User:Manes-notatis/geniechance

Chance was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1968, and served as a State Representative from 1969 to 1975. She was then elected to the Alaska Senate in 1974 and served as a State Senator from 1975 to 1979. As a legislator, her primary interests were education and women's issues. Chance pushed for progressive legislation as the primary supporter of the 1970 bill legalizing abortion in Alaska prior to national legalization via Roe v. Wade in 1973. Other major legislative achievements include spearheading the establishment of a statewide university system and a statewide telecommunications system. Chance served as vice chairman and chairman of the House Health Education and Social Services Committee. She also served on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in Military Service from 1967 to 1970. Chance's legislative papers and files for the years between 1969 and 1976 are housed with the Archives and Special Collections at the UAA/APU Consortium Library. Included are subject files on important policies during Chance's years in the legislator such as abortion, atomic energy commission, education, health and welfare, petroleum development, Alaska Children's Services and FCC Regulation.