SB 75-EXTENDING COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE  9:43:34 AM CHAIR McGUIRE announced the consideration of SB 75. SENATOR KIM ELTON, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB 75, said the bill extends the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, which is due to expire in June. Between 2000 and 2004 there were over 32,000 incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault reported across Alaska. Extending the council will provide continued program planning and coordination of victim services. He noted that Legislative Budget and Audit supports the extension, and it has been endorsed by the Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Juneau Police Department, Standing Together Against Rape, Sitkans against Family Violence, Abused Women, Women's Aid in Crises, Kenai LeeShore Center, Tundra Women's Clinic, Unalaskans against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, and the Alaska Women's Lobby. 9:45:34 AM SENATOR GREEN said there have been many conversations about the network and the council including "a certain amount of questions." She said the extension is too long, and she has talked to people about having study groups gather information. There is some concern, she said. She asked to extend the council to 2011 instead of 2014. SENATOR ELTON said he has been part of those conversations, and he agrees that there needs to more. He said that everybody sees the need for the council and a need to continue discussions on how the council does business and who sits on the council. He advocates a rural designee, for example. The conversations can be done within the context of the extension, he stated. Alaska's House of Representatives bill extends the council to 2011. He doesn't have a strong opinion on the time period. SENATOR GREEN said the task force to be formed would begin its work immediately. It would have a plan in place regarding "where the people come from and who's contributing to it and what is the role of whom, so there is a little more assurance that everyone is in agreement." She moved Amendment 1: Page 1, line 6: Delete "2014" Insert "2011" Hearing no objections, Amendment 1 passed. CHAIR MCGUIRE said she has visited the Alaska Women's Resource Center in Anchorage, and she said, "In our community, Covenant House, certainly for young women, is a place that will often be a refuge for those who are seeking help in a domestic violence situation at a young age. Stepping Stones-to get in you've got to have been in a domestic violence situation and have a child. Then you have AWAKE, and so forth." She asked how this agency helps bring those groups together and facilitates help. SENATOR ELTON said the council works with federal and state money and the process is semi-protected from decisions that are made by elected officials. The decisions are made by professionals. The council has members from the executive branch and from service providers. He said others can answer the question about delivery of services to the other groups. 9:51:27 AM CHRIS ASHENBRENNER, Interim Program Administrator, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, said the council uses communication to coordinate the multiple services and agencies. The council funds the 20 victim service agencies around the state with a two-year funding cycle. The council funds training and participates with its sister agency-the Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, which is the advocacy agency for many of the victim service programs as well as other programs that may not be members of the network. She said the council coordinates trainings and venues for discussions on domestic violence and sexual assault. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked about administrative overhead. When she goes onsite, it is always a tough day seeing people in a tough life, and the resources are never enough. She noted that people in Stepping Stones are trying to get back on their feet, get a job, and get their children in day care. MS. ASHENBRENNER said overhead is about ten percent, which includes the council administrative offices that do auditing and the council itself, which has quarterly meetings. She said 76 percent of the funding goes directly to victim service programs. 9:54:58 AM MS. ASHENBRENNER said she would be happy to participate in a report. She urged movement of the bill so the council can do its work instead of figuring out how to dismantle. 9:55:45 AM WALT MONEGAN, Commissioner Designee, Alaska Department of Public Safety, said police officers responding to domestic violence or sexual assault only work on a problem to a certain point, and that is not enough. Organizations such as the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault are necessary to help people "get the rest of the way." He strongly supports the bill. 9:57:43 AM SENATOR FRENCH moved SB 75, as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, CSSB 75(STA) passed from committee.