ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
            SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                           
                         March 9, 2017                                                                                          
                           3:30 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair                                                                                                    
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
Senator Cathy Giessel                                                                                                           
Senator John Coghill                                                                                                            
Senator Dennis Egan                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 16                                                                                                               
"An Act  relating to training  regarding disabilities  for police                                                               
officers,  probation  officers,   parole  officers,  correctional                                                               
officers,  and  village  public   safety  officers;  relating  to                                                               
guidelines for  drivers when encountering  or being stopped  by a                                                               
peace  officer; relating  to driver's  license examinations;  and                                                               
relating  to  a  voluntary  disability  designation  on  a  state                                                               
identification card and a driver's license."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4                                                                                              
Relating to the Task Force on Unmanned Aircraft Systems.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSSCR 4(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 48                                                                                                              
"An  Act creating  a fund  in  the Department  of Public  Safety;                                                               
providing for  payment of certain medical  insurance premiums for                                                               
surviving dependents  of certain police officers  or firefighters                                                               
who  die in  the line  of duty;  and providing  for an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSSB 48(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 16                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: DRIV. LICENSE REQ; DISABILITY: ID & TRAINING                                                                       
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) THOMPSON                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
01/18/17       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/17                                                                                
01/18/17       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/18/17       (H)       STA, FIN                                                                                               
01/24/17       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
01/24/17       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
01/24/17       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
01/26/17       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
01/26/17       (H)       Moved HB 16 Out of Committee                                                                           
01/26/17       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
01/27/17       (H)       STA RPT 7DP                                                                                            
01/27/17       (H)       DP: JOHNSON, WOOL, LEDOUX, KNOPP,                                                                      
                         BIRCH, TUCK, KREISS-TOMKINS                                                                            
02/01/17       (H)       FIN REFERRAL WAIVED                                                                                    
02/08/17       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
02/08/17       (H)       VERSION: HB 16                                                                                         
02/10/17       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/10/17       (S)       STA, FIN                                                                                               
03/09/17       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SCR 4                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: TASK FORCE ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS                                                                            
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) HUGHES                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
02/22/17       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/22/17       (S)       STA                                                                                                    
03/09/17       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 48                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: INS. FOR DEPENDS. OF DECEASED FIRE/POLICE                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) COGHILL                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
02/03/17       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/03/17       (S)       STA, FIN                                                                                               
02/14/17       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/14/17       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/14/17       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
03/02/17       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
03/02/17       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/02/17       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
03/09/17       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 16.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ART DELAUNE, representative                                                                                                     
Wall-Busters Advocacy Group                                                                                                     
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
JUANITA WEBB, advocate                                                                                                          
Wall-Busters Advocacy Group                                                                                                     
Fox, Alaska                                                                                                                     
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CATHY GERBY, representing self                                                                                                  
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DERRALL MCBIRNEY, advocate                                                                                                      
Wall-Busters Advocacy Group                                                                                                     
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
RICHARD WEBB, advocate                                                                                                          
Wall-Busters Advocacy Group                                                                                                     
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 16.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR SHELLEY HUGHES                                                                                                          
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SCR 4.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
STEVE COLLIGAN, member                                                                                                          
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force                                                                                            
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed questions regarding SCR 4.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BUDDY WHITT, Staff                                                                                                              
Senator Hughes                                                                                                                  
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Addressed Amendment 1 for SCR 4.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTA MCDONALD, Staff                                                                                                         
BRANDY JOHNSON, representing self and others                                                                                    
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 48.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:30:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MIKE DUNLEAVY  called the  Senate  State Affairs  Standing                                                             
Committee meeting  to order at 3:30  p.m. Present at the  call to                                                               
order  were Senators  Wilson, Giessel,  Coghill, Egan,  and Chair                                                               
Dunleavy.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
       HB 16-DRIV. LICENSE REQ; DISABILITY: ID & TRAINING                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:31:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of House Bill 16.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:31:28 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE STEVE THOMPSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,                                                                
Alaska, provided his sponsor's statement of HB 16 as follows:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     House Bill 16 came about  several years ago when we had                                                                    
     the  disabled community  in Fairbanks  came  to us  and                                                                    
     said  that they  had  some concerns  of  some not  good                                                                    
     outcomes  of  relations  and  interfacing  with  public                                                                    
     safety  officials  and   misunderstandings  because  of                                                                    
     hidden disabilities, non-apparent  disabilities; we had                                                                    
     some bad  outcomes around the  State of  Alaska because                                                                    
     from things like this.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     The purpose  of the  bill is to  improve communications                                                                    
     between  law  enforcement and  public-safety  officials                                                                    
     and   people  with   these   non-apparent  and   hidden                                                                    
     disabilities.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     The  bill  has three  major  components.  First is  the                                                                    
     training   for  Alaska   peace  officers,   corrections                                                                    
     officers and other officers  who interact directly with                                                                    
     the public. The second part  is the [Division] of Motor                                                                    
     Vehicles'  (DMV) handbook  to include  a section  about                                                                    
     drivers'   responsibilities   when   interacting   with                                                                    
     officers in  a traffic stop; this  will increase safety                                                                    
     for  officers and  the public.  The third  part is  the                                                                    
     statewide,  voluntary identification  system placed  on                                                                    
     Alaska IDs  or drivers'  licenses to indicate  a hidden                                                                    
     disability,  and this  would be  a purely  voluntary if                                                                    
     somebody didn't  want that  insignia on  their drivers'                                                                    
     license they would not have to have it.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     We've spent  about four years  on this bill so  far and                                                                    
     the state troopers are now  including in their training                                                                    
     at  the state  trooper academy  training for  people to                                                                    
     recognize people with disabilities  and how they should                                                                    
     be  handled.  The  other part  was  the  motor  vehicle                                                                    
     driver's license  handbook. There was about  a dozen of                                                                    
     us  sitting around  the table  discussing all  of these                                                                    
     problems, the  disabled community was  represented with                                                                    
     non-disabled  people that  were  sitting  there and  we                                                                    
     talked  about   how  a   person  with   a  non-apparent                                                                    
     disability  would be  stopped by  a police  officer and                                                                    
     they  don't  know  what  to do  when  they  get  rather                                                                    
     nervous and it will exasperate maybe their problem.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     So, what  do we  do? How  do we  train those  people so                                                                    
     they know what to do and  how to react? Well, 12 people                                                                    
     around the  table that  didn't have  disabilities said,                                                                    
     "Well, what are you supposed  to do?" and all 12-people                                                                    
     said,  "I haven't  got  a clue."  So,  we talked  about                                                                    
     this,  we talked  to the  [Division] of  Motor Vehicles                                                                    
     and they said,  "There are multiple states  that have a                                                                    
     section in  their drivers' manuals that  tells you what                                                                    
     your responsibility or  what you are supposed  to do if                                                                    
     you  are stopped  by a  police officer  or you  have an                                                                    
     interaction  with  the  public-safety people;  it  just                                                                    
     made sense  and they  said they have  no problem  or no                                                                    
     cost to put that into  the driver's manual, so that was                                                                    
     another part.  Then there  was an  international symbol                                                                    
     that  would  go on  the  driver's  license if  somebody                                                                    
     wants  to  have it  on  there;  again, this  is  purely                                                                    
     voluntary.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:34:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WILSON noted  that he  has concerns  with the  voluntary                                                               
elements  of  the  bill.  He   asked  if  he  has  addressed  the                                                               
vulnerable population of disabled that  may be coerced into doing                                                               
the identification program by conservators or medical providers.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON emphasized that the program is totally                                                                  
voluntary and explained the process as follows:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     If somebody  is advised by the  disabled community that                                                                    
     the  Governor's  Commission  on Disabilities  puts  the                                                                    
     word  out to  these people,  they would  have to  go to                                                                    
     their medical  provider and get  a letter  stating what                                                                    
     their disability is, they would  have to take it to the                                                                    
     [Division] of Motor  Vehicles and say, "I  do have this                                                                    
     problem and I  would like to have this  on my license."                                                                    
     I didn't  think there would  be any coercion as  far as                                                                    
     forcing them to. If somebody  was in a conservatorship,                                                                    
     I  don't know  if  they  would be  eligible  to have  a                                                                    
     driver's license; but,  this is also to have  it on any                                                                    
     state ID  in case they  didn't have a  driver's license                                                                    
     or  even any  kind  of identification  that might  come                                                                    
     from  a village  corporation  or something  if that  is                                                                    
     their only form of  identification that they would have                                                                    
     the ability  with proof  that they  have a  problem, it                                                                    
     would   be  available   to  them   to   put  on   their                                                                    
     identification.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:37:09 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL   asked  that  the  protocol   be  explained  in                                                               
establishing information  being placed into a  driver's manual by                                                               
DMV as  well as training  development for the state  troopers and                                                               
police academies in Alaska.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  THOMPSON replied  that  the  training has  online                                                               
accessibility for what to do  when encountering an insignia on an                                                               
individual's  identification. He  said the  training protocol  is                                                               
set up,  but distribution  is not statewide.  He noted  that most                                                               
larger  police  departments  do  go  through  the  state  trooper                                                               
training or the academy to receive certification.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COGHILL  pointed out  that there are  two sides  during a                                                               
traffic stop:  the right as a  citizen to assert their  right and                                                               
the right  of public safety  to stop  and deal with  somebody. He                                                               
noted  that Representative  Thompson also  addressed establishing                                                               
something  that would  go into  a  driver's test  and manual.  He                                                               
asked if DMV has provided input.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:39:45 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON answered that  his office has spoken with                                                               
DMV several times.  He noted that other states  have gone through                                                               
the  same  process regarding  what  to  put into  their  drivers'                                                               
manuals and their explanations have  been simplified. He asserted                                                               
that the addition information in  the drivers' manuals is for the                                                               
safety  of the  police  officer as  well as  the  safety for  the                                                               
person.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He noted  that one example  of what a  driver should not  do when                                                               
pulled over  for a  traffic stop  is to,  "start digging  in your                                                               
glovebox," because an  officer might think the  driver is getting                                                               
a  gun.  He  addressed additional  traffic-stop  suggestions  for                                                               
drivers as follows:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
   · Acknowledge the officer's presence by turning on your                                                                      
     right-turn signal or your left;                                                                                            
   · Move vehicle to the right shoulder of the road;                                                                            
   · End cellphone conversation;                                                                                                
   · Turnoff radio;                                                                                                             
   · Remain inside vehicle unless otherwise directed by the                                                                     
     officer;                                                                                                                   
   · Place your hands in clear view including all passengers'                                                                   
     hands such as on the steering wheel or on top of your lap.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
He said the previously noted  examples were put into some state's                                                               
drivers'  manuals  such  as:  Montana,  Texas,  Pennsylvania  and                                                               
several others. He said knowing what  to do during a traffic stop                                                               
is a  good thing because  a lot of  people get an  anxiety attack                                                               
when they see a light flashing in their rearview mirror.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL  recalled that an exemplary  incident occurred in                                                               
Fairbanks a  few years  back that  illustrated the  importance of                                                               
the  legislation.   She  asked  Representative  Thompson   if  he                                                               
recalled the incident that she referenced.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:41:54 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  THOMPSON replied  that  he has  heard of  several                                                               
incidences,  but was  not sure  if the  incident Senator  Giessel                                                               
referenced was the  one that he recalls. He  explained that there                                                               
was an incident  in Fairbanks where an individual  was thought to                                                               
have  been inebriated  but was  not.  He noted  that an  incident                                                               
occurred in Kodiak last year where  a police officer used a taser                                                               
due to a misunderstanding with  an individual with a handicap. He                                                               
stated  that  the incidents  he  described  are events  that  the                                                               
legislation is trying to prevent from happening.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL  addressed an argument  for possibly  placing the                                                               
hidden-disability designation on a vehicle's license plate.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:43:20 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON explained that  the identification on the                                                               
driver's  license  plate is  for  somebody  that has  a  mobility                                                               
disability  that gives  them  permission to  park  in a  handicap                                                               
spot. He  said he did  not think  that a hidden  disability would                                                               
qualify for somebody getting a  handicap-license plate. He opined                                                               
that  a  lot  of  people  with  an  undetectable  handicap  would                                                               
probably not  want a designation  on their license  plate because                                                               
they do not think they are handicapped.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL noted  that she was a sponsor of  the Achieving a                                                               
Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act  and pointed out that there are                                                               
many   able-bodied   individuals   who  have   other   types   of                                                               
disabilities  that   do  not  regard  themselves   as  physically                                                               
impaired for mobility purposes.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
She noted  that Representative Thompson  commented that  the bill                                                               
has  gone  through  the  Legislature. She  asked  what  level  of                                                               
support did  the bill  have the  previous year  and what  was the                                                               
impediment to the bill passing.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON  detailed that  the previous  bill passed                                                               
the  House  40-0. He  added  that  the  bill passed  through  two                                                               
committees in the Senate, but never got to the Senate floor.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR EGAN  disclosed that he  has a disability  that qualifies                                                               
him  for  a  handicap-parking  sticker, but  does  not  want  the                                                               
identification on his license plate.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON  pointed out that Senator  Egan's comment                                                               
was  exactly what  was brought  up  by several  people that  have                                                               
handicaps where  they did  not want  their handicap  pointed out;                                                               
however,  he  noted  that  some people  wanted  a  license  plate                                                               
identification to avoid a bad interaction with public safety.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:46:09 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WILSON stated  that he  was  surprised by  the list  for                                                               
hidden  disabilities.  He  noted  that  the  long  list  included                                                               
allergies, chronic  pain, and  diabetes. He  said he  was worried                                                               
about someone abusing the list  for hidden disabilities. He added                                                               
that  he  was also  concerned  about  people being  discriminated                                                               
against  due   to  their  hidden-disability   identification.  He                                                               
summarized that he  was for the curriculum  requirements, but was                                                               
concerned about getting into labeling sub-populations.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:48:38 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON replied  that he was shocked  at the list                                                               
received  from  the disabled  community  and  admitted that  some                                                               
should  not  qualify  for  having  the  identification  on  their                                                               
driver's license. He admitted that he  is not a medical doctor or                                                               
a person  that could determine  which should qualify. He  said he                                                               
did not know if a doctor or the  DMV would be able to address the                                                               
qualification list.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GIESSEL reiterated  that the  indicator on  the driver's                                                               
license is voluntary.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON answered correct.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL  asked if an  individual with  seasonal allergies                                                               
would  have  the  option  not  to have  the  indicator  on  their                                                               
driver's license.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON answered correct.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY announced  that the  committee will  hear invited                                                               
testimony on HB 16.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:50:18 PM                                                                                                                    
ART   DELAUNE,  representative,   Wall-Busters  Advocacy   Group,                                                               
Fairbanks, Alaska,  testified in support  of HB 16.  He disclosed                                                               
that  he  is   also  a  member  of  the   Governor's  Council  on                                                               
Disabilities and Special Education.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:51:01 PM                                                                                                                    
JUANITA  WEBB,   advocate,  Wall-Busters  Advocacy   Group,  Fox,                                                               
Alaska,   testified   in   support   of  HB   16.   She   thanked                                                               
Representative Thompson  for sponsoring HB  16 and "going  on the                                                               
journey  with Wall-Busters."  She said  she submitted  a personal                                                               
letter of  support to the  committee that explained how  the bill                                                               
could have  potentially made  a difference  to her.  She asserted                                                               
that  HB  16  has  always  been  about  safety  and  standardized                                                               
education  at  the  academy  level to  provide  a  more  complete                                                               
understanding  of  disabilities.  She summarized  that  having  a                                                               
discreet, voluntary icon  on a driver's license or  ID will alert                                                               
officers to  potential further-communication  needs for  a better                                                               
outcome.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:53:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CATHY GERBY,  representing herself, Fairbanks,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in support of HB 16. She  disclosed that she is a licensed social                                                               
worker with 29 years of  experience working with clients who have                                                               
experienced  a  vast array  of  hidden  disabilities. She  shared                                                               
experiences with the committee  regarding individuals with hidden                                                               
disabilities  as well  as with  first responders.  She set  forth                                                               
that HB  16 is about  empowering people with  hidden disabilities                                                               
to be supported  in identifying themselves under  times of duress                                                               
to first responders. She noted that  HB 16 has no fiscal note and                                                               
the  state trooper  training academy  has  already amended  their                                                               
training program to incorporate  a more robust training regarding                                                               
disabilities.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:57:39 PM                                                                                                                    
DERRALL   MCBIRNEY,   advocate,  Wall-Busters   Advocacy   Group,                                                               
Fairbanks, Alaska,  testified in support  of HB 16.  He suggested                                                               
that law  enforcement have access  to a database  that identifies                                                               
an  individual with  a  hidden disability  prior  to the  initial                                                               
personal encounter during a traffic stop.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:59:26 PM                                                                                                                    
RICHARD WEBB,  advocate, Wall-Busters Advocacy  Group, Fairbanks,                                                               
Alaska,  testified in  support of  HB 16.  He said  training will                                                               
allow  law enforcement  to  understand that  some  people do  not                                                               
communicate or comprehend in the majority way.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:01:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony on HB 16.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:01:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony on HB 16.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:01:44 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held HB 16 in committee.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:01:50 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
         SCR 4-TASK FORCE ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:02:37 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called  the committee back to  order and announced                                                               
the consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 4.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:02:59 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  SHELLEY   HUGHES,  Alaska  State   Legislature,  Juneau,                                                               
Alaska, sponsor  of SCR 4,  disclosed that her  constituents have                                                               
voiced concern  about privacy  and asked  for legislation  to ban                                                               
unmanned  aerial  vehicles  (UAVs).  She noted  that  during  her                                                               
research on  UAVs, she  has come  to realize  that UAVs  could be                                                               
useful tools if the operator had good intentions.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
She  divulged that  she has  been the  co-chair for  the Unmanned                                                               
Aircraft Systems Task Force since  2013. She opined that the task                                                               
force has done a lot of good  work with a team of volunteers that                                                               
are  not  compensate  for  their  work  and  pay  for  their  own                                                               
expenses. She  asserted that  the task  force has  helped educate                                                               
the  public  about  UAV  safety   and  privacy  guidelines  while                                                               
promoting  the aviation  industry to  the many  cost savings  and                                                               
life savings uses for UAVs.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
She conceded  that the  issue of  privacy is  a subject  that the                                                               
task force  continues to struggle  with. She said the  task force                                                               
is notified  of privacy  instances and  has had  discussions with                                                               
law enforcement  about the issue.  She noted that the  task force                                                               
has  come up  with different  ideas but  has run  up against  the                                                               
Federal Aviation  Administration (FAA)  rules. She  revealed that                                                               
the FAA  controls, "The  air right  above the  blade of  grass in                                                               
your backyard."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
She  said the  task  force  continues to  look  at  the issue  of                                                               
privacy and has ideas to explore,  but the task force is going to                                                               
term-out  June  30.  She  set  forth  that  the  task  force  has                                                               
determined  a need  to stay  in  existence until  the state  gets                                                               
through the UAV  transition time due to  its evolving technology.                                                               
She summarized that SCR 4 re-ups the task force's term.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:06:58 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted  that Senator Hughes said,  "The space above                                                               
your  yard or  your grass  doesn't belong  to us,  it belongs  to                                                               
them." He  asked what would happen  if a drone flying  just above                                                               
the ground is taken down on the land that you own.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGHES clarified that the  FAA has jurisdiction over your                                                               
land. She revealed  that the most frequent question  asked by her                                                               
constituents  is whether  a federal  violation would  occur if  a                                                               
homeowner shoots  down a drone  that flies over their  house. She                                                               
confirmed  that shooting  down a  drone would  be a  violation of                                                               
federal law.  She said knowing  the FAA's rules  regarding drones                                                               
is a reason why education is important.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:08:51 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY asked  what the  rules are  if a  drone is  being                                                               
thoroughly disruptive.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGHES  noted that other  testifiers will  provide input.                                                               
She  suggested that  a person  waive the  drone away  because the                                                               
craft has cameras  that can see when a person  does not want them                                                               
there.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL noted  that UAVs were used to count  sea lions in                                                               
the  Aleutians. She  disclosed that  sealions are  very sensitive                                                               
animals to any  kind of disruption. She asked  how successful the                                                               
animal  counts  have  been  with  UAVs  for  sealions  and  other                                                               
creatures.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGHES disclosed that  the University of Alaska-Fairbanks                                                               
was  involved in  the sealion  count and  they were  getting more                                                               
accurate  counts  because  the   UAVs  work  better  than  manned                                                               
aircraft.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that SCR 4 has a zero-fiscal note.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  opened public  testimony on  SCR 4.  He addressed                                                               
Senator Hughes' statement  that the FAA controls  the space above                                                               
a landowner's  property and  asked what  the harassment  laws are                                                               
for a UAV.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:11:45 PM                                                                                                                    
STEVE  COLLIGAN, member,  Unmanned Aircraft  Systems Task  Force,                                                               
Wasilla, Alaska,  explained that  the FAA controls  the airspace,                                                               
nationwide. He  pointed out that a  UAV is classified by  the FAA                                                               
as  an aircraft  just like  a full-sized  aircraft. He  explained                                                               
that harassment or perceived level  of privacy does not depend on                                                               
whether an aircraft  or even a smartphone is used,  it is the act                                                               
itself  and  not the  device  that  is  used. He  concurred  with                                                               
Senator Hughes  that the FAA  has determined UAVs to  be aircraft                                                               
and  shooting   them  down  has  repercussions.   He  noted  that                                                               
Anchorage  is considering  a UAV  ordinance to  limit at  50 feet                                                               
above somebody's property, but the  ordinance would conflict with                                                               
some of the FAA's airspace rules.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
He opined that the reality is  public safety and people need some                                                               
devices to be able to protect  the public if somebody is behaving                                                               
poorly;  again, that  does not  matter  whether the  device is  a                                                               
drone  or  some other  device.  He  pointed  out that  there  are                                                               
Peeping Tom  laws on  the books that  cover voyeurism.  He opined                                                               
that  what has  been  great about  the task  force  has been  the                                                               
review of privacy  and public safety. He said the  task force has                                                               
worked  with the  state attorney  general to  review the  state's                                                               
existing laws.  He disclosed  that the  task force  has addressed                                                               
the  idea  of  a  law  that  defines  loitering  over  somebody's                                                               
property  that  allows  public  safety  to  address  with  a  UAV                                                               
operator whether the individual is misbehaving.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:15:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  noted that manned  aircraft have  visible numbers                                                               
for  identification  and  asked   Mr.  Colligan  to  address  UAV                                                               
identification that  allows people to report  illegal activity or                                                               
form of harassment.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR.  COLLIGAN answered  that  UAVs  over 250  grams  must have  a                                                               
visible  registration number,  but conceded  that the  aircraft's                                                               
size may be an issue. He  noted that electronic means exist where                                                               
identification numbers may be broadcast by the UAV.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:17:28 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony on SCR 4.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:17:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY moved Amendment 1 for SCR 4:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                 30-LS0360\A.1                                                                  
                                                      Mischel                                                                   
                                                       3/9/17                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          AMENDMENT 1                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     OFFERED IN THE SENATE              BY SENATOR DUNLEAVY                                                                     
          TO: SCR 4                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 29:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
             Delete "public and industry"                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:17:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:17:55 PM                                                                                                                    
BUDDY  WHITT,   Staff,  Senator  Shelley  Hughes,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, addressed Amendment  1 for SCR 4 and                                                               
specified  that on  page 3,  lines 29-31,  "public and  industry"                                                               
would be  deleted to make  all members  of the task  force exempt                                                               
from  compensation  or per  diem.  He  noted that  the  amendment                                                               
results in a fiscal note that would otherwise be indeterminate.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:19:01 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL removed her objection.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:19:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY   announced  that  seeing  no   other  objection,                                                               
Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:19:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report  SCR 4, 30-LS0360\A [as amended],                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:19:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  announced that seeing no  objection, CSSCR 4(STA)                                                               
moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:19:42 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
        SB 48-INS. FOR DEPENDS. OF DECEASED FIRE/POLICE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:21:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called  the committee back to  order and announced                                                               
the consideration of Senate Bill (SB) 48.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:21:36 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GIESSEL   moved  to  adopt  the   work  draft  committee                                                               
substitute (CS)  for SB  48, version  30-LS0108\U as  the working                                                               
document.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY objected for discussion purposes.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:21:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHRISTA  MCDONALD, Staff,  Senator  Mike  Dunleavy, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  explained  that the  CS makes  two                                                               
changes:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
   1. Page 2, lines 25-29, new language was added to AS                                                                         
     39.60.040(a) that  requires an  application be  submitted to                                                               
     the  commissioner,  but  presumes  the  eligibility  of  the                                                               
     surviving dependent;  this was  language that  was requested                                                               
     by the Department  of Law just to make  sure the application                                                               
     process is  smooth while allowing  the application to  be on                                                               
     file.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
   2. Page 6, lines 16-17, reworded for clarification to read,                                                                  
     "'Surviving spouse'  means a  person who  was married  to an                                                               
     employee at the time of  the employee's death;" this doesn't                                                               
     change the meaning, just cleaned up the wording.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:22:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY removed his objection and announced that the CS                                                                  
was adopted.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:23:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony on SB 48.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:23:24 PM                                                                                                                    
BRANDY JOHNSON, representing self and others, Fairbanks, Alaska,                                                                
testified in support of SB 48 as follows:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     I am testifying in support  of Senate Bill 48 on behalf                                                                    
     of  myself, my  three daughters,  my deceased  husband,                                                                    
     Scott Johnson,  surviving families  of past  and future                                                                    
     line-of-duty deaths  for state troopers as  well as law                                                                    
     enforcement officers in the State  of Alaska. On May 1,                                                                    
     2014  my  husband  Scott Johnson  and  Gabe  Rich  were                                                                    
     murdered while  in performance of  their job  as Alaska                                                                    
     State Trooper in Tanana, Alaska.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     The  recent  committee  substitute to  Senate  Bill  48                                                                    
     currently  limits  the  health  coverage  to  surviving                                                                    
     spouses  to  10  years  on  page  3,  line  20.  I  was                                                                    
     wondering if the 10-year limit  on spousal coverage was                                                                    
     retroactive to the death of  the employee or if the 10-                                                                    
     year  limit  begins  when the  legislation  would  take                                                                    
     effect?  I  would also  like  information  on what  the                                                                    
     reasoning  is behind  the limit.  Why is  the limit  10                                                                    
     years  and not  5 or  even  15, etc.?  Is the  language                                                                    
     coming from  similar language  from what  another state                                                                    
     may be doing?                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Usually  when a  family purchases  health-care coverage                                                                    
     or the coverage  is part of an employee  benefit, it is                                                                    
     a family package, the  parents' coverage usually covers                                                                    
     the children.  Me being  the sole-surviving  parent, it                                                                    
     is my  responsibility to  take care  of my  family. The                                                                    
     limiting  language does  not  make sense  to  me. I  am                                                                    
     hearing  it  is more  important  to  take care  of  the                                                                    
     children rather than the family unit.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     When a  law-enforcement officer is  killed in  the line                                                                    
     of duty,  the surviving  families are at  all different                                                                    
     stages  in life,  some families  are  very young  while                                                                    
     others  are  older.  Also,   if  the  10-year  language                                                                    
     remains, I would like to  know what the additional cost                                                                    
     would be to cover  the remaining surviving parent after                                                                    
     10-year limit expires.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Currently  there are  two surviving  spouses of  Alaska                                                                    
     State  Trooper employees  who have  been killed  in the                                                                    
     line of  duty and one  surviving spouse of  a municipal                                                                    
     employee that was  killed in the line of  duty. I would                                                                    
     think the  State of Alaska  would want to take  care of                                                                    
     the sole-surviving parent so  that that parent can take                                                                    
     care of their family.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Thank you  for the special invitation  today to testify                                                                    
     on behalf  of this committee substitute  and address my                                                                    
     concerns.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:26:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony on SB 48.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COGHILL,  sponsor of SB  48, commented that  Mrs. Johnson                                                               
brings  up a  good  point regarding  the  10-year limitation.  He                                                               
agreed that the 10-year period  was arbitrary, but noted that the                                                               
administration and the  Department of Law came up  with the time.                                                               
He said  there is  no common  way in dealing  with the  time when                                                               
looking at other  states, but 10 years was a  number that came up                                                               
most often.  He conceded that  the benefit is not  life-long, but                                                               
opined that  the 10  years is  generous. He  pointed out  that an                                                               
effort was made to ensure the  children receive the benefit up to                                                               
age 26 unless there was some  other benefit available to them. He                                                               
said  he did  not  have any  better  answer, but  was  open to  a                                                               
discussion.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:28:20 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL thanked Mrs. Johnson  for supporting the bill and                                                               
for her significant  sacrifice to the State of  Alaska. She asked                                                               
Senator Coghill  if the benefit  to the surviving children  up to                                                               
age  26  is in  line  with  the  standard health  insurance  that                                                               
legislators receive for their children.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COGHILL  answered the insurance benefit  falls within the                                                               
reasonable limit of what the  Legislature is doing. He reiterated                                                               
that  the  proposed policy  does  have  a contingency  where  the                                                               
benefit is available  until age 26 unless  a comparable insurance                                                               
policy becomes available,  a reason why a  reporting mechanism is                                                               
included in the legislation.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:29:51 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report the CS for SB 48, version 30-                                                                   
LS0108\U, from committee with individual recommendations and                                                                    
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:30:02 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that seeing no objection, CSSB 48(STA)                                                                 
moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:30:15 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:31:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called the committee back to order.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:31:56 PM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Dunleavy adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing                                                                      
Committee at 4:31 p.m.