02/12/2025 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB69 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
February 12, 2025
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Matt Claman, Chair
Senator Jesse Kiehl, Vice Chair
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Robert Myers
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 69
"An Act relating to sexual assault examination kits;
establishing the sexual assault examination kit tracking system;
and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 69
SHORT TITLE: SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS/TRACKING
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
01/24/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/25 (S) JUD, FIN
02/03/25 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/03/25 (S) Heard & Held
02/03/25 (S) MINUTE(JUD)
02/12/25 (S) JUD AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
JAMES COCKRELL, Commissioner
Department of Public Safety
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a wrap up statement on SB 69.
LAUREE MORTON, Deputy Director
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 69.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:30:23 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN called the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee
meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present at the call to order were
Senators Myers, Stevens, Tobin, Kiehl, and Chair Claman.
SB 69-SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS/TRACKING
1:30:59 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 69
"An Act relating to sexual assault examination kits;
establishing the sexual assault examination kit tracking system;
and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR CLAMAN said this is the second hearing of SB 69 in the
Senate Judiciary Committee. He invited the Department of Public
Safety to make comments on SB 69.
1:31:39 PM
JAMES COCKRELL, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety,
Anchorage, Alaska, stated SB 69 is an important bill to the
people of Alaska and extremely important to survivors of sexual
violence. He expressed hope that SB 69 will make it across the
finish line this year.
1:32:23 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN opened public testimony on SB 69.
1:32:53 PM
LAUREE MORTON, Deputy Director, Alaska Network on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 69 and offered the following paraphrased
personal remarks:
MS. MORTON stated, speaking in her own words and not that of
ANDVSA, if sexual assault forensic exam kits had been available
in years past, along with a way to track them independently, she
would have been thankful. She emphasized that when a person
commits sexual assault, they take more than just a forced sexual
experience. She described additional losses and traumas that
survivors endure, such as:
- The fundamental right to self-determination over one's body.
- How and when one's body is touched.
- The physical invasion of the being.
- The crushing of the spirit.
- The stripping of every fiber of control over what happens to
oneself.
- The alteration of the essence of self.
MS. MORTON explained that in the mind-numbing days, weeks,
months after an attack, life somehow goes on. The survivor does
not want to be a burden to anyone. People in the system are so
busy and it feels like an intrusion to ask for anything. One
feels a heightened sense of not wanting to be intrusive. So, the
survivor sits and wonders, lashes out and wonders, acts as if it
did not happen, and wonders. She expressed how she could see how
Track-Kit may be a Godsend to those who catch themselves
thinking about it at 11:00 p.m. or 3:00 a.m. It is technology
used in a way to bring comfort, some semblance of autonomy back
into a life.
MS. MORTON expressed appreciation that the bill would establish
in statute a victim's right to access and track their kit. She
expressed appreciation for the governor's suggestions to
streamline processing and improve the kits movement through the
system. She said any effort that reduces the processing time
while maintaining accuracy is valuable.
MS. MORTON expressed appreciation to the committee for:
- Its work to better the lives of those who suffer through
sexual assault crimes.
- Its consideration of ways to improve the system.
- Allowing survivors to have more agency over what happens to
them and creating a space where it happens with them.
MS. MORTON expressed gratitude for the committees support.
1:35:56 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN closed public testimony on SB 69.
1:36:05 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN invited Commissioner Cockrell an opportunity to
make final comments on SB 69.
1:36:18 PM
COMMISSIONER COCKRELL expressed gratitude to the committee for
hearing SB 69. He emphasized the importance of this bill to DPS
and to those who have been victimized. SB 69 is a step forward.
1:37:27 PM
At ease.
1:37:53 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the amendment
deadline along with other committee housekeeping matters.
1:38:29 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Claman adjourned the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee
meeting at 1:38 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 69 Research - DPS Follow-Up to Senate Judiciary Committee Questions 2.10.25.pdf |
SJUD 2/12/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 Letters of Support received as of 2.12.25.pdf |
SJUD 2/12/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |
| SB 69 Testimony - Amend received as of 2.12.25.pdf |
SJUD 2/12/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 69 |