05/08/2024 03:15 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB174 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 174 | TELECONFERENCED | |
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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