03/14/2002 08:07 AM House CRA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS
STANDING COMMITTEE
March 14, 2002
8:07 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Representative Carl Morgan, Co-Chair
Representative Andrew Halcro
Representative Drew Scalzi
Representative Lisa Murkowski
Representative Gretchen Guess
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Beth Kerttula
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 355
"An Act relating to the taxation of mobile telecommunications
services by municipalities; and providing for an effective
date."
- MOVED CSHB 355(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 497
"An Act giving notice of and approving the entry into, and the
issuance of, certificates of participation for the upgrade,
expansion, and replacement of certain correctional facilities
and jails; giving notice of and approving the entry into, lease-
financing agreements for certain of those projects; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 497 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 407
"An Act relating to the certificate of need program."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 355
SHORT TITLE:MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX
SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE BY REQUEST
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
01/23/02 2045 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
01/23/02 2045 (H) CRA, L&C
02/28/02 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 124
02/28/02 (H) Heard & Held
02/28/02 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/06/02 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17
03/06/02 (H) <Bill Canceled>
03/14/02 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 497
SHORT TITLE:LEASE-PURCHASE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
SPONSOR(S): RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/20/02 2338 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/20/02 2338 (H) CRA, STA, FIN
02/20/02 2338 (H) FN1: (REV)
02/20/02 2338 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
03/14/02 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
AMY ERICKSON, Staff
to Representative Murkowski
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 408
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on behalf of the sponsor of HB
355, the House Labor & Commerce Standing Committee.
CHUCK HARLAMERT, Juneau Section Chief
Tax Division
Department of Revenue
PO Box 110420
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0420
POSITION STATEMENT: Announced that [the department's] concerns
with HB 355 had been addressed.
DAN YOUMANS, Director
External Affairs
AT&T Wireless
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Version F of HB 355
and Amendment F.1.
MARGOT KNUTH, Strategic Planning Coordinator
Office of the Commissioner - Juneau
Department of Corrections
431 N. Franklin, Suite 400
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed the need for HB 497.
MARGARET BRANSON, Member
City Council
City of Seward
PO Box 271
Seward, Alaska 99664
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 497.
SCOTT JANKE, Manager
City of Seward
PO Box 167
Seward, Alaska 99644
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 497.
LINDA FREED, Manager
City of Kodiak
710 Mill Bay Road
Kodiak, Alaska 99615
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 497.
DAVID GERMER, Assistant Borough Manager
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
350 East Dahlia Avenue
Palmer, Alaska 99645
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 497.
GARY PAXTON, Interim Manager
Ketchikan Gateway Borough
344 Front Street
Ketchikan, Alaska 99901
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of Mr. Germer's
comments.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 02-14, SIDE A
Number 0001
CO-CHAIR KEVIN MEYER called the House Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:07 a.m.
Representatives Morgan, Meyer, Halcro, Scalzi, Murkowski, and
Guess were present at the call to order.
HB 355-MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX
CO-CHAIR MEYER announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 355, "An Act relating to the taxation of
mobile telecommunications services by municipalities; and
providing for an effective date."
Number 0222
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI moved to adopt CSHB 355, Version 22-
LS1208\F, Kurtz, 3/6/02, as the working document. There being
no objection, Version F was before the committee.
AMY ERICKSON, Staff to Representative Murkowski, Alaska State
Legislature, testified on behalf of the sponsor, the House Labor
& Commerce Standing Committee. She explained that Version F is
much simpler. Per the Department of Revenue's request, [Version
F] cites the federal act by reference. Furthermore,
Representative Kerttula suggested the deletion of the section
regarding the requirement for the customer to notify the company
in writing of a dispute over a tax, charge, or fee. That
section has been deleted. Ms. Erickson recalled Representative
Guess' discussion regarding the primary place of use being a
street address. Ms. Erickson said, "I think that we understand
now that the federal act defines place of primary use in a
manner that is sufficient to you [Representative Guess] and
Representative Murkowski."
MS. ERICKSON informed the committee of the amendment [in the
committee packet] labeled 22-LS1208\F.1, Kurtz, 3/13/02. This
amendment would address those people in Alaska who don't have a
street address, which is common in Alaska. This amendment would
allow those without a street address to establish a primary
place of use without having their street address listed.
Number 0381
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI turned to the prior hearing's
discussion regarding the fiscal note for HB 355. As a
consequence of the changes incorporated in Version F,
Representative Murkowski understood that the Department of
Revenue's fiscal note is now zero. Representative Murkowski
highlighted that all of the concerns voiced at the last hearing
have been addressed and thus she said she feels that Version F
follows the intent of the federal act and will work in Alaska.
CO-CHAIR MEYER inquired as to whether this legislation could be
passed out with a fiscal note pending.
MS. ERICKSON pointed out that the original fiscal note was zero
[but the analysis had raised some concerns]. Therefore, the new
fiscal note is "more civilized."
CHUCK HARLAMERT, Juneau Section Chief, Tax Division, Department
of Revenue, announced that all of the [department's] concerns
that were raised at the last hearing have been addressed. "It
looks like a clean bill from here," he remarked.
Number 0598
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI moved that the committee adopt
Amendment F.1, which reads as follows:
Page 3, following line 12:
Insert a new subsection to read:
"(d) For the purposes of this section, if a
customer does not have a street address, the home
service provider may accept from the customer as the
customer's place of primary use an address that is not
a street address if the address gives effect to the
intent of 4 U.S.C. 116 - 126 (Mobile
Telecommunications Sourcing Act)."
There being no objection, Amendment F.1 was adopted.
Number 0690
DAN YOUMANS, Director, External Affairs, AT&T Wireless,
testified via teleconference. Mr. Youmans said that [AT&T
Wireless] supports all of the proposed changes [encompassed in
Version F] as well as Amendment F.1. "I think we have arrived
at a very good piece of legislation now, and we're in full
support of it," he said.
Number 0750
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO moved to report CSHB 355 [Version 22-
LS1208\F, Kurtz, 3/6/02] as amended out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, CSHB 355(CRA) was reported from
the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
The committee took a brief at-ease from 8:19 a.m. to 8:21 a.m.
HB 497-LEASE-PURCHASE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
CO-CHAIR MORGAN announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 497, "An Act giving notice of and approving
the entry into, and the issuance of, certificates of
participation for the upgrade, expansion, and replacement of
certain correctional facilities and jails; giving notice of and
approving the entry into, lease-financing agreements for certain
of those projects; and providing for an effective date."
Number 0903
MARGOT KNUTH, Strategic Planning Coordinator, Office of the
Commissioner - Juneau, Department of Corrections, began by
noting that HB 497 is one of several pieces of legislation that
looks to expand existing correctional facilities. The [Knowles
Administration] is grateful with the recognition that something
must be done [with Alaska's correctional facilities]. Alaska
has been operating well beyond the maximum capacity of its
facilities for many years. In order to deal with that maximum
capacity, Alaska's local facilities have been overcrowded and
hundreds of inmates have been sent to a private prison in
Arizona.
MS. KNUTH reviewed the difference between jails and prisons.
She explained that jails are where people are housed before
their trials, before sentencing, and for misdemeanor offenses.
Alaska is unique in that Alaska is a unified jurisdiction, which
means that the state is responsible for both jail and prison
functions. Therefore, the state has to have facilities that are
close to the [offenders'] communities, to the point of arrest,
and to court houses where the hearings occur. There also have
to be places for sentenced felons that will serve considerably
more time. Ideally, under a unified system the regional
facilities would probably serve as both a prison and jail for
the community. For example, Bethel has the capacity of 80 beds,
which basically allows for only pre-trial and misdemeanants to
be in that facility. Therefore, those from Bethel who are
convicted of a felony and have more than a year to serve are
shipped to either the Spring Creek Prison in Seward or the
facility in Arizona. Ideally, there would be enough capacity in
Bethel to keep those folks in their home areas. However,
Alaska's problem is the cost in keeping people close to their
home area. Many efficiencies are gained by having larger
centralized prisons. Ms. Knuth noted that the Spring Creek
Prison has a capacity of 400 and thus is filled by people
statewide, not just from the Seward area. The prisoners in the
Arizona facility are from all over the state, and have fairly
long sentences to serve.
Number 1120
MS. KNUTH explained that HB 497 attempts to balance the need to
be cost-conscious and have centralized prisons with the need for
local capacity for those pre-trial and misdemeanant persons.
House Bill 497 allows for the expansion of the Palmer
Correctional Center, the Spring Creek Youthful Offender Program,
the Fairbanks Correctional Center, and the Yukon-Kuskokwim
Correctional Center. Those are the most urgent needs. The
Bethel facility has been operating at capacity for years, [which
has resulted in] people who have [only] 10-15 days to serve
being shipped to the Palmer Correctional Facility or other
facilities in the Anchorage Bowl area. Those folks then have to
be transferred back to [the Bethel area]. Fairbanks is in a
similar situation. Shipping those with short sentences is
inefficient economically, not to mention the difficulty for the
family who wants to keep contact with the inmate. Ms. Knuth
informed the committee that it should have a booklet entitled,
"Corrections and Community Partnerships: A New Way of Doing
Business", which discusses the long-range plan that the
department views as necessary in addressing the overcrowding
situation in Alaska. Bethel, Fairbanks, Palmer, and Seward are
the first four facilities listed [for expansion]. The proposal
is to increase the capacity in Bethel by 96 beds, in Fairbanks
by 80 beds, in Palmer by 237 beds, and in Seward by 170 beds.
Number 1316
MS. KNUTH informed the committee that in the rest of the United
States, the trend for the number of people in corrections is
decreasing and that, to some extent, relates to the decrease in
crime rates. That trend also reflects the decision of other
states to reevaluate sentencing practices. She explained that
those other states have concluded that incarcerating people is
an expensive method. Recently, the trend has been to move away
from tough, long sentences and toward treatment. For example,
California has mandatory treatment for drug offenders. Although
some of Alaska's crime rates are going down, Alaska's number of
inmates is increasing. In Alaska, 33,000 people are booked a
year. Most of those are short stays. Alaska is experiencing a
phenomena in which there are about 300 more inmates than the
year before. Ms. Knuth attributed that increase to the long,
tough sentences in Alaska and the trend of fewer [inmates] being
released on bail. Alaska has a much higher percentage of people
who are pre-trail and awaiting trial and sentencing on felony
charges. She estimated that those who are held for pre-trial
has risen from 20-35 percent to about 50 percent of all the
inmates being held. Therefore, the use of beds for pre-trial
people is causing a need for an increase in capacity. In regard
to why people aren't being released for pre-trial, Ms. Knuth
attributed it partially to the perception of safety issues by
both prosecutors' offices and by courts. This is a policy issue
that the state will have to deal with at some point, Ms. Knuth
speculated. Ms. Knuth said, "We do have the ability to control
this growing number of inmates and at some point somebody will
have to step up to the plate and take a look at that."
Meanwhile, hundreds of inmates need spaces and the only avenue
is to increase capacity.
Number 1573
MS. KNUTH pointed out that in Alaska there are also contract
jails, which are referred to as municipal jail facilities in HB
497. There are 15 such small facilities that are used to hold
those arrested in smaller communities throughout the state. If
an individual is arrested on a serious offense, then that
individual is shipped to a regional facility. The 15 contract
jails haven't received any capital funds for a number of years,
and there isn't a good system for addressing these contract
jails. The people housed in these contract jails are there
because of state charges and thus are the responsibility of the
state, although they aren't part of the Department of
Corrections' system. The inmates of the contract jails are paid
for by contracts the department has with the local governments.
This legislation specifies the most heavily used jails and
requests authorization for expansion. Those [contract jails]
are the Dillingham Community Jail, Kodiak Community Jail,
Kotzebue Community Jail, and North Slope Borough Community Jail.
These jails are also in the worst condition. Therefore, HB 497
would authorize $4 million for each of the aforementioned
community jails. That $4 million has to be matched by the local
community. She informed the committee that the North Slope
Borough [Community Jail] was condemned by the fire marshal.
Minor modifications were made to satisfy the fire marshal for a
while. However, something has to be done. She also informed
the committee that Kotzebue has a $4 million federal grant that
can be used for their match. Similarly, the North Slope Borough
has identified the $4 million for its match.
MS. KNUTH recognized that the difficulty with HB 497 is that the
state is in a time of dwindling revenues. However, HB 497
relates to a public safety need that doesn't go away. In fact,
the longer this problem isn't addressed, the more it will cost.
She noted that when similar legislation was heard in the Senate,
support for that bill was indicated from the communities of
Seward, Fairbanks, Kenai, Dillingham, Barrow, Mat-Su Valley,
Kenai, and Bethel. "So far, all the testimony has been
positive," she remarked.
Number 1899
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO recalled the December Conference of
Mayors' press conference during which there was the threat to
either stop accepting prisoners or take some action. Therefore,
he inquired as to whether that reaction is related to the lack
of funding for community jails.
MS. KNUTH agreed that there has been growing frustration in
regard to the lack of new funds for these community jails.
[These communities] feel that trying to continue to do business
is irresponsible. Although the frustration with operating a
condemned facility is obvious, when an arrest is made in the
community something has to be done with that person. This
creates a no-win situation.
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO inquired as to whether the greater
percentage of prisoners without bail is related to the severity
of the crime or recidivism.
MS. KNUTH answered that the decision [of holding prisoners
without bail] is made on a case-by-case basis. There is no
policy plan with these types of offenses.
Number 2089
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI referred to the Executive Summary of
"Corrections and Community Partnerships: A New Way of Doing
Business" which includes the compelling statistic that there has
been a 66 percent increase in the prisoner population in Alaska
over ten years. She recalled Ms. Knuth's testimony that in
other states there has actually been a decrease in their prison
population. That 66 percent increase seems incredible. The
summary further references the greater use of the half-way house
approach in corrections. Therefore, the approach is to have
more space in the prison for the more serious offenders [in
medium security]. Representative Murkowski asked for whom the
prison space is being built. Is the space being built for those
staying 10-15 days or for the more serious offender with a long
sentence, she asked.
MS. KNUTH answered that the prison space is being built for all
of the populations Representative Murkowski mentioned. However,
the greatest need for beds is for the medium security inmates
with long sentences. Currently, 600 or so inmates in Arizona
fall in the medium security category. Ms. Knuth explained that
in 1980 the Alaska Criminal Code was revised to lengthen
sentences for most all offenses, in particular those sentences
for assaults, robberies, and serious felony offenses. The
impact, the "stacking effect," of those lengthy sentences has
taken some time to see, but is apparent now. Also, the increase
in the state's population has brought with it an increase in the
number of criminal offenders. Ms. Knuth informed the committee
that the last correctional facility Alaska built was the Spring
Creek Correctional Facility in the 1980s. During the 1990s, "we
did nothing," she pointed out. However, she noted that the
Anchorage replacement jail which will provide about 150 new beds
is about to open.
Number 2316
MS. KNUTH informed the committee that the department has done
the following two things to deal with the increased inmate
population. First, there have been increases in the number of
halfway house space for low level offenders. With funding from
the legislature, the department was able to contract for more
halfway house beds. As a result of that effort, most of the
state's minimum custody inmates are in halfway house beds.
Second, electronic monitoring and home furlough programs have
diverted people from hard beds, when appropriate. However, the
department hasn't been able to increase the number of hard beds
because of the need for construction money to do so. She turned
to Bethel as an example. Bethel has a halfway house as well as
a correctional center. She explained that those beds that are
needed are for those who are a danger to the community. She
pointed out that the aforementioned pre-trial issue is mainly an
issue in the Anchorage Bowl area not in areas such as Bethel and
Fairbanks. She indicated the need to deal with the pre-trial
issue in the Anchorage Bowl area. In summary, Ms. Knuth
expressed the need for the medium capacity hard beds to be
addressed.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI related her understanding that at soon
as the Anchorage jail opens it will reach capacity as well, and
therefore HB 497 requests expansion of that facility in the
future. She questioned why the facility wasn't built larger to
begin with. Representative Murkowski inquired as to the number
of prisoners that are sent to Arizona, and how many would be
accommodated if HB 497 were to pass.
MS. KNUTH answered that there are about 680 inmates in Arizona.
With HB 497, all of those inmates would be brought home unless
the state's inmate population continues to increase at 300 per
year. She explained that it takes about three years from the
passage of legislation to the point at which a facility is
actually opened. Therefore, there could potentially be 1,000
more inmates if the aforementioned trend continues. She stated
her hope that the [national] reduction in the crime rate will
begin to happen in Alaska and thus the aforementioned growth
rate won't continue. Or, perhaps there will be policy changes
in regard to the length of sentences. In further response to
Representative Murkowski, Ms. Knuth informed the committee that
the possible new private prison in Whittier would have a minimum
of 1,200 beds. She mentioned that there are some significant
logistical problems with locating a prison in Whittier. It
makes the most logistical sense to have a prison in the
Anchorage Bowl area since that makes up over half of the state's
population and inmate population. A population base needs to be
present in order to run a prison, which is a difficulty in more
remote areas of the state.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI said she supposed that one should
anticipate that there would be a softening of the past 10-20
year trend. Therefore, expansion plans should be such that the
facility isn't at capacity before the doors are even open.
Number 2636
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO returned to Ms. Knuth's comment that in
the 1990s the state did nothing in regard to prison
construction. However, construction of private prisons in
Anchorage, Delta, and Kenai have been turned down while the
inmate population continues to grow. He indicated that
expansion of existing facilities seems to be a more practical
way to address this issue because the community opposition
wouldn't exist. Representative Halcro inquired as to whether
the department opposes the private prison in Whittier.
MS. KNUTH replied that the proposal for a private prison in
Whittier is inconsistent with the governor's plan. "We believe
that a regional approach makes more sense," she said.
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO recalled that in the last few years the
legislature has done more to lengthen sentences, and therefore
he didn't foresee the problem getting better.
MS. KNUTH reiterated that many states adopted tougher, longer
sentences. Those states saw what [tougher, longer sentences]
did to their education budget and determined that they couldn't
do [tougher, longer sentences]. Therefore, some states decided
not to use prison beds for certain offenders. Ms. Knuth
predicted that Alaska will review where it wants to spend its
money and decide that treatment and education for inmates will
be more cost-effective than longer sentences.
Number 2778
CO-CHAIR MEYER inquired as to why the cost to construct
additional beds at correctional centers [in the state] vary
greatly. He questioned whether [the state] should focus on
[expansion] in the less expensive areas.
MS. KNUTH said that the need for local jail beds is expensive.
A bed in Ketchikan costs more than $300,000 per bed because
that's [the state's] smallest facility. At this small facility
there is no economy of scale and such locations usually have
increased construction costs. Therefore, it costs less to
expand or have new construction in locations such as the Mat-Su
Valley. However, there is the need to have beds for prisoners
in Ketchikan. She noted that it doesn't make economic sense to
ship prisoners with short-term sentences. The department has
people who meet every morning for two hours in order to
determine where each inmate could go. Therefore, the department
has analyzed the population flows and patterns. For example, if
Bethel increases its number of beds by 96, then Bethel's pre-
trial population can remain in Bethel. In order to keep people
who are sentenced in Bethel in Bethel, a 300-400 bed expansion
would be required. "We're trying to give you the smallest
number for the outlying areas because in the long-run that's
most cost-effective. It is a policy call," she said.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if it costs about $40,000 a year to house a
prisoner in Alaska.
MS. KNUTH noted that the difference in construction costs across
the state is reflected in the operating costs [of the prisons].
Ketchikan has the highest operating expense because it is the
smallest facility and thus the costs are spread across the
smallest group of people. The average cost of housing an inmate
in Alaska is $115 a day, which she estimated to amount to forty-
some thousand dollars per inmate. In further response to Co-
Chair Meyer, Ms. Knuth informed the committee that housing a
prisoner in Arizona cost approximately $65 a day. She said that
the state does save money by sending inmates to Arizona.
However, she expressed the need to consider whether "we" want
our inmates that far away and what additional money do "we" want
to spend to keep these inmates in Alaska.
TAPE 02-14, SIDE B
Number 2984
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked what the recidivism rate is in Alaska.
MS. KNUTH announced that the department will be implementing an
information management system that will allow a closer look at
recidivism. However, she noted that most people don't return.
Out of 33,000 bookings a year, only about 4,000-5,000 return.
There is a small population with a serious alcohol problem that
revolve through the corrections system until the problem is
addressed. She expressed the desire to obtain information that
illustrates the impact of alcohol programs in the facilities in
order to reduce recidivism. Ms. Knuth informed the committee of
the nationwide discovery that required treatment, even when
involuntary, is helpful; although she acknowledged that it may
have to be required multiple times. Therefore, the hope is to
obtain the information and make a case for increased treatment
capacity.
CO-CHAIR MEYER related his belief that the focus on treatment
was why the therapeutic courts were funded and supported. He
related his understanding that the therapeutic courts are having
success, especially with placing DWI offenders in treatment
rather than jail. He acknowledged that many of the DWI
offenders are being placed in halfway houses. He questioned
whether the halfway houses are being fully used.
MS. KNUTH answered that the halfway houses are being more than
fully utilized. She pointed out that the statute for DWI
offenders specifies that the first choice of placement for first
and second DWI offenders is in halfway houses. However, the
department has found that to be restrictive because some inmates
are good candidates for electronic monitoring or the home
furlough program. She indicated that the home furlough program
is a cheap program that allows people to work.
CO-CHAIR MEYER expressed his optimism that the demand for prison
space in Alaska will decrease in the future. He echoed earlier
sentiment that it seems that the Anchorage jail should've been
made larger to begin with.
MS. KNUTH said, "We all do the best we can." She mentioned that
she is glad that the Anchorage facility was designed for
expansion.
Number 2806
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI turned to the municipal jail prices and
asked if it is correct that [the state contributes] about $12 a
day to the municipalities [that have municipal jails].
MS. KNUTH said that she didn't know, but that figure sounds
correct.
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI inquired as to whether the municipalities
contribute to the operating costs of the municipal jail or just
the capital costs.
MS. KNUTH responded that the municipalities contribute to the
operating costs, and often the municipal jail is the community's
law enforcement center and thus houses the local dispatcher and
police department. The municipality is making a significant
contribution. In further response to Representative Scalzi, Ms.
Knuth clarified that the figure entitled "The Anticipated Annual
Operating Cost" [for the proposed new beds] refers to the new
money from the state for the community, [which the community
matches].
Number 2697
MARGARET BRANSON, Member, City Council, City of Seward,
testified via teleconference. Ms. Branson said that [the City
of Seward] is particularly interested in the Spring Creek
Youthful Offender program expansion. This program has been
extremely efficient and successful. [The City of Seward]
supports the rest of HB 497 as well. She noted that the Spring
Creek facility was built with future expansion in mind.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI noted that Spring Creek is one of the
few maximum security facilities in the state. Therefore, an
expansion would increase the potential for having more dangerous
individuals in the community. She asked if the City of Seward
supports the expansion.
MS. BRANSON replied yes. The experience with the Spring Creek
Correctional Facility has been very positive. The only problem
has been the difficulty in getting correctional officers to the
area.
Number 2538
SCOTT JANKE, Manager, City of Seward, testified via
teleconference in support of HB 497. He echoed Ms. Branson's
comments regarding the City of Seward's support of HB 497,
specifically the Spring Creek Youthful Offender program. The
expansion of the Spring Creek Youthful facility has been on the
city's legislative agenda for a number years. Mr. Janke
informed the committee that the Alaska Vocational Technical
Center (AVTEC) is also located in Seward and thus can provide
vocational education and training for youthful offenders [to
help] reduce the number of offenders returning to prison. Mr.
Janke also informed the committee that Spring Creek was built by
the city using a bond much like HB 497 anticipates. The bond on
Spring Creek will be completely paid in September 2006, which is
about the time the expansion would go on line and begin debt
service again. He projected that the expansion could be on line
in less than three years.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI inquired as to whether there are any
other facilities in the state that have a similar youthful
offender program.
MR. JANKE related his understanding that the Spring Creek
Youthful Offender program is the only such program in operation
in the state.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI related her view that the prison
population consists of more and more young men, and furthermore
these men seem to be getting younger. Therefore, she indicated
the need to emphasize youthful offender programs in order to
reduce recidivism. She said that with the youth offenders of
the state it seems that there isn't a regional approach because
there is only one state facility.
Number 2318
LINDA FREED, Manager, City of Kodiak, testified via
teleconference. She noted that she sent a letter expressing the
City of Kodiak's support to the committee. Ms. Freed pointed
out that the facility in Kodiak is 60 years old and needs to be
replaced. The city is willing to partner with the state and
commit local resources in order to replace the building. Ms.
Freed urged the committee's support of HB 497.
CO-CHAIR MEYER referred to Ms. Freed's letter in the packet and
noted it said that the City of Kodiak is willing to match the
state's contribution.
MS. FREED replied yes, and informed the committee that the city
is also willing to contribute the land on which the building
would be located. Ms. Freed explained that the local government
subsidizes the operation of the facility. She estimated that
the city puts in about $50-$100,000 a year to keep the facility
open. Ms. Freed said, "We believe that a new building and an
upgraded building would provide our community, as well as the
state, with a facility that would help deal with corrections on
a broad scale." Currently, prisoners in Kodiak can't be held in
the facility for longer than ten days due to the current
condition of the facility. An upgraded facility would allow
prisoners to be held for sentences up to 30 days, which is
advantageous due to the elimination of transportation costs.
Furthermore, it's advantageous to keep the prisoners close to
their homes and families in order to hopefully return them to
the community as useful members.
Number 2168
DAVID GERMER, Assistant Borough Manager, Matanuska-Susitna
Borough, testified via teleconference. He informed the
committee that there are three correctional facilities in the
Matanuska-Susitna Borough and there have been few problems
associated with these facilities. Furthermore, the Department
of Corrections' employees are involved members of the community.
[The borough] strongly supports the expansion of existing
correctional facilities. Furthermore, expansion of correctional
facilities on a regional basis will allow prisoners to be closer
to their families and should enhance rehabilitation
opportunities. Ms. Germer said, "The economic impact associated
with returning prisoners to Alaska or incarcerating prisoners in
Alaska should be shared statewide. Both rural as well as urban
residents of Alaska should have the opportunity to benefit from
the positive economic impacts plus the positive rehabilitation
impacts." He indicated that Alaskan residents and Alaskan
contractors would benefit [from expansion projects].
MR. GERMER related the belief that expansion of corrections
facilities should be publicly operated and managed. Although HB
497 is good legislation, the prison legislation sponsored by
Senator Green is slightly more preferable because it better
addresses the needs of Fairbanks, Ketchikan, and the Mat-Su
[Valley]. Furthermore, Senator Green's legislation is slightly
more preferable because it utilizes the Alaska Industrial
Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), which has been
involved in similar financing structures and could assist with
pre-construction bridge financing.
Number 1989
GARY PAXTON, Interim Manager, Ketchikan Gateway Borough,
testified via teleconference in support of Mr. Germer's
comments. Mr. Paxton highlighted the fact that Southeast Alaska
has been devastated by the loss of the forest industry.
Furthermore, Southeast Alaska is, as is the rest of the state,
facing difficulties with the fishing industry. Therefore, the
economy is in a difficult state and thus the proposed expansion
in Ketchikan would provide economic benefits for the area as
well as the region because Ketchikan's economy has a direct
relationship to the economy of surrounding smaller areas such as
Craig and Prince of Wales Island.
CO-CHAIR MORGAN closed public testimony.
Number 1871
CO-CHAIR MEYER related his understanding of the testimony to be
that the communities want these expansions, and therefore he
would support moving HB 497 along. However, he expressed his
belief that all prison-related legislation would have to be
reviewed by the House Finance Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI recalled the discussions on the private
prison proposals for Delta and Kenai. In both cases, the
communities rejected the proposals after considerable
controversy. Therefore, it's nice to hear communities that are
open to expansion of prison facilities in their area. She
commented on the need to have an acceptance from the community
for these facilities.
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO said that he is far more supportive of the
concept [encompassed in HB 497]. He also recalled the
situations with the private prison proposals of recent years.
The expansion of regional facilities is a far more cost
effective way to keep someone close to their community.
Furthermore, it's a more palatable way to expand prison space
without turning communities upside down.
CO-CHAIR MORGAN related the situation in Aniak where there is no
holding cell. Sometimes, when Bethel doesn't have room, Bethel
will ask Aniak to hold the prisoner a day or two. Therefore,
someone from the community that doesn't have training is hired
as a jail guard. Co-Chair Morgan noted his support of HB 497.
Number 1479
REPRESENTATIVE GUESS moved to report HB 497 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being no objection, HB 497 was reported from the
House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
The committee took a brief at-ease.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 9:29 a.m.
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