03/14/1997 01:52 PM Senate JUD

                   SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE                                  
                         March 14, 1997                                        
                           1:52 p.m.                                           
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
 Senator Robin Taylor, Chair                                                   
 Senator Sean Parnell                                                          
 Senator Johnny Ellis                                                          
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Drue Pearce, Vice-chair                                               
 Senator Mike Miller                                                           
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
 CONFIRMATION HEARINGS:                                                        
                                                                               
 Alaska Judicial Conduct Commission                                            
  Diane I. Brown                                                               
                                                                               
 Violent Crimes Compensation Board                                             
  Louisiana Cutler and Leslie D. Bogda Wheeler                                 
                                                                               
 Board of Governors of the Alaska Bar                                          
  Debra L. Call                                                                
                                                                               
 Alaska Workers' Compensation Board                                            
  Valerie Barrone, Stephen T. Hagedor, Harriet M. Lawlor,                      
  Shawn Pierre, and John Giuchici                                              
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
 Shawn Pierre                                                                  
 22520 Whispering Birch                                                        
 Chugiak, AK  99567                                                            
                                                                               
 Dianne I. Brown                                                               
 11484 Discovery Heights Circle                                                
 Anchorage, AK  99515                                                          
                                                                               
 Leslie D. Bogda Wheeler                                                       
 P.O. Box 878885                                                               
 Wasilla, AK  99687                                                            
                                                                               
 Louisiana Cutler                                                              
 Preston Gates & Ellis                                                         
 420 L St.                                                                     
 Anchorage, AK                                                                 
                                                                               
 Debra L. Call                                                                 
 12342 West Prince of Peace                                                    
 Eagle River, AK  99577-7539                                                   
                                                                               
 Valerie Baffone                                                               
 3550 Hooper Circle                                                            
 Anchorage, AK  99515                                                          
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
 TAPE 97-22, SIDE A                                                            
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  called the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting to            
 order at 1:52 p.m.  Senators Parnell, Ellis, and Taylor were                  
 present.  The commtitee took teleconference testimony on the                  
 confirmations.                                                                
                                                                               
  SHAWN PIERRE  testified from Anchorage and informed committee                
 members he has been employed by the Anchorage School District since           
 1985.  He is a member of the Teamsters Local 959, and is on the               
 Teamsters Executive Board.  He noted he received a letter of                  
 support from Representative Dyson.                                            
                                                                               
 There being no questions from committee members, Chair Taylor                 
 thanked Mr. Pierre.                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 048                                                                    
                                                                               
  DIANE BROWN  informed committee members she is a third-generation            
 Alaskan from the Kenai Peninsula and a first sergeant with the                
 Alaska State Troopers.  She believes her background as a law                  
 enforcement officer will bring a different perspective to the                 
 Alaska Judicial Conduct Commission.                                           
                                                                               
 There being no questions from committee members, Chair Taylor                 
 thanked Ms. Brown.                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 073                                                                    
                                                                               
  LESLIE WHEELER  informed committee members she has been serving as           
 an interim appointee to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board since           
 early last year.  She has spent 20 years working with domestic                
 violence programs in Anchorage and the Mat-Su area.                           
                                                                               
 There being no questions from committee members, Chair Taylor                 
 thanked Ms. Brown.                                                            
                                                                               
  LOUISIANA CUTLER  informed committee members she is also an interim          
 appointee to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board.  She has been             
 an Anchorage attorney for six years and has always had an interest            
 in public service and victims' rights issues.  She has been the               
 Vice-President of the AWAKE Board in Anchorage for five years, and            
 looks forward to serving on the Violent Crimes Compensation Board.            
 There being no questions from committee members, Chair Taylor                 
 thanked Ms. Cutler.                                                           
                                                                               
  DEBRA CALL  stated she is a lifelong Alaskan resident.  She has an           
 MBA from Washington State University, has worked on economic                  
 development issues in rural Alaska and is serving on the Alaska               
 Native Justice Center Board.  She is concerned about justice issues           
 relating to Alaska Natives and other minorities, particularly in              
 rural Alaska.  She is currently employed as a project analyst in              
 Corporate Development with the Cook Inlet Region.                             
                                                                               
 Chair Taylor thanked Ms. Call.                                                
                                                                               
  VALERIE BAFFONE  testified that she has been appointed as the labor          
 representative for the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board.  She is            
 committed to the process and mission of the Board to ensure that              
 workers' rights are protected in accordance with the Workers'                 
 Compensation law.  She is currently employed as a representative              
 with Local 71.                                                                
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  asked if Mr. Pierre is also filling a labor seat on         
 that board.   MS. BAFFONE  answered "yes."  Chair Taylor thanked Ms.          
 Baffone.                                                                      
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  noted Mr. Giuchici was unavailable to testify.              
                                                                               
 There were no stated objections to any of the nominees.  CHAIRMAN             
 TAYLOR  thanked all participants for their willingness to serve on            
 each board.  There being no further business, the meeting was                 
 adjourned at 2:08 p.m.