Alaska State Legislature

News From The Senate and House Majorities

Ken Freeman (907) 465-3804
Wendy Lindskoog (907) 465-4582
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
web site: www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Republican-led Majority Follows Through on Commitment to Fight Crime

Transmits "Safe Neighborhood" Legislation to Governor

For Immediate Release: May 6, 1997 Contact: Ken Freeman (907) 465-3804 or Wendy Lindskoog (907) 465-4582

JUNEAU -- Following through on their "Commitment to Alaska" to promote 'Safe Neighborhoods', members of the Republican-led Majority Tuesday transmitted to the Governor a package of legislative initiatives to fight crime and protect Alaska's families.

House and Senate leaders said their goal is to ensure that Alaska’s children can play in safe neighborhoods, grow up in safe neighborhoods, and raise their families in safe neighborhoods.

"We kept our promise, addressing juvenile crime, domestic violence, and the rights of victims," said House Speaker Gail Phillips. "Our legislation is geared to make criminals accountable for their actions."

Legislative initiatives passed to curb crime in Alaska include: "no frills" prisons; ending domestic violence victim insurance discrimination; enacting victims rights measures; making bootleggers and drug dealers responsible for their actions; and truth in sentencing.

"The war on crime is a never-ending process," said Senate President Mike Miller. "We need to do all we can to arm our law enforcement officials with the necessary crime-fighting tools."

Phillips and Miller noted both the Senate and House majorities passed effective and pro-active initiatives to fight crime and protect Alaska's children. Those measures include:

HB 6: Representative Pete Kelly

Short Title: Release of Information about Minors

HCR 4: Representative Pete Kelly

Short Title: Separate Records For Delinquents

Summary: Both legislative initiatives are linked to remove the veil of secrecy surrounding juvenile criminals. Currently, even violent youthful offenders move unnoticed among our neighborhoods and schools because state law forbids their crimes to be made public. HB 6 changes that by making records of teen felons and repeat misdemeanants public.

HB 6 protects some of the most intimate information about troubled kids and releasing only the information most relevant to the crime.

HCR 4 is a technical rider to HB 6 which will allow the state to disclose information on juvenile offenders without jeopardizing federal funds.

HB 9: Representative Brian Porter

Short Title: Right of Crime Victims and Victims of Juvenile Offenses To Be Present At Court Proceedings.

Summary: Throughout recent history criminals have been afforded many protections under the U.S. Constitution. From Miranda, search and seizure, criminal discovery, and others, the criminal justice system gives many rights to the criminal. The rights of the accused are important, but so are the rights of the victim.

HB 9 is offered to implement the mandate of the 1994 Amendment to the Constitution and to make absolutely clear to our state's judiciary a crime victim's right to be present at the trial and other proceedings of the accused, including juvenile proceedings, whenever the accused has the right to be present.

HB 9 will also:

HB 22: Representative Ivan Ivan

Short Title: Civil Liability For Bootleggers

Summary: Current law seemingly exempts those who sell liquor without a license (bootleggers) from any civil liability for the damages that may be caused by their illegal acts. The basis of House Bill 22 is to make bootleggers and drug dealers responsible for the sale of their illegally produced alcohol and controlled substances by holding them liable for actions taken by persons who commit property damage or personal injury while under the influence of the alcohol or drugs purchased from them.

HB 69: Representative Al Vezey

Short Title: Designating Flunitrazepam as a schedule IV(A) controlled substance.

Summary: The effect of this bill would be to make the possession of flunitrazepam with the intent to manufacture or distribute a Class A felony under Alaska law. The distribution of flunitrazepam to minors would become an unclassified felony. Flunitrazepam is more commonly known as Roofies or the Date Rape Drug.

SB 1: Senator Dave Donley

Short Title: The Alaska No Frills Prison Act.

Summary: SB 1 is a balanced, cost saving proposal that limits personal possessions and activities of prisoners in Alaskan correctional facilities; reduces state medical expenses for prisoners and provides greater vocational training opportunities. SB 1 seeks to fulfill these new mandates by removing or prohibiting certain luxuries from Alaska's prisons including premium cable television, personal computers, cassette players, weightlifting equipment and possession of pornographic materials. It also calls for instituting a fee (not more than $2 a month) for use of electrical utilities and recouping costs for certain health care services provided to prisoners.

SB 3: Senator Drue Pearce (Pending Passage)

Short Title: Will allow District Courts to hear Minor’s Curfew Violations

Summary: SB 3 will mandate that all juvenile curfew violations be handled in District Courts, not municipal courts. Currently, juvenile offenses other than traffic, tobacco, fish and game, parks and recreational facilities, or alcohol violations, are handled through municipal courts if they exist, or are not handled at all because the caseload is too large at the Division of Family and Youth Services. SB 3 will relieve municipalities from the burden of prosecution and will allow for more effective and expeditious handling of curfew offenses.

SB 14: Senator Dave Donley

Short Title: Protect Domestic Violence Victims from Insurance Discrimination.

Summary: SB 14 protects innocent victims of domestic violence from insurance discrimination. Currently there is no protection in Alaska for victims of domestic violence against insurance premium increases, cancellation or denial. This bill requires, upon written request from an applicant, that an insurer must disclose the reason insurance coverage was denied.

SB 67: Senator Rick Halford

Short Title: Truth in Sentencing Act of 1997

Summary: The mandatory parole provisions virtually guarantee that the actual time served will be significantly less than what the judge hands down at the time of sentencing. As a result, SB 67 was introduced requiring judges to issue a written and oral statement at the time of pronouncement disclosing the minimum time a convicted felon is actually expected to serve.

SB 70: Senator Dave Donley (Pending Passage)

Short Title: Discharge of Firearms at buildings becomes felony

Summary: Senate Bill 70 provides strong new deterrents to individuals who unlawfully discharge firearms at buildings.

The legislation creates a stiffer penalty for those individuals charged with discharging a firearm in the direction of a building with reckless disregard for a risk that the building is occupied. Senate Bill 70 also adds the "unlawful discharge of a firearm in the first or second degree" to the list of possible automatic waiver crimes for certain juveniles. Minors, at least 16 years of age at the time of offenses, would be charged, prosecuted and sentenced in superior court in the same manner as an adult.

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Broadcast Note: radio actualities are available by calling 800/478-6540
 = Brian Porter and Dave Donley: 232 K = Dave Donley, Al Vezey, and Pete Kelly: 215 K = Rick Halford: 134 K