PO Box 20891
Juneau, AK
99802-089

Weekly Legislative Update 2009
February 15th - 21st

AWL Mission: To defend and advance the rights and needs of Women, Children and Families in Alaska

Visit us on the web: www.akwomenslobby.org

Keeping you informed of the issues important to women and children takes money and volunteer hours. Please consider sending a donation to PO Box 20891, Juneau, AK 99802 or sign up to volunteer on our website.

Session One of the 26^th Legislature runs January 20-April 19, 2009.

Week Five

Budget subcommittees continued their work this week, moving toward closeouts scheduled as early as next week.  The Governor submitted budget amendments that will reduce FY 2010 general fund spending by $445.5 million overall.  The amendments did provide increases to the Alaska State Troopers and Village Public Safety Officer program of approximately $8.4 million.  Proposed capital spending was reduced by $63.2 million in general funds and increased by $139.7 million in federal and other funds.   The estimated draw on reserves for the Governor’s revised budget in FY2009 is $1.36 billion and FY2010 is approximately $1.2 billion.

Legislative Committee Assignments:

Go to BASIS committee assignments list:

http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/commlist.pdf

NEW BILLS: Look here for legislation introduced during the previous week.  Click on the bill number to access the bill.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUES

Bill:                 SB 110

Sponsor:          French                        

Title:                Preservation of Evidence

Referrals:         JUD, FIN

Content:          Requires the department of law, public safety, the court system or a municipal law enforcement agency to preserve all evidence that is obtained in relation to an investigation or prosecution of sexual assault or sexual abuse of a minor cases for the period of time the crime remains unsolved; biological evidence in an amount and manner that is sufficient to develop a DNA profile from any material contained in or included on the evidence that was obtained in relation to the prosecution of a person convicted of a sexual assault or convicted of a crime after being indicted under a sexual abuse of a minor charge while the person remains a prisoner in the custody of the Department of Corrections or subject to registration as a sex offender.  The bill also establishes a Task Force on Standards and Training of Evidence Technicians in the department of law.  Not later than December 31, 2010, the task force shall devise standards regarding the proper collection, retention, and cataloging of evidence, for ongoing investigations and prosecutions; and, recommend practices, protocols, models, and resources for the cataloging and accessibility of preserved evidence.

EDUCATION ISSUES:

Bill:                 SB 112

Sponsor:          S EDC            

Title:                Pre-Elementary School Programs/Plans

Referrals:         EDC, CRA, FIN

Content:          Gives the board of education and early development the responsibility of adopting early learning guidelines that support an effective, cost efficient and optional pre-elementary program. Requires the department of education and early childhood development to create a statewide early childhood education plan for children three and four years of age that incorporates early learning guidelines adopted by the board and provides for the most effective and efficient coordination with or expansion of pre-elementary programs operating in the state including Head Start , to the extent permitted by law. 

GOVERNMENT ISSUES:

Bill:                 HB 140

Sponsor:          Coghill                       

Title:                Jury Nullification

Referrals:         JUD

Content:          Allows juries to determine not to apply the law to a defendant and find the defendant not guilty or guilty of a lesser included offense if a jury determines that a defendant is guilty according to the law but that the law is unjustly applied to that defendant. 

OTHER ISSUES:

Bill:                 HB 138

Sponsor:          Gatto, Gruenberg                   

Title:                Cruelty to Animals

Referrals:         JUD, FIN

Content:          Separates the crime of cruelty to animals into cruelty to animals in the 1^st and 2^nd degree.  Cruelty to animals in the first degree is a class C felony.  Cruelty in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.  Cruelty in the first degree includes knowingly inflicts severe and prolonged physical pain or suffering on an animal; kills or injures an animal by the use of a decompression chamber; or intentionally kills or injures a pet or livestock by the use of poison.  Cruelty in the second degree includes with criminal negligence, fails to care for an animal and, as a result, causes the death of the animal or causes severe physical pain or prolonged suffering to the animal; or knowingly kills or injures an animal, other than as provided in the 1^st degree with the intent to intimidate, threaten, or terrorize another person.

UPDATES:  Look here to track bills of interest

No bills of interest moved this week.

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:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/hearing_form.asp?session=26

Monday, February 23

8:00am                        H EDC                        Dept. Education and Early Childhood Development—discussion on

Governors’ proposed pre-kindergarten pilot program

                        H HSS Fin Sub Draft Close-out

1:00pm            H JUD             HB 9, Capital Punishment—testimony limited to 3 minutes

3:15pm            H L&C            HB 29, Alaska Minimum Wage

4:00pm            H EED Fin Sub Budget Closeout

Tuesday, February 24

1:30pm            H FIN             Confirmation Hearing:  Alaska Mental Health Board of Trustees;

HR 6, Development of Mental Health Trust Land

                        S L&C             SB 1, Alaska Minimum Wage

Wednesday, February 25

8:00am                        H EDC                        HB 126, Foster Care/CINA/Education. of Homeless

                        H/S HSS         Joint meeting for Key Campaign Presentation

9:00am                        S FIN              SB 13 and SB 87, Medical Assistance Eligibility

1:00pm            H JUD             HB 9, Capital Punishment—testimony limited to 3 minutes

1:30pm            S JUD             SB 110, Preservation of Evidence

5:00pm            S EED Fin Sub EED Budget

Thursday, February 26

10:30am          H DPS Fin Sub Closeout

1:30pm            H FIN             HB 63, Council on Domestic Violence: Members, Staff

3:00pm            H HSS             HB 2, Birth Certificate for Stillbirth

Friday, February 27

8:00am                        H HSS Fin Sub  Closeout

                        S EDC             SB 18, Postsecondary Educ. Program

1:30pm            S HSS             SB 47, Statute of Limitation for Sexual Offenses

Download legislators contact information:

http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/whoswho.pdf

Governor’s Corner:

View the FY10 Budget:  http://omb.alaska.gov/10_omb/budget/index_FY10_Operating.htm

Read the Governor’s state of the state address:  http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1610

Upcoming Events:

Planned Parenthood of Juneau invites everyone to the Juneau Clinic Grand Opening Party on February 26, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the clinic, 3231 Glacier Hwy. Meet CEO, Chris Charbonneau, the clinic staff and board members from Alaska!

The 2009 Women’s Summit sponsored by the Alliance for Reproductive Justice (ARJ) is scheduled for March 19-20 in Juneau.  The theme for this year is Health Care Access: Do Women in Alaska Have Choices?  ARJ's keynote speaker will be Cecelia Fire Thunder, a tribal leader and powerful advocate for women and reproductive health services.  Cecelia is from South Dakota and was the first female leader of the Oglala Sioux, serving from November 2004 to June 2006.  During her tenure, the State Legislature passed a law banning virtually all abortions within South Dakota.  Following this, Cecelia drew attention by announcing she would create a reproductive health clinic on her own land.  This was a bold move.  The sovereign independence of Indian reservations in the United States, as promised by the federal government, meant the territory would not be subject to state laws.  The rest is Cecelia's story to tell.

Other sessions at the Summit include a work session with Senator Hollis French on Universal Health Care, a discussion of birthing options for women in Alaska, a presentation on health care access for women and children in domestic violence situations, legislative visits, a staff lunch and more.  Come listen, learn and network with other women from around the state. 

For those who cannot make it to Juneau, ARJ is having a luncheon in Anchorage on Wednesday, March 18th with Cecelia as the speaker.  For more information on both events, please call (907) 334-3055 or email geran@arjalaska.org.  * A limited number of scholarships are available (both for travel and registration).