Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
05/07/2025 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB19 | |
| HB35 | |
| SB167 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 35 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 167 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 35-PRISONERS: ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESS/USE
2:40:00 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 35(STA) "An Act relating to the use and possession of
electronic devices by prisoners."
CHAIR CLAMAN said this is the first hearing of this bill in the
Senate Judiciary Committee. The intention is to hear a Senate
committee substitute (SCS) for HB 35.
2:40:13 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN solicited a motion.
2:40:20 PM
SENATOR KIEHL moved to adopt the Senate committee substitute
(SCS) for CSHB 35, work order 34-LS0355\T, as the working
document.
2:40:35 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
2:40:48 PM
BREANNA KAKARUK, Staff, Senator Matt Claman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the summary of changes
for HB 35 from version H to version T.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Summary of Changes
House Bill 35: Version H to Version T
Page 2, line 14, following "X":
Insert: "or"
Page 2, line 14, following "NC-17":
Delete: ", or television shows rated "TV-MA"
MS. KAKARUK said version T contained some conforming changes.
2:41:19 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN removed his objection and SCS CSHB 35 was adopted
as the working document.
CHAIR CLAMAN invited the bill sponsor to introduce HB 35.
2:41:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REBECCA HIMSCHOOT, District 2, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 35, introduced her
bill. She stated that tablets are found in 48 other correctional
systems and said Alaska is behind in adopting similar policies.
She explained that the bill provides policy direction to the
Department of Corrections, allowing it to negotiate with vendors
to bring tablets into the system. The goal of HB 35 is to reduce
recidivism rates, which are among the highest in the nation, and
to prepare better the approximately 95 percent of incarcerated
individuals who will return to their communities to be more
successful upon their return.
2:42:37 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN announced invited testimony on HB 35.
2:42:59 PM
MARSHA OSS, Reentry Coordinator, Fairbanks Reentry Coalition,
Fairbanks, Alaska, testified by invitation in support of HB 35.
She stated that she draws from her lived experience, having
grown up in an environment that included untreated mental
illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other forms of
trauma. She said she spent a lot of her youth and adulthood in
juvenile detention, foster care, and girls' homes, and
ultimately was arrested for a felony.
MS. OSS stated that she serves approximately 110 individuals
through her coalition in the Fairbanks area. She said she
previously worked as a case manager for five years and as a
substance abuse counselor for more than 25 years, primarily in
hospitals and correctional facilities. She described her work
with justice-involved individuals as her life's work. She spent
36 years working full-time while giving back to her community
through various volunteer positions.
MS. OSS stated that getting an education or graduating is not a
conversation many of her clients have had, nor has she ever had
with a parent or anyone. She described herself and clients as
"throw-away" kids. She emphasized the importance of planning
before reentry, noting that successful reentry contributes to
safer communities. She explained that developing a structured
plan before release helps ensure individuals can access services
such as obtaining a GED, entering trade programs, and connecting
with support systems. She stated that tablets could assist by
allowing individuals to communicate with peer support, case
managers, counselors, and other service providers before
release. Increased access to resources, such as Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, college
paperwork, and paperwork for the Literacy Council of Alaska,
would help get individuals going.
MS. OSS said the Fairbanks Reentry Coalition supports HB 35 and
DOC's efforts to expand opportunities.
2:46:37 PM
BARBARA MONGAR, Coalition Coordinator, Mat-Su Reentry Coalition,
Mat-Su, Alaska, testified by invitation in support of HB 35. She
stated that she has served in her role for approximately 5.5
years. The coalition includes state agencies, such as the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and the
Department of Corrections (DOC), as well as community substance
treatment centers, Mat-Su Health Services, tribal organizations,
nonprofit entities, and private community service organizations.
MS. MONGAR explained that the coalition's strong community
partnerships enable the delivery of wraparound services to its
clients. She stated that reentry planning begins at least 30
days before release and includes services such as case planning,
housing support, employment assistance, parole and probation
support, and referrals for substance use and mental health
treatment.
MS. MONGAR stated that HB 35 would help remove barriers to
incarcerated individuals' access to electronic devices, such as
computers and tablets. She said that the Mat-Su Reentry
Coalition supports DOC's efforts to expand access to electronic
devices for vocational training, education, treatment and
recovery services, reentry planning, housing and employment
assistance, telehealth, peer support, tribal visitation, and
other services.
MS. MONGAR emphasized that early access to services increases
the likelihood of successful reintegration and stated that
successful reentry contributes to safer communities.
2:49:02 PM
DON HABEGER, Coalition Coordinator, The Juneau Reentry
Coalition, Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation in support of
HB 35. He stated that he would highlight two primary points.
MR. HABEGER highlighted his first point: that community partners
face ongoing challenges in accessing incarcerated individuals
before release. He emphasized the importance of beginning
reentry work before individuals are released, not at the gate.
He provided examples of situations that limited access to
incarcerated individuals. He said communications were shut down
during the COVID pandemic. The Lemon Creek Correctional Center
was temporarily closed due to compromised building structures.
He said these were unintended events that prevented the
community from working with incarcerated individuals.
MR. HABEGER spoke to his second point and described the
limitations of the phone system. He explained that if he misses
a call from an incarcerated individual, he receives a general
recording that states, "somebody from one of our institutions
tried to call you." He said if he is not there to pick up the
call and accept charges, he has no way of knowing who called. He
expressed his belief that tablets could help address some of
these challenges and communication barriers.
MR. HABEGER pointed out that other states have implemented
similar programs and are seeing positive results. He referred to
a program in California, The Last Mile. It provides digital
skills training to incarcerated individuals to help them become
programmers. He said 75 percent of participants who complete the
program are hired, and 40 percent of those earn above-average
wages. The goal for those who are released is to find employment
and become productive members of their communities.
2:52:27 PM
TERI TIBBET, Coordinator, Alaska Reentry Partnership, Juneau,
Alaska, testified by invitation in support of HB 35. She stated
that she agreed with and echoed the testimony provided by
previous speakers.
MS. TIBBET pointed out that recidivism rates have dropped in
Alaska, noting that data from 2015 to 2021 shows a decrease from
approximately 63.17 percent to 54.49 percent. She said that this
decline coincides with the expansion of reentry efforts
beginning around 2015. She explained that during that time, the
Alaska Mental Health Trust began funding reentry coalitions, and
the Department of Health implemented grants to support reentry
case managers working with individuals on reentry plans before
release. She stated that many support systems have been
implemented since 2015 that coincide with the decline in
recidivism rates.
MS. TIBBET noted that, while she does not have specific data
establishing a direct causal relationship, the timing of these
initiatives and the reduction in recidivism suggest they may be
contributing factors. She said the Alaska Reentry Partnership
supports the passage of HB 35 and the effort to expand digital
technology inside correctional facilities so those incarcerated
can leave better than they entered.
2:55:27 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN opened public testimony on HB 35; finding none, he
closed public testimony.
2:55:50 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked whether the Department of Corrections
considered how to address potential risks of individuals with
limited internet literacy. She expressed concern that
individuals could be vulnerable to identity theft or other
harmful activities and asked what safeguards are in place to
protect them.
CHAIR CLAMAN stated that the DOC would be asked to address that
question at a future hearing.
2:56:37 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN held HB 35 in committee.