2018-01-18                     Senate Journal                      Page 1773
SB 149                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 149 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                "An Act relating to the surcharge imposed for                                                                  
          violation of state or municipal law."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Corrections                                                                             
 Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Public Safety                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 17:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Kelly,                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to the surcharge imposed                                                        
on individuals convicted of violations of state or municipal law.                                                               
                                                                                                                                

2018-01-18                     Senate Journal                      Page 1774
This bill would increase the surcharge fee collected under                                                                      
AS 12.55.039 for conviction of a felony from $100 to $200, for                                                                  
conviction of violation of a misdemeanor or municipal law offense                                                               
from $75 to $150, for conviction of violation of a municipal ordinance                                                          
from $50 to $100. For misdemeanor convictions, for which a sentence                                                             
of incarceration may not be imposed, the surcharge would increase                                                               
from $10 to $20. The Legislature may appropriate money collected                                                                
from the surcharge fee to the Alaska police training fund                                                                       
(AS 18.65.225). The increased revenue as a result of the increased                                                              
surcharge fee would, if appropriated by the Legislature, be used to                                                             
stabilize and enhance public safety by helping fund training for both                                                           
law enforcement and corrections.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This proposed bill strikes the necessary balance between the need to                                                            
adequately fund police training programs and the ability of a convicted                                                         
defendant to pay the surcharge. To create a Safer Alaska we need to                                                             
ensure our officers are receiving adequate training in order to protect                                                         
the ones we love.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor