The second session of the 32nd Alaska Legislature begins next Tuesday. Each year, senators and representatives have the opportunity to file bills and resolutions in advance of the session. Both Senator Mike Shower and Representative David Eastman have submitted pre-filed bills that were made public in advance of the session.
Senator Shower has pre-filed a single bill, which would change where the legislature meets. Shower’s bill, numbered SB 152, would amend state law in such a way that the first session of each legislature would be held in Juneau as it is now. The second session of each legislature would then be held in Anchorage at a location to be determined by the state’s Legislative Council. Shower’s bill makes it clear that Juneau would remain the state capital.
Representative Eastman has pre-filed five bills and one joint resolution. Most of Eastman’s legislation is centered on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One bill, HB 236, would allow public health officials acting in their official capacity to be opened up to personal civil liability for damages resulting from “negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.” The bill also specifies that public health officials must reach their own “own conclusions and professional opinion” for guidance, mandate, or recommendation to avoid being held civilly liable.
Another bill would allow for company that “incentivizes, induces, or encourages” vaccination against COVID-19 to be held liable for any adverse reaction their employee might have to that vaccine.
Other legislation pre-filed by Eastman would prevent state or municipal officials in Alaska from enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates at any level.
One of Eastman’s bills that is more vaguely worded adds to the state’s coercion statute. The bill changes coercion from a misdemeanor to a felony, and expands the definition of coercion to include “depriving anyone of a civil right.”
Eastman’s final piece of legislation is a series of amendments to the Alaska Constitution that would impose a spending limit on the legislature and place a Permanent Fund Dividend formula in the Constitution as opposed to statute, where it is now.
A second round of pre-filed bills is scheduled to be made public on Friday.
