KEEPING IN TOUCH
Phone:
(907) 269-0234
Toll-Free:
(866) 465-3892
Address:
1500 W. Benson Blvd., Room 418, Anchorage, AK 99503
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Join Me for Coffee Tomorrow
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The 2018 legislative session is over, I'm back home in the neighborhood, and can't wait to hear from you!
Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 30th), stop by the Jewel Lake Kaladi Brothers for a quick update on what happened this session and to ask any questions you may have. Look forward to catching up with you over a cup of coffee (on me, of course)! As always, feel free to just come by and say hello as well.
Hope to see you soon!
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End of Session: Bills of Interest
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In addition to the budget and SB26 (covered in my last newsletter), a number of other laws passed at the end of the 2018 legislative session you might like to know about! While not a comprehensive list, here are a handful of bills-of-interest:
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HB44 - Legislative Reform
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In a massive step for legislative ethics reform, the Alaska Legislature passed my legislation focused on strengthening conflict of interest standards, per diem limits and other good governance improvements.
The people of Alaska have long demanded legislative reforms and more transparency in their government. Nearly 50,000 Alaskans signed a petition focused on those ideas and the legislature has responded to that call for change. Without you, this wouldn't have been possible. THANK YOU, ALASKA!
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- Strengthens the definition of a "conflict of interest" to include benefits to a legislator's immediate family or employer;
- Requires a legislator to declare a conflict of interest in committee before acting on legislation;
- Blocks legislators from receiving per diem after day 121 of the legislative session if the operating budget has not passed;
- Prohibits a lobbyist from buying a legislator alcoholic beverages and limits food purchases;
- Implements a stricter foreign travel policy for legislators; and
- Prohibits foreign corporations and foreign citizens from making political contributions/expenditures in state candidate elections.
It’s our responsibility as elected leaders to create transparency to build trust with the public. My goal as a new legislator was to find ways to show the public that our work is focused on benefiting Alaska, not ourselves. HB 44 takes a huge leap forward in achieving that, and I'm excited to announce its passage!
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Due to budget cuts prior to FY18, the State’s ability to provide adequate public safety resources has become more and more limited. This year's Public Safety Action Plan (introduced by Governor Walker) focused on protecting Alaskans by funding more front-line resources and addressing loopholes in the law.
House Bill 312
became the vehicle for the greatest public safety priorities of the plan and took the following steps:
- Ensures a person’s out-of-state criminal history is considered in pre-trial release decisions;
- Strengthens the pre-trial release assessment for those charged with vehicle theft and other crimes;
- Gives Alaska’s Attorney General the authority to criminalize dangerous new controlled substances; and
- Increases surcharges imposed for felonies, misdemeanors, and violations, putting the increased revenue back into public safety.
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Attorney General Lindemuth, & Rep. Kopp, and me after hosting an event outlining public safety priorities for legislators and staff during the 2018 session.
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SB63 - Smoke-Free Workplace
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After a long process and six years of work by many stakeholders, a bill to ban smoking in most public spaces in Alaska has passed the legislature.
Senate Bill 63
seeks to protect Alaskan employees from the adverse health effects of secondhand smoke by providing a statewide, smoke-free workplace law for businesses and public places.
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Although 50% of residents already live in communities that ban smoking in public spaces (including residents in Anchorage), SB63 extends the law to communities throughout the State. However, for those municipalities who wish to continue to allow smoking in the workplace, the bill does allow them to opt-out (with local voter support).
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Ever forget your fishing license, or lose that little piece of paper? Well, this bill is for you! Thanks to
House Bill 260
, you will soon be able to show proof of your recreational hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses electronically. Once signed into law by the Governor, this new option should take effect just in time for fisherman to enjoy it by the time the reds are running this season!
While you'll still have to record your catch of certain species of fish and game on paper harvest logs, HB260 will make those moments out in Alaska's great outdoors that much easier. Happy hunting!
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Photo Credit: Alaska Department of Fish & Game
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I always have time for my neighbors. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please give me a call at (907) 269-0234, send me an email at
Rep.Jason.Grenn@akleg.gov
, message me on
Facebook
, or contact me on
Twitter
.
Warmly,
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Representative Jason Grenn
House District 22
Sand Lake, Jewel Lake, West Dimond & Kincaid
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Let's Keep in Touch!
(907) 269-0234
Rep.Jason.Grenn@akleg.gov
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Office of Representative Jason Grenn
1500 W. Benson Blvd., Room 418
Anchorage, AK 99503
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