00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 52                                                                          
01 "An Act authorizing psychological counseling for jurors serving in criminal trials who                                  
02 are traumatized by graphic evidence or testimony."                                                                      
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
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.