PO Box 20891
Juneau, AK
99802-089

Weekly Legislative Update 2009
March 30th - April 5th

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

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

Week Eleven

Rejecting the Juneau Democrats recommendation, Representative Beth Kerttula, the Governor selected Tim Grussendorf to fill the Senate seat left vacant when Juneau Senator Kim Elton took a job with the Obama administration.  The Senate Democrats met this week and turned down Mr. Grussendorf, despite the support of powerful Senator Lyman Hoffman. 

After Senate Democrats made their decision, Juneau's Democratic party leaders added three more names for consideration in addition to that of Representative Beth Kerttula.  They delivered a letter to the governor's office Thursday with the names of Juneau Deputy Mayor Jeff Bush, former Juneau Mayor and Fairbanks State Legislator Sally Smith and former Juneau legislator Mike Miller. 

Governor Palin immediately resent her nomination of Tim Grussenforf and demanded a full vote of the Senate.  Today she started backing away from her demand that Republican senators have a say in who represents Juneau in the Alaska Senate, but is still demanding a public vote on her appointment to replace former Democratic Senator Kim Elton.  That could give her another chance at appointing legislative aide Tim Grussendorf to the Juneau Senate seat. Palin got no support from Senate President Gary Stevens, for the idea of a Republican role in the confirmation of Grussendorf.

The 24- hour rule did not go into effect this week.  Although the Senate passed their version of the operating and mental health budgets on Wednesday, the budgets were not transmitted back to the House until Friday.  Expect the House to reject the Senate version and both bodies to announce conference committee members early next week.  Once the 24-hour rule is in effect, bills may be scheduled one day to be heard the next.  If you are interested in a particular bill, it is best to check Basis (http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/start.asp ) every day after 4pm to see if it has been scheduled for an hearing the next day.

BUDGET ALERT

The Senate Finance Committee will be hearing public testimony on the stimulus funds Monday morning, April 6^th at 9:00am.  SB 161 does not include all the funds available for Alaska.  Items missing from the bill include funding for early childhood education programs, special education, public safety, and work force training and development.   For more information click on: http://www.akdemocrats.org/enews/aalert_040309.htm

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.

HEALTH CARE ISSUES

Bill:                 SB 179                       

Sponsor:          Huggins, Menard, Olson

Title:                Parental Notice of Minor’s Abortion

Referrals:         HSS, JUD

Content:          Requires notice to be given to a minor’s parent or legal guardian if the minor is unmarried, unemancipated and under the age of 17 prior to the minor obtaining an abortion; sets up judicial bypass procedures; describes the notice procedures; prohibits a person from coercing a pregnant minor to have an abortion.

OTHER ISSUES

Bill:                 HJR 30                       

Sponsor:          Stoltze

Title:                Death Penalty for Joshua Wade

Referrals:         JUD

Content:          Urges the United States Attorney General to consider all the evidence and, if justified by the evidence, carefully consider the death penalty as a sentencing option for Joshua Wade.

UPDATES:  Look here to track bills of interest

HB 35, Notice and Consent for Minor’s Abortion, sponsored by Coghill, passed the House.  Co-sponsors listed-- Neuman, Keller, Dahlstrom, Millett, Kelly, Harris, Lynn, Wilson, Ramras, Gatto, Johansen, Johnson.  The bill was referred to HSS, JUD and FIN in the Senate.

HB 58, Educ. Loan Repayment Program, sponsored by Thomas, moved from EDC.  Its next referral is FIN.

HB 153, Open Meetings: Exceptions & Definitions, sponsored by CRA, moved from JUD.  It’s in RLS.

HB 204, Postsecondary Medical Educ. Program, sponsored by Dahlstrom, moved from EDC.  Its next referral is FIN.

HCR 11, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, sponsored by Fairclough passed the House, was referred to STA in the Senate where it was heard and passed from committee placed on the Senate calendar, passed the Senate and is now awaiting transmittal to the Governor.

HCR 13, Accept Fed. Economic Stimulus Payments, sponsored by RLS passed both houses this week and is awaiting transmittal to the Governor.

HJR 2, Const. Am. Gender Neutral References, sponsored by Gatto/Gruenberg, passed from JUD.

SB 13 , Medical Assistance Eligibility, sponsored by Davis, which raises the income eligibility for children and pregnant women from 175 to 200 percent of the federal poverty line, passed with a vote of 13 to 3.   Senator Wagoner asked for notice of reconsideration.  It will be up again on Monday. 

SB 32, Medicaid: Home/Community Based Services, sponsored by Ellis, passed from FIN and is on the Senate calendar for Monday the 6^th.

SB 38, Pharmacy Benefits Managers; Managed Care, sponsored by Senator French moved from SHSS.  Its next referral is L&C. 

SB 47, Statute of Limitations for Sexual Offenses, sponsored by French, passed from JUD and is in RLS.

SB 68, Felon’s Right to Vote, sponsored by Davis, moved from STA.  It’s scheduled for a hearing in JUD on the 10^th.

SB 70, Naturopaths, sponsored by Davis, passed HSS.  Its next referral is L&C.

SB 133, Electronic Health Info Exchange System, sponsored by Paskvan, passed from HSS and is scheduled in FIN on the 7^th.

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, April 6

8:00am                        H EDC                        HB 59, Pre-Elementary School Programs/Plans         Meeting Documents

                        H JUD             HB 36, Initiatives: Contributions/Procedures

                        S EDC             SB 105, Foster Care/CINA/Education of Homeless

9:00am                        S FIN              SB 161, Approps Non-Transportation Stimulus-statewide testimony

1:00pm            H JUD             HB 9, Death Penalty

1:30pm            H FIN             HB 29, Alaska Minimum Wage

                        S HSS             HB 2, Birth Certificate for Still Birth

                                                SB 139, Incentives for Certain Medical Providers

                                                SB 27, Foster Care Age Limit/Tuition Waiver

                        S JUD             SB 110, Preservation of Evidence

Tuesday, April 7

9:00am                        S FIN              SB 1, Alaska Minimum Wage

                                                SB 133, Electronic Health Info Exchange System

11:00am          Joint Session   U.S. Senator Mark Begich

1:30pm            S L&C             SB 12, Limit Overtime for Nurses

                                                SB 61, Mandatory Universal Health Care

Wednesday, April 8

9:00am                        S FIN              SB 10, Medicaid/Ins for Cancer Clinical Trials

1:30pm            H JUD             HJR 30, Death Penalty for Joshua Wade

                        S HSS             SB 168 and SB 169, Trauma Care Centers/Fund

                        S JUD             Confirmation Hearing:  Wayne Anthony Ross, Attorney General

Thursday, April 9

8:00am                        H STA             HB 76, Legislative Council; LB&A Membership

3:00pm            H HSS             HB 168, Trauma Care Centers

Friday, April 10

8:00am                        H EDC                        Confirmation hearings: Board of Education and Early Development

1:00pm            H JUD             Confirmation hearing:  Wayne Anthony Ross, Attorney General

1:30pm            S JUD             SB 68, Felon’s Right to Vote

3:15pm            H L&C            Confirmation hearings:  Board of Nursing; Board of Pharmacy; State

Physical Therapy and Occupations Therapy Board; Board of Social Work Examiners           

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:

Dance and Silent Auction to Support the Alaska Women’s Lobby

Friday, April 10^th 7:00pm, Juneau Arts and Culture Center, $10 at the door