02/27/2012 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

        HB 221 - PUBLIC DEFENDER APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:07:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  THOMPSON announced that  the first order  of business                                                               
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 221,  "An Act relating to the appointment                                                               
of  counsel for  persons  accused of  crimes;  and amending  Rule                                                               
39.1, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  THOMPSON mentioned that members'  packets now include                                                               
a fiscal note from the Alaska Court System (ACS).                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 1:09 p.m. to 1:11 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  THOMPSON noted  that public testimony  on HB  221 had                                                               
been closed during the bill's previous hearing.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:12:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NANCY  MEADE, General  Counsel, Administrative  Staff, Office  of                                                               
the  Administrative  Director,  Alaska  Court  System  (ACS),  in                                                               
response to  questions, explained  that the  ACS has  submitted a                                                               
substantial  fiscal  note for  HB  221,  detailing the  estimated                                                               
costs  associated with  requiring  all  who seek  court-appointed                                                               
legal  representation  to  complete   a  signed  sworn  financial                                                               
statement, with most of the  estimate reflecting costs associated                                                               
with the additional ACS personnel  that would be needed to assist                                                               
everyone  with the  required forms.    She then  spoke about  the                                                               
process currently  undertaken by those who  are not presumptively                                                               
eligible for  court-appointed legal  representation, highlighting                                                               
the fact that if this process  must be undertaken by everyone, it                                                               
would constitute  quite a change  in the ACS's  daily operations.                                                               
She also  mentioned that logistical  issues would arise,  such as                                                               
when several defendants from various  cases come before the court                                                               
handcuffed together.   The  ACS's fiscal  note also  reflects the                                                               
estimated  cost of  providing  interpreter  services during  this                                                               
phase of the  process, and the estimated cost  of translating the                                                               
necessary forms into languages other than English.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEADE, in  response to questions, pointed out that  if HB 221                                                               
becomes  law,  the  ACS  must   arrange  to  have  the  necessary                                                               
personnel,  equipment,  and procedures  in  place,  and thus  the                                                               
bill's fiscal impact  wouldn't necessarily change as  a result of                                                               
adding a  specific effective  date.  She  agreed to  research the                                                               
issue further, though.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:19:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT  moved to  report HB  221 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  HB 221 was reported  from the                                                               
House Judiciary Standing Committee.