Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 120

02/01/2013 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY


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01:05:25 PM Start
01:05:37 PM HB73
02:58:14 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ HB 73 CRIMES; VICTIMS; CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
        HB 73 - CRIMES; VICTIMS; CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:05:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER announced  that the only order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  73,  "An  Act relating  to  the commencement  of                                                               
actions for felony sex trafficking  and felony human trafficking;                                                               
relating to  the crime of  sexual assault; relating to  the crime                                                               
of unlawful  contact; relating to  forfeiture for  certain crimes                                                               
involving  prostitution;  relating  to   the  time  in  which  to                                                               
commence certain prosecutions; relating  to release for violation                                                               
of a  condition of release  in connection with a  crime involving                                                               
domestic   violence;   relating   to  interception   of   private                                                               
communications for  certain sex trafficking or  human trafficking                                                               
offenses;  relating   to  use  of  evidence   of  sexual  conduct                                                               
concerning victims of certain crimes;  relating to procedures for                                                               
granting  immunity  to  a  witness   in  a  criminal  proceeding;                                                               
relating to consideration at sentencing  of the effect of a crime                                                               
on the  victim; relating to the  time to make an  application for                                                               
credit for  time served  in detention in  a treatment  program or                                                               
while  in other  custody;  relating to  suspending imposition  of                                                               
sentence for  sex trafficking; relating to  consecutive sentences                                                               
for convictions of certain crimes  involving child pornography or                                                               
indecent materials to minors; relating  to the referral of sexual                                                               
felonies to  a three-judge panel;  relating to the  definition of                                                               
'sexual felony'  for sentencing and  probation for  conviction of                                                               
certain  crimes;  relating to  the  definition  of "sex  offense"                                                               
regarding  sex  offender  registration;  relating  to  protective                                                               
orders for stalking and sexual  assault and for a crime involving                                                               
domestic  violence;   relating  to  the  definition   of  'victim                                                               
counseling  centers'  for  disclosure of  certain  communications                                                               
concerning  sexual  assault  or domestic  violence;  relating  to                                                               
violent crimes  compensation; relating to certain  information in                                                               
retention  election of  judges concerning  sentencing of  persons                                                               
convicted  of felonies;  relating to  remission of  sentences for                                                               
certain sexual  felony offenders; relating to  the subpoena power                                                               
of  the  attorney  general  in  cases involving  the  use  of  an                                                               
Internet  service  account;  relating to  reasonable  efforts  in                                                               
child-in-need-of-aid   cases  involving   sexual  abuse   or  sex                                                               
offender  registration;   relating  to  mandatory   reporting  by                                                               
athletic  coaches of  child abuse  or neglect;  making conforming                                                               
amendments; amending  Rules 16,  32.1(b)(1), and  32.2(a), Alaska                                                               
Rules  of  Criminal  Procedure,  Rule  404(b),  Alaska  Rules  of                                                               
Evidence, and Rule 216, Alaska  Rules of Appellate Procedure; and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:07:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL C.  GERAGHTY, Attorney General, Department  of Law (DOL),                                                               
to introduce  HB 73, relayed  that the bill's theme  is important                                                               
for  purposes of  both law  enforcement  and prosecution  because                                                               
it's  consistent with  the governor's  goal of  reducing domestic                                                               
violence  (DV), sexual  assault, and  sexual abuse  of minors  in                                                               
Alaska.   For far too  long these  crimes have been  occurring in                                                               
Alaska at  shameful rates,  and for  purposes of  addressing this                                                               
problem, HB 73 is  a step in the right direction.   He went on to                                                               
explain  that HB  73  contains provisions  that  would reverse  a                                                               
recent  Alaska  Court  of Appeals  decision  that  misinterpreted                                                               
legislative  intent with  regard to  increased sentencing  ranges                                                               
for  persons convicted  of felony  sex offenses;  a petition  for                                                               
review of  that court  decision is  currently pending  before the                                                               
Alaska Supreme Court, and, meanwhile,  HB 73's proposed statutory                                                               
redress is meant  to be consistent with  the legislature's intent                                                               
when it  last addressed  those sentencing  ranges, back  in 2006.                                                               
House Bill 73  also contains provisions that would  address a gap                                                               
in    Alaska's   sexual    assault   statutes    by   prohibiting                                                               
probation/parole officers  from engaging  in sexual  conduct with                                                               
persons on probation/parole;  this gap was brought to  light by a                                                               
situation that occurred last year  in which a [probation] officer                                                               
working  under contract  coerced [persons  on probation]  to have                                                               
sex with him.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL GERAGHTY  explained  that HB  73 also  contains                                                               
provisions that  would provide greater  protection to  victims of                                                               
sexual assault,  sexual abuse  of a  minor, and  DV crimes.   For                                                               
example, a  hearing before a  judicial officer would  be required                                                               
before a  person arrested for  a bail violation resulting  from a                                                               
DV  crime could  [again]  be  released; and  evidence  of a  sex-                                                               
offense  victim's sexual  conduct  before and  after the  offense                                                               
took  place would  be  excluded.   House  Bill  73 also  contains                                                               
provisions that would change the  procedure used when determining                                                               
whether to grant  a witness immunity under the  Fifth Amendment -                                                               
immunity   for   testimony   that  could   incriminate   oneself.                                                               
Currently, a  proffer containing  a description of  the testimony                                                               
in question is submitted by  the witness's attorney, but there is                                                               
no procedure in place for the  judge to verify the credibility of                                                               
the witness.   Under the bill, the trial judge  would be required                                                               
to hear  the witness's testimony  and assess  his/her credibility                                                               
before deciding  whether to grant  immunity, and the  state would                                                               
be allowed to appeal the judge's decision.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:12:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOSEPH  A. MASTERS,  Commissioner,  Department  of Public  Safety                                                               
(DPS),  after  relaying   that  the  DPS  is   steadfast  in  its                                                               
commitment  to  the governor's  goal  of  ending sexual  assault,                                                               
sexual abuse  of minors,  and domestic  violence (DV)  in Alaska,                                                               
indicated that  HB 73 contains  provisions that  would strengthen                                                               
and broaden  the investigative tools  used by law  enforcement to                                                               
apprehend perpetrators  of these  and other  such crimes.   Under                                                               
the  bill, for  example,  law enforcement  could obtain  judicial                                                               
authorization  to  intercept  communications in  sex  trafficking                                                               
cases;  such   crimes  commonly   require  the   perpetrators  to                                                               
communicate and cooperate  with each other.  The  bill would also                                                               
require  a person  who is  the  patron of  a prostitute  or of  a                                                               
victim of  sex trafficking to  register as a sex  offender; would                                                               
provide additional  protections to  victims and survivors  of DV,                                                               
sexual assault, and  stalking crimes; would add  victims of human                                                               
trafficking,  sex trafficking,  and  unlawful  exploitation of  a                                                               
minor  crimes to  the list  of those  who may  apply for  violent                                                               
crimes compensation; and would provide  the attorney general with                                                               
the authority to  designate another attorney working  for the DOL                                                               
to  also   address  applications  for   administrative  subpoenas                                                               
seeking  business  records  from Internet  service  providers  in                                                               
cases involving child pornography,  online enticement of a minor,                                                               
and unlawful exploitation of a  minor crimes - currently only the                                                               
attorney general  may address such applications.   In conclusion,                                                               
he  opined  that HB  73  contains  important provisions  for  the                                                               
safety and  protection of  Alaskans, and  urged the  committee to                                                               
support it.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL  GERAGHTY, in response to  a question, confirmed                                                               
that  the DOL  has  discussed HB  73 with  the  Office of  Public                                                               
Advocacy (OPA) and the Public Defender Agency (PDA).                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:17:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANNE  CARPENETI,  Assistant   Attorney  General,  Legal  Services                                                               
Section, Criminal  Division, Department  of Law  (DOL), referring                                                               
to  the   sectional  analysis   included  in   members'  packets,                                                               
explained that  Sections 1 and 20-21  of HB 73 would  reverse the                                                               
aforementioned  Alaska Court  of Appeals  decision in  Collins v.                                                             
State, 287 P.3d  791 (Alaska App. 2012), wherein  for purposes of                                                             
sentencing a person convicted of  a felony sex offense, the court                                                               
-  based on  a  2006 legislative  letter  of intent  accompanying                                                               
legislation  increasing the  [presumptive] sentencing  ranges for                                                               
felony  sex offenses  - misinterpreted  the legislature's  intent                                                               
and  instead established  non-statutory  mitigating factors  that                                                               
resulted  in  the  perpetrator, under  standards  different  than                                                               
those used for other [felony]  crimes, going before a three-judge                                                               
panel  for sentencing.    Section 2  of HB  73  would remove  the                                                               
statute  of  limitations for  felony  sex  trafficking and  human                                                               
trafficking crimes so  as to allow the victims of  such crimes to                                                               
bring civil action against their perpetrators at any time.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARPENETI explained that Sections 3-6  of HB 73, to address a                                                               
gap, would  amend the statutes  pertaining to the class  C felony                                                               
crime  of sexual  assault in  the third  degree and  the class  A                                                               
misdemeanor crime  of sexual assault  in the fourth degree  so as                                                               
to  prohibit probation/parole  officers from  engaging in  sexual                                                               
penetration or  sexual contact with persons  on probation/parole,                                                               
and would  define the  term, "probation  officer" to  include not                                                               
only  probation officers  appointed  by the  commissioner of  the                                                               
Department  of  Corrections  (DOC) but  also  probation  officers                                                               
working in specialty courts who  may not necessarily have been so                                                               
appointed.  Again,  this gap was brought to light  by a situation                                                               
that occurred last  year in which a probation  officer working on                                                               
contract   at   a   therapeutic  court   in   Anchorage   coerced                                                               
probationers  to  have  sex  with   him.    Current  law  already                                                               
prohibits  law  enforcement  officers and  correctional  officers                                                               
from  engaging in  such  activity  with people  in  custody.   In                                                               
response to a  question, she noted that for purposes  of a single                                                               
subject, the provisions of HB 73 address the subject of crimes.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:25:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARPENETI explained  that Section  7  of HB  73, to  address                                                               
another gap, would  amend the statute pertaining to  the [class A                                                               
misdemeanor] crime of  unlawful contact in the  first degree such                                                               
that it  would also  apply to a  person under  official detention                                                               
who [knowingly  contacts or attempts  to contact] a witness  or a                                                               
victim in  violation of an order;  this gap was brought  to light                                                               
by a situation in Fairbanks in  which a person, as a condition of                                                               
bail,  was ordered  not to  contact the  victim, but  because the                                                               
person couldn't  "make" bail, he  was still incarcerated  when he                                                               
contacted  the victim  in violation  of the  order, and  thus his                                                               
particular  circumstance  did  not   fit  the  existing  criteria                                                               
outlined in  that statute.   Section 8 of  HB 73 would  allow for                                                               
the forfeiture  of property owned  by the patron of  a prostitute                                                               
or of  a victim of sex  trafficking if the property  [was used to                                                               
institute, aid, or  facilitate, or was received  or derived from]                                                               
the  crime of  prostitution  or the  crimes  of sex  trafficking.                                                               
This provision  addresses the governor's  [goal of]  reducing the                                                               
demand  side of  prostitution  [and sex  trafficking] in  Alaska.                                                               
The existing  forfeiture provision  only addresses the  crimes of                                                               
sex trafficking  and the  class C  felony crime  of prostitution,                                                               
wherein the prostitute  is a child and the patron  is an adult at                                                               
least three years older; as  changed by Section 8, that provision                                                               
would  then  also apply  to  the  class  B misdemeanor  crime  of                                                               
prostitution, wherein  the person is  the patron of  a prostitute                                                               
who's an adult.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX expressed discomfort  with the concept that                                                               
one's  property could  be  subject to  forfeiture  before one  is                                                               
convicted of a crime.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARPENETI,  in response to  questions and  comments regarding                                                               
Section 8,  relayed that  forfeiture is  not often  pursued, that                                                               
detailed  procedures have  already  been  established to  address                                                               
property owned  by more than  one person, that the  standard used                                                               
in  forfeiture proceedings,  which  are civil  proceedings, is  a                                                               
preponderance  of the  evidence,  that the  fact  finder in  such                                                               
proceedings  has the  discretion to  determine what  property, if                                                               
any,  shall  be  forfeit,  and   that  it  can  be  difficult  to                                                               
store/maintain   forfeited  property;   acknowledged  that   it's                                                               
conceivable that  one's property  could be subject  to forfeiture                                                               
without  one having  been convicted  of a  crime, that  such does                                                               
already  occasionally occur  in situations  involving bootlegging                                                               
or  fish  and  game  violations, and  that  perhaps  the  statute                                                               
Section  8 is  proposing to  amend ought  to also  be changed  to                                                               
reflect that the property shall  be subject to forfeiture, rather                                                               
than that  it shall be  forfeited; and ventured that  Section 8's                                                               
proposed change  is appropriate  and could  act as  a significant                                                               
deterrent, though the provision may not be utilized much.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:41:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARPENETI explained that Section 9  of HB 73 would remove the                                                               
statute   of   limitations   for  prosecuting   the   crimes   of                                                               
distribution of  child pornography,  felony sex  trafficking, and                                                               
human trafficking.   In  response to a  question, she  noted that                                                               
the crimes  being added to  the provision Section 9  is proposing                                                               
to  change are  all felonies.   Sections  10 and  24-26 of  HB 73                                                               
would  provide  the court  with  the  discretionary authority  to                                                               
order  a  person  charged  with  [or  convicted  of]  a  domestic                                                               
violence  crime to  participate in  a monitoring  program with  a                                                               
global positioning  [device or  similar technological  means that                                                               
meet the guidelines for a  monitoring program adopted by the DPS]                                                               
if the  person is  released on  bail [before  or after  trial, or                                                               
pending  appeal,]  or   to  include  such  a   requirement  in  a                                                               
protective order  [- either a domestic  violence protective order                                                               
or a protective order for sexual assault or stalking].                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER   MASTERS,  in   response  to   questions  regarding                                                               
Sections  10 and  24-26,  explained that  GPS  technology is  now                                                               
fairly  commonplace,  that  both   active  and  passive  tracking                                                               
devices are  currently available,  that in the  past the  DPS has                                                               
utilized tracking  devices under  very specific  circumstances in                                                               
certain cases but  isn't currently actively engaging  in any kind                                                               
of a monitoring system on a  regular basis, and that the DOC does                                                               
have some  experience "in this  area" via its  current electronic                                                               
monitoring  programs.    In  response  to  comments  and  further                                                               
questions, he  surmised that  the bill -  in providing  the court                                                               
with  the  authority  to  order  a person  to  participate  in  a                                                               
monitoring  program   -  addresses   both  existing   and  future                                                               
technologies via  the language in  Sections 24 and 26  that says,                                                               
"a  monitoring  program  with  a  global  positioning  device  or                                                           
similar  technological means";  mentioned  that  there are  other                                                           
states  that  currently   have  electronic  monitoring  programs;                                                               
pointed  out that  currently  electronic  technologies are  being                                                               
used to victimize  people; ventured that [Sections  10 and 24-26]                                                               
would provide  law enforcement  with the  ability to  instead use                                                               
these same  technologies as  a tool by  which to  protect people;                                                               
and explained that in adopting  any monitoring program, the DPS -                                                               
while taking into consideration  the type of equipment available,                                                               
it's capabilities, it's intended usage,  how the program would be                                                               
operated, any potential pitfalls, and  what type of program would                                                               
be  best for  Alaska  - would  conduct  extensive research,  seek                                                               
input   from   stakeholders,   determine  which   guidelines   to                                                               
institute, and promulgate  regulations following the requirements                                                               
of the Administrative Procedure Act.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARPENETI added that passage  of these provisions of the bill                                                               
would enable the DPS to start that process.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:02:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARPENETI  explained that Section  11 of HB 73  would require                                                               
persons arrested  for a  violation of a  condition of  release in                                                               
connection  with a  crime involving  domestic violence  to appear                                                               
before  a  judicial  officer  in  person -  or  by  telephone  in                                                               
situations involving  an arraignment -  before they can  again be                                                               
released  from  custody;  under  current  law,  this  requirement                                                               
applies to persons arrested for  a crime involving DV before they                                                               
can initially  be released from custody.   [Section 12] of  HB 73                                                               
would expand the  list of crimes for which an  application can be                                                               
made to  intercept a private  communication, to also  include the                                                               
crimes  of sex  trafficking in  the first  and second  degree and                                                               
human  trafficking  in  the  first  degree;  again,  such  crimes                                                               
generally require  the perpetrators to communicate  and cooperate                                                               
with each other.  Section 13  of HB 73 would expand the provision                                                               
that excludes  evidence of a sex-offense  victim's sexual conduct                                                               
such that it  would then exclude conduct  occurring either before                                                               
or after  the offense  took place; would  limit when  a defendant                                                               
may  apply to  have  such evidence  admitted  regardless, to  not                                                               
later  than  five  days  before  trial;  [and  would  provide  an                                                               
exception to that limitation if  the request is based on evidence                                                               
admitted at trial that was  not available to the defendant before                                                               
trial].  The provision Section  13 is proposing to change applies                                                               
to the  crimes of sexual  assault, sexual  abuse of a  minor, and                                                               
unlawful  exploitation of  a minor,  [as well  as to  attempts to                                                               
commit any of those crimes].                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARPENETI  explained that Sections  14-15 and 43-44 of  HB 73                                                               
would  change  the  procedure used  when  determining  whether  a                                                               
witness in  a criminal prosecution is  entitled to [transactional                                                               
immunity  under the  Fifth Amendment  to the  U.S. Constitution].                                                               
Currently,  a   judge  considers  a  proffer   submitted  by  the                                                               
witness's attorney  containing a description of  the testimony in                                                               
question, but  there is no  procedure in  place for the  judge to                                                               
verify  the credibility  of the  witness.   Under  the bill,  the                                                               
judge  would also  be required  to speak  with the  witness about                                                               
his/her testimony before deciding  whether to grant the immunity,                                                               
and enter  findings of fact  and conclusions  of law in  a sealed                                                               
written  order, and  the state  would  be allowed  to appeal  the                                                               
judge's decision.   All the information disclosed  during such in                                                               
camera  proceedings  - under  both  existing  law and  under  the                                                               
bill's proposed  changes - is sealed  and cannot be used  for any                                                               
purpose whatsoever,  and neither the defense  nor the prosecution                                                               
is present.   In response  to a  question, she explained  that in                                                               
such situations, the  judge has the authority to  disclose to one                                                               
attorney at  the Department  of Law  only whether  the privileged                                                               
testimony is in connection with  a high-level felony, a low-level                                                               
felony, or  a misdemeanor.   These proposed changes,  she posited                                                               
in  conclusion,  will  help  the  court  address  the  issue  [of                                                               
transactional immunity] in a better-informed manner.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:12:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARPENETI  explained that  Sections  16-17  of HB  73  would                                                               
require that the notice for  claiming credit toward a sentence of                                                               
imprisonment for  time spent in  a treatment program be  filed at                                                               
least  10 days  prior to  the  hearing; these  sections apply  to                                                               
sentencing  hearings and  to disposition  hearings, respectively,                                                               
and  greater efficiencies  are anticipated  under their  proposed                                                               
changes.   Section  18  of HB  73  would add  the  crimes of  sex                                                               
trafficking to  the list of crimes  for which the court  would be                                                               
precluded  from   suspending  the   imposition  of   a  sentence.                                                               
Section 19 of HB  73 would require that when  sentencing a person                                                               
convicted  of  two  or  more  crimes  of  distribution  of  child                                                               
pornography, possession of child  pornography, or distribution of                                                               
indecent material  to minors, a consecutive  term of imprisonment                                                               
shall be  imposed for  some additional  term of  imprisonment for                                                               
each  additional  crime,  [or each  attempt  or  solicitation  to                                                               
commit  the offense];  each conviction  should be  recognized via                                                               
the  imposition of  consecutive  time in  prison, she  proffered,                                                               
even if for just  one additional day.  Section 22  of HB 73 would                                                               
add the crimes of sex trafficking  in the first degree and online                                                               
enticement of  a minor  to the definition  of what  constitutes a                                                               
sexual felony for purposes of  AS 12.55; this provision addresses                                                               
an  oversight  that  occurred  when  the  presumptive  sentencing                                                               
ranges  for  felony sex  offenses  were  increased in  2006,  she                                                               
surmised.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARPENETI  explained that Section  23 of HB 73  would require                                                               
patrons  of a  prostitute  who  is a  child  to  register as  sex                                                               
offenders.   Section  27  of  HB 73  would  provide a  conforming                                                               
change to  the statute  addressing the  warnings on  a protective                                                               
order  to  reflect  that  the  maximum  fine  for  a  misdemeanor                                                               
violation of such  an order has recently been  raised from $5,000                                                               
to $10,000.   Section 28 of HB 73 would  expand the definition of                                                               
what  constitutes   a  "victim  counseling  center"   to  include                                                               
military  organizations  so  as  to  ensure  that  communications                                                               
between victims of domestic violence  and counselors working at a                                                               
military  victim  counseling  center  remain  confidential.    In                                                               
response to  a question, she  offered her understanding  that the                                                               
definition Section  28 is proposing  to expand  already addresses                                                               
tribal organizations.   Section 29 of HB 73 would  add the crimes                                                               
of human trafficking, sex  trafficking, and unlawful exploitation                                                               
of a  minor to the  list of crimes for  which a victim  may apply                                                               
for violent crimes compensation.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:19:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARPENETI explained  that Sections  30 and  40-41 of  HB 73,                                                               
respectively,  would require  that as  part of  Alaska's judicial                                                               
retention evaluations,  the Alaska  Judicial Council  (AJC) shall                                                               
also compile and  disseminate to the public data  about a judge's                                                               
compliance with  the statute requiring  that a  sentencing report                                                               
include information  about the financial, emotional,  and medical                                                               
effects  of  the  crime  on  the  victim  and  his/her  need  for                                                               
restitution; would  directly amend  the Alaska Rules  of Criminal                                                               
Procedure to require that either  a victim impact statement, or a                                                               
written explanation  of why the victim  or his/her representative                                                               
could not  be interviewed, be  included in a  presentence report;                                                               
and would directly  amend the Alaska Rules  of Criminal Procedure                                                               
[to require  that the content  of the victim impact  statement in                                                               
the  presentence   report  be   taken  into   consideration  when                                                               
preparing the  sentencing report, and]  to allow such  content to                                                               
be  taken  into  consideration for  other  appropriate  purposes.                                                               
These provisions  are intended to  strengthen the  recognition of                                                               
victims' rights in Alaska.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARPENETI explained  that  Section  31 of  HB  73 would  add                                                               
convictions of an unclassified sexual  felony or a class A sexual                                                               
felony to  the list  of convictions  for which  [mandatory parole                                                               
for good  behavior, referred to as  a good time deduction  in the                                                               
term of  imprisonment,] would not  be available.   Sections 32-35                                                               
of HB  73 would provide  the attorney general with  the authority                                                               
to  designate  another  attorney  working for  the  DOL  to  also                                                               
address   applications  for   administrative  subpoenas   seeking                                                               
business  records  from  Internet   service  providers  in  cases                                                               
involving child  pornography, online  enticement of a  minor, and                                                               
unlawful  exploitation of  a minor  crimes;  currently, only  the                                                               
attorney general  may address such applications,  and the changes                                                               
effected by  these sections of  the bill would  address instances                                                               
in  which the  attorney general  himself/herself is  unavailable.                                                               
Having  two   attorneys  with  the  authority   to  address  such                                                               
applications  would  be  helpful  to law  enforcement  since  the                                                               
investigation  of such  crimes can  require  pretty fast  action.                                                               
Section 36  of HB 73 would  expand the list of  circumstances for                                                               
which the court may determine  that reasonable efforts to reunite                                                               
a child  with his/her family need  not be taken by  the Office of                                                               
Children's Services  (OCS), to include circumstances  wherein the                                                               
court has found by clear  and convincing evidence that the parent                                                               
or  guardian has  committed sexual  abuse against  that child  or                                                               
against  any  of his/her  other  children,  or is  registered  or                                                               
required to  register as  a sex offender.   This  proposed change                                                               
would allow Alaska law to comply with federal requirements.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:28:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARPENETI explained  that  Sections 37-38  of  HB 73  would,                                                               
respectively, add  athletic coaches to  the list of  those people                                                               
who, if  they have reasonable cause  to suspect that a  child has                                                               
suffered  harm  as  a  result  of child  abuse  or  neglect,  are                                                               
required  to report  the harm  immediately to  the Department  of                                                               
Health and  Social Services  (DHSS); and  would define  the term,                                                               
"athletic coaches" such that it  would include both volunteer and                                                               
paid coaches:   "a paid or  a volunteer leader or  assistant of a                                                               
sports  team in  a public  or private  school, public  or private                                                               
postsecondary institution, or sponsored  by a state municipality,                                                               
or other  local government  organization, or  a sports  team that                                                               
receives  public   funding".     In  response  to   comments  and                                                               
questions, she explained  that in order to  violate the statutory                                                               
reporting  requirement,  a  person   would  first  have  to  have                                                               
reasonable cause to  suspect that harm occurred and  then fail to                                                               
report  it -  in  other words,  harm that  isn't  noticed is  not                                                               
required  to  be  reported;  ventured  that  some  coaches,  even                                                               
volunteer  coaches,  spend  a significant  amount  of  time  with                                                               
children and  so should have  a duty to  report harm if  they see                                                               
it;  and relayed  that  a violation  of  the statutory  reporting                                                               
requirement would be a class A misdemeanor.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LEDOUX  expressed  discomfort  with  the  changes                                                               
proposed by  Sections 37-38  as they  relate to  volunteers, made                                                               
reference  to   [troop]  leaders  of  youth   organizations,  and                                                               
questioned why the list of those  who have a duty to report isn't                                                               
also being expanded to include all who volunteer their services.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT  noted that there have  been cases wherein                                                               
great harm to children has resulted from a failure to report.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARPENETI concurred.    She  then went  on  to explain  that                                                               
Section 39  of HB  73 would  directly amend  the Alaska  Rules of                                                               
Criminal Procedure to limit the  publication of child pornography                                                               
required during the discovery process  in a criminal trial; under                                                               
this provision,  however, the defendant and  his/her attorney may                                                               
view  the   material  [at  a   law  enforcement   or  prosecution                                                               
facility,] and  the court  may send the  material directly  to an                                                               
out-of-state expert witness.  Section  42 of HB 73 would directly                                                               
amend  Rule 404(b)  of  the  Alaska Rules  of  Evidence to  allow                                                               
evidence  of  any  prior  similar  bad acts  to  be  admitted  in                                                               
prosecutions involving physical  or sexual assault or  abuse of a                                                               
minor; this  would be similar  to what's allowed  in prosecutions                                                               
involving  sexual assault  crimes and  domestic violence  crimes.                                                               
Currently, for prosecutions involving  physical or sexual assault                                                               
or abuse of a minor, there  is a limitation wherein only evidence                                                               
of  those similar  bad acts  that  occurred within  the prior  10                                                               
years is admissible; under the  bill, that 10-year limitation for                                                               
such evidence in such prosecutions  would be removed.  Under this                                                               
change,  the  court would  determine,  on  a case-by-case  basis,                                                               
whether to allow evidence of a particular prior bad act.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARPENETI  explained that  Sections  45  and  46 of  HB  73,                                                               
respectively,  outline the  applicability of  the bill's  various                                                               
provisions and provide for an effective date.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER  mentioned that members' packets  contain the fiscal                                                               
notes for HB 73.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LEDOUX,   returning  attention  to   the  changes                                                               
proposed by  Sections 37-38, questioned  whether the  bill should                                                               
be changed so as to  mandate that everyone shall report suspected                                                               
child abuse or neglect.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARPENETI expressed  disfavor with such a change.   Those who                                                               
currently have  a statutory  duty to report  are people  who have                                                               
significant contact  with children and thus  have the opportunity                                                               
observe them and the state of their health.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:48:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NANCY  MEADE, General  Counsel, Administrative  Staff, Office  of                                                               
the  Administrative Director,  Alaska  Court  System (ACS),  said                                                               
that although  impacted by  many of HB  73's provisions,  the ACS                                                               
won't have  a problem  implementing most of  them.   Referring to                                                               
the changes proposed by Sections 10  and 24-26 - giving the court                                                               
the discretionary  authority to  order a  person charged  with or                                                               
convicted  of  a domestic  violence  crime  to participate  in  a                                                               
monitoring program  with a global  positioning device  or similar                                                               
technological  means that  meet the  guidelines for  a monitoring                                                               
program adopted  by the DPS  - she provided her  understanding of                                                               
what occurs  now with  regard to  the in-house  monitoring system                                                               
the DOC has been effectively  using, and confirmed that employing                                                               
any such  system for respondents of  domestic violence protective                                                               
orders would be new under the bill.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MEADE -  noting  that some  of the  provisions  of the  bill                                                               
remove the  statute of limitations  for certain crimes,  and that                                                               
some provisions  increase and expand  the definitions  of certain                                                               
crimes  - relayed  that these  proposed changes  will undoubtedly                                                               
result in  more case filings,  though how  many more or  what the                                                               
impact will  be on the  ACS is not yet  known and thus  any costs                                                               
associated  with the  increase in  filings would  likely just  be                                                               
absorbed  by the  ACS.    Referring to  the  changes proposed  by                                                               
Sections 14-15 and 43-44 -  regarding changing the procedure used                                                               
when determining whether  a witness in a  criminal prosecution is                                                               
entitled to  transactional immunity under the  Fifth Amendment to                                                               
the  U.S.  Constitution -  she  explained  that those  provisions                                                               
won't  result in  any substantial  change in  the ACS's  practice                                                               
except to the  extent that they require a judge  to make and then                                                               
seal  written findings  that can  then  be immediately  appealed.                                                               
The  Alaska  Court  of  Appeals can  routinely  handle  any  such                                                               
expedited proceedings, but the more  of them that come before the                                                               
court, the greater  the issue of prioritizing  them then becomes,                                                               
she cautioned.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:52:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MEADE, to  outline some  concerns the  ACS has  with HB  73,                                                               
referred  to the  statutory and  court rule  changes proposed  by                                                               
Sections 30  and 40-41 regarding judicial  retention evaluations,                                                               
sentencing  reports,  presentencing  reports, and  victim  impact                                                               
statements.   She  pointed out  that the  DOC, via  the use  of a                                                               
template,  already  routinely  includes  in  their  presentencing                                                               
reports either  a victim  impact statement  or an  explanation of                                                               
why  the  victim  couldn't be  interviewed,  and  cautioned  that                                                               
Section  40's  proposed court  rule  change  requiring that  that                                                               
information  always be  included  - although  not constituting  a                                                               
substantial change in the DOC's  procedure - could therefore have                                                               
the  unintended consequence  of delaying  sentencing hearings  in                                                               
instances  wherein  that  information  isn't  included  for  some                                                               
reason.  Such  delays may be of concern to  those who are already                                                               
concerned about  the length  of time  sentencing in  felony cases                                                               
can take.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEADE  warned that Section  30's proposed statutory  change -                                                               
requiring the Alaska  Judicial Council (AJC) to  also compile and                                                               
disseminate  data about  a judge's  compliance  with the  statute                                                               
stipulating  that  particular  information about  the  victim  be                                                               
included in  a sentencing report  - could be problematic  in that                                                               
the AJC and the  ACS have been unable to come  up with a specific                                                               
mechanism  by which  to arrive  at fair  statistics, because  how                                                               
well  a judge  is considering  victim information  is subjective,                                                               
thereby making  it difficult to determine  whether any particular                                                               
judge is sufficiently  doing so.  One possible  mechanism to try,                                                               
she ventured,  might be to  change the felony-judgment  form used                                                               
by the  courts such that  judges would  be able to  check certain                                                               
boxes in order  to illustrate [the degree  of their consideration                                                               
of the victim's information].   The ACS's fiscal note reflects an                                                               
estimated cost of $20,000 for  making [a corresponding] change to                                                               
the  ACS's  case management  system  so  that  the AJC  could  be                                                               
provided  with  the data  it  needs  for its  judicial  retention                                                               
evaluations.   Another  point  to consider,  she  added, is  that                                                               
judges  are  already  very attentive  to  victims  at  sentencing                                                               
proceedings  in those  rare instances  when  the victims  attend.                                                               
The ACS, she assured the  committee in conclusion, would be happy                                                               
to  address internally  in  some fashion  any  perceived lack  of                                                               
judicial attentiveness  to victims, rather than  via Section 30's                                                               
current approach.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
[HB 73 was held over.]                                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
Dept. Law Sectional.pdf HJUD 2/1/2013 1:00:00 PM
HB 73
Letter from Governor Parnell.pdf HJUD 2/1/2013 1:00:00 PM
HB 73
Fiscal Note Court System.pdf HJUD 2/1/2013 1:00:00 PM
HB 73