05/07/2004 06:40 PM House JUD
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
May 7, 2004
6:40 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Lesil McGuire, Chair
Representative Tom Anderson, Vice Chair
Representative Jim Holm
Representative Dan Ogg
Representative Ralph Samuels
Representative Les Gara
Representative Max Gruenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 338(STA)
"An Act relating to actionable claims against state employees;
and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSSB 338(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 179(FIN)
"An Act relating to criminal history records and background
checks; allowing persons to teach in the public schools for up
to five months without a teaching certificate if the person has
applied for a certificate and the application has not been acted
upon by the Department of Education and Early Development due to
a delay in receiving criminal history records; allowing teacher
certification for certain persons based on a criminal history
background check without fingerprints; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED HCS CSSB 179(JUD) OUT OF COMMITTEE; ADOPTED A HOUSE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE TITLE CHANGE
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 217(JUD)
"An Act relating to genetic privacy."
- HEARD AND HELD
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 284(FIN) am
"An Act making information on a permanent fund dividend
application, other than the applicant's name, confidential, and
relating to disclosure of that confidential information; and
relating to confidential information in voter registration
records."
- MOVED HCS CSSB 284(JUD) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 219(JUD) am
"An Act relating to offenses against unborn children."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 269(CRA)
"An Act relating to access to library records, including access
to the library records of a child by a parent or guardian."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 354(STA) am(efd fld)
"An Act relating to complaints filed with, and investigations,
hearings, and orders of, the State Commission for Human Rights;
and making conforming amendments."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 338
SHORT TITLE: CLAIMS AGAINST STATE EMPLOYEES
SPONSOR(S): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
02/16/04 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/16/04 (S) STA, JUD
03/11/04 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
03/11/04 (S) Heard & Held
03/11/04 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/18/04 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
03/18/04 (S) Moved CSSB 338(STA) Out of Committee
03/18/04 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/19/04 (S) STA RPT CS 4NR NEW TITLE
03/19/04 (S) NR: STEVENS G, HOFFMAN, COWDERY, GUESS
03/24/04 (S) JUD AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/24/04 (S) Moved CSSB 338(STA) Out of Committee
03/24/04 (S) MINUTE(JUD)
03/24/04 (S) JUD RPT CS(STA) 3DP 2NR
03/24/04 (S) DP: SEEKINS, THERRIAULT, ELLIS;
03/24/04 (S) NR: FRENCH, OGAN
04/13/04 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/13/04 (S) VERSION: CSSB 338(STA)
04/14/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/14/04 (H) JUD
04/26/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
04/26/04 (H) -- Meeting Canceled --
04/28/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
04/28/04 (H) -- Meeting Canceled --
05/03/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/03/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/05/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/05/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/06/04 (H) JUD AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/06/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/07/04 (H) JUD AT 6:15 PM CAPITOL 120
BILL: SB 179
SHORT TITLE: CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS/TEACHERS
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) THERRIAULT
04/08/03 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/08/03 (S) HES, FIN
04/16/03 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/16/03 (S) Moved CSSB 179(HES) Out of Committee
04/16/03 (S) MINUTE(HES)
05/10/03 (S) HES RPT CS 2DP 1NR NEW TITLE
05/10/03 (S) DP: DYSON, WILKEN; NR: DAVIS
05/13/03 (S) FIN AT 8:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
05/13/03 (S) <Above Item Removed from Agenda>
03/08/04 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/08/04 (S) Moved CSSB 179(FIN) Out of Committee
03/08/04 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/08/04 (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 2NR NEW TITLE
03/08/04 (S) DP: GREEN, WILKEN, DYSON, BUNDE,
03/08/04 (S) STEVENS B; NR: HOFFMAN, OLSON
03/15/04 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/15/04 (S) VERSION: CSSB 179(FIN)
03/16/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/16/04 (H) EDU, HES, JUD
03/23/04 (H) EDU AT 11:00 AM CAPITOL 124
03/23/04 (H) Moved Out of Committee
03/23/04 (H) MINUTE(EDU)
03/24/04 (H) EDU RPT 4DP 1NR 1AM
03/24/04 (H) DP: WILSON, OGG, SEATON, GATTO;
03/24/04 (H) NR: KAPSNER; AM: WOLF
04/20/04 (H) HES AT 2:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/20/04 (H) Moved HCS CSSB 179(HES) Out of
Committee
04/20/04 (H) MINUTE(HES)
04/27/04 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/27/04 (H) Moved CSSB 179(FIN) Out of Committee
04/27/04 (H) MINUTE(HES)
04/28/04 (H) HES RPT 2DP 3NR
04/28/04 (H) DP: SEATON, GATTO; NR: COGHILL, WOLF,
04/28/04 (H) WILSON
05/03/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/03/04 (H) Heard & Held
05/03/04 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
05/05/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/05/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/06/04 (H) JUD AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/06/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/07/04 (H) JUD AT 6:15 PM CAPITOL 120
BILL: SB 217
SHORT TITLE: GENETIC PRIVACY
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) OLSON
05/09/03 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/09/03 (S) HES, JUD
01/28/04 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
01/28/04 (S) Moved CSSB 217 (HES) Out of Committee
01/28/04 (S) MINUTE(HES)
01/30/04 (S) HES RPT CS 1DP 1NR 2AM NEW TITLE
01/30/04 (S) DP: DYSON; NR: GUESS;
01/30/04 (S) AM: GREEN, WILKEN
02/06/04 (S) JUD AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
02/06/04 (S) Heard & Held
02/06/04 (S) MINUTE(JUD)
02/18/04 (S) JUD AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
02/18/04 (S) Scheduled But Not Heard
02/25/04 (S) JUD AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
02/25/04 (S) Heard & Held
02/25/04 (S) MINUTE(JUD)
03/03/04 (S) JUD AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/03/04 (S) Moved CSSB 217(JUD) Out of Committee
03/03/04 (S) MINUTE(JUD)
03/04/04 (S) JUD RPT CS 1DP 3NR NEW TITLE
03/04/04 (S) LETTER OF INTENT WITH JUD REPORT
03/04/04 (S) NR: SEEKINS, THERRIAULT, OGAN;
03/04/04 (S) DP: FRENCH
05/03/04 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
05/03/04 (S) VERSION: CSSB 217(JUD)
05/04/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/04/04 (H) JUD
05/05/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/05/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/06/04 (H) JUD AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/06/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/07/04 (H) JUD AT 6:15 PM CAPITOL 120
BILL: SB 284
SHORT TITLE: VOTER AND PERM FUND APP RECORDS PRIVATE
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) GUESS
01/28/04 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/28/04 (S) STA, FIN
02/17/04 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
02/17/04 (S) Moved CSSB 284(STA) Out of Committee
02/17/04 (S) MINUTE(STA)
02/18/04 (S) STA RPT CS 3DP NEW TITLE
02/18/04 (S) DP: STEVENS G, GUESS, HOFFMAN
04/29/04 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/29/04 (S) Heard & Held
04/29/04 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
05/02/04 (S) FIN AT 12:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
05/02/04 (S) Moved CSSB 284(FIN) Out of Committee
05/02/04 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
05/02/04 (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP NEW TITLE
05/02/04 (S) DP: GREEN, WILKEN, DYSON,
05/02/04 (S) BUNDE, STEVENS B
05/05/04 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
05/05/04 (S) VERSION: CSSB 284(FIN) AM
05/05/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/05/04 (H) JUD
05/05/04 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/05/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/06/04 (H) JUD AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 120
05/06/04 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
05/07/04 (H) JUD AT 6:15 PM CAPITOL 120
WITNESS REGISTER
GAIL VOIGTLANDER, Chief Assistant Attorney General
Statewide Section Supervisor
Torts and Worker's Compensation Section
Civil Division (Anchorage)
Department of Law (DOL)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 338 on behalf of the
administration.
ZACH WARWICK, Staff
to Senator Gene Therriault
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During discussion of SB 179, responded to
questions on behalf of the sponsor, Senator Therriault.
SENATOR DONNY OLSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 217.
SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 284.
LORI DAVEY, President
Motznik Information Services, Inc.
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 284.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 04-80, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR LESIL McGUIRE called the House Judiciary Standing
Committee meeting, which had been recessed on 5/6/04, back to
order at [6:40 p.m., stated as 6:50 p.m.]. Representatives
McGuire, Ogg, Samuels, and Gara were present at the call back to
order. Representatives Anderson, Holm, and Gruenberg arrived as
the meeting was in progress.
SB 338 - CLAIMS AGAINST STATE EMPLOYEES
Number 0039
CHAIR McGUIRE announced that the first order of business would
be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 338(STA), "An Act relating to
actionable claims against state employees; and providing for an
effective date."
Number 0073
GAIL VOIGTLANDER, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Statewide
Section Supervisor, Torts and Worker's Compensation Section,
Civil Division (Anchorage), Department of Law (DOL), explained
that CSSB 338(STA) provides [the state] the ability, at the
start of a lawsuit, to dismiss individually named state
employees and substitute the state as the defendant. As a
result, individual state employees would no longer be defendants
in an action, and so they won't have to be concerned that their
personal assets will be placed in jeopardy because of litigation
that arises out of the scope of their employment. She noted
that the Public Safety Employees Association (PSEA) has provided
a letter of support for CSSB 338(STA).
MS. VOIGTLANDER offered her belief that CSSB 338(STA) will be
good for state government because it allows lawsuits to be filed
against the state for injuries allegedly caused by state
employees in the scope of their employment, but ensures that
state government is less bogged down by the litigation process.
She used as an example a situation wherein a claim filed by an
inmate arises out of some action taken by the Department of
Corrections (DOC). Typically, the inmate might sue several
state employees as well as the DOC, and claim that the employees
were negligent. Under CSSB 338(STA), once such a lawsuit is
filed, the state can substitute itself as the defendant in place
of the individually named employees if the attorney general
certifies that they were acting in the course of their
employment. The individual employees would be automatically
dismissed from the lawsuit, they would no longer be a party in
the lawsuit, and they could instead resume their duties without
fear of repercussions stemming from that lawsuit.
MS. VOIGTLANDER opined that the public will be well served by
the change proposed via CSSB 338(STA) because state employees
will no longer be distracted by any such pending litigation.
She mentioned that currently, at any given point in time, the
DOL is defending in excess of 100 state employees who are
individually named in lawsuits [against the state] stemming from
actions they took in the course of their employment. In
addition to DOC employees, other state employees that have been
individually named in lawsuits include Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) employees, various
divisional managers on up through commissioners, and retired
state employees.
Number 0580
REPRESENTATIVE GARA offered his belief, though, that when state
employees are named in such lawsuits, they are "covered" by the
state.
MS. VOIGTLANDER acknowledged that that is typically the case,
sometimes through the employee's bargaining unit; however,
notwithstanding this point, currently an employee named in such
a lawsuit remains an individually sued state employee and
retains the burden of such.
[Following was a brief discussion regarding which version was
before the committee, and in which committees it and the House
companion bill were amended.]
REPRESENTATIVE GARA said that according to his reading of CSSB
338(STA), it doesn't change the scope of the state's liability
to the public in a tort action.
MS. VOIGTLANDER concurred with Representative Gara's
understanding. Once the state is substituted as the defendant,
whatever defense the state has can be pled in the case. She
noted that there is a category of cases that do not go through
the aforementioned certification process, and those include
cases involving civil rights claims pursuant to federal law
under [42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983].
REPRESENTATIVE GARA said he thinks CSSB 338(STA) is a good bill.
He mentioned that he is considering offering an amendment on the
House floor that would reinstate the right of U.S. military
personnel to recovery against state employees.
CHAIR McGUIRE, after ascertaining that no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on the bill.
Number 0910
REPRESENTATIVE GARA moved to report CSSB 338(STA) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSSB 338(STA) was
reported from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.
The committee took an at-ease from 6:55 p.m. to 6:59 p.m.
SB 179 - CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS/TEACHERS
[Contains adoption of what would become known as HCR 42 for the
purpose of changing the title of SB 179.]
Number 0950
CHAIR McGUIRE announced that the next order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 179(FIN), "An Act relating to criminal
history records and background checks; allowing persons to teach
in the public schools for up to five months without a teaching
certificate if the person has applied for a certificate and the
application has not been acted upon by the Department of
Education and Early Development due to a delay in receiving
criminal history records; allowing teacher certification for
certain persons based on a criminal history background check
without fingerprints; and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR McGUIRE noted that the bill has already been heard in
committee and was being held over for the purpose of
investigating some issues that had been raised during the bill's
last hearing.
Number 0988
ZACH WARWICK, Staff to Senator Gene Therriault, Alaska State
Legislature, sponsor, on behalf of Senator Therriault, in
response to a comment, said that rather than simply altering
statute such that a person who has made an application for a
teaching certificate can teach five months without a
certificate, the bill was changed so that the statute would
maintain the original three-month period and provide for a
possible 60-day extension. This change came at the suggestion
of the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).
The way the bill is currently written, if there is a delay in
getting back the results of a criminal history background check
within three months, the DEED may consider granting the
aforementioned extension. He mentioned that the DEED has
indicated to him that this extension would only be granted in
extreme circumstances.
MR. WARWICK said that without this provision, what is currently
happening is that once the three-month period has elapsed,
either teachers are laid off and rehired as substitute teachers,
which requires no background check, or they must resubmit their
application and be granted another three-month period in which
to teach without a certificate. He acknowledged members'
concerns expressed at the bill's last hearing that perhaps the
law should be changed so that no one may teach until the results
of the criminal history background check are received. He
indicated that [the sponsor] is willing to research that
possibility during the interim.
CHAIR McGUIRE said she is not yet convinced that the timeframe
in which the results of criminal history background checks are
returned has been shortened to six or seven weeks as was
testified to at the bill's last hearing. She relayed that
according to her understanding of discussions she's had with the
DEED, because of liability issues it is very unlikely that the
DEED would ever grant the 60-day extension. In light of this,
she said, she doesn't see any reason to put language in a bill
that gives the DEED discretion that won't be utilized, adding
that she would rather see folks work during the interim to see,
first of all, what the problem is, and second, how to fix it.
She remarked that electronic fingerprint scanners might be a
worthwhile investment in the future, but relayed that at this
point, she is not comfortable including the 60-day extension in
the bill.
MR. WARWICK remarked that it is not yet known whether electronic
fingerprint scanners have approval from the U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ) such that they could fulfill the DEED's
requirements. He reiterated his belief that Section 8 will be
of assistance in situations where the results of a criminal
history background check are delayed simply because of a work
backlog.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM indicated that his main concern is the
safety of the children, and thus allowing someone to be in the
classroom before the results of a criminal history background
check are known doesn't satisfy his concern.
MR. WARWICK ventured that Section 8 would ensure that someone
who's results are delayed by just a few days wouldn't simply be
allowed in the classroom as a substitute teacher.
Number 1354
REPRESENTATIVE GARA made a motion to adopt Amendment 1, to
delete the proposed new language in Section 8 - the language
beginning on page 5, line 1, through page 5, line 7. There
being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
CHAIR McGUIRE pondered whether a title amendment would be
necessary.
MR. WARWICK [suggested adopting] a House Concurrent Resolution
(HCR) for that purpose.
Number 1479
CHAIR MCGUIRE moved to report CSSB 179(FIN), as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCS CSSB 179(JUD) was
reported from House Judiciary Standing Committee.
Number 1488
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS [although no motion had been made to
adopt the following as a work draft] moved to report the
proposed House Concurrent Resolution (HCR), Version 23-LS1942\A,
Luckhaupt, 4/16/04, out of committee with individual
recommendations. There being no objection, the House Concurrent
Resolution [which later became HCR 42] was reported from the
House Judiciary Standing Committee.
SB 217 - GENETIC PRIVACY
Number 1520
CHAIR McGUIRE indicated that the next order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 217(JUD), "An Act relating to genetic
privacy."
Number 1539
SENATOR DONNY OLSON, Alaska State Legislator, sponsor, by way of
presenting SB 217, surmised that everyone is familiar with how
useful DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) identification has been for
law enforcement and in paternity disputes. He remarked, though,
that he is very concerned about genetic privacy because,
currently, state laws restrict access to medical records but not
to genetic information; SB 217 seeks to curtail exploitation of
valuable genetic information. Although there are no federal
statutes regarding genetic privacy, 15 states require informed
consent before a third party performs or requires a genetic test
or obtains genetic information, and 23 states require informed
consent before disclosing genetic information. In conclusion,
he said that SB 217 gives consideration to advancing
biotechnology in DNA analysis while also giving Alaskans the
right to keep their genetic information private.
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS asked Senator Olson whether there were
any possible exceptions that he considered but did not include
in the bill.
SENATOR OLSON indicated that there weren't, and highlighted the
exceptions currently listed in the bill. He noted that SB 217
requires informed consent before someone can collect,
distribute, or use a person's genetic information.
REPRESENTATIVE OGG asked whether SB 217 prevents the use of
samples collected from public places such as bathrooms.
SENATOR OLSON reiterated that under the bill, unless one of the
listed exceptions applies, informed consent is required before
someone can collect, distribute, or use a person's genetic
information.
Number 1862
REPRESENTATIVE GARA asked under what circumstances, currently,
might someone unknowingly have his/her DNA taken.
SENATOR OLSON ventured that such might occur when a person gives
a blood sample or a semen sample.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA said he would not want someone to go to a
private medical clinic, for example, sign several large, complex
release forms without knowing that one of the forms includes an
informed consent release pertaining to the use of genetic
information. He suggested that perhaps future consideration
might be given to requiring that an informed consent release
regarding genetic information be provided for in a separate
document.
SENATOR OLSON said he has given that issue consideration, and
noted that page 2, line 14, states: "A person may revoke or
amend their informed and written consent at any time".
The committee took an at-ease from 7:20 p.m. to 7:21 p.m.
REPRESENTATIVE OGG complimented Senator Olson on a well-crafted
bill.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA concurred.
CHAIR McGUIRE indicated that SB 217 would be held over for the
purpose of considering a proposed amendment submitted by the
insurance industry.
SB 284 - VOTER AND PERM FUND APP RECORDS PRIVATE
Number 2021
CHAIR McGUIRE announced that the final order of business would
be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 284(FIN) am, "An Act making
information on a permanent fund dividend application, other than
the applicant's name, confidential, and relating to disclosure
of that confidential information; and relating to confidential
information in voter registration records."
Number 2048
SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor,
indicated that SB 284 ensures that permanent fund dividend (PFD)
application information, except for an applicant's name, is kept
private with certain exceptions:
(1) to a local, state, or federal government agency;
(2) in compliance with a court order;
(3) to the individual or agency who files an
application on behalf of another;
(4) to a banking institution to verify the direct
deposit of a permanent fund dividend or correct an
error in that deposit; and
(5) as directed to do so by the applicant
SENATOR GUESS relayed that through the committee process, SB 284
was changed such that the current version also makes much of the
information on voter registration records confidential,
information such as:
(1) the voter's age or date of birth;
(2) the voter's social security number, or any part
of that number;
(3) the voter's driver's license number;
(4) the voter's voter identification number;
(5) the voter's place of birth;
(6) the voter's signature
The committee took an at-ease from 7:25 p.m. to 7:26 p.m.
SENATOR GUESS pointed out that the current version of SB 284
also allows a person to request that his/her residential address
be kept confidential if he/she provides a different mailing
address. The latter will accommodate victims of domestic
violence who wish to keep their residential address
confidential. She noted, however, that the bill also contains
exceptions wherein confidential voter registration information
may be disclosed, such as in situations involving elections.
SENATOR GUESS offered her belief that when people fill out a PFD
application, they do not realize that their name and address may
be disclosed to the public. Although there are instances in
which such information should be disclosed, it would be better
public policy, she opined, if this information were kept
confidential with only few exceptions. She noted that the
provisions pertaining to PFD application information will apply
to applications for the 2005 PFD. She mentioned that she would
be willing to work during the interim with the people who have
concerns with the bill, so long as its intent is maintained,
that intent being that this information shouldn't be public
except that access to it may be part of the governmental
process. She indicated that she doesn't have any problems with
a proposed amendment that members have before them.
Number 2194
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS directed attention to Section 1,
subsection (b), and asked whether it could generate problems
such as allowing people to vote in one district though they are
registered in another.
SENATOR GUESS said she did not think so because although a
person has the option of keeping residential address information
from the public, it is still required on the voter registration
form. The Division of Elections is still going to have the
residential addresses of voters, and it will still have to
verify where voters live. She mentioned, however, that the bill
might impact the information a candidate gets about voters in
his/her district.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA mentioned that he'd provided members with
information from the Division of Elections which confirms that
there is a difference between a voter identification number and
a voter ascension number, which many candidates use to correlate
voting lists and which is not used to identify a voter.
Currently and under the bill, the voter identification number is
and will be kept confidential, but it may be helpful, he
suggested, to clarify that a voter's ascension number may be
released to the public. He indicated that he would be offering
an amendment to that effect.
TAPE 04-80, SIDE B
Number 2354
SENATOR GUESS confirmed that the ascension number is randomly
generated and is not a unique identifier.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG directed attention to page 2, line 10,
which says, "(3) the subject of a recall election if the voter
voted in the recall election".
SENATOR GUESS indicated that this language addresses a concern
raised on the Senate floor. Currently, it is a requirement that
a person voting in a recall election must reside in the district
that is holding the recall election; the aforementioned language
enables the subject of a recall election to check on whether the
voters who voted in the recall election actually resided in the
district.
SENATOR GUESS, in response to a question regarding PFD
applications, said that under the bill, the only information
that the public will still have access to will be the names of
those who submit PFD applications. One reason for this is that
a PFD payment is an expenditure, and there should be a public
accounting of expenditures. Another reason is to assist in the
prevention of fraud. In response to another question, she
reiterated that local, state, or federal government agencies
would still have access to the confidential information on a
person's PFD application, and that that information could still
be released in compliance with a court order.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG, returning to the issue of recall
elections, offered his belief that current statute says that
where a voter should vote is conclusively determined by his/her
voter registration card. In other words, if a person moves,
he/she is still considered a member of the district that is
listed on his/her voter registration card until he/she submits a
change to the division of elections. Because of this, he
opined, the language on page 2, line 10, isn't relevant.
Additionally, he questioned why the subject of a recall election
should be treated differently than the subject of a regular
election; in other words, shouldn't any candidate be able to
verify that only voters registered in his/her district voted at
an election.
SENATOR GUESS opined, however, that recall elections are
different than regular elections, since they come about because
the people of a district sign a petition that says a person
holding office should be recalled; therefore, it is reasonable
to allow the subject of a recall election to have access to
residential address information.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG remarked that perhaps the stipulation
should be that the person signing such a petition must live in
the district.
SENATOR GUESS mentioned that the language currently in the bill
pertaining to this issue is what the drafter recommended.
Number 2048
LORI DAVEY, President, Motznik Information Services, Inc., said
she would be testifying in opposition to SB 284. She went on to
say that although she can sympathize with victims of domestic
violence who want to keep their addresses confidential, there
are a lot of legitimate businesses that utilize the PFD and
voter registration files to verify a person's last know address,
for example, for use in process serving, and to provide
notification of property foreclosures. Additionally, many
private and governmental organizations that utilize address
information get it from private databases such as that compiled
by Motznik Information Services. As currently worded, the bill
precludes companies such as Motznik Information Services from
obtaining address information from the PFD and voter
registration files, and so her company would be unable to
fulfill its current contractual obligations, for example, to
attorneys, process servers, and title companies.
MS. DAVEY, with regard to voter ascension numbers, offered her
belief that such numbers are unique identifiers that stay with a
person, and asked that the public still be allowed to access
ascension numbers. She suggested that more could be done to the
bill to satisfy everyone's concerns, and recommended that the
legislature wait until next session before adopting such a
measure. She said that several of her customers were shocked
that this legislation exists, and suggested that there should be
time to do a full impact study and come up with fair way for the
people that legitimately use these files to still have access to
them, while still protecting peoples' privacy. Characterizing
the goals of SB 284 as noble, she said she agrees that address
information from PFD applications should not be something that
can simply be downloaded from the division's web site; however,
she remarked, "I would encourage you to oppose this bill at this
point, and give us a chance to work it out and come up with
language that's more favorable and fair for everybody." She
thanked the committee for the opportunity to testify.
Number 1892
CHAIR McGUIRE directed attention to what became known as
Amendment 1, labeled 23-LS1596\VA.1, Kurtz, 5/6/04, which read:
Page 3, line 1:
Delete "and"
Page 3, line 2:
Delete "."
Insert "; and"
Page 3, following line 2:
Insert a new paragraph to read:
"(6) to a contractor who has a contract
with a person entitled to obtain the information under
(1) - (5) of this section to receive, store, or manage
the information on that person's behalf; a contractor
receiving data under this paragraph may only use the
data as directed by and for the purposes of the person
entitled to obtain the information."
CHAIR McGUIRE indicated that [Amendment 1] would add an
exception to the list of those that could still access and make
use of confidential PFD application information.
MS. DAVEY offered her belief, however, that [adoption of
Amendment 1] would require that her company maintain a separate
database for local, state, and federal government agencies, but
doing so would not be feasible or cost effective; furthermore,
banks, attorneys, title companies, and process servers, for
example, would not have access to information that they can
currently get from her company.
CHAIR McGUIRE acknowledged that a few extra steps might be
necessary.
MS. DAVEY noted that title companies are required by [federal
law] to use a person's last known address when foreclosing on
property; as currently written, SB 284 will take away their
access to what might possibly be the most recent information.
She also offered her belief that birth, death, and marriage
statistics can be gleaned from the PFD application information.
SENATOR GUESS indicated that [Amendment 1] clarifies her intent,
and reiterated that she would be willing to work during the
interim to address the concerns of interested parties. It
becomes a policy call, she remarked, one that will determine who
the government can share information with when that information
has been given to it by its citizens. Acknowledging that the
PFD information database is by far one of the best, she said
that she is concerned with keeping victims of domestic violence
safe, and so it could be that some entities might no longer have
access to this information via that database.
CHAIR McGUIRE asked Senator Guess whether she would have an
objection to changing the effective date to either February 1,
2005, or March 1, 2005. Such a change would enable the
legislature to address any problems that arise.
SENATOR GUESS said she wouldn't have a problem with such a
change, and noted that Section 1 pertains to voter registration
information and that Section 2 pertains to the PFD application
information, which would entail information provided on the 2005
PFD application. She opined that any potential problems could
be fixed by the next legislature before any requested
information is made available.
Number 1677
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS made a motion to adopt Amendment 1 [text
provided previously]. There being no objection, Amendment 1 was
adopted.
SENATOR GUESS, in response to a question, indicated that she has
no problem with adding language that clarifies that a voter
ascension number [may be released].
Number 1621
REPRESENTATIVE GARA made a motion to adopt Amendment 2, a
handwritten amendment, which, with corrections, read [original
punctuation provided]:
Insert at p. 2 line 23
"(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the
release of a voter's voter ascension number, provided
that information may be released under other provision
of law."
Number 1614
CHAIR McGUIRE asked whether there were any objections to
Amendment 2. There being none, Amendment 2 was adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON, after declaring a potential conflict in
that he has used Motznik Information Services, Inc., said he
agrees with the concept of trying to keep victims of domestic
violence safe, and that he supports SB 284.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA and CHAIR McGUIRE suggested that all members
might have the same potential conflict.
Number 1579
REPRESENTATIVE GARA moved to report CSSB 284(FIN) am, as
amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCS
CSSB 284(JUD) was reported from the House Judiciary Standing
Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 1550
The House Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was recessed at
7:55 p.m., to be continued at 9:00 a.m. on May 8, 2004. [This
meeting did not reconvene before the next scheduled House
Judiciary Standing Committee meeting.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|