Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/09/2007 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB109 | |
| HB133 | |
| HB229 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 133 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 229 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 104 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | HB 109 | ||
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 133(JUD)
"An Act relating to requiring electronic monitoring as a
special condition of probation or parole for offenders
whose offense was related to a criminal street gang."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
Co-Chair Stedman noted that the Committee had previously
reported out SB 89-ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF GANG PROBATIONER,
the Senate companion bill to this legislation. The sponsor of HB
133 would be providing an explanation of the differences between
the two bills.
10:08:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE BOB BUCH, the bill's sponsor, stressed the
importance of this bill: it "may be the difference between life
and death for some of those people living in Anchorage." Both SB
89 and HB 133 would require people "convicted of violent gang
related crimes to wear electronic monitoring devices" when
released on probation or parole.
Representative Buch addressed the differences between the two
bills as follows.
HB 133 is more narrowly focused than SB 89.
SB 89 applies to offenders convicted of both misdemeanors
and felonies. HB 133 applies only to offenders convicted of
felonies. Because of this difference, HB 133 has a
substantially lower fiscal note.
SB 89 allows offenders to replace prison time with
electronic monitoring. HB 133 does not allow offenders to
replace prison time with electronic monitoring.
HB 133 has a sunset provision. SB 89 has no sunset
provision.
HB 133 gives the Department of Corrections the receipt
authority to collect funds from the offender to pay for the
cost of electronic monitoring.
HB 133 is the version that is supported by the Department
of Corrections and the Department of Law.
Representative Buch noted that people living in the Anchorage
and Kenai areas and their police departments support this bill
version.
Representative Buch pointed out that HB 133's fiscal notes are
similar to those accompanying SB 89 except they are "less
expensive". For instance, the Department of Corrections' fiscal
note accompanying SB 89 contained three different cost
scenarios; the Department of Corrections fiscal note
accompanying HB 133 is the least of those three.
10:11:17 AM
In response to a question from Senator Thomas, Representative
Buch clarified that, unlike SB 89, HB 133 would not allow a
person to replace jail time with electronic monitoring.
10:11:55 AM
Senator Olson asked whether there was any opposition to the
bill.
Representative Buch considered this a very serious piece of
legislation. While it would have a fiscal impact, it has been
tightly constructed to accommodate law enforcement requests. It
has significant support from the communities of Anchorage,
Kenai, and Fairbanks.
Senator Olson commended the bill's sponsor for his efforts on
the bill.
10:12:45 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman asked whether gang-related crimes were an issue
in other areas of the State besides Anchorage, Fairbanks, and
Kenai.
Representative Buch replied that other communities believe that
addressing the gang-related crime activity that is being
"expressly exhibited in Anchorage" would assist in preventing
this type of activity from spreading to other areas of the
State. The idea is to "nip it in the bud as early as possible."
10:13:24 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman moved to report the bill from Committee with
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, CS HB 133(FIN) was REPORTED from
Committee with four previous fiscal notes: zero fiscal note #1
from the Department of Law; indeterminate fiscal note #2 from
the Department of Administration; indeterminate fiscal note #3
from the Department of Corrections; and indeterminate fiscal
note #4 from the Alaska Court System.
10:14:25 AM
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