SB 7-FELONS' RIGHT TO VOTE OR BE JURORS    9:14:03 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the next order of business would be SB 7, which would give convicted felons the right to vote or be jurors immediately upon their release from incarceration. He noted many states have recently revised their laws in this area. It is a complex issue in Alaska because our state constitution specifically provides that: No person may vote who has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude unless his civil rights have been restored." This phrase is not defined and has not been interpreted by our state courts, and its meaning is a matter of speculation. SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, sponsor of SB 7, said the bill is needed. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report SB 7 from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. SENATOR GIESSEL objected and said she has heard concerns from her constituents who are crime victims that felons on probation and parole are still under sentence, and it would be inappropriate to give them some kind of special exemption from fulfilling that sentence. Their victims did not choose to be victims. She noted a recent article in the Seattle Times that discusses granting special privileges to ex-convicts. The author provides interim housing for felons, and talks at length about how this is a very tricky business. These people have committed serious crimes, and they are not victimless crimes. People on probation and parole are still under sentence. Allowing them to vote is the wrong direction; instead, we should help them serve their parole and probation to regain their rights and credibility. 9:20:12 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI agreed it is a delicate issue. But, he noted, the recidivism rate appears to drop when people are allowed to vote. If the state can cut that rate by even 2 percent, it will save money and prevent future victims. He also said the bill has a referral to the Judiciary committee. SENATOR KOOKESH said giving ex-felons the right to vote does not absolve them of their crimes; it just gets them a step closer to being part of society. He stated the Native community has the highest number of incarcerated people in the state. Forcing people on probation to stay in urban centers is part of the recidivism problem. Whatever can be done to return them to society is what we should do. Recidivism would drop. This would be a good step. Perhaps we should give felons the right to vote when their probationary period is done. He said he wants to move the bill on for further discussion. 9:23:56 AM SENATOR GIESSEL said that felons already regain the right to vote after their probation is completed. SENATOR GIESSEL removed her objection. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report SB 7 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, it was so ordered.