Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
04/30/2025 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB156 | |
| HB97 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 156 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 97-ORG. RETAIL THEFT/FUND;MKTPLACE SALES TAX
1:15:53 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 97, "An Act relating to theft; relating to
organized retail theft; relating to property crimes; relating to
aggravating factors at sentencing; establishing a statewide
marketplace facilitator sales tax; and establishing the
organized retail theft fund in the general fund." [Before the
committee, adopted as the working document on 3/26/25, was the
proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 97, Version 34-
LS0109\T, C. Radford, 3/25/25 ("Version T").]
1:16:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute for Version T, Version 34-LS0109\O, C. Radford,
4/23/25, as the working document.
CHAIR GRAY objected for purposes of discussion.
1:16:57 PM
NATE GRAHAM, Staff, Representative Andrew Gray, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Gray, summarized the
changes from Version T to Version O from a written explanation
of changes [included in the committee packet], which read as
follows:
Section 1:
Adds the crime of human trafficking
Section 2:
Makes human trafficking an unclassified felony
Section 3:
Makes human trafficking in the 2nd degree a class a
felony
Section 4:
Makes the new crime of human trafficking in the third
degree
Section 5 - 13:
Conforming language / not changed
Section 14:
Wage theft, includes "intentionally" from Amendment 1
Section 15:
From amendment 3
Section 16:
From amendment 3
Section 17 - 19:
Not Changed / Conforming
Section 20:
Defines "adult entertainment"
Section 21 - 23:
Conforming
Section 24:
From Amendment 2
Section 25 - 26:
Conforming / Not Changed
Section 27 29:
From Amendment 2
Section 30 - 32
Repealed Statutes / Applicability / Effective date
CHAIR GRAY removed his objection. There being no further
objection, Version O was before the committee.
1:22:39 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:22 p.m.
1:23:18 PM
CHAIR GRAY sought questions from members of the committee.
1:29:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked Mr. Skidmore to describe human
trafficking under the purview of HB 97 and how the particular
penalties were chosen.
JOHN SKIDMORE, Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Division,
Department of Law (DOL), gave a detailed sectional analyses of
the changes in Version O, which adds the crime of human
trafficking to the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE sought to confirm that Version O would add
varying degrees of human trafficking to Alaska statutes. She
asked Mr. Skidmore to explain why this is important.
MR. SKIDMORE explained that under current law, there are two
levels of human trafficking; Version O would add a third degree.
Human trafficking in the first degree targets the most egregious
conduct that's performed with the use or threat of force or
targeting anyone under the age of 21; Human trafficking in
second degree involves conduct that's induced or caused; Human
trafficking in the third degree is designed to target the
individuals assisting in human trafficking by providing other
resources and services.
1:31:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked whether under current law, someone
aiding and abetting human trafficking could be charged with a
crime.
MR. SKIDMORE said prosecutors would need to evaluate whether
that person was acting as an accomplice to the trafficking.
CHAIR GRAY gave an overview of the bill's evolution. He
reminded the committee that HB 97 started as an organized crime
bill that incorporated aspects of the governor's mail theft
legislation and the addition of wage theft and human
trafficking.
1:34:15 PM
EVAN ANDERSON, Staff, Representative Zack Fields, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Fields, prime sponsor,
said the bill sponsor is appreciative of the changes and looks
forward to further progress.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether the bill sponsor supports the
addition of human trafficking.
MR. ANDERSON answered yes.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE shared her understanding that its an
important issue that aligns with Representative Fields's
priorities.
CHAIR GRAY opined that human trafficking is the most extreme
form of wage theft.
1:36:01 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:36 p.m.
1:36:15 PM
CHAIR GRAY gave final comment on the bill. He said his office
was most involved in adding the crime of wage theft to the bill.
Wage theft is one of the most common and least prosecuted crimes
in Alaska. He stressed that when an employer deliberately
refuses to pay wages that workers earn, it is theft and should
be treated as such.
1:37:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID moved to report CSHB 97, Version 34-
LS0109\O, C. Radford, 4/23/25, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE objected for purposes of discussion. She
encouraged people to continue testifying on this issue because
it compels the legislature's action and thanked them for their
engagement. She characterized human trafficking as modern-day
slavery and pointed out that in 2025, there is still no law that
provides justice for victims. She added that it's a bipartisan
effort that is a culmination of years of work and expressed her
hope that it would make it across the finish line.
CHAIR GRAY announced that there being no further objection, CSHB
97(JUD) was reported out of the House Judiciary Standing
Committee and authorized Legislative Legal Services to make any
necessary technical or conforming changes.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 97 Summary of Changes Version H to Version O.pdf |
HJUD 4/30/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 CS2 Ver.O.pdf |
HJUD 4/30/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 Amendment 2 Gray.pdf |
HJUD 4/30/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 Amendment 3 Gray.pdf |
HJUD 4/30/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 Amendment 4 Gray.pdf |
HJUD 4/30/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 Amendment 5 Vance.pdf |
HJUD 4/30/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 Amendment 1 Vance.pdf |
HJUD 4/30/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |