ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
            SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                           
                       February 25, 2020                                                                                        
                           3:32 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Joshua Revak, Chair                                                                                                     
Senator John Coghill, Vice Chair                                                                                                
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
Senator Scott Kawasaki                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Mia Costello                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14                                                                                                  
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of                                                                      
Alaska relating to actions upon veto.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 56                                                                                                               
"An Act establishing May 15 of each year as Hmong-American                                                                      
Veterans Day."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HB 56 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 101                                                                                                             
"An Act establishing March 12 of each year as Ashley Johnson-                                                                   
Barr Day."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SB 101 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 109(EDC) AM                                                                             
"An Act relating to residency requirements for public school                                                                    
enrollment for certain children of active duty military and                                                                     
National Guard members."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHB 109(EDC) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 169                                                                                                             
"An Act relating to special request registration plates                                                                         
celebrating the arts; and relating to the Alaska State Council                                                                  
on the Arts."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSSB 169(EDC) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18                                                                                                  
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - BILL HEARING CANCELED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SJR 14                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: CONST. AM: VOTES NEEDED FOR VETO OVERRIDE                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): JUDICIARY                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
01/24/20       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/24/20       (S)       STA, JUD, FIN                                                                                          
02/25/20       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 56                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: ESTABLISH HMONG-AMERICAN VETERANS DAY                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): TARR                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/20/19       (H)       MLV, CRA                                                                                               
03/05/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
03/05/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/05/19       (H)       MINUTE(MLV)                                                                                            
03/07/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
03/07/19       (H)       Moved HB 56 Out of Committee                                                                           
03/07/19       (H)       MINUTE(MLV)                                                                                            
03/08/19       (H)       MLV RPT 7DP                                                                                            
03/08/19       (H)       DP: THOMPSON, KOPP, RAUSCHER, TARR,                                                                    
                         JACKSON, TUCK, LEDOUX                                                                                  
03/28/19       (H)       CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/28/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/28/19       (H)       MINUTE(CRA)                                                                                            
04/02/19       (H)       CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/02/19       (H)       Moved HB 56 Out of Committee                                                                           
04/02/19       (H)       MINUTE(CRA)                                                                                            
04/03/19       (H)       CRA RPT 7DP                                                                                            
04/03/19       (H)       DP: THOMPSON, REVAK, KREISS-TOMKINS,                                                                   
                         JACKSON, CLAMAN, HANNAN, DRUMMOND                                                                      
04/22/19       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/22/19       (H)       VERSION: HB 56                                                                                         
04/22/19       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/22/19       (S)       STA                                                                                                    
02/25/20       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 101                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: MARCH 12: ASHLEY JOHNSON-BARR DAY                                                                                  
SPONSOR(s): OLSON                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
03/29/19       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/29/19       (S)       STA                                                                                                    
02/25/20       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 109                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY CHILDREN SCHOOL RESIDENCY WAIVER                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): LEDOUX                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
03/25/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/25/19       (H)       MLV, EDC                                                                                               
04/09/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/09/19       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/11/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/11/19       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/16/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/16/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/16/19       (H)       MINUTE(MLV)                                                                                            
04/18/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/18/19       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/23/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/23/19       (H)       Moved CSHB 109(MLV) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/23/19       (H)       MINUTE(MLV)                                                                                            
04/24/19       (H)       MLV RPT CS(MLV) NT 6DP                                                                                 
04/24/19       (H)       DP: KOPP, THOMPSON, JACKSON, TARR,                                                                     
                         TUCK, LEDOUX                                                                                           
05/08/19       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
05/08/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/08/19       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
05/10/19       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
05/10/19       (H)       Moved CSHB 109(EDC) Out of Committee                                                                   
05/10/19       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
05/11/19       (H)       EDC RPT CS(EDC) NT 3DP 1NR 1AM                                                                         
05/11/19       (H)       DP: TUCK, DRUMMOND, STORY                                                                              
05/11/19       (H)       NR: HOPKINS                                                                                            
05/11/19       (H)       AM: REVAK                                                                                              
02/03/20       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
02/03/20       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 109(EDC) AM                                                                              
02/05/20       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/05/20       (S)       STA, EDC                                                                                               
02/18/20       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/18/20       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/18/20       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
02/25/20       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 169                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: LICENSE PLATES: COUNCIL ON ARTS                                                                                    
SPONSOR(s): STEVENS                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
01/29/20       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/29/20       (S)       EDC, STA, FIN                                                                                          
02/06/20       (S)       EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/06/20       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/06/20       (S)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
02/13/20       (S)       EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/13/20       (S)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
02/18/20       (S)       EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/18/20       (S)       Moved CSSB 169(EDC) Out of Committee                                                                   
02/18/20       (S)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
02/18/20       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/18/20       (S)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
02/19/20       (S)       EDC RPT CS  5DP NEW TITLE                                                                              
02/19/20       (S)       DP: STEVENS, BEGICH, COSTELLO, COGHILL,                                                                
                         HUGHES                                                                                                 
02/20/20       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/20/20       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/20/20       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
02/25/20       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SHAWN AYERS, Staff                                                                                                              
Senator John Coghill                                                                                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered the sponsor statement for SJR 14.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 56.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
PASERT LEE, President and Founder                                                                                               
Hmong Alaska Community, Inc.                                                                                                    
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 56.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MAI XIONG                                                                                                                       
Hmong Alaska Community, Inc.                                                                                                    
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 56.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DONNY OLSON                                                                                                             
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 101.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SETH BEAVER, Staff                                                                                                              
Senator Donny Olson                                                                                                             
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 101 on behalf of the sponsor.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
LEWIS JAMES PAGEL, representing self                                                                                            
Kotzebue, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 101.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
ANTHONY CRAVALHO, representing self                                                                                             
Kotzebue, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 101.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WALTER SCOTTY DANIEL BARR                                                                                                       
Kotzebue, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as the father of Ashley Johnson-                                                                
Barr to encourage passage of SB 101 establishing March 12 as                                                                    
Ashley Johnson-Barr Day.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHRIS DANKMEYER, representing self                                                                                              
Kotzebue, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 101.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX                                                                                                           
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 109.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARY STEVENS                                                                                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 169.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
JOANNE OLSEN, Interim Director                                                                                                  
Division of Motor Vehicles                                                                                                      
Department of Administration (DOA)                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions during the  hearing on SB                                                             
169.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:32:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  JOSHUA  REVAK called  the  Senate  State Affairs  Standing                                                             
Committee meeting  to order at 3:32  p.m. Present at the  call to                                                               
order were Senators Coghill, Wilson, Kawasaki, and Chair Revak.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
        SJR 14-CONST. AM: VOTES NEEDED FOR VETO OVERRIDE                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:33:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  REVAK   announced  the   consideration  of   SENATE  JOINT                                                               
RESOLUTION NO. 14, Proposing an  amendment to the Constitution of                                                               
the State of Alaska relating to actions upon veto.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:34:05 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR JOHN  COGHILL, speaking as  sponsor of SJR 14,  said this                                                               
is a  balance of power  issue. The  Constitution of the  State of                                                               
Alaska is  meant to protect  the voice  of both the  majority and                                                               
the minority in  the legislature, but it  was always contemplated                                                               
that the  voice of the people  would have a chance  to rule. Last                                                               
year  for the  first  time  he can  recall,  the  governor and  a                                                               
minority of the  legislature was able to throttle the  voice of a                                                               
significant majority of  the people of Alaska. He  brought SJR 14                                                               
forward on that account.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:36:05 PM                                                                                                                    
SHAWN   AYERS,  Staff,   Senator  John   Coghill,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature,   Juneau,  Alaska,   read   the  following   sponsor                                                               
statement for SJR 14:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     SJR  14   lowers  the  threshold  for   overriding  the                                                                    
     governor's veto of appropriations  to two-thirds of the                                                                    
     membership of  the legislature. This sets  the standard                                                                    
     for veto  overrides of appropriations in  line with the                                                                    
     existing  threshold  for non-appropriation  vetoes  and                                                                    
     mirrors the majority of other states in the nation.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     The  Constitution of  Alaska  gives  the governor  more                                                                    
     power than  any other  state. He appoints  his cabinet,                                                                    
     the  Attorney General,  Boards and  Commissions, Judges                                                                    
     and the  Board of Regents  and appoints two  members of                                                                    
     the redistricting board.  Few state constitutions grant                                                                    
     as much authority to the  governor as Alaska does. This                                                                    
     is  because  most  of   the  other  constitutions  were                                                                    
     written  with  a  history   of  tyrannical  or  corrupt                                                                    
     executives in mind.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Alaska is  the only  state or  territory in  the United                                                                    
     States    that    requires   three-fourths    of    the                                                                    
     legislature's     membership    vote     to    override                                                                    
     appropriation bill vetoes.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     It  is  essential  that  the  constitutionally  granted                                                                    
     separation of powers  between legislative and executive                                                                    
     branches be beneficially rebalanced.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:37:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL  said  the sponsor  statement  points  out  that                                                               
Alaska is  the only state in  the union that has  a three-quarter                                                               
vote threshold in the constitution  to override a governor's veto                                                               
on   appropriations.   The  Constitutional   Convention   minutes                                                               
indicate that the delegates wanted  a very strong executive which                                                               
was appropriate at the time when  Alaska needed a strong voice to                                                               
talk to  the federal government.  He emphasized that SJR  14 does                                                               
not diminish the  power of the governor. It does  reduce the very                                                               
high  three-quarter's vote  threshold  to override  appropriation                                                               
vetoes  that demonstrably  throttled a  significant voice  of the                                                               
people  last  year. He  opined  that  a two-thirds  threshold  to                                                               
override a governor's appropriation veto is still very high.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:41:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK  found no questions and  stated he would hold  SJR 14                                                               
for future consideration.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
          HB 56-ESTABLISH HMONG-AMERICAN VETERANS DAY                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:42:23 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK  announced the  consideration of  HOUSE BILL  NO. 56,                                                               
"An  Act  establishing May  15  of  each year  as  Hmong-American                                                               
Veterans Day."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:42:39 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  GERAN  TARR,  Alaska State  Legislature,  Juneau,                                                               
Alaska,  sponsor of  HB  56,  introduced HB  56  speaking to  the                                                               
following sponsor statement:                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     House Bill 56 recognizes  and honors the Hmong veterans                                                                    
     who  fought  alongside  the United  States  during  the                                                                    
     Vietnam   War,  by   proclaiming  that   May  15th   be                                                                    
     recognized  throughout the  State of  Alaska as  Hmong-                                                                    
     American  Veterans  Day, for  this  year  and years  to                                                                    
     come.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     There are  an estimated 260,000  Hmong-Americans living                                                                    
     in  the United  States with  an estimated  3,500 Hmong-                                                                    
     Americans living in Alaska. Many  of these Alaskans are                                                                    
     veterans and  all have been  impacted by the  legacy of                                                                    
     the  Hmong  fighting  for  the  United  States  in  the                                                                    
     Vietnam  War.  Beginning  in the  1960's,  the  Central                                                                    
     Intelligence  Agency began  recruiting Hmong  people to                                                                    
     help  U.S. soldiers  in  the  fight against  communism.                                                                    
     Between  1962 and  1975,  about  12,000 Hmong  soldiers                                                                    
     died  fighting  against  the  Laotians.  After  the  US                                                                    
     withdrawal from  Vietnam in 1975,  the Lao  kingdom was                                                                    
     overthrown by the communist party  and the Hmong became                                                                    
     targets. The Hmong people were  displaced and forced to                                                                    
     relocate from Laos to Thailand,  with some ending up in                                                                    
     UN  refugee camps.  It has  been estimated  that 30,000                                                                    
     Hmong  were killed  by the  communists while  trying to                                                                    
     reach  refuge in  Thailand. All  in  all, over  100,000                                                                    
     Hmong people died  as a result of both  the Vietnam and                                                                    
     "Secret" Wars.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     The Hmong people  put their faith in  the United States                                                                    
     government,   which  promised   them  citizenship   and                                                                    
     veteran  status after  the war.  It's taken  over fifty                                                                    
     years  for  them  to  receive   the  rights  they  were                                                                    
     promised at  that time, but  still- we must  do better.                                                                    
     By  recognizing May  15th  as Hmong-American  Veteran's                                                                    
     Day,  we can  celebrate and  honor the  Hmong who  were                                                                    
     lost,  the  sacrifices  made  to  this  country,  while                                                                    
     bringing pride to their families.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     We ask for your support  for HB56, recognizing May 15th                                                                    
     as Hmong-American Veterans' Day.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TARR read the following paragraph from a                                                                         
Legislative Research report:                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     The  U.S  government  kept  the   Secret  War  in  Laos                                                                    
     confidential  until 1997.  On  May 15,  1997, the  U.S.                                                                    
     government publicly acknowledged  that it had supported                                                                    
     a prolonged  air and ground campaign  against the North                                                                    
     Vietnamese Army and  Viet Cong from Laos,  and in honor                                                                    
     of the Hmong and other  combat veterans from the Secret                                                                    
     War,  dedicated the  Laos Memorial  on  the grounds  of                                                                    
                                                      th                                                                        
     Arlington National Cemetery.  As a result, May 15   has                                                                    
     become an  historic date for  Hmong veterans,  since it                                                                    
     represents  the  fist  time   that  the  United  States                                                                    
     government  officially  and   publicly  recognized  the                                                                    
     contributions  of these  soldiers who  fought alongside                                                                    
     the Americans during the Vietnam War.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
She  highlighted   the  letters  that  are   online  from  people                                                               
supporting this effort.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:46:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK invited Mr. Lee to provide testimony.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:46:59 PM                                                                                                                    
PASERT LEE, President and Founder,  Hmong Alaska Community, Inc.,                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska, stated that he  is testifying in support of HB                                                               
56 to  establish May  15 as Hmong-American  Veterans Day.  He has                                                               
celebrated this  day for  seven years now.  He reported  that the                                                               
Hmong volunteered  to support the  CIA during the Vietnam  War in                                                               
Indochina  and   35,000  lost  their  lives.   In  conclusion  he                                                               
expressed hope that May 15  would become officially recognized as                                                               
Hmong-Veterans Day.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:49:30 PM                                                                                                                    
MAI  XIONG,  Hmong  Alaska Community,  Inc.,  Anchorage,  Alaska,                                                               
stated support  for HB 56  establishing May 15  as Hmong-American                                                               
Veterans Day.  The Hmong  community has  been celebrating  May 15                                                               
for seven years  and would like it to  be permanently designated.                                                               
When the war ended on May  15, 1975, the military left Laos. Many                                                               
Hmong veterans died during that  war. She expressed hope that the                                                               
bill would be signed into law on May 15.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR REVAK offered his understanding  that more Hmong lost their                                                               
lives in  the war than  American soldiers. He mentioned  that Mr.                                                               
Lee was wounded  several times fighting in support  of and saving                                                               
the  lives of  American soldiers,  and he  expressed appreciation                                                               
for his service and what he does in the community.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TARR thanked him for his service.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:53:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  REVAK opened  public testimony  and after  ascertaining no                                                               
one from  the public wished  to testify, closed  public testimony                                                               
on HB 56.  He noted that the  bill has one zero  fiscal note from                                                               
the Department  of Administration. He  solicited the will  of the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COGHILL  commented  on  the  number  of  days  that  are                                                               
celebrated  in commemoration  of  the military  which shows  that                                                               
Alaskans honor people who have served their country.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:54:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COGHILL  moved to report  HB 56, work  order 31-LS0338\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:55:02 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK  found no objection and  HB 56 was reported  from the                                                               
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:55:15 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
            SB 101-MARCH 12: ASHLEY JOHNSON-BARR DAY                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:56:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   REVAK   reconvened   the  meeting   and   announced   the                                                               
consideration of SENATE BILL NO.  101, "An Act establishing March                                                               
12 of each year as Ashley Johnson-Barr Day."                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:57:17 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DONNY  OLSON, Alaska  State Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,                                                               
sponsor  of  SB  101,  stated  that  his  district  includes  the                                                               
community  of Kotzebue  where Ashley  Johnson-Barr was  living at                                                               
the time of her tragic death.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:57:50 PM                                                                                                                    
SETH   BEAVER,  Staff,   Senator   Donny   Olson,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska introduced SB  101 on behalf  of the                                                               
sponsor paraphrasing the following sponsor statement:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     SB 101  establishes March  12th as  Ashley Johnson-Barr                                                                    
     Day to  commemorate the life  of young  Ashley Johnson-                                                                    
     Barr, who  was taken  from this world  too soon  at ten                                                                    
     years old.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     In an unimaginable time of  grief and loss, communities                                                                    
     across  the  state and  nation  joined  the family  and                                                                    
     friends   of  Ashley   in   support.   While  loss   is                                                                    
     overwhelming, there is comfort  in knowing progress can                                                                    
     be  made  in  ensuring  that other  children  will  not                                                                    
     encounter the same tragedy.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     SB  101  aims  to   bring  light  surrounding  tragedy.                                                                    
     Establishing Ashley  Johnson-Barr Day  brings awareness                                                                    
     surrounding violent  crimes committed  against children                                                                    
     and   highlights   that   individuals  hold   a   moral                                                                    
     responsibility  to  make  sure  Alaska's  children  are                                                                    
     protected.  It is  complementary to  the annual  Sexual                                                                    
     Assault   Awareness   Resolution    that   passes   the                                                                    
     legislature   every  year.   Additionally,  it   brings                                                                    
     awareness to the missing  and murdered indigenous women                                                                    
     across  North America.  84.3%  of Alaska  Native/Native                                                                    
     American women  experience violence in  their lifetime,                                                                    
     a percentage we desperately need to reduce.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Honoring Ashley's  life by  wearing her  favorite color                                                                    
     purple,   volunteering  for   child  abuse   prevention                                                                    
     organizations,  and  celebrating   the  liveliness  and                                                                    
     youthfulness of  Alaska's children are  all appropriate                                                                    
     ways to spend Ashley Johnson-Barr Day.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:59:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COGHILL  asked  the  sponsor  if  he  was  working  with                                                               
organizations statewide to spread this message.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON replied  he plans to do that, but  the focus now is                                                               
to get the  resolution signed on or  before Ashley Johnson-Barr's                                                               
birthday on  March 12.  This will provide  comfort to  her family                                                               
and others who have lost children through [sexual] violence.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COGHILL  offered to  help spread  the message  beyond the                                                               
Kotzebue region.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON commented  that tragedies like this  happen far too                                                               
often  throughout  the  state.  He  agreed  with  the  governor's                                                               
statement that perpetrators should be on notice.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:03:33 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:04:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REVAK reconvened  the meeting and passed the  gavel to Vice                                                               
Chair Coghill.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:04:27 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE CHAIR COGHILL opened public testimony on SB 101.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:04:53 PM                                                                                                                    
LEWIS  JAMES PAGEL,  City of  Kotzebue, Kotzebue,  Alaska, stated                                                               
that this  tragedy shows how  people from  all walks of  life can                                                               
come  together and  work for  the greater  good. The  support for                                                               
this resolution  has not  dwindled but  rather has  spread across                                                               
the state,  nation, and other  countries. He expressed  hope that                                                               
establishing March 12 as Ashley  Johnson-Barr Day not only brings                                                               
awareness  of violence  against  children but  also  serves as  a                                                               
reminder that  humanity can  show compassion  and that  the world                                                               
has more good in it than bad.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:06:49 PM                                                                                                                    
ANTHONY CRAVALHO, representing  self, Kotzebue, Alaska, expressed                                                               
appreciation  that SB  101 has  bipartisan  support because  this                                                               
issue is  not political. He related  that for more than  15 years                                                               
he  has advocated  for measures  relating to  sexual assault  and                                                               
supporting victim  services in  Kotzebue. He  said this  is often                                                               
very sad and  difficult work because the Kotzebue  region has the                                                               
highest rate of felony sexual  assault offenses in the state, but                                                               
Ashley's  story is  the saddest  he is  experienced. Establishing                                                               
Ashley  Johnson-Barr  Day is  about  remembering  one young  girl                                                               
raising awareness  and starting meaningful discussions  about the                                                               
welfare  of Alaskan  children and  the sexual  assault challenges                                                               
some  of them  face. He  pointed  out that  children who  survive                                                               
sexual  assault often  are traumatized  into  adulthood and  this                                                               
trauma can affect future generations.  He cited the latest Alaska                                                               
Felony  Sexual  Offense Report  that  shows  that 42  percent  of                                                               
Alaska Native  females (like Ashley) are  sexual assault victims.                                                               
This is  the highest rate  of any gender  or racial group  in the                                                               
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. CRAVALHO  said he is  calling as  a father, an  advocate, and                                                               
the  chair of  the Kotzebue  Advisory School  Council to  ask for                                                               
support for SB  101. This will help recognize  all sexual assault                                                               
victims and bring other stories of sexual assault into the light                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Addressing  Senator  Coghill's  earlier  question,  he  said  the                                                               
Maniilaq Association  in partnership  with the  Alaska Children's                                                               
Trust and  the Council  on Domestic  Violence and  Sexual Assault                                                               
(CDVSA) has done some outreach in coordination with the family.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR COGHILL thanked him for his work.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:11:02 PM                                                                                                                    
WALTER  SCOTTY  DANIEL   BARR,  Maniilaq  Association,  Kotzebue,                                                               
Alaska,  testified  as  the  father  of  Ashley  Johnson-Barr  to                                                               
encourage the committee  to pass SB 101 to establish  March 12 as                                                               
Ashley  Johnson-Barr  Day.  It  will  bring  awareness  and  help                                                               
prevent further sexual violence  against children. He thanked the                                                               
sponsor for  his advocacy  and the many  people around  the state                                                               
and nation  who have reached  out in  support. This is  one thing                                                               
that may  help stop  the epidemic [of  sexual violence]  that has                                                               
gone on for decades, he said.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  COGHILL extended his  condolences and  expressed hope                                                               
that this effort will help rid the state of this scourge.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON expressed hope that commemorating Ashley Johnson-                                                                 
Barr on March 12 would help end this epidemic of evil.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:17:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHRIS  DANKMEYER,  representing  self, Kotzebue,  Alaska,  stated                                                               
that all  Alaskans suffered through  the tragic loss  of 10-year-                                                               
old Ashley  Johnson-Barr. He said  the local, state,  and federal                                                               
response as  well as the  candlelight vigils were witness  to the                                                               
outpouring of  love and support  to the Johnson-Barr  family. The                                                               
color purple, Ashley's favorite  color, gained meaning and became                                                               
a  symbol  of  strength.  He  emphasized  that  Alaska  must  not                                                               
tolerate the high rates of  missing and murdered indigenous women                                                               
and  girls,  the  high  rates of  domestic  violence  and  sexual                                                               
assault,  or any  violent crimes  against children.  This measure                                                               
highlights the moral responsibility  to protect Alaska's children                                                               
by demonstrating that "Enough is enough."                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
VICE  CHAIR  COGHILL  closed  public  testimony  on  SB  101  and                                                               
solicited the will of the committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:20:05 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAWASAKI moved to report  SB 101, work order 31-LS0752\M,                                                               
from committee with individual  recommendations and attached zero                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
VICE  CHAIR COGHILL  stated that  without objection,  SB 101  was                                                               
reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:20:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
        HB 109-MILITARY CHILDREN SCHOOL RESIDENCY WAIVER                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:22:32 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE  CHAIR  COGHILL reconvened  the  meeting  and announced  the                                                               
consideration  of CS  FOR HOUSE  BILL  NO. 109(EDC)  am, "An  Act                                                               
relating to  residency requirements for public  school enrollment                                                               
for certain children  of active duty military  and National Guard                                                               
members." [This was the second hearing.]                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:23:02 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX, Alaska  State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,                                                               
sponsor  of  HB  109,  summarized that  HB  109  allows  military                                                               
families that have received orders  to register their children in                                                               
Alaska  schools  before  they  arrive   in  the  state.  This  is                                                               
important  so these  students are  able to  enroll in  classes or                                                               
attend a charter school before classes are filled.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
She noted the follow-up responses  to questions raised during the                                                               
previous hearing that was distributed to the committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  COGHILL responded  that the  members received  a memo                                                               
from  Legislative Legal  Services confirming  that the  residency                                                               
waiver established in the bill  only applies to school admission.                                                               
It does  not make the  student a  state resident for  purposes of                                                               
receiving  a   permanent  fund  dividend.   He  also   noted  the                                                               
information   from  the   Department  of   Education  and   Early                                                               
Development  (DEED)   about  the  timeline  for   charter  school                                                               
lotteries. Finding  no questions,  he solicited  the will  of the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:25:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KAWASAKI  moved  to  report   HB  109,  work  order  31-                                                               
LS0728\K.A,  from committee  with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  COGHILL stated that without  objection, CSHB 109(EDC)                                                               
am  was   reported  from  the   Senate  State   Affairs  Standing                                                               
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:25:50 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
             SB 169-LICENSE PLATES: COUNCIL ON ARTS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:27:06 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE  CHAIR  COGHILL reconvened  the  meeting  and announced  the                                                               
consideration  of  SENATE  BILL  NO. 169,  "An  Act  relating  to                                                               
special  request registration  plates celebrating  the arts;  and                                                               
relating to the Alaska State Council  on the Arts." [This was the                                                               
second hearing.]                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:27:32 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GARY  STEVENS, Alaska State Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,                                                               
sponsor of SB 169, summarized that  this bill came at the request                                                               
of the  Alaska State Council on  the Arts (ASCA). It  would amend                                                               
the existing  license plate statute  to allow ASCA  supporters to                                                               
provide the council  with a little more revenue,  provide a means                                                               
for the ASCA  to have legal representation  consistent with other                                                               
state agencies,  and holds  harmless the  private funds  the ASCA                                                               
receives from the Executive Budget Act.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR COGHILL listed who was available to answer questions.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:29:20 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   KAWASAKI  asked   the   Division   of  Motor   Vehicles                                                               
representative whether older, in  stock, ASCA license plates will                                                               
continue to be  sold for the council so there  is not a warehouse                                                               
of unsold plates in inventory.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:29:52 PM                                                                                                                    
JOANNE  OLSEN,  Interim  Director, Division  of  Motor  Vehicles,                                                               
Department of Administration  (DOA), Anchorage, Alaska, confirmed                                                               
that  DMV will  try and  sell all  the license  plates it  has in                                                               
inventory.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR COGHILL solicited the will of the committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:30:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR KAWASAKI moved to report  SB 169, work order 31-LS1433\U,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:31:09 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE  CHAIR COGHILL  found  no objection  and  CSSB 169(EDC)  was                                                               
reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:31:16 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:32:10 PM                                                                                                                    
VICE  CHAIR  COGHILL  reconvened  the meeting  and  reviewed  the                                                               
schedule for the next week.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:32:33 PM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Vice Chair Coghill adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing                                                                  
Committee meeting at 4:32 p.m.