Legislative roundup
Bills introduced last week:
• Drug felonies: House Bill 551 would prohibit the Department of Education from issuing teaching certificates to people who have been convicted of misconduct involving a controled substance.
• Gaming commission: HB 552 would establish an Alaska Gaming Commission in the Department of Revenue.
• Permanent Fund appropriations: HB 553 relates to investments, income and appropriations of the permanent fund.
• Sea otters: House Joint Resolution 44 relates to research into the decline of the Southwest Alaska population of the northern sea otter.
• U.S. Representatives: HJR 45 would request Congress to propose a constitutional amendment providing that a vacancy in the House of Representatives can be filled by appointment until an election is held.
• Permanent fund: HJR 46 would propose amendments to the state constitution relating to the permanent fund.
• Permanent fund: HJR 47 would propose more amendments to the state constitution relating to the permand fund.
• Pollution discharge: Senate Bill 378 relates to regulation of the discharge of pollutants from timber-related activities..
• Homeland security: SB 379 would establish the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.
Bills voted on last week:
• Domestic violence (passed Senate): HB 398 allows the commissioner of public safety to establish domestic violence fatality review teams around the state.
Vote - Yeas: 20
Sen. Kim Elton (D) - Yea
• Pipelines (passed House): SB 264 repeals the time limitation on the Department of Natural Resources' authority to enter into agreements with potential owners of oil or gas pipelines.
Vote - Yeas: 39; Excused: 1
Rep. Beth Kerttula (D) - Yea
Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch (R) - Yea