Remembering Rep. Gruenberg's visit: helping students learn about the legislative process

Rep. Gruenberg (center) gets to work explaining HB 147 to students.

On October 19, 2015, Rep. Max Gruenberg visited Prof. Kristin Knudsen's class, LEGL 356 Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing, to give realistic feedback to students who had drafted their own proposed amendments to HB 147 Animals: Protection/Release/Custody, a bill introduced by Rep. Liz Vasquez in 2015 and co-sponsored by Rep. Gruenberg.

The  bill deals with animal cruelty investigations, animals included in protective orders, and issues of ownership of an animal in divorce or dissolution cases, and as of this writing, is still in committee.

Rep. Gruenberg was accompanied by Michael Haukedalen, Alaska State Director, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), who discussed the role of lobbyists and his organization's efforts to promote this bill.  Rep. Liz Vasquez was also invited, but was unable to attend.

Rep. Gruenberg, one of the longest serving members of the Alaska Legislature, passed away unexpectedly on February 14 of this year in Juneau.

Prof. Knudsen (far right) looks on as Rep. Gruenberg (center), with Mr. Haukedalen of the Humane Society (r),
reviews a student's draft amendment.