Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
02/13/2016 10:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB123 | |
| SB91 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 123 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 91 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 91-OMNIBUS CRIM LAW & PROCEDURE; CORRECTIONS
10:22:32 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced the consideration of SB 91. He noted it
was the second hearing of the bill and changes to the bill were
made resulting in a sponsor substitute.
10:24:59 AM
SENATOR COGHILL, sponsor, provided an overview of the sponsor
substitute for SB 91, which contains suggestions from the
Criminal Justice Commission. He noted that he introduced SB 91
last session.
10:27:17 AM
He read from the following sponsor statement:
Senate Bill 91 implements proven practices to reduce
recidivism, keep Alaskans safe, hold offenders
accountable, and control corrections spending.
Increased spending on prisons has not brought Alaskans
greater public safety: nearly two out of every three
inmates who leave prison return to prison within three
years. The high rate of recidivism has significantly
increased Department of Corrections operating costs to
$324 million in FY 2016, and spurred the opening of
the Goose Creek Correctional Center, costing the state
$240 million in construction funds.
10:30:03 AM
Seeking a better public safety return on our state's
corrections spending, the Legislature established the
Alaska Criminal Justice Commission. The Commission
included legislators, judges, law enforcement
officers, prosecutors, defenders, corrections
officials, and members representing crime victims and
Alaska Natives. The Commission spent over a year
conducting an exhaustive review of the state's
pretrial, sentencing, corrections, and community
supervision data and systems.
SB 91 incorporates the Commission's Recommendations.
The Commission developed a package of consensus
recommendations that will reduce the state's daily
prison population by 21 percent over the next 10
years, saving the state $424 million.
SB 91 aims to: implement evidence-based pretrial
practices by expanding the use of citations in lieu of
arrest for lower-level nonviolent offenses; make
changes to bail practices to focus pretrial release
decisions more on risk than on ability to pay; focus
prison beds on serious and violent offenders by
diverting nonviolent misdemeanor offenders to
alternatives; revise drug crime penalties; adjust
dollar amounts for felony property crimes to account
for inflation; realign sentence ranges in statute,
expanding and streamlining parole; and incentivize sex
offenders to complete treatment programming.
10:32:47 AM
Strengthen probation and parole supervision by
standardizing sanctions for violations of probation
and parole conditions to ensure they are swift,
certain, and proportional; establish incentives to
comply with supervision conditions; focus treatment
resources on high-needs offenders; improve
opportunities for successful reentry by offering
limited licenses to eligible revoked offenders; create
a reentry program within the Department of
Corrections; and opt out of the federal ban on food
stamps for people convicted of drug crimes.
10:35:18 AM
Reinvest a portion of the savings from these reforms
into evidence-based practices designed to improve
public safety, control corrections populations, and
reduce recidivism, including supervision services,
victims' services, violence prevention, treatment
services, and reentry services.
10:38:01 AM
Cost of Doing Nothing: $169 Million. Alaska's prison
population grew 27 percent in the last decade, nearly
three times faster than the resident population; at
this rate, the Department of Corrections projects the
need to house an additional 1,416 inmates by 2024,
which will cost the state at least $169 million in new
spending. With the disappointing recidivism rates and
public safety outcomes the state has been achieving,
the cost of doing nothing is too high.
10:40:31 AM
SENATOR COGHILL addressed key findings of the Alaska Criminal
Justice Commission and their recommendations in three areas:
pretrial detention, post-conviction imprisonment, and community
corrections. He said the pretrial population has grown, their
detention lasts longer, 75 percent are non-violent offenders,
and 20 percent have technical violations.
He noted that 21 reforms the commission suggested are projected
to reduce the prison population by 21 percent over the next 10
years.
10:43:46 AM
He addressed a guide that highlighted "Category," "Policy,"
"Rec" and "Bill Sections."
CHAIR STOLTZE asked if the recommendations reflect the
commission's suggested reforms.
SENATOR COGHILL answered yes. He noted that the bill has 142
Sections. He reviewed how to cross reference the bill using the
guide.
10:46:34 AM
He mentioned the pretrial category and the policy recommended
called "citation versus arrest." Also included under that
category is risk-based release decision-making.
He pointed out that version N is before the committee and is
posted on BASIS.
SENATOR COGHILL noted that sentencing issues deal with
misdemeanors, controlled substances, felony theft threshold,
presumptive ranges, discretionary parole/administrative parole,
geriatric parole, and sex-offender treatment credit. With
misdemeanors, the question was how to handle them more cost
effectively.
10:48:42 AM
He related that the community supervision category includes,
graduated sanctions/incentives, cap in technical violation
stays, probation earned credit, maximum probation terms, good-
time on E.M., and CRC's halfway housing.
CHAIR STOLTZE noted that there was a great deal of criticism
regarding inmate treatment in halfway houses. He asked if
halfway houses would be addressed.
10:51:07 AM
SENATOR COGHILL replied that he thought the bill would help
because it puts requirements on DOC. He agreed that the oversite
of halfway houses was lax.
CHAIR STOLTZE opined that there was less professionalism shown
in halfway houses than by correctional officers in prisons.
SENATOR COGHILL agreed and noted correctional officers have to
deal with overcrowding and the bill should help that situation
and improve prisoner accountability measures.
He mentioned that he has also been working on the limited
driver's license and administrative license revocations. He
stressed the importance of allowing people to be productive once
they have served their jail time. He said there should be a way
to obtain a driver's license by "review and renew." He added
that they have found some ways to better administrate license
revocations.
10:54:23 AM
He addressed other items he has been working on, the re-entry
program found in Section 130, and equitable pay for community
work service.
He stated that in response to a question by Chair Stoltze, an
inflation adjustment element is recommended in the property
crimes section of the bill.
SENATOR COGHILL said he is also working on limiting pre-trail
credit to 120 days.
10:57:52 AM
GREGORY RAZO, Chair, Alaska Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC),
presented the Annual Report of the Alaska Criminal Justice
Commission. He pointed out that ACJC's recommendations were made
after substantial time, effort, and study by experts on Alaska
criminal justice. He said members of ACJC are the Commissioners
of Public Safety and Corrections, Attorney General Richards,
members of the Superior Court and District Court, Brenda
Stanfill representing victims and victims' advocates, Jeff
Jessee from the Alaska Mental Health Trust, himself, and others.
He said after seven months, and with support of the Pew
Charitable Trust, ACJC came up with the recommendations in SB
91. He credited Senator Coghill and Representative Keller, both
non-voting members, with their support. He called SB 91 a
substantial systems analysis of changes to the Alaska Criminal
Justice System.
11:00:08 AM
He specified the reasons changes in the system were needed: the
state is currently wasting money, recidivism rates are very high
and public safety is not improving, and those in prison are not
being "corrected."
He explained that the commission was split into three working
groups. The pre-trial prison population working group examined
who was in that population and why it has grown by 81 percent
over the last decade. He shared statistics related to the amount
of money spent on non-violent prisoners, noting that a large
part of SB 91 deals with this population.
He related that the felony prison population has increased by 31
percent over the last decade. He said in 2014, 47 percent of
post-revocation supervision violators stayed for more than 30
days, 28 percent longer than three months behind bars. He said,
in response to the request by the Legislature in August of 2015
to reduce the amount spent on the Criminal Justice System by 25
percent, the ACJC set that as a goal; their recommendations
would reduce the cost of imprisonment over the next ten years by
$424 million. Currently, DOC alone costs $360 million a year. He
revealed that in 2017, the Criminal Justice System will run out
of prison space if nothing changes.
11:04:55 AM
MR. RAZO addressed where the prisoners are taking up beds. He
said there is currently no systematic risk assessment for judges
to use to determine whether a person is a danger to public
safety; having the tools to assess that will help to reduce a
substantial number of pre-trial detainees. He pointed out that
pre-trial detention for longer than 24 hours can lead to worse
outcomes for low-risk offenders. He shared a story about how
those who are repeatedly jailed are more likely to commit
criminal offenses upon release. He pointed out that there is no
bail system that allows for anything but the posting of money,
currently. He maintained that unsecured bail could be as
effective as posting money.
11:07:24 AM
He turned to post-conviction recommendations in the bill. He
said there are a number of recommendations and they focus on
reducing the length of prison stays based upon the evidence that
came before the commission. He stressed the need for community
corrections because an increase in the supervision of those
coming out of prison can result in more public safety.
He concluded that the commission came up with 21
recommendations, but the number one recommendation is that the
state needs to be spending money on high risk offenders. He
asserted that money must be spent where it will produce the best
outcomes. He emphasized that the report is "a justice re-
investment recommendation." He emphasized focusing limited
resources on treatment and prevention.
11:11:37 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE thanked Mr. Razo. He voiced concern about having
law enforcement on the commission.
SENATOR COGHILL countered that having Officer Ray Beck on the
commission was invaluable. He noted that the bill is a work in
progress and all stakeholders have input.
CHAIR STOLTZE read from Article 12 - Criminal Administration,
which was amended in 1994 to add victims' rights. "Criminal
administration shall be based upon the following: the need for
protecting the public, community condemnation of the offender,
the rights of victims of crimes, restitution from the offender,
and the principle of reformation."
11:15:54 AM
He commented that he has tried to take his direction from
Article 12 for the very reason that the state has failed in a
couple of areas. He said one of the biggest problems has been
failure to make restitution to victims and SB 91 provides for
ways to correct that. He added that another issue is helping
people become productive so they can "pay back."
CHAIR STOLTZE pointed out that the constitution also addresses
punitive and retributive measures.
SENATOR COGHILL used societal condemnation as an example.
CHAIR STOLTZE noted victims' rights is an evolving change.
SENATOR COGHILL said victims' rights is a primary driver and the
state needs to do better toward seeking a just system.
CHAIR STOLTZE added for both the offender and the victim.
11:19:08 AM
At ease.
11:20:44 AM
BRENDA STANFILL, Victim Advocacy Representative, Alaska Criminal
Justice Commission (ACJC), Fairbanks, Alaska, described her
experience on ACJC. She complimented the members of ACJC for
their hard work and their open minds. She explained that she
became involved with ACJC because the current system works for
no one and she realized that many of the criminals in the system
were once young boys in a shelter she worked in. She concluded
that the system was failing children and shelters did not have
the resources to provide services for children. She stated a
major concern is lack of prevention and treatment.
11:24:09 AM
She suggested reallocating funds for treatment programs. She
opined that "We cannot criminalize our way out of a social
issue." She wished to see social issues that lead to criminal
behavior addressed in order to help decrease the amount of
recidivism.
She emphasized the need for reinvestment in pre-trial
assessments and community corrections. She said ACJC is excited
about getting better public safety out of dollars spent by
focusing on reinvestment. She thanked Senator Coghill and his
staff for their work.
11:27:43 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE requested more information about the costs of
reinvestment.
MS. STANFILL believed that there are three important components
to focus on: create a pre-trial services; open opportunities for
treatment; and fund prevention services. She thought it would
cost between $5 million and $10 million.
CHAIR STOLTZE suggested the administration address fiscal notes
to that effect. He said SB 91 is more important and complicated
than just a savings bill.
11:31:26 AM
RICK ALLEN, Director, Office of Public Advocacy (OPA),
Department of Administration, Palmer, Alaska, provided input on
criminal reform. He noted that he was not a member of ACJC, but
attended several meetings. He addressed the high number of
people being incarcerated in the United States and the movement
to reevaluate how corrections money is being spent. He believed
that SB 91 was consistent with the national trend.
He reported that OPA's work consists of 40 percent criminal law
and 60 percent civil law, of which a large part is Child in Need
of Aid (CINA) cases. He said the goal is for parents to be able
to deal with their own issues and to raise their own children.
He opined that government intervention is very expensive. He
asserted that SB 91 could help in the area of rehabilitation and
would provide major benefits. He noted that recidivism rates are
dropping due to the use of programs such as those suggested in
SB 91. He predicted there would be a corresponding drop in CINA
situations, also.
11:35:28 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE asked about potential costs to OPA for
reinvestment programs.
MR. ALLEN replied that putting a dollar figure on potential
costs was difficult, but noted that OPA has submitted a zero
fiscal note and did not expect a significant fiscal impact. He
said his main focus is the human aspect and the best interest of
children and their families.
CHAIR STOLTZE pointed out that Mr. Allen is free to speak his
mind because he was elected to a five-year term.
MR. ALLEN corrected Chair Stoltze that his position is an
appointment by the governor.
11:37:31 AM
SENATOR COGHILL commented that his primary intent for the bill
is not cost savings; but rather, public safety.
CHAIR STOLTZE maintained that cost saving is a big driver.
SENATOR COGHILL agreed, but said the focus is on how to do it
better.
He commented on rehabilitation saying that he did not know
whether the government can ever rehabilitate anyone, but can
provide avenues of accountability that make people more
productive and to "hold them" if it doesn't work.
CHAIR STOLTZE pointed out that the state has a constitutional
charge to do so.
11:41:19 AM
SENATOR COGHILL agreed. He addressed the sectional analysis that
shows the legal makeup of the bill:
Sections 1 - 17 deal with theft issues and are called offenses
against property. Title 11, Chapter 46.
Sections 18 - 23 are offenses against public administration.
Title 11, Chapter 56.
Sections 24 - 29 are offenses against public order. Title 11,
Chapter 61.
Section 30 is an offense against public health and decency
(gambling). Title 11, Chapter 66.
Sections 31 - 36 are offenses involving a controlled substance.
Title 11, Chapter 71.
Sections 37 & 38 deal with criminal code procedure. Title 12,
Chapter 25.
Sections 39 - 49 deal with bail schedules. Title 12, Chapter 30.
Sections 50 - 73 deal with sentencing and probation. Title 12,
Chapter 55.
Sections 74 - 78 deal with drivers licenses. Title 28, Chapter
15.
Sections 79 - 83 deal with offenses, accidents related to
alcohol, inhalants, and controlled substances implied consent.
Title 28, Chapter 35.
Section 84 deals with municipal government. Title 29, Chapter
10.
Section 85 & 86 deal with municipal government penalties. Title
29, Chapter 25.
Section 87 - 90 deal with probation, prisons, pardons, and
prisoners. Title 33, Chapter 05.
Section 91 deals with pre-trail service programs. Title 33,
Chapter 07.
Sections 92 - 125 deal with parole administration. Title 33,
Chapter 16.
Sections 126 & 127 deal with remission of sentences, executive
pardon, and clemency - good time. Title 33, Chapter 20.
Sections 128 - 131 deal with prison facilities and prisoners.
Title 33, Chapter 30.
Section 132 deals with garnishment of the PFD. Title 43, Chapter
23.
Section 133 deals with food stamps. Title 47, Chapter 27.
Sections 134 - 143 deal with court rule amendments, repeals of
criminal procedure, repeals of statutes, indirect court rules,
and effective dates. Uncodified Law.
11:46:31 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE asked if any court rule amendments were
controversial.
SENATOR COGHILL replied that he did not know, but thought some
might be. He noted the variety of subjects in the bill and said
SB 91 is a very comprehensive bill.
CHAIR STOLTZE voiced appreciation for Senator Coghill's work.
11:48:11 AM
At ease
11:59:23 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE called the committee back to order. He noted that
the committee meeting was the first iteration of public
testimony on SB 91.
12:00:05 PM
MARLENE MOTO KARL, representing herself, Deering, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 91. She spoke of the responsibility
of parents regarding curfew violations and problems related to
Child Support. She shared a story about her son. She discussed
the importance of city ordinances. She said she wished to
prevent those going to jail by mistake and suggested job
programs for those on probation.
12:08:21 PM
TARRI HARROLD-JONES, representing herself, Wasilla, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 91. She shared the benefits of her
private business of electronic monitoring. She told several
stories about how her clients were helped by electronic
monitoring. She related the expense of transporting prisoners.
CHAIR STOLTZE stated that he looked forward to the Department of
Corrections' fiscal note.
12:11:48 PM
BUTCH MOORE, on behalf of himself and his wife, Cindy Moore,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. He thanked the
sponsor for his efforts on the bill. He noted there is now
federal support for the Alaska Safe Children's Act and related
education. He said there is other available money, too.
He suggested adding a definition of felony theft to Section 7 of
the bill. He said he met with the person who killed his
daughter. He referred to the "good time" provisions in Section
126 of the bill and suggested that different consequences for
violent crime and sexual assault and murder should be provided.
He spoke of the prohibitions in place for his daughter's
murderer that were not upheld. He said court ordered conditions
of parole regarding alcohol restrictions must be required in
order to get a new driver's license showing the restriction. He
also suggested mandating more timely hearings and sentencing and
disallowing continuations.
12:22:19 PM
CHAIR STOLTZ recalled that the Victims Advocacy organization is
advocating for the 120-day provision. He expressed sympathy for
the Moore's loss.
MR. MOORE said his suggestions are an attempt to prevent future
loss. He reiterated his opinion about Section 126.
12:24:50 PM
VICKI WALLNER, President, Stop Valley Thieves, Mat-Su Valley,
Alaska, testified in opposition to SB 91. She pointed out that
the driving force behind the Alaska Criminal Justice
Commission's Report was to reduce the cost of incarceration. She
said her group works from the ground up. She maintained that
criminals are given many chances and their sentences are reduced
many times before they are convicted of a crime. Victims are
very upset about this and feel that there is no sense of
justice. She said there should be certainty in punishment. She
said the bill lowers crimes down to a citation and drug offenses
are being reclassified. She provided statistics on the increase
in crimes. She requested that the state get tough on crime.
12:37:31 PM
ANDREA ROBINSON, representing herself, Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 91, especially re-investing the money saved
into programs. She shared her history of drug use,
incarcerations, suicide attempts, and recovery. She said she
graduated from Juneau Therapeutic Courts and expressed
appreciation for the Haven House in Juneau, which is giving her
a path toward getting her kids back.
12:40:54 PM
SHAWN JESSIP II, representing himself, Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 91. He shared his history of crime and
incarceration. He said that he is currently attending UAS. He
said he is support of the reforms in SB 91.
SENATOR COGHILL thanked him. He asked if there is anything in SB
91 that will help Mr. Jessip in his journey.
MR. JESSIP said entering college saved his life.
12:43:42 PM
KARA NELSON, Director, Haven House, Juneau, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 91. She shared her experience with incarceration
and drug felonies and how that affected her income and life. She
said she is now in recovery and everything discussed in the bill
relates to her. She concluded that it is a community-wide issue
and there are many supportive services, but it is necessary that
they collaborate. She stressed that there needs to be recovery-
ready communities.
12:49:42 PM
CHRIS NETTLES, President, National Federation of Independent
Businesses, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in opposition to SB 91.
He spoke against the inflation-proofing of property stolen at
the felony theft/misdemeanor level. He spoke of the problems
with the rise in crimes that impact businesses. He thought the
bill encouraged more theft because of raising the property value
threshold to $2,000. He said police don't typically respond to
misdemeanor-level theft.
CHAIR STOLTZ said the threshold was changed in 2014. He asked
what the discussion was then.
MR. NETTLES thought they agreed on $750 at that time. He shared
examples of recent sophisticated thefts.
12:54:39 PM
DARRYL JONES, Corporate Counsel, Pioneer Peak Monitoring,
Wasilla, Alaska, testified on SB 91. He spoke of his history as
a defense attorney. He explained the process of pre-trial
defense hearings and the process of setting bail. He said to
spend $3.9 million to do an analysis on a bail proposal is a
waste of time and money. He listed the problems related to
electronic monitoring. He said he is opposed to the 120-day
limit.
1:02:06 PM
TERRIA WALTERS, representing herself, Palmer, Alaska, testified
on SB 91. She spoke of her personal story, her history as an
offender, and her work with prisoners. She said she supports
several things in the bill. She addressed the inequities of
sentencing and she requested changes in sentencing for non-
violent crimes and an increase in treatment programs. She also
requested that re-entry be coupled with re-education. She said
those who have transitioned back to the community must be
included in decision-making. She suggested looking at other
countries for solutions and reviewing the third-party custodian
regulations.
1:07:17 PM
KIM WHITAKER, Member, R.E.A.L. About Addiction, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. She related the story of
her daughter's addiction issues. She suggested that treatment
for addicts be included in the bill. She shared how she is
trying to help addicts and said there should be better options
for detox. She said the current system is not working. She
concluded that SB 91 will provide rehabilitation options.
1:11:20 PM
MAUDE BLAIR, President, Alaska Federation of Natives, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. She shared several
problems that Alaska Natives experience with incarceration. She
requested treating the root causes that are getting people into
trouble, rather than just punishing them.
1:12:22 PM
ATHENA SINGSAAS, representing herself, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified on SB 91. She said the bill is a step in the right
direction. She shared her experience of receiving a felony DWI.
She said the law was changed and resulted in reactivating DWI
charges that had already been served. She spoke of the need for
treatment programs and revising expungement and clemency laws.
1:16:43 PM
MIKE COONS, representing himself, Palmer, Alaska, testified on
SB 91. He maintained that the criminal justice system is broken
and sentences don't fit the crime. Many prisoners are let out
early to reduce crowding in prisons. He spoke in favor of
treatment plans. He said those with firearms sentences should be
turned over to the federal government. He said citizen safety is
the most important.
1:20:55 PM
TIMOTHY HALE, representing himself, Palmer, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 91. He focused on problems with Sections 75 and 76
- driving privileges of felony DUI's. He suggested they be
changed so those who have served their time are allowed to drive
again.
CHAIR STOLTZE said there are many case laws regarding this
section and the committee would continue to look at it.
1:23:38 PM
DELICE CALCOTE, representing herself, Sutton, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 91. She shared her extensive work history. She
spoke of individual and collective rights and PL 280. She
related her personal experience with tribal family members on
probation and the problems they encountered.
1:28:25 PM
HELEN SIMMONDS, representing herself, Barrow, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 91. She shared her son's story of mental
illness and Medicaid placements.
1:32:41 PM
BARBARA CHALENDER, representing herself, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 91. She spoke of her son's addiction
and death from heroin and the need for treatment programs. She
said there are no reentry programs available and prison is not
the answer.
1:36:01 PM
MICHAEL JEFFERY, representing himself, Barrow, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 91. He shared his history as a judge in Barrow.
He highlighted prisoner in-reach programs in the bill and spoke
in favor of them. He spoke of those with cognitive impairments
needing special treatment.
1:39:51 PM
MIKE LUNDE, Member, Fairbanks Wellness Court System, Fairbanks,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. He expressed appreciation
for the Wellness Courts and said that 82 percent of graduates
from Wellness Courts do not reoffend. He requested a change to
the driver's license penalties. He ended with a quote by Michael
Jordan.
1:44:30 PM
DONNA BALDWIN, representing herself, Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 91. She spoke as a recovery coach and said the
bill will make a difference in people's lives. She said she is
glad the stigma of addiction is going away because people are
talking about it. She thanked the committee for hearing the
bill.
1:46:44 PM
NATHAN LOCKWOOD, representing himself, Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 91. He spoke of the problems people have with
access to resources for substance abuse. He said he is in favor
of reinvesting in those resources. He maintained that the bill
will reduce recidivism by providing tools to address substance
abuse. He suggested that money will be saved by reducing low
level offenses down from misdemeanors to violations. He also
suggested that the cap of 120 days for electronic monitoring
should be changed, as should the rules regarding loss of
licenses.
1:50:53 PM
ETHAN KNUTHSON, representing himself, Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 91. He shared his personal story of addiction
and imprisonment. He said he ended up in a therapeutic community
after having the opportunity to enroll in a methadone treatment
program in Washington. He said that in Southeast Alaska few
physicians are available to prescribe the medication needed by
addicts in order to live. He stressed the importance for
treatment programs, re-entry programs, and education.
1:56:49 PM
CARA DURR, Director of Public Engagement, Food Bank of Alaska,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. She addressed
the bill's repealing drug felons' ability to receive
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
States have the authority to opt out of this federal provision.
Alaska is one of seven states that still upholds this lifetime
ban. She encouraged reduction of recidivism by increasing and
improving re-entry programs, including food stamp benefits.
1:58:28 PM
KATHLEEN VAN VOORHIS, Director, Food Bank of Alaska, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. She said there is a 33
percent increase in the need for food resources, especially for
those who come out of prison. She suggested that lifting the
SNAP food ban would benefit the community as a whole, would
lower recidivism costs, and would bring in more federal dollars.
2:00:14 PM
PATRICIA LANE, representing herself, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 91. She shared her personal story of
sobriety and the difficulty of not being able to have a license.
She described situations where she needed to drive. She said she
has completed the Therapeutic Court Program.
2:03:54 PM
HELEN TRAINOR, representing herself, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 91. She spoke of favor of the
Wellness Court program and described how the program helped her
son. She said it is so important to change the driver's license
provision. She referred to Oregon's HB 3025, which gives people
a fairer chance to get a job.
2:07:05 PM
WILLIAM DICKERSON, Alumni, Alaska Therapeutic Court, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. He spoke highly of the
Wellness Court program and all it does.
2:09:13 PM
LANCE HANES, Alumni, Alaska Therapeutic Court, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. He shared that he was
unable to get on electronic monitoring in 2013. He spoke in
favor of reinstating drivers' licenses and he addressed the
benefits of the interlock device. He spoke in favor of
Therapeutic Courts and the support they provide.
2:12:39 PM
ERNIE GOMEZ, Alumni, Alaska Therapeutic Court, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. He spoke of how
Therapeutic Court changed his life and how it saves money. He
requested to have more detox and treatment programs.
2:15:18 PM
JAMES KRUGMAN, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in opposition to SB 91. He maintained that the bill
does not protect the public from dangerous criminals. He said he
is opposed to lack of punishment for criminals. He predicted
that the frequency of crime will rise due to SB 91.
2:18:52 PM
CATHLEEN MCLAUGHLIN, Director, Partners Reentry Center,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. She described
the pre-release planning held in the bill. She provided an
example of its success.
2:20:26 PM
GRACE HERRINGTON, Employee, Partners Reentry Center, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 91. She shared how well pre-
release support is working and said it is a big resource.
2:21:51 PM
VINCE HOLTON, Executive Director, Alaska Monitoring & Drug
Testing LLC, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified in support of SB 91.
He explained that the difference between a private company and a
program from the Department of Corrections (DOC) is that DOC
monitors 24 hours a day and has the best equipment. He described
what DOC monitoring entails. He referred to HB 15 and pointed
out that DOC guidelines for house arrest programs have not yet
been established. He suggested using private companies in order
to save the state money. He stressed that pre-trial services in
the bill are minimal and the 120-day limit needs
reconsideration.
CHAIR STOLTZE agreed more work needs to be done with those
conducting the monitoring programs.
SENATOR COGHILL related that the commission recommended pre-
trail service because accountability is important. He said he
prefers private industry do the work. He agreed that it is
costly and said it is open to discussion.
MR. HOLTON could see the need for regulating companies to make
it work.
2:28:01 PM
MARY NANUWAK, representing herself, Bethel, testified in support
of SB 91, with changes. She suggested pro bono work could be
done and charges could be pooled together in order to save time,
energy, and money. She thought the pre-trail agreement and
education should be mandatory in order to reduce recidivism. She
also said there should be treatment programs.
CHAIR STOLTZE held public testimony open.
He said cost savings are important, but there are other
considerations to think about, such as re-investment of those
savings in other areas. He noted the growing problem of heroin
addiction and the high failure rate for treatment. He did not
agree that many drug offenders are being incarcerated, rather,
that they are criminals with a drug problem.
2:34:55 PM
SENATOR COGHILL thanked all the testifiers. He said that keeping
people safe and public condemnation for crime are all within the
realm of the bill. He noted it is the first hearing of the bill.
He said he will continue to ask whether the state is holding
criminals accountable and to carry forward the commission's
recommendations. The legislature will work out policy calls for
keeping people safe and keeping costs low. There are human
rights on both the victim's side and the criminal's side to
consider.
[SB 91 was held in committee.]