Legislature(2023 - 2024)GRUENBERG 120
03/21/2024 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Violent Crimes Compensation Board | |
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 21, 2024
3:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Laddie Shaw, Chair
Representative Stanley Wright, Vice Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Jamie Allard
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Andi Story
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Lieutenant Governor
Major General Torrence Saxe - Eagle River
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Alaska Police Standards Council
Dusty Dumont - Juneau
Ron Dupee - Fairbanks
Jeffrey Brown - Utqiagvik
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Alcohol Beverage Control Board
Janice Hill - Haines
Diane Thompson - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Marijuana Control Board
Bailey Stuart - Wasilla
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
State Board of Parole
Richard "Ole" Larson - Wasilla
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Personnel Board
Donald Handeland - Eagle River
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Violent Crimes Compensation Board
Anna Cometa - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
MAJOR GENERAL TORRENCE SAXE, Appointee
Lieutenant Governor
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the position of
Lieutenant Governor.
DUSTY DUMONT, Appointee
Alaska Police Standards Council
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the Alaska Police
Standards Council.
JEFFREY BROWN, Appointee
Alaska Police Standards Council
Utqiagvik, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the Alaska Police
Standards Council.
RON DUPEE, Appointee
Alaska Police Standards Council
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the Alaska Police
Standards Council.
JANICE HILL, Appointee
Alcohol Beverage Control Board
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the Alcohol Beverage
Control Board
DIANE THOMPSON, Appointee
Alcohol Beverage Control Board
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the Alaska Beverage
Control Board.
BAILEY STUART, Appointee
Marijuana Control Board
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the Marijuana Control
Board
RICHARD "OLE" LARSON, Appointee
State Board of Parole
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the State Board of
Parole.
DONALD HANDELAND, Appointee
Personnel Board
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the Personnel Board.
ANNA COMETA, Appointee
Violent Crimes Compensation Board
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as appointee to the Violent Crimes
Compensation Board.
LYNNETTA MARCELLUS, representing self
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to the appointment
of Major General Saxe to the position of Lieutenant Governor.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:03:03 PM
CHAIR LADDIE SHAW called the House State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. Representatives Wright,
Allard, and Chair Shaw were present at the call to order.
Representatives Story, C. Johnson, Carrick, and Carpenter
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor
^Alaska Police Standards Council
Alaska Police Standards Council
^Alcohol Beverage Control Board
Alcohol Beverage Control Board
^Marijuana Control Board
Marijuana Control Board
^State Board of Parole
State Board of Parole
^Personnel Board
Personnel Board
^Violent Crimes Compensation Board
Violent Crimes Compensation Board
3:03:38 PM
CHAIR SHAW announced that the only order of business would be
the confirmation hearing on the governor's appointees to various
boards and commissions.
3:04:25 PM
CHAIR SHAW stated that Alaska Statute (AS) 44.19.040 directs the
governor to appoint from among administration officers a
successor to the lieutenant governor, subject to confirmation in
joint legislative session. The person appointed to succeed the
lieutenant governor must meet the qualifications of the Office
of Lieutenant Governor and Governor. He asked the appointee to
confirm that he is at least 30 years of age.
3:05:20 PM
MAJOR GENERAL TORRENCE SAXE, Appointee, Lieutenant Governor, in
response to Chair Shaw, confirmed that he is over 30 years old,
has been a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years, is
qualified to vote in the State of Alaska, and has been a
resident of Alaska for at least 7 years. He described his
experience through various ranks of the armed forces, including
seven active-duty commands in the army. He has been in the
National Guard since 2004 where he was the base commander. He
explained that he is the current commissioner of the Department
of Military and Veteran's Affairs. He said he has spent much of
his time in the Interior and has been to every base in the
state. He currently resides in Eagle River.
3:06:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked about Major General Saxe's vision
for election integrity.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE explained his plan to sit down with Carol
Beecher from the Division of Elections to ensure a good working
relationship. He noted that he is familiar with protocol and
procedures and emphasized the importance of transparency.
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD noted that the chief of the National Guard
is looking to cut 88 jobs. She asked how the appointee would
address this issue.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE said that this issue has been addressed and
he has a meeting with the director of the Air National Guard
soon. He explained that the National Guard within Alaska is
different from other states. He has met with many elected
officials as well as the Alaska Federation of Natives about this
issue. He emphasized the strategic importance of Alaska for the
safety of the entire continent.
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD noted the strategic importance of Alaska's
location. She mentioned an issue within the Alaska National
Guard regarding pay and asked how the appointee has addressed
this issue.
MAJOR GENERAL SAXE remarked that as a lieutenant he learned that
time off and pay are two aspects not to be addressed flagrantly.
He noted the thousands of pay issues that were present at the
start of his tenure. He noted vast improvements have been made
since he was put in charge. He explained how pay issues are
dealt with among pay clerks and the chain of command.
3:10:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked whether there have been challenges
with housing for new recruits.
MAJOR GENERAL TORRENCE SAXE said he is working with the Office
of Veterans Affairs. He noted issues with housing in Anchorage
and Fairbanks. He mentioned that most of his troops already
live in state.
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT mentioned that he admired the appointee's
leadership skills.
3:12:29 PM
CHAIR SHAW stated that [the House State Affairs Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that the following names be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Major General Torrence
Saxe, Lieutenant Governor.] He said that signing the report
regarding appointments to boards and commissions in no way
reflects an individual member's approval or disapproval of the
appointee, and the nomination is merely forwarded to the full
legislature for confirmation or rejection.
[Public testimony for the appointment of Major General Saxe was
taken at the end of the confirmation hearings.]
3:13:01 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:13 p.m. to 3:14 p.m.
3:14:44 PM
CHAIR SHAW stated that the Alaska Police Standards Council is
established by AS 18.65.130 under the Department of Public
Safety with the primary mission of establishing minimum
standards for employment as well as conduct education and
training for the state's public safety and criminal justice
officers. The secondary mission of the council is to encourage
the establishment of preliminary training programs for persons
seeking to become public safety employees. He announced that
the committee will review the reappointments of three
individuals to the council starting with Ms. Dusty Dumont. He
asked the appointee to provide her background and experience.
3:15:46 PM
DUSTY DUMONT, Appointee, Alaska Police Standards Council,
provided her experience and mentioned that she is the director
of the Division of Pretrial, Probation and Parole (DPPP) and has
worked for the Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) for 21
years and has 26 years of experience working in corrections
overall. She discussed her experience as a parole officer. She
mentioned that she was born and raised in Juneau, went to
college in Ohio where she studied criminal justice. After
graduating, she worked in a Washington State penitentiary for
about 5 years. She was a stay-at-home parent for her children
for 5 years. She explained that becoming a parent helped to
prepare her to be a successful probation officer who is firm,
fair, and consistent with compassion and empathy. Her
experience as the director of DPPP has helped her to gain a
statewide perspective of corrections and law enforcement
throughout Alaska. She sees the appointment to the Police
Standards Council as an honor and a privilege. She stated her
belief that her values and personality align with the mission of
the council.
3:18:17 PM
CHAIR SHAW commented about the importance of compatible
personalities among council members.
3:18:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked Ms. Dumont to share her experience on
the board and what challenges she has faced.
MS. DUMONT remarked that her experience thus far on the board
has involved taking in a lot of new content. She expressed how
much she has enjoyed learning from her colleagues. She has
observed the need for training statewide and emphasized that
small communities don't always have the opportunity to have
consistent and ongoing training. She highlighted that
repetition is essential for robust training.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked her to elaborate about what types of
training would be helpful.
MS. DUMONT explained that dramatic changes have occurred through
the years. She described the increased utilization of de-
escalation and communication skills as opposed to force.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked about the "crisis now" model and how
it interacts with police training.
MS. DUMONT expressed her excitement for the "crisis now" model
and mentioned that she is attending a meeting about it next week
in Kenai. She emphasized that peer support is important to
promote. The addition of mental health clinicians along with
peer support will be helpful for people who are in crisis in the
field.
3:22:53 PM
CHAIR SHAW mentioned that he was the former director of the
Alaska Police Standards Council and emphasized the
responsibility involved. He highlighted the importance of
keeping up to date with training.
3:23:45 PM
JEFFREY BROWN, Appointee, Alaska Police Standards Council,
Alaska Police Standards Council, provided his background and
discussed his 24 years of law enforcement experience. He
discussed his work at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in
the Office of Professional Standards. He worked as an
administrative investigator and later became a supervisor. He
moved up to the North Slope Borough where he became the chief of
police. He mentioned that he was looking forward to continuing
to serve on the board. He emphasized the importance of keeping
standards up to date.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked the appointee to share something
he's proud of since he started on the Alaska Police Standards
Council. He also asked him to share an example of an aspect
that needs continued improvement.
MR. BROWN said he was proud of how the council faced the ongoing
challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that he wants to
work towards changing policy to make it possible to dispend or
temporarily hold certification status of police officers as a
mitigation measure for the safety of Alaskans.
3:27:34 PM
RON DUPEE, Appointee, Alaska Police Standards Council, described
his law enforcement career, which began in 1999. He discussed
his work with the Department of Public Safety in Unalaska. In
2005, he moved back to Fairbanks where he worked through the
ranks to become chief of police. He said he was appointed to
the board upon the retirement of a board member and mentioned
that he has had only a limited time on the board thus far. He
emphasized his excitement to return to the board, if approved.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked what Mr. Dupee is hoping to work on
and any challenges he's experienced so far in his time on the
board.
MR. DUPEE emphasized the importance of the board having the
ability to suspend officer certifications. Currently, the board
can only fully revoke certifications. He discussed the issue of
recruitment and retention of qualified police officers due to
changes in retirement benefits. He also discussed the recent
marijuana legalization in Alaska and how it impacts police
officers in the state.
3:30:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked Mr. Dupee what strategies the
appointee would use to improve interpersonal communication among
police officers.
MR. DUPEE described several training classes including "Verbal
Judo," which are available to officers with refresher courses
every year. Providing training for law enforcement officers is
important statewide.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked if the Alaska Police Standards
Council has discussed communication improvements during his time
of service.
MR. DUPEE mentioned that he has only been to two of the meetings
so far. He said that communication is an agenda item that
several members are interested in bringing forward.
3:33:52 PM
CHAIR SHAW mentioned that he and the appointee have a mutual
colleague.
CHAIR SHAW stated that [the House State Affairs Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that the following names be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Dusty Dumont, Ron Dupee,
and Jeffrey Brown, Alaska Police Standards Council.] He said
that signing the report regarding appointments to boards and
commissions in no way reflects an individual member's approval
or disapproval of the appointee, and the nomination is merely
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
3:34:14 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:34 p.m. to 3:36 p.m.
3:36:18 PM
CHAIR SHAW said the Alcohol Beverage Control Board is
established by AS 04.06.010 under the Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development to oversee the state's
policies regarding the manufacture, distribution, and sale of
alcoholic beverages in the state. He announced that the
committee would review the reappointment of two individuals to
that board, Janice Hill of Haines and Diane Thompson of
Anchorage. He asked the appointees to provide their
qualifications and experience.
3:36:52 PM
JANICE HILL, Appointee, Alcohol Beverage Control Board, Haines,
Alaska, mentioned that she is a lifelong resident of Haines.
She described her experience serving her community including
serving as Mayor of Haines for four terms. She described her
service on the Alaska Native Health Board, which began the Title
IV rewrite of Alaska Statutes for Alcoholic Beverages. Three
years ago, she was informed of an opening on the Alaska Beverage
Control Board and was pleased to be appointed so that she could
continue working on the Title IV rewrite that she had started.
She currently serves on the Southeast Alaska Regional Health
Consortium (SEARHC) Board, and many other boards and committees
in the region.
3:39:27 PM
CHAIR SHAW asked if the appointee holds a wholesale alcoholic
beverage license.
MS. HILL answered no.
CHAIR SHAW asked if the appointee is an officer, agent, or
employee of a wholesale alcoholic beverage enterprise.
MS. HILL replied no.
CHAIR SHAW asked if she or a family member has any financial
interest in a business for which a license is issued.
MS. HILL answered no.
CHAIR SHAW asked if she holds any other state or federal office.
MS. HILL answered, no.
3:40:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked Ms. Hill to comment about the Title
IV rewrite process and the benefits she's seen since the changes
have taken place.
MS. HILL made note of business hour extensions for tasting rooms
to 9:00 p.m. She said she has received a lot of positive
feedback about the extra hour. She said she found it
interesting to learn what it takes to change and make state
statute.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked what she hopes to see from the
Alcohol Beverage Control Board in the future.
MS. HILL described her hope to attend meetings in person and get
to know the other board members. She said that she hopes to
bring her unique perspective as a person from a small community.
3:42:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER observed on the appointee's resume that
she is a small business owner and asked for more details.
MS. HILL mentioned that she no longer has her small business,
which was a bead and jewelry store that she ran for about six
years.
3:43:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked the appointee to elaborate on
projects she's looking forward to working on.
MS. HILL said that she is looking forward to reviewing feedback
and listening to the public input about changes needed. She
expressed her excitement about how businesses are getting
involved with the licensing process. She commented that
business owners can make a vested impact.
CHAIR SHAW asked the next appointee to provide her
qualifications and experience.
3:45:39 PM
DIANE THOMPSON, Appointee, Alcohol Beverage Control Board,
described her experience on the Alcohol Beverage Control Board
and expressed her excitement to continue working on the board.
She discussed the positive changes to the Title IV rewrite. She
noted her background in the restaurant business for the last 40
years. She said that her board membership has offered her great
experience and perspective about what is going on around the
state outside of Anchorage. She said the board works well
together and that she was looking forward to another three years
on the board.
CHAIR SHAW asked the appointee if she holds a wholesale
alcoholic beverage license.
MS. THOMPSON answered, no.
CHAIR SHAW asked the appointee if she is an officer, agent, or
employee of a wholesale alcoholic beverage enterprise.
MS. THOMPSON responded no.
CHAIR SHAW asked if she holds any state or federal office.
MS. THOMPSON answered no.
CHAIR SHAW stated that [the House State Affairs Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that the following names be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Janice Hill and Diane
Thompson, Alcohol Beverage Control Board.] He said that signing
the report regarding appointments to boards and commissions in
no way reflects an individual member's approval or disapproval
of the appointee, and the nomination is merely forwarded to the
full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
3:47:58 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:47 p.m. to 3:49 p.m.
3:49:53 PM
CHAIR SHAW said the Marijuana Control Board is established by AS
17.38.080 under the Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development to oversee the state's policies regarding
the manufacture, distribution, and sale of marijuana in the
state. The committee will review the appointment of Bailey
Stuart of Wasilla, Alaska to that board. He asked the appointee
to provide her qualifications and experience.
3:50:30 PM
BAILEY STUART, Appointee, Marijuana Control Board, described her
experience and mentioned that she is the owner of cannabis
retail stores in Wasilla and Palmer and founded the first
approved cannabis retailer in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
She said that she is also an adjunct professor at the University
of Alaska Anchorage where she teaches and has developed its
cannabis curriculum. She serves on the Alaska Marijuana
Industry Association Board as the chair of the public relations
and governance committee. She explained that she possesses a
comprehensive understanding of Alaska's regulations regarding
cannabis. She said that she cares about the future vitality of
the industry in the state and is honored to have the opportunity
to serve the industry.
CHAIR SHAW stated that [the House State Affairs Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that the following names be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Bailey Stuart, Marijuana
Control Board.] He said that signing the report regarding
appointments to boards and commissions in no way reflects an
individual member's approval or disapproval of the appointee,
and the nomination is merely forwarded to the full legislature
for confirmation or rejection.
3:52:01 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:52 p.m. to 3:54 p.m.
3:54:07 PM
CHAIR SHAW said the Alaska Board of Parole is established by AS
33.16.020 under the Department of Corrections to serve as the
parole authority of the state and to consider the suitability
for parole of a prisoner who is eligible for discretionary
parole or special medical parole. He said the House State
Affairs Standing Committee will review the reappointment of
Richard Larson of Wasilla. He asked the appointee to provide
his qualifications and experience.
3:54:42 PM
RICHARD "OLE" LARSON, Appointee, Alaska Board of Parole, stated
that he holds a bachelor's degree in biology and is a certified
high school science teacher. He served in the Department of
Corrections in many capacities since 1980 and retired in 2005.
He described his time on the Matanuska-Susitna School Board. He
said he was appointed to the State Board of Parole in 2010 and
served two five-year terms. After his second term, he worked to
audit correction facilities throughout the country that housed
undocumented immigrants.
3:56:48 PM
CHAIR SHAW said that one of those criteria listed in AS
33.16.030(c) is that no member of the board may be an officer or
employee of the state. He asked the appointee to confirm that
he is not an officer or employee of the state.
MR. LARSON confirmed that he is not presently an officer or
employee of the state.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked about Mr. Larson's goals for the
parole board and what the biggest challenges facing parolees in
Alaska currently are.
MR. LARSON mentioned his goal to educate students so they "don't
have idle time to fall into the pitfalls of drugs and alcohol."
He said that 85 percent of offenders have drug or alcohol
issues. He mentioned a goal to get more substance abuse
treatment within correctional facilities. He emphasized the
importance of releasing people from corrections that have shown
improvements from when they were admitted through additional
treatment. The goal for those who are being released from
prison is that they can work fulltime and have the tools to
break negative cycles of drugs and alcohol.
3:59:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK expressed appreciation for the
appointee's emphasis on prevention. She asked about challenges
for those who are on parole.
MR. LARSON responded that many long-term parolees have a hard
time finding work. Hiring felons is not common. The department
is starting to provide training and education in the trades for
incarcerated individuals. Employment, drugs, and alcohol are
significant challenges for parolees.
4:02:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked Mr. Larson to share his thought
process regarding granting discretionary parole.
MR. LARSON offered to follow up with a thumb drive with 57 files
that cover the offenders' criminal history and record through
the Alaska Corrections Offender Management System (ACOMS). He
explained how he becomes thoroughly briefed on each offender,
takes note of work, rehabilitation programs, history of juvenile
detention, and education to determine what they need. He listed
many factors that are considered for discretionary parole
including whether the parolee has taken initiative, gotten work,
continues substance abuse counseling, and has come up with a
solid release plan. Another important factor he mentioned was
victim's rights. Deliberations occur after a 30-minute
interview with the parolee.
4:05:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked about recidivism rates.
MR. LARSON explained that discretionary parole is a rare
privilege and generally they do not reoffend. He described
parolees with success stories. He said that the key to parolee
success is finding work and discontinuing drug and alcohol use.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked how Mr. Larson felt about his
success record. He asked the appointee how many cases he has
regretted granting discretionary parole.
MR. LARSON said that over the last 12 years only a couple "went
south." He explained that each year there are hundreds of
cases, and about 20 percent are discretionary cases. He said
the board does an excellent job and many discretionary parolees
eventually come back and petition for early termination from
parole.
4:11:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked about parole board training.
MR. LARSON said that generally parole board members attend a
week-long course through the National Institute of Corrections.
Training with attorneys is also held to learn about the legality
of the parole process. He emphasized that experience is the
best way to receive training. He said that during his time
working for the Department of Corrections, he took eight to ten
different National Institute of Corrections college accredited
courses to prepare for parole board membership. He stated his
goal to prevent there being any more victims. Keeping the
community safe is what the board strives for.
4:14:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked if there is a standard of assessment
for parole boards.
MR. LARSON discussed the copious statistics generated by the
parole board. He said that the grant rate was low when he came
back to the parole board because of the COVID-19 pandemic and
the closure of the Palmer Correctional Center. He stated that
the grant rate has increased since. He said he wasn't sure of
how Alaska ranked nationally regarding parolee outcomes. He
mentioned that every state does parole differently especially in
states with larger populations. In Alaska, there are five board
members, which is adequate, and they work well together.
4:17:17 PM
CHAIR SHAW asked the committee to focus on the appointee's
qualifications.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked if parole board decisions are
generally unanimous.
MR. LARSON said that generally decisions are unanimous. He said
that the board tends to lean more towards granting parole. The
board also looks at seriousness of the crime and whether
granting discretionary parole would diminish the seriousness of
the crime. He described two murder cases, one which was pre-
meditated versus another which was a crime of passion. Victims
are also considered.
4:21:17 PM
CHAIR SHAW said that one of the criteria listed in AS
33.16.030(c) is that no member of the board may be an officer or
employee of the state. He asked the appointee to confirm that
he is not an officer or employee of the state.
MR. LARSON confirmed he is not.
CHAIR SHAW stated that [the House State Affairs Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that the following name be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Richard Larson, State
Board of Parole.] He said that signing the report regarding
appointments to boards and commissions in no way reflects an
individual member's approval or disapproval of the appointee,
and the nomination is merely forwarded to the full legislature
for confirmation or rejection.
4:21:54 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 4:21 p.m. to 4:23 p.m.
4:23:43 PM
CHAIR SHAW said that the Personnel Board is established by AS
39.25.060 under the Department of Administration to achieve the
purposes of the Public Employment Relations Act and to provide
policy, consultive guidance, and direct human resources services
to the State of Alaska Executive Branch Agencies. Today the
House State Affairs Standing Committee will review the
appointment of Donald Handeland of Eagle River to that board.
He asked the appointee to provide his qualifications and
experience.
4:24:22 PM
DONALD HANDELAND, Appointee, Personnel Board, explained that he
is an engineer. He mentioned his involvement in the Alaska
Commission of Post-Secondary Education. He has been a member of
the Personnel Board since 2023.
CHAIR SHAW asked if the appointee is currently an employee of
the State of Alaska.
MR. HANDELAND answered no.
4:25:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD commented that she can vouch for the
appointee's experience. She asked the appointee what he would
like to accomplish on the Personnel Board.
MR. HANDELAND mentioned that he is new to the board compared to
the other board members. As a younger member, he is hoping to
take some time to get up to speed and learn.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked what he will bring to the Personnel
Board with his experience.
MR. HANDELAND replied that he has served on other boards in the
past. He mentioned that he has a Master of Business
Administration from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and
possesses some business experience.
4:28:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked how long Mr. Handeland has been
on the board.
MR. HANDELAND answered that he started on the board in October
2023.
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked the appointee to list boards on
which he has served.
MR. HANDELAND replied that he was appointed to the Alaska
Commission of Post Secondary Education as the public member in
2021. He has also been on the Alaska Student Loans Corporation
Board of Directors since 2022. He mentioned he was briefly on
the State Officers Compensation Commission. As a student he
served as a student board member for the State Board of
Education and Early Development.
4:29:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked the appointee to describe his
experience with overseeing employees.
MR. HANDELAND explained that as a student, he was a supervisor
of a few employees at the Mt. Edgecomb High School snack bar.
As an engineer, he works with engineers in training.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK noted that Mr. Handeland appears to be
politically active according to his resume. She asked if being
politically active during campaign season would infringe on his
ability to serve on the board.
MR. HANDELAND responded that he would refrain from working on
campaigns that are directly related to the executive branch. He
stated that he doesn't currently have plans to volunteer with
political campaigns.
4:32:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON mentioned his personal experience on
the Personnel Board. He clarified that the board handles
complaints, approves the reclassification of jobs, and serves as
the ethics committee for the governor, lieutenant governor, and
attorney general. He remarked that the staff that work for the
Personnel Board are fantastic. He noted that he ran for office
while simultaneously serving on the board. Once he was elected,
he could no longer serve on the board. He explained that the
Personnel Board is not a political board. Appointees to the
Personnel Board should have integrity, be able to listen to
attorneys, and be willing to see what is right and wrong. He
expressed his hope that the appointee possesses those traits.
MR. HANDELAND commented that he agrees.
4:35:13 PM
CHAIR SHAW asked the appointee if he is currently an employee of
the state of Alaska.
MR. HANDELAND answered no.
CHAIR SHAW stated that [the House State Affairs Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that the following name be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Donald Handeland,
Personnel Board.] He said that signing the report regarding
appointments to boards and commissions in no way reflects an
individual member's approval or disapproval of the appointee,
and the nomination is merely forwarded to the full legislature
for confirmation or rejection.
4:35:35 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 4:35 p.m. to 4:37 p.m.
4:37:20 PM
CHAIR SHAW said the last item for the day is the review of the
appointment of Anna Cometa to the Violent Crimes Compensation
Board. The Violent Crimes Compensation Board was established by
AS 18.67.010 with the purpose of facilitating and permitting the
payment of compensation to those who have been victims of
violent crime. Anna Cometa has been appointed by the governor
and this will be her first term. Chair Shaw asked the appointee
to tell the committee about her qualifications, experience, and
desire to serve.
4:37:53 PM
ANNA COMETA, Appointee, Violent Crimes Compensation Board,
described her experience working as an attorney around the state
with child victims of crime since 2012. Through her experience
working at the District Attorney's Office, she served on the
Statewide Infant and Child Death Review Panel. She also served
on many multidisciplinary teams and task forces aimed at serving
victims and families having trouble and children experiencing
abuse and neglect. She emphasized her familiarity with the
Indian Child Welfare Act. She has served in the Matanuska-
Susitna Valley as a magistrate judge. For the past year and a
half she has started a private practice and has worked to serve
her community in other ways. She said she is a member of the
Anchorage Rotary Club, a board member for the Red Cross of
Alaska, a trustee of the Anchorage Opera, and has served as the
attorney member on the Violent Crimes Compensation Board.
MS. COMETA emphasized that the Violent Crimes Compensation Board
is crucial in providing victim advocacy and services that
promote recovery and help to mitigate devastation caused by
violent crimes in Alaska. The board's work contributes to a
culture of respect hope and opportunity for victims of violent
crime. She said that the board is currently facing a
devastating funding crisis. The board is asking the legislature
to consider shifting staff allocation funding to the general
fund so that the restorative justice account can be used to
adequately fund victims of violent crime.
CHAIR SHAW asked the appointee to return the discussion to her
experience and qualifications.
MS. COMETA emphasized that her advocacy reflects her desire to
serve on the board to ensure that victims of violent crime are
compensated under the statutory scheme.
4:42:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY commented on the passion in the appointee's
voice. She expressed her appreciation for the appointee's
explanation of her experiences.
4:42:26 PM
CHAIR SHAW stated that [the House State Affairs Standing
Committee has reviewed the qualifications of the governor's
appointees and recommends that the following names be forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Anna Cometa, Violent
Crimes Compensation Board.] He said that signing the report
regarding appointments to boards and commissions in no way
reflects an individual member's approval or disapproval of the
appointee, and the nomination is merely forwarded to the full
legislature for confirmation or rejection.
4:42:54 PM
CHAIR SHAW opened public testimony on the confirmation hearings
for the governor's appointee to various boards and commissions.
4:43:02 PM
LYNETTA MARCELLUS, representing self, testified in opposition to
the appointment of Major General Saxe to Lieutenant Governor.
She claimed whistleblower status protection for her husband, a
National Guardsman. She described her husband's experience at
the National Guard, which has become a "toxic work environment."
Her husband was injured during an army combat fitness test and
due to the poor management and procedures of the guard, he had
to wait three years for his case to be resolved. He spent time
accumulating evidence and was administratively evaded
repeatedly. He had to use his own medical coverage to deal with
the injury. He filed a congressional inquiry through Senator
Sullivan to resolve the situation.
MS. MARCELLUS said that since Major General Saxe's command, he
has allowed Colonel Michelle Edwards to target soldiers, forcing
them to quit and leave the state. She made note of several
people that she knew who had retired early because of Colonel
Edwards. Colonel Edwards obtained the personal medical records
of her husband and shared them with soldiers in his unit and
encouraged them to create a complaint against her husband so
that he would be removed from his command. She said that Major
General Saxe failed to discipline Colonel Edwards and targeted
her husband to remove his aeronautical rating.
4:46:26 PM
MS. MARCELLUS said her husband had to defend himself before the
Flight Board and said that military lawyers took advantage of a
soldier without law experience to make motions that suppressed
evidence and exercised procedural nuances to hinder his defense.
She said that her husband had no one to defend him because Major
General Saxe's lawyer had failed to inform the defense attorney
when the Flight Board convened. To force her husband into a
plea bargain deal, she said Major General Saxe used his staff to
threaten him. Her husband tried to defend himself without an
attorney to remove the flags on his record, to no avail.
MS. MARCELLUS emphasized that this is not proper protocol and
has prevented her husband from taking jobs in other states and
has "ruined his military career." She said that Major General
Saxe will not let her husband go due to the low manning numbers
and the need for his engineering expertise. When her husband
asked for a tag release to transfer out of the Alaska National
Guard, Major General Saxe refused to sign it. She described
several other issues her husband experienced at his civilian
job. She said that while her husband was away, Major General
Saxe replaced her husband with someone who was willing to sign
off on questionable financial transactions. She requested an
investigation into Major General Saxe's behavior and urged the
committee to reconsider his appointment.
4:49:20 PM
CHAIR SHAW, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished
to testify, closed public testimony.
4:49:38 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 4:49 p.m. to 4:51 p.m.
4:51:14 PM
CHAIR SHAW provided closing remarks.
4:51:22 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 4:51
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Cometa Violent Crimes Application_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Bailey Stuart Marijuana Control Board Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Anna Cometa Violent Crimes Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Diane Thompson Alcoholic Beverage Control App_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Donald Handeland Personnel Board Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Dusty Dumont Police Standards Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Janice Hill Alcohol Beverage Control Board App_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| jeff brown Police standards Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Richard Larson Parole Board Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |
|
| Ron Dupee Police Standards Resume 2023_Redacted.pdf |
HSTA 3/21/2024 3:00:00 PM |