SB 53-COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN  8:08:45 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 53(FIN), "An Act reestablishing the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women; and relating to the purpose and powers of the Alaska Human Relations Commission." 8:08:59 AM SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor, introduced SB 53. 8:09:19 AM CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State Legislature, presented SB 53 on behalf of Senator Davis, sponsor. She stated that the intent of bill is to reestablish the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women to improve the status of women in Alaska. She said the need for the commission is supported by startling statistics. She offered to answer questions from the committee. 8:10:22 AM HILLARY A. MORGAN, CEO, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Alaska, testified in support of SB 53. She stated that there is a need for a state agency to address the needs of women throughout the state. She said Governor Parnell's Choose Respect Campaign has demonstrated that issues of sexual assault and domestic violence affecting Alaska's women and girls need statewide oversight. She said the establishment of the commission would fulfill that function and give the message to Alaska's women and girls that finding solutions to issues affecting them would continue long after the Choose Respect Campaign. She stated that Alaska has some of the highest rates per capita for sexual assault and domestic violence. She indicated that $500,000 would bring that lasting message to the women and girls of Alaska. CHAIR LYNN remarked that men and boys are also victims of sexual abuse. 8:12:49 AM MARIE DARLING, AARP, testifying in support of SB 53, pointed to a letter from AARP, included in the committee packet, which lists the reasons AARP supports the proposed legislation. She highlighted the following reasons: women are at a higher risk of poverty as they age; and women currently earn 77 cents on the dollar for every dollar men earn. She said there are improvements to be made that need the support of the commission. She said a vast majority of women are caregivers and a lot of them are grandparents. She said AARP urges the legislature's support of SB 53. She further encouraged the committee to read a version of Trends. 8:14:49 AM CHAIR LYNN, after ascertaining that there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony. 8:15:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said as a father of three girls, the proposed legislation is important to him. He posited that a lack of confidence results in women being in positions they don't need to be in. He stated support for SB 53. 8:16:09 AM REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON said she thinks the proposed bill is a step in right direction, but "not enough." She opined that the men in the state need to be reached, although she said she does not know how. She suggested that a commission on the status of men would be a good idea, because men will not listen to women as well as to other men. 8:17:28 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he does not disagree with Representative P. Wilson, but said he does not want his daughters to wait around for a man to tell them when they should get out of a situation. He said, "I want them to be able to stand up and not have to worry about it and walk out of a situation without worrying about changing the mind of a man. I think that's the whole point." 8:18:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSSB 53(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 53(FIN) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.