Legislature(2019 - 2020)ADAMS ROOM 519
05/01/2019 05:00 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB49 | |
| Public Tesimony | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 49 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 1, 2019
5:00 p.m.
5:00:13 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Wilson called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 5:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Tammie Wilson, Co-Chair
Representative Jennifer Johnston, Vice-Chair
Representative Dan Ortiz, Vice-Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Gary Knopp
Representative Bart LeBon
Representative Kelly Merrick
Representative Colleen Sullivan-Leonard
Representative Cathy Tilton
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Triada Stampas, Policy Director, ACLU-Alaska; Don Habeger,
Community Coordinator Juneau Reentry Coalition, Juneau.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Will Madison, Self, Soldotna; Jane Madison, Self, Soldotna;
Sid Atwood, Self, Anchorage; Katie Botz, Self,
Juneau/Minnesota; Kara Nelson, Self, Juneau; Lars
Gleitsmann, Self, Anchorage; Tom McGrath, Self, Anchorage;
Kerry Phillips, Fairbanks Reentry Coalition, Fairbanks;
Maxine Doogan, Community United for Safety and Protection,
Fairbanks; Corin Cooper, Self, Nikiski; Kathleen
McLaughlin, Director, Partner Reentry Center, Anchorage;
Bert Houghtaling, Self, Big Lake; Leann McCaughey, Self,
Nikiski; Mary Hilcoske, Self, Anchorage; Mike Lightner,
Self, Anchorage; Debbie White, Self, Juneau; Rhadella
Divelbiss, Self, Big Lake; Mike Coons, Self, Palmer;
Henrietta Minium, Self, Nikiski; Janet McCabe, Partners For
Progress, Anchorage; Kathy Swanson, Self, Juneau; Evelyn
Goughnour, Self, Wasilla; Phil Shanahan, Self, Anchorage;
Ida Nelson, Self, Igiugig; Willie Keppel, Self, Quinhagak;
Patti Williams, Self, Nikiski; Elizabeth Holt, Self,
Palmer; Gail Limbaugh-Moore, Self, Soldotna; Joseph Ross,
Self, Nikiski; Sarahann Jackson, Self, Juneau; Rose
Hubbard, Self, Anchorage; Debra Holland, Self, Anchorage;
Chris Hayes, Self, Kenai; Betty Best, Self, Nikiski; Larry
Best, Self, Nikiski; Gary McDonald, Self, Anchorage; John
Lamborn, Self, Wasilla; Caroline Lamborn, Self, Wasilla;
Robert Wall, Self, Sterling.
SUMMARY
HB 49 CRIMES; SENTENCING;MENT. ILLNESS;EVIDENCE
HB 49 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Wilson reviewed the agenda for the meeting.
HOUSE BILL NO. 49
"An Act relating to criminal law and procedure;
relating to controlled substances; relating to
probation; relating to sentencing; relating to reports
of involuntary commitment; amending Rule 6, Alaska
Rules of Criminal Procedure; and providing for an
effective date."
5:00:22 PM
^PUBLIC TESIMONY
5:00:26 PM
WILL MADISON, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
supported increasing the penalty for a revoked driver's
license from a (Driving Under the Influence) DUI offense to
a misdemeanor with no holds and no bail. He maintained
that individuals caught driving with a suspended or revoked
driver's license only received a citation. He believed that
most people driving with a revoked license were typical
career criminals who ignored orders to appear in court. He
opined that criminals likely had stolen goods and drugs in
their car and the police were unable to search the car
under current law. He reiterated his support for making
driving with a revoked license and arrestable offense and
to grant the police the tools necessary to clean up the
habitual criminals.
5:03:19 PM
JANE MADISON, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
supported the legislation. She requested that the committee
work on a speeding fine issue and bail issues. She reported
that there was a stretch of road where people chose to
speed on the Seward Highway between Girdwood and Anchorage.
She shared that a driver was caught speeding 135 miles per
hour; 75 miles per hour over the limit and received a $3.6
thousand dollar fine. She deduced that the penalty for the
same offense under state law would have been $3 hundred
plus a $20 surcharge because that was the maximum state
speeding charge. She did not believe the state should
limit fines for speeding and thought that it would increase
state revenues. She asked the committee to consider how the
Municipality of Anchorage set its fines. She advocated for
the state to retain the bail money paid for offenders who
did not appear for their court dates. She asked the
committee to raise the deposit amount for third-party
custodians. She indicated that third-party custodians paid
an offender's bail and watched the person until the
offender returned for their court appearance. She believed
that it was nearly impossible to watch an accused person 24
hours per day and the custodian often allowed the person
to leave supervised custody. She opined that under a charge
called violation of a third-party custodial agreement the
custodian could be charged with a misdemeanor. She felt
that the third-party custodian bail rate should be very
large, and she asked the legislature to require forfeiture
of the deposit if the offender failed to appear in court.
She supported larger bail amounts for misdemeanors and
felonies and reiterated her plea for bail forfeiture for
individuals who fail to appear in court.
5:08:11 PM
SID ATWOOD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), shared
that he was a member of the Alaska Advisory Board on Drug
and Alcohol Abuse. He believed that HB 49 was a better bill
than the previous version. However, he did not support
eliminating both credit for time served and participation
in rehabilitative services that acted as incentives for
change. He maintained that change gave the offender a
chance to reenter society. He believed that penalty or
punishment was not correction for some crimes and that
prison beds should be prioritized for individuals convicted
of serious crimes. He was thankful for support groups he
had been involved in over the years that help others. He
stated that treatment and support and not punishment had
turned his life around 42 years ago.
5:10:24 PM
KATIE BOTZ, SELF, JUNEAU/MINNESOTA (via teleconference),
had two questions for members to consider. She asked the
members to consider a person's value and if the value was
less valuable than money. She believed that legislators
played with peoples lives especially when debating what
to spend and what to cut. She maintained that Alaska was
dangerous, and no one could deny it had not been impacted
by crime. She urged the legislature to set money aside for
public safety and impose stiffer penalties to keep
offenders off the street. She was a survivor of sexual
abuse. She stressed that offenders needed to be held more
accountable. She shared that she had been adopted at the
age of six months and spoke against killing babies. She
implored the legislature to keep criminals in jail until
they had proven they could participate in society.
5:13:13 PM
KARA NELSON, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the bill, though she felt she made a significant
personal compromise to do so. She did not support
increasing sentencing ranges, but she understood that some
solutions were necessary. She believed that continual
community resources were needed including recovery homes,
treatment centers, and other community support. She related
that long incarceration periods created more chaos and
ripped our communities apart. She believed a solution was
necessary. She viewed the bill as a compromise. She asked
the legislature to make smart decisions. She opined that
there were a myriad of devastating things happening
statewide. She reiterated that longer sentencing harmed
communities and harmed communities and individuals. She
understood accountability was necessary and could be
applied smartly. She stated that punitive justice had not
made citizens feel safer. She wanted to continue moving in
the direction of strategic reforms. The problem would not
be solved by longer sentences.
5:16:37 PM
LARS GLEITSMANN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
shared that he lived in Alaska since 1996. He was opposed
to the prior legislation, SB 91 Omnibus Crim Law &
Procedure; Corrections [CHAPTER 36 SLA 16 - 07/11/2016]. He
offered that SB 91 eroded the idea of punitive justice and
implementation created more crime. He stated that criminals
were laughing at the police and victims. He stated there
had been no positive change - things were only worsening.
He supported a jail system that put people in jail for
crimes and a full repeal of SB 91. He supported the
governor's version of the bill over the House Judiciary
Committee version. He stressed the high increase in crime.
Many property crimes were not reported because people felt
reporting would do no good. He shared that everyone he knew
had been a victim of a crime. He wondered what happened to
the representation of the victim. He hoped for a full
repeal of SB 91.
5:20:10 PM
TOM MCGRATH, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), was
concerned that third degree property offenses would still
go without a serious penalty. He believed that there was no
consequence for a person who had stolen less than $250. He
characterized it as a revolving door. He shared a story
about a recent situation involving criminals with virtually
no consequence for stealing items under $250. He thought SB
91 should be repealed. He understood that some parts of SB
91 needed to remain, but he thought those components should
be included in another bill due to its negative
connotations. He characterized the current system as catch
and release.
5:22:06 PM
KERRY PHILLIPS, FAIRBANKS REENTRY COALITION, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), spoke against the bill. She shared that
she was proof that treatment over incarceration worked. She
shared her personal story with prescription drug addiction
and conviction for prescription fraud. She had been given
treatment and had checked in with a district attorney daily
for one year. She currently worked as a forensic peer
support specialist to help other inmates reintegrate
successfully into the community. She believed that drug
possession offenses should be dealt with on a case by case
basis and offenders should be offered other choices like
therapeutic court and treatment rather than incarceration.
She noted that some believed that addicts should be left in
jail and receive treatment there, but treatment was sparse,
and inmates could still obtain drugs while incarcerated.
She shared that she received a degree in criminal justice.
She furthered that she had successfully completed her
felony probation requirement and favored incentives for
good behavior. She indicated that since the inception of
the reentry coalition the recidivism rate was reduced to 20
percent. She was living proof that treatment over
incarceration worked.
5:24:38 PM
MAXINE DOOGAN, COMMUNITY UNITED FOR SAFETY AND PROTECTION,
FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), opposed the bill. She
associated with the comments made by Kara Nelson. She
opposed higher fines and fees and criminalization for drug
possession. She related that the federal government had
seized the California prison system because California
could not provide services for the incarcerated population.
She did not want to spend more on prisons than education
like the state of California had done.
5:25:28 PM
CORIN COOPER, SELF, NIKISKI (via teleconference), did not
support HB 49. He supported the other crime bills by the
governor.
5:25:52 PM
KATHLEEN MCLAUGHLIN, DIRECTOR, PARTNER REENTRY CENTER,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), addressed the key to
successful reentry into society. She detailed that the
center had served 7,500 reentrants since its inception. She
had learned that pre-release planning was the key to
successful reentry into society. She relayed Department of
Corrections (DOC) statistics that since 2016 recidivism
rates had declined from 67 percent to 61 percent. The goal
was to prepare inmates for a purposeful and normal life.
She indicated that the reentry partners regularly visited
the prison intuitions in the Anchorage area. She reported
that HB 49 assured that DOC and the community based reentry
advisors would stay accountable through an offender
management plan. She had learned that Alaska was at the
forefront in the area of reentry.
5:28:03 PM
AT EASE
5:29:39 PM
RECONVENED
TRIADA STAMPAS, POLICY DIRECTOR, ACLU-ALASKA, spoke in
support of the bill over the governor's version. She
pointed to provisions that the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU) specifically supported like mandating the
timely processing of sexual assault kits; the coordination
that was mandated between DOC and reentry providers in
drafting offender management plans; reinstatement of
revoked drivers license within 10 years of a clean record;
and enhanced reporting by the criminal justice system.
However, some provisions in the bill raised concerns and
were contrary to the principles and evidence upon which the
2016 justice reform was based on. She listed the
unfavorable provisions. She indicated that HB 49 increased
sentencing ranges for a range of crimes and was
antithetical to reform principles that established longer
sentences contributed to recidivism. The proposed
elimination of inflation indexing for property crimes would
result in longer lengths of incarceration. The third
conviction for drug possession for Schedule 1A and 2A
crimes increasing to a felony offense was troubling and
meant that individuals with substance use disorders would
end up with a felony penalty and a criminal record. She
believed that the state had a range of alternatives that
were more effective solutions. She heard earlier in the
hearing that the problems were complex, and she asked the
committee to choose a range of alternatives rather than
methods that were proven ineffective.
5:34:25 PM
Representative Sullivan-Leonard asked what the evidential
data she had referred to was. Ms. Stampas replied that the
United States (US) Department of Justice had performed
extensive analysis of academic research regarding what
deterred crime. She related that the research found that
the length of a sentence was less of a deterrent than the
certainty that an offender would be caught. Increasing the
perception that a criminal would get caught acted as an
effective deterrent.
Representative Knopp asked whether a correlation existed
between too short a period of incarceration and recidivism.
Ms. Stampas answered that she was unaware of any evidence
that supported the premise.
5:35:07 PM
DON HABEGER, COMMUNITY COORDINATOR, JUNEAU REENTRY
COALITION, JUNEAU, explained the mission of the reentry
coalition. He voiced that the mission was to promote
community safety through identifying and implementing
strategies that increased reentrants success after release
from incarceration. The coalition recognized that smart
justice was a balance of accountability and appropriate
sanctions and needed to include services and treatment
options to assist in successfully returning the offender to
the community and ensuring public safety. He believed that
HB 49 struck an appropriate balance between enforcement and
a pathway for recovery and success in returning offenders
to the community.
5:36:53 PM
AT EASE
5:48:08 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Wilson noted there had been phone connection
difficulties.
5:48:32 PM
BERT HOUGHTALING, SELF, BIG LAKE (via teleconference), did
not support the current version of the bill. He believed
that another bill, HB 145 - Property Crime; Motor Vehicle
Theft Tools, was inserted into HB 49. He asked the
committee to pass the governor's original version of HB 49
along with his other crime bills. He opined that inserting
the provisions of HB 145 into HB 49 was disingenuous.
5:50:27 PM
LEANN MCCAUGHEY, SELF, NIKISKI (via teleconference), spoke
against HB 49 and asked the legislature to support the
governor's legislation and restore the rule of law. She
agreed with the governors top priority to ensure public
safety.
5:51:22 PM
MARY HILCOSKE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), shared
that she was Vice-Chair of the board of the voluntary
organization, Partners for Progress. She related that the
organizations purpose was to fight crime. She supported
the House Judiciary version of HB 49.
5:52:04 PM
MIKE LIGHTNER, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), did
not support HB 49. He reported that since the passage of SB
91, crime had increased in his neighborhood. He considered
the bill a failure. He requested that the legislature lead
the state into a new direction and pass the governors
suite of crime legislation.
5:52:56 PM
AT EASE
6:00:19 PM
RECONVENED
DEBBIE WHITE, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), understood
and respected the value of reentry programs, but believed
that the core function of government was the protection of
its citizens. She believed SB 91 had tied the hands of the
public safety system. She felt that public safety was left
up to the citizenry, which possessed many firearms. She was
shocked that the governor's four bills had been
"mutilated." She asked the committee to reject the current
version of the bill.
6:02:13 PM
RHADELLA DIVELBISS, SELF, BIG LAKE (via teleconference),
supported the governor's bill. She wanted SB 91 to be
repealed. She stated that everyone had to pay for what they
chose to do - there were consequences to actions. She did
not support the current version of the bill.
Co-Chair Wilson asked individuals to call back if there was
a problem.
6:03:25 PM
MIKE COONS, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), did not
support the House Judiciary Committee version of the bill.
He supported the governor's bill. He thought the current
version of the bill was disgusting. He stressed that the
governor's bills needed to be passed. He related that the
governor had stated he would veto the bill. He would prefer
another year of SB 91 compared to the current bill. He
thought that the legislature was putting Alaskans in harm's
way. He stressed that people were in jail because they
committed a crime. He did not support going easy on repeat
offenders. He asked the committee to pass the governor's
bills.
6:07:12 PM
HENRIETTA MINIUM, SELF, NIKISKI (via teleconference), was a
victim of property crime on the Peninsula. She urged the
committee not to pass the current version of the bill and
pass the governor's crime bills.
6:08:12 PM
JANET MCCABE, PARTNERS FOR PROGRESS, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), supported the current version of HB 49.
She indicated that her organization supported therapeutic
courts and reentry entities. She believed that the bill was
a more balanced approach and was the result of careful work
on SB 91. The bill improved the weak parts. She believed HB
49 did a better job addressing the most dangerous drugs.
The bill strengthened the electronic monitoring (EM)
program and addressed real threats of violence. She
reported that reentry work solved problems, reduced the
cost of incarceration and protected the public. She
believed the bill was smart on crime and not merely tough
on crime. She implored the committee to pass the bill.
6:10:21 PM
KATHY SWANSON, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), urged the
committee to vote against the bill and pass the governor's
crime bills. She would be happy to see a complete repeal of
SB 91 and then replace some of its elements in another
bill. She wondered where the reentry program was in Juneau.
She was in favor of Haven House and had financially
supported it. She supported reentry programs that
rehabilitated prisoners and thought the bill discarded the
reentry programs. She was fine with people in jail earning
their way into treatment or rehabilitation. She noted that
the programs were not readily available and had up to one
year's wait time. She was tired of getting "flipped the
bird" by the guy who had burglarized her house. She
stressed that there were many stolen firearms in Alaska.
She related that there was a man at the playground that day
with a knife. She underscored that the individual needed
mental health help. She emphasized that the bill did not
represent compassion yet also let criminals and drug
addicts go without treatment or rehabilitation. She stated
it was a matter of time before a tragedy happened.
6:13:50 PM
EVELYN GOUGHNOUR, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), spoke
in support of a repeal of SB 91. She shared that neighbors
had been burglarized, gas was siphoned out of cars, and
mailboxes were rifled. The residents knew who the culprits
were, but nothing had been done. She shared that she grew
up in Alaska and had never seen the crime as bad as it was
at present. She was upset by the number of criminals and
amount of crime. She urged the committee to reject HB 49
because it was inadequate. She wanted a bill that worked
and asked the legislature to quit tying the hands of the
police.
6:16:48 PM
PHIL SHANAHAN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill. He voiced that antidotal
evidence was not real evidence. He believed that the
Criminal Justice Commission had put a lot of thought,
analysis, and research in criminal justice reform. The
reforms were beginning to work, and he advised that
patience was necessary. He pointed out that rolling back
reforms would cost the state millions of dollars. He stated
that crime had not begun because of SB 91 and the bill did
not intend for an end to incarceration. He stressed that
treatment was the answer to the problem. He observed that
SB 91 did not create the problem people were seeing in
their communities and the statistics did not support that
crime was skyrocketing. He noted that the old way of doing
things did not work and crime was a problem prior to
passage of SB 91. The cost of incarceration was out of
control and the recidivism rate was very high. He did not
support sending individuals to prisons out of state. He was
supportive of fixing the problems with SB 91 but did not
favor scaping justice reform. He thought the current bill
was a measured and evidence-based approach even though he
did not endorse all provisions in the bill.
6:19:50 PM
IDA NELSON, SELF, IGIUGIG (via teleconference), spoke
against HB 49 and believed it caused more harm than good.
She had counted 19 amendments in the bill and thought it
was a band aid approach that would get ripped off in the
future. She believed that the many changes were
unnecessary and were only in place to create an appearance
of public safety. Many improvements were needed in the bill
along with awareness of the consequences. She suggested
breaking the bill down into smaller bills. She reiterated
her disapproval of the bill and thanked the committee.
6:21:32 PM
WILLIE KEPPEL, SELF, QUINHAGAK (via teleconference), spoke
against HB 49. He reported that people were sleeping with
loaded guns as protection against perpetrators. Thieves
were stealing snow machines and four wheelers with
impunity, and the culprits were well known. He emphasized
that the use of snow machines to maintain a subsistence
lifestyle was a necessity. He spoke of the revolving door
of thieves back out on the street after one night in jail.
He supported the governor's four proposed crime bills. He
noted the recurrence of a heroin epidemic and believed
nothing will cure it. He favored locking up all criminals
and drug users.
6:23:17 PM
PATTI WILLIAMS, SELF, NIKISKI (via teleconference), spoke
against HB 49 and urged support for the governor's four
crime bills.
6:23:35 PM
ELIZABETH HOLT, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), spoke
against HB 49 that was essentially HB 145. She
characterized the bill as a watered down version of SB
91. She urged support for the governor's crime bills. She
believed that the provisions in HB 145 was similar to SB
91. She suggested that passing the bill would complicate
matters and urged support of the governors crime bills.
6:25:10 PM
GAIL LIMBAUGH-MOORE, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
did not support the bill. She supported the governor's
bills. She was tired of crime in the state. She worried
about her elderly parents when she had to take them to
Anchorage for medical care. She did not know how patient
the legislature wanted the public to be when waiting for
the elements of SB 91 to work. She stressed that Alaska did
not seem safe. She was traveling to Anchorage the following
week and she asked someone to accompany her because she was
fearful of homeless individuals. She characterized criminal
justice reform as a hug-a-thug solution that was not
working. She wanted to see SB 91 repealed.
6:27:32 PM
JOSEPH ROSS, SELF, NIKISKI (via teleconference), stated
that the property crime had gotten out of hand. He detailed
that the same perpetrators were repeating the crimes over
and over and nothing happened to them. He did not support
HB 49. He supported all four of the governor's bills. He
did not care about costs or if the state had to build one
to three more prisons. He did not care if individuals had
to be sent out of state. He urged passage of the governors
crime package.
6:28:57 PM
SARAHANN JACKSON, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), stated
that SB 91 had not been one simple bill, but was a
conglomeration of ideas taken from other states. She
continued that SB 54 had not fixed the problems with SB 91.
She underscored that her home had been violated twice. She
had installed surveillance cameras. She wanted to know why
the state was not paying for the cameras because crime was
making residents the prey. She spoke of the revolving door
that kept releasing the criminals back onto the streets.
She shared various stories about crime at her house and of
individuals that had broken into her car. She noted that
one of the individuals was still free. She questioned where
her justice was. She thought it was crazy that SB 91 was
passed by the legislators and citizens had to tolerate the
consequences. She was strongly opposed to the bill. She
stressed that citizens had been hurt by SB 91. She read
information listing the programs offered at Lemon Creek
Correctional Center and was appalled. She spoke against
prison programs.
6:33:48 PM
ROSE HUBBARD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
against the bill. She did not feel the crime bill
discussion was balanced. She stressed that crime was a
touchy subject that affected everyone. She was a reformed
drug addict and was a positive influence in working towards
helping create a productive community. She did not believe
in short-term sentences for habitual offenders, drug
traffickers, sexual abuse perpetrators, or sex traffickers
should get a break. However, she had compassion for those
that rehabilitate and recover. She participated in
treatment when she was ready, which she believed was the
only way recovery worked. She thought that treatment should
be provided in jail. She believed that habitual offenders
should be locked away for longer periods of time. She did
not think the state should throw away the key when they
incarcerated a young person with no prior offenses. She did
not believe the bill fixed the problem, but she thought a
real solution involved all parties dedicated to a solution.
6:37:48 PM
DEBRA HOLLAND, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the governor's crimes bills. She
did not support HB 49 and thought it was a diluted version
of SB 91. She stressed that crime needed to be stopped.
6:38:34 PM
CHRIS HAYES, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke
against HB 49. He was supportive of a full repeal of SB 91.
He had never seen crime any worse than it had been - he
referenced "opioid zombies" that were disturbing the peace
and committing crimes in his community. He believed that
all the crime was due to financing drug addiction. He went
to the Kenai Police Department once a month or more to
report crimes. He noted that the police had a quick
response time. He relayed that the officers wanted people
to call to report offenses, but the officers felt that the
problem was the catch and release system created under SB
91.
6:40:59 PM
BETTY BEST, SELF, NIKISKI (via teleconference), spoke
against HB 49 and supported a repeal of SB 91. She thought
it was time for punishment to fit the crime.
6:41:42 PM
LARRY BEST, SELF, NIKISKI (via teleconference), was in
favor of the governor's crime bills. He opposed SB 91,
which he believed had been non-effective.
6:42:28 PM
GARY MCDONALD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
emphasized the high crime rate in the state. He thought
1,000 prisoners needed to be sent to Arizona to save money.
He did not support offering any programs in jail. He
stressed that people were very upset. He could not believe
the amount of crime. He did not support HB 49. He supported
the governor's four crime bills.
6:43:47 PM
JOHN LAMBORN, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), felt that
SB 91 should have been repealed already. He supported the
governor's bills. He voiced that the legislature had not
done anything the governor had proposed. He supported the
governors agenda.
6:44:41 PM
CAROLINE LAMBORN, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), was
opposed to HB 49. She supported the governor's bills. She
spoke about the high crime rate in her district and listed
her experiences with criminal activity. She noted that
officers had to let criminals go due to SB 91. She
highlighted that offenders who had been caught had pages of
prior offenses - she did not know why they were not going
to jail. She was tired of being scared. She implored the
legislature to do something about crime. She supported the
governor's agenda.
6:46:08 PM
ROBERT WALL, SELF, STERLING (via teleconference), did not
support HB 49. He thought that the legislature needed to go
back to the governor's original bill.
Co-Chair Wilson noted that individuals could send testimony
in. She CLOSED public testimony.
HB 49 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
6:48:40 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 49 Public Testimony pkt.pdf |
HFIN 5/1/2019 5:00:00 PM |
HB 49 |