Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
03/24/2022 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB298 | |
| Presentation: Department of Corrections | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 298 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 24, 2022
8:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sara Hannan, Co-Chair
Representative Calvin Schrage, Co-Chair
Representative Josiah Patkotak, Vice Chair
Representative Harriet Drummond
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Ken McCarty
Representative Kevin McCabe
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 298
"An Act establishing the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 298(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION: DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 298
SHORT TITLE: ALASKA FOOD STRATEGY TASK FORCE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SNYDER
02/04/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/04/22 (H) CRA
03/15/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/15/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/15/22 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/17/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/17/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/17/22 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
03/24/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE LIZ SNYDER
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, responded to questions
during the hearing on HB 298.
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff
Representative Liz Snyder
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Confirmed a point made by the bill sponsor
during the hearing on HB 298, on behalf of Representative
Snyder, prime sponsor.
LAURA BROOKS, Director
Division of Health and Rehab Services
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information during the
presentation on the Department of Corrections.
KELLY GOODE, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information during the
presentation on the Department of Corrections.
MIKE MATTHEWS, Research Analyst
Division of Administrative Services
Department of Corrections
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered information during the presentation
on the Department of Corrections.
BRANN WADE, Chief Classification Officer
Division of Institutions
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered information during the presentation
on the Department of Corrections.
SIDNEY WOOD, Acting Deputy Director
Division of Institutions
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information during the
presentation on the Department of Corrections.
LAURA BROOKS, Director
Division of Health and Rehab Services
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a presentation, titled "Department of
Corrections."
KELLY GOODE, Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered committee questions on the
presentation, titled "Department of Corrections."
MIKE MATTHEWS, Research Analyst
Division of Administrative Services
Department of Corrections
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered committee questions on the
presentation, titled "Department of Corrections."
BRANN WADE, Chief Classification Officer
Division of Institutions
Department of Corrections
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a presentation, titled "Department of
Corrections."
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:02:10 AM
CO-CHAIR CALVIN SCHRAGE called the House Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:02 a.m.
Representatives Drummond, Prax, Hannan, and Schrage were present
at the call to order. Representatives McCabe, McCarty, and
Patkotak arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 298-ALASKA FOOD STRATEGY TASK FORCE
8:02:48 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 298, "An Act establishing the Alaska
Food Strategy Task Force; and providing for an effective date."
8:03:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 298,
labeled 32-LS1398\A.4, Ambrose, 3/23/22, which read as follows:
Page 2, line 6:
Delete "two members from the senate"
Insert "one member from the minority caucus of
the senate and one member from the majority caucus of
the senate"
Page 2, line 8:
Delete "two members from the house of
representatives"
Insert "one member from the minority caucus of
the house of representatives and one member from the
majority caucus of the house of representatives"
Page 2, lines 9 - 11:
Delete ";
(C) at least one member from the minority caucus of
the senate or house of representatives"
8:03:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND spoke to Amendment 1, explaining that it
would ensure one member each from the minority and majority
caucus of both the House and Senate. She said there would be no
minimum or maximum of people. She opined that this equal
representation was rational.
8:04:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX [withdrew] his objection to Amendment 1.
8:05:11 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:05 a.m. to 8:06 a.m.
8:06:30 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that there being no further
objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
8:06:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 298,
labeled 32-LS1398\A.2, Foote, 3/21/22, which read as follows:
Page 2, line 18:
Delete "and"
Page 2, line 19, following "development":
Insert "; and
(6) the commissioner of transportation and
public facilities"
Page 4, line 2:
Delete "six"
Insert "seven"
Page 4, line 9:
Delete the second occurrence of "and"
Page 4, line 10, following "communities":
Insert "; and
(7) improving transportation and
infrastructure to transfer and deliver food in the
state"
Page 4, line 11:
Delete "six"
Insert "seven"
Page 4, line 18, following "needs":
Insert "and storage"
Page 4, line 21, following "system":
Insert "and storage"
Page 4, lines 25 - 26:
Delete "and food sovereignty"
Insert ", food sovereignty, and local storage methods"
8:06:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE spoke to Amendment 2. He said it would
address the transportation aspect of food security, which people
often forget about. It would add the commissioner of the
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) "to
the mix." The increase in focus areas from six to seven would
serve the same purpose of adding the focus on transportation and
infrastructure, he explained. Further, he highlighted the focus
on storage, which he emphasized is important.
8:09:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY stated support of Amendment 2. He noted
that DOT&PF is in charge of some storage facilities throughout
the state, and he suggested some of those buildings could be
used for [food] storage.
8:09:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND withdrew her objection to Amendment 2.
There being no further objection, Amendment 2 was adopted.
8:09:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY moved to adopt Amendment 3 to HB 298,
labeled 32-LS1398\A.5, Ambrose, 3/23/22, which read as follows:
Page 2, line 21, following "board,":
Insert "with due regard for broad geographic
representation of the state,"
8:09:58 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY spoke to Amendment 3. He said it is a
reminder that the members of the task force are to be from all
around the state.
CO-CHAIR HANNAN said she had no objection to the intent but
questioned whether the use of the words "due regard" was a
recommendation from Legislative Legal and Research Services.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY confirmed it came from Legislative Legal
and Research Services.
8:11:55 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN [withdrew her objection.] There being no
further objection, Amendment 3 was adopted.
8:12:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to adopt Amendment 4 to HB 298,
labeled 32-LS1398\A.1, Foote, 2/13/22, which read as follows:
Page 3, line 16, following "includes":
Insert "growing and harvesting,"
8:12:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND spoke to Amendment 4. She indicated
that [the purpose for adding "growing and harvesting"] was that
that is a necessary step before harvesting and processing.
8:12:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY withdrew his objection.
8:12:56 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN questioned whether it should read "growing,
harvesting" and continue with the list already in the language.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND suggested commas instead of "and" later
in the sentence, but then said she did not have a problem with
the way it was.
8:13:54 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE suggested leaving the punctuation up to
Legislative Legal and Research Services.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND said, "Let's do that."
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced there being no further objection,
Amendment 4 was adopted.
8:14:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to adopt Amendment 5 to HB 298,
labeled 32-LS1398\A.6, Ambrose, 3/23/22, which read as follows:
Page 5, following line 13:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of
Alaska enacted in sec. 2(c) of this Act is amended to
read:
(c) The following commissioners, or their
designees, serve as members of the task force:
(1) the commissioner of natural resources;
(2) the commissioner of fish and game;
(3) the commissioner of health [AND SOCIAL
SERVICES];
(4) the commissioner of commerce,
community, and economic development; and
(5) the commissioner of education and early
development."
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 5, line 18:
Delete "Sections 1 and 2"
Insert "Sections 1 - 3"
Page 5, following line 18:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 6. Section 3 of this Act takes effect July
1, 2022."
Renumber the following bill section accordingly.
Page 5, line 19:
Delete "This"
Insert "Except as provided in sec. 6 of this Act,
this"
8:14:21 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE objected for the purpose of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND spoke to Amendment 5. She noted that
the current Department of Health and Social Services was being
split into the Department of Health and the Department of Social
Services, and Amendment 5 would ensure the commissioner from the
Department of Health would be on the taskforce.
8:15:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LIZ SNYDER, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 298, confirmed that Amendment 5 was following the
advice of Legislative Legal Services.
8:16:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX assumed that it could be anyone from the
department, not specifically the commissioner.
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER confirmed it could be the commissioner or
the commissioner's designee.
8:17:00 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN noted that there was reference made to the
commissioner on page 2, line 16, and she queried whether "and
Social Services" should be deleted from there, as well.
8:17:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked about the timing of the bill's
effective date along with the timing of the split of the
departments.
8:19:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER noted the bill had been written as advised
by Legislative Legal Services in light of the executive order
(EO) that split the department into two departments.
8:19:19 AM
ARIELLE WIGGIN, Staff, Representative Liz Snyder, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Snyder, prime sponsor
of HB 298, confirmed that the language was recommended by
Legislative Legal Services to ensure the commissioner of the new
Department of Health would be specified in the bill.
8:19:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY suggested that in addition to the change
suggested by Representative Hannan on page 2, line 16, the
committee could set an effective date of July 1, 2022.
8:20:35 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE observed that the topic on page 2, line 16, is
not actually an issue, because "that will essentially be
replaced by this new Section 3, which becomes effective July 1,
2022." He asked, "Is it ... a delayed effective date of this
new Section 3, which would override the original section, and
that's why we're not deleting it from the bill?"
8:21:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER responded yes, and she explained the idea
is to allow for a transition period.
8:21:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY questioned the need for expediency when
there is "this council and the EO that is looking at the food."
He suggested making the legislation correspond with the new
Department of Health by making the effective date July 1, 2022.
8:23:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER explained the idea is for the new task
force to pick up where the governor's task force leaves off in
the fall. Notwithstanding that, she said the formation of a
task force takes time, and "time is of the essence."
8:24:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE concurred with the idea of getting a start
now to get a task force in place when needed.
8:24:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY agreed that the government process is
slow but reiterated his thoughts about the effective date and
how it could "eliminate that confusion." He concluded, "But, if
there's other ways to solve this, great."
8:26:00 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE withdrew his objection to the motion to adopt
Amendment 5. There being no further objection, Amendment 5 was
adopted.
8:27:55 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:27 a.m. to 8:28 a.m.
8:28:36 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN moved to report HB 298, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 298(CRA) was
reported out of the House Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee.
8:29:02 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:29 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
^PRESENTATION: Department of Corrections
PRESENTATION: Department of Corrections
8:30:53 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that the final order of business
would be a presentation on the Department of Corrections.
8:31:17 AM
LAURA BROOKS, Director, Division of Health and Rehab Services,
Department of Corrections, gave a presentation titled
"Department of Corrections." She picked up the presentation on
slide 20, which gave a broad overview of Alaska's sex offender
treatment program locations and associated statistics.
8:33:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked if current harm reduction programs
were functioning properly.
MS. BROOKS explained that a number of programs intended to help
people were suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
which are now starting back up. She explained that there were
currently five facilities, all of which were looking to be
expanded by the state.
8:35:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked if the programs spoken about were
voluntary or not.
MS. BROOKS answered that the programs were mostly court-ordered
programs administered by authorized individuals.
8:37:09 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked what the capacity of the Department of
Corrections (DOC) facilities capacities were.
MS. BROOKS said that she would follow-up with more information
later.
8:40:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY commented that he was familiar with the
programs being spoken about and its differences from average
anger management classes. He asked how inter-facility and
program transfers affect the efficacy of the DOC programs.
MS. BROOKS confirmed the difference between the programs being
spoken about and existing anger management programs and said
that treatment goals are never abandoned, regardless of a
person's transition status.
8:41:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked about the criminogenic needs of the
DOC.
MS. BROOKS explained that there are 8 criminogenic needs and the
DOC must try to build an entire case plan around those needs.
She emphasized the necessity of getting a risk assessment done
at the beginning of a patient's journey and repeating them as
time went on.
8:43:57 AM
MS. BROOKS resumed the presentation on slide 21, which listed
DOC facilities that offered domestic violence programs and moved
to slide 22, which detailed the various education programs
offered in DOC facilities. She continued to slide 23, which
gave an overview of the various primary employment training
opportunities offered in DOC facilities.
8:49:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY encouraged trade certification training
in DOC facilities and questioned barista training.
MS. BROOKS clarified that barista training referred to coffee
baristas and said that there were not currently any firefighting
training programs being offered in DOC facilities.
8:50:42 AM
KELLY GOODE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections,
answered committee questions on the presentation titled
"Department of Corrections." She explained that firefighter
training has a few regulatory and logistical hurdles that it
would have to overcome in order to be offered as a program.
8:51:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX shared his observation that individuals sent
from the Fairbanks Correctional Center were experiencing more
success than folks who went to the Job Service for a restaurant
business referral.
8:52:52 AM
MS. BROOKS resumed the presentation on slide 24, which detailed
reentry services currently being offered by the DOC.
8:58:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked about the reentry programs
mentioned in slide 24.
MS. BROOKS detailed reentry statistics and data collected by the
DOC.
9:01:37 AM
MS. GOODE picked up the presentation on slide 26, which
displayed two pie charts that gave a demographic overview of the
DOC prison population.
9:07:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND offered her perspective as a member of
House Judiciary Standing Committee.
9:10:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX added his own perspective as an individual
with experience in working with DOC inmates and ex-convicts.
9:11:10 AM
MS. BROOKS added that she would like to see improved laws
surrounding DOC demographics.
9:12:13 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN commented that creating laws without the
finances to do so would make the impossible to enforce.
9:15:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND added her understanding that public
defenders are "hugely overworked" and going elsewhere beside
Alaska in seeking better salaries and benefits.
9:16:31 AM
MS. GOODE resumed the presentation on slide 27, which displayed
two pie charts that detailed gender demographics within DOC
facilities and moved to slide 28, which displayed the same graph
that instead compared the race of individuals within DOC
facilities. She moved to slide 29, which displayed a bar graph
that compared the different types of sentences that inmates in
DOC facilities were serving time for.
9:17:48 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked what the "motor vehicle" category of
offense referred to.
9:18:15 AM
MIKE MATTHEWS, Research Analyst, Division of Administrative
Services, Department of Corrections, answered committee
questions on the presentation titled "Department of
Corrections." He answered that failure to stop was the most
common qualification for a "motor vehicle" incarceration.
9:20:23 AM
MS. GOODE resumed the presentation on slide 30, which displayed
a bar graph that compared various unsentenced offence
populations within the DOC system and moved to slide 31, which
displayed two pie charts that detailed sentenced population by
their offense class. She continued to slide 32, which displayed
the same two pie charts that compared offender's crime type.
9:27:37 AM
BRANN WADE, Chief Classification Officer, Division of
Institutions, Department of Corrections, gave a presentation
titled "Department of Corrections." He picked up the
presentation on slide 34, which detailed the placement process
and eligibility criteria of a DOC offender and moved to slide
35, which provided in greater detail the same information as the
previous slide.
9:31:50 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE asked for more information regarding what
Probationer Accountability with Certain Enforcement (PACE)
referred to.
MR. WADE answered that he was not an expert on PACE and referred
to information on slide 34.
9:33:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX said that he was unsure as to how electronic
monitoring worked and asked for more detail as to how it was
implemented.
9:34:05 AM
MR. WADE responded that there are staff who monitor electronic
monitoring, and they function within areas called "inclusion
zones," which specify where a person under surveillance is
allowed to be.
9:36:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked how individuals who needed medical
attention and covered by Medicaid were addressed by the DOC.
9:36:51 AM
MS. BROOKS responded that many individuals who were incarcerated
by DOC or staying in a halfway house did not want to partake in
their own medical care.
9:38:33 AM
MR. WADE resumed the presentation on slide 35, which detailed
the various community programs that the DOC offers to
individuals in its custody and moved to slide 36, which further
detailed the same community programs offered by DOC to its
individuals in custody. He continued the presentation on slide
37, which explained the complex eligibility criteria for placing
individuals in different DOC facilities.
9:43:45 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked about probation within the DOC.
MR. WADE explained that a person is subject to probation laws,
regardless of the type of custody status they are in as long as
they are serving probation. He explained how a furlough would
interact with a person's probation sentence and further detailed
the probation system.
9:46:50 AM
MS. GOODE asked if there were any sex offenders living in DOC
halfway homes.
MR. WADE assured the committee that there were no sex offenders
living in DOC halfway homes.
9:47:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked why there were no Community
Residential Centers (CRC)s in Anchorage.
MR. WADE replied that the lack of halfway homes in Anchorage was
due to a local ordinance passed in 1995 and said that he was
unfamiliar with the specific history of the issue.
9:48:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked for clarification on the location
of certain CRCs in Alaska.
MR. WADE confirmed Representative McCarty's understanding was
correct.
9:50:58 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked how many CRC beds and facilities were in
Anchorage.
MR. WADE answered that there were 13 facilities with 285 beds
offered by the DOC.
9:51:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked how many total beds in CRCs
existed in Alaska.
MR. WADE replied that there were 519 beds in halfway homes
statewide.
9:52:42 AM
MR. WADE resumed the presentation on slide 38, which detailed
electronic monitoring programs offered by the DOC and concluded
the presentation on slide 39, which displayed a list of acronyms
used throughout the presentation.
9:54:31 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE asked what "good time" earned meant.
MR. WADE answered that he would follow-up later.
10:01:15 AM
MS. GOODE thanked the committee members for their time and
welcomed the chance for one-on-one addressing of questions from
committee members later.
10:02:12 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE thanked the presenters and delivered committee
announcements.
10:02:37 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 10:02 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| C&RA DOC Presentation 3.22.22 Final.pdf |
HCRA 3/24/2022 8:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 298 Amendment packet.pdf |
HCRA 3/24/2022 8:00:00 AM |
HB 298 |
| HB 298 Amendment Packet Completed.pdf |
HCRA 3/24/2022 8:00:00 AM |
HB 298 |