HOUSE BILL NO. 120 An Act extending the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; and providing for an effective date. REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, SPONSOR, explained that the same bill presented and passed by the House body in the last legislative session, but the Senate failed to take action. The mission of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) is to "reduce the causes and incidents and to alleviate the effects of domestic violence and sexual assault." Unfortunately Alaska has had the distinction of being in the top three states in the nation for incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault during the past decade. Representative Fairclough advised that "time is of the essence" in order to ensure that CDVSA is reauthorized. st Effective March 1 the Council begins a closeout process. Reauthorization of CDVSA would ensure that Alaska receives its share of federal funding to combat interpersonal violence and to continue to educate the State on issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, while coordinating prevention and response services. 1:36:40 PM Vice Chair Stoltze asked to be a cosponsor on the bill. Representative Hawker pointed out that during a previous legislative session, there had been a floor amendment moving the date to 2014. He believed that 2014 was the recommendation made by the Legislative Audit Committee. Representative Fairclough noted that 2011 had been a compromise that she believed would be accepted on the Senate side. Vice Chair Stoltze inquired if locations had been carefully checked to make sure that most recipients of the funding were outside of Juneau. He thought that a change to the current system would increase the hiring pool and provide more stability to that organization. Representative Fairclough informed members that she had served as the Executive Director of Standing Together Against Rape before being elected to the State House. She acknowledged that the issue was personal and was involved in working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault for the past four years. There has been on going debate during that time regarding the Department of Public Safety versus Department of Health and Social Services. Vice Chair Stoltze clarified his query regarding the choice to have the Council housed in Juneau rather than Anchorage. Representative Fairclough thought that should be a choice of the legislative body and admitted there would be future dialogue regarding the effectiveness of the location for implementation of a strategic plan. Vice Chair Stoltze wanted to know that the location had been considered in how best to serve victims needing services. 1:40:21 PM Representative Fairclough advised that the Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is located in Juneau, which makes for good "cross pollination" of ideas. She agreed there is a larger pool for employment opportunities in other locations. The bill before the Committee is an opportunity to extend the Council's date to 2011. The intent is to guarantee that there is a Council in place for domestic violence victims. Vice Chair Stoltze reiterated that the constituency of the Board is quite broad and believed that there is a much larger pool in areas outside of Juneau from which to find employees in a more competitive process. Representative Fairclough said the Commissioner is supportive of the program and that there has been discussions regarding how to make it better. Vice Chair Stoltze offered to help. 1:42:22 PM Representative Hawker was concerned about the proposed extension date. He advised that the Senate had passed a bill with the 2014 date. He questioned if the bill would be "in trouble" with the extended date. Representative Fairclough thought that in the end, there could be a Senate argument with some of the legislative audit findings. She stressed the need to get the legislation passed so that the Council does not go away. Representative Hawker pointed out that the House has never hesitated to do battle with the Senate. He strongly supported confirmation with the recommendations made by the Legislative Auditor. Representative Fairclough supported the date of that determination. 1:44:55 PM Vice Chair Stoltze mentioned certain existing problems and worried about not having a review for more than 5-years if the 2014 date was used. Representative Fairclough advised that the Senate Affairs Committee had just amended their version of the bill to 2011. She noted that the bill had been streamlined in order to guarantee agreement for passage. There are issues needing to be addressed. She was encouraged to drop a bill, addressing those issues & offered to carry HB 120. She noted she would be speaking to the audit findings & and issues of location. 1:47:18 PM Co-Chair Meyer agreed with Representative Hawker that the Committee should not be hamstringed by decisions in the Senate; however, he did prefer the 2011 date. Representative Gara echoed sentiments that the Body not make choices because of what the Senate might do and that any legislation should be discussed on the matter of best policy. He questioned if there had been a reason for the audit findings. Representative Fairclough commented that the audit had found some points which she disagreed with and that is why she chose 2011 as the compromise date. 1:50:51 PM Representative Joule inquired if there would be additional testimony. CHRIS ASHENBRENNER, COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT (CDVSA), JUNEAU, offered to answer questions of the Committee. 1:52:28 PM Representative Hawker MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1, which would change the date from 2011 to 2014, consistent with the Legislative Audit findings. Representative Kelly OBJECTED. Representative Hawker explained that he did not see anything that was a critical problem with the credible function or services provided by the Council and thought it should be a policy call of the Legislature. Co-Chair Meyer interjected that he preferred the 2011 date. 1:56:20 PM A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Foster, Gara, Hawker, Joule, Thomas, Crawford OPPOSED: Kelly, Stoltze, Meyer, Chenault Representative Nelson was not present for the vote. The MOTION PASSED (6-4). 1:57:17 PM Co-Chair Meyer pointed out the two new indeterminate notes by the House Finance Committee replacing the ones by the Department of Public Safety. 1:57:56 PM Representative Foster MOVED to REPORT CS HB 120 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the new fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CS HB 120 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with two new indeterminate notes by the House Finance Committee. 1:58:26 PM