ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE  January 17, 2024 1:32 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Matt Claman, Chair Senator Jesse Kiehl, Vice Chair Senator James Kaufman Senator Cathy Giessel Senator Löki Tobin MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 28 "An Act relating to workplace violence protective orders; relating to the crime of violating a protective order; relating to the powers of district judges and magistrates; amending Rules 4 and 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date." - HEARD & HELD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 28 SHORT TITLE: WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) CLAMAN 01/18/23 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23 01/18/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/18/23 (S) STA, JUD 02/23/23 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 02/23/23 (S) Heard & Held 02/23/23 (S) MINUTE(STA) 03/23/23 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 03/23/23 (S) Moved SB 28 Out of Committee 03/23/23 (S) MINUTE(STA) 03/24/23 (S) STA RPT 1DP 3NR 1AM 03/24/23 (S) NR: KAWASAKI, MERRICK, BJORKMAN 03/24/23 (S) DP: WIELECHOWSKI 03/24/23 (S) AM: CLAMAN 04/12/23 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 04/12/23 (S) Heard & Held 04/12/23 (S) MINUTE(JUD) 01/17/24 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 WITNESS REGISTER CLAIRE LUBKE, Staff Senator Matt Claman Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented committee substitute changes between version B and version U for SB 28. BRENDA STANFILL, Executive Director Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 28. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:32:10 PM CHAIR MATT CLAMAN called the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Kaufman, Kiehl, Giessel, Tobin, and Chair Claman. SB 28-WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS  [CSSB 28, version B, was before the committee.] 1:32:49 PM CHAIR CLAMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 28 "An Act relating to workplace violence protective orders; relating to the crime of violating a protective order; relating to the powers of district judges and magistrates; amending Rules 4 and 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date." CHAIR CLAMAN said this is the second hearing of this bill in the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee. He noted that the committee substitute (CS) for SB 28, version B, was adopted in the previous committee hearing. The intention is to consider a proposed new committee substitute (CS) for SB 28, version U. He invited Ms. Lubke to explain the changes between version B and version U. 1:33:25 PM CLAIRE LUBKE, Staff, Senator Matt Claman, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented committee substitute changes between version B and version U for SB 28. She said SB 28 creates a new type of protective order, a workplace violence protective order. Version U of the bill includes one minor change on page 8, lines 2 - 5. She said that the definition of employee is now written out in statute, noting the substance of that definition is unchanged. The definition of employer is modified to include nonprofit organizations. The corrected definition ensures that any entity that employs one or more persons may apply for a workplace violence protective order. 1:34:21 PM CHAIR CLAMAN noted that discussions with the Division of Legal Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, concluded that shelters are included in the definition of workplace. CHAIR CLAMAN solicited a motion. 1:34:49 PM SENATOR KIEHL moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for SB 28, work order 33-LS0242\U, as the working document. 1:35:05 PM CHAIR CLAMAN found no objection and CSSB 28, work order 33- LS0242\U, was adopted. 1:35:23 PM CHAIR CLAMAN opened public testimony on SB 28. 1:35:41 PM BRENDA STANFILL, Executive Director, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 28. She discussed the challenges that domestic violence and sexual assault direct service providers and shelters encounter. She said that for every person they help, there is somebody they anger. She spoke about the fear that victims experience and that no one should ever force victimized persons to get a protective order. It discloses their location, creating a potential threat to the safety of victims. MS. STANFILL highlighted the necessity for agencies to safeguard themselves. She pointed out that agencies may receive threats, even when the victim is no longer on the premises. She highlighted a concern for the Emmonak Women's Shelter, where law enforcement is limited, and it can take considerable time for troopers to reach that location. She said that SB 28 makes violating the provisions of a protective order a crime. She expressed hope that Emmonak would provide testimony. The goal of SB 28 is to provide an additional layer of protection for domestic violence and sexual assault organizations statewide. 1:38:02 PM CHAIR CLAMAN closed public testimony on SB 28. 1:38:22 PM CHAIR CLAMAN held SB 28 in committee. 1:38:41 PM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Claman adjourned the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee meeting at 1:38 p.m.