2001-07-20                     Senate Journal                      Page 1873
SB 105                                                                                            
Message dated and received July 5, stating:                                                         
                                                                                                    
Dear President Halford:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
On this date I have signed the following bill passed by the first session                           
of the Twenty-second Alaska State Legislature and am transmitting                                   
the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office                               
for permanent filing:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
           HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO.                                                      
           105(FIN) "An Act relating to victims' rights; relating                                   
           to establishing an office of victims' rights; relating to                                
           the crime victim's choice to appear or testify in a                                      
           criminal case; relating to compensation of victims of                                    
           violent crimes; relating to eligibility for a permanent                                  
           fund dividend for persons convicted of and                                               
           incarcerated for certain offenses; relating to notice of                                 
           appropriations concerning victims' rights; relating to                                   
           restitution for criminal and delinquency acts;                                           
           authorizing the state to collect restitution on behalf of                                
           victims of crime and delinquent acts and the release                                     
           of certain information related to that collection;                                       
           relating to the forfeiture of certain cash and other                                     
           security for payment of other restitution; relating to                                   
           access by the Violent Crimes Compensation Board to                                       
           certain records regarding delinquency acts to award                                      
           compensation to victims; relating to immunity for                                        
           damages related to certain collections of restitution;                                   
           amending Rule 82, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure,                                       
           Rule 16, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 9,                                     
           Alaska Delinquency Rules, and Rules 402 and 501,                                         
           Alaska Rules of Evidence; and providing for an                                           
           effective date."                                                                         
                                                                                                    
                             Chapter 92, SLA 2001                                                  
                         Effective Date: See Chapter                                               
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    

2001-07-20                     Senate Journal                      Page 1874
In signing this bill aimed at assisting Alaska victims of crime, I must                             
sadly note the worthwhile program it establishes will start off at risk                             
due to underfunding. The legislature recognizes the great value of                                  
helping victims collect their court ordered restitution, but neglects to                            
fully fund the resources to perform this task to its maximum potential.                             
Of the $305,000 requested for the Department of Law to set up the                                   
collection service, only $200,000 was granted.                                                      
                                                                                                    
In addition, the legislature refused to fund the Department of                                      
Corrections' mandate to furnish new and expanded information on                                     
inmates for the purposes of Permanent Fund dividend denial. The                                     
effort must be worthwhile because the legislature intends to fund an                                
Office of Victim's Rights with the denied dividend money. Yet                                       
allowing the department its relatively small funding request to fulfill                             
this mission was ignored. How disheartening that we continue to                                     
establish new programs with the expectation they can be implemented                                 
at zero cost.                                                                                       
                                                                                                    
       Sincerely,                                                                                   
       /s/                                                                                          
       Tony Knowles                                                                                 
       Governor