2010-01-27                     Senate Journal                      Page 1327
In addition to keeping evidence so that it may be used at a later date,                                                         
law enforcement and other agencies, such as courts and prosecution                                                              
offices, must safeguard it so that it is useful for possible future testing.                                                    
The bill authorizes the establishment of a task force to include law                                                            
enforcement, prosecutors, the court system, a representative from the                                                           
crime laboratory, and the medical examiner to develop policies and                                                              
procedures for maintaining evidence in a way that will protect and                                                              
safeguard against tampering or degradation. Standards for evidence                                                              
collection and retention will be established as well.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Although the Alaska post-conviction law has been upheld by the                                                                  
United States Supreme Court, standards for evidence retention and a                                                             
procedure for post-conviction DNA testing will strengthen the current                                                           
law and provide one more protection in our justice system.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable consideration of this bill.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Sean Parnell                                                                                                                    
Governor                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 242                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 242 BY SENATOR MCGUIRE, entitled:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
             "An Act providing income tax credits for geothermal                                                               
          resource exploration and development."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 243                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 243 BY SENATOR MCGUIRE, entitled:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                 "An Act removing the royalty obligation for                                                                   
          geothermal resources."                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance                                                               
Committees.