Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
04/23/2021 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB119 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 119 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 23, 2021
9:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Roger Holland, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Senator Shelley Hughes
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Tom Begich
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 119
"An Act relating to oaths of office; and requiring public
officers to read the state constitution, the Declaration of
Independence, and the United States Constitution."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 34
"An Act providing for the establishment of public schools
through state-tribal compacts."
- HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 119
SHORT TITLE: OATH OF OFFICE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) REINBOLD
04/07/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/07/21 (S) EDC, JUD, STA, FIN
04/23/21 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR LORA REINBOLD
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor OF SB 119.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:02:28 AM
CHAIR ROGER HOLLAND called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stevens, Hughes, and Chair Holland.
SB 119-OATH OF OFFICE
9:03:09 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 119
"An Act relating to oaths of office; and requiring public
officers to read the state constitution, the Declaration of
Independence, and the United States Constitution."
9:03:32 AM
SENATOR LORA REINBOLD, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 119, read opening remarks, as follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
The need for all elected and appointed officials to
read and take responsibility to uphold the United
States Constitution and the Declaration of
Independence as well as the Constitution of the State
of Alaska is to ensure that the power of the
individual citizens and the Alaska residents is not
truncated, eroded or extinguished.
Without the verified awareness and vital knowledge of
how the state and federal governments were structured
to facilitate peace, equality, elected officials will
be set up to fail those if they do not fully
understand what they take their oath to. The
responsibility to mindful administrate within the
governmental academic structure on behalf of the
public is the greatest importance because the
cherished trust that the people place in public
officials, they must be fully equipped with the
knowledge and the direction of our government in its
relentless pursuit of justice, equality, and whenever
they are employed by the people. Our requirement of
all public officials to commit to upholding these
essential documents ensures that not only such elected
officials have clear direction by which to govern and
to administrate, it enforces the connect of the trust
between the people of the state of Alaska and those
charged with acting on their behalf.
9:05:39 AM
SENATOR REINBOLD paraphrased the sponsor statement, which read:
[Original punctuation provided.]
This bill requires all those whose are statutorily or
constitutionally required to take an oath in the State
of Alaska to read: the Declaration of Independence;
the United States Constitution and The Constitution of
the State of Alaska. Following the reading of the
documents, a signed statement acknowledging the action
will be filed at the Alaska State Libraries, Archives
and Museums directly after taking the Oath of Office.
9:06:16 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND asked her to identify the acronym SLAM.
SENATOR REINBOLD answered that it stands for the State
Libraries, Archives and Museums (SLAM).
9:06:29 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND said he did not see that the bill raised many
education policies and thus he would not hold the bill in
committee very long. He emphasized that he understands the
importance of the U.S. Constitution and the Alaska Constitution.
Although he appreciates the significance of the Declaration of
Independence, he pointed out that Alaska does not require office
holders to protect and defend it. He asked whether she would
like to explain why the Declaration of Independence was included
in SB 119.
SENATOR REINBOLD responded that when the 13 colonies decided to
declare their independence, colonists had many grievances with
Great Britain and King George III. She included the Declaration
of Independence in SB 119 because it is a powerful reminder of
why the colonists were willing to lay down their lives for
liberty. Further, the Declaration of Independence marries
perfectly with the Bill of Rights, she said.
9:08:07 AM
SENATOR STEVENS agreed that everyone should be familiar with
these documents. He asked whether city and borough council and
assembly members were included.
9:08:30 AM
SENATOR REINBOLD answered that any elected official who is
required to take an oath to the State of Alaska would be
included.
9:09:00 AM
SENATOR HUGHES said she would almost require this for those who
file for any elected office. She wondered how many people who
pledge to uphold state and U.S. constitutions are not familiar
with the documents. She directed attention to Section 2, which
refers to each special officer and person appointed. She asked
for the definition of special officer.
SENATOR REINBOLD answered that a special officer refers to a law
enforcement officer.
9:10:11 AM
SENATOR HUGHES referred to Section 9 of SB 119, which requires
the principal executive officer of each department and the
member of each board within the state government. She related
her understanding that it would include commissioners and deputy
commissioners. She asked whether this provision would also apply
to commission members.
SENATOR REINBOLD answered that it will apply to anyone who is
already statutorily required to take an oath of office. She said
the bill does not add any additional people to the list.
9:10:52 AM
SENATOR HUGHES asked if she knew who was included in the
principal executive officers category. She surmised it would
apply to commissioners, but she wondered if it included deputy
commissioners or other department leadership. The language
identifies that the members of each board must take the oath.
She asked whether that would include commissions as well.
SENATOR REINBOLD related her understanding that all
commissioners have to take an oath of office. Every employee
must sign that they read the documents. She explained that she
introduced the bill because taking the oath of office differs
for judges, elected officials and peace officers. SB 119 would
require that everyone who takes an oath of office must read the
Constitution of the State of Alaska, the Declaration of
Independence, and the United States Constitution, sign that they
did so and that oath is filed at SLAM.
9:13:50 AM
SENATOR HUGHES directed attention to Section 9 and said she
recalls that all state employees must sign the oath. She asked
whether this is a new oath for them.
SENATOR REINBOLD answered that all state employees must sign
that they read the Alaska Constitution. She said this bill does
not change the requirement for state employees.
9:14:19 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND pointed out that the questions did not appear to
be related to education policies. He reminded members that SB
119 has a further referral to the Senate Judiciary and State
Affairs Committees.
9:14:33 AM
SENATOR HUGHES asked how many people who would be required to
sign an oath that would be filed at SLAM. She surmised it would
be thousands of people.
SENATOR REINBOLD answered that State of Alaska employees have to
sign an oath. She offered her belief that the Oath of Office is
an important historical document for judges and elected
officials. Thus, it is important to preserve these historical
documents in SLAM so people can see the signed Oath of Office
document.
9:15:36 AM
SENATOR HUGHES stated that SLAM falls under the Department of
Education and Early Development. She asked whether anyone from
SLAM was online.
CHAIR HOLLAND offered to arrange to have someone from DEED
online at the next meeting. He noted that Section 1 includes
school board members, which may be why it had a referral to the
Senate Education Standing Committee.
9:16:32 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND asked if the sponsor would like to review the
sectional analysis of SB 119.
9:16:45 AM
SENATOR REINBOLD reviewed the sections of SB 119, paraphrasing
each section. It read as follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Section 1. AS 14.12.090 is amended to require that
school board members, before taking office, shall read
the Constitution of the State of Alaska, the
Declaration of Independence, and the United States
Constitution. Each section requires specific elected
or appointed officials to read the documents.
Section 2 applies to a law enforcement officer.
Section 3 applies to a supreme court justice.
Section 4 applies to a court of appeals judge.
Section 5 applies to a superior court judge.
Section 6 applies to a district court judge and
magistrates.
Section 7 applies to legislators.
Section 8 applies to municipal officials.
Section 9 applies to executive offices and board
members.
Section 10 applies to a public officer or employee of
the state.
9:17:46 AM
SENATOR STEVENS offered his view that this should be required
reading for everyone.
9:18:26 AM
SENATOR REINBOLD thanked members. She said she does not want to
see any infringement on the rights of the people that she
serves. She stated that she read all three documents required
under the bill in the same day, which was a remarkable
experience that has emboldened her. She said she has come to
love these documents. She offered to research and respond to
Senator Hughes' questions.
[CHAIR HOLLAND held SB 119 in committee.]
9:19:49 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Holland adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 9:19 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 119 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 4/23/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 119 |
| SB 119 Sectional Final.pdf |
SEDC 4/23/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 119 |
| SB 119 Sponsor's Statement Final.pdf |
SEDC 4/23/2021 9:00:00 AM SJUD 1/31/2022 1:30:00 PM |
SB 119 |