02/13/2026 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB239 | |
| HB64 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 213 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 239 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
February 13, 2026
1:00 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Andrew Gray, Chair
Representative Chuck Kopp, Vice Chair
Representative Ted Eischeid
Representative Genevieve Mina
Representative Mia Costello
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative Jubilee Underwood
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 239
"An Act relating to criminally negligent homicide; relating to
the duty of an operator immediately after an accident; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 64
"An Act relating to the surrender of infants; and providing for
an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 213
"An Act relating to data sharing by the Department of
Administration for driver's license data verification purposes;
and providing for an effective date."
- HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 239
SHORT TITLE: CRIM. NEG. HOMICIDE; FAILURE TO ASSIST
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KOPP
01/20/26 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/26
01/20/26 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/20/26 (H) JUD, FIN
02/13/26 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 64
SHORT TITLE: SURRENDER OF INFANTS; INF. SAFETY DEVICE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TOMASZEWSKI
01/24/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/25 (H) HSS, JUD
03/13/25 (H) HSS AT 3:15 PM DAVIS 106
03/13/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/25 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
04/29/25 (H) HSS AT 3:15 PM DAVIS 106
04/29/25 (H) Heard & Held
04/29/25 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
05/01/25 (H) HSS AT 3:15 PM DAVIS 106
05/01/25 (H) Moved HB 64 Out of Committee
05/01/25 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
05/02/25 (H) HSS RPT 2DP 2NR 1AM
05/02/25 (H) DP: PRAX, SCHWANKE
05/02/25 (H) NR: MEARS, MINA
05/02/25 (H) AM: GRAY
05/14/25 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
05/14/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
05/15/25 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
05/15/25 (H) Heard & Held
05/15/25 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
02/13/26 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK KOPP
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 239.
GARY ZEPP, Staff
Representative Chuck Kopp
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a PowerPoint presentation on HB 239 on
behalf of Representative Kopp, prime sponsor.
NANCY MEADE, General Counsel
Alaska Court System
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
239.
KACI SCHROEDER, Senior Attorney General
Criminal Division
Department of Law
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
239.
KELLY TRENT, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 239.
SEAN CASE, Chief
Anchorage Police Department
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 239.
ZAK HARTMAN, Traffic Signals Manager
Traffic Engineering Department
Municipality of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
239.
SCOTT BARTLETT, Captain
Division of Alaska State Troopers
Department of Public Safety
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
239.
DAVID GOFF, Staff
Representative Frank Tomaszewski
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave an overview of HB 64 on behalf of
Representative Tomaszewski, prime sponsor.
PAMELA SAMASH, President
Right to Life
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 64.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:00:50 PM
CHAIR GRAY called the House Judiciary Standing Committee meeting
to order at 1:00 p.m. Representatives Kopp, Eischeid, Mina,
Costello, and Gray were present at the call to order.
HB 239-CRIM. NEG. HOMICIDE; FAILURE TO ASSIST
1:01:53 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 239, "An Act relating to criminally negligent
homicide; relating to the duty of an operator immediately after
an accident; and providing for an effective date."
1:02:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK KOPP, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 239. He paraphrased the sponsor statement
[included in the committee file], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
The passage of HB 239 will create a Aggravated
Criminally Negligent Homicide and Failure-to-Render-
Aid offense, classified as a Class A Felony.
Alaskans expect that when a driver's criminal
negligence takes a lifeand the driver flees instead
of helping the law responds with accountability that
matches the harm. Recent cases show that it isn't
always happening.
In 2021, 26-year-old Chase (Miller) Bowerson was
killed along the Glenn Highway. The defendant pled
guilty to criminally negligent homicide and leaving
the scene, receiving 2½ years to serve Ultimately,
the defendant actually served eight months because of
"Good Time" and was eligible for parole after serving
1/3 of the sentence, a sentence that, while within
today's presumptive ranges, does not reflect the
gravity of causing a death and abandoning the victim.
This bill closes that gap. It creates Aggravated
Criminally Negligent Homicide when a death caused by
criminal negligence with a motor vehicle is
accompanied by failure to render aid, elevates the
offense from a Class B felony to a Class A felony,
sets a 711 year presumptive range for first
offenders, and requires some consecutive time when
both the death and the failure-to-aid are convicted in
the same incident. These changes keep Alaska within
constitutional sentencing principles while aligning
penalties with community expectations and deterrence
goals.
Why now? Courts and prosecutors have repeatedly
confronted fatal hit-and-runs where plea constraints
and low presumptive ranges for Class B negligent
homicide pull sentences downeven when a driver flees
or conceals evidence. The result is a perceived
mismatch between culpability and consequence, eroding
public trust.
What the bill does
• Defines an aggravated form of negligent homicide
when paired with failure to render aid.
• Increases the offense class and presumptive range to
reflect the combined harm.
• Requires targeted consecutive time when both
convictions arise from the same fatal incident.
• Preserves judicial discretion for case-specific
facts (aggravators/mitigators still apply), while
establishing a floor that prevents de minimis outcomes
in fatal hit-and-runs.
Public safety & deterrence Leaving the scene
dramatically reduces a victim's chance of survival and
impedes evidence-gathering. Alaska's message must be
clear: you stop, you help, you stayor face serious
time.
I respectfully ask for your support to restore
accountability and honor the lives lost to fatal hit-
and-run crimes.
1:06:34 PM
GARY ZEPP, Staff, Representative Chuck Kopp, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Kopp, prime sponsor,
offered further context on the intent of the bill. He said the
bill would address a gap between current presumptive criminal
sentence ranges and consideration of the family's rights of
accountability and expectation of justice for losing a loved
one.
1:08:43 PM
MR. ZEPP directed attention to page 2 of the PowerPoint
presentation on HB 239 [included in the committee file], which
highlighted recent cases involving drivers fleeing the scene
after perpetrating a fatal hit and run. Slide 3 shared Chase
Bowerson's story: a 26-year-old who was killed along the Glenn
Highway. Slide 4 offered Alaska statistics from 2024 organized
by injury type. Slide 5 featured national statistics on
pedestrian traffic fatalities. Slide 6 outlined what the bill
does, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
•Create a new category ofAggravated Criminally
Negligent Homicidewhen a death is caused by criminal
negligence with a motor vehicle and failure to render
aid.
•Elevate the offense from a Class B felony to aClass A
felony and sets a711 yearpresumptive prison sentence
range for first time offenders.
•Requireconsecutive timewhen both the death and the
failure-to-aid are convicted in the same act.
•Keep Alaska within constitutional sentencing
principals while aligning penalties with community
expectations.
1:11:16 PM
MR. ZEPP continued to slide 7, which offered a comparison of
current law and HB 239. Slide 8 explained the importance of
implementing this legislation now. Slide 9 showed a graphic
that summarized the purpose of the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP added that the bill, in addition to bringing
in a stronger sense of the value of human life, would underscore
the duty to remain on the scene after an accident.
1:14:14 PM
MR. ZEPP provided the sectional analysis for HB 239 [included in
the committee file], which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
SECTION 1 Purpose The purpose of this Act is to
ensure that defendants whose criminally negligent
conduct causes the death of another person, and who
also fail to render aid, receive penalties that
reflect the gravity of the combined offenses. This Act
creates an aggravated form of criminally negligent
homicide, increases presumptive ranges for such
crimes, and requires certain consecutive sentencing to
protect public safety better and deter flight from
accident scenes.
SECTION 2 Amend AS 11.41.130 (Criminally Negligent
Homicide)
(c) Aggravated Criminally Negligent Homicide A
person commits aggravated criminally negligent
homicide if:
1. The person, while operating a motor vehicle,
causes the death of another by criminal
negligence; and
2. The person knowingly fails to stop and render
reasonable assistance as required under AS
28.35.060.
(d) Aggravated criminally negligent homicide under (c)
is a Class A felony.
SECTION 3 Amend AS 28.35.060 (Duty to Give
Information and Render Aid)
(g) If a violation of this section occurs in
connection with conduct constituting criminally
negligent homicide under AS 11.41.130, the offense is
a Class A felony and must be sentenced under AS
12.55.125(c).
SECTION 4 Amend AS 12.55.125 (Sentences of
Imprisonment for Felonies) (c) For a first felony
conviction of aggravated criminally negligent homicide
under AS 11.41.130
(c) or failure to render aid under AS 28.35.060(g),
the presumptive range is 7 to 11 years.
SECTION 5 Mandatory Consecutive Sentencing
Add new subsection to AS 12.55.025:
(o) When a defendant is convicted of both aggravated
criminally negligent homicide under AS 11.41.130(c)
and failure to render aid under AS 28.35.060(g) for
conduct arising out of the same incident, the court
shall impose the sentence for the failure to render
aid consecutively to the sentence for aggravated
criminally negligent homicide. The composite active
term may not be less than 10 years.
SECTION 6 Effective Date
This Act takes effect July 1, 2026.
1:17:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO asked whether there are other areas of
statute where aggravating factors are served consecutively
rather than concurrently.
1:17:50 PM
NANCY MEADE, General Counsel, Alaska Court System (ACS), said
aggravating factors are a different area of statute that if
proven, allow sentencing above the presumptive range set in
statute. She confirmed that there are other areas in statute
that allow consecutive sentencing, such as violating conditions
of release. She added that consecutive sentencing is not
unique, although concurrent is more common.
1:19:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID sought further clarity on the definition
of "rendering reasonable aide."
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP said the standard of "reasonable" can differ
depending on the circumstance. He shared several examples and
noted that Alaska recognizes a good Samaritan exception for
civil liability, which means it's difficult to sue someone who
stopped to check on another individual even if they didn't do
"something quite right" because they're covered under a general
immunity shield.
1:21:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID considered a hypothetical scenario in
which a paramedic or trained medical provider is involved in a
hit and run, calls 911, and does not render further aide. He
asked whether that would be considered rendering reasonable
aide.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP responded that the bar is intentionally set
for the common law standard of due care. The law requires a
good faith effort to stop and render aide.
1:24:03 PM
CHAIR GRAY asked Ms. Schroeder to verify the answers provided by
the bill sponsor.
1:24:14 PM
KACI SCHROEDER, Senior Attorney General, Criminal Division,
Department of Law (DOL), read the jury instruction on reasonable
assistance, as follows:
"Reasonable assistance" means the assistance that a
reasonably prudent person would provide under the
circumstances. Reasonable assistance may include
making arrangements for medical treatment if it is
apparent that treatment is necessary.
CHAIR GRAY asked for other circumstances in which crimes
associated with a mental state are classified as a class A
felony.
MS. SCHROEDER said she would have to think about that. She
stated that in the homicide context, a class A felony is
manslaughter, and the mental state is "reckless."
1:25:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA referred to slide 7 and sought to better
understand the minimum and maximum sentencing proposed under HB
239 in comparison to the status quo.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP said there are two separate class B felony
crimes in the pertinent incident category: the act of criminally
negligent homicide and failure to stop and render aide. Both
are class B felonies for first time offenders with a presumptive
sentencing range of 1-3 years for criminally negligent homicide.
The act of fleeing has a presumptive range of 0-10 for first
time offenders. Under current law, the offenses, even if
convicted separately for the same act are convicted concurrently
rather than consecutively, so generally, offenders are receiving
around 2 years with one-third off for good time. The bill would
elevate the range of 1-3 to 7-11 while recognizing that
practically, it would still be lower with one-third off for good
time.
CHAIR GRAY asked whether Ms. Schroeder agrees.
MS. SCHROEDER confirmed that under current law, criminally
negligent homicide carries a presumptive range of 1-3 and
fleeing the scene is 0-10 years. She added that typically
sentencing is imposed for each offense.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA questioned the impact of mitigating and
aggravating factors on the duration of the sentence.
MS. SCHROEDER stated that aggravating and mitigating factors are
outlined under AS 12.55.155, which may allow the court to adjust
the sentence outside the presumptive range, either low or
higher, if proven.
1:31:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked what the minimum sentence would be for
these two crimes under HB 239.
MS. SCHROEDER said the judge has a lot of leeway in their
ability to run the sentences consecutively, concurrently, or
partially consecutively or concurrently.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP said it would depend.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA shared her understanding that first time
offenders [who were charged with criminally negligent homicide
and failure to render assistance] would face a minimum sentence
of 17 years if the bill were to pass. She asked how this
sentencing range compares to manslaughter and other crimes
MS. SCHROEDER said the sentencing range for these offenses is a
policy call. She added that manslaughter is a class A felony
with presumptive sentencing of 4-7 years for the first offense;
one level up is first- and second-degree murder.
1:37:28 PM
CHAIR GRAY asked whether the requirement for consecutive
sentencing in HB 239 would remove judicial discretion if the
bill were to pass.
MS. SCHROEDER answered yes, the bill says the sentence "shall"
run consecutively so there is no discretion.
1:38:06 PM
CHAIR GRAY opened public testimony on HB 239.
1:38:23 PM
KELLY TRENT, representing self, testified in support of HB 239.
She shared her experience of losing her child in a car crash
where he was left to die. She said the man who killer her son
was released on ankle monitor almost immediately, followed by a
parole violation, and then back on ankle monitor. Through this,
she said she became very aware of the hit and run problem in
Alaska, and that for her family, justice was not served. The
offender only served 8 months of a two-year sentence, and only
two weeks of those in jail. She urged committee members to
stand with her family in support of HB 239 so that no one in
Alaska would experience this gross injustice without adequate
consequences.
1:44:17 PM
SEAN CASE, Chief, Anchorage Police Department (APD), testified
in support of HB 239. He said the bill would address a critical
gap in current law to ensure that those who cause death by
criminal negligence and knowingly fail to stop to render
reasonable assistance face serious consequences. The change
recognizes that failing to stop is a deliberate act that
compounds harm, denies lifesaving assistance, and obstructs
justice. From a law enforcement perspective, the bill would do
three things: deter hit and run behavior by establishing
stronger penalties; promote accountability by aligning
sentencing with morality; and support victims and families by
affirming that Alaska values human life and expects drivers to
act responsibility. He said the bill would send a clear message
that leaving the scene is criminally inexcusable.
1:46:54 PM
CHAIR GRAY closed public testimony.
1:47:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked whether other states with harsh
criminal penalties for hit and runs have seen fewer pedestrian
fatalities.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP said compared to other states, Alaska would
still be on the more conservative end, as other states have
enacted 20-30 years of prison for this behavior.
1:49:59 PM
CHAIR GRAY asked whether there is evidence of changed behavior
due to harsher penalties.
MS. SCHROEDER did not know the answer.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP referenced two initiatives that resulted in
marked change in behaviors: increased penalties for driving
under the influence (DUI), and increased penalties for failing
to use a seatbelt.
CHAIR GRAY asked why people often do not to stop after hitting a
pedestrian.
MS. SCHROEDER shared anecdotally, that people are scared.
1:53:25 PM
ZAK HARTMAN, Traffic Signals Manager, Traffic Engineering
Department, Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), shared his
understanding that factors, such as fearing the consequences of
driving impaired, have been noted by transportation staff.
CHAIR GRAY asked how to reduce pedestrian related fatalities in
Anchorage.
MR. HARTMAN cited a global approach like the Safe System
approach, which includes enforcement and emergency medical
services (EMS) response. He opined that the bill would give
better "teeth" to both aspects of the Safe System approach.
CHAIR GRAY directed the question to Mr. Barlett.
1:55:46 PM
SCOTT BARTLETT, Captain, Division of Alaska State Troopers
(AST), Department of Public Safety (DPS), said anecdotally,
people panic. The fight or flight response kicks in, or they
may fear the legal consequences of driving under the influence.
CHAIR GRAY said he's not sure the general public knows that
stopping to render aide is in their best interest even if
substances or alcohol are involved.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP stated that efforts to ameliorate a bad
situation are always used as mitigators in the legal process.
He indicated that getting help right away may save someone's
life.
1:58:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO suggested including in the bill a
question in the driver's license exam related to this issue as
an educational component.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP pointed out that current law requires people
to stop and render aide after hitting a pedestrian or another
vehicle. This is already in the driver's license manual;
however, the severity and importance, as well as the increased
penalty, could be highlighted.
CHAIR GRAY asked whether the sponsor would be amenable to add a
safe harbor provision to the bill that would safeguard the
offender from minor drug possession. The intent would be to
reassure folks that the most important thing is to stop and
render aide in these scenarios.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP said he would have to discuss that with DOL.
CHAIR GRAY sought to confirm that there would be no crime
charged if a pedestrian steps out in front of a vehicle and the
driver stops to render aide.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP answered, "Correct." He added that the bill
would not create new criminal behavior.
MS. SCHROEDER clarified that if something is truly an accident,
no crime has occurred. In contrast, criminally negligent
homicide applies to nonaccidental conduct that resulted in
someone's death. If the driver stays at the scene, they would
not be charged with fleeing the scene, but they may still be
charged with criminally negligent homicide.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP shared a real-life example of two girls that
were killed in a hit and run by a drunk driver who fled the
scene.
2:04:13 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the bill would be held over.
HB 64-SURRENDER OF INFANTS; INF. SAFETY DEVICE
2:04:44 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 64, "An Act relating to the surrender of infants;
and providing for an effective date."
2:05:21 PM
DAVID GOFF, Staff, Representative Frank Tomaszewski, Alaska
State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Tomaszewski,
prime sponsor, gave an overview of HB 64. He paraphrased the
sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
In 2008 Alaska enacted its safe surrender law to
ensure that surrendered infants receive immediate care
for their safety and provide legal protection for the
relinquishing parent, thereby reduce potential infant
death due to illegal abandonment. Our current safe
surrender law requires a parent to directly relinquish
an infant to another individual.
Infant safety devices protect both relinquishing
parents and infants. Infant safety devices allow a
parent to surrender an infant anonymously through a
climate-controlled device at a designated facility.
Currently, twenty-two states authorize infant safety
devices. House Bill 64 would authorize the use of
infant safety devices as an additional method of
infant relinquishment under the safe surrender laws.
These devices would safely hold an infant with an
automatic lock and constant video surveillance while
immediately alerting appropriate personnel of the
surrender. Infant safety devices would be placed in
conspicuous areas with appropriate signage as
determined by the Department of Family and Community
Services (DFCS). An infant safety device may be
located at hospital, emergency department,
freestanding birth center, office of a private
physician, rural health clinic, municipal police
department, state trooper post, fire department, or
other facility designated by the DFCS commissioner.
The ability to relinquish an infant to a safe location
rather than an individual allows additional anonymity
for the relinquishing parent while still ensuring that
surrendered infants receive immediate medical care.
2:08:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO asked whether the addition of a live
camera at the infant safety device ("baby box") had been
considered.
MR. GOFF said as proposed, the bill would include a live camera
in the baby box to maintain the surrendering parent's anonymity.
It would also have a device that registers when the box is
opened and closed and the weight of the infant would trigger a
signal to notify the people monitoring the box.
CHAIR GRAY expressed concern that because Alaska is a state with
high rates of sexual assault, a victim could be forced to
surrender their baby by the perpetrator without the opportunity
for intervention.
MR. GOFF said the behavior described by the chair is already
illegal and may not be able to be prevented regardless of
whether the baby is surrendered in person or to a baby box.
2:12:18 PM
CHAIR GRAY asked how to quantify how many babies were recovered
due to this policy.
MR. GOFF said he could not find numbers supporting its
effectiveness compared to in-person surrender.
2:13:25 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 2:13 p.m.
2:13:33 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the committee would return to public
testimony on HB 64 [left open on 5/15/25.]
2:14:01 PM
PAMELA SAMASH, President, Right to Life, testified in support of
HB 64. She described what happens when a baby is left outside,
emphasizing that they have 15-20 minutes at -20 degrees
Fahrenheit before they die in those temperatures. She expressed
support for HB 64 because it's good for both the mom and the
baby.
2:17:01 PM
CHAIR GRAY closed public testimony on HB 64.
2:17:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO asked what happens after the baby is
placed in the baby box.
MR. GOFF said the baby is transferred to police custody and
child services. If the baby is determined to be of Native
origin, Native counsel is brought in to help with placement;
otherwise, they would be put up for adoption in the foster care
system.
REPRESENTATIVE COSTELLO asked whether the baby receives medical
treatment.
MR. GOFF did not know the answer. He presumed that they would
be taken to a local hospital or care facility for blood work and
to check for any medical necessities.
2:19:41 PM
CHAIR GRAY sought clarity on the age limit for baby boxes.
MR. GOFF relayed that in Alaska, an infant under the age of 21
days may be placed in the box under Safe Surrender of Infants
Act ("Safe Surrender").
CHAIR GRAY asked what would happen if a 10-month-old were placed
in the box.
MR. GOFF did not know the answer.
CHAIR GRAY noted that having a camera on the premises would be
crucial in those scenarios to figure out who the parent was.
MR. GOFF said the bill sponsor did not propose the use of a
camera to maintain anonymity. He presumed that an outside
camera at a police or fire station would enable the
investigation in the aforementioned scenario, and most likely, a
DNA test would provide a link back to the birth family.
2:22:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID asked how to guarantee anonymity in a
surveillance society.
MR. GOFF said the bill would allow parents to surrender their
child without having to look another person in the eye, which
allows some degree of anonymity.
2:24:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP asked whether anonymity is addressed in the
bill.
MR. GOFF answered no, it's surrender of the child. In response
to a series of follow-up questions, he confirmed that the bill
relates to safely abandoning child and relinquishing the legal
duty to support that child. He confirmed that it specifies
where these infant safety boxes could be located and would not
require their use.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP posited that by nature of the boxes'
locations, medical care could be provided. He shared his
understanding that the bill addresses civil liability for a
parent deciding to relinquish their legal responsibility for the
child safely and without fear of prosecution by the State of
Alaska. He asked whether that is correct.
MR. GOFF answered, "Correct."
CHAIR GRAY relayed his concern that retained placenta could be a
health risk for the mother. Further, he shared additional
concerns that the bill would circumvent intervention, medical or
otherwise, that could be provided at an in-person surrender.
MR. GOFF pointed out that there's no certainty the medical
condition of the mother would be shared at an in-person
surrender. He indicated that the bill is more concerned with
the child's safety and ensuring that the surrender is not
considered a criminal act.
2:28:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA referred to page 3 of the bill and asked
whether there are any requirements that the baby boxes include
resources or medical information that could help the mother.
MR. GOFF said the baby box would include a package with
information on medical care, as well as an optional form for the
parent to fill out with the child's name, birth date, medical
issues, and more.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA sought to confirm that the inclusion of this
package is not a requirement in the bill.
MR. GOFF confirmed that is correct.
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked whether there are other companies,
aside from Safe Haven Baby Boxes, that make these devices.
MR. GOFF answered no, he's not aware of any.
2:31:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID asked whether the bill sponsor had
encountered any documented situation in other states in which a
non-parent placed the infant in the baby box against the
mother's will.
MR. GOFF said he did not see any cases involving a non-parent,
but there was an instance of an infant being placed in the
device who had already passed.
2:32:28 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that HB 64 would be held over.
2:33:47 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:33 p.m.