SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE March 5, 1993 9:04 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Loren Leman, Chairman Senator Mike Miller, Vice Chairman Senator Johnny Ellis MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Robin Taylor Senator Jim Duncan COMMITTEE CALENDAR CONFIRMATION HEARING: Robyn F. States State Commission for Human Rights WITNESS REGISTER None ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 93-16, SIDE A Number 001 Chairman Leman called the Senate State Affairs Committee meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. SENATOR LEMAN announced the only order of business before the committee would be a confirmation hearing on Governor appointee Robyn States to the State Commission for Human Rights. He invited Ms. States, who was participating in the hearing by teleconference from Fairbanks, to make an opening statement. Number 032 ROBYN STATES said she is a lifelong Alaskan, who was born in Fairbanks. Ms. States said that she and her husband have owned an advertising business for the past 10 years, so they deal with a lot of different people around the state. She added that they deal with different races and different things that would cause them not to want to discriminate against someone. Ms. States said she has also worked for the University of Alaska doing hiring, which has involved working with the EEO's at the university in the hiring of different positions. Ms. States' last job was as an nutrition assistant for the Cooperative Extension. This involved travel around the City of Fairbanks where she worked with low-income people, teaching them about nutrition. In that job, she met with a lot of the different agencies in Fairbanks, which familiarized her with agencies that deal with these people. Ms. States noted that she is multi-racial, which she thinks will help her in serving on the Commission, and she enjoys being fair. Number 068 SENATOR ELLIS said one of the big issues in the country right now is the subject of complying with the American with Disabilities Act. He asked Ms. States her general attitude towards the Act, and what time frame she thinks that government should act to become accessible and come into compliance with the law. ROBYN STATES answered that she is aware that it is an issue that the Alaska Human Rights Law does cover, but she has not yet read the American with Disabilities Act. However, she believes it is important that people are not discriminated against because of their abilities. She didn't have a comment on the time frame, but she thinks it is an important issue. Number 105 SENATOR ELLIS said there have been a lot of complaints from business owners who were very critical of President Bush signing the bill and very critical of the time lines for implementation of the ADA in the private sector. He asked Ms. States if she would have any trouble with an action before the Human Rights Commission against a private business or a government agency by a disabled Alaskan if the business or agency didn't comply within the time frame set out in the law. ROBYN STATES answered that she would not have a problem with that. Number 120 SENATOR LEMAN asked Ms. States if she has had an opportunity to meet with her other colleagues on the Commission. ROBYN STATES acknowledged that they have had one meeting in Homer where they were all together. Number 132 SENATOR LEMAN asked Ms. States what she considers to be the most important human rights issue or issues in the State of Alaska. ROBYN STATES answered that she wouldn't say that any one is any more important than the other, because when a person comes before the Commission, their issue is the most important to them, and she would not want to feel like she gave more weight to one than another. There being no further questions from members of the committee, SENATOR LEMAN thanked Ms. States for her input. He said a letter would be sent to the Senate President stating the committee has held a confirmation hearing on Ms. States. There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 a.m.