SJR 13-CONST. AM: PROHIBIT ABORTION/FUNDING   2:43:40 PM CHAIR COGHILL announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to abortion. 2:45:10 PM SENATOR HUGHES, speaking as sponsor of SJR 13, said the resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska by adding a new section that would provide clarity regarding Article 1, specifically pertaining to the right to privacy and the right to equal protection, and Alaska's ability to set public policy related to abortion. She emphasized that this resolution does not indicate what a woman may legally do. It is not designed to tell the legislature that it may or may not fund abortion in the future. This resolution does not set any parameters regarding abortion policy, but is designed to keep the courts from adding something to the Constitution of the State of Alaska that its framers never envisioned and to allow Alaska to be on par with other states across the nation in terms of policy under the federal courts. 2:46:53 PM KATRINA JACKSON, Senator, Louisiana State Legislature, Monroe, Louisiana, said Louisiana passed a resolution similar to SJR 13. She echoed Senator Hughes that the resolution protects the right to legislate in this area, like any other health care policy. She related that Louisiana had a clinic near the Texas border that was not mandated to report human trafficking. When the state's Department of Health received word that some young trafficking victims were being brought into Louisiana for abortions, the department learned it could not legally obtain those health records. The state now has statutes to allow the department to obtain such records. Louisiana is filing a bill to require mandatory reporting just like any other health care provider, she said. SENATOR JACKSON summarized that taking a stance with a resolution like SJR 13 does not indicate whether abortion is legal, but it would allow states to regulate it. In some states that have not passed resolutions to clarify the law, the courts have recognized the fundamental right to abortion, so bills related to human trafficking are being struck down. She said she would not hide the fact that Louisiana is a pro-life state but given Roe v. Wade, she wants to ensure that her constituents are safe. Most states have not required these clinics to be mandatory reporters. Legislation like SJR 13 would give states the ability to regulate the clinics just as they do physicians providing other types of surgical procedures. 2:51:12 PM SENATOR HUGHES said that when the committee hears the presentation at the next hearing, they will see the wide spectrum of states that have passed similar policies. She pointed out that Senator Katrina Jackson is a Democrat and an African American serving in Louisiana. She asked members to keep an open mind in this matter and allow the legislature, through the voter initiative process, to determine what type of policies the state may wish to have. When Senator Jackson previously testified before the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee, she mentioned that because of Louisiana's parental consent or notification law, the people bringing some young girls to clinics for abortions could not provide proof that they were their parents. The committee has previously heard about problems in Alaska related to human trafficking. She expressed concern that the legislature would be limited in what it could do to control this activity under the current conditions and the interpretation of the Constitution of the State of Alaska. She stated that that was one of the reasons to bring this resolution forward. CHAIR COGHILL thanked Senator Jackson. He apologized that the committee did not have time to hear from Jeanneane Maxon from the Charlotte Lozier Institute in Washington, D.C. 2:53:37 PM SENATOR HUGHES advised that Ms. Maxon was a scholar who could provide information related to the legal aspects. [SJR 13 was held in committee.]