2019 Session Report

Dear Neighbor,

Although our work in Juneau is not yet finished, I wanted to provide a report on the legislative accomplishments that were made during the 31st Legislature. During my time in office, I have fought for a balanced budget, the protection of the Permanent Fund and a sustainable Permanent Fund Dividend, and essential core services like public safety, education, and programs for vulnerable Alaskans.

Representative Fields with predecessor Les Gara, and session staff from left to right:

Logan Basner, Tristan Walsh, and Grace Kubitz.

Accomplishments in Legislation

Introduced four bills, two of which passed the House
Co-sponsored 11 pieces of legislation, three of which have passed the legislature, including a bill to close the Schneider loophole

House Bill 96

The House passed bipartisan HB 96, which fights to keep Pioneer Home rates affordable. Alaskans established the first Pioneer Home in Sitka in 1913, and ever since we've strengthened this essential institution, including the certification of the first Veterans Home in Palmer in 2007. I appreciate the leadership of Representative Laddie Shaw in particular, who helped establish the Veterans Home when he was Commissioner of Military and Veterans Affairs, and who joined me in leading the effort to pass this bill out of the House.

House Bill 118

The entirety of HB 118, a bill I introduced during session, was included in the comprehensive anti-crime bill. It works to strengthen re-entry programs to reduce recidivism using language I developed in partnership with Department of Corrections and stakeholders for HB 118.

House Bill 49

The House passed a comprehensive crime bill that cracks down on vehicle thieves, drug dealers, and sex predators while maintaining key programs such as pre-trial. The bill is a result of the work of House and Senate members appointed to a conference committee to resolve differences between the two body's versions of HB 49. The bill includes HB 118, a bill I introduced to strengthen re-entry programs in our state to reduce recidivism using language developed with help from the Department of Corrections, re-entry coalitions, and other stakeholders. I voted yes on this compromise.

Around the Capitol

Vic Fischer Testimony on Constitutional Amendments

In May, the House State Affairs Committee was honored to hear testimony from Vic Fischer, the last living delegate to the Alaska Constitutional Convention. Vic told the Committee and a packed room that the Governor's proposed constitutional amendments, "Are atrociously drafted... It doesn't belong in the Constitution." Vic Fischer also said, "This Constitution has been in place for 60 years, and has worked... What seems to be behind the proposals is a strategy of reducing the wealth of Alaskans. If you follow these, Alaska will become impoverished." Thank you to Vic for making the trip to Juneau, during which we also celebrated his 95th birthday!

Co-Chair, House State Affairs Committee

In addition to hearing testimony from Vic Fischer, the committee I co-chair passed multiple bills, including HB 14, which closed the Schneider loophole, HB 12 which strengthened the ability of victims of domestic violence to obtain and extend protective orders, and HB 20 which would expedite the process for testing rape kits.

Helped lead oversight efforts to stop no-bid sole-source privatization of Alaska Psychiatric Institute

The committee I co-chair (State Affairs) held a joint oversight hearing on the single-source privatization of API in partnership with the Health and Social Services Committee. This hearing revealed that the Department of Health and Social Services withheld key information in pushing the sole-source, no-bid privatization of API to an outside company called Wellpath. The department withheld information, including Wellpath's long record of negligence, patient deaths, and lawsuits, and the fact that Providence Health and Services had offered to help with API, but had its offer of assistance ignored. In April following our hearing, the Dunleavy administration announced the cancellation of "Phase 2" permanent, sole-source privatization of API through Wellpath. Thanks to Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52, which brought a lawsuit to block permanent privatization. Now that the administration has cancelled sole-source, permanent privatization, we must be vigilant to ensure that management changes at API prioritize patient and employee safety--not profits for private Outside corporations . I appreciate the collaboration and leadership of Representatives Kreiss-Tomkins, Spohnholz, Zulkosky, Claman, Josephson, and Ortiz on this issue.

Budget

This session, I've fought for funding for our schools, ferry system, Medicaid, the University, seniors and foster kids, and Alaska Legal Service, among other public service items.

Around the District

Hosted 5 in-district constituent coffees

Thank you to everyone who came by New Sagaya's on Saturday morning's this spring. Being accessible while the legislature is in session is important to me and I appreciate hearing the views of my friends and neighbors in the district.

Visited numerous local businesses

Downtown Anchorage hosts hundreds of local businesses. I had the opportunity to visit with owners and staff at Lucky Wishbone, Big Rays, Wild Scoops, Cupples Cottages, and PIP Printing.

Co-chaired two successful Anchorage Caucus Town Halls

In early spring, the elected officials from Anchorage traveled home on two separate occasions organized by my office to hear from 800+ Alaskans. Thank you to the Anchorage School District for providing venues for these town halls.

I hope to see you around the neighborhood this summer,

Zack