From Juneau to You! Dear Friends, The Alaska Legislative Session is quickly approaching! The session is set to begin on January 16th in Juneau. With the start of the session a little less than two months away, I am gearing up for what I expect to be a busy session addressing the state's budget and policy priorities. Major issues on the agenda this upcoming session include passing a budget, addressing the ongoing fiscal challenges facing the state, and determining the use of federal dollars coming to our great state. Additional key topics include education, infrastructure, retirement and benefits, and job growth. Given ongoing economic uncertainty and the need for a balanced budget, the budget process will likely be complex with difficult decisions around revenue and spending. Some interest groups have already begun weighing in on their priorities and interests. Last but not least, happy holidays to you and yours! May the spirit of the holidays fill your home with love and peace. My Priorities The following is a list of my office’s legislative priorities for the upcoming session. Juneteenth (SB 22): Make Juneteenth an observed legal state holiday. Use of Force Registry (SB 23): Establish a use-of-force database that will be overseen by the Department of Public Safety which will collect reports of use of force by a municipal police officer, municipal correctional facility employee, probation officer, parole officer, correctional officer, state trooper, village public safety officer or regional officer. Mental Health Education in Schools (SB 24): Amends existing health education curriculum to include mental health curriculum in all K-12 health classrooms to adequately educate students on vital information about mental health symptoms, resources, and treatment. Asian American/Pacific Islander Program (SB 131): Teaching students in our Kindergarten through 12th-grade education system about the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States could be greatly beneficial and would allow students to feel empowered and to understand their ethnic identities as well as their civic duty. Education for Deaf & Hearing Impaired (SB 143): (Companion Bill HB 111) Children who are deaf or hard of hearing have the right to accommodations and access to academic instruction, school services, and extracurricular activities in their primary language. Access to their primary languages allows them to benefit from all services and programs at their school and to fully access education and society. Stay at Work/Return to Work: I plan to introduce a bill that adds a Return-to -Work Coordinator to State Statutes to assist with planning for individuals who experience on the job injuries resulting in compensable time loss injuries. The program will help supervisors manage employee injury, illness, and disability and ensure that employees can return to the workplace as quickly and safely as possible. Get More Info Here Feasibility Survey for a Midtown Business Improvement Business District (BID) The Anchorage Community Development Authority is facilitating discussions to explore the feasibility of forming a Midtown Business Improvement District. A public online survey will collect information from the business and property owners of the Midtown area. Click here to download the map. What is a BID: A Business Improvement District (BID) is a geographically defined area in which property owners pay an additional annual assessment to provide services that benefit the district. These services are in addition to those already provided by the municipality. The BID can accomplish such things as public capital improvements, sidewalk and street cleaning, public area beautification, sidewalk snow removal, visitor and tourism public services, and security services. Take the Survey: Please complete the following survey by Friday, December 15, 2023: [link removed]  For more information about the survey, please contact Holly Spoth-Torres at [email protected] or 907-223-0136 or visit ACDA’s Midtown project page at [link removed]. Snow Berm Removal If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to my office at: Besse Odom Chief of Staff 907-269-0174 Tasha Hotch Legislative Aide 907-269-0155  Jeff Stepp Legislative Council Aide 907-465-4930 Send us an Email Follow Me on Facebook Follow Me on Twitter I’m Senator Elvi, always..... "Listening and Representing Your Interests!” Alaska Senate Democrats | Capitol Building, 4th Avenue & Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]