03/25/1994 08:35 AM House FIN

  SB 45     An Act relating to persons  under 21 years of age;                 
            providing  for  designation  of `safe  homes'  for                 
            runaway  minors;  and providing  for  an effective                 
            date.                                                              
                                                                               
            SB   45  was   HELD  in   Committee   for  further                 
            consideration.                                                     
  SENATE BILL 45                                                               
                                                                               
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       "An  Act relating  to persons  under 21  years of  age;                 
       providing for  designation of `safe homes'  for runaway                 
       minors; and providing for an effective date."                           
                                                                               
  Representative Therriault reviewed  the Subcommittee's  work                 
  which  deleted  the  working  prohibition.    Representative                 
  Hanley MOVED  the work draft 8-LS0355\Q, Lauterbach, 3/23/94                 
  as the  version  before  the  Committee.    There  being  NO                 
  OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                                   
                                                                               
  Representative Hoffman referenced Page 6, Line 20, and MOVED                 
  to adopt a  conceptual amendment, Amendment #1,  which would                 
  leave in the language "[Take the  minor to a nearby location                 
  agreed  to  be   the  minor   and  the  legal   custodian]".                 
  Discussion  followed  among   Committee  members   regarding                 
  continued inclusion of the language.                                         
                                                                               
  CINDY SMITH, DIRECTOR, NETWORK ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, JUNEAU,                 
  spoke   in  support  of  including  the  language  regarding                 
  location  of  a  minor agreed  to  by  the  minor and  legal                 
  custodian.                                                                   
                                                                               
  JERRY  BURNETT, STAFF  TO SENATOR  RANDY PHILLIPS,  remarked                 
  that  the  language  was  removed  in  the  House  Judiciary                 
  Committee.    He  added  that  the  sponsor  would agree  to                 
  inclusion of the language.                                                   
                                                                               
  There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment  #1 was adopted with the                 
  necessary  language changes within  the body of  the bill to                 
  accomodate that change.                                                      
                                                                               
  Representative Hanley MOVED to adopt Amendment #2.  [Copy on                 
  file].                                                                       
                                                                               
  MARGOT KNUTH, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, CRIMINAL DIVISION,                 
  DEPARTMENT OF LAW,  stated that the purpose of the amendment                 
  would help to  solve an  unreasonable constraint in  dealing                 
  with juveniles who are in custody.  She pointed out that the                 
  amendment would create an exception allowing a minor to  ask                 
  that  a parent,  guardian or  custodian not be  notified and                 
  which would be treated as a right that a minor must exercise                 
  knowingly.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Ms. Knuth questioned whose right it should be to talk to the                 
  police, the  minor's  right  or the  parent's  right.    The                 
  amendment recognizes  that the  minor should  have the  same                 
  ability as an adult regarding with whom they choose to speak                 
  with.  She  continued that  there is not  an age  limitation                 
  provided in the legislation.                                                 
                                                                               
  Representative Brown MOVED to  divide Amendment #2, whereas,                 
                                                                               
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  the  changes  proposed  to  Page  5,  Line  1,  would  stand                 
  independent of the amendment.   There being NO OBJECTION, it                 
  was divided.                                                                 
                                                                               
  Representative Hanley  MOVED to adopt Portion  #1, Amendment                 
                                                                               
  Representative Hanley MOVED to  adopt Portion #2,  Amendment                 
                                                                               
  CS  SB   45  (FIN)  was   HELD  in  Committee   for  further                 
  consideration.