ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
            SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                           
                         April 8, 2021                                                                                          
                           3:33 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Mike Shower, Chair                                                                                                      
Senator Lora Reinbold, Vice Chair (via Teams)                                                                                   
Senator Mia Costello (via Teams)                                                                                                
Senator Roger Holland (via Teams)                                                                                               
Senator Scott Kawasaki (via Teams)                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Police Standards Council                                                                                               
Justin Doll, Chief - Anchorage                                                                                                  
Lance Shane Nicholson - Kodiak                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Public Offices Commission                                                                                              
Richard Stillie - Delta Junction                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Military Appeals Commission                                                                                                   
Robin Barrett - Fairbanks                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 25                                                                                                              
"An  Act relating  to  the establishment  and  maintenance of  an                                                               
Internet  website  providing   information  on  state  government                                                               
financial transactions and specifying  the information to be made                                                               
available on the website."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSSB 25(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 102                                                                                                             
"An Act relating to the Compact for a Balanced Budget."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SB 102 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 39                                                                                                              
"An Act  relating to elections;  relating to  voter registration;                                                               
relating to ballots  and a system of tracking  and accounting for                                                               
ballots;  establishing an  election offense  hotline; designating                                                               
as a  class A  misdemeanor the collection  of ballots  from other                                                               
voters; designating as  a class C felony  the intentional opening                                                               
or tampering  with a  sealed ballot,  certificate, or  package of                                                               
ballots without  authorization from the director  of the division                                                               
of elections; and providing for an effective date."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB  25                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: STATE GOV'T FINANCES: WEBSITE                                                                                      
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WIELECHOWSKI                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
01/22/21       (S)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/21                                                                                
01/22/21       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/22/21       (S)       STA, FIN                                                                                               
02/02/21       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/02/21       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/02/21       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
02/11/21       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/11/21       (S)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
02/25/21       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/25/21       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/25/21       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
04/08/21       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 102                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: AMEND COMPACT FOR A BALANCED BUDGET                                                                                
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) HUGHES                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
03/10/21       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/10/21       (S)       STA, FIN                                                                                               
03/25/21       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
03/25/21       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/25/21       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
04/08/21       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
RICHARD STILLIE, Appointee                                                                                                      
Alaska Public Offices Commission                                                                                                
Department of Administration (DOA)                                                                                              
Delta Junction, Alaska                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified for reappointment to the Alaska                                                                 
Public Offices Commission.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
JUSTIN DOLL, Appointee                                                                                                          
Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC)                                                                                          
Department of Public Safety (DPS)                                                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified for reappointment to the Alaska                                                                 
Police Standards Council.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
LARRY NICHOLSON, Appointee                                                                                                      
Alaska Police Standards Council                                                                                                 
Department of Public Safety (DPS)                                                                                               
Kodiak, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified for reappointment to the Alaska                                                                 
Police Standards Council.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ROBIN BARRETT, Appointee                                                                                                        
Military Appeals Commission                                                                                                     
Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA)                                                                                
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Military                                                                    
Appeals Commission.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 25.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
BUDDY WHITT, Staff                                                                                                              
Senator Shelley Hughes                                                                                                          
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to SB 102 on                                                                 
behalf of the sponsor.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:33:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MIKE  SHOWER  called the  Senate  State  Affairs  Standing                                                             
Committee meeting  to order at 3:33  p.m. Present at the  call to                                                               
order were Senators Costello, Reinbold,  Holland, (all via Teams)                                                               
and  Chair Shower.  Senator Kawasaki  joined  the committee  (via                                                               
Teams) soon thereafter.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  explained the process for  remote meeting including                                                               
the  roll call  that  showed  the presence  and  location of  the                                                               
following members:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COSTELLO, Capitol  room  119,  SENATOR HOLLAND,  Capitol                                                               
room 113, SENATOR  REINBOLD, Capitol room 427,  and CHAIR SHOWER,                                                               
in the Butrovich room, Capitol 205.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                   
                Alaska Police Standards Council                                                                             
                Alaska Public Offices Commission                                                                            
                  Military Appeals Commission                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:37:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER  announced the consideration of  Governor Appointees                                                               
to Boards and  Commissions. He stated his intention  to hear from                                                               
all  appointees referred  to the  committee  as a  matter of  due                                                               
diligence.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
He asked  Richard Stillie to  introduce himself, provide  a brief                                                               
overview, and  tell the committee  why he would like  to continue                                                               
to serve on the Alaska Public Offices Commission                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:38:59 PM                                                                                                                    
RICHARD  STILLIE, Appointee,  Alaska  Public Offices  Commission,                                                               
Department  of  Public  Safety  (DPS),  Delta  Junction,  Alaska,                                                               
stated that he would like to  continue to serve on the commission                                                               
because he  believes in  volunteering at  both the  community and                                                               
state levels.  Further, he believes  in APOC's mission  to garner                                                               
the  public's  trust  and ensure  transparency  for  elected  and                                                               
appointed officials.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER asked  if he  had read  and was  familiar with  the                                                               
state ethics laws.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. STILLIE answered yes.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he had  any criminal or civil issues in his                                                               
background that the committee might want to know about.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. STILLIE answered no.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER asked  if he  had any  skeletons in  the closet  to                                                               
declare.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. STILLIE answered no; he  has had extensive background checks,                                                               
and he holds a security clearance.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER found no questions or comments from the committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:41:47 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  SHOWER  opened  public testimony  on  the  appointment  of                                                               
Richard Stillie to the Alaska  Public Offices Commission; finding                                                               
none, he closed public testimony.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  asked Justin Doll  to introduce himself,  provide a                                                               
brief  overview, and  tell the  committee  why he  would like  to                                                               
continue to serve on the Alaska Police Standards Council                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:43:03 PM                                                                                                                    
JUSTIN DOLL,  Appointee, Alaska Police Standards  Council (APSC),                                                               
Department  of Public  Safety  (DPS),  Anchorage, Alaska,  stated                                                               
that he  is the Chief of  Police in Anchorage, and  he is seeking                                                               
reappointment to  the APSC.  He said he  currently is  serving as                                                               
the chair of the council and  would like to continue this service                                                               
for as long as possible.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER asked  if he  had read  and was  familiar with  the                                                               
state ethics laws.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHIEF DOLL answered yes                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he had  any criminal or civil issues in his                                                               
background that the committee might want to know about.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHIEF DOLL answered no.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER asked  if he  had any  skeletons in  the closet  to                                                               
declare.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHIEF DOLL answered no.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER asked  for his thoughts on  the movements nationwide                                                               
to look  at and  potentially change police  procedures, including                                                               
online postings of police policies.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHIEF DOLL  said the  APD already posts  its policies  online. He                                                               
said he suspects  that many of the bills related  to policing are                                                               
based on the  way that APD operates, but some  may need polishing                                                               
to reflect real  world police operations and  the way communities                                                               
want  the  police   to  serve.  He  stated   support  for  police                                                               
transparency and accountability  and noted that those  are in the                                                               
APSC mission as the certifying body of the state.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:45:37 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease for technical difficulties with Microsoft Teams.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:45:48 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened  the meeting and advised that  he and the                                                               
committee members  could see  Chief Doll, but  his audio  was not                                                               
working.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
He  noted that  Senator Kawasaki  had joined  the committee  (via                                                               
Teams).                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER asked  Larry Nicholson to introduce  himself, give a                                                               
brief  overview, and  tell the  committee  why he  would like  to                                                               
serve on the Alaska Police Standards Council.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:46:59 PM                                                                                                                    
LARRY  NICHOLSON,  Appointee,  Alaska Police  Standards  Council,                                                               
Department of  Public Safety (DPS),  Kodiak, Alaska,  stated that                                                               
he has been  with the Alaska State Troopers for  21 years and his                                                               
rank  is  sergeant. He  is  currently  with the  Alaska  Wildlife                                                               
Troopers as  the post  supervisor in Kodiak  and the  Bristol Bay                                                               
region. He  related he wants to  serve on the APSC  is because it                                                               
is an honor to uphold  the standards for law enforcement officers                                                               
set by the  state and the legislature. He is  currently a trooper                                                               
trainer and has  been an instructor at the  Public Safety Academy                                                               
in Sitka. He  looks forward to continuing to serve  on the Alaska                                                               
Police Standards Council.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  asked if  he had  any criminal  or civil  issues to                                                               
disclose and if he had read the state's ethics laws.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. NICHOLSON answered  that he had read the  state's ethics laws                                                               
and there is nothing in his background to report.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  asked if he  had any  skeletons in the  closet that                                                               
the committee might want to know about.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. NICHOLSON answered no.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER  referred to  the  current  strife nationwide  over                                                               
policing  methods and  asked if  he had  any ideas  or strategies                                                               
that might help  make things better. He also asked  if he had two                                                               
or three areas he would like to improve upon.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  NICHOLSON   said  he  believes  that   transparency  in  law                                                               
enforcement  is critical  and that  continuing the  education and                                                               
training of  law enforcement officers  and increasing the  use of                                                               
technology could  be beneficial. He  noted that it has  also been                                                               
beneficial that  the Alaska State Troopers  have publicized their                                                               
use of force  policy. Law enforcement needs  the public's support                                                               
to be successful  in upholding the laws of the  state and nation,                                                               
he said.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER asked  if he had identified things he  would like to                                                               
accomplish while on the council to make things better.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. NICHOLSON  answered that he  would like to  increase training                                                               
throughout  the   year.  To   that  end,   APSC  is   looking  at                                                               
implementing  various  areas  of online  training  for  agencies.                                                               
Improving communication to ensure that  agencies of all sizes are                                                               
aware of the standards.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER  found  no questions  or  comments  from  committee                                                               
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:52:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony  on the appointment of Larry                                                               
Nicholson to  the Alaska Police Standards  Council; finding none,                                                               
he closed public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER returned  attention to  APD Chief  Justin Doll  and                                                               
asked  if he  would  continue answering  the  question about  his                                                               
ideas  for  potential  improvements   to  policing  policies  and                                                               
procedures.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:53:39 PM                                                                                                                    
CHIEF DOLL said he believes  that the policing bills making their                                                               
way  to  the  legislative  process  are  based  on  existing  APD                                                               
policies and  procedures, which are posted  online. This includes                                                               
APD's use  of force policy.  He reiterated that he  believes that                                                               
the current  proposals may need  some fine-tuning to  ensure that                                                               
they match the  real world and reflect the  service the community                                                               
expects. He  concluded, "Overall  I'm supportive  of transparency                                                               
and accountability for  law enforcement and I  recognize that the                                                               
council's primary  purpose as  the certifying  body and  the body                                                               
responsible  for revocation  of  certificates is  to ensure  that                                                               
those standards are being met."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER asked  him to  highlight  any areas  of concern  or                                                               
goals he wanted to achieve while on the council.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHIEF  DOLL answered  that training  to meet  current and  future                                                               
standards for law enforcement should  always be at the forefront.                                                               
To  that end,  he  said  the council  is  continuing  to look  at                                                               
proposed  regulation changes.  He  suggested modernizing  officer                                                               
certifications because  somebody currently can serve  as a police                                                               
office with a  badge and gun for  up to a year  with no training.                                                               
He said he has also been  pushing the council to implement better                                                               
applicant  tracking between  agencies. The  concern, particularly                                                               
in  rural  Alaska,  is  that  somebody  can  work  for  different                                                               
agencies without certification and the  council is never aware of                                                               
those individuals. The  council needs to do everything  it can to                                                               
protect  communities  from   people  who  try  to   work  in  law                                                               
enforcement but are not qualified, he said.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR REINBOLD asked if he  understands that policies come from                                                               
the  legislative branch  and that  the executive  branch executes                                                               
the  law;  and that  the  constitution  is not  suspended  during                                                               
crises.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHIEF DOLL answered yes.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR REINBOLD offered her belief that  APD has done a good job                                                               
staying in its lane.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:59:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony  on the appointment of Chief                                                               
Justin  Doll  to the  Alaska  Police  Standards Council;  finding                                                               
none, he closed public testimony.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER asked Robin Barrett  to introduce herself, provide a                                                               
brief overview, and  tell the committee why she  is interested in                                                               
serving on the Military Appeals Commission.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:59:43 PM                                                                                                                    
ROBIN   BARRETT,   Appointee,    Military   Appeals   Commission,                                                               
Department  of Military  &  Veterans  Affairs (DMVA),  Fairbanks,                                                               
Alaska, advised that  Major General Tory Saxe asked  her to apply                                                               
for a seat  on the Military Appeals Commission.  She related that                                                               
she worked as a judge advocate  from 1986 to 1990 while on active                                                               
duty  at Eielson  Air  Force Base.  She  returned to  active-duty                                                               
service in  2003 with the  Alaska Air National Guard  and retired                                                               
in 2019. She  served as staff judge advocate for  the 168th Wing.                                                               
She  offered   her  understanding   that  the   Military  Appeals                                                               
Commission was  established recently to hear  appeals from courts                                                               
martial if any  are held in the Air and  Army National Guard. She                                                               
said she has  the experience and is willing  to serve. Responding                                                               
to the chair's  general questions, she said she  has no skeletons                                                               
in  the closet,  no criminal  or  civil issues  to disclose,  she                                                               
holds a  security clearance, and she  is aware of and  will abide                                                               
by the ethics laws.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER  found  no questions  or  comments  from  committee                                                               
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:02:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony  on the appointment of Robin                                                               
Barrett  to the  Military  Appeals Commission;  finding none,  he                                                               
closed public testimony.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER solicited  a motion  to  forward the  names of  the                                                               
nominees.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:03:03 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  REINBOLD stated  that in  accordance with  AS 39.05.080,                                                               
the  Senate   State  Affairs  Standing  Committee   reviewed  the                                                               
following  and  recommends the  appointments  be  forwarded to  a                                                               
joint session for consideration:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Police Standards Council                                                                                               
Justin Doll - Anchorage                                                                                                         
Larry Nicholson - Kodiak                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Public Offices Commission                                                                                              
Richard Stillie - Delta Junction                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Military Appeals Commission                                                                                                   
Robin Barrett - Fairbanks                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Signing  the   reports  regarding  appointments  to   boards  and                                                               
commissions in  no way reflects  individual members'  approval or                                                               
disapproval  of  the  appointees;   the  nominations  are  merely                                                               
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and the names were forwarded.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
              SB 25-STATE GOV'T FINANCES: WEBSITE                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:04:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 25                                                               
"An  Act relating  to  the establishment  and  maintenance of  an                                                               
Internet  website  providing   information  on  state  government                                                               
financial transactions and specifying  the information to be made                                                               
available on the website."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER stated his intention to  move the bill and asked the                                                               
sponsor if he had any final comments.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:04:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BILL  WIELECHOWSKI,  Alaska State  Legislature,  Juneau,                                                               
Alaska, sponsor of SB 25, said he had nothing to add.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  found no questions  or comments from  the committee                                                               
and solicited a motion.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:05:05 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  REINBOLD  moved to  report  [CSSB  25], work  order  32-                                                               
LS0217\B,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached  fiscal note(s).  [The  committee adopted  version B  on                                                               
2/25/21 and it was not amended.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  found no  objection and  CSSB 25(STA)  was reported                                                               
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
            SB 102-AMEND COMPACT FOR A BALANCED BUDGET                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:05:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER announced  the consideration of SENATE  BILL NO. 102                                                               
"An Act relating to the Compact for a Balanced Budget."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He asked Mr.  Whitt to confirm that there were  no amendments for                                                               
the bill at this time.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:06:20 PM                                                                                                                    
BUDDY  WHITT,   Staff,  Senator  Shelley  Hughes,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  stated that  the sponsor's  office                                                               
did not  have any amendments or  change requests for the  bill at                                                               
this time.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER   listed  the   individuals  available   to  answer                                                               
questions.  Finding  no questions  or  comments,  he solicited  a                                                               
motion.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:07:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR REINBOLD moved to report  SB 102, work order 32-LS0569\A,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).  [The original  version of  the bill  passed from                                                               
committee. There were no amendments.]                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER found no objections and SB 102 was reported from                                                                   
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:08:24 PM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Shower adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing                                                                        
Committee meeting at 4:08 p.m.