1994-03-09                     House Journal                      Page 2687
HB 524                                                                       
Protecting Alaskans from stalkers and domestic violence requires               
giving peace officers the tools to act -- to intervene -- and to do so         
immediately.  I urge your favorable action on this bill.                       
                                                                               
				Sincerely,                                                                 
									/s/                                                                   
				Walter J. Hickel                                                           
				Governor"                                                                  
                                                                               
                                                                               
HB 525                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 525 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act amending Alaska Rule of Evidence 404, relating to the                 
admissibility of certain character evidence in court proceedings."             
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance              
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
                                                                               
The following fiscal notes apply:                                              
                                                                               
Zero fiscal notes (2), Dept. of Administration, 3/9/94                         
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Public Safety, 3/9/94                               
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Law, 3/9/94                                         
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter, dated March 9, 1994, appears below:         
                                                                               
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Barnes:                                                          
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am     
transmitting a bill that amends Alaska Rule of Evidence 404 in several         
respects to help protect the victims of crimes in this state.                  
                                                                               
In far too many cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child          
sexual abuse, Alaska's victims are often themselves "put on trial" in          
the course of criminal proceedings.  The emotional trauma that such            
crime victims routinely suffer in the criminal justice system can in           
some cases be nearly as traumatic as the crime itself.