04/10/2003 09:05 AM House STA

HB 55-CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 2275                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH  announced that  the next  order of  business was                                                               
SPONSOR  SUBSTITUTE FOR  HOUSE BILL  NO. 55,  "An Act  expressing                                                               
legislative  intent  regarding  privately  operated  correctional                                                               
facility  space and  services; relating  to  the development  and                                                               
financing of  privately operated correctional facility  space and                                                               
services;  authorizing the  Department  of  Corrections to  enter                                                               
into an  agreement for the  confinement and care of  prisoners in                                                               
privately operated  correctional facility space;  authorizing the                                                               
Department  of   Corrections  to   enter  into   agreements  with                                                               
municipalities  to expand  existing correctional  facilities; and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Number 2267                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOLM  moved  to   adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS), Version  23-LS0285\W, Luckhaupt,  4/9/03, as  a                                                               
work draft.  [No objection was  stated, and Version W was treated                                                               
as adopted.]                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 2236                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM  moved to report CSSSHB  55, Version 23-                                                               
LS0285\W,  Luckhaupt, 4/9/03,  out of  committee with  individual                                                               
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 10:10 a.m.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Number 2156                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH  informed the committee that  Version W maintains                                                               
the title of the original  version regarding a privately operated                                                               
correctional  facility;  maintains  the   intent  in  Section  1;                                                               
removes  specific language  where  the  legislature expects  [the                                                               
Department  of]   Corrections  to  contract  with   the  City  of                                                               
Whittier;  anticipates  a   competitive  management  style  being                                                               
brought to Alaska;  allows the facility to be built  in the city;                                                               
and  adds  the  language  "whichever   is  less"  to  Section  2,                                                               
subparagraph  (A).    He  said he  thinks  the  most  significant                                                               
amendment in Version W makes  the facility generic, rather than a                                                               
correctional facility in Whittier.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WEYHRAUCH, in  response to  a  question by  Representative                                                               
Gruenberg,  confirmed that  the Department  of Corrections  would                                                               
make the decision where to build the prison.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 2070                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if there  is a procedure set forth                                                               
or in law as to how that decision is made.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH  answered no.  He  said that would be  decided in                                                               
[the House Finance Committee].                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH  announced that he was  closing public testimony.                                                               
He asked if there were any more comments or questions.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
[No objection  was stated to  the motion, and CSSSHB  55(STA) was                                                               
reported from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.]