SB 354-HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION PROCEDURES Number 0010 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH announced that the first order of business was CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 354(STA) am(efd fld), "An Act relating to complaints filed with, and investigations, hearings, and orders of, the State Commission for Human Rights; and making conforming amendments." CHAIR WEYHRAUCH noted that the committee previously had adopted amendments to SB 354. CHAIR WEYHRAUCH closed public participation. Number 0080 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked again if there was any objection to adopting Amendment 2, as amended. There being no objection, he announced that Amendment 2, as amended, was adopted. [Amendment 2, as amended, had been adopted by the committee during the May 6, 2004, portion of this meeting.] Number 0090 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked if there was any objection to Amendment 3, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Page 4, line 9 through page 5, line 13: Delete all material. Renumber bill sections accordingly. CHAIR WEYHRAUCH announced that, there being no objection, Amendment 3 was adopted. Number 0100 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ noted that his remaining amendments, labeled 4, 5, 6, and 7 [in the committee packet] were no longer necessary, now that Amendment 3 was adopted. Number 0164 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH referred to a letter from the Disability Law Center of Alaska (DLC), [included in the committee packet and in which Robert B. Briggs, Staff Attorney, suggested amendments]. He directed attention to the amendment labeled "DLC Proposed Amendment 3" and stated that that amendment would be called Amendment 4. Amendment 4 read as follows [original punctuation provided]: At page 3, line 24, after the phrase "...the commission." insert sentence: "The complainant may be represented by counsel of the complainant's choice." Number 0190 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked if there was any objection to Amendment 4. There being none, Amendment 4 was adopted. Number 0219 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH directed attention to the amendment labeled "DLC Proposed Amendment 4" and stated that that amendment would be called Amendment 5. Amendment 5 read as follows [original punctuation provided]: At page 4, line 17, delete the phrase: "discriminatory practice. The commission may not  order an award of noneconomic or punitive damages in  any case [DISCRIMINATION]" At page 4, lines 16-17, after the phase [sic] "...type of" insert: "discrimination." Number 0226 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked if there was any objection to Amendment 5. There being none, Amendment 5 was adopted. Number 0236 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH directed attention to the amendment labeled "DLC Proposed Amendment 5" and stated that that amendment would be called Amendment 6. Amendment 6 read as follows [original punctuation provided, with some formatting changed]: At page 4, line 29, after the phrase "... may order" insert the phrase: "any appropriate relief, including but not limited to" At page 4, line 20, delete the phrase: "one or more of the following:" At page 4, line 25, delete the phrase: "for a period of not more than one year if  hiring, reinstatement, or upgrading of an employee is  inappropriate because no vacancy exists, the  employer's discriminatory practice rendered the  employee incapable of returning to work, or the  relationship between the employer and the employee has  so deteriorated as to make working conditions  intolerable" At page 5, line 1, delete "must" and insert "may" At page 5, line 11, delete "[,BUT NOT LIMITED TO,]" Number 0242 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked if there was any objection to Amendment 6. There being none, Amendment 6 was adopted. Number 0255 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report CSSB 354(STA) am(efd fld), as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCS CSSB 354(STA) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.