SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE April 20, 2018 1:36 p.m. 1:36:19 PM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair MacKinnon called the Senate Finance Committee meeting to order at 1:36 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair Senator Peter Micciche Senator Donny Olson Senator Gary Stevens Senator Natasha von Imhof MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair Senator Click Bishop, Vice-Chair ALSO PRESENT Representative Harriet Drummond, Sponsor; Patrick Fitzgerald, Staff, Representative Harriet Drummond; Carmen Lowry, Executive Director, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; Patty Owen, Self, Juneau; Lauree Morton, Self, Juneau. PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE Butch Moore, Self, Anchorage; Bradley Miller, Self, Eagle River; Laura Eakes, Self, Anchorage; Ashley Van Hemert, Self, Anchorage; Suzi Pearson, Executive Director, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, Anchorage; Vicki Wallner, Self, Palmer; Rachel Curtiss, Student, Stellar Secondary School, Anchorage; Avery Mozen, Student, Stellar Secondary School, Anchorage; Parker Pickett, Student, Stellar Secondary School, Anchorage; Reed Whitmore, Principal, Stellar Secondary School, Anchorage; Johnny Murdock, Self, MatSu; Lynn Stuhr, Self, Anchorage; Cris Eichenlaub, Self, Eagle River; Rus'el Sampson, Self, Wasilla; Edith Grunwald, Self, Palmer; Victoria Mokelke, Self, Palmer; Deborah Bollini, Self, Anchorage. SUMMARY HB 214 BREE'S LAW; DATING VIOLENCE PROGRAMS HB 214 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. HOUSE BILL NO. 214 "An Act renaming a portion of the Alaska Safe Children's Act as Bree's Law; relating to Bree's Law programs and Bree's Law activities; relating to dating violence and abuse policy, training, awareness, prevention, and notices; and providing for an effective date." 1:37:27 PM REPRESENTATIVE HARRIET DRUMMOND, SPONSOR, introduced the bill. She stated that Bree Moore was a victim of dating violence, which ended in her murder. She announced that Alaska ranked in the top ten states with the worst record of dating violence and sexual abuse. She stated that more that 1000 high school students reported dating violence one or more times in 2017. She stressed that it was a horrifying statistic, but was a scary glimpse of a future generation of Alaskans, who thought it was normal to experience abuse in a relationship. She stated that the bill named the dating violence section of the Alaska Safe Children's Act, "Bree's Law." She stated that Bree's Law was already referenced as the informal identifier of the dating violence prevention curriculum. She announced that the passage of HB 214 would make it official. She stated that that bill passed the other body unanimously. She remarked that her office had heard from schools, support agencies, and prevention organizations in support of naming the teen dating violence of the Alaska Safe Children's Act, "Bree's Law." 1:38:57 PM PATRICK FITZGERALD, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE HARRIET DRUMMOND, explained the sections of the bill. 1:40:29 PM Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony. 1:40:49 PM BUTCH MOORE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He stated that his daughter, Bree, was murdered. He shared that he wanted to put forward education to prevent it from happening to anyone else. He stated that there were some things that could have been better in passing the Alaska Safe Children's Act. He noted that the passage of that act happened fairly quickly. He shared that he and his wife had worked with many agencies and organizations, including teachers, principals, and superintendents. He shared that it was found that the communication with the teachers and the students was a new process, so there was a gap in the education that did not mention the legality of dating violence. He noted that there was a realization that the students and teachers may not feel comfortable communicating directly with one another. He noted that there should be a way for students to anonymously text, call, or chat to talk to someone the student deemed a comfortable contact. He shared that there were 35,000 posters printed and sent to all 359 high schools and middle schools throughout the state with a number for teachers and students to call, text, or chat. He stated that it was the National Teen Dating Violence prevention hotline number and the National Domestic Violence hotline number. He shared that it was found that there was no number in Alaska. He shared that the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) was working on developing an Alaskan number for help. He noted that it was also found that the identification of the education and the delivery of education was not as well received as desired. He shared that when students heard Bree's name and story, they might identify with her as common person. 1:47:07 PM Senator Micciche appreciated the efforts to protect others from dating violence. Mr. Moore thanked Senator Micciche. 1:48:16 PM BRADLEY MILLER, SELF, EAGLE RIVER (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He felt that it was improper that bill be in the committee, because it had no fiscal impact. He shared that his daughter had been murdered as a result of dating violence. He felt that, had the Alaskan Safe Children's Act been enacted before his daughter's murder, the murder would not have happened. Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether Mr. Miller was in support of the bill. Mr. Miller stated that he was in support of the bill. Co-Chair MacKinnon queried a closing thought. Mr. Miller stated that his motivation was the hope to prevent another family of living through the nightmare of losing a child. He felt that education should be easily identifiable for all children. 1:52:35 PM LAURA EAKES, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of the bill. 1:54:56 PM ASHLEY VAN HEMERT, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. 1:58:30 PM SUZI PEARSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ABUSED WOMEN'S AID IN CRISIS, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. 2:01:03 PM VICKI WALLNER, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), testified in support of the bill. She shared that she was the mother to three daughters and foster children. 2:03:06 PM CARMEN LOWRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA NETWORK ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, spoke in support of the bill. She offered the condolences to the family of Bree Moore for their loss. She shared a personal story about humanitarian work in Burma. Senator Stevens wondered what was done to teach young men. Ms. Lowry replied that the curriculum had to do with healthy relationships. She also stated that it was important for young men to see what masculinity looked like. She remarked that there was an ongoing effort to recognize healthy relationships. 2:07:08 PM PATTY OWEN, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of the bill. 2:08:44 PM LAUREE MORTON, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of the bill. 2:11:05 PM RACHEL CURTISS, STUDENT, STELLAR SECONDARY SCHOOL, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. 2:12:11 PM AVERY MOZEN, STUDENT, STELLAR SECONDARY SCHOOL, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of the legislation. 2:13:34 PM PARKER PICKETT, STUDENT, STELLAR SECONDARY SCHOOL, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. 2:14:15 PM REED WHITMORE, PRINCIPAL, STELLAR SECONDARY SCHOOL, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of the legislation. 2:15:55 PM Senator Stevens wondered whether all the students of both genders received the lessons. Mr. Whitmore replied in the affirmative. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked whether there was support available for someone disclosed that they needed help. Mr. Whitmore responded in the affirmative. He stated that the information would probably go through the principal and nurse. There may be an investigation in the school, or whether the student should return home. Co-Chair MacKinnon queried whether there were resources to the students, besides returning home. Mr. Whitmore replied that it was an individualized case from the Office of Children's Services (OCS). 2:18:56 PM JOHNNY MURDOCK, SELF, MATSU (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He stated that domestic violence and sexual assault was a massive problem in the state. He stated that he was a university professor and firefighter. He felt that personalizing an issue was always helpful in teaching. 2:21:50 PM LYNN STUHR, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of the legislation. 2:23:58 PM CRIS EICHENLAUB, SELF, EAGLE RIVER (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. 2:25:15 PM RUS'EL SAMPSON, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), spoke in favor of the bill. 2:28:04 PM EDITH GRUNWALD, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), turned her testimony over to Ms. Mokelke. 2:28:33 PM VICTORIA MOKELKE, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), testified in support of the legislation. 2:30:09 PM Ms. Grunwald spoke in support of the bill. 2:31:45 PM DEBORAH BOLLINI, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony. HB 214 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. ADJOURNMENT 2:34:33 PM The meeting was adjourned at 2:34 p.m.