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Dear Neighbors,
The long, Easter weekend allowed me time to meet with constituents at a Town Hall Meeting, the Alaska Children's Trust Celebration and the Mush for Kids, the Fabulous Feminist Auction and Open Office Hours on Thursday through Monday! The weather has finally turned for the better with sunny skies, chilly mornings and hot days reaching the 40’s! Thanks for making all of my events and meeting with me as the legislature approaches the remaining 36 days of the session that will end on May 21st
The big news is that the House passed its version of the annual operating budget this week as they try to balance the needs and wants of the state. The Senate will continue its work on the capital construction budget which will be very slim, despite the high war-driven oil prices. Several bills that I have carried have passed the Senate this year, including one the office had worked on for a decade.
| | Wrongful Conviction Compensation | | |
The justice system has a responsibility to ensure that those convicted of crimes are prosecuted fairly and justly. If the State later finds an offender was wrongfully charged, the State should do right by those who have had their convictions overturned. Incarcerated individuals have their PFD relinquished to the state. SB167 would reimburse the PFDs to Alaskans whose convictions were vacated or reversed and dismissed for the period they were wrongfully imprissoned. This piece of legislation has been in my office for a decade and I'm proud to continue to advocate for the rights of those who have been wrongfully convicted.
Alaska is currently just one of 12 states that do not provide compensation for wrongful conviction. Some states, like Texas, offer monetary compensation as well as college tuition and job training to exonerees.
While the justice system is unable to return the experiences and opportunities missed from wrongful incarceration, Alaska has the responsibility to reimburse our exonerees the PFD money that rightfully belongs to them. Re-entering society after incarceration is a difficult process. By returning the PFD funds lost during an unjust imprisonment my hope is those funds will make the transition to civilian life easier.
SB167 will now move to the House of Representatives where it will meet up with a companion bill sponsored by Rep. Donna Mears. The Alaska Beacon wrote a story about the legislation HERE.
| | The Ted Stevens Internship: Building Tomorrow's Leaders | |
The Ted Stevens program strives to continue the incredible legacy of personal and political courage in service to Alaska. Senator Stevens believed deeply in public service and creating opportunities for young Alaskans to lead and experience the political system firsthand.
I had the pleasure of attending the Ted Stevens Legislative Internship Reception last week at the Governor’s Mansion. Each year, the Ted Stevens internship enables University of Alaska students to gain hands-on experience in the state capital while learning more about the legislative process.
The internship is an incredible opportunity for young Alaskans to further their academic goals while gaining real-world experience and building professional connections for the future. Many graduates of the program go on to become staff or legislators in the building.
Throughout the years, my office has been proud to host many Ted Stevens interns, as I strongly believe it is essential to not only focus on fixing the problems at hand but also to equip the next generation of Alaskan leaders to continue our work.
This year, the intern in our office was Samuel Marquardt. As a Coast Guard member attending UAS, Sam’s intention with this internship was to gain both leadership and policy experience to prepare for his career as a Coast Guard officer. He saw firsthand examples of leadership in action and gained hands-on experience carrying Senate Joint Resolutions 25 and 30. While working as a junior staffer. Sam said, “I had an excellent experience in the legislature and am better equipped and connected to lead in my career."
If you know a University of Alaska student who may be interested in applying, more information can be found at the University of Alaska website.
| Purple Month, Military Kids | |
Military members are often thanked for their service as they interact with the community, but you don’t often hear people thanking a service member's family for their dedication. While the soldier and, to some degree, the soldier's spouse make a conscious decision to sacrifice for the defense of the U.S., their children do not. These resilient military “brats”, as they are affectionately called, are faced with challenges their peers are unable to understand, such as moving several times during their formative years, acclimating to multiple schools and dealing with long separations from their parents. Which is why April is officially known as the Month of the Military Child. It is a time for us to recognize the unique situation military children find themselves in and offer support to these tenacious kids.
Caspar Weinberger started this tradition in 1986 while he was Secretary of Defense. It was an informal event celebrated only within the Department of Defense. Over time, other organizations, such as the Military Child Education Coalition, also used April to draw attention to these special kids. The Purple month is marked by several informational campaigns that bring attention to the obstacles military children face, and a day when people can “Purple Up” for military kids. If you would like to show your support for the military children in your community, join me on April 16th in wearing purple.
There are several events planned this month where citizens can show their support. On April 18, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, the Wainwright MWR is putting on an “Under the Sea Carnival” at 4166 Neely Road on base. The second annual Purple Up Ball will be held on April 17 in the gymnasium of Arctic Light Elementary. Tickets for this event are $15 dollars and include admission to the event, food, beverages and a photo booth.
As the Senator representing Fort Wainwright, I am aware that even though these military children aren’t able to vote, they are still my constituents. Many of these children have integrated into the Fairbanks North Star Borough, which is why I continue to advocate for increasing the BSA. These children need targeted resources to cope with their specific needs. Such as directed counseling, school transition support and tutoring to fill in gaps they may have gained while moving from school to school. Only by ensuring these children have the resources they need within their school can we honor the service both they and their parents dedicate to our country.
| The House Operating and Mental Health Budget Head to the Senate | |
The House passed their proposed Operating HB263 and Mental Health HB265 Budgets to the Senate today. The budget reduces the $1.6 billion dollar deficit the Governor originally proposed on December 11th and still funds some of the core issues facing our Fairbanks and the state. Some of the Highlights Include:
• $1.5 million for Child Advocacy Centers
• $7.5 million for childcare center recruitment and retention.
• $3.8 million for Head Start
• $147.7 million for a one-time education funding increase.
• $10.9 million for a one-time pupil transportation increase
• $5.3 million for Pioneer Homes Payment Assistance program
• $1.4 million for a Senior Benefits Payment Program
• $272.2 million Federal Receipts for the Rural Health Transformation Program, on top of
the $272.2 million appropriated in last year’s budget
• $54.8 million for fire suppression costs.
• $25.2 million to fully fund community assistance grants
• $1.49 billion Earnings Reserve Account funds to inflation proof the permanent fund
The House majority sent the Senate a lot of good additions to the budget from protecting seniors, children from Pre-K to 12, assisting municipalities, assisting hospitals, community health centers and providing a sustainable PFD.
Now my colleagues and I in the Senate will review the House budget continuing our process of looking for efficiencies and budget discipline. I will continue to address Fairbanks and Alaska’s largest areas of concern as the process moves forward.
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I was thankful to be joined by Representatives Maxine Dibert and Ashley Carrick at the Easter Town Hall held at the Fairbanks LIO. Being home again, even briefly, offers a welcome break from the daily grind. However, our return was marked by meetings with constituents and community members. We heard from neighbors about ongoing concerns related to behavioral health and their desire for improved access to services, especially following an incident where a man was tragically shot and killed by police during a mental health crisis. This incident has prompted calls for more compassionate reforms. These discussions solidified my determination to shepherd SB196 through the legislative process. This bill would create a $.98 surcharge on phones billed in Alaska to fund the 988 number and the other behavioral health services in the state. If the systems we currently have in place for these types of incidents had a stable and predictable funding source, our state can avoid more tragedy in the future. My condolences go out to the family.
During the Town hall, one of the issues raised involved the Alaska Native Language Center. Professors, linguists, and community members expressed the importance of the center, which was established over fifty years ago to preserve Alaska Native Languages. Recently, it was reorganized to become part of the UAF College of Indigenous Studies. Since then, several changes have occurred, including relocating the center’s publishing functions out of state to a Colorado-based consortium. Many perceive this as a de facto closure. UAF leadership claims the center is expanding. As a supporter of the University and its mission, my colleagues and I will continue to monitor this situation.
Constituents were given the floor during the event, and we received reports concerning the issues impacting the local community. Such as maintenance issues following the coldest winter in decades and the failure of hydraulics that froze due to the cold. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding high energy costs for individuals, accompanied by advocacy for further action. I am very grateful to have been joined by City Councilwoman Valerie Therrien and GVEA Board Member Gary Newman to also hear these concerns since these issues fall directly under their jurisdiction.
This weekend served as a stark reminder that our efforts are far from complete. Whether it involves addressing the urgent need for mental health reform, restoring the integrity of the Alaska Native Language Center, or confronting our energy crisis, we, as legislators, are attentive to these issues. Representatives Dibert, Carrick and I remain committed to translating these town hall concerns into meaningful actions that safeguard our heritage and ensure stability for our families.
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My Staff and I are Here for You
As always, I will continue to keep you updated on what I’m working on in Juneau throughout the session. If you have any questions about anything going on in the Capitol or at home, feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email – as always, my staff and I are working for you. We will assist you with the issues important to you and your family.
| | Working Hard for Fairbanks Families, | | |
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Senator
Serving the City of Fairbanks, Ft. Wainwright & Badger Road
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As your Senator, I am here to listen and help. Contact me anytime. | | | | | |
