HB 98-HANDLING OF STATE FLAG  9:51:32 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the next order of business would be HB 98, which would establish a standardized procedure for handling of the state flag. JEANNE OSTNES, staff to Representative Craig Johnson, sponsor of HB 98, said the bill adds subsections and two new sections to AS 44.09.030. The bill would bring standardization in handling the state flag in Alaska. It is designed to insure consistent, respectful, and appropriate procedures for display of the flag. 9:54:21 AM BIANCA ARMSTRONG, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), Diamond High School, Anchorage, said the idea for the bill came from a service learning project. While looking in state statutes, they noticed there were no guidelines for the state flag. ROBERT HOWSER, JROTC Battalion Commander, Diamond High School, said they wanted a more unique way to fold the Alaska flag in comparison to the U.S. flag. They wanted to fold it so that the North Star would be on top. 9:56:00 AM Members were shown a video of a flag ceremony made by the JROTC students, showing how to fold the flag. MS. OSTNES said she wanted to recognize the students for their work on the video and for taking the time to testify during their spring break. They also prepared a booklet for use by each school district or senate district. She displayed a draft mock- up of the booklet. Most important is placement of the flag and folding it properly. 10:03:34 AM SENATOR PASKVAN noted there are many ways of displaying the state flag. Many people wear bandanas, patches, or t-shirts. He hopes the bill would encourage correct procedures but not ban other types of display. MS. OSTNES responded that was correct. There was no standard procedure for vertical hanging of the state flag. The bill sponsor just wants to make a uniform policy, and no penalties would be involved. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI said perhaps the bill should refer to display in a public place. 10:06:19 AM MS. OSTNES replied the booklet goes into extensive etiquette. SENATOR PASKVAN pointed out that the flag could be displayed many different ways in different places; for instance, in a newspaper advertisement. He said the first Alaska Legislature did not put a penalty for improper display of flags. He does not want to see any penalty or punishment. MS. OSTNES confirmed there are no penalties in the bill, just basic guidelines. The booklet could be educational. It is a draft and things can change. 10:09:23 AM SENATOR MEYER asked how to obtain the booklet. MS. OSTNES answered the print shop is printing them now. SENATOR MEYER said he recently gave a state flag that had flown over the Capitol Building to a deceased soldier's parents, and the booklet would make a nice addition to such a gift. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced HB 98 would be held in committee.