05/01/1994 01:10 PM Senate FIN

  CSHB 231(FIN):      An Act relating to when previous conduct                 
                      constituting  a  sexual  offense may  be                 
                      used   as   an  aggravating   factor  at                 
                      sentencing.                                              
                                                                               
                      George  Dozier,  aide  to Representative                 
                      Kott,  sponsor  of  HB   231,  spoke  in                 
                      support  of  the  bill.    Jan  Andrene,                 
                      Council on Domestic Violence  and Sexual                 
                      Assault, also testified in support of HB
.                                                     
                                                                               
  CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 231(FIN):                                              
                                                                               
       An Act relating to when previous conduct constituting a                 
       sexual offense may  be used as an aggravating factor at                 
       sentencing.                                                             
                                                                               
  Co-chair  Pearce  announced  that  HB  231  was  before  the                 
  committee.      She   invited   George   Dozier,   aide   to                 
  Representative Kott, sponsor of HB 231.                                      
                                                                               
  GEORGE DOZIER said the Alaska  Sentencing Commission in 1991                 
  recommended adding an aggravator factor into  the law.  In a                 
  report,  it  indicated  that sex  crimes,  because  of their                 
  repetitive nature, constituted  a danger  to the public  and                 
  that   individuals  that   were  incarcerated   after  being                 
  convicted of those types of crimes needed additional time of                 
  incarceration.                                                               
                                                                               
  The legislature did  add this to  the law but one  situation                 
  was omitted and that  was when an individual was  before the                 
  court for presumptive felony sentencing  for sexual abuse of                 
  a minor and that individual  had previously committed sexual                 
  assault against  an adult.   HB  231 covers  that overlooked                 
  provision.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Discussion  was  had  by  Co-chair  Pearce  and  Mr.  Dozier                 
  regarding the fiscal notes.  She  said the committee had not                 
  received a fiscal note from the Department of Corrections.                   
                                                                               
  Jane  Andrene,  Executive   Director,  Council  on  Domestic                 
  Violence and Sexual Assault, testified in support of HB 231.                 
  She said that it made a strong statement that sexual assault                 
  was not acceptable.                                                          
                                                                               
  Senator  Sharp  MOVED  for  passage  of CSHB  231(FIN)  from                 
  committee  with individual  recommendations.   No  objection                 
  being heard, it  was REPORTED  out of committee  with a  "do                 
  pass," and  zero fiscal notes  from the Departments  of Law,                 
  Administration   (OPA,   and   PDA),  Public   Safety,   and                 
  Corrections.  Co-chairs Pearce and Frank, Senators Sharp and                 
  Kelly signed  "do pass."   Senators Rieger and  Jacko signed                 
  "no recommendation."                                                         
                                                                               
  (See minutes of May 5, 1994 for further action on HB 231.)