Weekly Star Editorial for February 5, 1998

From: Representative Fred Dyson
Toll Free: (800) 342-2199
Date: February 2, 1998

We are back at work and it is intense and very busy. I will outline the major issues that the legislature is working on and the individual pieces of legislation that we are working on in our office. Much of this is in preliminary stages and we invite your specific input. You can reach us at (800) 342-2199 or via e-mail: Representative_Fred_Dyson@Legis.state.ak.us

Subsistence - In general, I support the lawsuit to clarify the statehood compact and our State's right to manage our resources. The lawsuit filed by the Legislative Council appears somewhat flawed, but I understand that it will be modified. If the court rules that the law suit has standing, then an injunction will be filed to stop the Federal takeover of our fish and game management until the lawsuit is settled. This will give Alaskans more time to work out an Alaskan solution.

Concurrently, changes to Alaska's laws are being drafted to define the terms and conditions of the priorities of the uses of fish and game during times of shortage. The House Republican-led Majority's version of this will place the highest priority on people who need the fish and game for food to live on, not on where they live.

Soon, a ballot proposition will be drafted to allow for a needs-based priority for the utilization of fish and game; this MAY be placed on the ballot this fall IF all other efforts to thwart the Federal takeover fail. We will make drafts of this information available on our web site as soon as we get it (http://www.akrepublicans.org/pastlegs/Dyson.htm).

Child Protection - We are working on several pieces of legislation to try to give children more protection. This work includes:

• HB 333: Makes it a crime of negligence physically or mentally impaired while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances when you have the sole responsibility for the care of a child under the age of ten.
• HB 366: Prohibits the state of Alaska from seizing custody of a child just because the parents are poor or homeless.
• HB 456: Provides foster parents with access to all information about the children they take in. Mandates that foster parents be notified of all court proceedings regarding the children for whom they are caring. It would allow foster parents to have some input in court.
• HB 453: Provides for the complete exchange of information between law enforcement, the Federal government, and social service organizations.

Violent Criminal Releases - This bill (HB 443) attempts to mandate that violent criminals and sex offenders attend a rigorously supervised transition program and, if they fail the program, they go back to jail. Under this bill, the criminal wouldn't get out of jail until he or she successfully completes the program or serves every last day of the longest possible sentence for that particular crime. We want to do everything we can to minimize the situation where a recently released felon perpetrates a crime as that of taking the life of Trooper Bruce Heck just over a year ago.

Restorative Justice - This concept (HB 443) alters our criminal justice system and makes taking care of the victim the goal and highest priority of the system. In selected cases, the perpetrator will be required to restore the victim's person, property, and peace of mind to the extent possible as a part of his or her sentence.

Fred Dyson represents Chugiak/Eagle River in the Alaska State House of Representatives. For more information about Fred and his issues, please see his web site located at http://www.akrepublicans.org/pastlegs/Dyson.htm