Joule's Bill for Local Control of Alcohol Goes to
Governor for Signature

House Bill 356, sponsored by Representative Reggie Joule (D-Kotzebue), passed out of the Senate and now goes to the Governor for signature. House Bill 356 extends the sunset date on Alaska law relating to alcohol beverage delivery sites.

Representative Reggie Joule

The legislation itself provides communities with the option to monitor the inflow of alcohol into their community through a locally operated distribution center. To date Barrow is the only community that has opted to utilize this option but has found it helpful in controlling alcohol consumption and bootlegging in the area.

An extension of the sunset date gives communities more options to deal with problems on the local level, said Representative Joule.

Berkowitz's Bill to Update Arbitration Statutes Passes
Senate Judiciary

House Minority Leader Representative Ethan Berkowitz

House Bill 83, sponsored [sponsor statement] by House Minority Leader Representative Ethan Berkowitz (D-Anchorage), will update Alaska's current arbitration statutes through adoption of the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act (RUAA). These revisions address many questions that the original uniform act did not and encourages the use of arbitration as a viable alternative to litigation.

The objective of the RUAA is to advance arbitration as a desirable alternative to litigation, but not to make arbitration another form of litigation. To this end, the RUAA endeavors to make the arbitration process more efficient, expeditious, and economical in a manner that is fair to the parties, and that promotes finality of the decision of the dispute submitted to arbitration.

House Bill 83 now moves to the Senate Floor.

Kapsner's Bill Regarding Alaska History Curriculum Passes
House Health Education and Social Services

House Bill 84, sponsored [sponsor statement] by Representative Mary Kapsner (D-Bethel), recommends at least one semester of Alaska history to be taught in Alaska schools. Teaching materials, once rare, are becoming more abundant and a new Alaska History and Cultural Studies curriculum will soon be available to any district at no cost, thanks to an initiative started by the Alaska Humanities Forum. An Alaska History course requirement dovetails nicely with the existing social studies graduation requirement and does not need to add to the credit load required for graduation. A 1/2 credit Alaska History and Cultural Studies course could be part of the three social studies credits currently required of high school students for graduation.

House Bill 84 now moves to House Finance.

Guttenberg's Bill to Add Second Student Regent Passes
House Health Education and Social Services

Representative David Guttenberg

House Bill 72, sponsored [sponsor statement] by Representative David Guttenberg (D-Fairbanks), seeks to add a second Student Regent, or Junior Regent, to the University of Alaska Board of Regents and establishes a new dynamic for both their service and succession. In practice, terms of individual Student Regents will still be two years but under this framework their terms will be overlapping and staggered. Newly appointed to the Board, the Junior Regent will spend his or her first year of service learning from the experience of the more Senior Regent and other members of the Board, attending meetings and participating in the subcommittee process as a voting member. House Bill 72 adds a further stipulation that at least one member of Board of Regents must have received either an undergraduate or graduate degree from the University of Alaska.

House Bill 72 now goes to the House Floor.

Senator Georgianna Lincoln

Upcoming Events -

Thursday, April 29th - Southeast Alaska Women's Conference honors Senator Georgianna Lincoln for her many years of outstanding service to Alaska. Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, will be the Guest Speaker. The reception is from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall, 320 West Willoughby Ave., Juneau.

Putting Alaskans First - Moving Alaska Forward