Legislature(1995 - 1996)

05/02/1996 01:30 PM Senate JUD

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
                   SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE                                  
                          May 2, 1996                                          
                           1:30 p.m.                                           
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
 Senator Robin Taylor, Chairman                                                
 Senator Lyda Green, Vice-Chairman                                             
 Senator Mike Miller                                                           
 Senator Al Adams                                                              
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
 Senator Johnny Ellis                                                          
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 306(STA)                                               
 "An Act providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds in             
 the amount of $148,500,000 for the purpose of paying the cost of              
 design and construction of state correctional facilities; and                 
 providing for an effective date."                                             
                                                                               
 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 379(JUD)                                                
 "An Act authorizing establishment of community dispute resolution             
 centers to foster the resolution of disputes between juvenile                 
 offenders and their victims."                                                 
                                                                               
 * SCHEDULED BUT NOT TAKEN UP THIS DATE.                                       
                                                                               
 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 306(JUD)                                                
 "An Act relating to a lien for services provided by a hospital,               
 nurse, or physician."                                                         
 * SCHEDULED BUT NOT TAKEN UP THIS DATE.                                       
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                             
                                                                               
 SB 306 - See State Affairs dated 4/02/96.                                     
                                                                               
 HB 379 - No previous action to record.                                        
                                                                               
 HB 306 - No previous action to record.                                        
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
 Laurie Otto                                                                   
 Deputy Attorney General                                                       
 Department of Law                                                             
 P.O. Box 110300                                                               
 Juneau, AK  99811-0300                                                        
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Offered information in support of SB 306               
                                                                               
 John Yarbor                                                                   
 Alaska State Employees Association                                            
 P.O. Box 671073                                                               
 Chugiak, AK  99567                                                            
  POSITION STATEMENT:   Opposes Section 7 of bill and suggests a               
      letter of intent to accompany bill                                       
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
                                                                               
 TAPE 96-45, SIDE A - DUE TO RECORDING PROBLEMS THE TAPE OF THIS               
 MEETING IS INAUDIBLE.                                                         
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN ROBIN TAYLOR  called the Judiciary Committee meeting to             
 order and announced the first order of business before the                    
 committee was SB 306.  Senators Taylor, Adams and Green were                  
 present.                                                                      
                                                                               
         SB 306 G.O. BONDS FOR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES                        
                                                                              
 LAURIE OTTO, Deputy Attorney General, explained SB 306 was                    
 introduced by the Senate Rules Committee at the request of the                
 Governor.  Prisons are overcrowded and have not been expanded since           
 1988.  Debate has focussed on whether to issue general obligation             
 bonds to build more prisons or to privatize future prisons.  The              
 proposed committee substitute would provide for a general                     
 obligation bond vote on the ballot to expand regional facilities,             
 and allow the Municipality of Anchorage to enter into lease                   
 agreements with private prison contractors.                                   
                                                                               
 JOHN YARBOR, Alaska State Employees Association, testified he                 
 originally supported the bill, but is opposed to Section 7 which              
 appears to allow the state to contract out for private prison                 
 employees.  He asked the committee to include a letter of intent to           
 accompany the bill to request that a 15 percent savings be shown in           
 prisons that are privatized.                                                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR ADAMS asked Mr. Yarbor if he had prepared a draft letter of           
 intent.  MR. YARBOR had not.                                                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR ADAMS discussed a draft letter of intent for the                      
 committee's approval which would require the Department of Labor to           
 keep statistics on prison work forces, union and non-union, showing           
 the percentage of Alaskans hired.                                             
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN TAYLOR noted version F of the proposed committee                     
 substitute does not make any reference to the Municipality of                 
 Anchorage.                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN moved to adopt version F as the Senate Judiciary                
 committee substitute.  There being no objection, the motion                   
 carried.                                                                      
 SENATOR ADAMS moved adoption of the amendment submitted by the                
 Department of Revenue.  There being no objection, the motion                  
 carried.                                                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN moved SCS CSSB 306(JUD) as amended from committee               
 with individual recommendations, with Senator Adams' letter of                
 intent.  There being no objection, the motion carried.                        
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN TAYLOR announced the committee would not hear any more               
 bills at this time as the Speaker of the House was not permitting             
 any legislation sponsored by those who voted against the tort                 
 reform bill in the Senate to be scheduled on the House floor and              
 adjourned the meeting.                                                        
                                                                               
                                                                               

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