Committee sets amendment deadline for bill expanding Human Rights Commission scope; witness urges name change to 'Civil Rights'

The House Finance Committee on April 9 set an amendment deadline for House Bill 23, which would alter the State Commission for Human Rights by expanding the definition of “employer,” changing the agency’s name and adjusting reporting and removal rules.

The bill’s sponsor and supporters said the proposal would extend the commission’s jurisdiction to some nonprofit employers and update administrative practices. "The bill changes the definition of employers so that non profits, would be subject to the, jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission," Representative Josephson said during a committee recap.

The measure also would move the commission’s annual report deadline to November and remove the requirement for a paper report to the legislative library. At the committee’s public testimony segment, Doreen Lorenz, a member of the public who said she spoke from experience with nonprofits, supported both the name change and expanded coverage. "We're wanting a change in name from civil rights instead of human rights because right now we're getting calls for things that we cannot cover, and we're not getting calls for things that we do," Lorenz said.

Lorenz also told the committee she supported a provision that would make commission members removable only for "just cause," saying it would prevent a new governor from firing the panel wholesale and replacing it with political appointees. "A new governor could dismiss everyone on this commission, first day of office, and reappoint all their political cronies to go after their political enemies," she said, arguing the change would reduce politicized removals.

Committee staff set an amendment deadline of April 15 at 5 p.m.; members were instructed to submit amendments to staffers Bridal Anderson or Helen Phillips. The chair closed public testimony after one witness and invited submission of written testimony to the committee email address. No formal committee vote on HB23 occurred during the April 9 meeting.

The bill’s sponsor said the proposal includes legal guardrails for employers that raise bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) issues; committee members were directed to a legal opinion in the bill file explaining BFOQ applications (examples include certain positions such as some corrections and caregiving roles). The committee also noted that while the expanded employer definition could touch many Alaskans in theory, the practical number of affected people would be much smaller and limited to those who file discrimination claims.

The committee accepted testimony and set the amendment deadline; further consideration will occur after members receive and consider amendments and any additional written testimony.

Ending: The committee left HB23 pending for amendment work; stakeholders were encouraged to submit written testimony and amendments before the April 15, 5 p.m. deadline.