ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
             HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                           
                        February 1, 2024                                                                                        
                           3:01 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Laddie Shaw, Chair                                                                                               
Representative Stanley Wright, Vice Chair                                                                                       
Representative Ben Carpenter                                                                                                    
Representative Craig Johnson                                                                                                    
Representative Ashley Carrick                                                                                                   
Representative Andi Story                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Jamie Allard                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13                                                                                                   
Requesting the  United States  Congress to  call a  convention of                                                               
the states  to propose  an amendment to  the Constitution  of the                                                               
United  States to  set a  limit  on the  number of  terms that  a                                                               
person may be  elected as a member of the  United States House of                                                               
Representatives and as a member  of the United States Senate; and                                                               
urging the  legislatures of  the other 49  states to  request the                                                               
United States Congress to call a convention of the states.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 46                                                                                                              
"An  Act  establishing  the  month   of  March  as  Brain  Injury                                                               
Awareness Month."                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 259                                                                                                              
"An Act  establishing the Council  on Human and  Sex Trafficking;                                                               
and  relating to  the  Council on  Domestic  Violence and  Sexual                                                               
Assault."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 265                                                                                                              
"An Act  changing the term  'child pornography' to  'child sexual                                                               
abuse material.'"                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HJR 13                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: CALL FED. CONSTITUTIONAL CONV:TERM LIMITS                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MCKAY                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
03/31/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/31/23       (H)       STA, JUD                                                                                               
01/25/24       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
01/25/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
02/01/24       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB  46                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH                                                                                       
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) TOBIN                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
01/25/23       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/25/23       (S)       STA                                                                                                    
03/14/23       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
03/14/23       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/14/23       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
03/23/23       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
03/23/23       (S)       Moved SB 46 Out of Committee                                                                           
03/23/23       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
03/24/23       (S)       STA RPT 5DP                                                                                            
03/24/23       (S)       DP: KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI, CLAMAN,                                                                    
                       MERRICK, BJORKMAN                                                                                        
03/31/23       (S)       TRANSMITTED TO (H)                                                                                     
03/31/23       (S)       VERSION: SB  46                                                                                        
04/03/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/03/23       (H)       STA                                                                                                    
01/25/24       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
01/25/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
02/01/24       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 259                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: COUNCIL ON HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING                                                                               
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) VANCE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
01/16/24       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24                                                                               
01/16/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/16/24       (H)       STA, FIN                                                                                               
02/01/24       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 265                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL                                                                                        
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) VANCE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
01/16/24       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24                                                                               
01/16/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/16/24       (H)       STA, JUD                                                                                               
02/01/24       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TOM MCKAY                                                                                                        
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, presented HJR 13.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
AZABEL ORDAZ, Staff                                                                                                             
Representative Tom McKay                                                                                                        
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Gave a PowerPoint presentation on HJR 13 on                                                              
behalf of Representative McKay, prime sponsor.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CONSTANTIN QUERARD, Western Regional Director                                                                                   
US Term Limits                                                                                                                  
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Gave invited testimony during the hearing                                                                
on HJR 13.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
TREVOR JEPSEN, Staff                                                                                                            
Representative Tom McKay                                                                                                        
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions during the hearing on                                                                 
HJR 13 on behalf of Representative McKay, prime sponsor.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
BUDDY WHITT, Staff                                                                                                              
Representative Laddie Shaw                                                                                                      
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented a summary of changes in the                                                                    
proposed CS for HJR 13, Version B, on behalf of Representative                                                                  
Shaw.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LÖKI TOBIN                                                                                                              
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, presented SB 46.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MACKENZIE POPE, Staff                                                                                                           
Senator Löki Tobin                                                                                                              
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:   Gave the  sectional analysis for SB  46, on                                                             
behalf of Senator Tobin, prime sponsor.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ANNETTE ALFONSI, Alaska State Coordinator                                                                                       
Unmasking Brain Injury                                                                                                          
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Gave invited testimony in support of SB 46.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ANNA ZIERFUSS, Chair                                                                                                            
Brain Injury Council of Alaska                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   Gave invited  testimony during  the hearing                                                             
on SB 46.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH VANCE                                                                                                      
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:   As prime  sponsor, presented HB 259  and HB                                                             
265.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
BRYAN BARLOW, Deputy Commissioner                                                                                               
Department of Public Safety                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions  during the hearing on HB                                                             
259.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:01:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHAW called  the House  State  Affairs Standing  Committee                                                             
meeting to  order at 3:01  p.m.  Representatives  Carrick, Story,                                                               
Wright,   and  Shaw   were  present   at  the   call  to   order.                                                               
Representatives C.  Johnson and Carpenter arrived  as the meeting                                                               
was in progress.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
        HJR 13-CALL FED. CONSTITUTIONAL CONV:TERM LIMITS                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:03:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  JOINT  RESOLUTION NO.  13,  Requesting  the United  States                                                               
Congress  to  call a  convention  of  the  states to  propose  an                                                               
amendment  to the  Constitution of  the  United States  to set  a                                                               
limit on the  number of terms that  a person may be  elected as a                                                               
member of  the United  States House of  Representatives and  as a                                                               
member of the  United States Senate; and  urging the legislatures                                                               
of the other  49 states to request the United  States Congress to                                                               
call a convention of the states.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:03:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TOM MCKAY,  Alaska  State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor,  presented  HJR  13.   He  read  the  sponsor  statement                                                               
[included  in  the  committee  packet],  which  read  as  follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Americans   continue   to   raise  concerns   about   a                                                                    
     disconnection  by Washington  D.C politicians  who have                                                                    
     become  less  responsive  to  the  evolving  needs  and                                                                    
     concerns of  their constituents.  By polling  data, 84%                                                                    
     of Alaskans  support having term limits  for members of                                                                    
     congress.  The  power  of   incumbency  is  clear  with                                                                    
     members of  congress raising an  average of 5  times as                                                                    
     much  money  as  their   challengers  and  winning  re-                                                                    
     election 94%  of the  time. Enacting  term limits  is a                                                                    
     highly  popular policy  and is  essential to  encourage                                                                    
     fresh   perspectives   in   government,   address   the                                                                    
     developing  challenges of  our  country,  and curb  the                                                                    
     ever-growing power of congress.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     HJR  13  utilizes  article  V   of  the  United  States                                                                    
     constitution and  calls for a convention  of the states                                                                    
     to  amend the  constitution by  setting term  limits on                                                                    
     members of Congress in both  the United States House of                                                                    
     Representatives  and  the  United States  Senate.  This                                                                    
     bill  also  calls  for legislatures  of  the  other  49                                                                    
     states to join in calling  Congress for a convention of                                                                    
     the states.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     I urge my fellow colleagues  of the 33rd legislature to                                                                    
     support this legislation and help  enact term limits on                                                                    
     members of Congress.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:05:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AZABEL  ORDAZ,  Staff,  Representative Tom  McKay,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of  Representative McKay,  prime sponsor,                                                               
presented  a PowerPoint,  entitled "HJR  13 Federal  Term Limits"                                                               
[hard copy included  in the committee packet].   She expounded on                                                               
slides 2-5,  which summarized the  rationale behind the  need for                                                               
term limits,  the term limits on  the federal level, and  a chart                                                               
that featured the results of a  U.S. survey that asked 514 likely                                                               
voters whether  they were in  favor or opposition of  term limits                                                               
for  members of  congress.   She noted  that 84  percent were  in                                                               
favor,  60  percent strongly  approved,  and  3 percent  strongly                                                               
disapproved.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:10:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW  announced the committee would  hear invited testimony                                                               
on HJR 13.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:11:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CONSTANTIN QUERARD,  Western Regional  Director, US  Term Limits,                                                               
shared that term limits were  a bipartisan idea supported by many                                                               
candidates and  leaders.   He spoke to  the Article  5 component,                                                               
explaining that the goal was not  to hold a convention.  Instead,                                                               
he said, it would be state pressure that would affect change.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:13:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARRICK asked  whether Alaska  would be  limiting                                                               
its representation in  Congress by limiting the  longevity of its                                                               
congressional delegation.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCKAY answered  that  the playing  field must  be                                                               
leveled and,  if the proposed  legislation passed, it  would help                                                               
level the field across all 50 states.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:15:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY, following  up on  Representative Carrick's                                                               
question,  asked  whether the  system  of  seniority in  Congress                                                               
would be  impacted or updated if  terms were limited.   She noted                                                               
her  concern over  small states  versus larger  states with  more                                                               
representation.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCKAY answered  that  the idea  was to  encourage                                                               
Congress to reform itself and there still would be seniority.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked where in  Article 5 addressed the call                                                               
to term limits.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:17:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TREVOR  JEPSEN, Staff,  Representative  Tom  McKay, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, on behalf of Representative  McKay, prime sponsor of                                                               
HJR  13,  said that  most  constitutional  scholars believe  that                                                               
Article 5 was for specific  amendments.  He deferred the question                                                               
to Mr. Querard.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR.  QUERARD   first  explained   the  rules  for   a  convention                                                               
essentially  being  crafted  for  "one purpose,"  and  that  most                                                               
states  pass  delegate  limitation  acts that  specify  what  the                                                               
delegates  may  or  may  not   do.    He  further  explained  the                                                               
safeguards involved.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY asked  who  would choose  the delegates  if                                                               
there was  a constitutional convention  that could be  limited to                                                               
one subject.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. QUERARD  responded that it  would be the  legislature picking                                                               
the delegates.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:21:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK  shared her understanding that  six states                                                               
had passed the resolution thus far.   She asked what would happen                                                               
if  additional states  were added  during the  period of  time it                                                               
took to pass the resolution.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. QUERARD explained  the requirements to ratify  and added that                                                               
in the history of the U.S.  Constitution, there had never been an                                                               
amendment  convention.    The  process  was  merely  designed  to                                                               
provoke Congress to act, he  said, and he reiterated that Article                                                               
5 was written to give Congress  the power to draft amendments and                                                               
the states the power to ratify.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:23:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER asked  how enacting  term limits  would                                                               
impact the administrative state.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. QUERARD explained that states  that had term limits enjoyed a                                                               
lower level  of bureaucracy and  administrative state due  to the                                                               
limited amount  of time  individuals are there  to do  a specific                                                               
thing.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   CARPENTER   referenced   a  statement   in   the                                                               
PowerPoint and asked  how term limits would  alleviate the desire                                                               
to campaign for reelection.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR.  JEPSEN said  that while  drafting the  proposed legislation,                                                               
the thought process was, "You can't  be there forever so you have                                                               
to make  the most  of your  time while  you are  in office."   He                                                               
added that there would still be a campaigning process.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:26:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHAW   opened  public   testimony  on   HJR  13.     After                                                               
ascertaining  no   one  wished  to  testify,   he  closed  public                                                               
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:27:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WRIGHT  moved  to adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS)  for  HJR   13,  Version  33-LS0690\B,  Wallace,                                                               
1/22/24, as the working document.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:27:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BUDDY  WHITT, Staff,  Representative  Laddie  Shaw, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, presented  a summary of  changes in the  proposed CS                                                               
for HJR 13, Version B, on behalf of Representative Shaw.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHAW  removed  his  objection.   There  being  no  further                                                               
objection, Version B was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW announced that HJR 13 was held over.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
               SB 46-BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:28:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
SENATE BILL  NO. 46, "An Act  establishing the month of  March as                                                               
Brain Injury Awareness Month."                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:29:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 3:29 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:29:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LÖKI  TOBIN, Alaska State Legislature,  as prime sponsor,                                                               
presented  SB   46.    She  paraphrased   the  sponsor  statement                                                               
[included  in  the  committee  packet],  which  read  as  follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Senate  Bill 46  would  designate each  March as  Brain                                                                    
     Injury Awareness Month in Alaska.  This will help focus                                                                    
     public attention  on the  prevalence of  brain injuries                                                                    
     and highlight ways to prevent these injuries.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Both traumatic  and acquired brain injuries  can happen                                                                    
     to  anyone.  These injuries  can  bring  a lifetime  of                                                                    
     secondary   health  conditions,   including  persistent                                                                    
     concussion  symptoms,   post-traumatic  stress  injury,                                                                    
     physical impairment, and developmental delays.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     It's  estimated that  3.2 to  5 million  Americans live                                                                    
     with long-term disabilities due  to brain injuries, and                                                                    
     Alaska has one of the  highest rates of traumatic brain                                                                    
     injuries in  the nation.  The Brain  Injury Association                                                                    
     of  America reports  that every  9 seconds,  someone in                                                                    
     the  U.S. sustains  a brain  injury. The  Department of                                                                    
     Defense reports that over  430,000 service members have                                                                    
     sustained traumatic brain injuries since 2000.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Thousands  of lives  are impacted  every  day by  brain                                                                    
     injuries even though most  traumatic brain injuries are                                                                    
     preventable, especially  by wearing a seatbelt  when in                                                                    
     a  vehicle and  wearing a  helmet when  skiing, biking,                                                                    
     and snowmachining.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Permanently  designating  each  March as  Brain  Injury                                                                    
     Awareness   Month  in   Alaska  will   increase  public                                                                    
     awareness  about the  dangers  of  brain injuries  and,                                                                    
     potentially, help  prevent future brain  injuries among                                                                    
     Alaskans. We ask for your support.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:33:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MACKENZIE  POPE,   Staff,  Senator   Löki  Tobin,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  on   behalf  of   Senator  Tobin,   prime  sponsor,                                                               
presented  the sectional  analysis  for SB  46  [included in  the                                                               
committee packet],  which read  as follows  [original punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1    Amends the uncodified law of  the State of                                                                    
     Alaska to add a  new section recognizing the importance                                                                    
     of brain injury awareness in the State of Alaska.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2   Amends AS 44.12  by adding a new section to                                                                    
     article  2 establishing  the month  of  March as  Brain                                                                    
     Injury Awareness Month in  Alaska. This allows schools,                                                                    
     community   groups,  and   other  public   and  private                                                                    
     agencies  and  individuals   to  observe  Brain  Injury                                                                    
     Awareness  Month   with  appropriate   activities  that                                                                    
     increase the  publics  awareness of the  prevention and                                                                    
     treatment of brain injuries.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW opened invited testimony on SB 46.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:34:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANNETTE  ALFONSI,  Alaska   State  Coordinator,  Unmasking  Brain                                                               
Injury, gave invited  testimony in support of SB 46.   She shared                                                               
a personal anecdote  and conveyed her experiences  as someone who                                                               
suffered a  brain injury.   She  stressed that  further awareness                                                               
and  education  is needed  to  change  outcomes and  must  happen                                                               
systemically, not  individually.   She encouraged the  passing of                                                               
SB 46 to help raise needed awareness.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:37:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANNA  ZIERFUSS,  Chair,  Brain Injury  Council  of  Alaska,  gave                                                               
invited testimony  in support of  SB 46.   She said once  a brain                                                               
injury   happens,  suicide,   alcoholism,  and   drug  use   were                                                               
statistically more  likely.  She  shared a personal  anecdote and                                                               
conveyed her experience  as someone who suffered  a brain injury.                                                               
She pointed  out that  those with brain  injuries who  first went                                                               
into emergency rooms after their  injury had the lowest access to                                                               
care, and  it is  an "invisible  disability."   Raising awareness                                                               
would  let those  with  brain  injuries know  that  they are  not                                                               
alone, she said.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:43:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY shared her belief  that it was time to bring                                                               
awareness to this cause.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:44:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked, "Why March?"                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR TOBIN said March was  in alignment with the US Department                                                               
of Defense (DOD) and was also historically in the resolution.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:44:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW opened public testimony  on SB 46.  After ascertaining                                                               
no one wished to testify, he closed public testimony.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:45:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WRIGHT   moved  to   adopt  the   proposed  House                                                               
committee  substitute (HCS)  for SB  46, Version  33-LS0325\B, A.                                                               
Radford/Bergerud, 1/17/24, as the working document.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:45:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. WHITT  presented the explanation  of changes in  the proposed                                                               
CS for HB 46, Version B.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:46:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW announced that SB 46 was held over.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          HB 259-COUNCIL ON HUMAN AND SEX TRAFFICKING                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:46:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 259,  "An Act establishing  the Council  on Human                                                               
and  Sex Trafficking;  and relating  to the  Council on  Domestic                                                               
Violence and Sexual Assault."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:47:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH  VANCE, Alaska  State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor,  presented   HB  259.    She   paraphrased  the  sponsor                                                               
statement  [included  in the  committee  packet],  which read  as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     House  Bill  259  emerges  as  a  critical  initiative,                                                                  
     proposing to establish the Alaska  Council on Human and                                                                    
     Sex Trafficking permanently  through State Statute. The                                                                    
     Council,  established  by   Administrative  Order  328,                                                                    
     plays a  pivotal role in combating  the exploitation of                                                                    
     Alaskans. By formalizing its  existence in statute, the                                                                    
     commitment  to addressing  the multifaceted  challenges                                                                    
     posed by human trafficking is strengthened.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The Alaska  Council on Human and  Sex Trafficking plays                                                                    
     a  vital  role  in  the ongoing  battle  against  human                                                                    
     trafficking,  a  heinous   crime  driven  by  coercion,                                                                    
     force,  and fraud.  This council  operates on  multiple                                                                    
     fronts,  starting  with  the crucial  task  of  raising                                                                    
     awareness   about   the   pervasive  issue   of   human                                                                    
     trafficking.  By   shedding  light  on   the  deceptive                                                                    
     tactics employed  by traffickers,  the council  aims to                                                                    
     empower  communities with  the  knowledge to  recognize                                                                    
     and combat this form of exploitation.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Additionally,   the   council  engages   in   extensive                                                                    
     research  to  provide   comprehensive  reports  on  the                                                                    
     prevalence of trafficking  in Alaska, offering valuable                                                                    
     insights into the diverse  forms of exploitation. These                                                                    
     reports serve  as a  foundation for  informed decision-                                                                    
     making   and  strategic   planning.  Importantly,   the                                                                    
     council  doesn't stop  at  awareness  and research;  it                                                                    
     actively  proposes  solutions  to protect  victims.  By                                                                    
     identifying  and  advocating   for  measures  that  can                                                                    
     disrupt  the  operations  of  traffickers  and  provide                                                                    
     support   to   survivors,   the   council   contributes                                                                    
     significantly to the fight against human trafficking.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Human trafficking,  a significantly  troubling concern,                                                                    
     often goes  unnoticed in Alaska and  the United States.                                                                    
     According  to  a  2017  study, one  in  four  women  at                                                                    
     Anchorage  Covenant's  House  had been  trafficked  for                                                                    
     sex,  with 42%  being  Alaska  Natives. However,  human                                                                    
     trafficking is  significantly underreported due  to the                                                                    
     intense trauma victims  experience, hindering them from                                                                    
     seeking help.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     House Bill 259 not  only recognizes the pervasive issue                                                                    
     of   human  trafficking   but  also   acknowledges  the                                                                    
     critical  role  the  Council  plays  in  combating  it.                                                                    
     Ensuring the Council's  permanence in statute signifies                                                                    
     a   long-term    commitment   to    eradicating   human                                                                    
     trafficking   in  Alaska.   The  Council's   continuous                                                                    
     presence will enhance  the coordination, resources, and                                                                    
     strategies necessary for an  effective response to this                                                                    
     complex problem. By  addressing the ever-present threat                                                                    
         of human trafficking, House Bill 259 reaffirms                                                                         
     Alaska's dedication to safeguarding the well-being and                                                                     
     rights of all its residents.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:54:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK  asked how the  work of the  council would                                                               
overlap with the  duties of the Council on  Domestic Violence and                                                               
Sexual Assault (CDVSA).  She  further offered her belief that the                                                               
councils shared a director.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  VANCE  explained  that  the idea  of  sharing  an                                                               
executive  director  came  from  the Alcohol  and  Marijuana  and                                                               
Control Office  Board.  She  clarified that the  CDVSA's capacity                                                               
was not to be diminished by establishing the new council.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:58:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY referenced the  fiscal note and the creation                                                               
of two  positions.  She  asked how  the director would  use their                                                               
time as the head of both councils  with the amount of work at the                                                               
CDVSA.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE provided background  on the decision, adding                                                               
that  the executive  director should  be able  to retain  both as                                                               
long  as  there   is  "cushion"  over  the  next   year  for  the                                                               
transition.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:02:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY asked  how  many CDVSA  staff the  director                                                               
would supervise.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE deferred to Deputy Commissioner Barlow.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:03:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRYAN BARLOW,  Deputy Commissioner, Department of  Public Safety,                                                               
addressed Representative  Story and stated  that he did  not know                                                               
the answer  as to the number  that would be supervised.   He said                                                               
that the  staff level of CDVSA  is at capacity for  what they can                                                               
do, and the effectiveness of CDVSA was taken into account.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:05:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  expressed concern about the  council's size                                                               
and asked  whether each person  had a role  to play.   She shared                                                               
her belief that sometimes smaller councils were more effective.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE reported that there were  10 positions at CDVSA and 4                                                               
were vacant.   Regarding the size of the council,  she said there                                                               
were subcommittees which helped divide the workload.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:09:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARRICK expressed  curiosity about  the breakdown                                                               
of  specific positions  at CDVSA.   She  inquired about  a faith-                                                               
based position  and why  there was discrepancy  in the  number of                                                               
positions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE responded that she  was unfamiliar with the specifics                                                               
of CDVSA.   For the membership  listed in the bill,  she said, it                                                               
was mirrored after the governor's administrative order.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:11:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STORY  directed   attention  to   the  list   of                                                               
recommendations on page  3, lines 17-20 of HB 259  and shared her                                                               
belief  that   policy  recommendations  might  be   something  to                                                               
consider.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE agreed.  She highlighted page 4, lines 12-                                                                 
16, which  would require  annual reporting to  the governor.   In                                                               
addition,  she noted  that two  ex-officio members  were to  help                                                               
with policy.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:14:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW announced that HB 259 was held over.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:15:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:15 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
               HB 265-CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:15:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW announced that the final order of business would be                                                                  
HOUSE BILL NO. 265, "An Act changing the term 'child                                                                            
pornography' to 'child sexual abuse material.'"                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:15:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SARAH  VANCE, Alaska  State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor,  presented   HB  265.    She   paraphrased  the  sponsor                                                               
statement  [included  in the  committee  packet],  which read  as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     House  Bill  265 proposes  to  change  the term  "child                                                                  
     pornography"   to   "child   sexual   abuse   material"                                                                    
     throughout Alaska Statutes.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Child  sexual abuse  is a  heinous crime  that inflicts                                                                    
     lasting trauma on its victims.  The terminology used to                                                                    
     describe  such  offenses  is not  merely  a  matter  of                                                                    
     semantics but  plays a crucial  role in  shaping public                                                                    
     perception   and  legal   frameworks.  In   the  Alaska                                                                    
     Statutes, a shift towards the  term "Child Sexual Abuse                                                                    
     Material"   (CSAM)  over   the  commonly   used  "child                                                                    
     pornography"  is   not  just   linguistics;  it   is  a                                                                    
     recognition  of the  gravity of  the crime  and a  step                                                                    
     toward more accurate and victim-centric language.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Language   is  a   powerful   tool   that  shapes   our                                                                    
     understanding  of  various   issues.  The  term  "child                                                                    
     pornography"    carries     misleading    connotations,                                                                    
     suggesting a  consensual act. It  fails to  capture the                                                                    
     essence  of  the  crime when  it  involves  minors,  as                                                                    
     children  cannot  provide  legal consent.  The  use  of                                                                    
     "Child Sexual  Abuse Material"  serves to  correct this                                                                    
     misconception,  highlighting   the  non-consensual  and                                                                    
     abusive nature of the acts depicted.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Prominent  organizations  in  the fight  against  child                                                                    
     exploitation   and   abuse,    including   the   Alaska                                                                    
     Department  of  Public   Safety,  have  recognized  the                                                                    
     importance    of   using    accurate   and    sensitive                                                                    
     terminology.   They   are   using   the   term   "child                                                                    
     pornography"  less  in  favor of  "Child  Sexual  Abuse                                                                    
     Material."   This   shift   in  language   reflects   a                                                                    
     commitment to acknowledging the  trauma suffered by the                                                                    
     victims  and  challenges  the  societal  perception  of                                                                    
     these crimes.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     There  is  a  growing recognition  that  "Child  Sexual                                                                    
     Abuse  Material"  is  a  more  accurate  and  sensitive                                                                    
     description.  By  incorporating this  terminology  into                                                                    
     the Alaska  Statutes, legislators  can align  state law                                                                    
     with  evolving  international standards  and  emphasize                                                                    
     the  severity  of  the  crime and  its  impact  on  the                                                                    
     victims.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     The adoption of the  term "Child Sexual Abuse Material"                                                                    
     in  the  Alaska  Statutes  is  not  merely  a  symbolic                                                                    
     gesture;  it is  a critical  step toward  acknowledging                                                                    
     the true  nature of the  crime and its  profound impact                                                                    
     on victims. Language matters, and  in the fight against                                                                    
     child   sexual   abuse,  precise   and   victim-centric                                                                    
     terminology   is   an   essential  tool   for   raising                                                                    
     awareness,  shaping  public  perception,  and  ensuring                                                                    
     that the  legal system  reflects the severity  of these                                                                    
     offenses.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:18:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW announced that HB 265 was held over.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:19:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 4:19                                                                  
p.m.