Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
05/04/2023 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Overview of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management | |
| HB155 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 155 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
May 4, 2023
1:05 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
PRESENTATION(S): OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
- HEARD
HOUSE BILL NO. 155
"An Act establishing the Alaska Military Affairs Commission; and
relating to the duties and powers of the Alaska Military Affairs
Commission."
- MOVED CSHB 155(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 155
SHORT TITLE: ESTABLISH AK MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) STAPP
04/10/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/10/23 (H) MLV
04/20/23 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
04/20/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/20/23 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
04/25/23 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
04/25/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/25/23 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
04/27/23 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
04/27/23 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
05/04/23 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
BRYAN FISHER, Director
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Fort Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave the Overview of the Division of
Homeland Security and Emergency Management presentation.
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 155.
FORREST WOLFE, Staff
Representative Stanley Wright
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the changes within the proposed
committee substitute, Version U, to HB 155.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:05:58 PM
CHAIR STANLEY WRIGHT called the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
Representatives Gray, Groh, Shaw, Carpenter, Saddler, and Wright
were present at the call to order.
^PRESENTATION(S): OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PRESENTATION(S): OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
1:06:43 PM
CHAIR WRIGHT announced that the first order of business would be
the Overview of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management presentation.
1:07:14 PM
BRYAN FISHER, Director, Division of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management, Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs, began the PowerPoint presentation [hardcopy included in
committee packet], titled "Overview of the Division of Homeland
Security and Emergency Management," and described how the
division is organized under the department, as shown on slide 2.
He moved to slide 3 to show the division's organizational chart.
He moved to slides 4 and 5 to show which offices are activated
in a disaster. On slides 6 and 7, he talked about the
division's disaster response planning process. He explained
that the chart shows several agencies that assist in flow of
operations as well as how the private sector is involved in
disaster response. Slides 7 and 8 address the small community
emergency response plan (SCERP), which is a customizable,
community-specific document to assist Alaskans in disaster
planning and response. The SCERP process informs the community
of critical locations, contacts, as well as resources available
to them. He moved to slides 9 and 10 to talk about the state's
hazard mitigation development process. He said communities need
to work on such plans every five years and receive approval by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He stated that
having a plan is the first step in accessing federal funding.
On slides 11 and 12, he spoke about funding sources for
mitigation projects. He said that a barrier to the program is
the cost to match federal dollars, and that communities have
been unsuccessful in getting federal funding. As for the Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), he explained that the cost
share is paid for by the state when a federally declared
disaster is called. He thanked the legislature for funding the
program, and explained that the grant application requires
extensive documentation, like a benefit-cost analysis.
1:16:39 PM
MR. FISHER moved to slides 13 and 14 and talked about
preparedness, training, exercises, and outreach. He said that,
as the division learns from disaster response, it reviews the
actions for future review. He shared that the department
partners with several organizations to carry out emergency
preparedness outreach in communities. He moved to slides 15 and
16 to talk about the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC),
which he said is the central location in coordinating disaster
responses in the state. In a disaster, SEOC assists with
initial damage assessment and helps draft the disaster
declaration request.
1:23:28 PM
MR. FISHER moved to slide 17 to outline the disaster declaration
process, including economic and natural. He stressed the
importance of the governor's signature as it relates to funding.
He said that federal declaration is different in what triggers
it, and he noted that the federal government does recognize the
uniqueness of Alaska's landscape. He moved to slides 18 and 19
to explain the division's disaster assistance programs, like
grants to repair infrastructure. He moved to slide 20 to
outline what makes a project eligible. He shared what programs
fall under individual assistance, which are individual and
family grants, as well as temporary housing grants. On the
temporary housing grant, he talked about what help the division
provided. He said FEMA has similar programs. He moved to
slides 22 and 23 to talk about program support, which he said
consists of the division's administrative support, logistics,
grants, and audits.
1:39:20 PM
MR. FISHER, in response to Representative Saddler, described the
several communications systems used and talked about tribes
being partners, as well as having the right to go directly to
the federal level. Also, tribes can declare their own
emergencies.
1:46:57 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 1:46 p.m. to 1:48 p.m.
HB 155-ESTABLISH AK MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMISSION
1:48:40 PM
CHAIR WRIGHT announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 155, "An Act establishing the Alaska Military
Affairs Commission; and relating to the duties and powers of the
Alaska Military Affairs Commission."
1:49:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) to HB 155, Version 33-LS0701\U, Bergerud,
4/27/23, as a working document.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER objected for the purpose of discussion.
1:50:09 PM
FORREST WOLFE, Staff, Representative Stanley Wright, Alaska
State Legislature, explained that Version U would make two
changes to HB 155: on page 2, line 26, it would add subsection
(e) to AS 44.19860 to add language that places administrative
support responsibilities in the Office of the Governor; and it
would change "Armed Services" to "Armed Forces of the United
States" to be in compliance with U.S. code and state statue.
1:51:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked why administrative support duties
would be moved from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to the
Office of the Governor.
REPRESENTATIVE WILL STAPP, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 155, answered that the change is a matter of
resource with existing personnel and funding to be able to
absorb the commission.
1:52:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER removed his objection. There being no
further objection, Version U was before the committee as a
working document.
1:52:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 155,
Version U, which read as follows:
Page 1, following line 3:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of
Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read:
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the
legislature that the mayors and public members
appointed to the Alaska Military Affairs Commission be
geographically distributed to represent as many
different communities across the state as possible."
Page 1, line 4:
Delete "Section 1"
Insert "Sec. 2"
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 4, line 1:
Delete "sec. 1"
Insert "sec. 2"
Page 4, line 2:
Delete "sec. 1"
Insert "sec. 2"
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER commented that he supports HB 155,
Version U, and sees that its goal benefits the entire state by
planning for and encouraging more military missions. He said
Amendment 1 expresses the legislature's intent that members of
the commission be geographically distributed.
1:53:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW maintained his objection.
1:54:06 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Shaw, Carpenter,
Groh, Gray, Saddler, and Wright voted in favor of Amendment 1.
Therefore, Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 6-0.
1:54:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 155,
Version U, as amended, which read as follows:
Page 3, line 23, following "state":
Insert ";
(8) report to the Joint Armed Services Committee and
any special committee of the legislature relating to
military and veterans' affairs, if such committee
exists at the time the report is due, issues on the
commission's activities over the previous calendar
year; the commission shall provide the report in an
electronic format and deliver the report by January 31
each year"
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER explained that Amendment 2 seeks to
accommodate a prohibition on members of the legislature serving
on the Military Affairs Commission. He said the amendment
requires a report, which would keep committees and legislators
informed.
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW removed his objection. There being no
further objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.
1:55:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to adopt Amendment 3 to HB 155,
Version U, as amended, which read as follows:
Page 2, line 14, following "States,":
Insert "and one of whom, to the extent possible,
representing a geographic region not otherwise
represented on the commission,"
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER explained that Amendment 3 is similar to
the Amendment 1 as it relates to seat distribution by geographic
location. He said the amendment would allow that one of the two
public members be from an area that is not otherwise
represented.
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW removed his objection. There being no
further objection, Amendment 3 was adopted.
1:56:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STAPP thanked committee members.
1:57:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SHAW moved to report CSHB 155, Version 33-
LS0701\U, Bergarud, 4/27/24, [as amended], out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, CSHB 155(MLV) was reported out of the
House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
1:57:45 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 1:58 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| DMVA DHSEM Presentation for (H) MVA 04 MAY.pdf |
HMLV 5/4/2023 1:00:00 PM |
|
| HB 155 Amendment U.3.pdf |
HMLV 5/4/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 155 |
| HB 155 Amendment U.2.pdf |
HMLV 5/4/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 155 |
| HB 155 Amendment U.1.pdf |
HMLV 5/4/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 155 |
| CSHB 155 (MLV) ver U 5.1.23.pdf |
HMLV 5/4/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 155 |
| CSHB 155 Explanation of Changes ver A to U 5.3.23.pdf |
HMLV 5/4/2023 1:00:00 PM |
HB 155 |