Legislature(2019 - 2020)GRUENBERG 120

02/28/2019 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ HB 34 NAMING SCOTT JOHNSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
*+ HB 12 PROTECTIVE ORDERS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
*+ HB 14 ASSAULT; SEX OFFENSES; SENT. AGGRAVATOR TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
             HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                           
                       February 28, 2019                                                                                        
                           3:00 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Zack Fields, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Co-Chair                                                                                
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux                                                                                                 
Representative Andi Story                                                                                                       
Representative Adam Wool                                                                                                        
Representative Laddie Shaw                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Sarah Vance                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 34                                                                                                               
"An Act naming the Scott Johnson Memorial Bridge."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 12                                                                                                               
"An Act relating to protective orders."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 14                                                                                                               
"An Act relating to assault in  the first degree; relating to sex                                                               
offenses; relating  to the definition of  'dangerous instrument';                                                               
and  providing  for  an  aggravating  factor  at  sentencing  for                                                               
strangulation that results in unconsciousness."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 34                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: NAMING SCOTT JOHNSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                                                               
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TALERICO                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/20/19       (H)       STA, TRA                                                                                               
02/28/19       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 12                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: PROTECTIVE ORDERS                                                                                                  
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KOPP                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/19                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/20/19       (H)       STA, JUD                                                                                               
02/28/19       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 14                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: ASSAULT; SEX OFFENSES; SENT. AGGRAVATOR                                                                            
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LINCOLN                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/19                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/20/19       (H)       STA, JUD                                                                                               
02/28/19       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID TALERICO                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented HB 34, as prime sponsor.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
BRANDY JOHNSON                                                                                                                  
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in during the hearing of HB 34.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK KOPP                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented HB 12, Version S, as prime                                                                     
sponsor.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
KEN TRUIT, Staff                                                                                                                
Representative Chuck Kopp                                                                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Provided the sectional analysis for HB 12,                                                               
Version S, on behalf of Representative Kopp, prime sponsor.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
NANCY MEADE, General Counsel                                                                                                    
Office of the Administrative Director                                                                                           
Alaska Court System                                                                                                             
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions  during the hearing of HB
12.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LINCOLN                                                                                                     
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:    Presented  HB 14,  Version  E,  as  prime                                                             
sponsor.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ROSE FOLEY, Staff                                                                                                               
Representative John Lincoln                                                                                                     
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Provided a  sectional analysis  of HB  14,                                                             
Version E, on behalf of Representative Lincoln, prime sponsor.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:00:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR JONATHAN  KREISS-TOMKINS called the House  State Affairs                                                             
Standing   Committee    meeting   to    order   at    3:00   p.m.                                                               
Representatives  Fields, Story,  Wool,  Shaw, and  Kreiss-Tomkins                                                               
were  present  at  the  call to  order.    Representative  LeDoux                                                               
arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
          HB  34-NAMING SCOTT JOHNSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
3:01:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KREISS-TOMKINS  announced  that   the  first  order  of                                                               
business would  be HOUSE BILL  NO. 34,  "An Act naming  the Scott                                                               
Johnson Memorial Bridge."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:02:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAVID  TALERICO,  Alaska  State  Legislature,  as                                                               
prime sponsor of  HB 34, paraphrased from  the sponsor statement,                                                               
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     The legislation  amends Alaska Statute 35.40  by naming                                                                    
     bridge number  506 over the  Tok River at mile  1309 of                                                                    
     the  Alaska  Highway  to be  named  the  Scott  Johnson                                                                    
     Memorial Bridge.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Scott was a person who led  from the front. He set very                                                                    
     high  standards  for   himself.  After  graduating  his                                                                    
     recruit  class as  valedictorian,  he  was assigned  to                                                                    
     Fairbanks  patrol.  Scott   became  involved  with  the                                                                    
     Special  Emergency  Response  Team  (S.E.R.T.)  for  19                                                                    
     years  and held  positions  of  perimeter team  leader,                                                                    
     entry team leader and acting  team leader. He was a K-9                                                                    
     handler,  instructor  and   coordinator.  In  addition,                                                                    
     Scott  trained at  least 33  dual  purpose and/or  drug                                                                    
     detection  canine  teams  throughout  Alaska.  He  also                                                                    
     worked  in the  Alaska Bureau  of Investigation  and at                                                                    
     the age of  36 was promoted to  sergeant. Scott oversaw                                                                    
     patrol  shift  and  later  transferred  to  the  Alaska                                                                    
     Bureau of  Alcohol and  Drug Enforcement.  Scott earned                                                                    
     at  least 43  letters  of  commendation, including  two                                                                    
     commendations for honorable service during his career.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Scott  Johnson was  an Alaska  State Trooper  killed in                                                                    
     the line  of duty  on May  1, 2014.  He had  served the                                                                    
     State of Alaska 23 years.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Let this  be a lasting memorial  to a man who  gave his                                                                    
     life in the  line of duty to the citizens  of the State                                                                    
     of Alaska.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO  directed the committee's attention  to a                                                               
document by  Brandy Johnson [surviving spouse  to Scott Johnson],                                                               
entitled "Scott  Johnson Memorial Scholarship January  12, 1969 -                                                               
May 1,  2014," included in the  committee packet.  He  added that                                                               
Brandy Johnson  would support [the  naming of the  bridge through                                                               
legislation], if there  is public support for doing  so; he urges                                                               
public  testimony [on  HB 34]  to be  taken to  determine whether                                                               
public  support exists  to move  forward with  the naming  of the                                                               
bridge; if the public support is  not there, he will abide by Ms.                                                               
Johnson's wishes.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:05:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRANDY JOHNSON, surviving spouse to  Scott Johnson, read from her                                                               
written testimony as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Chairpersons and members of the committee,                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     After  much self  thought, I  have found  I must  think                                                                    
     about  policy  change  beyond myself  and  what  change                                                                    
     brings to others.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     I  realize there  is  not an  inadequacy  in policy  to                                                                    
     address  here today.   I  like  the fact  that the  Tok                                                                    
     River Bridge is named what it  is.  The bridge has held                                                                    
     that name  for many  years.  Scott  and I  have floated                                                                    
     the river  from dawn till  dusk hunting moose  from the                                                                    
     Glenn Highway  to the Alcan  Highway ending at  the Tok                                                                    
     River Bridge.   In that same segment of  the Tok River,                                                                    
     Scott told me  stories of camping with his  family as a                                                                    
     young boy.   He and  I crossed the bridge  twice yearly                                                                    
     traveling  to and  from  Eagle,  Alaska during  hunting                                                                    
     season for at  least eighteen years prior  to him being                                                                    
     murdered.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     We must remember, policies  that are clearly understood                                                                    
     and  supported  by  all factions  of  a  community  are                                                                    
     respected and  formulated in a  constructive way.   I'd                                                                    
     appreciate  hearing   supportive  testimony   from  the                                                                    
     communities that  centralize the area of  the Tok River                                                                    
     Bridge.  Testimony from  just family,  friends and  co-                                                                    
     workers  limits the  space for  community participation                                                                    
     and tailors the  policy to a few  individuals.  Through                                                                    
     public  deliberation  across  all  factions,  community                                                                    
     members  will  voice their  respect  for  change or  no                                                                    
     change.  Not everybody  likes change.  Change shouldn't                                                                    
     be based  on tradition,  personal or political  gain of                                                                    
     groups or  individuals.  Allowing and  encouraging such                                                                    
     involvement  can  be  realized  in a  way  that  allows                                                                    
     community   representatives  to   become  more   active                                                                    
     members in the policymaking process.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     After  Scott  was  murdered,  I  was  asked  if  I  was                                                                    
     interested  in naming  a bridge  after  Scott and  Gabe                                                                    
     Rich.  I was not, based  on the location of the bridge.                                                                    
     I don't  want to  drive past a  sign with  Scott's name                                                                    
     and  see that  it has  been  shot up  with bullets  and                                                                    
     spray painted.   The disrespect  and hurt  is terrible.                                                                    
     What is  going through  my child's  mind when  they see                                                                    
     this kind  of vandalism?   As much as I  appreciate the                                                                    
     thoughtfulness of the honor,  none of these honors take                                                                    
     away  the pain  and loss.   If  anything, they  make it                                                                    
     worse for me.  This is  where I must look beyond myself                                                                    
     for others.   Scott's job was that of  a public servant                                                                    
     and now  I have  found that his  death, for  many, will                                                                    
     always be remembered  by his job and not  the person he                                                                    
     was.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     In conclusion, I support the  renaming of the Tok River                                                                    
     Bridge to  the Scott  Johnson Memorial Bridge  if there                                                                    
     is  broadspread community  support  of the  centralized                                                                    
     area of  the bridge.   How  our lawmakers  measure that                                                                    
     support I will leave to them.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:08:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY commented  that she was honored  to learn of                                                               
Scott Johnson's life and work.   She offered that she appreciated                                                               
Ms. Johnson's desire for public testimony.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:08:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SHAW  commented that  honoring  a  person with  a                                                               
memorial road sign  is heartfelt and meaningful.   It affords one                                                               
the opportunity to take a moment and remember a valuable life.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS stated that HB 34 would be held over.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                    HB  12-PROTECTIVE ORDERS                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
3:10:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KREISS-TOMKINS   announced  that  the  next   order  of                                                               
business  would  be  HOUSE  BILL  NO. 12,  "An  Act  relating  to                                                               
protective orders."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:11:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CHUCK  KOPP,   Alaska  State  Legislature,  prime                                                               
sponsor of HB  12, paraphrased from the  sponsor statement, which                                                               
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Last summer,  the Alaska Supreme Court  ruled in Whalen                                                                    
     v. Whalen that victims  of domestic violence are unable                                                                    
     to  get  an  extension   or  renewal  for  an  existing                                                                    
     protective  order   based  on  the  same   incident  of                                                                    
     violence of  the original order. This  is regardless of                                                                    
     whether they  are still in  fear of  their perpetrators                                                                    
     or whether  their perpetrators continue to  pose a risk                                                                    
     to their safety.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     The  Court's holding  turned on  the interpretation  of                                                                    
     the protective  order statutes which fail  to expressly                                                                    
     allow   for   extensions,   renewals,   or   subsequent                                                                    
     protective  orders. The  Court ruled  the statutes  are                                                                    
     unclear and thus, do not allow for the extensions.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     The purpose of  House Bill 12 is  to clearly articulate                                                                    
     that victims  may request an extension  of a protective                                                                    
     order  30  days  before  or within  60  days  after  it                                                                    
     expires.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     The  bill  also  extends   this  clarification  to  the                                                                    
     statute  that  covers   protective  orders  for  sexual                                                                    
     assault and stalking.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     HB  12  clarifies  that  a court  is  not  barred  from                                                                    
     ordering  relief to  victims based  on an  incident for                                                                    
     which relief has previously  been issued or considered,                                                                    
     thus preventing a situation in  which survivors must be                                                                    
     a victim again before receiving judicial assistance.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   KOPP   summarized   by   saying   the   proposed                                                               
legislation would  amend two areas  of law that  address domestic                                                               
violence   protective   orders   and  sexual   assault   stalking                                                               
protective orders to make it  very clear that renewals may happen                                                               
without revictimization;  protective orders may be  renewed based                                                               
on one's  continuing fear of  domestic violence,  sexual assault,                                                               
or stalking, as  long as a court finds the  continuing fear to be                                                               
reasonable.  He added that under  HB 12, the accused would not be                                                               
denied due process,  would still be advised of a  hearing 10 days                                                               
in advance; and would be given the opportunity to testify.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:15:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved adopt the  committee substitute (CS) for HB
12  [Version  31-LS0103\S, Radford,  1/24/19]  as  a work  draft.                                                               
There being no objection, Version S was before the committee.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:15:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN  TRUIT,  Staff,  Representative   Chuck  Kopp,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of Representative Kopp,  prime sponsor of                                                               
HB  12,  referred  the  committee's attention  to  Section  1  of                                                               
Version  S  [page 1,  lines  3-10]  and  relayed that  under  the                                                               
proposed legislation,  AS 18.65.850(e) would be  split into three                                                               
separate sections.  The proposed  new paragraph (1), [lines 5-6],                                                               
prepares  the existing  statute for  a  list that  follows.   The                                                               
proposed new [paragraph]  (2), [lines 7-8], is  the operative fix                                                               
to  the problem  stated in  the Whalen  v. Whalen  Alaska Supreme                                                               
Court case [of  2018, "Whalen"]; the new  language would instruct                                                               
the court that it may not  deny a petition for a protective order                                                               
solely because the  act that gave rise to  the initial protective                                                               
order is the same one for  which the extension is petitioned.  He                                                               
said  that the  new paragraph  (3), [lines  9-10], is  a proposed                                                               
policy for  protective orders.   It states  that a court  may not                                                               
deny  issuing a  protective order  solely because  the court  had                                                               
previously found that the petitioner  was a victim of stalking or                                                               
sexual assault but declined to order relief under [Section 1].                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. TRUIT related that HB 12  is very narrowly focused to fix the                                                               
Whalen issue and  to propose a new policy  for protective orders;                                                               
everything  else  in  the   proposed  legislation  maintains  the                                                               
protective order policy as "everybody  thought it was" before the                                                               
Whalen decision.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. TRUIT continued  by say that Section 2 of  Version S explains                                                               
how  HB 12  would be  implemented  in practice  and provides  the                                                               
process.   He  directed attention  to subsection  (f) on  page 1,                                                               
starting  on line  12,  which  states in  part,  "Within 30  days                                                               
before, or within  60 days after, the expiration  of a protective                                                               
order issued  or extended under  this section ..." and  said that                                                               
this language  instructs that the  extensions are not  limited to                                                               
just one.   He relayed that the remainder of  Section 2 addresses                                                               
the  notice to  the  respondent; the  judge  still exercises  the                                                               
discretion  [for  issuing the  order];  nothing  in the  proposed                                                               
legislation  alters  the   preponderance  of  evidence  standard,                                                               
already in statute,  required for the petitioner  to convince the                                                               
judge  and the  court to  issue the  order; and  the court  would                                                               
still  be required  to  make  a determination  based  on what  is                                                               
submitted by the petitioner.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:20:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TRUIT relayed  that Sections  3 and  4 represent  provisions                                                               
identical to  Section 1 and  2 but address the  domestic violence                                                               
protective order statute.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TRUIT said  that Section  5 is  the applicability  clause to                                                               
make  it clear  that should  HB 12  become law,  it would  affect                                                               
existing  domestic   violence  orders,   orders  issued   on  the                                                               
effective date of the law, and any orders thereafter.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:20:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked  why the orders are not  issued for a                                                               
reasonable  lengthy time  as a  regular course  of action  in the                                                               
criminal proceedings.  She expressed  her belief that even though                                                               
the  protective  orders  may  involve   criminal  action  by  the                                                               
respondent, the orders  are within the civil  jurisdiction of the                                                               
court.   She  asked why  the court  doesn't issue  the protective                                                               
orders in  the event someone  has been incarcerated  for domestic                                                               
violence, sexual assault, or stalking.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP explained that  there are ex parte protective                                                               
orders, which  are 20-day orders  issued without the  presence of                                                               
the  defender; and  there is  an emergency  72-hour order  that a                                                               
police officer can request to  allow collection of evidence for a                                                               
hearing.   He  maintained that  what is  under discussion  in the                                                               
proposed legislation  is the  long-term protective  orders, which                                                               
have been  in state statute  for about 40  years.  It  is unclear                                                               
how the  length of time  for a protective  order - six  months or                                                               
one  year  -  was  determined;  these  time  periods  are  fairly                                                               
standard  from state  to  state.   He  mentioned  that the  court                                                               
issues  protective orders;  the court  determines probable  cause                                                               
for  restraining  someone;  and  there is  due  process  for  the                                                               
petitioner and the  respondent to make their  cases regarding the                                                               
long-term orders.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:23:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LEDOUX  asked  whether  the  situation  discussed                                                               
involves someone accusing  another of sexual assault  but has not                                                               
made a report with police.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP  offered that  someone from the  Alaska Court                                                               
System (ACS)  should answer  the question  definitively; however,                                                               
he expressed his  belief that it would be  profoundly unusual for                                                               
a court to  issue a sexual assault protective  order unless there                                                               
was a formal [police] report.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:24:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NANCY  MEADE,  General  Counsel,  Office  of  the  Administrative                                                               
Director, Alaska  Court System, responded that  protective orders                                                               
for sexual  assaults are relatively  rare compared  with domestic                                                               
violence   protective  orders.      She   confirmed  that   these                                                               
proceedings are  completely civil proceedings.   There must  be a                                                               
household relationship  between the two individuals;  they have a                                                               
dispute; they  go to court.   She said that there  is no district                                                               
attorney   involved;  it   is  citizen   versus  citizen.     The                                                               
proceedings  are  civil proceedings;  if  the  court finds  by  a                                                               
preponderance  of evidence  that there  was a  crime of  domestic                                                               
violence and the order is necessary, the court will issue it.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEADE  restated the  question:   If there is  a finding  by a                                                               
court of  a crime of  domestic violence, where does  the criminal                                                               
law come into it?  She  said that the petitioner in that scenario                                                               
can  report the  incident  to  the police,  but  he/she does  not                                                               
usually do  that.  There  are far more citizens  seeking domestic                                                               
violence protective  orders than  criminal cases  against someone                                                               
for  the crime  of  domestic  violence.   There  are about  eight                                                               
different crimes of domestic  violence, including trespassing and                                                               
vandalism.   She confirmed Representative Kopp's  assessment that                                                               
it  would be  quite  unusual  for the  court  to  issue a  sexual                                                               
assault protective  order, because it  would be making  a finding                                                               
that there  was a crime  of sexual  assault, which is  a distinct                                                               
thing, as opposed to domestic violence,  which can be one of many                                                               
things.  She  mentioned that in most sexual  assault cases, there                                                               
is a corresponding criminal case.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked whether  in the situation where there                                                               
is  a  corresponding criminal  case  for  the sexual  assault,  a                                                               
separate  protective  order is  issued  in  conjunction with  the                                                               
criminal case.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEADE  responded that the  court wouldn't decide to  issue an                                                               
order on its own, but "no  contact with the victim" is very often                                                               
a bail condition  of the person released.  When  the person is in                                                               
jail, no  protective order  is needed;  after release,  the court                                                               
can issue a protective order during probation.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:27:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WOOL stated  his understanding  that there  was a                                                               
historical basis for  the discrepancy between six  months and one                                                               
year; and  the protective orders  could be  successively extended                                                               
or renewed pending approval of a judge.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEADE responded that his  understanding was correct as far as                                                               
the intent of  the wording of HB 12.   She further explained that                                                               
the six  months and  one-year time frames  were based  on federal                                                               
standards  and  were  consistent  across  states.    She  stated,                                                               
"There's that  balance of  limiting in many  ways the  liberty of                                                               
the respondent in  these cases for longer than  is necessary, and                                                               
in most, if not all, cases  the petitioner's fear is abated after                                                               
six months  or a year, and  as Representative Kopp is  saying, if                                                               
not, they can come back."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL  asked whether there was  a historical reason                                                               
for domestic  violence incurring a one-year  protective order and                                                               
sexual assault incurring a six-month protective order.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEADE  expressed her belief  that the  length of time  of the                                                               
protective order was changed in 2004.   It used to be a six-month                                                               
time  period   for  domestic   violence  protective   orders  and                                                               
resulting  from a  federal Act  - possibly  the Violence  Against                                                               
Women Act  (VAWA) of  1994 - states  generally moved  to one-year                                                               
protective orders and Alaska followed in 2004.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:29:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY referred to Section  1 on page 1, lines 5-6,                                                               
of Version  S, which discusses the  lapse of time between  an act                                                               
of sexual  assault and the filing  [of the petition].   She asked                                                               
whether  "stalking"  should  be  added to  the  language  in  the                                                               
paragraph.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOPP replied  that  stalking  is different  [from                                                               
sexual  assault]  because  it  refers  to  a  course  of  conduct                                                               
occurring over  time; it  is not one  event, but  many individual                                                               
events that, collectively,  put a person in fear.   He added that                                                               
the  legal definition  refers to  a process  over time  which, in                                                               
summation, constitutes stalking.   That stalking is not "specific                                                               
event" oriented,  but "course of  conduct oriented"  explains the                                                               
language  of   the  proposed  legislation.     He   offered  that                                                               
Legislative Legal Services could provide additional information.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY   mentioned  that   she  could   imagine  a                                                               
situation in which stalking is resumed after a lapse in time.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  TRUIT responded  that the  language cited  is from  existing                                                               
statute; Version S  does not propose any  alterations to existing                                                               
language but adds language.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY  maintained  that   there  is  no  stalking                                                               
language included on line 5.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOPP  answered that  he  is  fully supportive  of                                                               
making the  proposed legislation  as inclusive  as possible.   In                                                               
discussion with  Legislative Legal Services there  was a drafting                                                               
issue  with  adding  "stalking"  because  of  the  event-specific                                                               
nature of  a crime of  assault versus stalking, which  is defined                                                               
in law  as a  course of  conduct over time.   He  maintained that                                                               
that although  his focus was  to address the Whalen  decision, he                                                               
is empathetic to Representative Story's concern.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[HB 12 was held over.]                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
         HB  14-ASSAULT; SEX OFFENSES; SENT. AGGRAVATOR                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
3:33:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  KREISS-TOMKINS  announced  that   the  final  order  of                                                               
business would be HOUSE BILL NO.  14, "An Act relating to assault                                                               
in the  first degree; relating  to sex offenses; relating  to the                                                               
definition  of  'dangerous  instrument';  and  providing  for  an                                                               
aggravating factor  at sentencing for strangulation  that results                                                               
in unconsciousness."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:34:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN  LINCOLN, Alaska State Legislature,  as prime                                                               
sponsor  of HB  14,  paraphrased from  the  sponsor statement  as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     House   Bill  14   (HB  14)   classifies  the   act  of                                                                    
     ejaculating on a person without  their consent as a sex                                                                    
     crime   and   recognizes    the   serious   nature   of                                                                    
     strangulation  to  the   point  of  unconsciousness  by                                                                    
     classifying  the  act  as   first  degree  assault  and                                                                    
     including  it in  the list  of aggravating  factors for                                                                    
     sentencing.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     In the fall  of 2018 a plea  deal agreement illuminated                                                                    
     the  fact that  ejaculating on  a person  without their                                                                    
     consent could  not be  prosecuted as  a sex  offense in                                                                    
     Alaska. This  bill enhances sexual assault  statutes by                                                                    
     adding   unwanted  contact   with   ejaculate  to   the                                                                    
     definitions of  sexual assault in the  third degree and                                                                    
     sexual abuse of a minor  in the third degree, depending                                                                    
     on the age of the victim.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     HB   14   also    acknowledges   the   seriousness   of                                                                    
     strangulation. Strangulation  is prevalent  in domestic                                                                    
     violence  incidences,  and  56% of  women  murdered  in                                                                    
     Alaska in  2017 were killed  by an intimate  partner. A                                                                    
     study published  by the  Journal of  Emergency Medicine                                                                    
     found that a prior  non-fatal strangulation increases a                                                                    
     woman's  likelihood of  becoming a  homicide victim  by                                                                    
     700%,  and  non-fatal  strangulation  preceded  43%  of                                                                    
     domestic  homicides. This  bill recognizes  the gravity                                                                    
     of  strangulation  as  a precursor  to  future  violent                                                                    
     crimes.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN  thanked the  following:  49th  Rising, No                                                               
More Free  Passes, the  Alaska Network  on Domestic  Violence and                                                               
Sexual Assault  (ANDVSA), the Public Defender  Agency (Department                                                               
of Administration  (DOA)), Department  of Law  (DOL), Legislative                                                               
Legal Services, and the co-sponsors of HB 14.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:36:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to adopt  the committee substitute (CS) for                                                               
HB 14  [Version 31-LS0182\E, Radford,  2/26/19].  There  being no                                                               
objection, Version E was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:37:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROSE  FOLEY, Staff,  Representative  John  Lincoln, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of Representative Lincoln,  prime sponsor                                                               
of HB 14,  paraphrased from the sectional analysis  for Version E                                                               
as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section   1:   Amends  AS   11.41.200(a),   classifying                                                                    
     strangulation  to  the   point  of  unconsciousness  as                                                                    
     assault in the first degree.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2: Amends  AS 11.81.900(b)(15), clarifying that                                                                    
     "dangerous instrument"  with relation  to strangulation                                                                    
     includes hands or "other body parts".                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3:  Amends AS  11.81.900(b)(60), to  include in                                                                    
     the  definition  of  sexual  contact  "the  defendant's                                                                    
     knowingly causing the victim  to come into contact with                                                                    
     ejaculate".                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section    4:    Amends   AS    12.55.155(c),    adding                                                                    
     strangulation to  the point  of unconsciousness  to the                                                                    
     list  of  aggravating  factors   to  be  considered  at                                                                    
     sentencing.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section   5:  Establishes   that  the   provisions  are                                                                    
     applicable  only to  crimes committed  on or  after the                                                                    
     effective date of the legislation.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
[HB 14 was held over.]                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:39:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:39                                                                  
p.m.                                                                                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB34 ver A 2.28.19.PDF HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 34
HB34 Sponsor Statement 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 34
HB34 Supporting Document-Scott Johnson Memorial Scholarship Biography 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 34
HB34 Fiscal Note DOT-NRHA 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 34
HB12 ver U 2.28.19.PDF HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 CS ver S 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 Sponsor Statement 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 Sectional 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 Supporting Document - APOA Letter 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 Supporting Document- ALSC Letter 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 Additional Document - Whalen v Whalen 2018 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 Additional Document CPO Statute and Duration of Order 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 Fiscal Note DPS-DET 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB12 Fiscal Note DPS-CJISP 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HSTA 3/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 12
HB14 ver K 2.22.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Draft Proposed Blank CS ver E 2.27.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Sponsor Statement 2.22.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Sectional Analysis ver E 2.27.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB14 Summary of Changes ver K to ver E 2.27.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Supporting Document-Support Letter Alaska Peace Officers Association 2.229.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Supporting Document - Support Letter 49th Rising 2.27.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Fiscal Note CRIM 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Fiscal Note DOA-OPA 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Fiscal Note DOA-PDA 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB14 Fiscal Note DPS-DET 2.28.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14
HB014 Supporting Document - Letter of Support 3.6.19.pdf HSTA 2/28/2019 3:00:00 PM
HB 14