HB 138-MARCH: SOBRIETY AWARENESS MONTH  4:28:32 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 138, "An Act establishing the month of March as Sobriety Awareness Month." 4:28:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE DEAN WESTLAKE, Alaska State Legislature, stated that proposed HB 138 designated the month of March, each year, as Sobriety Awareness Month. He relayed that this was to help and support all those people who have struggled. The proposed bill would provide the opportunity for schools, community groups, and other entities to recognize, appreciate and celebrate those Alaskans that choose to live a life of sobriety. Individuals that lead sober lives are an asset to Alaska in that they can help reduce the incidence of alcohol or drug related social ills such as crime, recidivism, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. He relayed an experience with a group of empowering stories of sobriety at a gathering. 4:30:22 PM FORREST WOLFE, Staff, Representative Dean Westlake, Alaska State Legislature, read from the Uniform Alcoholism and Intoxication Treatment Act [Included in members' packets]: It is the policy of the state to recognize, appreciate, and reinforce the example set by its citizens who lead, believe in, and support a life of sobriety. MR. WOLFE offered his belief that a permanent designation of March as Sobriety Awareness Month would help the State of Alaska meet this declaration of policy. 4:31:27 PM GREGORY NOTHSTINE, President, Sobermute Reviving Our Spirit, said that he was aware the Alaska State Legislature was the first in the nation to pass a statute recognizing appreciation and reinforcement of citizens for living a life of sobriety. He said that there were elders and senior citizens who were not recognized for contributions and efforts for building a safer community. He offered his belief that millions of dollars were spent on treatment centers, whereas, this proposed bill was reinforcing appreciation of its citizens. He expressed his support of the proposed bill. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON stated that she was glad this was March, as, she opined, spring could be a very stressful time, when alcohol "rears its ugly head and suicide." She suggested that celebrations and festivals in March were great. She stated her support for the proposed bill. REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON offered his belief that "tribes" could be added to the wording in the proposed bill. 4:34:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ shared that she had been sober for 14 years, and that celebrating sobriety as a healthy lifestyle choice for Alaskans was a step in the right direction for our community to come together in March every year. She stated that making it dedicated forever showed commitment from the state. She stated her support for the proposed bill. [HB 138 was held over.]