[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6287398,"mediaKeyId","2553373-0e4c70552fea715560cf716ae445ab81","parentId",2553373,"title","Committee reviews bill to change appointment process for Office of Public Advocacy director","audioSeconds",1732,"startMs",4664000,"endMs",6396000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2553373-0e4c70552fea715560cf716ae445ab81&start=4664&end=6396","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2553373-0e4c70552fea715560cf716ae445ab81/thumbnail_4664000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6287398/Alaska/Committee-reviews-bill-to-change-appointment-process-for-Office-of-Public-Advocacy-director","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287398-c7929dec967f83dad602e8106d6e3cda/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993259&Signature=beuNcykvSC9OgPAiM1zwDqXpCS-SxBr~lTot5qk3Gi5pn-dNdnkjc6l8QWPn~MuYLh~KCFt5ozHD9Qh4PJc-aVQATcUjCddHX8zzI2tJ-7PY9NcmTrLbYgMVs~pTGtzoauNV~kJb4Ooxts3Gqeh5NueVkzu8fBRxRZNO9V9GJLNpXOg0UUWrympjefX-UVB7bOYDWoChA9bkA-H~dzRIq1r3LzYkGAbrc4q-eooZJxZ61zKoNeDYXViD-su2laz~LBLFRVqGuDR3IXSsR1y9TY5RRhKQdcM3pcKttTPP8oOpaG0XBOBBrwMeDlp2NU04k-l~zUkbXvtD9tXzzS279Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","On March 11, 2025, the Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard House Bill 58, sponsored by Representative Zach Fields, which would revise how the director of the Office of Public Advocacy (OPA) is chosen and removed. The bill proposes that the public advocate be nominated by the Alaska Judicial Council, appointed by the governor to a four‑year term subject to majority confirmation by the legislature in joint session, and removable by the governor for good cause with notice—matching the current process used for the Public Defender.

Representative Fields said the change is intended to create structural parity between OPA and the Public Defender Agency because both offices provide legal services to indigent Alaskans and often operate in circumstances where independence from political direction matters, such as confidential child‑welfare and guardianship proceedings. “These agencies were established at different points in time…they are similarly important,” Fields said during the hearing.

Courtney Owen, staff to Rep. Fields, summarized the bill’s sectional analysis and the conforming changes (many existing references to the commissioner of administration would be retitled to the public advocate). The draft would add a new statute directing the governor to appoint the public advocate from nominees provided by the Judicial Council for a four‑year term and to seek legislative confirmation. The bill includes transition provisions to preserve existing orders and allow the current director to continue until a new appointment is made.

Invited testimony included Brent McGee, who served as Alaska’s public advocate from 1984 to 2003. McGee told the committee, “This bill corrects a mistake that was made 41 years ago,” arguing the public advocate’s role is not a policy position and the office should operate independently of the governor’s department. He described the independent selection as a safeguard against political pressure and noted the public advocate’s role in protecting vulnerable clients in confidential proceedings.

Suzanne DiPietro, executive director of the Alaska Judicial Council, described the Council’s existing screening and nomination process for the public defender position, including the 28‑page application, extensive background checks, surveys of bar members, public hearings, a 45‑minute interview for candidates, and a public vote to nominate at least two candidates to the governor. DiPietro said the Council’s constitutional structure was designed to promote nonpartisan selection and geographic representation.

Terrence Haas, the current public defender, was available to answer procedural questions about the process; he confirmed the Council’s selection procedure was rigorous. Committee members asked about potential conflicts, accountability, and whether changing OPA’s selection mirrored the historical rationale for the Public Defender’s nomination process. Fields said the proposal responds to practitioner concerns and was intended as a structural fix rather than criticism of current leadership.

The committee held HB 58 over for invited and public testimony; staff said the bill may be brought back for additional public testimony on March 13, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/11/2025 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS","oneSentenceSummary","On March 11, 2025, the Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee heard House Bill 58, sponsored by Representative Zach Fields, which would revise how the director of the Office of Public Advocacy is chosen, making the process parallel to the Public Defender’s Judicial Council nomination, gubernatorial appointment and legislative confirmation.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287408,"House committee considers expanding ‘snow classic’ fundraisers to more charities",1583,346000,1929000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2553373-0e4c70552fea715560cf716ae445ab81&start=346&end=1929","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2553373-0e4c70552fea715560cf716ae445ab81/thumbnail_346000.jpg","/articles/6287408/Alaska/House-committee-considers-expanding-snow-classic-fundraisers-to-more-charities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287408-1aec0c66ef4875d68c33b02cda3684a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993259&Signature=XB2rL26iHDL5RfaqzKRVCckFHqyP4qMq3WDLw4EOBoyv9IVnTHPPHTH26BlgFwoTbxybZC0Av83soEqJd-iEQ8gcpVzFirbKpsYbgddfyUTrQR1UbtEGxXQoE2reTpECKKroFNku0kh4yFCw7haZU3pCj0S7MUuyR92li-uSmz3o0ZGxEsV7ivQhc-QPIAOLxN2SkVJS2w6VkxRTjw5uGQT0v95zC274LZn4nt5ICrin7J7lp3FcUcNTGorgAThjVnMrcTEEUsdKHYdhsprzPv2-3LcGAIeflwNGJM9D4N0gvEUXmlfXVwT-LOG6zb6RO54DUm32tmAngWryOh2HFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee on March 11, 2025, heard House Bill 50, sponsored by Representative Sarah Hannon, a one‑page measure that would broaden the statutory definition of a “snow classic” so additional eligible charitable organizations can host snow‑accumulation guessing fundraisers.

The bill would remove the current statutory requirement that a snow classic be operated exclusively by a single named organization at a single specified site, allowing other qualified permit holders to add the game type to their charitable‑gaming permits. That change would leave in place existing charitable gaming rules administered by the Department of Revenue Tax Division, including requirements for eligible entities and reporting.

Rep. Sarah Hannon told the committee the bill “broadens the definition of a snow classic that allows additional eligible charitable organizations to host snow classic fundraisers.” Hunter Meacham, staff to Rep. Hannon, explained the bill amends the definition in statute (noted in the hearing as an amendment to AS 05.15.69047) by removing the specific reference to Four Valleys Community School and the Mount Alyeska site.

Marty Abel, gaming manager for the Department of Revenue Tax Division, told the committee there is no statutory cap on how many snow classics a permit holder may run. “There's no limit as to how many snow classics a permit holder can have. If they have a permit, they can have as many as as they want,” Abel said. Abel also described the permit process: applicants must be qualified nonprofits or municipalities (which can include federally recognized tribes, cities or schools); they must meet organizational requirements such as having at least 25 Alaska‑resident members, bylaws and meeting minutes showing three years of activity, a dedicated gaming checking account, and annual gaming reports. Abel noted the Tax Division issued roughly 1,036 permits in 2023 and that permit holders add game types to their existing gaming permit.

Invited testimony came from Frankie Pilafont, president of the Juneau Nordic Ski Club, who said the club is a 501(c)(3) and would use proceeds mainly to support its youth program, which accounts for “half of our budget.” Pilafont described operational needs such as volunteer groomers and trail maintenance in multiple land‑management jurisdictions and said the club has not yet determined the measuring site but suggested places such as Eagle Crest or Montana Creek.

Committee members asked whether the measure could allow a proliferation of classics across the state and whether measuring disputes might trigger legal challenges. Rep. Kai Holland and Rep. Mike Prox asked whether the Tax Division limits the number of permit holders or events; Abel clarified the Division’s application and qualification processes but did not impose a numeric regional cap. Hunter Meacham said the permit application must specify the location and date for the measurement, which reduces ambiguity about what constitutes the measured snow accumulation.

The committee held the bill over for follow‑up and potential invited testimony. Co‑chair Rebecca Himshoo stated she would “hold this bill over” after testimony concluded.

Without making policy determinations, the committee record shows HB 50 would remove a site‑and‑beneficiary restriction and rely on existing Tax Division permitting and reporting rules to govern any new snow classics that permit holders choose to run.","The Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee on March 11, 2025, heard House Bill 50, sponsored by Representative Sarah Hannon, a one‑page measure that would broaden the statutory definition of a “snow classic” so additional eligible charitable organizations can host snow‑accumulation guessing fundraisers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287403,"Committee reviews bill to criminalize AI‑generated child sexual abuse material in Alaska",4425,2019000,6444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2553373-0e4c70552fea715560cf716ae445ab81&start=2019&end=6444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2553373-0e4c70552fea715560cf716ae445ab81/thumbnail_2019000.jpg","/articles/6287403/Alaska/Committee-reviews-bill-to-criminalize-AIgenerated-child-sexual-abuse-material-in-Alaska","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287403-f6deb22359b1cbeb1a357a4aade3192f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993259&Signature=V03cYpqok8xWyh3sbSiqKUHKutNZkZ1xB77kXOt9cJPcscLPVm8L7WYEKAOJ2m6jwAW8smizDcYGP18yih5Odau9WmSBIMzM2arJwvlTKZhiu3t6pXI4AlQCQtCvFMjtJUzmbdcWEEM4buSN5YQvSKJlkOaAYCmmLPYfn3hjsTVY7rgvQjRkZHt3RZnjvh5PBb1c03mooi1wMYUGRkaApOwF7YA-OOWr9aM1IuTisS3-sem4Q5mxtMyiMcuWjTOczk47jxqCOOEtNKjePNlrH4C~CRNiarlC~70xURLPV1xlkLqKILaKEyoFW4cdlyMU3nOzyeJuPUyhQBVehyO9xQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska House Community and Regional Affairs Committee on March 11, 2025, heard House Bill 47, sponsored by Representative Sarah Vance, which would expand state criminal statutes to explicitly prohibit the creation, possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) produced or modified using artificial intelligence or other synthetic media.

Representative Vance said last year’s lack of a state statute left Alaska reliant on federal prosecutions in such cases and pointed to reported incidents of AI‑generated CSAM involving youth in Alaska communities. “Currently, Alaska must rely on federal prosecutions due to our lack of state statute addressing this issue,” Vance said. The bill’s drafters told the committee it contains two principal approaches: (1) amend existing CSAM statutes to cover “identifiable” children depicted in synthetic images without requiring proof of obscenity, and (2) create a new offense that criminalizes obscene synthetically generated material that is not of an identifiable real child, aligning the new offense with the Miller obscenity test.

Bob Ballinger, staff to the sponsor, summarized the bill’s structure and said the new sections would be added to the criminal code (referenced in the hearing as amendments to the existing AS 11.61 provisions). Ballinger described a separate “safe harbor” provision in the bill to protect internet service providers and telecommunications workers who remove or report illicit material during the course of their duties.

Invited testimony came from Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of the Alaska Children’s Trust, who described the measure as necessary to empower state law enforcement and prosecutors. Storrs cited national data for context: the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported approximately 4,700 incidents involving generative AI in 2023, and the sponsor’s team noted that 37 states had enacted similar statutes, many in 2024.

Department of Law senior assistant attorney general Casey Schroeder was available to answer legal questions. Schroeder explained that having state statutes would allow Alaska prosecutors to pursue state charges when appropriate, supplementing federal enforcement and reducing reliance on federal prosecutorial discretion.

Committee members pressed staff about statutory elements and proof requirements. Representative Refridge asked why the bill’s language emphasizes an “identifiable child” in part of the draft; Ballinger explained that the identifiable‑child prong permits prosecution under existing CSAM statutes without invoking obscenity elements, while the separate “generated/obscene” prong addresses wholly synthetic material and includes elements of the Miller test to withstand First Amendment scrutiny. Casey Schroeder said the bill’s structure was intended to preserve constitutionally required distinctions while giving law enforcement clearer authority.

Representative Vance and staff described the bill as a response to local incidents and a national trend in which synthetic imagery has become both more prevalent and more realistic. The committee held HB 47 over for further invited and public testimony and requested that staff and Department of Law clarify federal/state enforcement overlaps and penalty differentials for members who asked.

No formal action or vote was recorded; the committee scheduled possible additional testimony and a follow‑up hearing.","Rep. Sarah Vance introduced HB 47 to expand Alaska’s CSAM statutes to cover AI‑generated and computer‑edited material, align prosecutable conduct with obscenity standards (Miller test), and add safe‑harbor language for internet platforms; committee held the bill for further testimony","actionData","errors"]

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Committee reviews bill to change appointment process for Office of Public Advocacy director

House committee considers expanding ‘snow classic’ fundraisers to more charities

Committee reviews bill to criminalize AI‑generated child sexual abuse material in Alaska