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Senate Says Criminals' PFDs Should Go to Victims

(JUNEAU) - With strong bi-partisan support Tuesday, the Senate passed legislation requiring Permanent Fund Dividends of convicted criminals to go to help the victims of their crimes. Senate Bill 338 passed out of the Senate with 18 members voting in favor of the legislation and only one member, Democrat Senator Lyman Hoffman, voting against it.

SB 338 will make criminals convicted of a felony or misdemeanor ineligible for a Permanent Fund Dividend for at least two years, regardless of prior convictions. Possible additional lengths of dividend forfeiture would vary based on the severity of the crime, according to Sen. Dave Donley (R-Anchorage), co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

"Two years is the minimum," said Donley. "If you commit a violent or particularly heinous crime you could lose your Permanent Fund Dividend for life."

According to Donley, the confiscated dividends would go back to the state, where their first use would be to assist victims through the "Violent Crime Compensation Board."

A Finance Committee substitute to the bill also establishes an avenue for confiscated dividend checks to be paid back out to families in need of child support money.

SB 338 has been transmitted to the House, where it was referred first to the House State Affairs Committee.

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