02/21/1995 03:37 PM Senate STA

                                                                               
                       SB   4 DWI LAWS                                       
                                                                               
 SENATOR SHARP brings up SB 4 as the next order of business before             
 the Senate State Affairs Committee and calls the first witness.               
                                                                               
 Number 340                                                                    
                                                                               
 RON OTTE, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety, states that              
 though the administration has not yet identified a position on SB
, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) supports SB 4.                       
 Commissioner Otte thinks most law enforcement agencies in Alaska              
 are supportive of any legislation or approach which would target              
 chronic impaired drivers.  People who reach the category of driver            
 outlined in SB 4 are a serious threat.  There are about 400 persons           
 per year who would fall into this category.  Commissioner Otte                
 states again that the administration has not come forward yet with            
 a position on SB 4, he believes because of the fiscal implications,           
 but that it would be very hard for DPS not to speak in support of             
 the bill.                                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 356                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN asks, since he thinks of Commissioner Otte as "the              
 administration", to whom he is referring when he says "the                    
 administration"?                                                              
                                                                               
 COMMISSIONER OTTE responds the governor has not yet come forward              
 with a position on SB 4.                                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN asks Commissioner Otte if he will be advising the               
 governor on SB 4.                                                             
                                                                               
 COMMISSIONER OTTE replies he has shared his opinion with the                  
 governor's staff on SB 4.   However, he cannot speak for the                  
 Department of Corrections or the Department of Law.                           
                                                                               
 Number 375                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Commissioner Otte what the process is             
 for determining position on issues.  It is Senator Phillips                   
 impression that Commissioner Otte is "out of the loop".                       
                                                                               
 COMMISSIONER OTTE responds that the process is for all departments            
 affected to present a bill analysis to the governor.  The OMB                 
 director, the chief of staff, the legislative liaison, and the                
 governor take those into consideration when determining positions.            
 Regardless of the position taken by the governor in terms of the              
 fiscal implications of SB 4, the Department of Public Safety likes            
 increasing penalties for third-time offenders.                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks if the governor's office has timelines            
 for determining positions.                                                    
                                                                               
 COMMISSIONER OTTE is not aware of whether or not the governor's               
 office has timelines.                                                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS thinks the governor's office should pick up            
 the pace on issuing formal positions.  He asks Commissioner Otte              
 what his personal feeling is on SB 4.                                         
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP commented Commissioner Otte has already given his              
 personal opinion.                                                             
                                                                               
 COMMISSIONER OTTE states if he did not have a personal opinion, he            
 would not be at the hearing.                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 400                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS makes a motion to discharge SB 4 from the              
 Senate State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations.               
                                                                               
 Number 405                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, orders SB 4 released from               
 committee with individual recommendations.