00 Enrolled HB 52                                                                                                          
01 Authorizing psychological counseling for jurors serving in criminal trials who are                                      
02 traumatized by graphic evidence or testimony.                                                                           
03                           _______________                                                                               
04    * Section 1. AS 12.45 is amended by adding a new section to article 1 to read:                                     
05            Sec. 12.45.018. Juror counseling following graphic evidence or testimony.                                  
06       (a) The trial judge may offer not more than 10 hours of post-trial psychological                                  
07       counseling, without charge, to a juror or an alternate juror who serves on a trial jury in                        
08       a trial involving extraordinarily graphic, gruesome, or emotional evidence or                                     
09       testimony.                                                                                                        
10            (b)  The counseling offered under (a) of this section applies only to a juror or                             
11       alternate juror who serves on a trial jury for a trial involving the following offenses:                          
12                 (1)  murder under AS 11.41.100 and 11.41.110;                                                           
13                 (2)  manslaughter under AS 11.41.120;                                                                   
14                 (3)  criminally negligent homicide under AS 11.41.130;                                                  
01                 (4)  felonious assault under AS 11.41.200 - 11.41.220;                                                  
02                 (5)  a sexual offense under AS 11.41.410 - 11.41.460.                                                   
03            (c)  The counseling offered under (a) of this section                                                        
04                 (1)  must occur not later than 180 days after the jury is dismissed;                                    
05                 (2)  may be provided by the court system, by a state agency, or by                                      
06       contract; and                                                                                                     
07                 (3)  may be individual or group counseling.