PO Box 20891
Juneau, AK
99802-089

Weekly Legislative Update 2010

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

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Session Two of the 26^th Legislature runs January 19-April 18, 2010.

Legislative Committee Assignments: 

Go to BASIS committee assignments list:

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

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

Bill:                         SB 262

Sponsor:                RLS by request of Leg Bud/Audit

Title:                       Extend Board of Social Work Examiners

Referrals:              L&C, FIN

Content:                Extends the Board through June 30, 2018

Bill:                         SB 266

Sponsor:                Thomas

Title:                       Violent Crimes Emergency Compensation

Referrals:              STA, FIN

Content:                Raises the amount of emergency compensation available to the victim from $1,500 to $3,500

UPDATES:  Look here to track bills of interest

HB 235, Prof Student Exchange Loan Forgiveness, sponsored by Munoz, passed EDU and is referred to FIN.

HB 298, Sex Offenses; Offender Registry; Sentencing, sponsored by the Governor, passed JUD and is referred to FIN

SB 244, Governor’s Duty Station/Travel Allowance, sponsored by Stedman, passed STA and is referred to JUD

SB 246, Increasing Number of Superior Ct Judges, sponsored by RLS, passed JUD and is referred to FIN

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 15th

8:00am                  H EDU, HB 297  Postsecondary Scholarships

                                S EDU, SB 224  Postsecondary Scholarships

1:00pm                   H JUD, HB 316  Post-Conviction DNA-testing; Evidence

1:30pm                   S JUD, SB 252 Failure to Appear; Release Procedures

                                                SB 222  Sex Offenses; Offender Regis.; Sentencing

                                S HSS,    Presentation:  Facing Foster Care in Alaska

                                                SB 219 Traumatic Brain Injury: Program/Medicaid

Tuesday, February 16th

8:00am                  S HSS FIN SUB, Mental Health Trust Programs

3:00pm                H HSS HJR 35  Const Am: Health Care

                                                HB 168  Trauma Care Centers/Fund

                                                Presentation:  Foster Care in Alaska, Amanda Metivier, FFCA

3:30pm                   S CRA SJR 1 Limiting Terms of State Legislators

Wednesday, February 17th

1:30pm              S HSS Presentations:  “Bring the Kids Home Initiative” “Fetal Alcohol                                                  Spectrum Disorder” Citizen Review Panel-Update on Office of                                              Children’s Services

Thursday, February 18th

8:00am                  H STA HB 115 Permanent Absentee Voting

                                                HJR 38 Const. Am: Increase Number of Legislators

9:00am                  H DPS FIN SUB Overview: Rural Crime Enforcement Efforts

11:00am               Joint Session:  Annual Address by US Senator Lisa Murkowski

1:00pm                 H JUD, HB 138 Cruelty to Animals

3:00pm                 H HSS Presentation: Panel Report, By OCS Citizen’s Review Panel; OCS                                                             Response by Tammy Sandoval, OCS Director; Presentation:  Fetal                                                                                Alcohol Spectrum Disorder by FASD SE AK Regional Conference

Friday, February 19th

8:00am                  H HSS FIN SUB Governor’s Budget Amendments

1:30pm                  S JUD SB 92 US Presidential Election Compact

Download legislators contact information:

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

Governor’s Corner:

View the FY11 Budget

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/11_omb/budget/index_FY11_Operating.htm

Read the Governor’s state of the state address

http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell/press-room/full-press-release.html?pr=5246

This week the Governor called for a statewide march on Wednesday, March 31st to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault.  The Governor will lead the march in Juneau beginning at noon at the Capitol.  He is encouraging all communities to organize local marches to show a united Alaskan stand against domestic violence and sexual assault.  The march is scheduled for the day before the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

2010 Women's Summit, to be held March 18 & 19 in Juneau.  The theme for this year is Interpersonal Violence in Alaska: Why Alaska Ranks at the Top and Strategies for Success.  Please join keynote speaker, Rebecca Levenson, Senior Policy Analyst with the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), as we discuss innovative approaches to addressing the issue of interpersonal violence in Alaska. 

A nationally recognized speaker, she has worked extensively in the area of reproductive and perinatal health within community clinics and home visitation programs for the past 15 years.  Currently Ms. Levenson is a co-principal investigator for an NIH funded research study, examining the effectiveness of a brief intervention for victims of pregnancy pressure, birth control sabotage and violence in reproductive health settings.  She will share findings from this research and evidence based solutions for addressing the issue. 

Others sessions at the Summit include presentations on sex trafficking and sexual violence in Alaska,  new ways to educate teenagers about interpersonal violence, legislative visits, a networking lunch with legislative staff lunch and more.  For more information on the Summit or to reserve a seat at the luncheon, please call 334.3055 or email geran@arjalaska.org.

Legislative Fly-Ins

February 24 & 25 Alaska Nurse's Association

March 30 & 31 Alaska Pharmacist's Association