HB 269-MVA COMMISSIONER MEMBER OF CDVSA  8:59:30 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 269, "An Act adding the commissioner of military and veterans affairs to the membership of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault." 8:59:48 AM RON CLARKE, Legislative Liaison, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), presented HB 269 on behalf of the House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor, by request of the governor. He explained that the proposed legislation adds the commissioner of DMVA to the membership of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA). He explained that Section 1 adds the position of commissioner of DMVA to the list of members of the council, and Section 2 sets the quorum at six members instead of the previous five. 9:01:32 AM ADJUTANT GENERAL LAURIE HUMMEL, Adjutant General/Commissioner, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA); Adjutant General Alaska National Guard, testified in support of HB 269 which seeks to add the DMVA commissioner to the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. She asked the committee to give its "quick and favorable" attention to the proposed legislation. 9:02:00 AM ADJUTANT GENERAL HUMMEL paraphrased her written testimony as follows: It may not be immediately apparent why a military officer would be a logical addition to this group, but the council's mission falls squarely in my lane, as I'll explain. As commissioner, I serve as the State of Alaska's official liaison to all military forces serving in state. This additional role means that I'm in daily contact with a full spectrum of military personnel and their family ... members. Today in Alaska, there are some 23,000 active and reserve component military personnel and 4,100 national guardsmen. I'm also responsible for the state's Office of Veterans' Affairs, which assists veterans to access those state and federal programs and services. As you know, Alaska has more veterans per capita than any other state - that's about 74,000 veterans, and that number is increasing every year. There is a total of about 101,000 service members and veterans, that along with their 189,000 dependent family members - that's a total of 290,000 people or about 40 percent of Alaska's residents. That's a huge portion of our population. And put another way, that's about on average 1,800 veterans and 3,800 dependent family members per House district. These Alaskans are important for their sheer numbers, but they also have unique perspectives and valuable skills, and they bring talent and extraordinary benefit to their communities. They also have extensive experience in facing the social ills that plaque us all, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and their effects on both military and civilian community. But working with active duty veterans and service members and their families every day, I can't help but share their experiences, their challenges, their struggles, and their successes in overcoming the wide-ranging effects of sexual assault and domestic violence. 9:04:12 AM ADJUTANT GENERAL HUMMEL continued: A community the size of ours demands that we tackle these difficult issues head on, and we're doing so. By working to protect our military men and women from the effects of sexual assault and domestic violence, we've learned valuable lessons that we could use to assist all Alaskans. The military, in general, has learned a lot about creating safe work places, fostering respectful colleagues, and the importance of clear knowledge that we all serve under a command structure committed to the safety and security of the force. The services have launched and will continue comprehensive, wide-ranging efforts to raise awareness of sexual assault and harassment. Specifically at the Alaska National Guard, we've implemented new measures to protect victims and their identities. We have the sexual assault prevention and response program, which provides crisis intervention and support services to victims of sexual assault 24/7 statewide, and this program is an associate member of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. It has a working relationship already with the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. We would welcome an expansion of that relationship through passage of HB 269, and the formal connection between DMVA and the council that would bring benefit to Alaskans statewide. 9:05:38 AM ADJUTANT GENERAL HUMMEL continued: As Adjutant General, I chair regular meetings to review the progress of all current and pending cases of sexual assault associated within the guard family. I imagine there is no other state, local, or private employer in Alaska that has been faced with challenges in this area to the point of crisis and tackled them as aggressively as we have. Finally, ... there is a budgetary angle to this. A 2008 study found that the average cost of a sexual assault nationwide is over $150,000; that 50 percent of victims will not be able to work in their current jobs for a year after assault due to the severity of their mental health injuries; and that violence and substance abuse constitute up to a third of the cost of healthcare nationally or about $750 billion a year. We could share with the council our most successful practices from the services that we provide to eligible victims with federal funds. Our military programs are robust and part of an integrated approach to maximize the opportunity for survivor recovery. The [U.S.] Department of Defense has invested heavily in this aspect of personnel readiness and wellness, and we at DMVA manage and operate many integrated programs. We'd like to share what we've learned along the way with the council, and we'd also like to learn from the other council members' expertise. So, in summary, Mr. Chairman, this is very important work, which unfortunately will never be done. Your military forces in Alaska are committed to remaining vigilant and willing to tackle difficult situations, and we look forward to working even more closely with the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. I recommend your prompt passage of HB 269, and I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to speak. 9:07:41 AM CHAIR LYNN asked Adjutant General Hummel to repeat the number of veterans in each House district on average. ADJUTANT GENERAL HUMMEL replied, on average, there are 1,800 veterans and 3,800 dependent family members per House district. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked for an explanation of the fiscal note. 9:08:44 AM MR. CLARKE responded that the duties associated with service on the council are in line with what Adjutant General Hummel does as a matter of course within her daily duties. He further stated that travel would be minimal due to the ability to teleconference meetings, and the council frequently meets in Anchorage where Adjutant General Hummel is stationed. He concluded that the fiscal note is zero for those reasons. 9:09:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to add the Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs to Section 18.66.050 (4) and would add to the title: "and relating to the duties of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault." REPRESENTATIVE KELLER objected for purpose of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS offered that the proposed conceptual amendment was a conforming amendment to make sure the addition of the new member to the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is reflected in all parts of the statute. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER removed his objection to Conceptual Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. 9:10:53 AM The committee took a brief at-ease at 9:11 a.m. 9:11:19 AM BRENDA STANFILL, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), testified on behalf of ANDVSA's 19 member agencies and associate member in support of HB 269. She relayed that ANDVSA is supportive of DMVA joining the council, adding that the council is made up of public and state department members, and ANDVSA attempts to maintain a balance between the two. She continued that a balanced membership assists in making sure the council receives the perspective of the state departments, the communities, and those involved with the everyday work. She stated that with the addition of the DMVA member on the council, the ratio then becomes six state department members and four public members. She voiced concern that the council is lacking in representation from rural Alaska and pointed out that it is a huge issue for ANDVSA, especially when considering the geographical issues and lack of services in the rural areas. She asked that the legislature consider adding an additional member to the council in order to balance the ratio. 9:14:04 AM CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony on HB 269. REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS asked whether the suggestion to add an additional member to the council had been proposed previously, and he also asked about the origin of the suggestion. He recommended that the committee proceed with HB 269. CHAIR LYNN suggested offering Representative Kreiss-Tomkins' question to the House Finance Committee, the next committee of referral. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report HB 269, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 269(STA) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.