HB 34-NAMING SCOTT JOHNSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE  3:51:02 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 34, "An Act naming the Scott Johnson Memorial Bridge." 3:51:59 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony during the hearing on HB 34. 3:52:11 PM BUD JOHNSON, as the father of Scott Johnson, thanked the community for its support for HB 34. He mentioned that the Tok River has always been special to his family; he floated the river and hunted with Scott as a youngster. 3:53:05 PM SUE STANCLIFF testified that she supports the naming of the bridge after Scott. She stated that she had the privilege of working with Scott in the Department of Public Safety (DPS) under [former] Commissioner [Joe] Masters; Scott was a special human being and an exceptional trooper. 3:54:37 PM DAVE STANCLIFF testified that the bridge over the Tok River is an appropriate site to honor and remember Scott Johnson. Scott crossed the river many times in his life, and floated and boated the river as well. Mr. Stancliff maintained that the Tok River is synonymous with Scott's community; he spent many of his young years there. He said that a bridge spans an otherwise difficult feature to cross or pass through and Scotts life was one of crossing many challenges, cultures, and settings. He continued by saying that Scott was rural but learned to thrive in an urban environment; he was Caucasian but learned to love, appreciate, and respect the ways of his Athabascan neighbors and friends; he worked well with all people of all ages; and he also learned how to work, train, and admire his canine companions in law enforcement. Scott knew the dangers of his career choice but spanned that danger with emotion and courage. He maintained that Scott has been an inspiration to all young people who grow up in a tiny rural Alaska community and wonder if the larger world has a place for them. The bridge bearing his name in his beloved Tok is both fitting and truly a positive public act. He said that Scott believed in bridges and his life was a continuing example of how he built them. Many years from now someone pausing on the bridge over the Tok River will probably ask who Scott Johnson was; perhaps they will ask someone in the community or search the internet for the name and remark "Wow!" Mr. Stancliff maintained that because of Scott's dedication, his incredible contributions to life will live on, and the community that so loved him will smile and nod each time they cross the bridge. 3:57:31 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS closed public testimony. 3:57:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHAW moved to report HB 34 out of committee with individual recommendations and zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HB 34 was reported from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.