SB 101-MARCH 12: ASHLEY JOHNSON-BARR DAY
4:53:27 PM
CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the only order of
business would be SENATE BILL NO. 101, "An Act establishing
March 12 of each year as Ashley Johnson-Barr Day."
4:54:28 PM
SETH BEAVER, Staff, Senator Donny Olson, Alaska state
Legislature, paraphrased from the sponsor statement, which read:
SB 101 establishes March 12th as Ashley Johnson-Barr
Day to commemorate the life of young Ashley Johnson-
Barr, who was taken from this world too soon at ten
years old.
In an unimaginable time of grief and loss, communities
across the state and nation joined the family and
friends of Ashley in support. While loss is
overwhelming, there is comfort in knowing progress can
be made in ensuring that other children will not
encounter the same tragedy.
SB 101 aims to bring light surrounding tragedy.
Establishing Ashley Johnson-Barr Day brings awareness
surrounding violent crimes committed against children
and highlights that individuals hold a moral
responsibility to make sure Alaska's children are
protected. It is complementary to the annual Sexual
Assault Awareness Resolution that passes the
legislature every year. Additionally, it brings
awareness to the missing and murdered indigenous women
across North America. 84.3% of Alaska Native/Native
American women experience violence in their lifetime,
a percentage we desperately need to reduce.
Honoring Ashley's life by wearing her favorite color
purple, volunteering for child abuse prevention
organizations, and celebrating the liveliness and
youthfulness of Alaska's children are all appropriate
ways to spend Ashley Johnson-Barr Day.
4:55:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed her appreciation for the letters
of support and the proposed legislation.
4:56:30 PM
CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on SB 101.
4:56:42 PM
SCOTTY BARR testified in support of SB 101 as the father of
Ashley Johnson-Barr, with the following testimony:
There have been many people who have spent many hours
of their own time from their work and families to
bring Ashley home safely. By enacting Ashley Johnson-
Barr Day on her birthday, she'll always continue to be
talked about, what happened to her, to help to bring
protection and safety before our future generations
come, so they can feel protected from any harm that
has been on them on a daily basis.
She brought not only our region, state, nation, but
the whole world to come closer to each other to help
this epidemic that has been going on for decades and
decades. We need to act on this and provide more
awareness so, therefore, our future generation of
girls - future mothers - will never go through
something that any parent should never go through in
their entire life by losing a young child.
I believe that we can come together as our great state
of Alaska and work together closely with local, state,
and federal agencies around our state and nation by
hopefully finding funding for all communities to help
with this ever happening again. We don't need another
Ashley tragedy ... we need more funding, more grants
out there for our communities to aim more for our
young and teenaged troubled boys that are suffering
... and change their hearts to honor, respect, and
give love to our future generations of girls and
mothers and sisters.
MR. BARR mentioned that he was speaking on behalf of himself and
his family. He thanked the committee members for the work they
do.
CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS closed public testimony.
5:00:48 PM
SENATOR DONNY OLSON, Alaska State Legislature, remarked:
Out of the ashes ... in the anguish of this abominable
deed that was done to this little girl and having
little girls myself, it's one of those things where we
want to make sure that ... the most vulnerable in
society are able to go ahead and have some element of
protection from perpetrators like this who prey on
people.
Senator Olson maintained it is for that reason and to give the
family closure that he wishes the proposed legislation passed.
He concluded, "Evil lurks everywhere."
REPRESENTATIVE STORY thanked Mr. Barr for his testimony and for
speaking out against child abuse. She expressed her
appreciation for the Ashley Johnson-Barr Day activities
suggested by sponsor, wearing purple on the day, and for Mr.
Barr's plea for funding for resources.
5:02:27 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to report SB 101 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, SB 101 was reported from the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.