2004-02-16                     House Journal                      Page 2602
HB 484                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 484 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                       
the Governor, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
     "An Act imposing a correctional facility surcharge on persons                                  
     convicted of a crime under state law, and on persons whose                                     
     probation is revoked; relating to fees and expenses for interstate                             
     transfer of probation or parole; and providing for an effective                                
     date."                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance                                   
Committees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    

2004-02-16                     House Journal                      Page 2603
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                 
                                                                                                    
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Law                                                                            
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 13, 2004, follows:                                 
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Kott:                                                                                 
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of article III, section 18, of the Alaska                                       
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that would impose a surcharge on                             
persons convicted of an offense and on persons whose probation is                                   
revoked.  The bill also would require a person under state probation or                             
parole supervision to pay an application fee for a requested transfer of                            
that supervision to another state.                                                                  
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
Alaska has an urgent need to mitigate the cost of its correctional                                  
facilities.  The bill imposes a surcharge on a person who pleads guilty                             
or nolo contendere to, or is convicted of, a crime if the person was                                
arrested and taken to a correctional facility or is sentenced to a term of                          
imprisonment.  The amount of the surcharge depends on the                                           
seriousness of the crime: $100 for a felony and $50 for a                                           
misdemeanor.                                                                                        
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
The bill also would impose a surcharge on a person placed on                                        
probation after conviction of a crime.  The surcharge is collected only                             
if the defendant's probation is revoked for a probation violation and                               
the person was either arrested and taken to a correctional facility for                             
the violation, or sentenced to prison for it.                                                       
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
Alaska participates in the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender                                    
Supervision (Compact), which regulates the transfer of supervision for                              
persons under state probation and parole.  The bill would establish an                              
application fee for persons under active probation or parole                                        
supervision who request an interstate transfer of supervision under the                             
Compact.  According to the Department of Corrections, the great                                     

2004-02-16                     House Journal                      Page 2604
majority of other states already impose a fee for similar services.  The                            
bill also would require the applicant to post a bond or deposit cash,                               
which would be forfeited if the state must escort the person back to                                
Alaska for confined supervision.                                                                    
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt and favorable consideration of this proposal.                                    
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely yours,                                                    
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Frank H. Murkowski                                                  
                                 Governor"