Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
02/12/2008 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s)|| State Commission on Human Rights | |
| Personnel Board | |
| Alaska Public Offices Commission (apoc) | |
| HB259 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 259 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 12, 2008
8:06 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bob Lynn, Chair
Representative Bob Roses, Vice Chair
Representative John Coghill
Representative Kyle Johansen
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Andrea Doll
Representative Max Gruenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
State Commission on Human Rights
Mark S. Fish - Anchorage, Alaska
Grace Merkes - Sterling, Alaska
Robert B. Sawyer, Jr. - Fairbanks, Alaska
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Personnel Board
Debra E. English - Anchorage, Alaska
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC)
Kathleen Frederick - Juneau, Alaska
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
HOUSE BILL NO. 259
"An Act establishing the first week of every March as Alaska
History Week."
- MOVED HB 259 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 259
SHORT TITLE: ESTABLISHING ALASKA HISTORY WEEK
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) FAIRCLOUGH
05/13/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/13/07 (H) STA
02/12/08 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
GRACE MERKES, Appointee
State Commission on Human Rights
Sterling, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointed commissioner of the
State Commission on Human Rights.
MARK S. FISH, Appointee
State Commission for Human Rights
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointed commissioner of the
State Commission for Human Rights.
DEBRA E. ENGLISH, Appointee
to the Personnel Board
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Personnel
Board.
KATHLEEN FREDERICK, Appointee
to the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to APOC.
REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 259 as prime sponsor.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House State Affairs Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:06:54 AM. Representatives Roses, Coghill,
Johnson, Doll, and Lynn were present at the call to order.
Representatives Johansen and Gruenberg arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
^State Commission on Human Rights
8:07:29 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced the first order of business, the
confirmation hearings for appointees to the State Commission for
Human Rights.
8:08:38 AM
GRACE MERKES, Appointee, State Commission on Human Rights, told
the committee that she has already served on the commission for
the past five years and would like the opportunity to continue
in that capacity. She noted that she has been chair of the
commission for the past two years. She emphasized the
importance of the commission as a way for the people of Alaska
to bring discrimination cases to those who can help them. In
response to a question from Representative Lynn, she said the
commission operates with a staff of between 17-18 people.
Originally, she noted, the commission dealt with close to 4,000
calls a year. For each call, if a resolution cannot be met,
then the case goes to investigation, to conciliation, and
finally to a hearing. Out of all the original phone calls, 15
cases, on average, actually go to a hearing process. She
estimated that there were between 12-15 hearings last year.
8:11:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved to advance the confirmation of
Grace Merkes to the joint session of the House and Senate; he
requested unanimous consent. There being no objection, the
nomination of Grace Merkes to the position of commissioner of
the State Commission for Human Rights was advanced.
8:11:42 AM
MARK S. FISH, Appointee, State Commission for Human Rights, told
the committee that he has been an Alaskan since 1962, and worked
in the Alaska Army National Guard for 20 years, retiring in
2003. He stated, "I view my service on these boards as an
extension of that duty." He said he is in the inactive reserve
with the Alaska Army National Guard, and he stated that he takes
his obligations and civic responsibility seriously. He revealed
that he is a candidate for state office. He mentioned a bill
being brought forth, and he suggested there may be concern that
he would use his position on the commission as "a soap box" or
excuse to fundraise. He assuaged that concern by quoting a line
from the Army NCO Creed, which read: "I will not use my grade
or position to obtain pleasure, profit, or personal safety." He
said that is something he still ascribes to and he hopes that
will alleviate any concerns that his run for office may have.
MR. FISH stated that [human] rights are so important that they
were put "right up front" in the Constitution of the United
States. In response to a question from Chair Lynn, he said he
will be running for office in the House of Representatives. He
said he does not know whether or not he would have to resign
from the commission were he to be elected to office.
8:14:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES proffered that the bill to which Mr. Fish
referred would not allow anyone running for office to serve on
any board or commission. He said he has experience in that
regard, because when he ran for office, he was contacted by an
assistant attorney general and told that he must resign from his
position on the Alaska Retirement Management (ARM)Board. He
suggested Mr. Fish may want to look into the issue. He stated
his understanding that if a person is paid a stipend, he/she is
an employee of the state and therefore would have a conflict of
interest when filing for office.
MR. FISH offered his understanding that those who serve on the
State Commission for Human Rights receive a per diem rather than
a stipend.
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES thanked Mr. Fish for his willingness to
serve.
8:17:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES moved to advance the confirmation of Mark
S. Fish to the joint session of the House and Senate; he
requested unanimous consent. There being no objection, the
nomination of Mark S. Fish to the position of commissioner of
the State Commission for Human Rights was advanced.
8:17:54 AM
CHAIR LYNN asked if anybody on the committee would like to
comment regarding Robert B. Sawyer, Jr., Appointee to the State
Commission for Human Rights.
8:18:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said he has worked with Mr. Sawyer in the
Fairbanks area off and on for 20 years. He said Mr. Sawyer has
been a good public servant and will do well serving on the
commission.
8:18:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved to advance the confirmation of
Robert B. Sawyer, Jr. to the joint session of the House and
Senate; he requested unanimous consent. There being no
objection, the nomination of Robert B. Sawyer, Jr. to the
position of commissioner of the State Commission for Human
Rights was advanced.
^Personnel Board
8:19:08 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced the next order of business, the
confirmation hearing for the appointee to the Personnel Board.
8:19:14 AM
DEBRA E. ENGLISH, Appointee, to the Personnel Board, told the
committee that she was appointed to the board, in 2004, by then
Governor Frank Murkowski, and shortly thereafter accepted the
position of chair. She said her numerous years working in state
government, in the area of human resources, has helped her
assist in the board processes. She said, "The first four years,
the board entertained a lot of activities with challenges
against the governor and other elected officials, and we were
able to address that in a confidential matter and with a
resolution." She described the Personnel Board as effective,
and told the committee that she would appreciate the opportunity
to continue working on it.
8:20:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL noted that Ms. English's resume shows
that she has helped the state in many ways, and he expressed his
gratitude.
8:21:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved to advance the confirmation of
Debra E. English to the joint session of the House and Senate;
he requested unanimous consent. There being no objection, the
nomination of Debra E. English as appointee to the Personnel
Board was advanced.
^Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC)
8:21:24 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced the next order of business, the
confirmation hearing for the appointee to the Alaska Public
Offices Commission (APOC).
8:21:32 AM
KATHLEEN FREDERICK, Appointee, to the Alaska Public Offices
Commission (APOC), said the appeal of serving on the commission
is that it is an important body, "particularly in light of the
last couple years." She indicated that APOC serves a quasi-
judicial and regulatory function, which she said is appealing to
her because of her background as a lawyer. In response to Chair
Lynn, she told the committee that in the last 25 years she has
practiced law in the areas of business, real estate, civil
litigation, and employment. In response to a follow-up question
from the chair, she confirmed that she is familiar with the
reporting requirements for candidates. She said her familiarity
is partially due to her time serving on the Alaska Public
Broadcasting Commission.
8:22:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL moved to advance the confirmation of
Kathleen Frederick to the joint session of the House and Senate;
she requested unanimous consent. There being no objection, the
nomination of Kathleen Frederick as appointee to the Alaska
Public Offices Commission was advanced.
HB 259-ESTABLISHING ALASKA HISTORY WEEK
8:23:22 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the last order of business was HOUSE
BILL NO. 259, "An Act establishing the first week of every March
as Alaska History Week."
8:23:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, Alaska State Legislature,
presented HB 259 as prime sponsor. She said the bill proposes
that the state recognize the first week of March as Alaska
History [Week]. Representative Fairclough reported that for
many years, Alaskans have participated in the National History
Day program, which she stated is the largest history education
program in the nation, with over 700,000 students and 40,000
teachers participating annually. In Alaska, she said,
approximately 3,000 students and 50 teachers participate
annually. Representative Fairclough concluded, "We're hoping to
bring recognition day to Alaska so that we can join the rest of
the nation in the celebration and recognize Alaska's heritage
and our rich culture."
8:24:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES expressed his support of the HB 259.
8:25:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH, in response to Chair Lynn, explained
a pin she wore showing a wooly mammoth.
8:25:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said he likes the idea of having a week
[dedicated to appreciation of Alaska's history], and he said he
would one day like to see a whole curriculum offered. He asked
Representative Fairclough to describe what she imagines would be
the venue of an Alaska History Week.
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH responded that there is a national
participation framework, in which research papers are submitted,
exhibits put up, performances offered, and web sites built. She
noted that the Anchorage School District has sent a letter of
support for the bill, as well as Southcentral Foundation, and
she said there would be no mandate that would add any additional
responsibilities to any of the school districts.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said it would be interesting to find out
more about the process, because he would like to encourage
participation.
8:27:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH, in response to Representative Doll,
said the bill sets up language in statute to promote history and
awareness throughout the state.
8:28:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL asked why this legislation was being
proposed by statute, rather than by resolution.
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH replied:
History, in itself, is something that's perpetual and
is recognized. I mean, we recognize on an annual
basis Sexual Assault Awareness month - that's what I'm
most closely affiliated with - and so, someone has to
bring that forward every year - which is a good thing,
to make sure that you recognize it. But history is so
much of our foundation, that it seems codifying it and
placing it in statute is an appropriate celebration of
that.
8:28:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he thinks highlighting the history
of Alaska is an excellent idea. He said there are so many
people flowing into the major population centers that have no
idea what the history of Alaska is, and he said it bothers him
that there is no focus on the state's history, which is unique.
CHAIR LYNN concurred.
8:29:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved to report HB 259 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 259 was reported out of the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.
8:30:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH said she would appreciate any co-
sponsorship of the bill, if any of the House State Affairs
Standing Committee members would be so inclined.
8:30:53 AM
CHAIR LYNN noted that there are several pieces of legislation in
circulation regarding the issue of legislators voting on the
House floor when they have a declared conflict of interest. He
said he is considering establishing a subcommittee to review the
legislation and draw the ideas together into one bill. After
committee discussion, Chair Lynn related that he would make a
decision by the end of the week regarding how the committee
would proceed.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
8:42:39 AM.
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