ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
May 9, 2007
2:26 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bettye Davis, Chair
Senator Joe Thomas, Vice Chair
Senator Kim Elton
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator John Cowdery
Senator Fred Dyson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Confirmation Hearing: University of Alaska Board of Regents
CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 29(FIN)
"An Act relating to infants who are safely surrendered by a
parent shortly after birth."
MOVED CSHB 29(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 10
Supporting the reuse of facilities at the Galena Air Base to
provide regional educational services.
MOVED SJR 10 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 29
SHORT TITLE: SAFE HAVEN FOR INFANTS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LEDOUX, GRUENBERG, LYNN, HARRIS,
NEUMAN, WILSON, DAHLSTROM, GARDNER, OLSON, DOLL, KERTTULA
01/16/07 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/5/07
01/16/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/07 (H) HES, JUD
02/08/07 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
02/08/07 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
02/20/07 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106
02/20/07 (H) Moved CSHB 29(HES) Out of Committee
02/20/07 (H) MINUTE(HES)
02/21/07 (H) HES RPT CS(HES) 6DP
02/21/07 (H) DP: CISSNA, NEUMAN, FAIRCLOUGH,
GARDNER, ROSES, WILSON
02/21/07 (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER JUD
03/12/07 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120
03/12/07 (H) Moved CSHB 29(JUD) Out of Committee
03/12/07 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
03/14/07 (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) 4DP 3NR
03/14/07 (H) DP: GRUENBERG, LYNN, DAHLSTROM, RAMRAS
03/14/07 (H) NR: COGHILL, SAMUELS, HOLMES
03/29/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/29/07 (H) Heard & Held
03/29/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
04/10/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/10/07 (H) Moved CSHB 29(FIN) Out of Committee
04/10/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
04/11/07 (H) FIN RPT CS(FIN) 7DP 2NR
04/11/07 (H) DP: CRAWFORD, NELSON, FOSTER, HAWKER,
THOMAS, KELLY, MEYER
04/11/07 (H) NR: GARA, STOLTZE
05/07/07 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/07/07 (H) VERSION: CSHB 29(FIN)
05/08/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/08/07 (S) HES, JUD
05/09/07 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SJR 10
SHORT TITLE: REUSE GALENA AIR BASE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WIELECHOWSKI
05/02/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/02/07 (S) HES
05/09/07 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
Christine Marasigan, staff to Representative LeDoux
Alaska Capitol Building
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 29
Kat Pustay, staff to Senator Wielechowski
Alaska Capitol Building
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SJR 10
Eric Drygas, nominee to the UA Board of Regents
Fairbanks, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the Senate Health, Education and
Social Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 2:24:31
PM. Present at the call to order were Senators Thomas, Elton,
and Chair Davis.
CSHB 29(FIN)-SAFE HAVEN FOR INFANTS
SJR 10-REUSE GALENA AIR BASE
CHAIR DAVIS announced CSHB 29(FIN) and SJR 10 to be up for
consideration.
2:27:31 PM
CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, staff to Representative LeDoux, said that
the bill has gone through many previous incarnations, and the
current bill before committee will allow a parent to surrender
their infant within 21 days of birth without criminal
prosecution.
CHAIR DAVIS said that the committee would have to call another
member back to the meeting to be able to pass out the bill.
CHAIR DAVIS called a brief at-ease.
2:29:10 PM
CHAIR DAVIS called the meeting back to order so that SJR 10
could be heard.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI explained that he had another meeting to
attend, and so would have his staffer present the bill.
KAT PUSTAY, staff to Senator Wielechowski, said that the
resolution supports the plans of the city of Galena to reuse the
former air base as an educational facility. The city economic
development council supports using the facilities for such
services; she explained the history of the base and said that a
boarding school and possibly a military academy could be founded
there.
2:32:00 PM
CHAIR DAVIS said that the committee could vote immediately on
the bill without hearing any testimony unless it was necessary.
2:32:58 PM
SENATOR THOMAS asked if the zero fiscal note on the bill will
hold true for the next several years.
MS. PUSTAY said that state funds won't be needed; it's part of
transition funding.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI commented that the bill is only a
resolution so there would be no fiscal note.
SENATOR ELTON moved to pass SJR 10 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
2:34:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX related HB 29's history, and said that the
bill is a good one that hopefully will pass in 2007.
CHAIR DAVIS concurred, and asked for the will of the committee.
2:35:40 PM
SENATOR THOMAS moved to pass CSHB 29 (FIN), referred to as
Version O, from committee with individual recommendations and
accompanying fiscal notes. There were no objections and it was
so ordered.
2:36:43 PM
CHAIR DAVIS called a brief at-ease.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING: UA BOARD OF REGENTS
2:38:38 PM
CHAIR DAVIS called the meeting back to order, and asked Mr.
Drygas if he had a statement regarding his nomination.
ERIC DRYGAS, nominee to the University of Alaska Board of
Regents, said that he's passionate about the school and has a
degree in education; he's been involved with the university for
years as a student and athlete.
CHAIR DAVIS thanked Mr. Drygas, and apologized for the wait to
testify. She said that the committee would be forwarding his
name on for recommendation. There being no further business to
come before the committee, she adjourned the meeting at 2:40:23
PM.