                                               
he has been  a school administrator for 15 years.  He stated that                                                               
he is also a combat veteran  and a former teacher. He shared that                                                               
he  was a  teacher in  Idaho in  the 1990s  when the  shooting at                                                               
Columbine  High School  in Littleton,  CO occurred.  He expressed                                                               
concern  that 25  years later,  nothing has  changed. He  said he                                                               
walks school  halls daily  with a unique  perspective due  to his                                                               
military training.  With respect  to timing  in an  emergency, he                                                               
relayed a recent  experience with a student  who needed immediate                                                               
medical attention.  He pointed  out that it  took 12  minutes for                                                               
emergency  medical services  (EMS) to  arrive. He  commented that                                                               
this was a relatively quick  response. In contrast, he can access                                                               
all  areas of  the school  within two  minutes. He  expressed his                                                               
willingness to be an armed staff  member and pointed out that his                                                               
past  training and  current position  as  a school  administrator                                                               
make him an ideal candidate.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:29:04 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR  noted that  current  statute  allows schools  to                                                               
employ armed staff, should they choose  to do so. He asked if the                                                               
Nome  School  District currently  has  armed  and trained  school                                                               
personnel.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:29:38 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. WALRATH clarified that he  is employed by the Bering Straight                                                               
School District  and is working in  Nome. He answered that  he is                                                               
not aware  of either  school district's  position on  the current                                                               
statute. He further clarified that, while  he is in support of SB
173,  he is  not in  support of  creating a  mandate. Rather,  he                                                               
supports having the opportunity  to create these positions within                                                               
schools.  He  added  that,  as  a  school  administrator,  he  is                                                               
separated  from the  student  population,  which would  alleviate                                                               
some of the concerns around students' access to guns.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:31:05 PM                                                                                                                    
LIN  DAVIS,  Volunteer,  Moms   Demand  Action,  Juneau,  Alaska,                                                               
testified in opposition  to SB 173. She stated that  she is a 30-                                                               
year  Alaska  resident and  is  retired  from the  Department  of                                                               
Labor. She  taught High School for  ten years prior to  moving to                                                               
Alaska.  She asserted  that  SB  173 brings  too  many risks  and                                                               
increases  costs  for  schools  that are  already  struggling  to                                                               
maintain  funding.   She  suggested  that  the   focus  shift  to                                                               
strategies  that  have  demonstrated strong  safety  records  and                                                               
lower  death  rates,  including   HB  164  (Misconduct  Involving                                                               
Weapons)  and  HB  162  (Gun  Violence  Protective  Orders).  She                                                               
commented that  most law enforcement  are strongly opposed  to SB
173,  as lay-people  with weapons  can be  overcome in  stressful                                                               
situations. She  added that most  parents strongly  oppose arming                                                               
teachers.  She  pointed out  that  teachers  and law  enforcement                                                               
officers  have different  skillsets and  suggested that  training                                                               
teachers will not bridge the gap in their innate abilities.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:33:19 PM                                                                                                                    
WILLIAM  LUCE,  Representing  self,   Retired  Member  of  Alaska                                                               
National Guard, Palmer,  Alaska, testified in support  of SB 173.                                                               
He said he  is a retired Alaska schoolteacher who  came to Alaska                                                               
as a veteran. He  shared that in 1997 he was  a teacher at Bethel                                                               
High School  and was present  during the shooting  that occurred.                                                               
In the  shooting, principal Ron  Edwards, a Vietnam  veteran, and                                                               
student  Josh  Palacios were  shot  and  killed by  student  Evan                                                               
Ramsey.  He reasoned  that, if  Mr.  Edwards had  been armed,  he                                                               
would have  been able to  protect both himself and  the students.                                                               
He  surmised  that  there  are other  teachers  who  are  retired                                                               
veterans who would  step forward to fill  these positions, adding                                                               
that  their  experience  in  the armed  forces  makes  them  good                                                               
candidates.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:35:52 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHAEL  GARHART, Representing  self, Wasilla,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in support  of SB  173. He  emphasized the  importance of  a fast                                                               
response  in life-threatening  situations. He  stated his  belief                                                               
that having  trained and armed  school personnel would  save time                                                               
and lives.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:36:37 PM                                                                                                                    
ROCHELLE  PARKER,  Volunteer,   Moms  Demand  Action,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, testified  in opposition  to SB  173. She  said she  is a                                                               
parent of elementary  school children. She asserted  that guns do                                                               
not  belong in  schools.  She noted  that  school shootings  have                                                               
become too  common and  expressed shock  that lawmakers  have not                                                               
enacted  "common sense"  gun reform  to make  schools safer.  She                                                               
shared  her  belief that  measures  should  be taken  to  fortify                                                               
schools and keep  students and faculty safe;  however, she argued                                                               
that arming  teachers is  not the  answer. She  expressed concern                                                               
that  allowing  guns  in  schools  would  increase  the  risk  of                                                               
students accessing weapons and harming  themselves or others. She                                                               
pointed  out that  firearms are  the leading  cause of  death for                                                               
children  and  teens  in  Alaska  and  nationwide.  Additionally,                                                               
Alaska has the  highest rate of youth suicide in  the nation. She                                                               
questioned how  teachers can be expected  to take on the  role of                                                               
law enforcement in  a chaotic active-shooter situation  - even if                                                               
they are trained to use a  firearm. She indicated that this would                                                               
be even  more difficult if  the shooter  was a student  or former                                                               
student. She said arming teachers  increases the risk of students                                                               
getting caught  in the crossfire. She  acknowledged that teachers                                                               
are willing to  protect their students; however,  she opined that                                                               
adding more guns  will not increase student  safety. Instead, she                                                               
suggested  focusing efforts  on other  measures that  prevent gun                                                               
violence and gun  suicides, such as HB  164 (Misconduct Involving                                                               
Weapons)  and  SB  229  (Gun  Violence  Protective  Orders).  She                                                               
emphasized the importance  of secure gun storage  and referred to                                                               
a study of  targeted school violence by the  United States Secret                                                               
Service  which showed  that most  school shooters  acquired their                                                               
weapons from the home.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:39:13 PM                                                                                                                    
TAMARA  KRUSE  ROSELIUS,  Representing self,  Fairbanks,  Alaska,                                                               
testified  in opposition  to SB  173. She  stated that  she is  a                                                               
mother  of four  and  expressed  that she  is  not anti-gun.  She                                                               
offered  four reasons  to  oppose  SB 173.  First,  it creates  a                                                               
mandate, rather  than allowing  local schools  to decide  what is                                                               
best for  their students.  Second, there  is no  funding provided                                                               
for schools  to implement the  required changes. She  stated that                                                               
schools are already  facing a deficit crisis.  Third, the mandate                                                               
is unnecessary,  as Alaska law  already provides that  a school's                                                               
chief  administrator  may  allow  school  personnel  to  carry  a                                                               
firearm  on  school grounds.  Finally,  she  stated that  SB  173                                                               
creates  a   safety  concern.  She  implied   that  the  training                                                               
requirement included  in SB 173  is inadequate, stating  that the                                                               
17-week training required to become  law enforcement in Alaska is                                                               
the necessary amount of training  to appropriately respond in the                                                               
event of an active-shooter incident.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:40:38 PM                                                                                                                    
JANEL DOCKENDORF,  Representing self, Wasilla,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in support of  SB 173. She stated that,  provided the individuals                                                               
receive  extensive training  and the  firearms are  safely locked                                                               
away, SB  173 is a  necessary safeguard to protect  students. She                                                               
recommended having  security guards  at each school  entry point;                                                               
however,  she  acknowledged  that  there are  not  enough  people                                                               
available to do this.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:41:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHERI  RUIZ,  Representing  self, Palmer,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
support of SB 173. She stated that  SB 173 adds an extra layer of                                                               
protection  for  students.  Pointing  to the  number  of  active-                                                               
shooter  events  that have  occurred  at  schools in  the  United                                                               
States, she  said gun-free zones  do not keep children  safe. She                                                               
argued  that firearm  storage is  also  ineffective and  asserted                                                               
that  most gun  crimes are  committed with  stolen firearms.  She                                                               
explained that  her nephew  was murdered  with a  stolen firearm.                                                               
She  commented  that  firearm  storage   may  be  beneficial  but                                                               
asserted  that  it would  not  stop  someone  who was  intent  on                                                               
entering a  school as  an active  shooter. She  expressed concern                                                               
that children are attending schools  without the extra protection                                                               
SB 173 would provide.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:43:47 PM                                                                                                                    
ALEX  KOPLIN,  Representing  self, Homer,  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
opposition to  SB 173. He stated  that he has been  a teacher for                                                               
over 45 years and has taught  hunter safety courses. He said that                                                               
he has been  in two lockdowns due to firearm  threats in the area                                                               
and that  he has two  grandchildren. He expressed  agreement with                                                               
the  previous testimony  that having  security guards  in schools                                                               
would be ideal. He opined  that having teachers carry firearms is                                                               
"a recipe for disaster." He  pointed out that teachers would need                                                               
a great deal of training to  be able to adequately respond during                                                               
an active shooter incident, adding  that even SWAT team personnel                                                               
- who receive  tactical training for these kinds of  events - can                                                               
develop  tunnel vision.  He noted  that  SB 173  would create  an                                                               
additional expense  for school  districts that  [already struggle                                                               
to maintain adequate funding].                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  KOPLIN  questioned  what  might  happen  if  the  individual                                                               
holding  this  position  in  a  school was  sick  or  absent.  He                                                               
expressed concern that  someone may be unwell and  come to school                                                               
anyway. He indicated that SB  173 places unfair responsibility on                                                               
individuals who are not trained  to deal with these scenarios. He                                                               
suggested  that funding  schools  should be  a  priority so  that                                                               
faculty   are  better   resourced  and   can  identify   red-flag                                                               
behaviors. This  would enable them to  potentially stop shootings                                                               
before they occur.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:46:12 PM                                                                                                                    
STEVEN RETTKE, Representing self,  Eagle River, Alaska, testified                                                               
in support of SB 173. He  stated that he is a retired maintenance                                                               
supervisor. He said  that when there is an  active shooter, there                                                               
needs to be  an immediate response. Armed  school personnel would                                                               
be faster to respond than law enforcement.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:47:03 PM                                                                                                                    
DR.  MAUREEN   LONGWORTH,  Representing  self,   Juneau,  Alaska,                                                               
testified in  opposition to  SB 173. She  said she  has practiced                                                               
medicine in  Alaska for 31  years. Prior  to this, she  worked in                                                               
inner-city  emergency rooms,  where  she  saw many  gunshot-wound                                                               
victims. She  commented that her  work experience has  taught her                                                               
to view  evidence and  identify what  programs foster  health and                                                               
safety within  a community.  She stated  that evidence  has shown                                                               
that  arming  school  personnel  has  failed  in  other  schools,                                                               
bringing more risks  to those communities. She  shared her belief                                                               
that that using limited school funding  to pay for a program that                                                               
the evidence does not support  would be devastating. In contrast,                                                               
the evidence supports changes like  those included in HB 162 (Gun                                                               
Violence  Protective Orders).  She commented  that more  violence                                                               
and guns in schools are not needed.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:49:23 PM                                                                                                                    
GERALD  VOSS, Representing  self,  Juneau,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support of SB  173. He opined that the state  should make changes                                                               
like  those  made by  airlines  after  the terrorist  attacks  on                                                               
September 11, 2001  (9/11). He explained that,  after 9/11, there                                                               
was a federal air marshal on  every plane and pilots were allowed                                                               
to carry weapons in a  locked, hard-sided case. He explained that                                                               
only airline  crew were aware of  who was armed on  the aircraft.                                                               
In  addition,  airline  staff were  trained  to  identify  mental                                                               
instability  which  helped  to identify  potential  problems.  He                                                               
proposed that schools could utilize  a similar system which would                                                               
allow  school personnel  to know  who was  armed without  sharing                                                               
this  information  with their  students.  He  surmised that  this                                                               
would help to avoid children getting ahold of the weapons.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:51:07 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHELLE VASQUEZ, Representing  self, Soldotna, Alaska, testified                                                               
in  opposition  to SB  173.  She  shared her  understanding  that                                                               
current  statute  authorizes  schools  to allow  staff  to  carry                                                               
firearms and  expressed concern  that SB  173 creates  a mandate.                                                               
She  opined that  this  sends the  wrong  message. She  expressed                                                               
concern  about  the  limited  amount  of  training  required  for                                                               
individuals who  would take  on this position.  She said  guns in                                                               
schools is not  the answer and suggested  that front-end measures                                                               
to prevent gun violence would be a better choice.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:52:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 173.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:52:36 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:52:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR  moved  to  adopt Amendment  1,  work  order  33-                                                               
LS0781\H.1, for SB 173.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                               33-LS0781\H.1                                                                    
                                                    Bergerud                                                                    
                                                     2/23/24                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          A M E N D M E N T 1                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     OFFERED IN THE SENATE                                                                                                      
         TO:  SB 173                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, following line 15:                                                                                                 
     Insert a new subsection to read:                                                                                           
          "(g)  Subject to appropriation, the department                                                                        
      shall reimburse a school district for training costs                                                                      
     incurred under (a)(3) and (4) of this section."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Reletter the following subsection accordingly.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:53:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:53:20 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR stated  that this amendment was  brought on behalf                                                               
of  the sponsor  of SB  173. He  clarified that  the fiscal  note                                                               
refers  to  the Department  of  Education  and Early  Development                                                               
(DEED). He spoke in favor of  the amendment and explained that he                                                               
had  been  working on  a  similar  amendment that  would  provide                                                               
funding  for the  training required  by SB  173. However,  he was                                                               
unable to determine how much  these costs would increase the base                                                               
student  allocation  (BSA) in  time  for  the day's  hearing.  He                                                               
pointed out  that the amendment  before the committee  achieves a                                                               
similar goal by creating a funded mandate.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:54:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  [removed his  objection];  he  found no  further                                                               
objection and Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:54:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:54:53 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON moved  to  report SB  173,  work order  33-                                                               
LS0781\H,   as   amended,    from   committee   with   individual                                                               
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:55:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  found  no  objection and  CSSB  173  (L&C),  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                 

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 211 Transmittal Letter 01.24.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 4/12/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 211
SB 211 Fiscal Note-DCCED-ASMI 01.12.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 211
SB 211 Fiscal Note-DCCED-DCRA 01.12.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 211
SB 211 Fiscal Note-DNR-AGR 01.24.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 211
SB211 ver A.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 4/12/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 211
SB 211 Fiscal Note-DNR-ARLF 02.08.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 211
SB 211 Sectional Analysis 02.01.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 211
SB173 Public Testimony Received as of 02.29.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Draft Proposed Amendment ver H.1.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB211 Presentation by DNR to SLAC 03.01.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 211
SB173 Letter of Support-Email-Shannon Methe-01.13.24.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Letter of Support-Email-Andrew Ault-01.21.24.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Public Testimony-Email-Therese Lewandowski-01.21.24.pdf SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Public Testimony-Received as of 1pm 01.23.24.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Sectional Analysis ver H.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Sponsor Statement ver H.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 ver H.PDF SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Fiscal Note-LAW-CJL-01.19.24.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Fiscal Note-EED-SSA-01.19.24.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Sponsor Presentation to SLAC 01.24.24.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB173 Public Testimony(2)-Received as of noon 01.24.24.pdf SL&C 1/24/2024 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/1/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 173