02/26/2003 01:35 PM Senate CRA

        HB  68-OFFICE OF VICTIMS' RIGHTS: INCLUDE MUNIS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RALPH  SAMUELS,  co-sponsor, explained  the  bill                                                               
clarifies language of the 22  Legislature. The Office of Victims'                                                               
Rights was  created by the  22 Legislature  in an effort  to give                                                               
victims an independent voice in  the criminal justice system. The                                                               
difficulty regarding  HB 68  arose after  the shooting  of former                                                               
Commissioner  Glen  Godfrey  and   his  wife  Patty.  The  family                                                               
contacted the victims'  rights office so they would  have a voice                                                               
in the  debacle over  the 911 call  in Anchorage.  Conflict arose                                                               
because the  city attorney adopted  the view  that municipalities                                                               
weren't  specifically  covered  in   the  statute  and  therefore                                                               
wouldn't  release  information on  other  cases  to the  victims'                                                               
rights   office.    This   legislation    specifically   includes                                                               
municipalities in the definition of a justice agency.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS  said he  was available for  questions and                                                               
Mr. Branchflower was on line to respond to questions as well.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WAGONER  asked  Mr.  Branchflower  if  he  would  like  to                                                               
testify.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STEVE  BRANCHFLOWER  from  the  Office  of  Victims'  Rights                                                               
replied  Representative  Samuels'   presentation  adequately  and                                                               
correctly justified the legislation.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Since and because of the  911 debacle in Anchorage, the municipal                                                               
assembly  adopted  a  resolution  wherein  they  acknowledge  the                                                               
Office  of   Victims'  Rights  does   have  oversight   over  the                                                               
municipality.  Subsequently  they  promulgated  Ordinance  2003-2                                                               
where as a matter of law,  they have accepted jurisdiction of the                                                               
office.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He urged passage of the legislation.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There was no further testimony.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WAGONER called for a motion to move the legislation.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR TAYLOR  made a motion  to move  CSHB 68 (JUD)  \D version                                                               
and  accompanying  fiscal  note from  committee  with  individual                                                               
recommendations.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
There being no objection, it was so ordered.