03/26/1998 03:30 PM Senate STA

            SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE                                     
                    March 26, 1998                                             
                      3:30 p.m.                                                
                                                                               
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                
                                                                               
Senator Lyda Green, Chairman                                                   
Senator Jerry Ward, Vice-Chairman                                              
Senator Mike Miller                                                            
                                                                               
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                 
                                                                               
Senator Jerry Mackie                                                           
Senator Jim Duncan                                                             
                                                                               
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                             
                                                                               
CONFIRMATION HEARING:                                                          
                                                                               
     State Commission for Human Rights                                         
          Ruth G. Benson - Fairbanks                                           
                                                                               
WITNESS REGISTER                                                               
                                                                               
Ms. Ruth G. Benson                                                             
1551 Farmers Loop                                                              
Fairbanks, AK 99709                                                            
                                                                               
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                               
                                                                               
TAPE 98-14, SIDE A                                                             
Number 001                                                                     
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order              
at 3:30 p.m., and noted the presence of Senators Ward, Miller and              
Green.  She stated the only item on the committee agenda was a                 
confirmation hearing on governor appointee Ruth G. Benson to the               
State Commission for Human Rights.                                             
                                                                               
MS. RUTH BENSON, speaking to the committee via teleconference from             
Fairbanks, stated she is a retired nurse and she has lived in                  
Fairbanks since 1960.  She expressed her interest in learning how              
the Commission operates and in fulfilling the functions that she               
agreed to when she accepted her appointment.                                   
                                                                               
Number 020                                                                     
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked Ms. Benson if she made application to serve on            
the Commission.  MS. BENSON replied that she was approached by a               
member of the Governor's office in Fairbanks last year about                   
serving on the Commission, and when the vacancy materialized, she              
received her appointment.                                                      
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired if she has in any way ever been involved               
with any hearings in the past at the Commission, or if she has ever            
known anyone investigated by the Commission, and MS. BENSON                    
answered "No" to both questions.                                               
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked Ms. Benson what special qualities she has that            
makes her feel qualified to do this job.  MS. BENSON explained she             
is interested  in human beings, having had a career in nursing, and            
she is interested in their rights and responsibilities as citizens.            
She added that she thinks she is intelligent enough and reasonable             
enough to apply impartial findings on issues should she be called              
upon to make decisions like that.                                              
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN GREEN asked if the State Commission for Human Rights is               
quasi-judicial, and MS. BENSON replied that it is.                             
                                                                               
Number 065                                                                     
                                                                               
SENATOR WARD asked Ms. Benson what her opinion was on sexual                   
orientation.  MS. BENSON responded that she doesn't have an opinion            
on sexual orientation.  She knows that it exists and that there are            
variations in sexual orientation, but she does not have an opinion             
on it.                                                                         
                                                                               
There being no further questions for Ms. Benson, CHAIRMAN GREEN                
stated she would accept a motion on her appointment.                           
                                                                               
SENATOR MILLER moved that the name of Ruth G. Benson be forwarded              
to a joint session for consideration, and that this does not                   
reflect an intent by any committee member to vote for or against               
the nominee.  Hearing no objection, CHAIRMAN GREEN stated the                  
motion carried.                                                                
                                                                               
There being no further business to come before the committee, the              
meeting adjourned at 3:37 p.m.