CHAIRMAN LEMAN brings up HB 417 (POSSESSION OF FIREARMS IN SCHOOL LOCKERS) as the next order of business before the Senate State Affairs Committee. The chairman announces there is a committee substitute. Number 390 SENATOR MILLER makes a motion to adopt SCS CSHB 417(STA) in lieu of CSHB 417(JUD) am. CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, states the committee substitute has been adopted. The chairman calls the prime sponsor to testify. Number 394 REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE, prime sponsor of HB 417, states HB 417 will change the penalty for having a firearm on school grounds from a class b to a class a misdemeanor. A school administrator could exempt persons for purposes such as participating on a rifle team. HB 417 would also allow for the searching of school lockers, with prior notification. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE states that the amendment the chairman referred to deleted a provision allowing a person to traverse school grounds with an encased, unloaded weapon if that person was on their way to go hunting. This is not allowed under federal law. Hunters can be accommodated by simply getting permission from the school administrator, or a representative of the administrator. There was some concern that in rural areas that people coming to and from hunting might pass by the school. If the hunter is traversing a right of way, this law does not apply. If, for whatever reason, school children need to carry guns while travelling to and from school for protection from wildlife, they can do so if they get permission from the school administrator. Number 425 CHAIRMAN LEMAN asks if there are any questions. SENATOR TAYLOR asks Representative Bunde if his committee (House Health, Education & Social Services Committee) is currently holding hearings on senate bills. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE responds that his committee is shut down and is not having any hearings. SENATOR TAYLOR asks Representative Bunde if there are any senate bills in his committee at this time. REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replies he has one senate bill by Senator Zharoff, which is in the process of being waived from committee. SENATOR TAYLOR comments he discovered yesterday that all house committees are shut down and not moving any legislation, with the exception of the House Finance Committee. Number 435 CHAIRMAN LEMAN asks if there are further questions for Representative Bunde. Hearing none, the chairman calls Mr. Marshall to testify. VERNON MARSHALL, NEA-Alaska, states NEA-Alaska supports HB 417. He has no further testimony. Number 440 CHAIRMAN LEMAN asks if anyone else wishes to testify on HB 417. Hearing none, the chairman asks the pleasure of the committee. Number 441 SENATOR TAYLOR makes a motion to discharge HB 417 from the Senate State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations. Number 442 CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, orders HB 417 released from committee with individual recommendations.