[NASW Alaska Chapter Listserve] Weekly Legislative Report

Mon Apr 30 19:46:01 BST 2007

Join the Social Action Committee every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. The
teleconference number is 1-800-791-2345, with participant code 63046#.

Capitol Currents

Session One of the 25th legislature runs January 16-May 16, 2007.

18 LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO GO

Week Fifteen

The budget conference committee was appointed on Friday.  The legislature is
now under the 24-hour rule.  The amount of notice for hearing a bill is
reduced from one week to 24 hours.  Practically, this usually means that a
bill can be scheduled the afternoon prior for a meeting as early as 8am the
next day.  If you are interested in specific pieces of legislation, I
strongly encourage you to check the status of the bill each morning and
evening on BASIS.

Legislative Committee Assignments:

Go to BASIS committee assignments list: 

HYPERLINK
"http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/commbr_info.asp?session=25"http://www.le
gis.state.ak.us/basis/commbr_info.asp?session=25

NEW BILLS:  Look here for legislation introduced during the previous week.

Go to BASIS bill/resolution list:  HYPERLINK
"http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/bandr_stat.asp?session=25"http://www.leg
is.state.ak.us/basis/bandr_stat.asp?session=25

GOVERNMENT:

Bill:                               SB 162 

Sponsor:                       Elton

Title:                             Voting by Mail

Referrals:                      STA, JUD, FIN

Content:                       Establishes that a general election may be
conducted by mail and sets up the parameters under which such an election is
to be held.

Bill:                               SJR 9  

Sponsor:                       Dyson

Title:                             Const. Amend: Benefits & Marriage

Referrals:                      STA, JUD, FIN

Content:                       Companion to HJR 9 which proposes a
constitutional amendment to prohibit non-married partners from receiving
benefits that are given to married partners due to the marriage
relationship.

HEALTH CARE:

Bill:                               HB 242/ SB 160         

Sponsor:                       Rep. LeDoux

                                    Sen. French, Ellis

Title:                             Mandatory Universal Health Care

Referrals:                      H HES, L&C, FIN

                                    S HES, L&C, FIN

Content:                       Establishes a health care program to ensure
insurance coverage for essential health services for all residents of the
state; establishes the Alaska Health Care Board to define essential health
care services, to certify health care plans that provide essential health
care services, and to administer the Alaska health care program and the
Alaska health care fund; establishes the Alaska health care clearinghouse to
administer the Alaska health care program under the direction of the Alaska
Health Care Board; establishes eligibility standards and premium assistance
for persons with low income; establishes standards for accountable health
care plans; creates the Alaska health care fund; and, provides for review of
actions and reporting requirements related to the health care program;

OTHER:

Bill:                   HJR 22

Sponsor:           Fairclough

Title:                 Denounce Sale of “Rapist” Doll

Referrals:          STA

Content:           The resolution was introduced in response to the creation
and sale of an action figure named "Rapist Number One" based on a movie
character of the same name in the
movie "Grindhouse”.  The resolution puts the Legislature on record as
denouncing
the sale and manufacture of the doll, asks Alaskans and Alaska businesses
to boycott the sale and purchase of the doll, and denounces the National
Entertainment Collectibles Association who disregarded the effects victims
of rape would suffer by the manufacture and sale of the doll.  The
resolution is scheduled for a hearing in STA on May 1st.

BUDGET:

The conferees for the operating and mental health budgets are Sen. Hoffman,
Stedman, Dyson and Rep. Chenault, Hawker and Joule.

To see the budgets you can go to:  HYPERLINK
"http://www.legfin.state.ak.us/"http://www.legfin.state.ak.us/  

UPDATES:  Look here to track bills of interest

HB 65, Personal Information & Consumer Credit, passed from L&C and is
scheduled for a hearing in JUD on May 2nd.

HB 90, Bail, is scheduled on the House Floor calendar for Monday.

HB 109, Disclosures and Ethics/Bribery/Retirement, passed from S STA and is
scheduled in 

S JUD on May 2nd.

HB 113, Optometrists' Use Of Pharmaceuticals, was referred to HES, L&C, FIN
in the Senate.  It’s scheduled for a hearing in S HES on May 2nd.

HB 117, Proclamation Calling for a Special Session, passed the Senate and is
awaiting transmittal to the Governor.  The bill requires the Governor to
provide 30 days notice before convening a special session of the
Legislature.  This is an increase from the current 15-day notice.

HB 159, Stillbirth Certificate, is being held in 3rd reading on the House
Floor.

HB 171, Accommodate 90-Day Session, passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote
in the House to concur or recede from amendments made in the Senate.

HB 187, Tobacco Sales Violations, passed from JUD and was scheduled to be
heard in FIN on Saturday.

HB 190, Nursing Mothers in Workplace, had a sponsor substitute introduced on
the 25th.  The sponsor substitute added AS 23. 10.450(c) The department
shall enforce this section and may, by regulation, establish procedures by
which an employee may file a complaint alleging a violation of this section.
The department may impose a civil fine not to exceed $50 on an employer for
a violation of this section.   The bill has not been scheduled for a
hearing.

HB 213, Crimes at DV Shelters, passed JUD and is now in RLS.

 HB 215, Task Force Re: Council On Domestic Violence, passed the House and
was referred to 
HES, FIN in the Senate.

HJR 7, Const. Amend.: Gender Neutral References, passed JUD and is sitting
in FIN.

SB 8, Mental Health Patient Rights:  Staff Gender, passed HES.  It’s
scheduled for a hearing in JUD on April 30th.

SB 76, Tuition for Certain Children, passed the Senate and was referred to
FIN in the House.  It’s scheduled for a hearing in H FIN on May 2nd.

SB 84, Testing & Packaging of Cigarettes, passed the Senate and was referred
to L&C, JUD, FIN in the House.  It’s scheduled for a hearing in H L&C on May
2nd. 

SB 95, Competitive Bidding for Ballot Prep, passed STA.  

SB 140, Leave for Bone Marrow Donations, passed L&C.

SB 150, Crimes at DV Shelters, passed JUD and is in RLS.

SJR 3, Medicare Rates in Alaska, passed H HES and is in H RLS.

COMMITTEE SCHEDULE: Look here for committee meetings for the coming week.
Bill hearings OFTEN change.  If you are planning to testify it is a good
idea to check the committee calendar the day of the hearing.   Go to BASIS
Committee schedules:  HYPERLINK
"http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/hearing_form.asp?session=25"http://www.l
egis.state.ak.us/basis/hearing_form.asp?session=25

H)JUD HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HJUD&session=25"* Apr 30
Monday 1:00 PM  

=+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HB225"HB 225
POSSESSION OF WEAPON WHILE ON BAIL 

S)JUD HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=SJUD&session=25"* Apr 30
Monday 1:30 PM 

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=SB8"SB 8
MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT RIGHTS:STAFF GENDER 

*+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=SB157"SB 157
TRAFFICKING/PROSTITUTION/SEXUAL ABUSE 

H)STAHYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HSTA&session=25"* May 01
Tuesday 8:00 AM 

*+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HJR22"HJR 22
DENOUNCE SALE OF "RAPIST" DOLL 

H)HES HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HHES&session=25"* May 01
Tuesday 3:00 PM 

*+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HB234"HB 234
EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM 

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=SB85"SB 85
EXTEND STATE MEDICAL BOARD 

H)FIN HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HFIN&session=25"* May 02
Wednesday 8:30 AM

 + HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=SB76"SB 76
TUITION FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN 

H./S)HEALTH CAUCUS HYPERLINK
"outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HLHC&session=25"* May 02 Wednesday 12:00
PM BUTROVICH 205

"Week of the Uninsured: Alaska's Workforce" 

H)JUDHYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HJUD&session=25"* May 02
Wednesday 1:00 PM 

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HB65"HB 65
PERSONAL INFORMATION & CONSUMER CREDIT 

H)RESHYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HRES&session=25"* May 02
Wednesday 1:00 PM 

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HB15"HB 15
BOARD OF FISHERIES CONFLICTS OF INTEREST 

S)HES HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=SHES&session=25"* May 02
Wednesday 1:30 PM BUTRO 

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HB113"HB 113
OPTOMETRISTS' USE OF PHARMACEUTICALS 

S)JUDHYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=SJUD&session=25"* May 02
Wednesday 1:30 PM 

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HB109"HB 109
DISCLOSURES & ETHICS/BRIBERY/RETIREMENT 

H)L&C HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HL!C&session=25"* May 02
Wednesday 3:00 PM 

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=SB84"SB 84
TESTING & PACKAGING OF CIGARETTES 

S)STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE HYPERLINK
"outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=SSTA&session=25"* May 03 Thursday 9:00 AM

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HB92"HB 92
JURISDICTION OF OMBUDSMAN: VICTIMS RTS 

H)FINHYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_com_info.asp?comm=HFIN&session=25"* May 04
Friday 8:30 AM 

+ HYPERLINK "outbind://7/get_complete_bill.asp?session=25&bill=HCR6"HCR 6
CIVICS EDUC/ CITIZENS ADVISORY TASK FORCE 

 Download legislators contact information:

HYPERLINK
"http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/infodocs/infodocs.htm"http://w3.legis.state.ak.
us/infodocs/infodocs.htm

Governor’s Corner:

The Governor signed SB45, the Sonya Ivanoff Act into law on Friday. SB 45,
sponsored by Sen. Olson, mandates the maximum sentence for first-degree
murder when committed by an on-duty peace officer.   Sonya Ivanoff, 19, was
murdered in 2003, by a Nome Police officer. Matthew Owens was convicted of
first-degree murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison.  The Governor was
joined at the bill signing ceremony by Sonya’s parents and siblings, Sen.
Olson and Richard Svobodny, the lead prosecutor in the case.

The Governor also acknowledged the passage of HCR 5, which recognizes this
week as the 2007 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. HCR 5 was sponsored by
Rep. Stoltze.  “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week recognizes the rights of
crime victims and survivors, and their need for services,” said Governor
Palin.  “It also recognizes the ongoing efforts of countless providers of
victims' and survivors' services.”

Contact your lobbyist:

Caren Robinson HYPERLINK "mailto:dcc at alaska.net"dcc at alaska.net

Margaret F. Lumpkin
Executive Director, NASW Alaska Chapter
401 East Northern Lights Blvd. Suite 205  Anchorage, Alaska 99503
(907) 332-NASW (6279)     (800) 478-6279     Fax: (907) 332-6270
HYPERLINK "http://www.naswak.org"www.naswak.org

NASW Alaska Chapter Conference - October 1 - 3, 2007 at the Egan Center,
Anchorage - visit HYPERLINK "http://www.naswak.org/"www.naswak.org for more
information.

Membership dues support the work that we do. Thank you! If you are not yet a
member of NASW, we welcome you to discover the benefits of NASW membership
at: HYPERLINK
"blocked::https://www.socialworkers.org/nasw/join/default.asp"https://www.so
cialworkers.org/nasw/join/default.asp

NASW Alaska Chapter Opt-Out Statement: If you wish to be removed from this
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If you experience any difficulty, please contact NASW Alaska Chapter 401 E.
Northern Lights Blvd. Ste. 205 (907) 332-6279 or HYPERLINK
"mailto:director at naswak.org"director at naswak.org for assistance. 

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