Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
01/15/2018 03:30 PM House RULES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Executive Session | |
| Consideration of a Report on a Personnel Matter | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE RULES STANDING COMMITTEE
January 15, 2018
4:14 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Chair
Representative Matt Claman, Vice Chair
Representative Sam Kito
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Mike Chenault
Representative Lora Reinbold
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative David Eastman
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative DeLena Johnson
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Chris Tuck
Representative David Guttenberg
Senator Kevin Meyer
Senator Peter Micciche
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
EXECUTIVE SESSION
CONSIDERATION OF A REPORT ON A PERSONNEL MATTER
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
SKIFF LOBAUGH, Human Resource Manager
Personnel
Legislative Affairs Agency
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during consideration of
a report on a personnel matter.
ACTION NARRATIVE
4:14:19 PM
CHAIR GABRIELLE LEDOUX called the House Rules Standing Committee
meeting to order at 4:14 p.m. Representatives Claman, Stutes,
Kito, Chenault, Reinbold, and LeDoux were present at the call to
order.
^EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
4:15:15 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the first order of business would be
an executive session.
4:15:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved to go into executive session under
Uniform Rule 22(b)(2), discussion of subjects that tend to
prejudice the reputation and character of a person, and Uniform
Rule 22(b)(3), discussion of a matter that may by law be
required to be confidential. He asked that the following
individuals remain in the room: Doug Gardner; Megan Wallace;
Skiff Lobaugh; House Rules Standing Committee aide, Courtney
Enright; any members of the House of Representatives; and any
invited testimony, as needed. There being no objection, the
House Rules Standing Committee entered into executive session.
4:16:02 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 4:16 p.m. to 6:31 p.m. for
the purpose of an executive session.
6:31:57 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX called the House Rules Standing Committee back to
order. Present at the call back to order were Representatives
Claman, Stutes, Kito, Chenault, Reinbold, and LeDoux.
^CONSIDERATION OF A REPORT ON A PERSONNEL MATTER
CONSIDERATION OF A REPORT ON A PERONNEL MATTER
6:32:54 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the final order of business would be
the consideration of a report on a personnel matter.
6:32:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved and asked unanimous consent that the
House Rules Standing Committee release the human resources
investigative report for Representative Dean Westlake, dated
December 20, 2017.
6:33:09 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX objected for purposes of discussion. She stated
support for the release of the report, but emphasized the
importance of balancing the interest in public disclosure with
the interest in confidential human resource matters. She said
the committee recognizes that one complainant has already
published a complaint. She said the committee has weighed in
favor of disclosure to show that the House treats all harassment
claims seriously and has zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Further, she clarified, "By releasing this report, we are also
not retaliating against any complainant in any manner."
6:34:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD said she thinks the executive session on
the issue addressed questions that had to be answered and was
conducted in a respectful manner. She expressed her support of
the release of the report, because she thinks that the public
wants to know both sides of the House are taking the issue
seriously, not only through words, but also by action. She
concluded by offering gratitude for the ability to assess the
issue and make the decision to release [the report] to the
public, while respecting privacy and recognizing the public
process and that [the legislature] is under "deeper scrutiny."
6:35:41 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX asked Representative Claman if the motion included
an accompanying letter [submitted by a complainant] to go along
with the release of the report.
6:35:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN noted that the complainant's March 13,
2017, letter is available on line, so the committee does need to
release it; however, he recommended that whoever [releases the
report] "makes clear where to find the letter on line."
6:36:28 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX removed her objection to the motion to release the
human resources investigative report for Representative
Westlake, dated December 20, 2017.
CHAIR LEDOUX invited Skiff Lobaugh to answer any committee
questions.
6:37:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT upon confirmation from Chair LeDoux that
she had removed her objection, reminded Chair LeDoux that the
motion remained before the committee.
6:37:24 PM
CHAIR LEDOUX, after ascertaining that there was no further
objection, announced that the report was released to the public.
6:38:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked Mr. Lobaugh if he had spoken with
Speaker of the House, Bryce Edgmon, as part of the investigation
"about these events."
6:38:17 PM
SKIFF LOBAUGH, Human Resource Manager, Personnel, Legislative
Affairs Agency, Alaska State Legislature, answered yes. In
response to follow-up questions, he confirmed he also had spoken
with Representative Tuck but not to Representative LeDoux,
because "she never came up as witness or anything to do with the
investigation."
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked, "In their actions, did
Representative Edgmon and Representative Tuck follow the
legislature's sexual harassment policies and procedures in their
... actions in response to these events?"
MR. LOBAUGH answered, "They did follow the Legislative Council's
policy on sexual and other workplace harassment."
6:39:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD offered her understanding that there is
no mandatory policy of reporting as exists in the U.S. Senate;
therefore, she asked, "Whose responsibility is it to [escalate]
a situation and what warrants that?"
MR. LOBAUGH answered that "the individual who receives these
case-by-case complaints would need to review and look at that."
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD said she knows the policy is currently
being updated but asked what the current options are regarding
to whom a person [experiencing harassment] can report.
MR. LOBAUGH answered that under current policy, the person can
report to his/her: supervisor; designated staff of the
presiding officer; designated staff in the Rules Office; or
designated staff in the office of the co-chair of the House
Finance Standing Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD asked, "Is everybody in the building
aware of who those individuals are?"
MR. LOBAUGH answered, "We can do a better job." To that end, he
related that he is currently working on a web site that will
provide the specific names of contacts." He indicated this is
an attempt to offer clearer information.
6:41:31 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Rules Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Westlake Final Report.pdf |
HRLS 1/15/2018 3:30:00 PM |
Westlake Final Report |
| Letter of Complaint .pdf |
HRLS 1/15/2018 3:30:00 PM |
Westlake Complaint |