Legislation that is part of our ongoing work to end the backlog of untested rape kits in Alaska has passed the Alaska Legislature unanimously. My bill, HB 31, and a separate appropriation in the capital budget, will be used to test more than 3000 rape kits that have been sitting on police shelves for decades.
Juneau – Today, the Alaska House of Representatives passed a resolution requesting that Alaska-focused assets of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) be based in Alaska. House Resolution 8 was put forward by the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee and carried by Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka).
The principal components of an adjournment agreement are becoming evi-dent as progress continued this week on several “big ticket” bills.
On Wednesday the House/Senate Conference Committee for SB 26—the Permanent Fund restructuring bill—released a draft committee substitute that is now being used as a basis for compromise discussions toward support for final passage.
So, what’s the update from Juneau? While today marks Day 109 of the legislative session, and despite my hope we would have finished by now, I very much believe the House and Senate are close to adjournment. Both chambers have passed versions of the operating budget, the capital budget is progressing, and a bill funding the education portion of the budget ( HB287 ) was signed into law yesterday .
Today marks the 109th day of the session. As the House continues to consider and approve additional legislation, the budget and public safety remain our top priorities and we’re committed to working together with the Senate.
While remaining deeply engaged in the big, lynchpin issues that the legislature must settle before adjourning, in recent weeks I’ve also managed to advance measures that I’ve been championing. Those include:
Juneau – Earlier today, Alaska Governor Bill Walker was joined by members of the Alaska Legislature and dozens of elementary school students for the official signing ceremony for legislation to early fund Alaska’s K-12 public education system. The signing ceremony for House Bill 287 was held at the Harborview Elementary School in Juneau. HB 287 authorizes the State of Alaska to spend $1.3 billion for K-12 education and student transportation. The bill was introduced at the beginning of the Second Session of the 30th Alaska State Legislature by House Finance Committee Co-Chair Rep. Paul Seaton (R-Homer). HB 287 was co-sponsored by 22 State Representatives and 12 Senators.
