Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/06/1996 01:30 PM Senate L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SL&C 2/6/96 SB 227 POLICE CAN INTERCEPT SOME COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN KELLY called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. and announced SB 227 to be up for consideration. LT. DENNIS CASANOVAS, State Trooper, supported SB 227, because it will grant Alaska law enforcement officers additional resources to deal with crisis situations, such as barricaded suspects and hostages. Currently, law enforcement officers respond to such incidents without a clear understanding of the number or identity of participants, the types of weapons or explosives that may be available, the number of hostages, and the extent of injuries to people involved. These rapidly changing circumstances rely heavily upon what information law enforcement negotiators can quickly learn from near-by witnesses and/or from the suspect, should he wish to communicate with the police. LT. CASANOVAS said the Alaska State Troopers respond to approximately four incidents per year wherein a suspect refuses to exist to surrender or exit at the direction of the police officer. Number 61 SENATOR TORGERSON asked what procedures were used now. LT. CASANOVAS said that although AS 12.37.010, interception of private communication, is in place and available, the proceedings to get court approval are cumbersome and only apply to a certain set of offenses, like first and second degree murder and kidnapping, etc. SENATOR TORGERSON asked if these communications can be used as evidence against whoever it is you are after? LT. CASANOVAS said they hoped they could be used in a criminal preceding. SENATOR TORGERSON said he was a little nervous about letting these communications be used as evidence without the proper procedures. SENATOR MILLER noted that this bill would next go to Senate Judiciary which is chaired by Senator Taylor, a former judge. He said that was an area he would look at strongly. Number 115 SENATOR MILLER moved to pass SB 227 from committee with individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was so ordered.
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