05/11/2002 11:50 AM Senate JUD

            HB 207-REALIGNMENT OF JUDICIAL DISTRICTS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MARY KAPSNER, sponsor  of HB 207, told members that                                                              
HB 207 is a  "clean-up" bill. It removes 13 villages  on the Yukon                                                              
River from  the Second  Judicial District and  places them  in the                                                              
Fourth Judicial  District. She  explained when judicial  districts                                                              
were  designed  at Statehood,  they  were  put together  based  on                                                              
commerce  and  transportation  patterns  at  the  time.  Nome  and                                                              
Fairbanks were  the transportation hubs and Yukon  villagers could                                                              
easily   go  to   Nome   for   their  judicial   needs.   However,                                                              
transportation patterns  have changed so that residents  of the 13                                                              
villages have to travel to Bethel  and Anchorage to get to Nome to                                                              
deal  with their  legal  matters.  Those residents  are  currently                                                              
being serviced  by the Fourth  Judicial District based  in Bethel,                                                              
but they cannot vote to retain the judges in that district.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  asked if  anyone else wished  to testify.  No one                                                              
responded. He then  said no amendments have been  offered and that                                                              
he would entertain a motion.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR   COWDERY  moved   CSHB  207(RLS)   from  committee   with                                                              
individual recommendations.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  asked if this legislation is  supported by the                                                              
court system.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER  said it is  and that Doug Wooliver  of the                                                              
court system  helped  to draft the  bill and  resolve the  Nabesna                                                              
problem.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TAYLOR  said he  spoke  with  Mr. Wooliver  earlier  who                                                              
expressed support. He then announced  that with no objection, CSHB
(RLS) moved from committee with  individual recommendations. He                                                              
then recessed the meeting to a call of the chair.