SJR  4-CONST. AM: ABORTION/FUNDING                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:32:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON   announced  the  consideration  of   SENATE  JOINT                                                               
RESOLUTION NO. 4  "Proposing an amendment to  the Constitution of                                                               
the  State  of  Alaska  relating   to  abortion."  He  noted  the                                                               
committee heard  an overview  of the resolution  on March  16 and                                                               
took testimony.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:32:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON solicited a motion.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:32:53 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES  moved to  report SJR  4, work  order 32-LS0246\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:32:59 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BEGICH objected.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGHES  said  the  resolution   is  moving  through  the                                                               
committee  process. A  yes vote  means it  is going  to the  next                                                               
committee of referral. Also, if  the resolution were to pass both                                                               
bodies, it would  go before the voters. It does  not at this time                                                               
change policy.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BEGICH  said  he is  objecting  because  the  resolution                                                               
specifically highlights only one gender  in terms of removing the                                                               
protections of  the right to  privacy. A woman's right  to choose                                                               
would  eventually  be impacted  by  the  consequence of  removing                                                               
questions of abortion from the issue  of the right to privacy. He                                                               
objects to that.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:34:50 PM                                                                                                                    
A roll call vote was  taken. Senators Hughes, Costello, Reinbold,                                                               
Wilson voted in favor of SJR  4 and Senators Begich voted against                                                               
it. Therefore, SJR 4 passed by a 4:1 vote.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WILSON  moved   to  report  SJR  4   from  committee  with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  attached fiscal  note(s). SJR  4                                                               
was reported from  the Senate House and  Social Services Standing                                                               
Committee.