Mat-Su legislators show their clout in Juneau

Mat-Su’s legislative delegation has clout in Juneau, and several lawmakers were productive this year.

Bills passed that dealt with cybersecurity, health care, sexual assault, education and oil and gas regulation that were sponsored and cosponsored by lawmakers from the region.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed Rep. DeLena Johnson’s cybersecurity protection bill into law June 16 in a ceremony at the Matanuska Susitna Borough’s offices. Johnson and many in the regional delegation attended.

They included Sen. David Wilson, who helped steer an important bill expanding telehealth services through the Legislature. Wilson chairs the Senate’s Health and Social Services Committtee.

The telehealth bill will expand the kinds of medical services that can be provided virtually, or electronically, so that a physical visit to a physician’s office will not be needed. The bill also coveres consultations by out-of-state physicians in some cases.

Also at the ceremony was Sen. Shelley Hughes, who is also the Senate Majority Leader. Hughes played a key role in the Legislature’s passage of the “Alaska Reads Act,” which will boost childrens’ reading instruction at lower grades as well as expanding pre-school programs statewide.

The goal is to get Alaska out of last place among the states in fourth grade reading.

An important part of the reading bill is a virtual leaning “consortium” within the Department of Education and Early Development that was a key contribution by Hughes. It will provide more support for online learning and home-schooled children.

Hughes also cosponsored legislation reforming state laws on sexual assault along with another education bill granted recognition for out-of-state teaching licenses, an aid to school districts working to recuit and retain teachers.

Rep. DeLena Johnson was also a cosponsor on the sexual assault legislation and was also instrumental, as a member of the House Finance Committee, in expanding state financial support to for home school and correspondence students.

Rep. George Rauscher, also at the ceremony, authored a bill that streamlines the state’s process for approving plans for new oil and gas drilling. Existing law requires 30-day public notices and hearings in certain circumstances before new oil and gas development wells can be drilled.

Changes in drilling technology have made the requirement unnecessary but the law is still on the books, creating delays for companies in drilling wells.

Johnson’s cybersecurity bill will help defend the state’s information sysstems by amending state law to include cyberattacks in the definition of disasters qualifying for an emergency declaration by the governor. This will allow resources to be mobilized much faster to deal with the attack.

“Cyber security threats are increasing at an alarming pace,” Johnson said. “Over the last few years, there have been dozens of cyber security attacks at the local, municipal and state government levels, which have borne upon the safety and operation of services, the privacy of thousands of residents, and cost millions of dollars to the State and private sectors to protect, update and counter any attacks.

Security of personal data is particularly important, Johnson said. “Governments collect and maintain far more sensitive information than most private sector companies,” she said.

HB 3 stipulates that the Commissioner of Administration or designee will certify to the Governor of a high probability of an attack occurring that will affect the state’s information systems and operations. “The certification must be grounded on specific information, and the attack or threat must be widespread, just like a natural disaster,” Johnson said.

Lawmakers from the Mat-Su are increasingly strong in the Legislature as the population of the region grows relative to the rest of the state. Currently three of the state Senate’s 20 members are from Mat-Su along with six of 40 members of the state House of Representatives.