03/22/2016 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB204 | |
| SB150 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 204 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 150 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 22, 2016
9:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bill Stoltze, Chair
Senator John Coghill, Vice Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lesil McGuire
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 204
"An Act naming a shooting range in the Knik River Public Use
Area the Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range."
- MOVED SB 204 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 150
"An Act adding the commissioner of military and veterans'
affairs to the membership of the Council on Domestic Violence
and Sexual Assault."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 204
SHORT TITLE: KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE
SPONSOR(s): STATE AFFAIRS
03/16/16 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/16/16 (S) STA
03/22/16 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 150
SHORT TITLE: MVA COMMISSIONER MEMBER OF CDVSA
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
01/21/16 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/16 (S) STA, FIN
03/22/16 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
DANIEL GEORGE, staff
Senator Stoltze
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of SB 204.
RICHARD BISHOP, representing himself
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
EARL LACKEY, representing himself
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
RICK ELLIS, representing himself
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
TODD CLARK, representing himself
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
GARY STEVENS, representing himself
Chugiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
ROD ARNO, Executive Director
Alaska Outdoor Council
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
RON SOMERVILLE, representing himself
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
JENNIFER EHMANN, representing herself
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
LYNN KEOGH, representing himself
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
RON JOHNSON, representing himself
Butte, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
ED FOGELS, Deputy Commissioner
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 204.
LAURIE HUMMEL, Commissioner
Alaska Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 150.
CARMEN LOWRY, Executive Director
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 150.
JAYNE ANDREEN, Chair, President
Alaska Women's Lobby, Alaska Public Health Association
Douglas, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 150.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:00:56 AM
CHAIR BILL STOLTZE called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Coghill, Huggins, and Chair Stoltze.
SB 204-KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE
9:01:52 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced the consideration of SB 204.
9:02:22 AM
DANIEL GEORGE, staff, Senator Stoltze, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, presented a video showing a recent news vignette
for the new shooting range at the Knik River Public Use Area
(KRPUA) in Butte, Alaska.
CHAIR STOLTZE stated that Kenny and Patti Barber were ordinary
Alaskans who have done a lot of extraordinary things. He said
the Barbers were integral in helping develop KRPUA. He noted
that he and Senator Huggins started the legislation for KRPUA
that unanimously passed the Legislature in 2006.
9:04:47 AM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee meeting.
9:06:56 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS commented that Kenny and Patti Barber were like
relatives that always were looking to do things and never
looking for credit. He pointed out that the Barbers were well
known in the Mat-Su area, especially in the sporting community.
He stated that Barbers deserved their name recognition at the
KPRUA shooting range. He commended Chair Stoltze for making
things like KPRUA work. He revealed that Chair Stoltze added
language in the KPRUA bill that specified the land not be used
as a park and be designated as a public-use area for sporting
with the guarantee for hunting and fishing. He opined that the
country's national forests have become national preserves where
an individual cannot do anything because more and more things
are prohibited.
CHAIR STOLTZE stated that the Barbers were fiscally responsible
people that did not crave the attention from SB 204. He pointed
out that transition language was included in the legislation
where the signs with the Barbers' names would not be erected
until the current signs wear out.
He announced that the committee would hear public testimony on
SB 204.
9:09:38 AM
RICHARD BISHOP, representing himself, Fairbanks, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 204. He said naming the range for the
Barbers was appropriate and noted their involvement with KRPUA.
9:10:54 AM
EARL LACKEY, representing himself, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 204. He said the Barbers were instrumental in the
funding and development of KRPUA and the shooting range.
9:12:38 AM
RICK ELLIS, representing himself, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 204. He revealed that he worked with the Barbers
on a number of outdoor related projects.
9:13:33 AM
TODD CLARK, representing himself, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 204. He said the KRUPA and shooting range
development's success would be hard to imagine without the
Barber's help. He said naming the shooting range after the
Barbers was a small thing when considering the amount of effort,
time, and sacrifice the Barbers had put into the whole area and
community as a whole.
9:14:56 AM
GARY STEVENS, representing himself, Chugiak, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204. He stated that he normally did not support
naming public facilities after individuals, but naming the
shooting range after the Barbers was extremely well deserved.
9:15:33 AM
ROD ARNO, Executive Director, Alaska Outdoor Council, Fairbanks,
Alaska, testified that the Alaska Outdoor Council was in support
of SB 204. He set forth that the Barbers have always been
supporters of hunters, trappers, and outdoor access. He stated
that naming the shooting range would let future hunters know the
Barber's contribution for outdoor folks in Alaska.
CHAIR STOLTZE noted that the Alaska Outdoor Council passed a
resolution supporting SB 204.
9:17:09 AM
RON SOMERVILLE, representing himself, Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204. He said he has known the Barbers since his
service on the Alaska Board of Game. He asserted that the
Barbers were humble Alaskans who always worked for things that
benefited everybody. He said naming the shooting range for the
Barbers was important in the recognition for the work the
Barbers had done.
9:18:39 AM
JENNIFER EHMANN, representing herself, Palmer, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204. She noted that she chaired the Matanuska
Valley Advisory Committee and served on the Matanuska-Susitna
Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission. She revealed that she has
worked with the Barbers throughout the last five years and noted
that the couple has acted as mentors to her. She said she was
amazed to see the support of the shooting range and has watched
the facility develop with the knowledge that the Barbers were
behind the project. She remarked that the Barbers' volunteering
and efforts have not gone unnoticed and the community was in
support of the effort that the Barbers have put forward.
9:20:42 AM
LYNN KEOGH, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204. He stated that he could not think of two
more deserving people than the Barbers. He revealed that he has
known the Barbers for over 20 years and their tireless efforts
has benefited Alaskans for continued opportunities to enjoy the
outdoors.
9:21:26 AM
RON JOHNSON, representing himself, Butte, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 204. He asserted that he knows of no one that has
tirelessly given their time, energy, and money than the Barbers.
He stated that the Barbers have taken a lead in many outdoor
issues for a long time.
CHAIR STOLTZE noted that the Butte Community Council was the
first to endorse the naming of the shooting range before SB 204
was introduced.
9:23:36 AM
ED FOGELS, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Natural
Resources, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 204. He
said he has nothing but admiration and respect for the Barbers.
He declared that the Barbers were true stewards of the land and
have been a great help to the department's land managers in
addition to taking care of KRPUA's vast and heavily used area.
He noted that KRPUA was difficult to manage prior to its
development and the Barbers have helped solve the area's
problems. He set forth that KRPUA was a beautiful place and the
department could not think of a better name for the shooting
range. He stated that keeping the shooting range's current
signage until they wore out was the reason for the bill's zero-
fiscal note.
9:25:04 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that public testimony was closed. He
summarized that the zero-fiscal note reflected the Barbers'
values for not wanting dollars spent on signage versus promoting
the facility.
9:26:00 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to report SB 204, [29-LS1576\W], from
committee with individual recommendations and attached zero-
fiscal note.
9:26:20 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that seeing no objection, SB 204 moves
from committee.
9:26:25 AM
At ease.
SB 150-DMVA COMMISSIONER MEMBER OF CDVSA
9:28:01 AM
VICE-CHAIR COGHILL called the committee back to order and
announced the consideration of SB 150. He explained that SB 150
would add the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military
& Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to the membership of the Alaska
Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA).
9:28:53 AM
LAURIE HUMMEL, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB
150. She remarked that her position would be a logical addition
to CDVSA. She noted that she was in daily contact with a full
spectrum of military personnel, veterans, and their families
that encompassed the following:
· 22,800 active-component military personnel.
· 4,100 Nation Guard soldiers and airmen.
· 74,000 veterans.
· 101,000 total service members and veterans with 189,000
dependent family members.
· 290,000 Alaskans, approximately 40 percent of the state's
population.
She said the military personnel, veterans, and family members
have unique perspectives, valuable skills, and talents of great
benefit to their communities; they have extensive experience in
facing social ills that plagues everyone, including sexual
assault and domestic violence on both military and civilian
communities. She set forth that by working with active service
members and veterans every day, she cannot help but share their
experiences, challenges, struggles, and successes in overcoming
sexual assault and domestic violence.
9:31:48 AM
COMMISSIONER HUMMEL stated that the size of the military
community demands that DMVA tackle the difficult issues head-on
and the department was doing so. She asserted that DMVA works to
protect its military men and women from sexual assault and
domestic violence and the department has learned a lot of
valuable lessons as follows:
· Creating safe work places.
· Fostering respectful colleagues.
· Importance of clear knowledge that everyone serves under a
supportive command structure, work environment, and living
environment.
COMMISSIONER HUMMEL revealed that DMVA has done the following:
· Launched and would continue comprehensive and wide-ranging
efforts to raise awareness of sexual assault and
harassment.
· Instituted measures and safeguards to protect victims.
· Initiated the Alaska National Guard Sexual Assault
Prevention Program for 24/7 statewide crisis intervention
and support services to victims of sexual assault.
· Works closely with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence
and Sexual Assault, and with the Council with Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault.
She revealed that she chairs monthly meetings to review the
progress of all current and pending sexual assault cases that
touch within the National Guard family. She remarked that she
did not think there was a state, local, or private employer in
Alaska that has aggressively tackled sexual assault and domestic
violence as DMVA.
9:33:24 AM
She summarized that DMVA would welcome an expansion and
strengthening of its connection with CDVSA, the result would
benefit Alaskans statewide. She added that SB 150 would provide
budgetary advantages where DMVA could share information with
CDVSA about programs and services that the department provides
to eligible victims using federal funds for up to 100 percent
continuation pay during recovery and funding intensive
counseling typically by private sector professionals as part of
an integrated approach to maximize the opportunity for survivor
recovery.
She shared sexual assault and domestic violence statistics with
the committee as follows:
· 2008 study found that the average cost of a sexual assault
nationwide is over $150,000.
· 50 percent of victims will not be able to work in their
current jobs for a year after an assault due to the
severity of their mental health injuries.
· Violence and substance abuse constitute up to a third of
the cost of health care nationally, or about $750 billion
dollars a year.
COMMISSIONER HUMMEL set forth that the military ethos dictates
that a battle buddy is never left behind. She stated that DMVA
does not shirk from doing everything possible to enable a sexual
assault or domestic violence survivor to return to full mental
and physical health. She asserted that DMVA has helped set a new
standard for victim and survivor support. She stated that DMVA
has seen solid progress, but work regarding sexual assault and
domestic violence would never be done. She said she was
committed to remaining vigilant and ready to tackle difficult
situations like sexual assault and domestic violence, and looked
forward to working more closely with CDVSA.
9:35:37 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS noted that the majority of CDVSA members had
Juneau addresses. He asked that Commissioner Hummel comment on
CDVSA's geographical diversity.
COMMISSIONER HUMMEL replied that geographical diversity for the
CDVSA was important. She remarked that she was surprised to hear
of so many Juneau locations. She said she would encourage
membership from all around the state to include rural
communities.
SENATOR HUGGINS agreed with Commissioner Hummel. He noted that
CDVSA members included commissioners and deputy commissioners.
He asked why Commissioner Hummel would want to be on the council
rather than the provost marshal or head nurse.
COMMISSIONER HUMMEL replied that the governor requested that she
personally be a member. She opined that her appointment was
perhaps to send a message of how important the issue of sexual
assault and domestic violence was to the administration. She
added that recognizing past issues and concerns within the
National Guard was important in order to show the strongest
encouragement and support from the top of the chain of command.
She stated that should there be a desire for someone other than
herself to represent DMVA on the council, there was a large
number of qualified DMVA individuals that she had full faith and
confidence in.
9:38:41 AM
CARMEN LOWRY, Executive Director, Alaska Network on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), testified in support of SB
150. She explained that ANDVSA was a coalition of 23 agencies
working to prevent and respond to domestic violence and sexual
assault in Alaska. She set forth that adding the commissioner of
DMVA to CDVSA would provide a person with an understanding of
the challenges military personnel face. She requested that the
committee ensure equity among state and public members that an
additional public member from a rural area be added to CDVSA as
well. She noted that a public member was added when a
representative from the Department of Corrections was added to
the council in 2009 in order to maintain the public-to-state
member ratio.
9:42:11 AM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if Ms. Lowry was asking for another
member or for a public member to be replaced with a rural
member.
MS. LOWRY replied that ANDVSA would ask for another member be
added and that the individual be a rural member as well.
VICE-CHAIR COGHILL noted that CDVSA currently required one
appointment from a rural area.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI reviewed the CDVSA member list and noted
that he did not see a rural address.
VICE-CHAIR COGHILL noted that the law required the governor to
consult ANDVSA for CDVSA appointments. He asked how ANDVSA comes
up with its recommendations.
MS. LOWRY replied that ANDVSA was very much involved in the
nominations list for recommending different kinds of public
members to be placed on the council. She reiterated that ANDVSA
would recommend that an additional public member be added from a
rural area. She detailed that the public membership would
increase from four to five members.
VICE-CHAIR COGHILL concurred that he saw the benefit for an
additional rural-public member.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if sexual assault and domestic violence
statistics between rural and urban areas were equal.
9:45:25 AM
MS. LOWRY replied that she could not say what the exact numbers
were. She remarked that rural areas present challenges due to
isolation and access to services. She said rural issues compound
victims' safety which was the reason the request for another
rural voice be added to the council.
SENATOR HUGGINS said that he supports balancing the council with
another public member; however, the question for the committee
was whether to add the DMVA commissioner to the CDVSA council.
He asserted that Commissioner Hummel was a super capable lady
and there was nothing negative about her.
9:47:04 AM
At ease.
9:47:28 AM
VICE-CHAIR COGHILL called the committee back to order. He noted
that committee staff pointed out that CDVSA council members were
from other regions in the state, but their mailing addresses
were noted as Juneau.
9:49:13 AM
JAYNE ANDREEN, Chair, President, Alaska Women's Lobby, Alaska
Public Health Association, Douglas, Alaska, testified in support
of SB 150. She specified her background as follows:
· Chair for the statewide steering committee for the Alaska
Women's Lobby, a voluntary group with individuals dedicated
to working to ensure and promote the wellbeing of children,
women, and families.
· President of the Alaska Public Health Association
consisting of approximately 200 statewide members of public
health professionals.
· Spent 16 years working in domestic violence and sexual
assault, specifically as the director of the Council on
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the 1990s.
She confirmed that the CDVSA public member addresses indicate
Juneau, but the members came from: Anchorage, Unalakleet, Homer,
and Palmer. She added that the language for council member
designation allows for, "Commissioners or their designee." She
noted that state departmental designees have consisted of
commissioners, deputy commissioners, and division directors. She
said each commissioner determines who represents their
department.
MS. ANDREEN revealed that she started working in domestic
violence and sexual violence in Alaska in 1981. She explained
that CDVSA was originally set up to provide a coordinated
response. She detailed that the original seven-member council
consisted of four department representatives and three public
members in order to coordinate expertise between state
government and public members. She noted that CDVSA was touted
across the country when the Violence Against Women Act passed
and the council's membership infrastructure in addressing sexual
assault and domestic violence was pointed out. She revealed that
Senator McKinnon facilitated a task force in the late 2000s that
reviewed CDVSA and she was asked to testify on recommendations
for changes. She noted that a CDVSA council member appointment
was added for the Department of Corrections and she recommended
at the time that balance be maintained by adding a rural-public
member as well.
9:52:46 AM
She summarized that the Alaska Women's Lobby and the Public
Health Association both support SB 150. She added that two
organizations that she represented also supported increasing the
public membership from four to five individuals, resulting in an
11-member council with 6 departments represented and 5 public
members.
VICE-CHAIR COGHILL asked Ms. Andreen to confirm that the council
currently consisted of 9 members.
MS. ANDREEN answered correct.
VICE-CHAIR COGHILL commented that he was surprised that no one
from the governor's office presented the bill. He set forth that
the suggestions presented to the committee would be taken to
heart. He stated that further consultation would occur with the
governor's office regarding SB 150.
SENATOR HUGGINS added that not having representation from the
governor's office was highly unusual and he was embarrassed for
Commissioner Hummel.
9:54:44 AM
VICE-CHAIR COGHILL announced that SB 150 would be held in
committee.
9:55:03 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Vice-Chair Coghill adjourned the Senate State Affairs Committee
at 9:55 a.m.