Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/09/2004 03:07 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 175-PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR DUI Number 0950 CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 175, "An Act relating to issuance of a limited driver's license; relating to driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, inhalant, or controlled substance and refusal to take a chemical test for consumption of an alcoholic beverage, inhalant, or controlled substance; and providing for an effective date." Number 0975 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt HB 175, version U, as the working document. There being no objection, HB 175, version U was before the committee as the working document. Number 0997 AMANDA WILSON, Staff to Representative Norman Rokeberg, Alaska State Legislature, testified on behalf of Representative Rokeberg, sponsor of HB 175. She explained that HB 175 accomplishes three things. It allows limited driver's licenses for people who are in wellness and therapeutic courts. These courts agree that this would be a beneficial incentive to get DUI offenders to participate and comply with the provisions, she said. The bill also changes the look-back period on inclusion of prior driving under the influence (DUI) offenses to 15 years instead of the current lifetime look-back. Ms. Wilson commented that prior to current law there was a 10-year look-back. She said that this law also clarifies the legislature's intent that minimum fines be imposed unless the person is involved in the wellness and therapeutic courts. MS. WILSON said that the limited driver's license provisions for people in wellness and therapeutic courts would provide that upon graduation they would receive a limited driver's license. She pointed to the copy of the statute [AS 28.35.030] in the members' packet which shows the statute by which the wellness court operates. Subsection (p) has eight provisions of what is required of a wellness court. Ms. Wilson read the requirements are as follows: (1) requires participation for at least 18 consecutive months; (2) includes planning and treatment for alcohol or drug addiction; (3) includes emphasis on personal responsibility; (4) provides in-court recognition of progress and sanctions for relapses; (5) requires payment of restitution to victims and completion of community work service; (6) includes physician approved treatment of physical addiction and treatment of the psychological causes of addiction; (7) includes a monitoring program and physical placement or housing; and (8) requires adherence to conditions of probation. Number 1148 MS. WILSON stated that the wellness court program is a very rigorous treatment program. There has been a lot of success with the people who are participating in it. The people are watched closely so there is greater likelihood that the court could see if something were going wrong, and the limited driver's license could be revoked. She emphasized that in order for an individual to get a limited driver's license upon graduation from the court treatment program he/she would have had to be in the program for at least 18 months. That is basically a guarantee that the person has been sober for at least 18 months. MS. WILSON pointed to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) [report dated April 1998] in the members' packet. She asked the members to look at page 4 where the OJP report states what is believed to be an important focus for therapeutic courts. She read one point from the report as follows: Development of legal changes to amend current laws to allow for limited driving privileges of some convicted drunk drivers who have had their licenses suspended (i.e., to get to treatment or a job). MS. WILSON reiterated that the courts are behind this legislation because it is believed that this law would be a useful tool. She directed the members' attention to the National Conference of State Legislature's report on the look back periods [Drunk Driving Sanctions, Time Fames Used by States for Inclusion of Prior Offenses], and pointed out that only the state of Massachusetts has a lifetime look back period; and only one other state has a 15 year look back period, so Alaska would be matching that state for some of the harshest statutes in the country. Ms. Wilson explained that is one reason for the change in the look back period. She pointed out that the purpose of the harsh consequences was to address the problem of repeat offenders. It is not intended to address individuals who had a DUI in their youth and then later in life have a second offense. This legislation is intended to deal with the individual who has had three DUIs in 15 years, she stated. Number 1311 MS. WILSON told the members that for a second offense an individual would serve not less than 20 days in jail and receive a fine of not less than $3,000. That fine could be reduced through wellness court, but the person who has had two DUIs 30 years apart really is not an appropriate candidate for wellness court. She summarized that this is a harsher consequence than was intended for that offender. It is very different than an individual who gets three DUIs within 15 years. Ms. Wilson mentioned that the bill packet has copies of letters from individuals who were caught in this net and asked the members to take the time to look at them. MS. WILSON commented that the final portion of the bill states that the courts should be imposing the minimum fines. The court should not be suspending a portion of those fines unless the individual is in wellness or therapeutic court. Number 1347 CHAIR WILSON announced that Representative Wolf joined the meeting about ten minutes ago. CHAIR WILSON commented that one of her constituents was caught in the net Ms. Wilson described. This person is 56 years old, got a DUI, and the only other offense was 27 years earlier when he was 19 years old. The fine was $3,000. She said she believes this is an appropriate change because there are some individuals who are not habitual offenders that will be inappropriately penalized. Number 1404 REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked if the permit for a limited driver's license would include a commercial driver's license (CDL) to work as a taxi cab driver or bus driver, or a chauffeur's license. MS. WILSON replied that there are specific requirements in statutes for those types of licenses. She said she would look into the impact of this legislation and get back to him on it. Number 1435 CHAIR WILSON remarked that the Division of Motor Vehicles is on line and could likely address that question. Number 1455 KERRY HENNINGS, Manager, Driver Licensing, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, testified on HB 175 and answered questions from the committee. She told the members that based on state and federal regulations individuals who receive DUI's cannot be issued a limited license for work purposes. However, the individual could surrender his/her CDL, get a non-commercial license, and obtain gainful employment. REPRESENTATIVE WOLF posed a hypothetical question where a person has a DUI at the age of 19 years old and at 45 years old receives another DUI. In this case it is possible that the individual could lose his/her job as a truck driver. MS. HENNINGS responded that is correct. Number 1517 REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA commented that it is her view that a person who receives a DUI is living an extraordinarily dangerous lifestyle. She said she believes that driving is a privilege, not a right. Representative Cissna shared that when she was a young woman she had neighbors who were killed by a truck and did not get her license to drive until she was 22 years old because of the impact it had on her life. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA read from page 5, lines 17 through 20, of the bill which said: ... the court may grant limited license privileges to a defendant if the court determines that (1) the defendant's ability to earn a livelihood, attend school or provide for family health would be impaired without a limited license, and (2) there will not be excessive danger to the public. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA commented that she assumes an individual would not be going through this process unless there had been some damage done. Number 1623 MS. WILSON agreed with Representative Cissna. She responded that in order to be in a therapeutic court an individual would have to have a criminal charge pending. It is likely that it is a DUI charge. She told the members that it is her understanding that there would not actually have to have been an accident to be in this court. Ms. Wilson added that she will verify that point for the committee. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA replied that she would like that confirmation, because her concern is that someone who has made the judgment to drive while drunk would have a limited license. She also pointed out the discrepancies between the determination on page 2, line 6, where "severely impaired" is used as the criteria in allowing a limited license and on page 5 the term "impaired" is used. This appears to be a lessening of the standard, she stated. MS. WILSON agreed with that point. She told the members that it had been her intention to remove the word "severely" from both sections. She added that it was an oversight and would not be opposed to an amendment that would [remove] the term severely in the section that deals with therapeutic courts. She explained that during discussions with the Department of Law there were concerns that there could be litigation over what severely meant. Number 1738 CHAIR WILSON commented that the terms severely impaired does leave an opening for a lot of litigation. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked for a court system representative to speak to this point. BARBARA BRINK, Director, Public Defender Agency, Department of Administration, testified on SB 175 and answered questions from the members. She pointed out that she does not represent the court system. Expanding the pool of individuals eligible to receive a limited license is a good policy. There are many safe guards in place to ensure that concerns are addressed, she said. Ms. Brink explained that any person who is charged with an unclassified felony or a class A felony, which would include manslaughter or assault in the first degree, is statutorily excluded from participating in the therapeutic court. She added that anyone who has had his or her probation revoked or who has been convicted of criminally negligent homicide would also not be eligible to participate. Number 1828 MS. BRINK explained that her experience with obtaining limited driver's licenses through the judiciary has been difficult because it is very cautious. The judiciary requires very specific information including whom the individual will be working for and the hours and locations the person will be driving. She added that this option is only eligible for people already involved in intensive treatment programs and the individuals are under close supervision where alcohol tests are given randomly three times per week. This close supervision does not resemble probation. For instance, the individuals must go to court once per week, meet with their case managers, and be tested. These are significant safe guards, she said. MS. BRINK said that she appreciates section 4 of the bill which reduces the look back provision. The only sections she is not too fond of are sections 2 and 3 which does not allow the courts discretion in determining an appropriate fine. She explained that it is important to note whether the individual has any ability to pay the fine. For some individuals, every dollar that is paid in a fine is not available for restitution, payment for child support, or available for support of the individual's family. Huge fines may work as a deterrent for people who have money, she commented. Number 2004 REPRESENTATIVE GATTO shared that there currently is other DUI legislation [HB 342] making its way through the legislative process that he and Representative Gruenberg are sponsoring. Representative Gruenberg discussed the concept of an interlock in the late 1990s. He explained that the interlock is a device that allows an individual's car to be rigged in a way in which an individual would have to use a breathalyzer and show a zero reading in order for the vehicle to operate. He suggested that the two pieces of legislation may be combined and produce a more comprehensive approach. This legislation may really encourage individuals to get help. Representative Gatto said he believes that throwing people in jail only results in offenders finding more friends to drink with. He told the members that the interlock has been very successful in other states and it is the one thing that takes [drunk] people off the roadways. He summarized his comments by saying that drinkers have a 350 times higher rate of accidents than sober individuals. Number 2182 JANET McCABE, Chair, Partners for Progress, testified on SB 175. She explained that Partners for Progress is an organization that has worked toward the development of therapeutic courts. She said she believes this is an important element in preventing repeated alcohol offenses. She said that Judge Wanamaker refers to this as getting the alcohol out of the alcoholic. Partners for Progress believes that limited license privileges could be granted to therapeutic court graduates and still ensure the protection of the public. The limited license would only be allowed for those individuals who had demonstrated 18 months of sobriety and have completed a very demanding program which integrates the individuals into a responsible community. She added that limited license privileges are permitted on a case- by-case basis by the judge. The judge could also insist on other condition in which the license privilege could be offered, such as the interlock device that was mentioned earlier. MS. McCABE pointed to page 1, line 10, where it refers to limited license privileges for the final 60 days during which the license is revoked. She commented that she does not believe that is the intent of the courts. CHAIR WILSON agreed with Ms. McCabe's point. Number 2234 MS. WILSON commented that it was [the sponsor's] intent to remove the words "final 60 days" as an incentive, and would support an amendment to remove them. Number 2254 REPRESENTATIVE GATTO moved Amendment 1 as follows: Page 1, line 10, [after the word "privileges]" Delete "for the final 60 days during" Number 2273 REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA objected for purposes of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO restated Amendment 1 as follows: Page 1, line 10, [after the word "privileges]" Delete "for the final 60 days" REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA commented that she has enormous respect for Janet McCabe and her work, but would like to hear from the courts on this point. CHAIR WILSON said if Amendment 1 was adopted it would read as follows: ...of the department when revoking a driver's license, privilege to drive, or privilege to obtain a license under AS 28.15.165(c), may grant limited license privileges during which the license is revoked if ... Number 2339 MS. BRINK said that the mandatory license revocation periods are extensive. As was noted the final 60 days can be a very long time subsequent to when a person has been sentenced and has participated in a treatment program, so allowing it for the final 60 days is really not much of an incentive to these individuals. TAPE 04-19, SIDE B Number 2349 MS. HENNINGS explained that the 60 day language in AS 28.15.201(b) that covers limited licensing was inserted specifically for first offenders who are the only ones able to obtain a limited license. It is important that offenders serve the first 30 days of the 90 day revocation period. She suggested that the language could be changed to read as follows: [Page 1, line 9 and 10, after the word "privileges"] Insert "after the first 30 days of revocation" MS. HENNINGS said she believes this language would solve the problem through out the statutes. She reiterated that everyone would serve at least 30 days. Number 2309 MS. BRINK told the members that the Alaska statutes has the following mandatory minimums as follows: Driver's license must be revoked for 30 days for the first DUI conviction, 1 year for the second conviction, and not less than 3 years for the third conviction. MS. BRINK commented that those are lengthy periods of time. CHAIR WILSON pointed out that the language says "may grant licensing privileges, not "shall grant licensing privileges. This change would provide the judge some discretion. Number 2278 REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA said she is concerned about second and third offenders. She asked if this change would supercede the statutes. MS. WILSON clarified that the statute reads "if the individual has not been previously convicted." The final 60 day language refers to those individual who have committed a first offense. These individuals could go through the DMV and get a limited driver's license. If the person has been previously convicted the individual must be participating in a therapeutic court program so that would be a minimum of 18 months before the court could grant a limited driver's license upon the completion of the program. Number 2168 REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA removed her objection. There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. Number 2142 REPRESENTATIVE GATTO moved to report CSHB 175, Version U, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 175(HES) was reported out of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
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