04/21/1995 01:40 PM House FIN

  HOUSE BILL NO. 202                                                           
                                                                               
       An Act relating to the participation and accountability                 
       of  parents  and  guardians  and   the  enforcement  of                 
       restitution  orders  entered  in  juvenile  delinquency                 
       proceedings;  relating  to  claims  on  permanent  fund                 
       dividends  for  certain   court-ordered  treatment   in                 
       juvenile  delinquency   proceedings;  changing   Alaska                 
       Supreme  Court Delinquency  Rules  3(b)  and 8(b);  and                 
       providing for an effective date.                                        
                                                                               
  LAURIE  OTTO, DEPUTY  ATTORNEY  GENERAL, CRIMINAL  DIVISION,                 
  DEPARTMENT  OF  LAW testified  in support  of  HB 202.   She                 
  emphasized that  parent groups and individuals  working with                 
  juveniles have expressed concern with the increasing  number                 
  of juveniles  in trouble and  a lack of  parent involvement.                 
  She pointed out  that section 2  requires parents to  attend                 
  juvenile delinquency hearings  unless excused  by the  Court                 
  for  good  cause.    She  emphasized  the  need  for  parent                 
  participation.  She  noted that the legislation  would allow                 
  the Court  to require  parent counseling.   The  parents are                 
  also responsible  for communicating  with the  Court if  the                 
  minor is not  applying with  court orders.   She noted  that                 
  section 1 would  allow the parent's permanent  fund dividend                 
  to be taken to  pay for court ordered treatment.   She added                 
  that the legislation would allow courts  to order parents to                 
  pay  restitution  in  criminal  cases.   She  stressed  that                 
  currently the judgement  would cease when the  juvenile left                 
  the  jurisdiction  of   the  juvenile  court.     Under  the                 
  legislation the judgement would remain against the parent.                   
                                                                               
  In response to a question by Representative Brown, Ms.  Otto                 
  clarified that the  parent's presence would not  be required                 
  until a petition of  delinquency is filled.  She  noted that                 
  parents are currently involved in 99 percent of the cases at                 
                                                                               
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  the juvenile in-take stage.                                                  
                                                                               
  Representative Martin MOVED to report CSHB 202  (HES) out of                 
  Committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  with  the                 
  accompanying fiscal  note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                 
  so ordered.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Representative Therriault  referred  to  the  definition  of                 
  "runaway or  mission minor".   Ms. Otto  explained that  the                 
  language clarifies statute.                                                  
                                                                               
  CSHB 202  (HES) was  reported out  of Committee  with a  "do                 
  pass" recommendation and  with a fiscal  impact note by  the                 
  Alaska Court System and with seven zero fiscal notes; two by                 
  the Department  of Administration,  dated 2/27/95; three  by                 
  the Department of  Health & Social Services,  dated 2/27/95;                 
  one by the Department of Revenue,  dated 2/27/95; and one by                 
  the Department of Law, dated 2/27/95.