04/12/2012 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB53 | |
| SCR24 | |
| SB179 | |
| SJR11 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 179 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SCR 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 11 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 53 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 12, 2012
8:08 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bob Lynn, Chair
Representative Wes Keller, Vice Chair
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Max Gruenberg
Representative Pete Petersen
Representative Kyle Johansen
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 53(FIN)
"An Act reestablishing the Alaska Commission on the Status of
Women; and relating to the purpose and powers of the Alaska
Human Relations Commission."
- MOVED CSSB 53(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24
Establishing the Alaska Legislative Celebration Commission to
organize events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
first convening of the legislative branch of government in
Alaska.
- MOVED SCR 24 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 179
"An Act relating to missing vulnerable adult prompt response and
notification plans."
- MOVED HCS SB 179(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 AM
Urging members of the Alaska delegation in Congress to support
efforts by the National Women's History Museum to secure
property in Washington, D.C., near the National Mall, as a
permanent location for the National Women's History Museum.
- MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 53
SHORT TITLE: COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS
01/19/11 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/11 (S) STA, FIN
03/24/11 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/24/11 (S) Heard & Held
03/24/11 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/29/11 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
03/29/11 (S) Moved SB 53 Out of Committee
03/29/11 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/30/11 (S) STA RPT 3DP 1DNP 1NR
03/30/11 (S) DP: WIELECHOWSKI, KOOKESH, PASKVAN
03/30/11 (S) DNP: GIESSEL
03/30/11 (S) NR: MEYER
01/20/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
01/20/12 (S) Heard & Held
01/20/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/02/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
02/02/12 (S) Moved CSSB 53(FIN) Out of Committee
02/02/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
02/03/12 (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 2NR SAME TITLE
02/03/12 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, THOMAS, EGAN, MCGUIRE,
ELLIS
02/03/12 (S) NR: STEDMAN, OLSON
02/22/12 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
02/22/12 (S) VERSION: CSSB 53(FIN)
02/24/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/24/12 (H) STA, FIN
04/03/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/03/12 (H) Heard & Held
04/03/12 (H) MINUTE(STA)
04/05/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/05/12 (H) Heard & Held
04/05/12 (H) MINUTE(STA)
04/12/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: SCR 24
SHORT TITLE: COMMISSION ON 100TH ANNIV. OF LEGISLATURE
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST
03/12/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/12/12 (S) FIN
04/02/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/02/12 (S) <Above Item Removed from Agenda>
04/02/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/03/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/03/12 (S) Heard & Held
04/03/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/04/12 (S) FIN RPT 7DP
04/04/12 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, STEDMAN, THOMAS, EGAN,
MCGUIRE, OLSON, ELLIS
04/04/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/04/12 (S) Moved SCR 24 Out of Committee
04/04/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/06/12 (S) BEFORE THE SENATE ON FINAL PASSAGE
04/06/12 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/06/12 (S) VERSION: SCR 24
04/09/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/09/12 (H) STA, FIN
04/11/12 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/11/12 (H) <Pending Referral>
04/12/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/12/12 (H) FIN AT 9:00 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519
BILL: SB 179
SHORT TITLE: MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT RESPONSE PLAN
SPONSOR(s): DAVIS
01/27/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/27/12 (S) STA, FIN
02/09/12 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
02/09/12 (S) Heard & Held
02/09/12 (S) MINUTE(STA)
02/16/12 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
02/16/12 (S) Moved SB 179 Out of Committee
02/16/12 (S) MINUTE(STA)
02/17/12 (S) STA RPT 3DP
02/17/12 (S) DP: WIELECHOWSKI, MEYER, GIESSEL
04/02/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/02/12 (S) Heard & Held
04/02/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/03/12 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/03/12 (S) Moved SB 179 Out of Committee
04/03/12 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/04/12 (S) FIN RPT 6DP 1NR
04/04/12 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, STEDMAN, THOMAS, EGAN,
MCGUIRE, ELLIS
04/04/12 (S) NR: OLSON
04/04/12 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/04/12 (S) VERSION: SB 179
04/05/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/05/12 (H) STA, JUD
04/12/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: SJR 11
SHORT TITLE: NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM
SPONSOR(s): DAVIS
01/17/12 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/17/12 (S) STA
02/07/12 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
02/07/12 (S) Moved SJR 11 Out of Committee
02/07/12 (S) MINUTE(STA)
02/08/12 (S) STA RPT 5DP
02/08/12 (S) DP: WIELECHOWSKI, KOOKESH, PASKVAN,
MEYER, GIESSEL
03/23/12 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/23/12 (S) VERSION: SJR 11 AM
03/26/12 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/26/12 (H) STA
04/12/12 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, introduced SB 53.
CELESTE HODGE, Staff
Senator Bettye Davis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 53 on behalf of Senator Davis,
sponsor.
HILLARY A. MORGAN, CEO
Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 53.
MARIE DARLING
AARP
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 53.
TIM LAMKIN, Staff
Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a PowerPoint presentation during the
hearing on SCR 24, on behalf of the Senate Rules Standing
Committee, on which Senator Stevens is a member.
STEVE HAYCOX, Professor of History
University of Alaska, Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SCR 24.
CLAUS M. NASKE, Professor Emeritus
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SCR 24.
MARIE DARLIN
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on SCR 24.
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, introduced SB 179.
CELESTE HODGE, Staff
Senator Bettye Davis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 179 on behalf of Senator
Davis, sponsor.
MICHAEL O'HARE, Deputy Director
Division of Homeland Security/Emergency Management
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Ft. Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on SB
179.
PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, Associate Professor of Social Work
College of Health
University of Alaska Anchorage;
Member
Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska Board
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 179.
RODNEY DIAL, Lieutenant
Alaska State Troopers
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on SB 179.
MARIE DARLIN
AARP
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 179.
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, introduced SJR 11.
CELESTE HODGE, Staff
Senator Bettye Davis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 11 on behalf of Senator
Davis, sponsor.
ROBIN REED, President/CEO
National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL);
Member
National Women's History Museum board
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on SJR 11.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:08:25 AM
CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House State Affairs Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:08 a.m. Representatives Keller, Seaton,
P. Wilson, Johansen, Petersen, Gruenberg, and Lynn were present
at the call to order.
SB 53-COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
8:08:45 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was CS FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 53(FIN), "An Act reestablishing the Alaska
Commission on the Status of Women; and relating to the purpose
and powers of the Alaska Human Relations Commission."
8:08:59 AM
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor,
introduced SB 53.
8:09:19 AM
CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 53 on behalf of Senator Davis,
sponsor. She stated that the intent of bill is to reestablish
the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women to improve the
status of women in Alaska. She said the need for the commission
is supported by startling statistics. She offered to answer
questions from the committee.
8:10:22 AM
HILLARY A. MORGAN, CEO, Young Women's Christian Association
(YWCA) Alaska, testified in support of SB 53. She stated that
there is a need for a state agency to address the needs of women
throughout the state. She said Governor Parnell's Choose
Respect Campaign has demonstrated that issues of sexual assault
and domestic violence affecting Alaska's women and girls need
statewide oversight. She said the establishment of the
commission would fulfill that function and give the message to
Alaska's women and girls that finding solutions to issues
affecting them would continue long after the Choose Respect
Campaign. She stated that Alaska has some of the highest rates
per capita for sexual assault and domestic violence. She
indicated that $500,000 would bring that lasting message to the
women and girls of Alaska.
CHAIR LYNN remarked that men and boys are also victims of sexual
abuse.
8:12:49 AM
MARIE DARLING, AARP, testifying in support of SB 53, pointed to
a letter from AARP, included in the committee packet, which
lists the reasons AARP supports the proposed legislation. She
highlighted the following reasons: women are at a higher risk
of poverty as they age; and women currently earn 77 cents on the
dollar for every dollar men earn. She said there are
improvements to be made that need the support of the commission.
She said a vast majority of women are caregivers and a lot of
them are grandparents. She said AARP urges the legislature's
support of SB 53. She further encouraged the committee to read
a version of Trends.
8:14:49 AM
CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony.
8:15:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said as a father of three girls, the
proposed legislation is important to him. He posited that a
lack of confidence results in women being in positions they
don't need to be in. He stated support for SB 53.
8:16:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON said she thinks the proposed bill is a
step in right direction, but "not enough." She opined that the
men in the state need to be reached, although she said she does
not know how. She suggested that a commission on the status of
men would be a good idea, because men will not listen to women
as well as to other men.
8:17:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he does not disagree with
Representative P. Wilson, but said he does not want his
daughters to wait around for a man to tell them when they should
get out of a situation. He said, "I want them to be able to
stand up and not have to worry about it and walk out of a
situation without worrying about changing the mind of a man. I
think that's the whole point."
8:18:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSSB 53(FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 53(FIN) was
reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
8:18:28 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:18 a.m. to 8:21 a.m.
SCR 24-COMMISSION ON 100TH ANNIV. OF LEGISLATURE
8:21:02 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business was SENATE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24, Establishing the Alaska
Legislative Celebration Commission to organize events to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first convening of the
legislative branch of government in Alaska.
8:21:15 AM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, gave a PowerPoint presentation on behalf of the
Senate Rules Standing Committee, on which Senator Stevens is a
member. He said the convening of the first Alaska Territorial
Legislature was 45 years in the making and took place on March
3, 1913. He showed a photograph of Juneau in 1905 and noted
that the usable land then was just where the mountains met the
sea. In 1911, U.S. Congress authorized the funds for the Alaska
[territorial] capitol; however, because of a lack of land and
the advent of WW1, construction was not started until September
1929. The building, then known as the Federal and Territorial
Building, was completed in February 1931. Mr. Lamkin showed a
photograph of the first [Territorial] House of Representatives,
dated Spring 1913. He noted that the House was comprised
entirely of men at the time; the first female representative was
elected in 1923. He said the initial gatherings of the
Territorial Senate were held in the Elks Lodge, but related that
he had been unable to get confirmation regarding the early
gathering place of the House members, other than that it met in
"various halls."
8:25:11 AM
MR. LAMKIN indicated that from 1913 to 1947, the Alaska
Territorial House had 16 members serving 15 committees. In
response to a question, he said the Senate was comprised of 8
people. He indicated that in one particular 60-day session, 84
bills were passed. He offered examples of the legislation that
was passed, and he noted that the first bill to pass gave women
the right to vote. Mr. Lamkin pointed to a member of the Alaska
Territorial Legislature, depicted in a photograph, and noted
that the man's name was Elwood Bruner (ph), whom Mr. Lamkin
discovered was a distant cousin.
8:29:21 AM
MR. LAMKIN said SCR 24 is a rare opportunity to pay tribute to
Alaska's history. He noted that there were some historians
available to testify.
8:30:00 AM
CHAIR LYNN noted that some of the laws passed by the Alaska
Territorial Legislature are still in effect, and he ventured
that it would be interesting to look through some of the old
laws.
8:30:20 AM
STEVE HAYCOX, Professor of History, testified in support of SCR
24. He expressed his hope that the legislature would see the
proposed concurrent resolution not only as an act of
commemoration of the first legislature, but also an act of
education for the citizens of Alaska - particularly students.
He said SCR 24 represents the beginning of self-government for
Alaska. He stated James Wickersham, the principal champion of
the bill that created the legislature, was committed to
democracy and government by consent of the governed. He talked
about the long road from territorial government to statehood and
the lesson that provides young Alaskans regarding the importance
of perseverance. He ventured that the commission would not need
to spend much money, because people could use "on line and
electronic technology" to do "what needs to be done fairly
reasonably." He suggested having a half-day public session on
March 3.
8:32:41 AM
CLAUS M. NASKE, Professor Emeritus, University of Alaska,
Fairbanks, remarked upon the interesting manner in which
legislators arrived in Juneau during territorial days, including
some by foot. Regarding the work done by the territorial
legislature, he said one of the constraints had to do with
taxation. He mentioned an influential lobbyist who represented
fishermen. Mr. Naske said the Alaska Territorial Legislature
met every other year and established devices intended to
circumscribe the federally appointed governor. He echoed Mr.
Haycox' remark that not much money needs to be spent, but opined
that it is worthwhile to remind people of Alaska's colorful
history. He stated his support of SCR 24.
8:35:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON stated her support of SCR 14. She
asked Mr. Naske what the first budget was and how many bills
were passed that year.
MR. NASKE said he has that information in his books, but does
not know off hand. Notwithstanding that, he said the budget
amounted to about $2 million at one point. He said there was
not much money available to spend; taxation and the powers of
the legislation were limited. He said the first state budget
was just about $40 million, which is a drop in the bucket
compared to the current budgets of several billion dollars.
8:36:38 AM
MR. LAMKIN stated that the budget in 1913 was $200,000.
8:37:18 AM
MARIE DARLIN specified that she was testifying on behalf of
herself. She said she is a walking tour guide. She said
considerable research has been done and she would like to see
more done. She explained the reason the Alaska Territorial
Legislators met in the Elks Lodge was because that organization
offered the space for the least amount of money. Following that
the legislature met in the Goldstein building, which she
indicated was erected in 1913-1914. Regarding a building that
was referred to as the governor's house, she explained that it
was used as offices; the governor actually lived across the
street. She confirmed that Mr. Wickersham was the one
responsible for getting a territorial legislature. She said
there was a person who took six weeks to get to Juneau to serve
in the legislature, because he traveled through Interior Alaska
by dog team and from Valdez on a steamship. She said one of the
reasons that he may have taken so long to arrive in Juneau is
that back then the steamships often traveled first from Valdez
to Seattle before heading back north to Juneau. She echoed
previous testimony that the legislature met every other year,
and she said U.S. Congress put many stipulations on what the
legislature could do. She said Mr. Wickersham bought the house
on Seventh Street in 1928. She explained that the women in the
photos of the earliest legislature were staff to legislators.
She offered her understanding that the first woman to serve on
the legislature was not elected, but took the place of her
husband; the second female legislator was elected. She pointed
out that the Alaska Territorial Legislature gave women the right
to vote seven years before U.S. Congress did.
8:42:29 AM
MS. DARLIN, in response to Representative Gruenberg, offered her
understanding that Henry Rodin at one time was the territorial
treasurer.
8:42:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN, regarding the aforementioned period
when Alaska's governance had to be approved by U.S. Congress,
remarked upon the great distance between the East Coast and
Alaska and the challenges that must have presented.
8:43:26 AM
CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony.
8:43:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that the date the Alaska
Territorial Legislature first convened - March 3, 1913 - is
shown on page 2, line 8. He expressed his hope that the
proposed commission would recommend that schools might observe
that historical event on that date, and that legislative members
could visit schools on that date.
8:44:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report SCR 24 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SCR 24 was reported out of the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.
CHAIR LYNN commended the committee for its work, said this may
be the last meeting of regular session, and handed the gavel to
Vice Chair Keller.
8:45:49 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:46 a.m. to 8: 47 a.m.
SB 179-MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT RESPONSE PLAN
8:47:05 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER announced that the next order of business was
SENATE BILL NO. 179, "An Act relating to missing vulnerable
adult prompt response and notification plans."
8:47:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for SB 179, Version 27-LS1250\M, Gardner,
4/11/12, as a work draft. There being no objection, Version M
was before the committee.
8:47:33 AM
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor,
introduced SB 179. She said Version M made one change. She
deferred to her staff for further explanation.
8:47:54 AM
CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 179 on behalf of Senator Davis,
sponsor. She said the change occurs in Section 2, on page 2,
line 21, where "or an officer or employee of the law enforcement
agency" was added following "a law enforcement agency". She
said that change was recommended by the Department of Law to
further protect both the law enforcement agency and individual
officers, thereby encouraging more participation in the program
by the agency.
8:48:52 AM
MS. HODGE explained that SB 179 would create a new statewide
alert system to help find vulnerable missing adults. She said
the system, which is similar to the nationwide Amber Alert
program, would help local law enforcement notify the public when
a mentally or physically impaired Alaskan goes missing. She
said Alaska has the fastest growing senior population and cannot
afford to ignore this problem any longer. She reported that
according to the Alaska Commission on Aging, there were
approximately 7,785 Alaskans suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
and related dementia in 2010, and that number is expected to
grow to more than 17,000 by 2030. She said in Fairbanks, a
woman 63 years of age suffering from Alzheimer's Disease froze
to death after becoming disoriented while driving, running out
of gas, and trying to walk several miles to seek help. Ms.
Hodge said that incident illustrates the need for a system to
assist in the search for missing vulnerable adults. She said
when a vulnerable adult goes missing, his/her best chance of
survival is to be found within 24-48 hours.
MS. HODGE said the proposed legislation calls for the Department
of Military & Veterans Affairs to coordinate with the Department
of Public Safety to create and implement prompt response and
notification plans that would use a voluntary network of
statewide and local newspapers, as well as radio and television
stations to rapidly alert the public that a vulnerable adult is
missing. Further, under SB 179, both departments would
establish standards on what triggers an alert and when a
vulnerable adult would be considered missing. She said the
proposed legislation would ensure that the search for Alaska's
most vulnerable citizens happens promptly. Ms. Hodge noted that
currently there are 28 states that have implemented or will
implement the silver alert program - 10 more states than took
part since the National Association of States United for Aging
and Disability's last report. She related that the
administration supports the bill. She stated that the fiscal
note indicates that compliance with SB 179 would have no fiscal
impact.
8:51:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN related a time when his uncle, who since
died from Alzheimer's disease, got lost because he did not
remember how to get home in a town of 700 people. He said he
can see how much worse it would be for someone in that situation
who lived in a larger community. He said he thinks SB 179 is a
good bill.
8:53:13 AM
MICHAEL O'HARE, Deputy Director, Division of Homeland
Security/Emergency Management, Department of Military & Veterans
Affairs, stated support for the intent of SB 179. In response
to a question by Representative P. Wilson, he explained that the
department's new emergency management network has the
flexibility that will allow for a systematic approach to sending
out alerts. He said the department currently works with the
Department of Public Safety to send out alerts on missing
persons, so there would be no issues in working together. He
confirmed that there would be no fiscal impact under SB 179. He
encouraged the committee to pass the proposed legislation. In
response to a follow-up question, he explained that the
department's responsibility would be to make certain the alert
gets out through the emergency network through relay messages to
broadcast media. He indicated that the department would
collaborate on a plan to look for vulnerable adults, as required
under SB 179.
8:56:21 AM
MR. O'HARE, in response to a question from Representative
Gruenberg, said the Amber Alert system is used in Alaska.
8:57:44 AM
PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, Associate Professor of Social Work, College
of Health, University of Alaska Anchorage; Member, Alzheimer's
Resource of Alaska Board, testified in support of SB 179. He
said a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease is a tendency for
the person to wander and leave his/her residence, putting
him/her at risk. If that occurs, the alert system under SB 179
would increase the opportunity of finding the person before any
harm occurs. He said other vulnerable adults are those
experiencing mental illness, traumatic brain injury, or other
forms of disability. He urged the committee to support SB 179.
8:58:57 AM
RODNEY DIAL, Lieutenant, Alaska State Troopers, stated that the
department has no concerns regarding SB 179. He said he agrees
with most of what Mr. O'Hare said, and he offered to answer
questions.
8:59:41 AM
MARIE DARLIN, AARP, testified in support of SB 179. She said
she thinks the bill would prevent "some of the problems we've
had in the last couple of years."
9:00:18 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony.
9:00:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said AS 47.24.900 is cited in the last
line of SB 179 as containing the definition of "vulnerable
adult". Representative Gruenberg read the definition as
follows:
"vulnerable adult" means a person 18 years of age or
older who, because of physical or mental impairment,
is unable to meet the person's own needs or to seek
help without assistance.
9:01:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON moved to report HCS SB 179, Version 27-
LS1250\M, Gardner, 4/11/12, with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCS
CSSB 179(STA) was reported out of the House State Affairs
Standing Committee.
9:01:44 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 9:02 a.m. to 9:04 a.m.
SJR 11-NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM
9:03:40 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER announced that the final order of business was
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 11 am, Urging members of the Alaska
delegation in Congress to support efforts by the National
Women's History Museum to secure property in Washington, D.C.,
near the National Mall, as a permanent location for the National
Women's History Museum.
9:03:49 AM
SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor,
introduced SJR 11. She noted that the late Senator Ted Stevens,
while serving in U.S. Congress, worked to bring a bust out of
storage and have it displayed. She deferred to her staff to
present an overview of the proposed joint resolution.
9:05:16 AM
CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State
Legislature, paraphrased from the first four paragraphs of the
sponsor statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Senate Joint Resolution No. 11 urges members of the
Alaska delegation in Congress to support efforts by
the National Women's History Museum to secure property
in Washington DC near the National Mall as a permanent
location for the National Women's History Museum.
Women played and continue to play essential roles in
many movements that helped shape the society we value
so highly today. Such movements include the Labor
Movement, the Women's Suffrage Movement, the Civil
Rights Movement, the Women's Rights Movement, and the
Environmental Movement. Women have long struggled to
gain ground in a society largely dominated by men.
Unfortunately, women achievements were marginalized
and credit for their work and discoveries went to
their male colleagues. Too often women were unsung
heroes and their contributions went unnoticed. The
displacement of women's history from the consciousness
of the general public is indicated by the absence of
women's history from K-12 curriculum. The
achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love
of the women who built America was and is as vital as
that of the men whose names we know so well.
In the 1970's, that began to change as a movement to
celebrate women's history gained momentum - a momentum
we now feel each March during Women's History Month as
we pay tribute to the millions of women who sacrificed
so much to help create a better society and world.
Since its founding in 1996, the National Women's
History Museum Institution, with the support of the
National Foundation for women legislators, has been
working toward obtaining a permanent site near the
National Mall for its building. The construction of a
museum that exhibits the rich history of women and
their many contributions to society is long overdue.
Furthermore, a location among the prestigious museums
in and around the National Mall is fitting for an
institution that would depict such an integral and
transformative aspect of our nation's history which
has for too long been obscured.
MS. HODGE noted: Of the 210 statues in the Capitol Building,
only nine are of women; of the 2,400 National Historical
Landmarks in the country, only 5 percent document women's
accomplishments. She indicated that there are national museums
dedicated to airplanes, buildings, and postage stamps, but no
single building dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of
women, who comprise over half the country's population. She
urged the committee to pass SJR 11.
9:08:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN directed attention to mention of a
National Women's History Museum on page 2, line 4.
SENATOR DAVIS said it is an institute.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN offered his understanding that that
means if he took his girls to Washington, D.C., [that museum]
would not exist. He then asked if SJR 11 is a coordinated
effort with other states.
SENATOR DAVIS answered yes. She said the National Foundation
for Women Legislators (NFWL) is a national foundation of state
legislators, which works closely with all the states and is
cosponsoring an effort to get the money for the building.
9:09:24 AM
ROBIN REED, President/CEO, National Foundation for Women
Legislators (NFWL); member, National Women's History Museum
board, said there are museums honoring Native Americans, African
Americans, Latin Americans, buildings, slides, textiles, and
space, but no museum honoring women. She said the National
Women's History Museum would not cost U.S. Congress one penny;
it is the only museum that is not asking for an appropriation.
She said the museum is asking only for permission to buy the
property. She said the first bill Alaska passed is women's
suffrage, which is a point that could be celebrated in a women's
museum. She indicated that the efforts have come close to
fruition, but were stopped last year in the U.S. Senate. Ms.
Reed relayed that as the closest living relative of Susan B.
Anthony, she has a vested interested in this issue. She said
Susan B. Anthony is the person depicted in the aforementioned
bust, which Senator Stevens tried to have displayed. In
response to Representative Gruenberg, she said the bust was in
the basement for 20 years before Senator Ted Stevens' efforts
got it displayed. She said the spokesperson for the proposed
museum is Meryl Streep, who remarked that it is unbelievable
that the museum is not asking for money but has to get
permission to be built.
9:13:22 AM
MS. REED, in response to Representative Johansen, said many
sites have been selected and all have been refused. She said
the Latin American Museum was given a site in just three weeks.
She said one of the buildings the museum requested was a glass
building next to the old U.S. Post Office, used for storing snow
machines, but the request was not granted. She said the museum
has raised several million [dollars] already. She said, "We
thought if the state could push state by state by state that
they might kind of get the idea that not everybody's a
chauvinist." In response to a follow-up question, she clarified
that the entities saying no have been alternately the U.S. House
of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. She said one time a
legislator added the issue to his bill in order to have the
overall cost of his bill lower, because the museum is not asking
for any money; however, his bill failed.
9:16:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON related that 12 years ago, a then
legislator asked her if she had asked her husband how she should
vote. She said that upset her, and she said it shows that "we"
have to try harder.
MS. REED said, "For us to be able to do all these things we just
need a few good men, I think, on your committee right now. And
when we got the right to vote, it was a man that gave us the
right to vote, as you remember." She reiterated that the museum
has the wherewithal to pay for itself.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said, "That testimony is so sad."
9:18:30 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony.
9:18:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON moved to report SJR 11 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG objected to ask that the motion be made
with a request for unanimous consent.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN ventured that everyone on the committee
supports the proposed legislation.
VICE CHAIR KELLER asked Representative Gruenberg, "If you would
withdraw your objection I would appreciate it, and I think that
it'll go just fine."
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG responded, "That's fine."
VICE CHAIR KELLER announced that Representative Gruenberg's
objection was withdrawn and [there being no further objection]
SJR 11am was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing
Committee.
9:20:23 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:20
a.m.