04/24/1995 01:36 PM Senate JUD

                  HB 200 CUSTODY OF PRISONERS                                 
                                                                              
 DENNY DEWITT, legislative aide to Representative Mulder, sponsor of           
 the measure, gave the following testimony.  HB 200 completes the              
 move of community jails from the Department of Public Safety to the           
 Department of Corrections by making the technical changes required            
 to change authority to the Commissioner of the Department of                  
 Corrections.  Both the Hickel budget and the Knowles budget                   
 proposals, in both the House and Senate versions, make the                    
 financial transfer.                                                           
                                                                               
 Number 037                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR ADAMS asked about the number of employee transfers included           
 in the financial transfer.  MR. DEWITT replied a contract function            
 is transferred; local agencies provide those services under                   
 contract.  The House budget contained two departmental positions to           
 manage the program; the Senate version contained one position.                
 Jail employees are municipal employees, however the state does pay            
 for some employee expenses under the contract.                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR stated he understood the program to be managed by a            
 Dept. of Public Safety employee one-quarter time, yet through the             
 committee process, two full-time positions were added to administer           
 a single form of contract, signed by 14 people.                               
                                                                               
 Number 080                                                                    
                                                                               
 MR. DEWITT believed the House Finance subcommittee included two               
 positions based on the premise that more than simple contract                 
 management would be necessary; supervision and other functions                
 would be added.  The additional functions were part of the reason             
 for the transfer to the Dept. of Corrections.  A recommendation               
 from the Task Force on Community Jails suggested more technical               
 assistance from the Department in the operation and supervision of            
 community jails.                                                              
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR noted HB 200 has a referral to the Senate Finance              
 Committee where that issue can be reviewed.                                   
                                                                               
 Number 102                                                                    
                                                                               
 LT. TED BACHMAN, Alaska State Troopers, presented the following               
 testimony.  Since July 1, 1994, he administered the contracts for             
 the Department of Public Safety.  The community jails program                 
 consists of 15 municipally owned and operated jails throughout the            
 state, primarily in rural areas.  They are staffed by approximately           
 70 people, who require initial screening and training.  The jails             
 respond to between 2 and 5 civil law suits per year which require             
 research, recordkeeping, and other activities associated with the             
 suits.  The program position monitors prisoner intake and time                
 served as well as expenditures and contract compliance.  Although             
 the contracts were unified and standardized, monitoring monthly               
 operations and compliance oversight must still occur.                         
                                                                               
 Number 138                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN moved HB 200 out of committee with individual                   
 recommendations.  There being no objection, the motion carried.