SB 123-USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES WHILE DRIVING                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:34:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MCGUIRE  announced  the   consideration  of  SB  123.  She                                                               
solicited a motion  to adopt the work  draft committee substitute                                                               
(CS)  and noted  the  individuals who  were  available to  answer                                                               
questions.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:35:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COGHILL  moved to  adopt the  work draft  CS for  SB 123,                                                               
labeled 29-LS1198\H, as the working document.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE  found no  objection and version  H was  before the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:35:36 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KEVIN MEYER,  Alaska State  Legislature,  sponsor of  SB                                                               
123, summarized  that the bill  seeks to  make it easier  to cite                                                               
people  who  text  while  driving.   It  is  mirrored  after  the                                                               
Anchorage ordinance  and imposes a  $500 fine for  the violation.                                                               
He assured the members that this  is not intended to be a revenue                                                               
bill and offered  his belief that it will result  in a savings to                                                               
the  state.  Changing  the  offense   from  a  misdemeanor  to  a                                                               
violation  will  avoid  the  lengthy  investigation  process  and                                                               
potential jury trial.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE commented that she  believes this will get people's                                                               
attention.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:37:56 PM                                                                                                                    
EDRA  MORLEDGE,  Staff,  Senator Kevin  Meyers,  highlighted  the                                                               
changes  in version  H  of SB  123. She  noted  that the  packets                                                               
contain a memo from Legislative  Legal Services that answers many                                                               
of  the questions  raised  during the  previous  hearing. At  the                                                               
drafter's suggestion,  the CS cites  Title 12 for the  penalty so                                                               
people understand this is a  violation, not a traffic infraction.                                                               
The  next  change,  which  was suggested  by  the  Court  System,                                                               
directs the court to include  the violation in the bail schedule.                                                               
An  effective date  of July  1 also  was added  to allow  time to                                                               
accomplish these changes.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE found no questions and solicited a motion.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:39:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COGHILL moved to report the  CS for SB 123 from committee                                                               
with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:39:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced that without  objection, CSSB 123(JUD) is                                                               
reported from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.