Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
04/09/2015 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SB83 | |
SB1 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | SB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | SB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 1-REGULATION OF SMOKING 9:38:41 AM CHAIR STOLTZE called the committee back to order and announced that SB 1 is before the committee. 9:39:27 AM DR. GEORGE STEWART, MD (retired), representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, said he supports SB 1. He specified that SB 1 is about protecting the health of Alaskans. He asserted that secondhand smoke is toxic and causes cancerous diseases, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, harms children, harms women who are pregnant, and harms babies in the uterus of the women who are pregnant. He said Alaskans are entitled to have clean air. He noted that he supports the indoor banning of e-cigarettes as well. 9:43:33 AM JENNIFER WOOLEY, representing herself, Anchorage, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She said health prioritization is at the heart of SB 1 and the bill's intent is to protect working Alaskans from secondhand smoke and aerosol. 9:45:02 AM GAIL SCHIEMANN, representing herself, Anchorage, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She said she is a non-smoker who has worked in the hospitality industry for 20 years where smoking was allowed and now has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She asserted that secondhand smoke makes employees sick, is real, and it kills. 9:45:47 AM DARA GLASS, representing herself, Anchorage, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She revealed personal experiences that shows non- smokers can acquire lung cancer. She added that her mother was a non-smoker who contracted asthma due to secondhand smoke. She asserted that secondhand smoke leads to COPD, heart issues, and a variety of other things. She said SB 1 will help mitigate the health issues created by secondhand smoke, improve the state's economy, and lower the cost of medical care. 9:47:21 AM LUAN JENSEN, representing herself, Anchorage, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She stated that SB 1 will protect all Alaskans in their workplaces. She asked that SB 1 include the indoor ban of e-cigarettes. She cited a study demonstrating e-cigarettes' possible consequences that are significant to respiratory health. 9:48:19 AM SHEB GARFIELD, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, said he opposes SB 1. He noted that he is an ex-smoker, now an avid vapor and a manager at a vaping café. He shared studies that showed secondhand vapor as being risk-free. He noted that nicotine is one of the safest drugs and the problem with secondhand smoke is due to combusting tobacco. CHAIR STOLTZE noted that there has been a lot volume from the public on the vaping issue. 9:52:16 AM BEN NGUYEN, representing himself, Eagle River, Alaska, said he opposes SB 1. He noted that he co-owns Cloud 49 in Eagle River, a vape shop. He said he discontinued smoking two years ago and currently uses e-cigarettes. He asserted that e-cigarettes are an alternative to cigarette smokers with less harmful effects and a lower cost. He asked that more time be given to study e- cigarettes and noted their possible benefit in helping cigarette smokers avoid lung cancer. He summarized that SB 1 simply requests people to take smoking outside, but incorporating electronic vaporizing into the bill will cause a domino-effect that would demean the effort in helping people quit traditional smoking. 9:57:16 AM JANET KINCAID, representing herself, Palmer, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She noted that she spearheaded a campaign to make Palmer smoke-free and the ordinance passed via referendum. She detailed that most of Palmer's bar owners are grateful for the ordinance with some noting that business has increased with a decreased maintenance costs. She summarized that SB 1 is good for business and good for health. 9:58:10 AM BRENDA SHELDEN, representing herself, Wasilla, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She pointed out that regulations already in place have dispelled the assertion that smoke-free laws will cause a financial barrier for businesses. She added that studies have shown the detriment of secondhand smoke. She summarized that making an investment in employees' health by eliminating secondhand smoke in workplaces will result in a safe and productive worker with reduced healthcare costs. 9:59:12 AM ROBIN MINARD, Director of Public Affairs, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Wasilla, Alaska, read a submitted letter on record from board member Benjamin Olmedo in support of SB 1. She read that secondhand smoke has been proven to be directly responsible for a number of poor health outcomes and banning indoor smoking in the workplace is not about individual rights, but about protecting public health. 10:01:31 AM MISTY JENSEN, representing herself, Wasilla, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She set forth that everyone has the right to be free from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, but not everyone has the opportunity to choose where they work. She pointed out that SB 1 is about taking smoking outdoors and is about the smoke, not about the smoker. She summarized that SB 1 protects all Alaskans because everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air. 10:03:07 AM ELIZABETH RIPLEY, Executive Director, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Wasilla, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She noted that Mat-Su has some of the highest tobacco use rates in the nation, which increases chronic respiratory disease rates. She asserted that tobacco use costs Alaska $579 million annually in direct medical costs and lost productivity due to tobacco related death. She set forth that strengthening Alaska's smoke-free public and workplace statutes will help reduce healthcare and Medicaid costs attributed to tobacco use. She added that studies have shown that smoke-free laws have led to increased smoke-free policies in homes that have directly and positively impacted children's health. She pointed out that every community that has enacted smoking bans has seen a decrease in cardiovascular events. She disclosed that increasing tobacco-free Alaskans is a goal of Healthy Alaskans 2020 and clean indoor air is the number one strategy of the Alaska Prevention and Control Program. She revealed that only half of Alaskans are protected by smoke-free workplace laws. She disclosed that many jurisdictions such as the Mat-Su Borough do not have the health powers necessary to pass an area wide smoke-free law. She said Alaska needs a more robust clean indoor air statute, which includes e-cigarettes. She asserted that SB 1 is the next step in further reducing the smoking rates and secondhand smoke exposure in Alaska. 10:06:20 AM GEORGE GATTER, representing himself, Kodiak, Alaska, said he opposes SB 1. He noted that he owns both a smoking bar and non- smoking bar in Kodiak. He disclosed that he and another bar owner have switched between allowing and not allowing smoking. He revealed that switching his establishment to non-smoking for 60 days saw a huge revenue decline. He pointed out that his business is on private property and he reserves the right to conduct business as he sees fit. He noted that everyone in his establishment is over 21 and the bill does not protect anyone that doesn't want to be at in his establishment. He asserted that laws should be made to protect the youth and adults who cannot protect themselves. He stated that pushing smokers from a controlled space out into the streets in front of Alaska's youthful eyes will create the next generation of smokers. He remarked that Grandfather Rights have never been brought up for smoking establishments and noted that his establishment has allowed smoking for 45-plus years. He summarized that SB 1 will dramatically affect his business. 10:08:41 AM BETTY MACTAVISH, representing herself, Kodiak, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She revealed that Kodiak is not covered by any smoke-free workplace law. She said SB 1 will protect the 50 percent of Alaskan workers who are not covered by smoke-free workplace laws. She pointed out that Kodiak's local newspaper conducted a survey and 71 percent responded in favor of passing SB 1. She added that the Kodiak Island Borough passed a resolution in support of SB 1. She summarized that lives are at stake. 10:09:49 AM TERRENCE ROBBINS, representing himself, Ketchikan, Alaska, said he supports SB 1. He said smoking is addictive and deadly. He said protecting Alaskans from secondhand smoke will surely prevent illness, save lives, help tobacco users quit smoking, and reduce youth smoking rates. 10:10:50 AM JENNY OLENDORFF, representing herself, Soldotna, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She disclosed that she was exposed to secondhand smoke in an office for five years due to a neighboring business. She revealed that the building's landlord refused to honor their request to simply require the neighboring business to have their employees and patrons take their smoking outside. She summarized that SB 1 will protect all Alaskan workers in their workplace from secondhand smoke and e-cigarette aerosol. 10:12:07 AM GARY SUPERMAN, representing himself, Nikiski, Alaska, said he opposes SB 1. He disclosed that he owns the Hunger Hut Bar in Nikiski; board member for the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant, and Retailers Association (CHARR); and president for the Kenai Peninsula CHARR. He revealed that he presented a petition to the Legislature with over 700 signatures and remarked that the bill's sponsor indicated that the petition was inconsequential. He stated that 99 percent of the locations noted in SB 1 will ban smoking. He conceded that compelling reasons exist to ban smoking where people enter locations that deal with travel, healthcare, government services, shopping, or eating locations. He asserted that no compelling reason exists to go into a bar and the act is simply a choice that deserves the rights of patrons to be preserved as the last public sanctuary that allows smoking. He set forth that SB 1 is disingenuous and targets the few bars that still allow smoking. He asked what harm is being done to society by allowing the remaining bars to allow smoking. He divulged that 30 states have complete bans, but asked that Alaska stay in the category where 20 states allow smoking. He asserted that countless testimony exists from businesses that have closed or lost revenue due to smoking bans. He said SB 1 is tailor-made to destroy his business and other businesses throughout the state. He commented that people may not like the way smokers carry on with their lives or some of their behavior; however, smokers as a group should still be allowed to be captains of their fate and masters of their destiny. He summarized that smoking is a matter of choice and he asked that the Legislature work towards a reasonable exemption clause in SB 1. 10:14:34 AM SUSAN SMALLEY, representing herself, Kenai, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She disclosed that she is a cancer survivor and concurred with Dr. Stewart's testimony on why SB 1 is so critical. She asserted that all Alaskans have a right to breathe clean air in the workplace. 10:16:21 AM CHRYSTAL SCHOENROCK, representing herself, Nikiski, Alaska, said she opposes SB 1. She disclosed that she owns Forelands Bar in Nikiski. She explained that all of her business's patrons and employees smoke and those that walk into her establishment that do not smoke and or do not drink do so as a choice. She suggested that a posting of sign be allowed where people are warned that smoking is allowed and entering is at one's own risk. She set forth that SB 1 takes away rights and asserted that smokers have to have a place to smoke too. She said supporters of SB 1 do not come into her bar and she asked why her patrons and employees that smoke have to be punished. 10:17:41 AM DANIEL LYNCH, representing himself, Soldotna, Alaska, said he opposes SB 1. He set forth that tobacco is legal for adults and many believe in a free market economy where businesses have the freedom to choose how they operate. He pointed out that Kenai and Soldotna offer a choice for owners, employees, and consumers to choose between separate smoking non-smoking bars. He remarked that restaurant employees that work in a drive-thru window are exposed to 100 times more deadly carcinogens from automotive exhaust than from cigarettes or e-cigarettes. He asserted that Alaska does not have the funds to enforce the restrictions imposed from SB 1 and added that the state, boroughs, and cities will lose tobacco tax revenue. He said SB 1 will cause unintended consequences. He said there is no reason for SB 1 and pointed out that education and habits are annually decreasing the number of smokers. He summarized that SB 1 is not a workplace safety issue, but a freedom issue and an unfunded mandate. 10:21:02 AM MICHAEL PATTERSON, representing himself, Juneau, Alaska, said he supports SB 1. He said many people have died from secondhand smoke and pointed out that no one decides to become a secondhand smoker. He set forth that tobacco products being sold to children is a clear and present danger. He asserted that SB 1 will positively affect all Alaskans. He asked that legislators not be swayed by businesses that are in the tobacco business. He summarized that he supports SB 1 with the inclusion of e- cigarettes. 10:25:09 AM ANDREW MACEBO, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, said he opposes SB 1. He asserted that e-cigarettes should not be included in the legislation because vaping is not the same thing as combustion and smoke. He agreed that areas should be kept clear of smoking from cigarettes, but e-cigarettes should not be included. 10:26:22 AM LARRY HACKENMILLER, representing himself, Fairbanks, Alaska, said he opposes SB 1. He asserted that the bill's intent to protect the public is a hazard-con. He remarked that he does not understand why big government wants to protect public rights because the people choose not to or don't have the government power to do it themselves in their respective communities. He stated that the con is representing secondhand smoke as a hazard when every chemical associated with secondhand smoke falls under the permissible exposure limits established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) using the chemical list provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He recommended that signs be posted to identify smoking facilities to allow the public to exercise their right to smoke-free air and protect themselves from the perceived risks of inhaling secondhand smoke. He added that proper signage would the less restrictive means of advancing the state's public health interest. 10:30:02 AM FLORA RODDY, representing herself, Fairbanks, Alaska, said she supports SB 1 with the inclusion of e-cigarettes. 10:30:24 AM ERIN SHEFFLETTE, representing herself, Fairbanks, Alaska, said she supports SB 1 with the inclusion of e-cigarettes. 10:31:30 AM ARIEL HASSE, representing herself, Wasilla, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She asserted that SB 1 will protect future generations from secondhand smoke. 10:34:59 AM LUCAS ARTHUR, representing himself, Wasilla, Alaska, said he supports SB 1 with the inclusion of e-cigarettes. 10:36:43 AM KEA BEKKEDAHL, representing herself, Wasilla, Alaska, said she supports SB 1. She asserted that allowing employees to smoke at work encourages an unhealthy lifestyle. 10:38:14 AM CHAIR STOLTZE announced that SB 1 will be held in committee.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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SB1 DOT-IASO 3-27-15.pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 1 |
SB1 Letters of Support for SSTA (3-31-15 to 4-8-15).pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 1 |
SB1 Letters of Opposition for SSTA (3-31-15 to 4-8-15).pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 1 |
SB83 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 83 |
SB83 Presentation to SSTA - Variable Retirement Plan 4-9-15.pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 83 |
28th Legislature - HB247 Fiscal Note-DOA-DRB-02-28-2014.pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 83 |
28th Legislature - HB247 Actuarial Fiscal Note-DOA-DRB-02-28-2014.pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 83 |
SB83 Support Document - Email Angie & Matt Fraize 4-10-15.pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 83 |
SB83 Support Document - Letter (HB90) Patrick O'Connor 4-9-15.pdf |
SSTA 4/9/2015 9:00:00 AM |
HB 90 SB 83 |