Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/01/2013 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB81 | |
| HB33 | |
| SB65 | |
| HB69 | |
| HB83 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 33 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 65 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 33-KNIVES, GRAVITY KNIVES, & SWITCHBLADES
1:39:41 PM
CHAIR COGHILL announced the consideration of HB 33, and asked
for a motion to adopt the proposed Senate committee substitute
(CS).
SENATOR DYSON moved to adopt Senate CS for HB 33, labeled 28-
LS0194\C as the working document.
1:40:36 PM
CHAIR COGHILL objected for purposes of an explanation.
1:40:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MARK NEUMAN, sponsor of HB 33, stated support for
the Senate CS for HB 33, version C.
CHAIR COGHILL asked Mr. Kopp to explain the changes that version
C made.
1:41:37 PM
CHUCK KOPP, Staff to Senator Fred Dyson, stated that version C
was a cooperative effort with the bill sponsor. He explained
that Senator Dyson believes that criminal law should only apply
to conduct that is blame worthy or that threatens public safety.
Version C [incorporates SB 11] and makes it legal for a person
18 years or older to possess a gravity knife or switchblade.
He provided the following sectional analysis:
Section 1 decriminalizes the manufacture or sale of switchblades
or gravity knives and provides that a person may not transfer or
sell those knives to a person under age 18 without written
parental consent.
Section 2 provides that a person under age 16 may possess a
gravity knife or switchblade if he/she has parental consent.
Section 3 adopts definitions for the terms gravity knife and
switchblade.
[Section 4 adds "and knives" to AS 29.10.200.]
Sections 5 and 6 give authority to the state to regulate knives
so that a municipality can regulate conduct relating to knives
to the extent that the ordinance is the same or less restrictive
than state law. This is similar to the ability of the state to
regulate firearms.
Section 7 repeals AS 11.61.220(a)(5).
MR. KOPP relayed that his research shows that less than two
percent of assaults on public safety officers are done with
knives, and in the past two years public safety officers have
sustained no injuries or assaults from knives. Research also
indicates that knives are less dangerous to the general
population than other weapons, including hands and feet. He
argued that in a state where a non-felon can legally carry a
concealed handgun, it is incongruous that the person couldn't
carry a gravity knife or switchblade, as they would any other
knife. He directed attention to a display of legal knives.
1:46:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN said he discussed this with law
enforcement and the commissioner of public safety and they were
not concerned with version C.
CHAIR COGHILL asked the sponsor or Mr. Kopp to speak to the fact
that this law, if enacted, would impose a different standard
than is found in National Parks in the state.
MR. KOPP explained that Jeffrey Olson, the National Parks
spokesperson, said that the current federal parks' policy
regarding weapons enforcement is to comply with state law. He
said that knife regulations in the parks were less important
than guns, but he would follow up.
1:48:47 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he supports the bill, but would like
to hear from an attorney about the differences between federal
and state law regarding knives. He suggested that it would be a
good idea to educate Alaskans about what they can and can't do
legally on federal land in this state.
MR. KOPP explained that Mr. Olson encouraged the state to work
with local park service offices to clearly post the rules and
regulations. It's a duty of the state to communicate that public
information, he said.
CHAIR COGHILL encouraged the sponsors, before the bill reaches
the floor, to speak with either the Region 10 director or a park
supervisor in Alaska about how the bill may impact them.
MR. KOPP acknowledged the suggestion.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he'd be more comfortable receiving
written comments from the parks.
1:51:13 PM
SENATOR DYSON commented that thousands of Alaskans carry
assisted opening knives and they would be stunned to know that
they're illegal.
SENATOR DYSON moved to report [Senate CS for CSHB 33 from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).]
CHAIR COGHILL removed his objection and version C was before the
committee. He said he would take up the motion when public
testimony was finished.
RAY THIVAULT, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that he owns a large knife store in Anchorage and would like to
chime in that HB 33 would have a positive impact on trade
industries and professionals. He said he had nothing negative to
say about the bill.
1:53:50 PM
CHAIR COGHILL announced that without objection [SCS CSHB
33(JUD)] moved from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Senate CS for HB 69 Version I.pdf |
SJUD 4/1/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |
| Written testimony_HB69_Vasquez.docx |
SJUD 4/1/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |