Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106

03/12/2015 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS

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08:13:15 AM Start
08:13:41 AM Alaska Public Offices Commission
08:57:46 AM State Commission for Human Rights
09:02:32 AM Parole Board
09:06:57 AM Alaska Police Standards Council
09:14:24 AM Lieutenant Governor Successor
09:19:14 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Confirmation Hearings: TELECONFERENCED
- State Commission for Human Rights
- Board of Parole
- Alaska Police Standards Council
- Alaska Public Offices Commission
- Lieutenant Governor Successor, Craig Fleener
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
             HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                           
                         March 12, 2015                                                                                         
                           8:13 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bob Lynn, Chair                                                                                                  
Representative Wes Keller, Vice Chair                                                                                           
Representative David Talerico                                                                                                   
Representative Liz Vazquez                                                                                                      
Representative Louise Stutes                                                                                                    
Representative Max Gruenberg                                                                                                    
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ALASKA PUBLIC OFFICES COMMISSION                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Mark Fish - Big Lake, Alaska                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
STATE COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Kathryn Dodge - Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
PAROLE BOARD                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Richard Ole Larson - Palmer, Alaska                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
ALASKA POLICE STANDARDS COUNCIL                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Gustaf Sandahl - Kenai, Alaska                                                                                             
     Rebecca Hamon - King Salmon, Alaska                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SUCCESSOR                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
No previous action to record                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MARK FISH, Appointee                                                                                                            
Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC)                                                                                         
Big Lake, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT:   As appointee to the position  of the Alaska                                                             
Public  Offices  Commission,   discussed  his  qualification  and                                                               
answered questions.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
KATHERINE DODGE, Appointee                                                                                                      
State Commission for Human Rights                                                                                               
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   As appointee  to the position of  the State                                                             
Commission  for Human  Rights,  discussed  her qualification  and                                                               
answered questions.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
RICHARD OLE LARSON, Appointee                                                                                                   
Parole Board                                                                                                                    
Department of Corrections                                                                                                       
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:   As appointee to the position  on the Parole                                                             
Board, discussed his qualification and answered questions.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
GUSTAF SANDAHL, Appointee                                                                                                       
Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC)                                                                                          
Department of Public Safety                                                                                                     
Kenai, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:   As appointee to the position  on the Alaska                                                             
Police  Standards   Council,  discussed  his   qualification  and                                                               
answered questions.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REBECCA HAMON, Appointee                                                                                                        
Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC)                                                                                          
Department of Public Safety                                                                                                     
King Salmon, Alaska                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT:   As appointee to the position  on the Alaska                                                             
Police  Standards   Council,  discussed  her   qualification  and                                                               
answered questions.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CRAIG FLEENER, Appointee                                                                                                        
Lieutenant Governor Successor                                                                                                   
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   As appointee to the  position of Lieutenant                                                             
Governor  Successor,  discussed  his qualification  and  answered                                                               
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:13:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BOB LYNN called the  House State Affairs Standing Committee                                                             
meeting  to order  at 8:13  a.m.   Representatives Lynn,  Keller,                                                               
Talerico,   Vazquez,  Stutes,   Gruenberg,  Kreiss-Tomkins   were                                                               
present at the call to order.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                   ^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
               ^Alaska Public Offices Commission                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:13:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN  announced that  the first order  of business  was the                                                               
confirmation hearing for the Alaska Public Offices Commission.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:14:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:14 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:15:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARK FISH,  Appointee, Alaska  Public Offices  Commission (APOC),                                                               
stated he  had not solicited  to serve, but  was asked to  do so.                                                               
He  likened the  calling  to  serve on  the  commission as  being                                                               
called  to serve  on  a jury.    He stated  he  could pursue  his                                                               
interest  in "a  free and  fair  society" through  a position  on                                                               
APOC.   Mr.  Fish  noted that  his resume  was  in the  committee                                                               
packet, and  he highlighted some  noteworthy points from it.   He                                                               
said he served  for five years on the State  Commission for Human                                                               
Rights,  which  was  also  a  semi-judicial  body  that  required                                                               
legislative confirmation.  He encouraged  the committee to review                                                               
his  years of  service  on that  commission  through the  minutes                                                               
available,  which he  said  he  thought would  show  that he  had                                                               
executed his  commission "with  integrity and  honor."   Mr. Fish                                                               
said  he also  served on  the Citizens'  Advisory Commission  for                                                               
Federal Areas,  and for  the last  two terms  was elected  by his                                                               
fellow  commissioners  as  vice  chair.   He  offered  to  answer                                                               
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:18:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  stated  that  he was  the  chair  of  the                                                               
Citizens' Advisory  Commission for  Federal Areas;  therefore, he                                                               
could vouch  for Mr. Fish's  integrity, willingness to work  as a                                                               
team, and thoughtfulness.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:18:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS  noted that  Mr. Fish  had answered                                                               
"yes" when asked  on the application whether his  service on APOC                                                               
could  benefit him  or his  family, but  had written  "no" rather                                                               
than answering  what the  financial benefit might  be.   He asked                                                               
Mr. Fish to offer details regarding both answers.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH  noted that  "during prior  testimony, someone  else had                                                               
that same  issue come up."   He stated it  was not his  intent to                                                               
put  that on  there, and  he suggested  that it  may have  been a                                                               
problem  with "the  way  it's  presented on  the  Internet."   He                                                               
stated  that he  had no  financial  benefit in  serving on  APOC,                                                               
"outside of being a citizen of Alaska."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:21:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 8:22 a.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:22:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS noted Mr.  Fish had written a blog,                                                               
and he  asked Mr.  Fish to  speak to  it.   In response  to Chair                                                               
Lynn, Representative  Kreiss-Tomkins explained  that he  had read                                                               
an article, which made reference  to anti-feminist quotes made by                                                               
Mr. Fish in the blog, which was  no longer available on line.  He                                                               
cited [an excerpt from the  first paragraph of an Alaska Dispatch                                                             
News article by Lisa Demer, dated  March 1, 2012, included in the                                                             
committee packet],  which read  as follows  [original punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Governor  Parnell  said  Thursday  he  didn't  know  of                                                                    
     concerns  about  Mark  Fish, his  nominee  to  a  state                                                                    
     commission     that     defends    individuals     from                                                                    
      discrimination, until information about Fish's anti-                                                                      
       feminist blog posts in 2009 appeared in the Daily                                                                      
     News.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:24:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH clarified  that the article of contention  was in regard                                                               
to  his support  of the  appointment  of Wayne  Ross as  attorney                                                               
general by then Governor Sarah Palin.   He indicated that in [his                                                               
blog],  he had  noted that  radical feminists  opposed Mr.  Ross'                                                               
nomination.    He said  he  was  speaking  of  a person  who  had                                                               
testified, but he  had not thought it fair to  reveal the name of                                                               
the private  citizen.   He noted that  the person  had previously                                                               
opined that the world would be  a better place without men, which                                                               
he said he considered radical feminism.  He continued:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     I  felt  that I  had  the  lack of  Governor  Parnell's                                                                    
     support  in the  issue, and  any time  ... I  feel that                                                                    
     there's a  lack of  confidence by  the people  that ...                                                                    
     [have] appointed me, I was  more than happy to withdraw                                                                    
     my  nomination, which  I did  then.   And I  would now,                                                                    
     too, if this governor felt it was an issue.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:26:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  asked Mr. Fish  if he had ever  filled out                                                               
an APOC form.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH  affirmed that as a  member of the State  Commission for                                                               
Human Rights, he had filled  out financial disclosures.  Further,                                                               
he said he  ran as a state's candidate for  office and filled out                                                               
the  required APOC  disclosure  forms.   He  stated  that as  the                                                               
former chair of the Libertarian  Party, he had the opportunity to                                                               
oversee  his treasurer's  reports [to  APOC].   In response  to a                                                               
follow-up question, he said he  thought anyone who has filled out                                                               
the reports  may have felt  a level of  frustration.  He  said he                                                               
agreed with the  intent of transparency; however,  he opined that                                                               
there should be  an emphasis on "moving into something  that is a                                                               
little more  user-friendly," particularly for people  who are not                                                               
used to  filing such reports.   He said he found  it difficult to                                                               
recruit candidates because of the reporting.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:28:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN offered  his understanding  that  APOC must  consider                                                               
expenditures by candidates and review  any complaints as compared                                                               
to  existing law  accordingly.    He added,  "I  don't see  where                                                               
politics is actually involved in that."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:29:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG offered  his  understanding that  those                                                               
who are  selected for  APOC must  sign paperwork.   He  asked Mr.                                                               
Fish  if he  had done  so  and whether  he had  yet entered  into                                                               
office.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH  replied that  the only documents  he received  had been                                                               
sent via  e-mail.  He  said in  particular he received  an e-mail                                                               
notifying him  to attend the current  confirmation hearing before                                                               
the House State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that  on Mr. Fish's application to                                                               
APOC,  he listed  the  State Commission  for  Human Rights  under                                                               
"education,  training,   experience,  and  qualification."     He                                                               
referred   to  "the   situation   in  2012,"   and  offered   his                                                               
understanding  that Mr.  Fish had  been seeking  reappointment to                                                               
the State Commission for Human Rights.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH  confirmed that at that  time, he accepted a  request to                                                               
serve another  five years.   In response to a  follow-up question                                                               
he explained  that he had  subsequently withdrawn his  name after                                                               
discussing with  the commission the  issues that would  be raised                                                               
and hearing  from the governor's  staff that there  were concerns                                                               
his  appointment   would  be   politically  detrimental   to  the                                                               
governor.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG  asked Mr.  Fish  if  he made  Governor                                                               
Walker aware of what had happened.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH  answered that  he trusted  the governor  to do  his own                                                               
vetting, and  he did not  make an issue  of it, because  his name                                                               
had  been forwarded  by the  Alaska Libertarian  Party board  and                                                               
accepted by the governor.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:34:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN  pointed out that Representative  Gruenberg was asking                                                               
questions pertaining  to the State  Commission for  Human Rights,                                                               
but Mr. Fish was being considered for APOC.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained that  he wanted to compare the                                                               
missions  of both  entities.   He  highlighted  writing from  the                                                               
second  through  fourth  paragraphs  of the  second  page  of  an                                                               
article by  Lisa Demer  in Alaska  Dispatch News,  dated 2/29/12,                                                             
[included  in the  committee packet],  regarding Mr.  Fish, which                                                               
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Some  of his  writings during  the time  he was  on the                                                                    
     human  rights  commission  took jabs  at  some  of  the                                                                    
     groups  he was  supposed to  defend or  those who  were                                                                    
     seeking protection against discrimination.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     In  April   2009,  Wayne  Ross,  Palin's   nominee  for                                                                    
     attorney general, was  under fire.  On  April 10, 2009,                                                                    
     Fish took on Ross' opponents  in a blog post he called,                                                                    
     "fighting the good fight."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Three  groups  were  against Ross,  Fish  wrote,  using                                                                    
     questionable English.  "These  are 1. Native leaders 2.                                                                    
     Radical Feminist 3. Democrat party operativees [sic]."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  said Mr. Fish was  "potentially showing                                                               
some  bias."   He stated  that  APOC was  a quasi-judicial  body,                                                               
which  tried cases,  assessed fines,  and  held proceedings  that                                                               
could lead  to criminal  prosecution.   He asked  Mr. Fish  if he                                                               
knew that.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  FISH emphasized  he was  aware of  that.   Referring to  the                                                               
2/29/12  article, he  noted  that Ms.  Demer  wrote a  subsequent                                                               
article,  following an  interview  with him,  which "pretty  much                                                               
clarified any  questions that she  had."   He remarked that  as a                                                               
citizen, he was allowed to  have opinions, but as a commissioner,                                                               
he did not  allow those opinions to taint his  official duty.  He                                                               
challenged  anyone to  review his  five years'  service with  the                                                               
State Commission for  Human Rights and find that he  had any bias                                                               
in any  of his  statements or rulings  in which  he participated.                                                               
He stated that he respected the law and followed it.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:37:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG offered his  understanding that Mr. Fish                                                               
was  referring  to the  aforementioned  article  of 3/1/12.    He                                                               
directed attention to the second  paragraph of the second page of                                                               
that  article,  which  read   as  follows  [original  punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     In  one post,  he  blogged about  his unhappiness  with                                                                    
     radical  feminists,   Native  leaders   and  Democratic                                                                    
     operatives  because  of  their  opposition  to  Palin's                                                                    
     nomination of Wayne Ross as attorney general.  Certain                                                                     
     feminists in particular irked him.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  asked Mr. Fish  if he was  "lumping all                                                               
the people who  opposed Mr. Ross' confirmation into  one of those                                                               
categories."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH indicated that there were  two parts to [the blog he had                                                               
written]:   a list  of those who  opposed Wayne  Ross' nomination                                                               
and  his opinion  and support  of that  nomination.   He said  he                                                               
understood "people  threw up  concern" regarding  his use  of the                                                               
term "radical feminist"; however, he  reiterated that he had been                                                               
referring to one individual.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN  asked  Mr.  Ross  to  reconfirm  that  he  had  been                                                               
referring to one private citizen - not a group of people.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  FISH responded,  "I was  particularly pointing  towards her,                                                               
but I'm  sure there were  other radical feminists out  there that                                                               
actually opposed, too."  He challenged  any one to find any woman                                                               
he had treated  with anything other than the utmost  respect.  He                                                               
relayed  that he  was close  to his  two sisters,  who considered                                                               
themselves feminists,  and he  was married for  25 years,  and he                                                               
"never used any  foul language to them or never  raised a hand to                                                               
any."  He stated that his father  taught him at an early age that                                                               
women were special and should be treated as such.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:41:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER questioned  the line  of questioning.   He                                                               
said statute clearly  instructs the governor to  appoint from two                                                               
political  parties, which  he said  presumed that  the applicants                                                               
put forward would  have a political background of some  sort.  He                                                               
asked Representative  Gruenberg exactly what he  was accusing Mr.                                                               
Fish of through his line of reasoning.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRUENBERG,  in  response, pointed  out  that  the                                                               
aforementioned  quote  referred  to  "feminists"  -  plural,  not                                                               
singular.   He brought attention  to the paragraph  that followed                                                               
that  quote,   which  read   as  follows   [original  punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Yes folks, elements of this  group actually believe men                                                                    
     have no  value and  through science they  can eliminate                                                                    
     men  from the  face  of  the earth,"  Fish  wrote.   In                                                                    
     another,  he took  on a  proposal before  the Anchorage                                                                    
     Assembly  to extend  city  anti-discrimination laws  to                                                                    
     people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.                                                                      
     He said the matter was a "side show" meant to distract                                                                     
     from the real issues.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN  said, "He's expressing  a political opinion  and some                                                               
of us may have that same opinion."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:43:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH  said he  had expressed  his opinions in  his blog.   He                                                               
mentioned  an   ordinance  [proposed   by  the   Municipality  of                                                               
Anchorage]  that would  have included  [Lesbian, Gay,  Bi-sexual,                                                               
and  Transgender (LGBT)  individuals] as  members of  a protected                                                               
class.   He said as  a member of  the State Commission  for Human                                                               
Rights, there was a four-point  criteria to which he adhered, and                                                               
"that  class  did  not  fit  the  need  for  protection  under  a                                                               
protected class."  He said  he thought the aforementioned article                                                               
highlighted his opinion on that issue.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH pointed  out that he served 20 years  in the Alaska Army                                                               
National Guard,  during which  The Hatch  Act prevented  him from                                                               
fully  participating   politically.    After  that,   he  made  a                                                               
commitment never again to let his  free speech be suppressed.  He                                                               
assured  Mr.  Gruenberg,  "Whatever   position  I  serve  in,  my                                                               
opinions are  going to  be known  to the  public, and  they'll be                                                               
judged by the public, and I'm happy with that."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:45:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   GRUENBERG  reemphasized   that   Mr.  Fish,   if                                                               
confirmed to  APOC, would  be sitting  as a  judge in  cases that                                                               
would have a major effect on  people running for office.  Some of                                                               
those   people  may   be  Native   leaders,  radical   feminists,                                                               
Democratic Party  operatives, and members of  the LGBT community.                                                               
He  said he  was  not  aware that  anyone  who  went before  that                                                               
tribunal  would have  a right  to a  preemptory challenge  of any                                                               
member on APOC.   He reminded Mr. Fish of  The Canons of Judicial                                                               
Ethics, under  which he would  be bound, which state  that judges                                                               
must avoid even the appearance  of impropriety, and he questioned                                                               
whether any of  the aforementioned citizens might  have doubts as                                                               
to whether Mr. Fish could be fair and impartial.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  FISH answered  that he  thought  his record  showed that  he                                                               
could treat people fairly and impartially.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:47:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN asked  Representative Gruenberg  if he  believed that                                                               
anyone  who had  opposed the  aforementioned ordinance  should be                                                               
disqualified from  APOC or  any other  [commission].   He pointed                                                               
out that  there was  a similar  bill in  the legislature,  and he                                                               
asked if anyone  who voted against it would  be disqualified from                                                               
an appointment by the governor.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  stated his belief that  each case would                                                               
have to  be judged on  its own merit.   He  asked Mr. Fish  if he                                                               
would step  down from any  cases in which  the focus was  on, for                                                               
example,  a person  from the  Democratic  Party, or  if he  would                                                               
continue his involvement in them.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH  reiterated that  he thought his  record showed  that he                                                               
could serve  impartially.  He  said the best  thing to do  was to                                                               
follow the law,  which was blind; therefore, it  would not matter                                                               
who came  before him, because  he would  focus on whether  or not                                                               
that person was in violation of the law.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked  if Mr. Fish would  step down from                                                               
a  case if  the accused  who came  before APOC  either asked  him                                                               
personally  or through  council to  do  so, based  on Mr.  Fish's                                                               
previously stated views.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  FISH  answered  that  he  would  not  allow  the  public  to                                                               
manipulate  the  process  to  that  extent;  however,  if  fellow                                                               
commissioners made that request, he would follow their advice.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN commented  that he  would not  want a  Democrat going                                                               
before APOC  to ask  a Republican to  recuse him/herself  or vice                                                               
versa.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:52:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES asked  Mr. Fish  if he  had looked  at the                                                               
statutes that cover APOC.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. FISH  answered that he  had given  them a cursory  review and                                                               
considered them  to be a  technical reference tool.   In response                                                               
to a  follow-up question, he  said he did  see a need  to clarify                                                               
those statutes.   For  example, he said  there had  been question                                                               
over whether  a "paid  for by"  disclosure had to  be made  for a                                                               
balloon with  a message  on it, because  he indicated  the answer                                                               
may  have been  different depending  on whether  the balloon  had                                                               
been  inflated or  deflated.   He  said, "I  think  that kind  of                                                               
ambiguity is ridiculous."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:53:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  moved to advance the  confirmation of Mark                                                               
Fish, Appointee,  Alaska Public Offices Commission,  to the joint                                                               
session  for  consideration  [and signing  the  report  regarding                                                               
appointments  to  boards  and  commissions  in  no  way  reflects                                                               
individual members'  approval or  disapproval of  the appointees,                                                               
and  that  the  nominations  are merely  forwarded  to  the  full                                                               
legislature for confirmation or rejection].                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG objected.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:55:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote was  taken.  Representatives  Talerico, Stutes,                                                               
Keller, Vazquez, Kreiss-Tomkins,  and Lynn voted in  favor of the                                                               
motion to advance the confirmation  of Mark Fish.  Representative                                                               
Gruenberg voted  against it.   Therefore, the motion passed  by a                                                               
vote of 6-1.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:55:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:55 a.m. to 8:57 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
               ^STATE COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:57:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN  announced  the  next   order  of  business  was  the                                                               
confirmation hearing for the State Commission for Human Rights.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:58:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHRYN  DODGE, Appointee,  State  Commission  for Human  Rights,                                                               
stated  that   she  worked  with   the  University   of  Alaska's                                                               
Cooperative  Extension, as  the economic  development specialist,                                                               
and  she had  a  Ph.D. in  organizational  systems, a  bachelor's                                                               
degree in  Organizational Management,  and an  associate's degree                                                               
in Electronics  and Technology.   She posited that  the diversity                                                               
of  her degrees  embodied the  diversity of  experience that  she                                                               
would bring  to the  commission.  She  explained she  applied for                                                               
the commission because of her belief  in having a neutral body to                                                               
turn to when  one experienced discrimination or  had been charged                                                               
with discrimination  - a body  that would listen to  both parties                                                               
in an effort to come to a  fair and balanced solution.  Ms. Dodge                                                               
talked about  her varied  career path, and  she related  that she                                                               
had experienced "significant progress  in the workplace in larger                                                               
society."  She said that as  a member of the Fairbanks North Star                                                               
Borough  Assembly,   she  had  experience  listening   to  public                                                               
comment,  participating in  quasi-judicial  hearings, and  making                                                               
public decisions.  She offered to answer questions.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:59:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER thanked  Ms.  Dodge for  being willing  to                                                               
serve on the commission.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE    GRUENBERG   echoed    Representative   Keller's                                                               
sentiment.    He said  he  was  particularly impressed  with  Ms.                                                               
Dodge's resume.  He asked how  Ms. Dodge would have the energy to                                                               
serve  on   the  commission,  considering  everything   else  she                                                               
currently did.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. DODGE responded  that she had to consider  deeply whether she                                                               
would  have to  resign other  boards in  order to  well-serve the                                                               
commission,  and she  would determine  that  answer depending  on                                                               
"the level  of effort  that it  will take."   She noted  that her                                                               
current employer supported her appointment.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:01:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  moved  to  advance  the  confirmation  of                                                               
Kathryn Dodge,  Appointee, State Commission for  Human Rights, to                                                               
the joint session  for consideration.  There  being no objection,                                                               
the confirmation was advanced.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:01:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 9:02 a.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                         ^PAROLE BOARD                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
9:02:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN  announced  the  next   order  of  business  was  the                                                               
confirmation hearing  for Richard  Ole Larson,  Appointee, Parole                                                               
Board.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:02:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RICHARD OLE LARSON, Appointee, Parole  Board, testified that this                                                               
appointment would be his second on  the Parole Board.  He related                                                               
that he  was a retired  superintendent, having spent 29  years in                                                               
the Department  of Corrections.  He  said he also served  as vice                                                               
president of  the Matanuska-Susitna School  Board.  He  stated he                                                               
would like to maintain his  position on the Parole Board, because                                                               
he felt he  was doing good work for the  State of Alaska, working                                                               
with parolees.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN thanked Mr. Larson for his years of service.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:03:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG  asked if the Parole  Board position was                                                               
a paid one.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR.   LARSON  indicated   that  board   members  received   daily                                                               
compensation,  as  well  as  compensation  for  mileage  and  for                                                               
reading  files;  however,  it  was   not  a  paid  position  with                                                               
benefits.   In response to a  follow-up question, he said  once a                                                               
month there  was a "parole board  run," and he received  a packet                                                               
of parolees  ten days  prior to  that.   It took  a week  to read                                                               
those files, which were between 50-200  pages in length.  He said                                                               
that was  two weeks per  month.  He  said the board  members also                                                               
conduct preliminary  hearings of offenders in  their districts to                                                               
determine  whether those  offenders should  get out  of jail,  go                                                               
into a  half-way house, or  get treatment.  Those  offenders come                                                               
before the board about a month later.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:05:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER  expressed appreciation  to Mr.  Larson for                                                               
stepping  up  to  address  the  issues  of  the  board,  such  as                                                               
recidivism rates.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:06:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  moved  to  advance  the  confirmation  of                                                               
Richard  Ole  Larson,  Appointee,  Parole  Board,  to  the  joint                                                               
session  for  consideration  [and signing  the  report  regarding                                                               
appointments  to  boards  and  commissions  in  no  way  reflects                                                               
individual members'  approval or  disapproval of  the appointees,                                                               
and  that  the  nominations  are merely  forwarded  to  the  full                                                               
legislature  for  confirmation or  rejection].    There being  no                                                               
objection, the confirmation was advanced.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                ^ALASKA POLICE STANDARDS COUNCIL                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:06:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN  announced  the  next   order  of  business  was  the                                                               
confirmation hearing for the two  appointees to the Alaska Police                                                               
Standards Council.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:07:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GUSTAF  SANDAHL,  Appointee,   Alaska  Police  Standards  Council                                                               
(APSC), testified that he had  almost 20 years' experience in law                                                               
enforcement in the  state, almost entirely with  the Kenai Police                                                               
Department.   He said  he had  been police  chief with  the Kenai                                                               
Police  Department since  2008, and  had served  one term  on the                                                               
APSC  already.    He  directed attention  to  his  resume,  which                                                               
reflected  that he  had  spent most  his life  in  Alaska, had  a                                                               
bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice,  and was strongly involved                                                               
in  the community.    He  said he  felt  his  experience made  it                                                               
possible to contribute to the council  during his first term.  He                                                               
stated that he enjoyed interacting  with the other members of the                                                               
council  and  would appreciate  the  consideration  of the  House                                                               
State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:09:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN  asked Mr. Sandahl  what the most challenging  part of                                                               
his job on the council had been thus far.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. SANDAHL answered that the  most significant aspect of serving                                                               
on the council was the cases  of misconduct by police officers or                                                               
correctional officers  and the ensuing  decisions that  were made                                                               
as   to   whether   those  episodes   of   misconduct   warranted                                                               
decertification.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:10:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  moved  to  advance  the  confirmation  of                                                               
Gustaf Sandahl,  Appointee, Alaska  Police Standards  Council, to                                                               
the  joint  session for  consideration  [and  signing the  report                                                               
regarding  appointments  to  boards  and commissions  in  no  way                                                               
reflects  individual  members'  approval or  disapproval  of  the                                                               
appointees, and that the nominations  are merely forwarded to the                                                               
full legislature for confirmation or  rejection].  There being no                                                               
objection, the confirmation was advanced.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:10:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 9:11 a.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:11:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REBECCA  HAMON,   Appointee,  Alaska  Police   Standards  Council                                                               
(APSC),  testified that  she had  served on  the council  for the                                                               
last four years  in King Salmon and Naknek, where  she had worked                                                               
for 17  years.  In the  last eight years, she  stated, she worked                                                               
as a  legal advocate to  victims of domestic violence  and sexual                                                               
assault.    She   said  she  worked  with   people  from  several                                                               
communities serviced through the  Naknek court district - victims                                                               
navigating the  court system  while dealing  with issues  such as                                                               
life changes,  custody issues, and  homelessness.   She indicated                                                               
her  involvement in  running a  shelter, and  she noted  that she                                                               
worked under the  supervision of Safe and  Fear Free Environment,                                                               
Inc., which was located in Dillingham, Alaska.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. HAMON  expressed appreciation  that she was  being considered                                                               
for another  term with  the council, and  she indicated  that her                                                               
knowledge of  how law enforcement  worked was helpful.   She said                                                               
she felt she brought another  perspective to the table because of                                                               
her work with victims.  She  offered to answer questions from the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:14:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  moved  to  advance  the  confirmation  of                                                               
Rebecca  Hamon, Appointee,  Alaska Police  Standards Council,  to                                                               
the  joint  session for  consideration  [and  signing the  report                                                               
regarding  appointments  to  boards  and commissions  in  no  way                                                               
reflects  individual  members'  approval or  disapproval  of  the                                                               
appointees, and that the nominations  are merely forwarded to the                                                               
full legislature for  confirmation or rejection.   There being no                                                               
objection, the confirmation was advanced.]                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                 ^LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SUCCESSOR                                                                             
                                                                                                                              
9:14:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN  announced  the  final  order  of  business  was  the                                                               
confirmation  hearing for  Craig  Fleener, Appointee,  Lieutenant                                                               
Governor Successor.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:14:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CRAIG FLEENER, Appointee,  Lieutenant Governor Successor, related                                                               
that he  grew up  in Alaska and  worked as both  a member  of the                                                               
military and a civilian.  In  the military, he said, he served in                                                               
the U.S.  Marine Corps for  four years,  and he was  currently in                                                               
the Alaska  National Guard,  where he said  he continued  to look                                                               
for opportunities to  grow and serve.  He relayed  that he held a                                                               
bachelor's  degree  in  Natural  Resources  Management  from  the                                                               
University  of Alaska  Fairbanks, which  he said  he thought  has                                                               
helped him  gain opportunities in  wildlife management,  a couple                                                               
years' term  on the  Board of  Game, and as  the director  of the                                                               
Division of  Subsistence within the  Alaska Department of  Fish &                                                               
Game  (ADF&G).   He indicated  that  following that,  he was  the                                                               
deputy  commissioner who  addressed issues  related to  wildlife,                                                               
subsistence,  and  habitat.   He  stated  that he  was  currently                                                               
serving as the Alaska Arctic Policy Advisor.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  FLEENER  said  he  had taken  advantage  of  many  volunteer                                                               
opportunities, which  had led him  to the current  opportunity to                                                               
serve  in the  position  of Lieutenant  Governor  Successor.   He                                                               
stated that  it was an  honor to be appointed,  and he saw  it as                                                               
one more  way in  which he  could serve  Alaska and  bring people                                                               
together to  work on issues  shared by  everyone.  He  stated his                                                               
greatest interest  in the position  would be to  empower Alaskans                                                               
to  vote and  to ensure  a broad  spectrum of  support for  those                                                               
running  for political  office and  impacting the  future of  all                                                               
Alaskans.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:18:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN thanked Mr. Fleener.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:18:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to advance  the confirmation of Craig                                                               
Fleener, Appointee,  Lieutenant Governor Successor, to  the joint                                                               
session  for  consideration  [and signing  the  report  regarding                                                               
appointments  to  boards  and  commissions  in  no  way  reflects                                                               
individual members'  approval or  disapproval of  the appointees,                                                               
and  that  the  nominations  are merely  forwarded  to  the  full                                                               
legislature  for  confirmation or  rejection].    There being  no                                                               
objection, the confirmation was advanced.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:19:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
State Affairs  Standing Committee  meeting was adjourned  at 9:19                                                               
a.m.                                                                                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
GOV APPOINTMENT - Human Rights - Dodge.pdf HSTA 3/12/2015 8:00:00 AM
GOV APPOINTMENT - Human Rights - Dodge
GOV APPOINTMENT - Parole - Larson.pdf HSTA 3/12/2015 8:00:00 AM
GOV APPOINTMENT - Parole - Larson
GOV APPOINTMENT - Police Standards - Hamon.pdf HSTA 3/12/2015 8:00:00 AM
GOV APPOINTMENT - Police Standards - Hamon
GOV APPOINTMENT - Police Standards -Sandahl.pdf HSTA 3/12/2015 8:00:00 AM
GOV APPOINTMENT - Police Standards - Sandahl
GOV APPOINTMENT - APOC - Fish.pdf HSTA 3/12/2015 8:00:00 AM
GOV APPOINTMENT - APOC - Fish
GOV APPOINTMENT - Lt Gov Successor - Fleener.pdf HSTA 3/12/2015 8:00:00 AM
GOV APPOINTMENT - Lt. Governor Successor - Fleener