Military code, gas line appointments things to watch

  • By Becky Bohrer
  • Monday, March 23, 2015 12:24am
  • News

JUNEAU, Alaska — A state House committee plans to hear legislation this week aimed at updating the state’s military code of justice.

Alaska’s code was written before statehood and has not been changed substantively since, according to a legislative research brief requested by House Minority Leader Chris Tuck, who is among the legislators who have sponsored legislation to update the code. The National Guard Bureau’s Office of Complex Investigations, as part of a scathing report on allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct involving Alaska National Guard members released last September, said the current code lacks teeth.

Robert Doehl, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said Forrest Dunbar, a judge advocate general officer, is working with legislators on efforts to update the code. The bill scheduled for a hearing Thursday in the House Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee is sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee. Doehl is part of a new leadership team appointed since Gov. Bill Walker took office in December that also includes Adjutant General Laurie Hummel.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Doehl said several components will be needed: enabling legislation, regulations identifying infractions that would be punishable under the code and an expeditious process to address minor matters. He said the hope is to work with the Legislature to lay the foundation for an effective bill. But he said it’s also important to see what a special investigator tasked with looking into the guard issue has to say — a public report from the investigator isn’t expected until after the legislative session is scheduled to conclude — and to test scenarios under the legislation to see how it would work.

Work on the military code bill is one of the things to watch for this week. Here are two others:

— SULLIVAN SPEECH: U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is scheduled to deliver his first address to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature Monday. It is tradition for Alaska’s U.S. senators to address state lawmakers. Alaska’s senior U.S. senator, Lisa Murkowski, addressed lawmakers last month.

— GASLINE CORPORATION BOARD MEMBERS: The House Resources Committee plans confirmation hearings Monday for Gov. Bill Walker’s three new appointees to the board of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., or AGDC.

Walker upset some lawmakers with a decision earlier this year to remove three of the board’s five public members. Walker said he wanted Alaskans on the board and greater regional representation. He also said he saw this as a lay board, not a professional board.

Removed were Richard Rabinow, a former president of Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co., from Texas; Drue Pearce, a former state lawmaker and federal coordinator for Alaska gas pipeline projects, from Anchorage; and Al Bolea, a former oil company executive, from Big Lake. In their place, Walker appointed former state legislators Rick Halford and Joe Paskvan, and Hugh Short, chairman and CEO of a private equity firm focused on Arctic investments.

Legislation passed in 2013, led by House Speaker Chenault and Rep. Mike Hawker, calls for the governor to consider an individual’s expertise and experience with gas pipeline projects, finance, large project management and other areas relevant to AGDC’s duties.

Chenault said he will want to know more about the qualifications of Halford and Paskvan. He said he’s worked with both and both are very smart, “but the background they have in the industry is in this building, I think.”

He noted that confirmations are no longer voted on in committee but advanced to a joint session of the Legislature for consideration. Senate Resources plans a confirmation hearing for Short on Monday, the same day it plans to continue its confirmation hearing of Attorney General Craig Richards. An aide to the committee chair said Short had requested that date and the committee is working on dates for the other board appointments.

More in News

Member Tom Tougas, far right, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Tourism Industry Working Group in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tourism working group rejects bed tax, recommends seasonal sales tax adjustment

The document includes a section that says the borough could alternatively leave its tax structure exactly as it is.

The rescued sea otter pup looks at the camera in this undated picture, provided by the Alaska SeaLife Center. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Stranded otter pup rescued from Homer beach

She is estimated to be around 2 months old and was found alone by concerned beach walkers.

Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks to graduates during the 55th commencement ceremony at Kachemak Bay Campus on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Kenai Peninsula College leadership sees temporary transitions

KPC Director Cheryl Siemers is serving as interim UAA chancellor, while former KBC director Reid Brewer fills in her role.

Ash-Lee Waddell (center) of Homer is one of six recipients of the 2025 First Lady’s Volunteer Award at the Governor’s Residence in Juneau, Alaska, on May 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor
First lady honors Alaska volunteers

Volunteers from Homer and Nikiski were recognized.

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Middle schooler reported missing found after 24-hour search

The student was seen leaving Kenai Middle School at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The Oceania Riviera stands out against a bluebird sky at the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Over 1200 passengers from aboard the boat explored Homer throughout the beautiful day. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer tourism season kicks off with arrival of cruise ships

The first cruise ship of the season arrived April 28 with 930 passengers.

tease
‘Tomorrow — remember you are still a learner’

Kachemak Bay Campus graduated 49 students during its 55th annual commencement hosted on May 7.

Mt. Redoubt rises above Cook Inlet and the Anchor River drainage as fireweed is in bloom, as seen from Diamond Ridge Road on Friday, July 22, 2022, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Native plants provide lifeline for local songbirds

Shorebird Festival talk highlights importance of native plants.

Sterling Elementary School students collect trash from the banks of the Kenai River near Bing’s Landing in Sterling, Alaska, during the 10th Annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cleaning up the mess that’s left behind

Students from six local schools combed for litter during the 10th Annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup.

Most Read