SENATE BILL NO. 53 "An Act reestablishing the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women; and relating to the purpose and powers of the Alaska Human Relations Commission." 9:17:39 AM KATYA WASSILLIE, INTERN, SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, introduced herself. CELESTE HODGE, STAFF, SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, explained the intent of SB 53, and referred to the Sponsor Statement (copy on file). She stated that SB 53 would re-establish the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women. The Alaska Legislature established the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women in 1978. The Commission was tasked with implementing the recommendations contained in the preliminary study on the status of women. The Commission aimed to improve the status of women in the state by conducting research, serving as a referral service for information and education on existing resources for women, and making and implementing recommendations on the opportunities, needs, problems, and contributions of women in Alaska. The Commission was dedicated to the achievement of equal legal, economic, social and political status specifically for women in Alaska and was a statewide network for study and action on a variety of issues. In 1983, the Commission was renewed and renamed the Alaska Women's Commission. Ms. Hodge stated that the Commission conducted many public hearings and trainings, developed manuals on violence against women, education and welfare, conducted research to help women avail themselves of existing resources to meet their needs and implemented recommendations on the opportunities, needs, problems and contributions of women in the areas of education, homemaking, civil and legal rights, and labor and employment. The Commission developed a comprehensive statewide plan that identified the needs of children and youth and made recommendations to enhance the quality of life for women and children, as well as produced annual reports on the status of women and children in Alaska. The Alaska Women's Commission merged with the Alaska Human Relations Commission in 1993. The Alaska Human Relations Commission was declared inactive in 1996. Ms. Hodge declared that in the several decades prior, the participation and roles of women in the workforce had changed dramatically. Women were employed in more varied occupations and were more likely to work year-round than they had in the past. In addition, women had attained higher levels of education, and received the majority of bachelor degrees granted. More mothers were part of the workforce, and thus, a women's contribution to family incomes had increased and was often critical for families' economic well-being. In 2008, working wives contributed 29 percent of their families' incomes, up from 24 percent in 1988. Nonetheless, even though more women were currently in the workforce than ever before, the difference in wages men and women received for their work remained substantial. The gender wage gap persisted in Alaska, and across a wide spectrum of occupations and industries. Ms. Hodge stated that women and children continued to be the most common victims of domestic abuse. Women in Alaska lead the nation as victims of sexual assaults. Alaska had a struggling foster child system and Alaska's high school students, both male and female, were dropping out at alarming rates. Alaska had one of the lowest percentages of students entering and completing higher education programs and Alaska had a significant economic divide between our urban and rural communities, which negatively impacted all of the state. Ms. Hodge furthered that Alaska with its unique culture, history and challenges, combined with its large size and small population, called for innovative forward thinking to deal with many of the difficult issues that faced women and children throughout Alaska. Reestablishing the Alaska Commission on the Status of Women would allow Alaskans to focus attention on the critical issues that had negatively impacted women and children. Co-Chair Hoffman queried some of the highlights of the old program before it was abolished. Ms. Hodge responded that there were many major accomplishments such as various events, conference sponsorships to address suicide, and it dealt with many educational issues. Senator Davis furthered that some of the testifiers would be able to address more topics, because they had served on the Commission. She pointed out that the Commission was abolished because it was combined with another Commission that never received the necessary funding. She stressed that there had always been a need for the Commission on the Status of Women. 9:22:16 AM Co-Chair Stedman pointed out a new fiscal note from the Governor's Office that showed the cost to re-establish the Commission was $515,400 in General Funds for travel, per diem, and a three-person staff. ROSE STOKES, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY (via teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53. JANE ANGVIK, GIRLS SCOUTS OF ALASKA (via teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53. DORIS ROBBINS, SELF (via teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53. 9:28:49 AM AT EASE 9:30:15 AM RECONVENED 9:30:37 AM TAMI JERUE, ALASKA NATIVE WOMANS COALITION (via teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53. ROSALIE NADEAU, SELF (via teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53. She noted the excessive rate of alcoholism and its negative effects on woman. GAREN TARR, ACHORAGE WOMENS COALITION (via teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53. 9:36:34 AM BARBARA BELKNAP, JUNEAU, spoke in favor of SB 53. She remembered when the Alaska Women's Commission shut its doors during Governor Hickel's administration. Governor Hickel replaced it with the Alaska Family Commission. A few months later, in March 1996, there was a women's conference in Centennial Hall and hundreds of women came from around the state. Governor Parnell had made reducing violence against Alaskan women one of his top priorities with the Choose Respect Campaign. She pointed out that it was against federal law to pay a woman less than a man for the same job, but women all over Alaska made less money than men in the same jobs. She hoped that military service was the exception, but was unsure if that was the case. She noted that the Juneau Economic Development Council's 2011 report on Juneau and Southeast Economic Indicators laid out the wage disparity in every civilian field and every education level. The report stated that nationally, men earned 29 percent more than their female counterparts in 2009. In Alaska, men earned 37 percent more for full-time year-round employment. In Juneau, men earned 42 percent more than their female counterparts. Ms. Belknap stressed that too many women earn less than men for the same jobs in Alaska, which was illegal. She also emphasized that Alaska led the country in violence by men against women. The cost of living in Alaska was high, and low income women could get stuck in dangerous relationships because they might not afford to take care of themselves and their children. 9:44:05 AM MARIE DARLIN, ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS, testified in support of SB 53. She referred to a letter of support from the Alaska Association of Retired Persons (copy on file). She agreed with Ms. Belknap's testimony CAREN ROBINSON, ALASKA WOMEN'S LOBBY, spoke in strong support of SB 53. Senator Ellis Queried whether the re-establishment of the Commission could be a complement to the governor's Choose Respect Campaign. Ms. Robinson responded that the Council on Domestic Violence would be part of the team, and would be a complement the Commission. 9:50:55 AM Senator McGuire asked about page 1 of the bill. She noticed that the Commission would consist of two members of the executive branch and seven public members. She noticed that only one public member would be a person that manages their own household that included a spouse and at least one child and who is not otherwise employed. She remarked that the data included in the bill highlighted that women who were unmarried heads-of-household lived at 22.6 percent below poverty level. She wondered why the bill did not state specifically that there should be one of those types of women on the commission. Ms. Robinson responded that she would consider that addition to the Commission. She stressed that the importance of representing those who needed to be served. She added that the number Commission members be kept to a minimum. OUIDA MORRISON, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in favor of SB 53. She noted that diversity in Alaska had changed since the 1980's, and it was important for current issues to be addressed. 9:55:17 AM ARLISS STURGULEWSKI, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in favor of SB 53. Co-Chair Stedman closed the public testimony portion of the SB 53. Senator Davis stressed that SB 53 was important, and was willing to work with the Committee to address changes to the bill. Co-Chair Hoffman noted that the meeting locations of the Commission were too generic, and requested more specific language regarding the meeting places. 10:00:03 AM Senator McGuire remarked that memberships were referenced twice in bill, and she noticed that there was only one area of a specific appointment: at least one public member would essentially be a "housewife." She wondered why that person is specific, when the data showed that the area with the most concern was a "female head-of-household." She stressed the importance of including a female head-of-household in the Commission. SB 53 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further consideration. 10:03:16 AM AT EASE 10:04:02 AM RECONVENED