Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120

05/08/2024 03:15 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

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Audio Topic
03:39:39 PM Start
03:40:21 PM SB174
03:54:12 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Please Note Time Change --
+ SB 174 HONOR & REMEMBER/HONOR & SACRIFICE FLAGS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 174(CRA) Out of Committee
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
   HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS                                                                  
                          May 8, 2024                                                                                           
                           3:39 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stanley Wright, Chair                                                                                            
Representative Laddie Shaw                                                                                                      
Representative Ben Carpenter                                                                                                    
Representative Dan Saddler                                                                                                      
Representative Cliff Groh                                                                                                       
Representative Andrew Gray                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative George Rauscher                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 174(CRA)                                                                                                 
"An Act relating to the Honor and Remember Flag and the Honor                                                                   
and Sacrifice Flag."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSSB 174(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 174                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: HONOR & REMEMBER/HONOR & SACRIFICE FLAGS                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) BJORKMAN                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
01/16/24       (S)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24                                                                               

01/16/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

01/16/24 (S) CRA 04/02/24 (S) CRA WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE 23 04/04/24 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 04/04/24 (S) Heard & Held 04/04/24 (S) MINUTE(CRA) 04/16/24 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 04/16/24 (S) Moved CSSB 174(CRA) Out of Committee 04/16/24 (S) MINUTE(CRA) 04/17/24 (S) CRA RPT CS 4DP SAME TITLE 04/17/24 (S) DP: DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON, GIESSEL, BJORKMAN 05/03/24 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 05/03/24 (S) VERSION: CSSB 174(CRA) 05/06/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/06/24 (H) MLV 05/07/24 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124 05/07/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> 05/07/24 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 05/07/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 05/08/24 (H) MLV AT 3:15 PM GRUENBERG 120 WITNESS REGISTER SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: As the prime sponsor, introduced 174(CRA). DAVE CASWELL, Director Alaska Chapter of Honor and Remember Sterling, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on 174(CRA). ACTION NARRATIVE 3:39:39 PM CHAIR STANLEY WRIGHT called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 3:39 p.m. Representatives Gray, Groh, Saddler, Carpenter, Shaw, and Wright were present at the call to order. SB 174-HONOR & REMEMBER/HONOR & SACRIFICE FLAGS 3:40:21 PM CHAIR WRIGHT announced that the only order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 174(CRA) "An Act relating to the Honor and Remember Flag and the Honor and Sacrifice Flag." 3:40:47 PM SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, introduced CSSB 174(CRA). He explained that the goal of the proposed legislation is to recognize a military veteran's remembrance flag as an official state symbol in Alaska. He stated that this would be in remembrance of those who have given their lives in the line of duty and service to their country and communities. He discussed the difficulties when a family member is lost in this way and stated that the proposed legislation would create a state symbol to be presented to family members when someone is lost in the line of duty, whether the individual is a service member, veteran, police officer, or firefighter. He stated that 27 other states have already identified these flags as a means to recognize those lost in the line of duty. He continued that the proposed legislation would define the form the flags would take, as well as where they may be flown. He explained that this would not be a requirement on state offices, and no additional cost would be incurred to the state. 3:42:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHAW expressed his appreciation to the bill sponsor for bringing this issue forward. 3:43:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER expressed his appreciation for the proposed legislation and noted that it would be optional through the discretionary clause. 3:44:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER acknowledged that each generation needs to find its own way to acknowledge those who have sacrificed and served. He expressed support for CSSB 174 as the appropriate way to do so. 3:45:19 PM DAVE CASWELL, Director, Alaska Chapter of Honor and Remember, shared his history and experience. He gave a history of the organization, explaining that it was inspired by the five dreaded words - "We regret to inform you." He said that the organization created the flag to bring recognition to those in our society who often are forgotten. He gave context to the national scope of Honor and Remember, saying that it has presented over 5,000 personalized flags to families of fallen veterans. He referenced the House Joint Resolution 53 [passed during the Twenty-Sixth Alaska State Legislature], of which Honor and Remember was instrumental in passing. He noted that the national online petition, which would make the remembrance flags officially recognized, has over 50,000 signatures. He listed several corporations and companies who recognize the remembrance flags. In order to recognize those who serve, he relayed that many feel more should be done than setting aside one day of the year. He argued that CSSB 147 would achieve this by giving veterans and families of lost veterans something they can look to for identity, pride, and remembrance. 3:50:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY thanked Mr. Caswell for his work on the issue. 3:51:30 PM CHAIR WRIGHT opened public testimony on CSSB 174(CRA). After ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 3:51:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHAW moved to report CSSB 174(CRA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 3:52:17 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 3:52:29 PM CHAIR WRIGHT, there being no objection, reported CSSB 174(CRA) out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. 3:52:43 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:52 p.m. to 3:54 p.m. 3:54:12 PM ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 3:54 p.m.

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