HB 464: "An Act establishing an Advisory Committee on Minority Judicial Sentencing Practices; and providing for an effective date."
00HOUSE BILL NO. 464 01 "An Act establishing an Advisory Committee on Minority Judicial Sentencing 02 Practices; and providing for an effective date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MINORITY JUDICIAL SENTENCING 05 PRACTICES. There is established the Advisory Committee on Minority Judicial Sentencing 06 Practices as a temporary committee to assist the judicial council in its review and investigation 07 of, and formulation of responses to, problems and concerns arising out of the judicial council's 08 findings of apparent discrimination in the sentencing of minority persons convicted of crimes 09 in the courts of the state. 10 * Sec. 2. MEMBERSHIP. (a) The Advisory Committee on Minority Judicial Sentencing 11 Practices is composed of nine members, selected as follows: 12 (1) three members, appointed by the judicial council, who shall be broadly 13 representative of criminal justice agencies; 14 (2) three Alaska Natives, one appointed by the governor, and one by the
01 presiding officer of each house of the legislature; 02 (3) two African-Americans, one appointed by the presiding officer of each 03 house of the legislature; and 04 (4) one member from another minority, appointed by the governor. 05 (b) Appointments shall be made with due consideration to the availability and 06 willingness of an appointee to devote the time and efforts necessary to permit the committee 07 to function effectively, and with regard to the degree of commitment of an appointee to the 08 principle of equal justice under law for all people. Appointments shall be without regard to 09 political affiliation and shall be made, if possible, within 20 days of the effective date of this 10 Act, or of the effective date of any vacancy in the membership of the committee. 11 (c) Vacancies in office shall be filled in the manner provided in (a) of this section. 12 * Sec. 3. COMPENSATION. The members of the Advisory Committee on Minority 13 Judicial Sentencing Practices do not receive compensation for their services, but they are 14 entitled to per diem and transportation expenses as provided for members of boards and 15 commissions under AS 39.20.180. 16 * Sec. 4. CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR. The members of the Advisory Committee on 17 Minority Judicial Sentencing Practices shall elect a chair and vice-chair from the members of 18 the committee. 19 * Sec. 5. MEETINGS. The Advisory Committee on Minority Judicial Sentencing Practices 20 shall meet at least once every two months to carry out its duties under this Act. The first 21 meeting of the committee shall be convened at the call of the chair of the Alaska Judicial 22 Council not later than 20 days following appointment of the nine members of the committee. 23 * Sec. 6. DUTIES. The Advisory Committee on Minority Judicial Sentencing Practices 24 shall 25 (1) receive and review reports concerning sentencing, correction, probation, and 26 parole practices and procedures, with particular regard to the treatment of individuals who are 27 members of racial or cultural minorities; 28 (2) hold public hearings and meetings to determine whether racial or cultural 29 minorities are being unfairly disadvantaged in their involvement with the criminal justice 30 system; and 31 (3) complete a report with recommendations for the correction of abuses and
01 violations of the civil rights of racial or cultural minorities that may be found to exist in the 02 criminal justice system, furnishing copies to the judicial council, the governor, and the 03 presiding officer of each house of the legislature not later than February 1, 1995. 04 * Sec. 7. TERMINATION. The Advisory Committee on Minority Judicial Sentencing 05 Practices terminates March 1, 1995. 06 * Sec. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).