00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 55                                                                          
01 "An Act adding definitions of 'gravity knife' and 'switchblade' to the criminal law."                                   
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 11.81.900(b) is amended by adding new paragraphs to read:                                          
04                 (65)  "gravity knife" means any knife that has a blade that opens or                                    
05       releases a blade from its handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application                          
06       of centrifugal force; "gravity knife" does not include a knife that has a spring, detent,                         
07       or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure that requires a person to                             
08       apply exertion to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure                            
09       and open or release the blade;                                                                                    
10                 (66)  "switchblade" means any knife that has a blade that folds, closes,                                
11       or retracts into the handle or sheath that opens automatically by pressure applied to a                           
12       button or other device located on the handle or sheath; "switchblade" does not include                            
13       a knife that has a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward                            
14       closure that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome                            
15       the bias toward closure and open the blade.