05/12/2025 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY

         HB  35-PRISONERS: ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESS/USE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:52:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   CLAMAN  reconvened   the   meeting   and  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 that this  is the second  hearing of HB  35 in                                                               
the  Senate Judiciary  Committee.  SCS CSHB  35,  version H,  was                                                               
adopted  in the  previous  hearing. [The  intent  is to  consider                                                               
adoption of a new Senate committee substitute (SCS), version O.]                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:52:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLAMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:52:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KIEHL moved  to adopt  the  Senate committee  substitute                                                               
(SCS)  for  CSHB  35,  work order  34-LS0355\O,  as  the  working                                                               
document.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:53:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLAMAN objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:53:21 PM                                                                                                                    
BREANNA  KAKARUK,  Staff,  Senator   Matt  Claman,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau,   Alaska,  Presented  the   Explanation  of                                                               
Changes for HB 35 from version T to version O.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     House Bill 35: Version T to Version O                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, lines 16-18:                                                                                                       
          Insert: "or as a substitution for in-person                                                                           
     visitation,    receiving   mail,    receiving   medical                                                                    
     services, or other in-person communication"                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, following line 21:                                                                                                 
          Insert new subsection to read: "(f) The                                                                               
     commissioner may not  replace in-person visitation with                                                                    
     the  use of  a computer  or electronic  tablet. To  the                                                                    
     extent  practicable, the  commissioner may  not replace                                                                    
     an existing  program or service provided  to a prisoner                                                                    
     for the  purpose of  rehabilitation with  the use  of a                                                                    
     computer   or   electronic  tablet   authorized   under                                                                    
     (a)(3)(I)  of this  section. A  computer or  electronic                                                                    
     tablet  may  be used  only  to  supplement an  existing                                                                    
     program or service."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 24:                                                                                                           
          Conforming changes.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:54:28 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLAMAN  removed his objection  and SCS CSHB 35  was adopted                                                               
as the working document.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CLAMAN  noted that the superintendent  from Hiland Mountain                                                               
Correctional  Facility  and  the  deputy  commissioner  from  the                                                               
Department  of   Corrections  (DOC)  were  available   to  answer                                                               
questions. He invited committee members to ask questions.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:55:10 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR TOBIN asked                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:56:07 PM                                                                                                                    
APRIL WILKERSON, Deputy  Commissioner, Department of Corrections,                                                               
Juneau, Alaska,  Answered questions  during the discussion  of HB
. Sought clarification the question  pertained to how DOC would                                                               
protect  inmates who  utilized  tablets from  cyber phishing  and                                                               
theft.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:56:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR TOBIN answered in the affirmative.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. WILKERSON responded  that the program is operated  by a third                                                               
vendor who ensures                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:57:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR TOBIN curious  if there has been convo  in the department                                                               
about general  literacy, knowing that  any of those  skills might                                                               
have been developed, lacking the muscle                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. WILKERSON replied that                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:58:58 PM                                                                                                                    
BRANDON  JONES,  Superintendent,   Hiland  Mountain  Correctional                                                               
Facility,  Eagle River,  Alaska,  Answered  questions during  the                                                               
discussion of HB 35.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:00:15 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLAMAN asked subsection (f) in  the SCS, what happens if it                                                               
is not an existing program, but  a new program only offered as an                                                               
online course, does (f) mean the leg will have to amend this sub                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:00:57 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. WILKERSON  replied that  she would defer  to the  policy, but                                                               
our  understanding  behind  the   intent  identify  effiecies  in                                                               
processes  as  well  as  in  expanding  the  services  to  inmate                                                               
population, some  switching to an  online platform,  capture both                                                               
when the tablets are the option.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:02:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  CLAMAN found  no further  questions and  invited the  bill                                                               
sponsor to make comments.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:02:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLAMAN held SCS CSHB 35, version 0, in committee.