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SB 64                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 64 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to homicide resulting from conduct                                                                   
          involving controlled substances; relating to the                                                                      
          computation of good time; and providing for an                                                                        
          effective date."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Administration                                                                                
 Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Administration                                                                                
 Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Corrections                                                                             
 Fiscal Note No. 4, zero, Department of Family and Community                                                                    
  Services                                                                                                                      
 Fiscal Note No. 5, zero, Department of Law                                                                                     
 Fiscal Note No. 6, zero, Department of Public Safety                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 7:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to penalties for drug                                                           
distribution and using controlled substances.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Drugs and drug overdoses have had a devastating effect on our state.                                                            
According to the Department of Health's 2021 Drug Overdose                                                                      
Mortality Update, between 2020 and 2021, Alaska experienced the                                                                 
largest percent increase of drug overdose deaths of any state. In 2021,                                                         

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Alaska recorded over 100 deaths more than the previous year.                                                                    
Unfortunately, fentanyl, a highly potent opioid, makes up a large                                                               
percentage of these drug related deaths. Increasingly, those who                                                                
distribute drugs are mixing fentanyl with other types of drugs in order                                                         
to cultivate addiction and attract buyers. These buyers may not                                                                 
necessarily know that fentanyl is mixed in with their drug of choice,                                                           
increasing the risks associated with drug use.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
This legislation attacks the problem at the point of distribution,                                                              
making it second degree murder when a person distributes or                                                                     
manufactures a controlled substance and a person dies as a direct                                                               
result of ingesting that substance. This legislation further serves to                                                          
protect our communities by ensuring offenders convicted of                                                                      
distributing or manufacturing drugs will not be subject to early release                                                        
due to a “good time” deduction from their sentence. Those who choose                                                            
to manufacture or distribute drugs illegally should be put on notice                                                            
that there are significant consequences for the harm they cause.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor