Sponsor Statement for HB 426

by Rep. Eldon Mulder

The purpose of House Bill 426 is to allow the Department of Health and Social Services to provide an alternative means of dealing with juvenile offenders.

An "Operation About Face" program is designed to take first time juvenile offenders and provide them with the skills and attitudes they will need to become productive Alaskans.

The program will consist of a 22-week period of intense military-styled physical training, work, and discipline and a period of aftercare consisting of not less than six months of intensive probation supervision and services. The program will include:

• education
• job training and placement
• community service
• substance abuse counseling and treatment
• health and mental health care
• continuous individualized case management

Once a juvenile is assigned to the custody of the department, the department will select which juveniles they feel will most benefit from the program. Juveniles may be assigned to the program if the juvenile:

• has not been adjudicated delinquent, or committed to the custody of the department, more than once
• is over 16 years of age but not more than 18 years of age at the time of placement
• has been committed to the custody of the department for not less than 160 days
• has not been convicted of or adjudicated delinquent for a sexual offense
• has not previously completed the program