2004-03-04                     Senate Journal                      Page 2404
SB 217                                                                                            
The Judiciary Committee considered SENATE BILL NO. 217 "An                                          
Act relating to genetic privacy; and amending Rule 82, Alaska Rules                                 
of Civil Procedure, and Rule 508, Alaska Rules of Appellate                                         
Procedure" and recommended it be replaced with                                                      
                                                                                                    
                     CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 217(JUD) "An Act                                       
            relating to genetic privacy."                                                           
                                                                                                    
and further recommends the adoption of the following Judiciary Letter                               
of Intent:                                                                                          
                                                                                                    
                                 Letter of Intent                                                  
                                                                                                    
      The Legislature finds that recent scientific breakthroughs in                                 
      decoding DNA samples have the potential of disclosing the                                     
      probable medical future of individual families' bloodlines                                    
      when samples are collected, retained and disclosed without                                    
      consent. The Legislature has determined that such disclosure                                  
      may lead to harm of an individual and their blood relatives,                                  
      including discrimination in areas such as employment,                                         
      education, healthcare and insurance. Concern exists that the                                  
      current laws regarding collection, retention or disclosure of                                 
      DNA information are inadequate and steps should be taken to                                   
      protect genetic privacy, property interests and information                                   
      derived from samples. As a result, SB 217 has been passed to                                  
      define the rights of individuals whose genetic information is                                 
      collected and their property rights in that information.                                      
      Further, the law defines the circumstances under which an                                     

2004-03-04                     Senate Journal                      Page 2405
              individual may be subject to genetic testing and which                               
          information may be collected, analyzed, retained or disclosed.                           
               The law is not intended to impact state uses of DNA                                 
      information specifically authorized by other state statutes.                                  
                                                                                                    
Signing no recommendation: Senator Seekins, Chair; Senators                                         
Therriault, Ogan. Signing do pass: Senator French.                                                  
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 4, zero, Department of Law                                                         
 Fiscal Note No. 5, zero, Department of Public Safety                                               
                                                                                                    
The following previously published fiscal information applies:                                      
 Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Alaska Court System                                                       
                                                                                                    
The bill was referred to the Rules Committee.